chap, hi.] WEST INDIES. 
63 
CHAPTER III. 
Capital necessary in the settlement or purchase of a sugar 
plantation of a given extent.—The lands, buildings, and 
stock separately considered.—Particulars and cost .— 
Gross returns from the property.—Annual disburse¬ 
ments.—Net profits.—Various contingent charges not 
taken into the account.—•Difference not commonly at¬ 
tended to, in the mode of estimating the profits of an 
English estate, and one in the West Indies. — Insu¬ 
rance of West. India estates in time of mar, and other 
occasional deductions.—The question, why the cultiva¬ 
tion of the Sugar Islands has increased under so many 
discouragements, considered and discussed. 
SUGAR plantation consists of three great 
JT\. parts; the lands, the buildings, and the stock: 
but before I proceed to discriminate their relative 
proportions and value, it may be proper to observe, 
that the business of sugar planting is a sort of ad¬ 
venture in which the man that engages must en¬ 
gage deeply.—There is no medium, and very sel¬ 
dom the possibility of retreat. A British country- 
gentleman, who is content to jog on without risk 
