EMIGRATION OF THE WHITES. 



159 



island. Multitudes of the oldest and most respected white 

 citizens contemplate leaving, and are casting about for new 

 seats. 



I scarcely saw a man who had not, more or less delibe- 

 rately, considered the expediency of abandoning the island. 

 Habitual inertness, domestic ties, straightened resources, 

 ignorance of any means of procuring a support elsewhere, 

 and other causes, discourage most of them from entertain- 

 ing the purpose long, but in spite of these difficulties, there 

 has been a constant current of emigration of white persons, 

 especially the junior members of families, from the island, 

 for the last two or three years, and the proportion is 

 increasing monthly. 



Nor are the vacancies created by emigration and death, 

 supplied by the births in the white families, for there are 

 no schools here for instruction beyond the elementary 

 branches of an English education, and as soon as a child 

 is old enough to receive instruction suitable to the rank 

 and position held usually by the English residents, he has to 

 be sent abroad to obtain it. The most of those who leave, 

 never return to reside, unless under an appointment from 

 the government, for neither business nor professional re- 

 wards here, hold out to them any inducements. They can 

 find more lucrative and suitable employment most any- 

 where else. The consequence is, that the losses from the 

 ranks of the white population, from whatever cause, are 

 not repaired. 



