37 
chap, i.] WEST INDIES. 
tic returns of the number of its whites in 1724, 
and of its negroes in 1753: the former consisted of 
no more than eighteen thousand two hundred and 
ninety-five, the latter of sixty-nine thousand eight 
hundred and seventy. In 1786 the numbers were 
sixteen thousand one hundred and sixty-seven 
whites, eight hundred and thirty-eight free people 
of colour, and sixty-two thousand one hundred 
and fifteen negroes. 
It appears too, that the annual produce of this 
island (particularly sugar) has decreased in a much 
greater proportion than in any other of the West 
Indian colonies. Postlethwayte states the crop of 
sugar, in 1736, at 22,769 hogsheads of 13 cwt. 
which is equal to 19,800 of 15 cwt. and the au¬ 
thor of the European Settlements , published in 
1761, calculates the average crop at 25,000 hogs¬ 
heads. As the author first quoted gives a precise 
number, it is probable his statement was grounded 
on good authority. If so, the island has fallen off 
nearly one half in the annual growth of its prin¬ 
cipal staple. On an average of eight years (from 
1740 to 1748) the exports were 13,948 hogsheads 
of sugar of 15 cwt. 12,884 puncheons of rum 
of 100 gallons, 60 hogsheads of melasses, 4,667 
bags of ginger, 600 bags of cotton, and 327 
gourds of aloes. The exports, on an average of 
1784, 1785, and 1786, had fallen to 9,554 hogs¬ 
heads of sugar, 5,448 puncheons of rum, 6,320 
bags of ginger, 8,331 bags of cotton; exclusive of 
