,66 JAMAICA. 



hot-headed governor, deftro^yed all that harmony between families 

 which, while it fubiifted, luid been the principal canfe of making 

 this place an occafional retreat ; where they had ufcd to n::cet (.ach 

 otl>er in friend[hi[i, and united their talents of pleafing. The icene 

 became changed ; party-rage fucceeded ; the partizans of the dif- 

 ferent faftions could not endure the thouglit of mingling together 

 under the fame roof; and the more moderate pcrfons grew indif- 

 ferent to a place, where cheartulnels, confidence, and mutual 

 refpeft, no longer held any fway. From this period began its de- 

 cline. Mod of the houfes that were built have, from negleft and 

 want of inhabitants, gone into decay ; the half-finilhed frames of 

 fome, whicli were jull beginning to rear their heads, have moul- 

 dered into duft. The billiard-room is in ruins; and, m 176S, I ob- 

 ferved the tattered remains ot a once fuperfine green cloth, which 

 ■covered the table, all befmeared with the ordure of goats and other 

 animals, who took their nightly rcpofe upon it. At this time, 

 the town was reduced to about nine or ten habitations. The hof- 

 pital was converted into a barrack for a company of the regulars. 

 Two lodging- houfes ftill remain; but they are much in want of 

 repair, and leem inclined to partake of the general ruin. The fa- 

 lutary ftream, which Providence has fo benevolently granted for 

 the relief of human mifery, is ungratefully (I had almofl: faid im- 

 pioufly) fuffered to glide away negleded and unheeded to the 

 ocean, as if it had entirely loft its former virtues. There is no- 

 thing more reproachful to the oeconomy and good-fenfe of the 

 principal men in this ifland, than fo (hameful a negle<fl. Will it 

 be imputed to indolence, to caprice, or inconfiftencc, tiiat, after fo 

 much folemnity and parade in eftablilhing the town ; after fo much 

 apparent happinefs derived from the inftitution ; fuch munificent 

 provifions for the lick poor; after advancing the plan fo far towards 

 maturity; they have devoted their whole fabric to fubverfion? It 

 is much to be regretted, that a fcheme attended with fo large an 

 expence, and fo well calculated for the public health and entertain- 

 ment, has been fo unaccountably dropped; when a imall annual 

 fund, fet apart for the purpofe, would have fupported all the build- 

 ings eredled here for the general ule or amufement. The hofpital 

 is built of a kind of white free-ftone, of which there are leveral 

 I quarries 



