BOOK II. CHAP. XIII. 317 



work) about i 7,000 exclufive, of trantients, ibldiers, and feaa^cn. At 

 the very lowell I could not dedud more than 1000 from this calcu- 

 lation ; for the towns, villages, and hamlets certainly contain altoge- 

 ther not leisthan 9000 ; and 7000 will not bethought too many to 

 allow for the lligar plantations, penns, and fmaller lettlements. In 

 175c, a gentleman of ability in the illand made the computation, 

 that it contained 10,000 planters, merchants, Ihopkeepers, hired 

 and indentured fervants, and artificers; or upwards. To fuppofe 

 therefore an advance of fix thoufandor mor^, fnice that period, con- 

 lidering the vail multiplication of houfes and fettlements, both in the 

 towns and country parts, feems not at all extravagant. The account 

 of its population about the time of the great earthquake at Port 

 Royal, as cited by Dr. Browne, and put at 17,307, is evidently er- 

 roneous, having been copied from the eftimate taken when Sir 

 Thomas Modiford was governor, about the year 1670 ; which con- 

 founds the Whites with the Blacks, and clafles the whole under the 

 general title of the inhabitants. A more accurate lift was given, du- 

 ring the government of Sir Thomas Lynch, in 1673, ^vhich I have 

 quoted at length. This makes the Whites 8,564, and the whole 

 number of inhabitants, of all complexions, 18,068. We find bv 

 Sir William Beefton's paper (in thefirft book,) that in 1664 the num- 

 ber of regimented Whites was no more than about 3000; which, 

 being fuppofed one half of the whole, makes 6000, befides tiiofe 

 employed in privateering, which may be reckoned about 800; 

 total 65800. 



In 1670 they muflcred for the militia, 2,720 

 And on board privateers, 2,500 



5,200 

 Allowing two fourths of that number 

 for women and children, or — 2,600 



The whole flock of Whites amounted to 7^0", or only 764 leis than 

 in the year 1673, which gives an increale of about z^o per annum. 

 In the year 1678, according to the fame account, the mihtia 



muftered 4,526 



Allowance forfeamen, who were 

 reduced very much in number in 

 confequeuce of the American 



treaty ; 



