264 TIMEHRI. 
nearly equally distant from the mouths of both rivers. 
Georgetown, the present capital, on the East Bank and 
at the entrance of the river, contained at the last census 
* White, *Colored, * Negroes, 
*Houses, and extends nearly two miles in 
length by about half a mile in breadth, the distriét 
called Cummingsburg being laid out in such a judicious 
manner as to be justly considered a model for towns in 
the West Indies. Till very lately the comparatively 
small number of adventures and the speculating liberality 
of the merchant in England gave the colonists such 
hopes of acquiring speedy independence that few ever 
thought of being compelled to make the colony their 
home. It was looked upon as the land of sojourn, and 
the comforts of life were scarcely ever thought of. The 
only relaxation and the only substitute for their com- 
forts was an unrestrained indulgence in the pleasures ot 
the table, and an exercise of such unbounded hospitality 
as contributed in no small degree to thin the ranks of 
society of its most ambitious and enterprizing members. 
Of late years, however, a considerable alteration has taken 
place—capitals are confined. ‘The merchants at home 
are less profuse, and the colonist finds that the labour 
of 6 or 7 years, instead of allowing him to keep a car- 
riage in England, barely furnishes him with a few 
domestic negroes and the means of purchasing a dwell- 
ing whereby he may save the expense of house rent. In 
consequence of this limitation of prospeéts he becomes 
more economical, more temperate, and as he finds he 
must live longer than he calculated upon originally, to 
* Omissions in MS. 
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