THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF BALCARRAS, LATE GOVERNOR AND CAPTAIN-GENERAL OF THE ISLAND OF JAMAICA. MY LORD, No na name can, with so much propriety, be prefixed to AN HISTORY OF JAMAICA, as that of Your Lordship. Your long and successful administration of the affairs of this valuable colony, during a most critical period, has highly merited, and, in no common degree, excited, the gratitude, and respectful attachment, of the colonists of Jamaica. Your Lordship is regarded, not unjustly, as one of their greatest benefactors; and you are already classed by them, among the D'Oyleys and Trelawneys, who, by their wise and patriotic administrations, were equally an honour, and an advantage, to the mother country, and the colony. THAT Your Lordship may long live, to enjoy those best rewards of a virtuous public conduct, self-approbation, and universal respect, is the unbiassed wish of thousands, who have felt, and witnessed, the benefits of your memorable administration, and of none more, than of YOUR LORDSHIP'S Most obedient, And most devoted Servant, ROBERT RENNY. 12th MARCH, 1807. PREFACE. EVERY man, whose mind is, in the smallest degree, elevated, above the sordid views of selfishness or avarice, feels himself interested in the history of the country, in which he resides. This curiosity is both natural and laudable: It prompts a man to investigations, equally amusing and instructive. He feels, and feels justly, a consciousness of superiority over those grovelling individuals, whose weakness or depravity lead them to neglect all those attainments, which elevate, enlarge, and purify the mind. He leaves them with pity, not unmixed with contempt, to their native state of degradation. There alone, they are at ease; there they are at home; and there, they must remain. But an acquaintance with the history of one's own country, whether such by birth, or by choice, is productive of still more important advantages. It not only gives a man an interest in the scenes continu But ally passing before him, increases his acquaintance with the inanimate objects constantly presented to his view, and endears to his remembrance the past events of his life, but by enlarging his mind, advancing his knowledge, and increasing his experience, it equally adds to his happiness, respectability, and usefulness. Employment of the mind makes a man happy; superiority of intellect, respectable; the proper direction of his knowledge, useful. independent of these considerations, independent of the advantages to be derived, from an intimate acquaintance with the history of one's own country, such is, happily, the constitution of every well-regulated mind, that the curiosity with which it is instinctively endued, forms a sufficient stimulus to the acquirement of this most useful, most delightful, most respectable species of knowledge. Such being the case, it will not surely be denied, that every attempt, however feeble, to convey this necessary knowledge, and to gratify this laudable curiosity, is highly praise-worthy; and, if it should not excite our respect, demands, at least, our good-will, our approbation, or our gratitude. Such, in some degree, are the situation and views of the Author of the following pages. Usefulness |