174 . J A ^'I A. i C A. 



called Titchheld, after a manor belonging to his grace in Hamp- 

 llure. One hundred acres were aliigned by acSl: of aflembly for this 

 inirpofe ; to which were added three liundred and fifty acres for a 

 common. A quarter- feffion for the peace v.'as to be held here four 

 times a year ; the port was made a port of entry and clearance ; 

 and the receiver-general, fecretary, and colleftor, were ordered to 

 keep deputies here, who wepe allowed a falary of 70/. each per 

 annum. This town was laid out, but not built ; for, the projeft be-, 

 fore-mentioned not being carried into efFeft, and the parifh conti- 

 nuing but very thinly fettled, there was not a fufficient encourage- 

 ment to induce perfbns to build ; nor trade, nor manufa6lure to give 

 a town fupport; fo that, at prefent, here are not above fifteen or 

 twenty ftraggling houfes about the harbour. The making this one 

 rtation for the fquadron would be the fureft: means, not only of en- 

 cou ratting a town here, but of multiplying fettlements in the neigh- 

 bourhood, by the demand there would be for hogs, poultry, plan- 

 tains, and other provifions ; and, in regard to trade, this port lies 

 conveniently for opening fome intercourfe with the Eaft end of 

 Cuba, and the fmall Spanifh veflels of St. Domingo, who might 

 ileal along fliore to the I fie of Vache, and eafily make this port. 

 5ome beneficial traffic might likewife be occafionally carried on 

 with the French for their indigo, in return for oui* Britifli hard- 

 wares, and a few other affortments. I am not without hopes, that 

 the legiflature of Jamaica will, in time, be rouzed into a ferious 

 attention to the further improvement of their country, by a few 

 eafy meafures, which require only judgement In fetting them on 

 foot, and unabated perfeverance m conducing them to a happy ef- 

 feft. No part of the ifland feems to claim their affiduity more, 

 than this extenfive parifli of Portland; which, from all the reports 

 -of furveyors who have traverled its recefies, contains immenfe 

 trads of very rich land, finely w-atered, though Itill covered with 

 thick woods. The moft popular work they have hitherto done in 

 it, is th^ roail which pafles through an almoft uninhabited wild, 

 from Bath to Port Antoiiio. It traverfes a trail of near fixty thou- 

 fand acres, which has not a fmgle fettlement. The former road, 

 from Titchfield to Bath through Manchineel was at Icall thirty- 

 four miles in length. Upon a reprefentation to the houfe of af- 



feinblv, 



