54+ J A M A I C A. 



//6/r^/>jr/ of his clear Incnme, computed upon the average of five or 

 feven years precednig. Some caution may likevvife be requifite hi his 

 dealhigs with mankind ; but there is one, which particuhirly merits 

 his confbnt recoUeftion ; which is, that more perfons in this country 

 have been made unhappy, and even ruined, by otbe?- mens ddks, than 

 by their own. Let him therefore, above all things, keep a ftridt guard 

 over the liberality or credulity of his own temper, and refolve inflexi- 

 blv, Never to be bound for a7ty man, and to confider debt as one of the 

 moft fubftantial evils in life. By a courfe of even moderate oeconomy, 

 lie may have fome little overplus at the year's end; and let this be ap- 

 plied (if neccffary) to fupply the wants of his friend, or his dependant. 

 Men are not injured here fo much by what they lend, or give away to 

 tiie neceffitous, as by fetting their hands and feals to paper too often, 

 and for too confiderable fums; which unexpefledly rife up in judge- 

 ment againft them, or their family, after many years have elapfed. By- 

 engaging as collaterah, they have made themfelves principals ; deftroy- 

 €d their peace of mind ; involved their eftates, and beggared their child- 

 ren; without effentially benefiting their pretended friend: for fuch is 

 the ftrange difpofition of a finking man, that, like one who is in dan- 

 ger of drowning, he catches at every ftraw within his reachj thinks 

 of nothing but temporary expedients; and, between hope and defpair 

 of extricating himfelf from diftrefs and ruin, he will, even when he 

 knows it will turn out wholly unavailing to his own affairs, infidu- 

 oufly draw his beft benefaftor into the fame abyfs, to perifli with him. 



Misfortunes here, in planting and in trade, are necelliirily very fre- 

 •quent, where men often adventure without limits ; give, and take cre- 

 dit; are fubjeft to be hurt by mifplaced good-nature and confidence; 

 and liable to various calamities and loffes. It is difficult for men to 

 reafon themfelves into a calm compofure under afBi61ions, or vexatious 

 circumftanccs, by all the arguments that philotophy or religion can 

 furnifh ; 



*' Durum: kd hv'ius patientidf 



*' Quidquid corrigere eft nefas." 



*' 'Tis hard: but j!>tf//V«c^ muft endure, 



" And foothe the woes it cannot cure." 



This is the remedy which philofophy fuggefts, as the befi: means of 

 alleviating thofe ills, that vexation only ferves to render more fliarp 



and 



