ABSTRACT
The inhabitants of the island at this time may be divided into three general classes-whites, and creole whites, freedmen, and slaves. These again occupied positions very different in their character. The ruling class was composed of natives of Great Britain and their descendants born in the island. In the middle of the eighteenth century it was ascertained that about one-third of those of European birth were natives of Scotland. One hundred of the name of Campbell were counted. The native-born descendants of British settlers did not present any very marked difference to their parents. They were alike distinguished for hospitality; the former were, perhaps, least careful to keep their expenditure within their income. A fondness for luxuriant living, and improvident habits generally, involved many of both classes in difficulties that might easily have been avoided. The desire to be accounted large landed proprietors often resulted in money being borrowed at a high rate of interest to purchase and cultivate several estates; and when the unhappy speculator was thus involved, it was rarely that he ever succeeded in extricating himself.
