Antigua and the Antiguans (Vol. 1&2). Mrs. Lanaghan

many had yielded up their noble spirits, and passed to the silent tomb.

      The year following emancipation (1835) was the scene of a violent hurricane, which raging with extreme fury throughout the greater part of the night, caused great loss to many of the inhabitants. Soon after the hurricane, the yellow fever broke out with great malignancy, and hurried many a young and gifted one from the family circle.

      During the period Sir Evan McGregor administered the government, he endeavoured to restore the custom of holding a general council and assembly, to convene at certain times, at one of the several islands within his jurisdiction; and also to make the island of Dominica head-quarters. His excellency’s view and wishes upon this subject were, however, overruled by the home government; although it was permitted him to make Dominica his place of residence should such be his desire. Soon after his removal to the latter colony, he received the higher appointment of Governor of Barbados, to which seat of government he repaired, leaving Antigua to a kind of interregnum, which was filled up by the president of the island.

      During his excellency’s administration, he also recommended the legislature to enact a law to govern elections​—​a deficiency in the laws of Antigua complained of by a large portion of the inhabitants; the qualifications of voters being entirely governed by resolutions of the house, as best suited the purposes of its members. In contested elections, freeholders, it is said, were frequently left to unconstitutional resolutions of the assembly, who, paying no attention to former precedents, adopted such measures as would best secure the interests of their own party.⁵⁷ There are, however, laws for the protective privileges of freeholders for other distinctive purposes, such as exemptions from arrest, &c.

      In 1836, Henry Light, Esq., arrived at Antigua to play his part upon the stage of colonial life as lieutenant-governor. His lofty pretensions to liberal principles, and his condescending greatness to the mixed blood in admitting a few members of that class to “his table,” evinces much insincerity, for in his private despatches to Lord Glenelg, he reprobates, with but one or two exceptions, that body of persons, in terms as ill-founded as they are illiberal. Nothing of importance occurred during Mr. Light’s sojourn at Antigua; he has subsequently been appointed to the government of British Guiana, where he has had an opportunity of shewing forth his philanthropy, as well as of acquiring fame.

      The year 1837 marked the appointment of Sir William MacBean George Colebrooke to the office of governor-in-chief of the Leeward Islands. Of the same liberal principles as Sir Evan McGregor​—​firm, dignified, and polished​—​of courteous demeanour and pleasing address, Sir William was formed to command respect, and conciliate the affections of all classes. In his official proceedings, he was ever actuated by prudence; and with the welfare of the colonies, over which he presided, at heart, he pursued his way in that open, straightforward manner, which, to an honourable mind, is of such inestimable value.

      In the first year of Sir William Colebrooke’s administration, a bank was established in Antigua by royal charter; thus rendering obsolete an act which had been passed in the early part of the reign of George III., for preventing the circulation of paper bills of credit in the colonies. Prior to this period, no governor could assent to such circulation, under forfeiture of 1000l., the being dismissed his government, and declared incapable of holding any other public office or place of trust.

      In the following year, his excellency deemed it proper to abolish the militia; a measure which saved the treasury of the island a considerable sum annually; and accordingly, on the 1st of July, 1838, that body ceased to exist, and an end was put to all martial glory and deeds of arms among the store-keeper captains and planter colonels of Antigua. It was not until some time after the revocation of the militia, that the legislature remembered to call in the arms from the privates; and accordingly, when such orders were issued, great defalcation was discovered; the few, however, collected, were consigned to a far different purpose from what they were originally intended​—​being formed into a fence before the arsenal, where they remain, with their bayonets pointing to the skies, as mementos of the warlike acts of the island.

      Sir William Colebrooke entertained similar opinions as Sir Evan McGregor, upon the expediency of there being one general council and assembly among the islands under his jurisdiction; and consequently, strenuous exertions were made by him, to carry his plans into effect. The acquiescence of the home government to this measure was so relied upon by his excellency, that before accounts could be received from England, despatches were forwarded to the other Leeward Islands, calling upon the members of their respective legislatures to visit Antigua, in order to hold the first general council and assembly. The legislators of St. Christopher’s were the first to obey the summons, and some of that body were actually in the boat about to convey them on board the vessel in which they had taken passage for Antigua, when the packet with the European mails was observed in the offing. Anxious to receive their letters before their departure for another colony, they determined to wait until the post-master distributed them​—​a resolution which saved them a fruitless voyage; for, from despatches from Sir William Colebrooke, they learned that the English parliament had refused to acknowledge any general assembly.

      In 1840, Sir W. Colebrooke returned to England; and Major McPhail, the lieutenant-governor of Dominica, was called to administer the government for the time being. His excellency was also a man of liberal principles​—​one who was inflexible in performing his official duties without partiality, and earnestly desirous of promoting the public good, and effecting a kind feeling among all classes. As a private character, his courteous and pleasing demeanour endeared him to all who held communion with him; and when he quitted the government, he carried with him the best regards and earnest wishes of every member of the Antiguan community. Nothing of particular moment occurred during his administration, with the exception of the dreadful fire in 1841, (further noticed in these pages,) and the strictness with which the police laws (respecting the capture of animals found strolling in the public streets) has been carried into force. Great has been “the hue and cry” among the swinish multitude; and day after day has the intelligence arrived that another unfortunate pig has been imprisoned within the walls of the pound, without any regard to the feelings of the said quadruped, or its family. Even Sunday​—​that day of rest​—​was no rest to them, or the parties whose duty it was to capture them; and so far was the disturbance carried, which such exploits caused, that some good people took the trouble to write and disseminate papers, calling upon policemen, magistrates, &c., to observe to keep holy the Sabbath, and not allow pigs to be hunted before the very doors of the churches and chapels, even when service was being performed.

      Sir Charles Augustus Fitzroy, who has succeeded as governor-general of the Leeward Islands, is a branch of a high and noble English family. The accounts which have preceded him of his many virtues, bids fair for Antigua enjoying, in the person of her majesty’s representative, a good and liberal governor​—​one who will dispense justice without regard to caste or complexional prejudice​—​rewarding merit wherever it may be found​—​measures which, it is said, have been overlooked by many of his predecessors until within these last few years.

      Sir C. A. Fitzroy is lineally descended, in the female line, from Brigadier-General Crosby, (who had been appointed to the command of the Leeward Island government, in 1730,) as will be seen on a reference to his genealogy, in the Appendix.

      ⁵⁷ It must be remarked, that the house passed these resolutions after a member had been duly returned upon former precedents, so that if the returned member was obnoxious from his liberal principles, fresh regulations were determined upon in order to dispossess him of his seat. These are the evils incident upon having no laws to govern elections.

      CHAPTER XIV.

       Table of Contents

      My first voyage to Antigua​—​Visit upon deck​—​The booby’s welcome​—​Nearer approach​—​Harbour of St. John’s​—​The Black Pilot​—​North Sandy Island​—​Wreck of the mail-boat​—​Dangerous navigation​—​Long Island​—​South Sandy Island​—​Panoramic