apprehended, that there is a greater actual risk of the sacrifice of health, than a certainty of the enjoyment of pleasure at them, particularly in such a climate, where irregularity and intemperance must be doubly injurious. Hard drinking is, however, not quite so much the fashion here at present as in former times, when unbounded dissipation was the "order of the day," both at public and private entertainments; and when it was conceived by the master of the feast, if a private one, that he did not treat his guests with a cordial welcome if he did not, ere they quitted his table, deprive them of the use of their reason and their legs; or, if a public one, he was considered as a disaffected person who did not get most loyally drunk.

But the shameful excesses formerly practised by the white people on the estates exceeded all credibility. But of this more will hereafter be said.

There is in Kingston, and one or two of the parishes, an annual meeting, called the European club, the members of which are all Europeans, as the name imports. The qualification for a constituent member is a thirty years? residence in Jamaica; and for an honorary one twenty-five years. The generality of them, therefore, must be old, or elderly men, seasoned to the climate and to good drinking. It must be 4 venerable spectacle, to see this groupe of grey

to

1

beards "moistening the clay" with the juice of the grape, and gaily recalling, over the beloved potation, the days of frolic and of youth.

Many thousands are annually wasted on these expensive entertainments. If, however,

when the tidings of a glorious but sanguinary victory arrive, the sums that are expended in this sort of rejoicing were consecrated to another use the contributing to the support of the unfortunate widows and orphans of the brave fellows who may have perished in the conflict, it would be more honourable to the country as well as to the cause of humanity,

It is, on the whole, much to be wished, that a few polite and elegant amusements were encouraged in this island, if it were only for the accommodation and pleasure of the fair sex, whose happiness the generous and the amiable of mankind must consult in preference to their own. They cannot participate in many of the diversions, revels, and relaxations of the other sex. Amusements calculated at once to please and instruct, would animate and enliven them, afford topics for conversation, and impart an emulation of higher excellences, by communicating new ideas. The embellishments of the mind give a dignity and interest to the charms of the person, and correct, as we acquire them, the defects of early habit and education. Without some degree of mental attainment and cultivation, the com

pany of the most lovely woman would soon be come insipid. It is this which makes her doubly enchanting, and rivets the chains which beauty had forged. To this it need only be added, that, when possessed of this intellectual grace, the West India beauty displays attractions and amiableness perhaps equal to any on earth,

CHAPTER XV.

Houses, and their interior economy.—Furniture.-Servants and equipage.-Entertainments.—Manner of spending time.-Visits,

&c.

THE houses here are in general such as have in a former chapter been described. But there are some exceptions, particularly in the country parts or interior. There are here and there modern built houses, belonging to opulent individuals, which exhibit a striking degree of magnificence, costliness, and taste. But there are also many old houses, belonging to such men, which have a very mean appearance. These are built chiefly of stone, with open piazzas, and without either sash windows or jealousies, having only vulgar-looking stanchion windows, with shutters; and in various parts of the house are loop-holes for muskets, as a defence in case of a sudden insurrection of the slaves, a danger of which the white inhabitants were formerly in perpetual apprehension. There can hardly be a doubt but that these insurrections sometimes originated in improper severities, as the present quiet and tranquil behaviour of the slaves is greatly owing to their milder treatment, and more ameliorated

condition. The exterior of such dwellings displays a striking contrast to the magnificence of the entertainment which usually reigns within. The Creoles are not extravagantly expensive in their furniture; this is generally plain but genteel, Their side-boards and beaufets, however, display a costly brilliancy, in unison with the plentiful and splendid cheer which is spread on their dinner tables. In a large house, consisting of many apartments, the labour of six or eight female slaves is required for two or three hours every morning, in burnishing the floors, which for smoothness of polish rival even the finest mahogany tables. These floors are either of mahogany, wild orange, or other hard wood, and acquire at length, by this daily operation, so glossy a surface that a stranger, not accustomed to tread on such smooth ground, must be heedful how he walks, in order to avoid slipping and falling down.

About such a house, if the proprietor be wealthy, and have a large family (say ten or twelve in all), there are perhaps about twenty-five or thirty black and mulatto servants of all descriptions, including cooks, grooms, laundresses, &c. and each of the females of the family has her waiting maid, besides the domestics generally attending about the house. The employment of these servants, besides keeping the house in order, consists in making and mending the household linen,