BOOK III. CHAP. VII. 6gt 



by caterpillcirs. It grows from four to fix feet, aiul produces two 

 crops annually; the Hrrt in eigiit months, trom the tune of fowuig 



the 



pay a pmportionahle duty with tea, it may l^e aflerted, that the revenue cannot be leflened by tbe 

 ttrmer taking pl.ice of the latter. On the contraiy, as^t'ne Weft-India pioduce is all paid tor in our 



m.uiutaitures, tliC in.;enicjus aitill, the traJelmiin, and huibandman, at home, mull bo bi;ttcr enabled 

 to pay taxes : the duties and exi He upon cotl'ee and cacao being reduced, nioie than double the quan- 

 iijy (.efpecially ot the former) would be conluir.ed. Such an enlarged conlumption would make it 

 the inicrell ot the planters to cultivate the trees with more care. It is cenainlv-of gieat moment, 

 that the Icller pi nters (hould be alile to gain a fublill'enec by the cultivation ol: thefe Iniall articles, 

 which require but little llock, and no great expence tor Negroes. No little planter, generally 

 fpeaking, can go upon lugar with adi-antage ; the expence of Negroes, cattle, works, and other re- 

 quilites ot a lugar- plantation, are beyond his reach. If he has any landed property, by one means 

 or other he is ohen obliged to f 11 it to liis richer neighbour, and remo\e to fome other country, 

 lefs unfavourable to contracted circutr;(lance3. Thus the iflands are gradually thinned of white in- 

 habitants, and bemme leli; able to queil the inlhriecfions ot their Negroes, or to oppofc any hollile 

 invafion. Whatever articles ot produ.t, there/ore, tend to divide the landed propcity, to multiply 

 the dillribution of it, and confequemly. ttirniih fubfillence to a gieatcr number of white inliabitaiu?,. 

 certainly mull add to the llrength and fecurity of the ilknds. 



■Manner of preparing tbe Infujien, and its ufef'd ^aUt:es. , 



The French Inhabitants in the Vvinduaid Iflands always make ufe of coffee for theu' brcakfaft, 

 taking equal quantities of the infufion and boiled milk (or rather milk that is fcalded) ; and, after 

 their dinner, they commonly drink a cup ot coffee without milk ; and they have, in general, ex- 

 cellent health, and a fine flow ot fpiiits: where.is the Engliih fubjcLls, whom it is difficult to wean 

 from prejitdices, llill perlift in the uft; of tea ; and, though they enjoy a good Hate of health, do 

 not appe.ir to have halt the vivacity of the French in the fame iflands. It the coffee is old and 

 uell-roalled, and itnmediately covered up, fmo:iking-hot (when the roarting is Hntfhed), in a bowl, 

 or cup, to prevent the fine, volatile particles and flavour froin going off; it then, \ihen cold, it is 

 ground, and made properlv with boiling, good water; it is looked upon to be in its higheif perfec- 

 tion. The better fort of Fiench, in all the iflands, make a practice ot taking a cup ot equal parts, 

 coffee and fcidded milk, with a cruft ot bread, almoff as foon as they get out ot bed in a luorning: 

 and the reafons they give for this cuftom arc, that it clears the brain, enlivens the fVnfes. cleanfes 

 the itomach, throws off any rheum or fortuitous matter that may be lodged about the head, llc- 

 niach, or lungs, trom foul vapours; and they likcwile lav, that it prevents, and even cut es, the 

 gravel. The Turks alfo fet the higheff value upon good coffee, on account of its exhilarating 

 qualities. Surely then it mull be preteiable to tea, which has quite contraiy cft'cils. 



Coffee, made in the following manner, is pleafing to moil people, and is much preleiable to tea, 

 or to coffee inade in the ulual manner, tor breakfafl. " Let it be made in the ufual inanner, only a 

 " third part flronger ; let as much boiling milk be added to the coffee, before it is taken from the 

 " fire, as there is water ; let it fettle ; drink it with creaiu, or without, as may be moll agreeable." 

 Were the poor and middling peo])le enabled to procure this, it would be much more nnurifliing and 

 beneficial than the wretched beverage thev indulge themfelves with of the moll ordinary teas. 

 Doftor Fotheigill mentions, that, ahhough he was fond of tea, he found it unfavouiable to his 

 health. He then tried coft'ee, made in the mann^f above-recommended, end has drank it almofl 

 conllantly, many years, w ithout receiving any inconvenience fiom it. He thinks it difhcult to de- 

 termine how tar the French cullom, of drinking it immediately after dinner, is right ; but it can ad- 

 mit of no difpute whether a diih ot eoffee, or a bottle of v, ine, mxy then be lefs prejudicial to health. 

 It is lefs injurious, howevei, to drink coffee immediately after dinner than later in the evening ; tor 

 it moll certainly proinotes watehlulnefs, or, in otlier words, fu'pends the inclination to fleep. Was 

 it fubllituted, inllead of the bottle, immediately af:er dinner, it teems more than probable, that many 

 advantages would flow from it, both to the health of individuals, and general crceuomy : and it feems 

 not improbable, but, by deterring coffee or tea fo late in the evening as is ufualh- praCfifed, we in- 

 terrupt digellion, and avid a new load to that already in the flomacli, which, after a full meal, is not 

 a matter of indlffcienee. 



To conclude. In rcfpc.'t to real ufe, and as a part of our food, there is no evidence to induce us 

 to think that cotfle is interior to teu, 



+ T 2 In 



