measures for effecting his own infamous and tyrannical purposes: but I will, if possible, be patient, and go on with my narrative. In the evening two gentlemen, Messrs. Dickson and Mitchell, went to the Governor to speak with him on the subject of the dinner, and represented the innocence and loyalty of its object, but the mighty Brigadier General Picton declared, "that if the inhabitants dared to assemble to dine together on the morrow, he would disperse the party by force!" purpose the guards were actually doubled.

And for this On the morrow, Mr. Higham signified to the gentlemen that the intended dinner could not take place. During that day Messrs. Shaw and Higham received official notices that the Governor had thought proper to supercede them as officers of militia. Messrs. Winterflood and Bostock were superceded from their situations in the Customhouse, because their names appeared subjoined to the address, and no person who had signed it escaped the unmanly abuse of the unworthy delegate of majesty in Trinidad. While these transactions occurred, the active promoters of the address trembled for the fate of that loyal document:-regardless of their own safety, they thought of nothing but to secure the object of the late meeting; and a measure was determined upon which promised to defeat the plan of the governor, although it was certain to expose them to the whole weight of his resentment. On the morning of the 11th, Mr. Higham declared to about thirty inhabitants, "that he could not consider the address to be safe while avowedly in his pos session. From all that had hitherto occurred, it was evident that the Governor was a determined enemy to the address; and he had too much reason to fear the power of the Governor might force it from his possession; he therefore stated that he would quit his store for half an

hour, and hoped some friend of the address would take it without his knowledge, and deposit it in some place of safety until a more favorable opportunity for carrying the intentions of the inhabitants into execution." This was effectually done, and the event proved the suspicion of Mr. Higham to have been well founded. In the same forenoon the Governor sent to Mr. Higham and demanded the address, Mr. Higham replied he did not know where it was, The Governor repeated his demand, and received a similar answer. Mr. Higham was informed that if the address was not forthcoming in half an hour, the Governor would order his arrest. In half an hour the address was not forthcoming; and the mighty Governor proceeded to put his threat into execution. Three armed alguazills repaired to Mr. Higham's store, where they found him:-the Governor's order was produced, and Mr. Higham was conducted to government-house, On his arrival there, he experienced such a reception as might be expected from an enraged and disappointed despot:-the talents of the tyrant were admirably exerted in specimens of the most abusive eloquence; and at the conclusion, Mr. Higham was publicly conducted through the streets of Port of Spain by the alguazills and the jailor, in open day, to the common jail. The friends of Mr. Higham witnessed this violent abuse of power with feelings of indignation, commensurate to the occasion. They were well convinced that Mr. Higham would never be induced to purchase the forbearance of the Governor even by a temporary concession, or the dissembling of his opinions and principles for a moment; and while they reflected with pride, on the firmness of their friend, they shuddered at the consequences of the Governor's malignity. At the meeting at Wharton's, two addresses were signed exactly similar;

it was voted one should be given to the Governor to transmit to his Majesty, and the other sent to some merchants of London, for the purpose of publishing, and forwarding the objects of the inhabitants by all legal means. When it was known that Mr. Higham was arrested and thrown into close confinement, those who were in possession of these documents, contrived to convey one of them into the gallery of Mr. Harrison's house, with a note, requesting Mr. Harrison to summon the committee appointed to wait on the Governor with the address. Mr. Harrison, however, did not summon the committee, but went immediately to the Governor with the address, whose malignant triumph on the event, may be better imagined than described. To enjoy his success more completely, he sent for Mr. Higham from the prison, and after a repetition of the abuse and unmanly conduct which he had experienced on the preceding day, he was told by the Governor, "that he was at liberty, and might return home!"

To you, Sir, in the bosom of English freedom, it will appear incredible that the representative of our Sovereign should thus dare to violate the rights of a British subject, and, by a self-created authority, illegal and infamous, thus wantonly presume on an action which the King of Great Britain dares not venture upon. Yet such is the fact. An Englishman was thus dragged from his house, exposed to the fury of a despot, thrown into a common prison, again brought to the despot's tribunal, and without one shadow of charge, without even the mockery of trial, insulted, calumniated, and then informed that he was at liberty, and might return home! I must in this place mention the concluding part of the conversation which took place on that occasion, which I have collected from good authority:

G. P.-I hope, Sir, your imprisonment has done you some service?

Mr. H.-It has, Sir:-it has taught me more than ever to value my liberty, and more than ever to detest the wanton violator of it..

G. P. (After abuse which I will not insult my readers by repeating) Sir, you may go!

Mr. H.-Where, Sir?-To prison, or to my house? G. P.-Off the island, if you please.

Mr. H. No, Sir; not unless you will venture to banish me, and yet that would only hasten my appearance, in a country where, thank Heaven, you will not have the power to injure me: besides, Sir, I am not yet prepared to quit Trinidad, I have various matters to arrange;→→ but, I hesitate not to tell you, that you may rely on find ing your oppressive conduct duly reported in a quarter where you vainly imagine you have influence enough to repel my accusation against you,

It is astonishing to conceive how this Governor has depended on his power at home. On various occasions, when the wrongs of individuals have roused them to declare their determination to complain to government, the invariable answer of this unworthy Chief has been, “ Do what you please, Sir,-we shall see who has the most influence, you or I!" Sometimes in the height of his passion he exclaimed, "You wretch! I can crush you to atoms,-I'll let you know the executive hand of government is too strong for you!" In fact, he asserted so roundly his influence with government, and his retaining: his command so strongly confirmed it, that the inhabitants dreaded his vengeance, and submitted to his oppression, since they feared that to oppose him, would be to oppose the whole weight of the ministry. In one instance he certainly went far indeed in his boast of his

influence at home; and, much as government may be inclined to support their servants abroad, I question if they will thank him for bringing thein into notice on that

There prevails a report respecting a certain artilleryman, who was hanged in the island in the year 1797, by order of Governor Picton; and rumour has been bold enough to whisper that the Governor omitted the customary formalities of a trial, or, at least, that he reversed the usual order of procedure in such cases, by hanging him first, and trying him afterwards. "It is very certain you will hear more of this dark affair; however, in 1798 or 1799, some gentlemen were dining together, to entertain. a stranger who had that day arrived from a neighbouring colony. After dinner, the stranger observed that con's siderable interest had been excited in the different islands respecting an artillery-man who was said to have been hanged in Trinidad without a trial. The gentlemen began to look round, and finding one person present who held a situation under Picton, you may naturally con-" clude, there was not much freedom of debate insisted upon, and the subject was changed as abruptly as pos-' sible. Still, however, the Spy of Pieton was on the alert. In the morning he reported the affair to his dignified' master, and the whole party were summoned to government-house: when, after a severe reprimand for their audacious behaviour, in daring to descant on the transactions of his government, he ended by proudly declaring that," he felt himself very happy as to the execution of the artillery-man, having received the entire approbation of his Majesty's ministers for his conduct on that occasion.” Here let me reflect for a moment. Can it be possible that Governor Picton was warranted in this declaration? If it be true that ministers did sanction the execution of