73 



chain of circumftances that have paffed under 

 my eye, you will not perhaps deem it prema- 

 ture, fhould I now offer you a few general 

 obfervations concerning the ifland of Barba- 

 does. After a refidence of many weeks it is 

 probable that my notes may poffefs more of 

 corrednefs than any I might have offered you 

 immediately on my arrival. I feel, alfo, that 

 you may find them fomewhat more interefting 

 after the irregular melange that has preceded 

 them. I therefore purpofe taking up my pen, 

 from day to day, at each moment of leifure, 

 until I mall have copied for you the few re- 

 marks I have collected on the general fubjedt 

 of Barbadoes, and may probably fend them 

 to you, in a full packet, by fome early oc- 

 cafion. 



From the fituation of the Weft India 

 Iflands in the Atlantic ocean, extending in 

 form of a femicircle, nearly from the coaft 

 of Florida to the river Oronoko, it might 

 feem that, at fome remote period, they had 

 been detached from the great continent of 

 America, either by the gradual and progref- 

 five power of the ocean, or by fome great and 



7 



