BOOK II. CHAP. XIII. 265 



than ']\'j^l- This fum the afl'embly readily remitted, and difcharged 

 them entirely from the obligation \c[\. 



This will be luppofed an a6l of political generofity, and of a dif- 

 ferent nature from the examples before given ; for which reafon I 

 have placed it lafl in my catalogue, as it is confidered perhaps more 

 referable to the Ipirit of patriotifm, than the impulfes of humanity ; 

 though to have adted othcrwile would have betrayed, I confefs, 

 but a fmall fhare of either. 



With all thefe praife-worthy qualities, the Creoles have fome 

 foibles in their difpofition. They are fubjcdl to frailties in common 

 with the reft of mankind. They are poflclied with a degree of fu- 

 pinenefs and indolence in their affairs, which renders them bad 

 oeconomifts, and too frequently hurts their fortune and family, u 

 With a ftrong natural propenfity to the other fex, they are not 

 always the moft chafte and faithful of huibands. They are liable 

 to fudden tranfports of anger; but thefe fits, hke hurricanes, though 

 violent while they laft, are foon over and fubfide into a calm : yet 

 they are not apt to forget or forgive fubftantial injuries. A lively 

 imagination brings every circumlhmce prefentto their remembrance, 

 and agitates them almoft as much as if it had occurred but imme- 

 diately before. They are fickle and defultory in their purfuits; 

 though unfliaken in their friendfhips. From this caufe perhaps it 

 is, that various fchemes, both in pleafure and bufinefs, have been 

 eagerly ftarted, and then fuddenly dropped, and forgotten as if they 

 had never cxifted. They have fome tinfture of vanity, and oc- 

 cafionally of haughtiiiefs ; though much lefs of the latter than for- 

 merly. That diftant carriage, which was gained here infenfibly 

 by habit, when the planters employed fix times the number of white 

 fervants, whom, together with their Negroes, they might think it 

 prudent to keep under a due awe and fubordination to authority, 

 has worn away in courfe of time with the caufes of it. They are 

 too much addicted to expenfive living, coftly entertainments, drefs, 

 and equipage. Were they but more abftemious in thefe refpedls, 

 and more attentive to good hulbandry on their plantations, there 



\/i\ In 1758, wasafimilar aft of remiffion of 6501/. hi. 8 «'. to fixty fettlers. I have not the 

 Icaft doubt, for my own part, but that thefe remiflions were the pure effects of compalfonate fenti- 

 inentj, and not the offspring of a political liberality. 



Vol. II. M m are 



