202 
HISTORY OF THE [book, rtf* 
It may reasonably be supposed that most of the 
natives of Europe who emigrate to the West In¬ 
dies, remove thither with the hope of receiving- 
greater encouragement to their abilities and indus¬ 
try than has offered at home; Yet let it not be 
imagined that the major,, or even any considerable 
part of them, are desperate and needy adventurers, 
who seek refuge from a prison, or expatriate them¬ 
selves in the fond idea of living luxuriously with¬ 
out labour. These islands give but little counte¬ 
nance to idleness,' nor offer any asylum to vaga¬ 
bonds and fugitives. Many of the British colonies 
were originally composed of men who sought, in 
fhe wildernesses of the New World, the peaceable 
enjoyment of those natural,' or supposed rights, of 
which they were deprived in their native country. 
I extend this description to persons' of opposite po¬ 
litical sentiments and connections, to loyalists as 
well as to republicans: for it is hoped, that some of 
each party were men whose principles were honest, 
though their conduct might have been wrong. 
The advocates of loyalty sought refuge chiefly in 
Barbadoes, and many of the adherents of Crom¬ 
well,. after the restoration of Charles II. found pro¬ 
tection'in Jamaica. At present, among the num¬ 
bers whom accident or choice conducts to the Bri¬ 
tish West Indies, the juniors in the learned profes¬ 
sions of law,, physic, and divinity, constitute a con¬ 
siderable body. These men ought to be, and, ge¬ 
nerally speaking, really are, persons of education 
and morals. Few places afford greater encourage¬ 
ment to the first and second of these employments^. 
