usual specimens of island
antiquities--of local fish, birds, insects, reptiles, plants, geological
formations, and such like. In the library were old editions of curious
books at the West Indies, some of them unique, ready to yield ampler
pictures of the romance of the old life there than we at present
possess. I had but leisure to glance at title-pages and engravings. The
most noticeable relic preserved there, if it be only genuine, is the
identical bauble which Cromwell ordered to be taken away from the
Speaker's table in the House of Commons. Explanations are given of the
manner in which it came to Jamaica. The evidence, so far as I could
understand it, did not appear conclusive.

Among the new industries in the island in the place of sugar was, or
ought to be, tobacco. A few years ago I asked Sir J. Hooker, the chief
living authority in such matters, why Cuba was allowed the monopoly of
delicate cigar tobacco--whether there were no other countries where it
could be grown equally good. He said that at the very moment cigars, as
fine as the finest Havanas, were being produced in Jamaica. He gave me
an excellent specimen with the address of the house which supplied it;
and for a year or two I was able to buy from it what, if not perfect,
was more than tolerable. The house acquired a reputation; and then, for
some reason or other, perhaps from weariness of the same flavour,
perhaps from a falling off in the character of the cigars, I, and
possibly others, began to be less satisfied. Here on the spot I wished
to make another experiment. Captain C---- introduced me to a famous
manufacturer, a Spaniard, with a Spanish manager under him who had been
trained at Havana. I bespoke his good will by adjuring him in his own
tongue not to disappoint me; and I believe that he gave me the best that
he had. But, alas! it is with tobacco as with most other things.
Democracy is king; and the greatest happiness of the greatest number is
the rule of modern life. The average of everything is higher than it
used to be; the high quality which rises above mediocrity is rare or is
non-existent. We are swept away by the genius of the age, and must be
content with such other blessings as it has been pleased to bring with
it.

Why should I murmur thus and vainly moan?
The Gods will have it so--their will be done.[13]

The earth is patient also, and allows the successive generations of
human creatures to play their parts upon her surf