258 JAMAICA. 



It Is adonlfliing to obferve the gentlemen of this ifland fo laviHi 

 in fome refpefts of public money, and fo inattentive at the fame 

 time, to a matter of this interefting concern ; for what can be more 

 fo, than to wean the inhabitants from that detrimental habit of emi- 

 gration, that unhappy idea of confidering this place a mere tem- 

 porary abode, efpecially as fueh numbers are, from unexpefted 

 turns in life, laid under a neceflity of remaining in it, and bringing 

 up a race of children, whom, for want of a feminary, they no 

 fooner begin to take delight in, than they are forced to wi(h 

 they could erafe from their remembrance. Thefe very people 

 have not hefitated to difburfe near 70^000/. in the fpace of nine 

 years upon fortifying the ifland, who never thought of voting a 

 feventieth part of that fum towards rendering it much more eflen- 

 tially fecure, and much better proteded, by falling on eaiy means, 

 of making it populous. The condition of the North-Americans 

 would at this time have been deplorable indeed, if they had been 

 equally improvident. But it is 'a proof of their wifdom and re- 

 gard for pofterity, that in everyone of their townlhips, there is 

 provifion made for a fchoolmafter ; fo that the lowefl of their peo- 

 ple are not left deftitute of feme education. For thofe of more li- 

 beral fortune, there are colleges founded under able profeflbrs ; 

 where phiiofophy has already dawned with a luftre that altoniflies 

 the oldeft focieties of the learned in Europe, and commands their 

 moft refpeftful attention. It is fhocking to think, that, through 

 a defeft of this generous fpirit, or a want of fteddinefs and refo- 

 lution, no fuch meafures have yet been efpoufed in our ifland. 

 But our hearts muft bleed, when we reflecSt on the many unfor- 

 tunate children who have periflied ; fome by fliipwreck ; fome by 

 explofion [«] ; others by neglect after their arrival in- England. To 

 enumerate thefe fatalities, would be a melancholy recital, and 

 perhaps only lerve to revive paternal affliction. VViiat bleffings 

 then will await tliat aflembly, who Ihall patriotically relblve to- 

 prevent this barbarous neceflity, and thefe forrowtul events, in 

 future! They will, indeed, be juftly ftyled the fathers of their 

 country, and merit immortal honour. 



[«] Several weie delhoycii in this inannei' on niip-bonrd, a few years fincci 



I have 



