island, and the rest is paid in gold coin, or dollars. But this commerce, now for a considerable number of years carried on, and highly advantageous to both parties, has been (1806) rendered legal by an act of the British parliament, subject, however, to a discretionary power vested in his Majesty's privy council.* Respecting the policy of an act of this nature, it is not at present our business to inquire; but there cannot remain a doubt, that it will prove extremely advantageous to the colonists of this island, and will be equally agreeable to them, and to the Americans.

The following statement will enable us to form an estimate of the gradual progress of the island, in wealth and cultivation. In the year 1673, the chief productions of Jamaica were cocoa, indigo, and hides. The cultivation of sugar had just commenced.

The legislators of Jamaica being too independent, both in their fortunes and dispositions, to be exposed to the influence of corruption, have uniformly displayed the most laudable

* See Note (k.)

+ Those who wish for more particular information respecting the nature and amount of the exports and imports of Jamaica, are referred to the accurate tables of Mr. Edwards, in his history of the West Indies.-See also Note (1)

œconomy in their management of the public revenue. But this spirit of prudence has been by no means accompanied, with what are too frequently its attendants, meanness or parsimony. They have, as has been already mentioned, supplied the governor with a very handsome salary; and they have provided in the most ample manner, for all the other public servants of the colony.

The revenues of the island are perpetual and annual*. The former were instituted by the revenue law passed in the year 1728, the origin of which has been already noticed: The latter are occasional grants of the legislature. The perpetual revenue law raises about twelve thousand pounds per annum, of which eight thousand pounds is particularly appropriated as formerly mentioned, and the surplus is applied, in addition to the annual funds, to defray the necessary expences of the govern

ment.

The public debt of the island, though from various causes lately considerably increased, is so small as scarcely to deserve notice; and the wisdom of the legislators prevents them from increasing it. The taxes are neither numerous, weighty, nor oppressive. The chief of them are, a duty on Negroes imported; an excise on rum, and other articles consumed within the island; a pecuniary penalty incurred by every owner of an estate, for each white person deficient of the number required by law; a poll tax on slaves and stock; and a certain rate on rents, and on wheel carriages. Occasional taxes are also laid on by the legislature, as exigencies require.

A considerable portion of the revenue is exhausted by the extra allowances given to those regular British troops, which are stationed in the island; and when they exceed three thou

* See Note (M.)

sand in number, it is usual for the legislature to provide wholly for the surplus. Yet such is the economy of the legislators, such the prudence with which the taxes are appointed and levied, so lightly are these burdens felt by the inhabitants, or such are their good sense, and their confidence in the honesty and wisdom of the legislators, that complaints are never heard of the weight and inequality of their taxes.

The current coins of this island, are, Portugal pieces of gold, called half johannes, each valued at two pounds fifteen shillings currency; Spanish gold coins, called doubloons, at five pounds five shillings, and pistoles, at one pound six shillings and eightpence. The silver coins are, Spanish milled dollars, valued at six shillings and eight-pence, which are divided into various parts, forming separate Spanish coins, halves, three shillings and four-pence; quarters, one shilling and eight-pence; eighths, ten-pence; and sixteenths, five-pence currency. There is also a small silver coin, called a bitt, the value of which is sevenpence halfpenny currency. An English guinea passes for one pound twelve shillings and six-pence, which is considerably higher than the usual rate of exchange. One hundred pounds sterling amounts to one hundred and forty pounds currency*. But owing to various causes, in time of war, the rate of exchange is seldom at par; five, ten, and even fifteen per cent. being often paid in Jamaica, for good bills on London.

From the geographical situation, and the nature of the population of Jamaica, it is obvious, that the establishment of a militia must be a measure of the highest importance, and the most urgent necessity. Accordingly, all white males from the age of fifteen to that of sixty years, are obliged by law to provide themselves with their own accoutrements, and to enlist

either in the cavalry or infantry. In times of apprehended danger, either from foreign invasion, or from domestic revolt, the commander in chief, with the advice and consent of a general council of war, in which the members of assembly have votes, may proclaim martial law. His power is then arbitrary; all persons being subject to the articles of war.

The habits of this militia are certainly but little calculated to produce a complete military subordination. Men accustomed to be looked upon as a superior race of beings to slaves, submit with reluctance, if they submit at all, to be treated, as if they enjoyed no will of their own. And though it is a fact, that the subordination is by no means complete, yet, on all occasions of real danger, no troops in the world have behaved with greater spirit or courage, than the militia of Jamaica.-The total number of inhabitants able to carry arms, including free Negroes and Mulattoes, will amount to about ten thousand; while the whole population of whites does not exceed thirty thousand. The free Negroes and people of colour amount to about ten thousand; and of slaves, there are at least two hundred and sixty thousand. The population of the island of Jamaica, therefore, amounts on a moderate calculation, to three hundred thousand souls.

CHAPTER IV..

Commercial Productions, viz. Sugar, Rum, Melasses,-Coffee, Cocoa,-Cotton,- Indigo,-Pimento,-Ginger. Their History, Description, Value, and Mode of Cultivation.

THE sugar-cane, the arundo saccharifera of Linnæus is the

most valuable of all vegetables, and is the chief source of the opulence of the West India colonists. It is a native of the east, and has been cultivated in India and Arabia from the earliest ages. At what time, the inhabitants of these regions discovered the art of granulating its juice by evaporation, is not now known; but it appears probable, that sugar was conveyed to Europe by the navigation of the Red Sea, at a very early period. Whether this plant be a native of the West Indies is a question of some doubt, which it would be difficult to determine. Some writers are of opinion, that it was conveyed thither by Christopher Columbus from Old Spain, or the Canary Islands; whilst others contend, with equal, if not greater probability, that it grew spontaneously in various islands of the new world. But this being merely a question of curiosity, which cannot possibly lead to any practical purpose, does not seem to merit a minute investigation.

The sugar-cane is a jointed reed, terminating in leaves or blades, the edges of which are finely and sharply serrated. The intermediate distance between each joint of the cane varies, according to the nature of the soil; but it is, in general, from one to three inches in length, and from half an inch, to an inch