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he was sent prisoner, under charge of Mr. Judge Black, a member of council. Surely these extraordinary proceedings are not only illegal, but carried nullity on the face of them, and certainly contrary to his Majesty's instructions, which, in this instance, they thought proper to trample upon, like a piece of waste paper.

De Castro's arrest was communicated to the Colonel while he was sitting at table with a large company. Being in full uniform, of course had on a sword. Taking a cane, which he usually carried, he went about six o'clock in the evening, to Mr. Black's house, attended by Messrs. Mackenzie, Hill, and Vint, where he saw Messrs. Black and St. Pé, with Mr. De Castro sitting beside them. Colonel Fullarton inquired of Mr. De Castro if he was under confinement. He answered in the affirmative, and that Mr. Black had taken charge of him. Colonel Fullarton then asked Mr. Black whe ther as alcalde or counsellor? Black replied, that as Mr. De Castro was a regidor, it was not proper he should be sent to prison, and that he had taken charge of him at the desire of the council.

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Colonel Fullarton then stated it was a serious business, involving questions of felony, which, in their conse quences, might lead ultimately to the gallows; all persons should therefore be careful how they acted, but more particularly the Judges Black and St. Pé. He also insisted, that if Mr. De Castro had refused the papers, he would have been guilty of a breach of duty: anal that in consequence of the arrest and imprisonment of this gentleman, a report had gone abroad among the Spaniards and others, that any person thought capable of giving evidence against Brigadier-General Picton, would be confined and brought to punishment. Mr. De Castro was accordingly released, and Colonel Fullar

ton, in order to prevent any insults from being offered to him, appointed him a commissioner of population during the absence of Major Williamson, who had sailed for England on the 20th with dispatches.

His Majesty's instructions expressly requiring the first commissioner, to survey and report the situation of the Island, he, accordingly, on the 29th, embarked on board the government schooner, Start, accompanied by Messrs. Hill, Vargras, and Vint, in order to proceed on the said survey. Although Colonel Fullarton officially commanicated his intentions of proceeding on this survey as far back as the 12th Instant, and repeated again on the 24th, when neither the two commissioners, nor the council expressed their dissent or objections to his intended departure, yet the Commodore declared, that he would either take or sink the schooner, if they ventured to stir without the signatures of the two commissioners on the register.

The junior members of this disgraceful triad not only refuse to sign their names, but resist every effort on the part of the owners and captain; and the amiable person placed at the head of the government, is still spitefully detained on board, in full view of the whole Colony.

This letter was concluded on the 31st,

Vale,

LETTER XVI.

Colonel Fullarton's Departure lamented—Mr. Archibald Gloster's Proclamation to the British InhabitantsThe Case of John Dawson, Esq.-His Memorial, and Brigadier-General Picton's Answer-Mr. Dawson's Character vindicated-Colonel Fullarton's Character aspersed by Brigadier-General Picton's Panders-Reflections thereon-The Author taken before a Military Committee, and his Conduct on that Occasion.

DEAR SIR,

Head-Quarters, PUERTO DE ESPAÑA, April 7, 1803.

COLONEL Fullarton was allowed to pro

ceed on the 1st Instant, because the two worthies found themselves under the necessity of arranging matters with the Captain, who, it seems, entered a protest against them for detaining his vessel; therefore, they thought it prudent to abstain from further hostilities.,

I am sorry that the Colonel is gone, for his absence has occasioned a general gloom; and, I confess, my uneasiness is great, for I am now completely within the tyrannic grasp of Santhonax and Polverel*. I am prepared

* In the beginning of the year 1793, Santhonax and Polverel, celebrated desperadoes, were the two commissioners who ruined St. Do

for the worst, and happy to exclaim with the poet on this occasion:

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Early on the morning of the 1st Instant, I found the following notice posted in different parts of the town, which was done with a view to quiet the minds of the inhabitants, for the loss they sustained, by the absence of the first commissioner:

"GENTLEMEN,

"PORT OF SPAIN, March 31, 1803.

"I HAVE it in command from their Excellencies, BrigadierGeneral Picton and Commodore Hood, to acquaint the British Merchants of this Island, that the Commissioners have their interest under consideration, as well as the interest of the British inhabitants in general.

" (Signed)

"To the British Merchants,

ARCHIBALD GLOSTER,
"Attorney-General.

"and Inhabitants of the Island of Trinidad."

As I am not able at present to comprehend the meaning of the above notice, unless Mr. Gloster wishes that we should take it for an April hoax, I shall proceed, and leave the solution of it to your own conjecture.

Few men merited less persecution than John Dawson, Esq. of Liverpool; yet, Sir, he came in for a conside

mingo. After getting quit of the third, they found themselves supported by a desperate band of auxiliaries, composed of some revolted slaves, and vagabonds of all colours and descriptions. Being absolute masters of the Colony, the lives, liberties, and properties of the white inhabitants lay at their mercy. The dreadful scenes which were at that time passing in the mother-country, enabled these men to prosecute their purposes, and gratify their vindictive and avaricious passions, without notice or controul from any superior power.

rable share of oppression, calumny, and abuse. With such acts, they made his situation, while he remained here, as uncomfortable as possible.

A dispute had existed for some years between Mr, Dawson, and a Mr. Barry, of this Island, respecting some property which the former claimed from the latter. Mr. Barry, and a relation of the same name, went from Spain to London in the early part of the year 1797;the former kept incog. while the latter was dispatched to propose some terms to Mr. Dawson, who, finding that they were not consistent, referred the settlement of the business to his mercantile correspondent in London, and his attornies, Messrs. Ward, Dennet, and Greaves. Mr. Barry was still incog. but his relative had an interview with Mr. Dawson's correspondent, who was not able to reconcile the parties. Mr. Barry, and his friend, not being able to force their own terms on Mr. Dawson, were about to return to Spain, when the former was arrested, which necessarily detained him in England. In the meantime, Trinidad was captured, and Mr. Dawson having abandoned the action, came here and got possession of the property he claimed. Mr. Barry soon followed; but in what manner he interested the Brigadier in his behalf, I have not been able to ascertain correctly, it is enough to say, that Mr. Dawson was ultimately ejected vi et armis, immediately after having presented the following memorial:

"To his Excellency THOMAS PICTON, Esq. Governor of the Island of Trinidad and its Dependencies, &c. &c. "The Memorial of JOHN DAWSON, of the said Island of Trinidad, "Humbly Shesweth,

THAT your Memorialist, for many years past, has been involved in a suit at law, opposed to Edward Barry, of the said Island, Recht of your Memorialist in a certain Sugar Plantation,

as to

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