I 7 0 HISTORY OF THE [book. Vi. 
cessively administered the government of Jamaica, 
were educated from early youth in the navy; yet 
possessing sound judgments and upright intentions, 
their conduct as governors gave abundant satisfac¬ 
tion to the people of the colony, without incurring 
the disapprobation of the crown; and their names 
will be remembered there with reverence, so long 
aa^ worthy governors shall be numbered among the 
benefactors of mankind.* But these are rare in- 
'* Soon after the above was written, the inhabitants of Jamaica had 
the misfortune to lose, in an untimely grave, their highly valued and 
most lamented governor, Thomas Earl of Effingham, who was ap¬ 
pointed captain-general of that island in the beginning of 1790, and 
died in his government in October 1791. This nobleman was educated 
in the artny 5 and, with the frankness and firmness of the soldier, pos¬ 
sessed very extraordinary talents for civil employment.—-His merit as 
chancellor surpassed all that the warmest of his friends had predicted. 
He displayed a calmness of temper, and a clearness of conception which 
the captious and subtle perplexities of forensick argument could not 
disturb or elude. His mind was strong, quick, penetrating, sound, 
and decisive; but the prominent feature of his character, which dis¬ 
played itself in all cases and on every occasion, was a manly and un¬ 
shaken intrepidity. He neither courted nor dreaded any man living; 
proceeding strait forward in the plain path of his duty, without fear, 
favour or affection.—-At his first entrance into the government, his 
manners were thought ungracious; but his talents and virtues were 
soon happily experienced, and he then became the most popular of all 
governors. The Roman people displayed not greater affliction at the 
death of Germanicus, than was manifested by the inhabitants of Ja¬ 
maica for the loss of lord Effingham. The assembly voted a magnifi¬ 
cent funeral for the lemains of his lordship, as they had for those of 
the countess of Effingham, who died a short time before him. They 
likewise ordered a monument to be erected to perpetuate the memory of 
their virtues, and the author of this work had the honour of drawing, 
up the inscription thereon; which is as follows; 
