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withdraw, carrying off a negro whom they had found asleep in a boat. Another privateer captured several fishing-boats with many slaves on board. Sir John Alleyne, the Speaker of the House, disregarding the usual custom of applying through the Governor, addressed himself directly to Admiral Young the naval commander on the station, soliciting protection, who promised to station a frigate to cruize round the island.

The petition for relief to the British ministry was heard in 1778, and the government contractor received orders to forward to the Governor three thousand barrels of flour, three thousand barrels of herrings, and a large quantity of peas and beans, with directions to sell them at prime cost, and to remit the money to persons appointed for that purpose. Mr. Atkinson, the government contractor, nobly refused to accept the usual commissions on shipping these goods. The three branches of the Legislature concurred in an address to the King expressing their gratitude for this acceptable relief.

The probability of a war with France induced the Governor to recommend the Assembly to repair their fortifications, and to adopt measures for an efficient militia-bill. They excused themselves, on the plea that in the distressed state of the island they could not burden their constituents with taxes for the defence of the island, which they must leave to their King, nor could they harass them with a new militia-bill ; adding that it would be time enough to provide for it when the war with France should really break out.

Upon the 13th of March 1778 the French ambassador, M. de Noailles, sent to the English minister a declaration that his Sovereign had acknowledged the independence of the United States; and on the 18th of April, Count d'Estaing sailed from Toulon with a fleet to their assistance. On the 7th of September the Marquis de Bouille, Governor of Martinique, attacked Dominica, which surrendered. Governor Hay took advantage of this circumstance to recommend anew, on the 15th of September, the fortification to the Assembly, who, in some respect awakened by the proximity of danger, resolved that six thousand pounds should be devoted to the defence of the island,-a sum which was entirely inadequate. The capture of St. Vincent and capitulation of Grenada, in June and July 1779, produced a considerable sensation in Barbados. The Governor immediately convoked the Legislature, and represented to them the imminent danger to which the island was exposed, and succeeded in persuading them to a true sense of their situation. They immediately resolved to provide tents for the men employed in throwing up entrenchments and building redoubts; a proportion of effective negroes were armed, and it was determined to call out the militia once a week for four months, to be rendered effective.

Two small vessels were equipped in order to watch the motions of the enemy, and an additional stock of gunpowder was provided. But the

recommendation of the Governor to declare martial law was for the present thought unnecessary. Commissioners were appointed to carry the resolutions adopted for the defence of the island into effect, and the sum of fourteen thousand pounds was voted to defray the expenses. A sufficient quantity of land was purchased in the parish of St. George for the construction of a great redoubt, as a point of retreat in case of necessity, which was to be called Fort George.

These stirring times appear to have awakened the old chivalric spirit which so eminently distinguished the Barbadians a century ago. During the bustle of these warlike preparations Governor Hay died, on the 24th of October 1779. His intentions are said to have been good, but his manner was so rough and his temper so irritable and vindictive, that it frequently gave rise to misunderstandings between him and the Assembly and public officers. During his administration the Council encroached upon the privilege of the House by inserting an amendment into a moneybill which had been sent up for their concurrence. The Assembly, taken by surprise, or neglectful of their privileges, permitted this innovation and acquiesced in the proposed alteration'. The amendment referred to the hucksters' bill, where the clause rendering it imperative on a huckster of colour to take out a license was extended to all white hucksters. It was no more than just that it should be so, but the mode of effecting it was undeniably an unparliamentary interference.

Mr. Rous resigned as senior member of Council his claim to the administration of government, and enclosed his mandamus in a respectful letter to his Majesty's Council. The government in consequence devolved upon Mr. John Dotin, who was sworn in on the 26th of October 1779. The Assembly voted him fifteen hundred pounds for the support of the dignity of the presidency.

The eighty-ninth regiment had been stationed in the island for its protection, and on the 23rd of February 1780 the Assembly appointed a committee to provide barracks for the accommodation of the troops at the expense of the colony. Major-General James Cunninghame had been appointed by his Majesty to the government of Barbados. Mr. Estwick, the agent of the island, in the letter in which he informed the Assembly of this appointment, gave the most favourable representation of the character and amiable disposition of the Governor; he at the same time informed the Assembly that he had renewed his endeavours to cause a repeal of the four-and-half per cent. duty, and to substitute a general tax of threepence a hundred weight upon all sugar imported from the West Indies. "Lord North appeared to think that the proposal was fair and eligible, and there could be no reason why the other islands

1 When a similar attempt was made on a recent occasion, the House of Assembly with becoming spirit rejected the amendment: see ante, p. 110.

should not contribute to the revenue equally with Barbados'." It had been indirectly conveyed to Mr. Estwick that General Cunninghame would carry out full power for the settlement of this question, and his arrival was therefore looked forward to with the greatest anxiety. His Excellency arrived in Carlisle Bay on board the Thunderer, Commodore Walsingham's flagship, and landed on the 12th of July 1780 with the usual ceremonies, which was perhaps heightened by the anticipation of the prosperous times expected from his administration.

At the first meeting of the Assembly, after the usual professions on the part of the new Governor to do all in his power to promote the welfare of the colony, Mr. Duke moved, with regard to his Excellency's settlement, "that the present impoverished state of the colony cannot afford a higher settlement than two thousand pounds in augmentation of the home salary;" to which he added a second resolution, "that in case his Majesty, in consideration of the many distresses and calamities which had for several years past overwhelmed his faithful and loyal subjects of this colony, shall be graciously pleased to relieve them from the payment of the four-and-half per cent. duty on their exported commodities, the Assembly will make an additional provision of one thousand pounds a-year for the support of the colonial government." On a division the first resolution passed in the affirmative by a majority of sixteen to six, and the second was agreed to on a division of eighteen to four. The bill having been sent up to the Council for their concurrence, it was returned with the following message: "The Council have passed the Bill for the better support of his Excellency and the dignity of the government, as they cannot amend a money bill; but they cannot help expressing their concern at the injudicious saving therein established, as offering an indignity to government, and doing discredit to the island."

The Governor withheld his assent to the Bill, on the plea that the second resolution evinced an attempt to force ministers to a measure which they were inclined to adopt, and which would more likely retard than forward their intention. He could not hide the vexation and disappointment at seeing his salary reduced, instead of being increased; and this ill-advised measure had doubtless great influence upon that conduct which rendered General Cunninghame's government one of the most unfortunate and tyrannical in the annals of colonial administration.

The Assembly took an early opportunity of evincing their displeasure at the unparliamentary message received from the Council respecting the settlement upon the Governor, and the House came to a resolution, upon the motion of Mr. Duke, that it was "extraordinary, indecent and unparliamentary;" a copy of which resolution was sent to the Council. General Cunninghame attacked the Assembly in his answer to their address

1 Poyer's History of Barbados, p. 409.

with invectives and threats, and this imprudent step was seriously condemned by Lord George Germaine. The Assembly being reproached with having encroached on the executive power, by assuming the appointment of the treasurer and storekeeper, solemnly declared that they never would surrender the right of appointing these officers, which they had held from time immemorial by the peculiar favour and indulgence of the Crown: this point had been conceded to them by an order of Queen Anne. They tried equally to refute the other charges. This was only the commencement of a series of altercations which continued through the whole administration of General Cunninghame. Matters were at length brought to a crisis, and both the Assembly and Governor appealed to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. The Governor, finding it impossible to have his salary raised, fixed a table of fees; and having received from Mr. Moore, the Attorney-General, an opinion that he knew of no law expressly prohibiting the Governor from establishing fees for himself with the advice of his Council, he laid this report before the Council, together with a new table of fees which was approved of by the members, and the Secretary received orders to enforce the pay'ment of these fees. This arbitrary and illegal violation of the rights of the people as secured by the charter granted them by the Earl of Carlisle, which conferred all the liberties, franchises and privileges, of British subjects on the Barbadians, was received with the greatest astonishment; it diffused general dissatisfaction throughout the island, and every means were taken to evade these extortions. "Even the fair sex suffered their patriotism to prevail over their natural delicacy, and submitted to the publication of the banns of marriage, rather than their lovers should yield to the Governor's exactions for a license1.”

At this period the awful hurricane took place of which a relation has been given in another place: the 10th of October 1780 nearly caused the annihilation of the colony.

The Governor summoned the Council to frame an address to the throne, in which they implored his Majesty's assistance. The petition was accompanied by a letter from his Excellency to Lord George Germaine; and General Vaughan addressed the Secretary of State for a similar purpose, assuring him that a famine must inevitably ensue unless some effectual assistance were rendered to prevent it. It was expected that there would be a special call of the Assembly on this melancholy occasion, in order to consult with the Governor and Council how to mitigate the public distress; but his Excellency considered otherwise, and the Assembly did not meet until the 31st of October, pursuant to adjournment. It was resolved to implore the King's gracious assistance in a dutiful address, and to direct Mr. Estwick to renew his application to

1 Poyer's History of Barbados, p. 445.

the ministry for the remission of the four-and-half per cent. duty, with which he was to combine the petition for the establishment of a free port as the means of rescuing Barbados from ruin.

The Governor took an early opportunity of desiring the Assembly to frame a proper levy-bill and to put the fortifications in order: he likewise drew their attention to the ruinous state of Pilgrim, his residence, and stated that the armoury had been entirely destroyed during the hurricane, and the arms were exposed to the weather. The Assembly answered, that what little the storm had spared was required for the bare necessities of life, and for this reason they declined to pass a levy-bill, or to incur any expense in the repair of the fortifications; his Excellency's residence however, they added, should be put in repair as speedily as circumstances would permit, and the arms which were exposed in consequence of the destruction of the armoury should be taken care of. It was certainly most unfeeling of the Governor at this moment of distress to propose the imposition of fresh taxes upon the community. Another message from him was of a similar nature; he required the Assembly, as the troops were to be withdrawn, to provide the necessary means for guarding the prisoners of war and preserving the peace of the island. The House replied that, as there was no place of sufficient security in which to lodge the prisoners, they requested that they might be sent away with the troops.

Judge Gittens, a member of the House, introduced a bill to suspend for a limited term of years the proceedings in the courts of justice and the marshal's office, until the inhabitants had recovered from the present calamity. This novel measure, the object of which was to obstruct the course of justice by law and to deprive the creditor of his legal remedy, met with becoming opposition, even from those whom the calamity had brought to the brink of ruin, and who might have materially benefited by such a measure. The bill was withdrawn without being put to the vote of a second reading.

The Governor continuing to extort the illegal fees which he had established without the concurrence of the representatives of the people, Mr. Duke brought the subject again before the House, and proved that the levying of money without the consent of Parliament had been repeatedly and solemnly declared illegal in England. This being the case with the King, it could not be supposed that a Governor of a British colony, the inhabitants of which enjoyed by charter the rights of British subjects, was at liberty to extort money from them. Several local statutes proved that no old fees could be altered, nor new ones established, without the authority of the Governor, Council, and Assembly: yet his Excellency and the Council, in direct contravention of the most positive laws, had presumed to establish a new table of fees. After various arguments, tending to prove that the Governor and his agent Mr. Workman had been guilty of extortion, the House passed several resolutions condemna

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