BOOK it; chap, IX. 215 



the leglflative branches is much the fiime as if a man, by clapping 

 a hehnet upon his head, fliould think himlclf perfeclly invulne- 

 rable, though all the reft of hid body remains expofed. But, in 

 order to maintain thefe defences along the coaft, which are necef- 

 fary, not only to fuch pariQies, hue to tiic whole ifland ; the af- 

 fembly, we may venture to think, might every year call for an, 

 exa(5t and faithful report of their condition ; and,, if no portion can 

 be fpared out of the fortification-fund, the juflices and veftry miffhc 

 at leaft be obliged, in the more opulent of thefe p:iri0ie3, to raife a 

 fmall annual fum, by fome eafy and permanent mode, which (hould 

 conftitute a fund to be applied folcly to the repair of their refpec- 

 tive fortifications. 



Thefe fentiments arife from confidering the improved flate of 

 Montego Bay; the vaft value of its trade; its buildings, rents, 

 goods, and {hipping ; the opulence which is likely to centre in it ; 

 and the hazard to which all thefe may become expoled, on any 

 fudden revival of war, from the attacks of a few daring privateers. 

 As it is now, with juflice^ deemed the emporium of the Weftern 

 part of the ifland, it certainly merits to be. well guarded, and in- 

 deed feems entitled to come in for a yearly fhare of the public 

 money, which hitherto has been partially iavifhed upon the en- - 

 virons of one principal port, as if they were the only quarters 

 which an enemy could attempt, or that were worthy of the public 

 defence. 



Montego Bay, in the opinion of the beft judges, is growing very 

 faft into a place of fo much confequence and wealth, that, in the 

 event of a war, it will be a capital negledl of government, fhould 

 itibe left unprotC'lfed by a ftrong fort, or one. or two men of war 

 for guard-fliips. 



The {hipping of every kind, that enter and clear at this port, are, . 

 one year with another, about 140 ^nW per annum, and continually 

 ou the increafe; as it not only lies fo commodious for i'oreign trade, 

 but employs near about eleven thoufand tons for the produfts of the 

 adjacent di{lri(Sb; this being the great mart for iup|)]ying it with 

 Negroes and other ncceflaries, that formerly ufed to be bought at 

 Kjugfton, W'hich has therefore- fuflered a fevere blow from this new 

 eiiablilhment. For the like rexifon,. among otheis, the town of 



Lucea 



