oceeded
from another cause, which is now in great measure taken away.

Bermuda is a cluster of small islands, which lie in a very narrow
compass, containing, in all, not quite twenty thousand acres. This
groupe of isles is (to use Mr. Waller's expression) walled round with
rocks, which render them inaccessible to pyrates, or enemies; there
being but two narrow entrances, both well guarded by forts. It would
therefore be impossible to find any where, a more secure retreat for
students.

The trade of Bermuda consists only in garden-stuff, and some poor
manufactures, principally of cedar and the palmetto-leaf. Bermuda hats
are worn by our ladies: They are made of a sort of mat, or (as they
call it) platting made of the palmetto leaf, which is the only
commodity that I can find exported from Bermuda to Great Britain; and
as there is no prospect of making a fortune by this small trade, so it
cannot be supposed to tempt the fellows of the college to engage in it,
to the neglect of their peculiar business, which might possibly be the
case elsewhere.

Such as their trade is, such is their wealth; the inhabitants being
much poorer than the other colonies, who do not fail to despise them
upon that account. But if they have less wealth, they have withal less
vice and expensive folly than their neighbours. They are represented as
a contented, plain, innocent sort of people, free from avarice and
luxury, as well as the other corruptions that attend those vices.

I am also informed, that they are more constant attendants on divine
service, more kind and respectful to their pastor (when they have one)
and shew much more humanity to their slaves, and charity to one
another, than is observed among the English in the other plantations:
one reason of this may be, that condemned criminals, being employed in
the manufactures of sugar and tobacco, were never transported thither.
But, whatever be the cause, the facts are attested by a Clergyman of
good credit, who lived long among them.

Among a people of this character, and in a situation thus
circumstantiated, it would seem that a seminary of religion and
learning might very fitly be placed. The correspondence with other
parts of America, the goodness of the air, the plenty and security of
the place, the frugality and innocence of the inhabitants, all
conspiring to favour such a design. Thus much at least is evident, that
young students would be there less liable to be corrupted in th