declines returning to the Island-Morgan's Administration, and
Lynch's Appointment as Governor-New Style of enacting the
Laws-Their Force and Effect-Morgan sacrificed to the Re-
sentment of the Spanish Government-The Conspirators in the
Rye-house Plot arrive-Sir Philip Howard appointed Governor ;
but does not come-Violent Measures in the Assembly-Moles-
worth's Government-The Duke of Albemarle arrives-The
papal Intrigues of Father Churchill-The Freedom of Election
violated-Gross Abuses, and seasonable Death of the Duke-
Suspicion of Poison unfounded-Sir Francis Watson the first
President of the Council nominated by the Crown-He assumes
the Government, and the distinction of "Right Honourable".
Post-office established-The Earl of Inchequin arrives as Go-
vernor-His intemperate Rejection of the Address-Serious
Rebellion in Clarendon-Death of the Earl-The Government
devolves on the President, who is killed by the Earthquake;
and then on the next senior Member of the Council-Detailed
Account of the great Earthquake in 1692.-p. 245.

CHAPTER IX.

Sir William Beeston arrives as Lieutenant-Governor-First

Dispute between the Council and the Assembly upon the Right

of amending Money-bills-Invasion of the French under Ducass

and Rollon-Narrative of that Event-Its Failure and Conse-

quences-The first serious Alarm caused by the runaway Slaves

-Treaty between England and Spain-Sir James de Castillo

resides as Agent for the latter Power, under the Assiento Con-

tract-The Assembly refuses to burden the Island with a perpe-

tual Revenue-Petition of the Jews for political Equality-Its

Failure-Suppression of the Scotch Settlement at Darien-It

removes to Jamaica-Character of Sir William Beeston-Gene-

ral Selwyn arrives as Governor-Dies-Beckford acts as Lieu-

tenant-Governor-Proclamation of Queen Anne-" The Grand

Alliance "-Admiral Benbow's Victory-Cowardice, and Execu-

tion of his Officers-The Earl of Peterborough receives his

Appointment of Governor; but goes to Catalonia-Beckford
superseded by General Handasyde-Destruction of Port Royal
by Fire-Immense Treasure lost there-Admiral Croydon
removed from the command for Abuse of Power-The Queen
demands a perpetual Revenue from the Island-It is strenu-
ously opposed; and the Assembly refuses to allow her Troops
to land until their Maintenance should be provided for-The
present Mode of dating, endorsing, and passing the Bills intro-
duced-The public Buildings broken open, and the Journals
scattered about the Streets-Suspicions thereupon-Port Royal
again rebuilt-The Violence of General Handasyde-Prosperity
of Spanish Town and Passage Fort-Police, Inhabitants, Equi-
pages, Stand of Coaches-Serious Commotions in the House of
Assembly-The Members draw their Swords, and hold the
Speaker in the Chair-The Doors forced by the Governor-
Consequent Death of the elder Beckford-His immense Wealth
-Fifteen Sessions and eight Assemblies in nine Years-Han-
dasyde superseded by Lord Archibald Hamilton-The Effects
of his mild Administration-His Quarrel with Sir Hovenden
Walker-The latter publicly censured-Peace of Utrecht-
Attorney-General Broderick dismissed-Lord Hamilton's Re-
moval from the Government-His Character-Chief-Justice
Bernard deprived by Governor Heywood-Sir Nicholas Lawes
appointed Governor-Outrage at the Council-table-Depres-
sion of the Colony-The Pirates plunder the north Side of the
Island-Instance of atrocious Cruelty in Saint Ann's Parish-
The Inhabitants subscribe for a Sloop of War to protect them-
selves-Attorney-General Kelly expelled the Assembly-The
high Office of Attorney-General obnoxious in these times-Why
-The Hurricane of 1722-Sir Nicholas Lawes sells his House
and Land to assist in defraying the Expenses of his Government
-Disputes in the Assembly, and many Members expelled-The
Duke of Portland arrives-His gratifying Reception-Colonel
Dubourgay his Lieutenant-Governor-The Colony refuses to
pay his Salary during the residence of a Governor, and he
returns-The contested Revenue Bill introduced, and again lost

-Monk, the Attorney-General, expelled the Assembly-Irre-

gularities of the Marquis Duquesne-Death of the Duke of

Portland-His Character; and the Regret of the Colony-The

Government devolves on Ayscough, the President of the Council

-His officious Perversion of the King's Instruction detected by

the House-The Members of Assembly insist on being sworn

in under their own Roof; and prevail-The Revenue Bill again

lost-Character and Conduct of President Ayscough—His re-

moval hailed with universal Joy-His Impeachment-Major-

General Hunter arrives as Governor; and is the happy Instru-

ment in terminating all Disputes between the Parent State and

the Colony-He carries the important Revenue Bill; by which

means the English Laws, hitherto suspended in Jamaica, are

declared to be in full force there for ever.-p. 310.

NOTES.

With the Constitutional History of the Council of Jamaica-

The Jews-And the Freebooters.-p. 361.

APPENDIX.

Historical Notes-On Slavery-On the Ecclesiastical History

of Jamaica-On its Natural History.—p. 451.

THE

ANNALS OF JAMAICA.

INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.

THE genuine journals of Columbus, the Pinçons, Ojeda, Ovando, Balboa, and others of the first navigators who successively discovered the different regions of the New World, have unfortunately been lost, or never published; and if the originals be extant amongst the archives of Lisbon, or Goa, they are still beyond our reach. The sources, therefore, from whence we principally derive our acquaintance with this hemisphere, are little better than compilations from these authors, made by various collectors, some of whom have never quitted Europe, and many of them been biassed by national prejudices, or blinded by credulous ignorance; thus transmitting accumulated errors through every successive work.

As the testimony of such historians will not weigh equally in the scale of criticism, it becomes important to make some observations on the character of the several authors, on whose faith rest many of the facts recorded in the following pages.

VOL. I.

B