246 JAMAICA. 



hitherto found in Europe ; for the latter ufually produces no more 

 ■than from fixty to eighty pounds out of one hundred weight ; and 

 when the facihty of collc6ting the American fand, without the la- 

 bour of much digging, is taken into account, together with the 

 difpatch and little expence of waflung and preparing it for fufion, 

 it will fu-rely juflify this claim of fuperiority. It may therefore 

 merit enquiry, whether tlie Jamaica fand does not contain the very 

 fame principles which there is every rcafon to believe it does; in 

 which cafe, it may become an article of profitable export to Great- 

 Britain, after having been too long ncgleded as of no value. 



C H A P. XH. 

 SCHOOLS. 



THE great importance of education, in forming the manners, 

 enlightening the minds, and promoting the induftry and 

 happinefs of a people, is no where more obvious than in countries 

 where it is not attainable. It at once excites our pity and regret, 

 that Jamaica, atrifland more valuable and extenfive than any other 

 of the Britifli fugar-colonies, fhould at this day remain unprovided 

 with a proper feminary for the young inhabitants to whom it gives 

 birth. This unhappy defedl may be looked upon as one of the 

 principal impediments to its efFedual fettlement. 



I would by no means have it underflood, that I mean to dimi- 

 ni(h any emoluments which Great-Britain derives from this co- 

 lony : I am fenfible, that the education of the Jamaica youth is at- 

 tended with an yearly gain to the mother- country. What I would 

 fugged is, that the eftablifhment of one or more feminaries in Ja- 

 maica, upon a certain circumfcribed plan, would infallibly prove a 

 means of augmenting the profits which Britain draws from thence 

 (though not in the very fame, yet in other channels) ; and, if llie is 

 proved to gain more, it matters not in what line. 



it has too long been the cuflom for every father here, who has ac- 



[quired a little property, to fend his children, of whatever com- 



jplexion, to Britain, for education. They go like a bale of dry 



/goods, configned to fome fador, who places them at the fchool 



wliere he himfelf was bred, or any other that his inclination leads 



him 



