2 oB HISTORY OF THE [book iV. 
nate passion, ruinous as it frequently proves to in¬ 
dividuals, this advantage, however, results to the 
community at large; that the lower orders of men, 
from their frequent attendance at the courts of law 
as jurymen, acquire a degree of knowledge, and a 
clearness and precision of reasoning, which are not 
generally to be found in men of the same rank in 
England. Thus the petty juries in the West In¬ 
dies are commonly far more intelligent and respect¬ 
able than those in Great Britain. Every candid per¬ 
son, who has attended the courts of criminal juris¬ 
diction in both countries, must confirm this obser¬ 
vation. 
But it is to the Creoles or natives, that we must 
look for the original and peculiar cast of character 
impressed by the climate, if indeed the influence 
of climate be such as many writers imagine. For 
myself, I am of opinion, that the climate of the 
West Indies displays itself more strongly on the per¬ 
sons of the natives, than on their manners, or on 
the faculties of their minds. They are obviously a 
taller race, on the whole, then the Europeans; but 
I think in general not proportionably robust. I have 
known several who were full six feet four inches 
in height; but they wanted bulk, to meet our 
ideas of masculine beauty. All of them, however, 
are distinguished for the freedom and suppleness of 
their joints ; which enable them to move with great 
ease and agility, as well as gracefulness in dancing. 
From the same cause they excel in penmanship, 
and the use of the small sword. It has been truly 
