WEST INDIES. 
CHAP. I.] 
203 
and, as ability is fostered and called forth by exer¬ 
cise, no part of the British dominion has, in my 
opinion, produced abler men ip either (in propor¬ 
tion to their number) than these islands. Local 
prejudice, and bigotry towards great names, may 
perhaps incline some persons to dispute this asser¬ 
tion ; but prejudice and bigotry apart, it will be 
found, I belie-ve, that nature has distributed the 
gifts of genius more equally and generally than is 
commonly imagined: it is cultivation .and favour 
that ripen and bring them to perfection. The Bri¬ 
tish navy and army likewise contribute considerably 
to the augmentation of the white inhabitants. In¬ 
dividuals in both these professions, either from the 
inducement of agreeable connections, which it 
would be strange if .many of them did not form in 
a long residence in these ^countries, or captivated 
by the new prospects which open to their contem¬ 
plation, very frequently quit the business of arms, 
and the dangers of a tempestuous element, and 
become peaceful citizens and Industrious planters. 
Next to these may he reckoned the mercantile part 
of the inhabitants, such as factors, store-keepers, 
book-keepers, and clerks; who are followed by 
tradesmen and artificers of various kinds, such as 
millwrights, carpenters, masons, coppersmiths, and 
others; most of whom, .either through accident or 
necessity, after some years residence, become ad¬ 
venturers in the soil. Then come the husbandmen, 
or cultivators of the land, professedly such; who 
are commonly distinguished by the appellation of 
managers, overseers, and plantation book-keepers,; 
/ 
