priority of establishment. This sense of distinction is strongly manifested in the sentiment conveyed by the vulgar expression so common in the island---" neither Carib, nor Creole, but true Barbadian," and which is participated even by the slaves, who proudly arrogate a superiority above the negroes of the other islands! Ask one of them if he was imported, or is a creole, and he immediately replies" Me neder Chrab, nor Creole, Massa!-me troo Barbadian born!"

"Perhaps the late decline of this island may be still less the effect of exhaustion of the soil, than of the extensive emigra tions, and the diversion of commerce consequent on the cultivation of new islands and colonies. In the early period of its culture Barbadoes yielded a produce, and gave rise to an extent of commerce, not known in any other island, and its population increased to a degree perhaps unprecedented in any part of the globe. Within the first fifty years the trade of the island had become sufficient to employ 400 sail of shipping; and the number of inhabitants amounted to no less than 100,000, being upwards of 500 to every square miles.

At this day the colonies of Guiana are a continual drain upon the population of Barbadoes. But notwithstanding its decline from what it once was, it is still the most populous and one of the most important of our West India possessions. From situation, and from its fine bay for shipping, even inde pendent of its produce, it must ever be valuable to us, and indeed may be considered as the key to the West Indies. Some of the creoles of the island, not barely sensible of this, commit the excess of attaching to it a degree of importance beyond even England itself. What would poor Engiand do," say they, "were Barbadoes to forsake her?" This adage you will believe expresses only the veneration of the illiterate; but you will admit that it arises from a very natural feeling; for those who have seen but one spot readily fancy that to be of the first importance! And there are multitudes in Barbadoes who never saw any other soil, and who, no doubt, from the same laudable sentiment which we so honour in Britons, regard their native isle as pre-eminent above all others.

If in point of produce Barbadoes now yields to other setslements----if its thick woods have fallen before the rueful axe ---and if its mountains are less aspiring than the towering summits of some of the neighbouring islands; still its trade and produce continue to be important; its population great; and the picturesque scenery of its surface perhaps unrivalled. Nor are these its only advantages; for, in consequence of being more cleared and more generally cultivated than the other islands, its temperature is more equable, and its air more salubrious. Damp woods do not interrupt, nor stagnant morasses empoison the breeze. Every part is exposed to the full perflation of the trade-wind; by the coolness and salubrity of which, this is rendered the most healthful of the islands; insomuch that it is common, in sickness, to make a voyage from the other colonies to Barbadoes, as the Montpelier of the West Indies. Being situated to windward of the other islands, it receives the uninterrupted breeze, brought to it in all its purity immediately from a wide extent of ocean, unimpregnated by the septic exhalations of stagnant waters, or polluted soils.Its temperature has been far less inconvenient than we had expected. We have felt but little oppression from heat; and have continued our habits of exercise without interruption. In the harbour, and placed in the shade, the thermometer has seldom been higher than 84, and at no time has exceeded 86 degrees.

'Yet as the island is in its exemption from excessive heat, from noxious maismata, and from great and general sickness, it has its peculiar ills: being visited with an endemial affliction, so much its own as to have obtained the appellation of the Barbadoes disease. It appears in form of the elephantiasis, or what is here termed the "glandular disease,"--and is a most unsightly and distressful malady.

Bridge Town is the capital of the island, and is situated on the S. W. bank of Carlisle bay, which is one of the finest harbours for shipping in the West Indies; but it is not consi dered to be safe during the hurricane season. It receives its name from the circumstance of a royal grant of the island hav ing formerly been made to the earl of Carlisle. The other towns

are Speights Town, Austin Town, and Hole Town, all of which are much inferior to Bridge Town.

The seasons here are not divided into winter and summer, but into wet and dry: yet they are by no means what many from these terms would believe, who might imagine that half the year is drowned with incessant rain, and the other half parched with constant drought. Such a construction of the terms wet season, and dry season, though not unfrequent, is far from correct, and leads to a very inaccurate idea of the climate; for, although it has been the dry season, during the whole time we have been at Barbadoes, we have scarcely had two successive days without refreshing rain; although the showers are not so heavy at this period as at that of their greater frequency, termed the wet season, when the torrent which falls might often convey the idea of a sudden rupture of the clouds, letting forth their waters in streams to the earth.

The sudden evaporation which succeeds to rain in these climates creates a most agreeable and refreshing coolness. The extreme ardour of the sun's rays is also counteracted by the the ever-grateful breeze, which sets in from the sea about eight or nine o'clock in the morning, and continues throughout the day, ceasing only as the sun forsakes us at evening; when we are again defended from oppressive langour by a breeze springing up from the land. This sets in as the sea-breeze subsides, and diverging, as it were from a central point, is felt on all quarters of the island.

The uniform returns of day and night in this climate appear to induce a regularity of habit in the hours of rising, and going to rest. It is common to leave the pillow at six in the morning, and few persons remain out of bed after eleven at night. The coolest and most pleasant part of the day is from six to about half-past seven o'clock in the morning: about eight an oppressive closeness is often experienced, arising from the decline of the land breeze, before that from the sea has become sufficiently strong to diffuse its influence. A similar period likewise occurs at evening, between the abatement of

the sea breeze and the setting in of the breeze from the land. Some days the closeness of these hours is so light, as to be scarcely perceptible, but commonly they are by far the most oppressive of the twenty-four.

Respecting the mode of living it may be remarked that in all countries said to be civilized, and among all people calling themselves cultivated, too much of time and attention are devoted to the business of eating and drinking. Perhaps the majority of diseases in social life may be traced to this source. Were it possible to convey in a single sentence the frightful train of ills, the melancholy interruptions of health, and the immense consumption of time thus produced, men would be shocked to read it! They would be terrified to behold the magnitude of an abuse, to which, unheeding, they had so long been devoted. This remark but too correctly applies to the island from whence I am addressing you, and where, from the degree of indolence induced by tropical heat, the ingesta taken to excess may be expected in a peculiar degree to oppress the human frame.

6

The people of Barbadoes are much addicted to the pleasures of the table. We have often thought that, in eating, they might put to the blush even the turtle countenances of our London fat citizens.

'The breakfast usually consists of tea and coffee, or chocolate, with eggs, ham, tongue, or other cold meat. Bread is seldom used, but substitutes are found in roasted yams or eddoes, both of which a good deal resemble roasted potatoes. They are used hot, and eaten with butter, which is sometimes made in the country, but more frequently barrelled and brought from Ireland; that made in the island being of cream-like softness, and not always of good flavour. In the course of the forenoon are used fruits, or sandwiches, with free libations of punch and sangaree. Immediately preceding dinner, which is usually at an early hour, are taken punch and mandram. The dinner, for the most part, is profuse, and many hours are commonly passed at table in full and busy occupation.

'After a more than plentiful consumption of food, a free indulgence in fruit, and a bounteous supply of wine and other

good liquors, to crown the repast, the appetite and thrist are further provoked by a dish of sprats, or other broiled fish, and a large bowl of milk and punch. Tea and coffee are next served--and lastly comes the supper, which forms no trifling meal. After this the bottle, the glass, and the punch bowl know no rest, until the silent hour when Morpheus, with rival powers, dethrones the Bacchanalian god.

'From the nature of the climate we had expected to have found the inhabitants men of meagre figure, half dissolved in perspiration, and exhausted almost to shadows; nor, indeed, are such figures rare, but they are to be found mostly among the clerks, the book-keepers, and those orders of white people below the managers those who are employed in active and busy occupation, and have but little time to devote to indodolence and the luxuries of the table. Among the merchants and planters are many of as fat and portly figure as well-fed aldermen; to whom, indeed, they are scarcely second in Epicurean devotion.

'We observe that condiments are used very generally, and in great quantity. Acting as stimulants they appear to have the effect of causing the relaxed and enfeebled stomach to receive and to digest more than it would, otherwise, requiremore indeed than it would, otherwise, take. The various species of red pepper, known in England under the common term Cayenne, are used in quantities that would seem incredible to people of colder climates.

• A mixture of food is often taken, of a nature scarcely less heterogeneous than is commonly consumed at the varied feast of a French appetite; and with this melange of solids are used wine, punch, porter, cyder, noyeau, and other good liquors in free libation---yet are there specimens of health and vigour, amidst all these indulgences, which might stagger the doctrines of the advocates of abstemiousness.

In the order of the feast plenty more prevails than elegance. The loaded board groans, nay almost sinks beneath the weight of hospitality.

'The repast not unfrequently consists of different kinds of fish a variety of soups--a young kid--a whole lamb, or half