the House feels that it cannot, with any confidence, continue to legislate measures for the benefit of its constituents, and in self respect and in vindication of the rights of the people, it declines to do any business with the honourable Board of Council On the passing of this resolution the House adjourned and the "deadlock" continued. The whole question was in the meantime brought under the consideration of the Imperial Government, and the period of Sir Charles Grey's administration having, fortunately for the Colonial Secretary, about then expired, Sir Henry Barkly was commissioned as Governor of Jamaica. "Sir Henry had been a sugar planter in Demerara, and had been sent to that colony to settle the Retrenchment Question there, and had done so to the satisfaction of all parties. The Retrenchment Party therefore saw in him a sympathiser and a deliverer, and he was heartily welcomed by them, and, indeed, by the entire community. The members of Assembly transformed their Legislative Hall into a Ball Room and subscribed liberally to a magnificent entertainment to Sir Henry and Lady Barkly."*

Sir Henry Barkly called the Legislature together for a new session at the earliest opportunity after his arrival, and in his opening speech he fully expressed himself on the questions at issue. "What Jamaica stands pre-eminently in need of at the present stage of her political progress," said His Excellency," is a strong Executive Administration, consisting of upright and intelligent men, chosen from among her own citizens, to devote themselves to the exclusive study of her condition-charged with the sole responsibility, in all matters of finance, and serving as an acknowledged medium of communication between the Representative of the Crown, the Council and the House of Assembly." The recommendation was adopted and the Act for the better government of the Island was passed, under which the Governor was authorized to appoint an Executive Committee to consist of no more than four members of the Legislature. In consideration of the adoption of this measure and the provision of a permanent revenue of £25,000 per annum, to be appropriated in payment of the salaries of the Judges, the Executive Committee, the Receiver-General and several other public officers, the Imperial Government guaranteed a loan of £500,000 at 4 per cent. to pay off the debts of the colony. At the same time the Legislative Council was deprived of its functions as a Privy Council and the number was increased to seventeen members. A new Privy Council was formed consisting of sixteen members. Sir Henry Barkly was sworn in as Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief under the new Constitution and the first Executive Committee was appointed; these were Mr. (afterwards Sir) Bryan Edwards in the Legislative Council and Mr. Edward Jordon and Mr. Henry Westmoreland in the Assembly.

While these political questions were agitating the country, considerable alarm was created by rumours of an approaching rebellion of the negroes. "The ground-work of the whole matter" was declared to be "the belief of the peasantry that the United States of America were likely to take possession of the island and to reduce them (the negroes) to slavery." This belief, it was supposed, had originated from the mention which had been made in some of the American papers of the destressed state of the island, and the good which would result from its annexation, with Cuba, to the United States; and what the planters had said "on the subject of relief from Great Britain, as well as other persons-some, very influential."t The Governor made arrangements to have a sufficient force available if any disturbance should occur in the districts where it was apprehended, and issued a Proclamation to quiet the minds of the peasantry by assuring them that there was no danger that any attempt would again be made to reduce them to slavery. These measures were successful and all cause for alarm soon passed away.

In the year 1850 Asiatic Cholera had made its appearance, for the first time, in Jamaica. It first occurred in Port Royal and afterwards severely scourged nearly every parish in the island. The mortality was estimated at 32,000 persons or about one in 13 of the population at the time. A second visitation of the decease occurred three years later but its ravages and duration were not so great as was the case in 1850. The first session of the Legislature under the new constitution was devoted to the passing of laws for effecting financial reforms and restoring public credit; but there was still an empty Treasury and heavy arrears were outstanding. For five years the *Political Life of C. H. Jackson.

† Letter of Archdeacon Williams to Bishop Spencer.

Receiver-General was unable to pay in full all claims against the Treasury and the cry for retrenchment still prevailed. This was effected in the second session under the new constitution, when the judicial, clergy and other establishments were reduced on equitable terms and the holders of abolished offices were placed on the pensions list, which was then created. Sir Henry Barkly having effected these objects was transferred, on promotion, to Victoria and Mr. (afterwards Sir) C. H. Darling was appointed Governor.

Governor Darling, after "a careful consideration of the relative bearing of the several clauses of the Act for the better Government of the island, informed the Execu tive Committee that he had arrived at the conclusion that "it was the intention of the Legislature to establish in Jamaica the main principle, at least, upon which Responsible Governments in other colonies rests, namely, that in all important questions, which are of a purely domestic nature, the colony should be governed according to the well understood views and wishes of the constituencies (assumed to be the people) as expressed by their representatives in the Legislature "* Messrs Jordan, Hosack, and Price, the then members of the Executive Committee, contended that "the theory of the government established by the Acts for the better government of this island made the Governor for the time being alone responsible for the Acts of the Government ;" and that "Responsible Government, which was what the Governor sought to establish, was unsuited to the country." Mr Darling differed from the members of the Committee and they submitted their resignations. Messrs. R. W. Smith, George Solomon and the Baron Von Ketelhodt were thereupon appointed to office on the principle of ministerial responsibility. Mr. Solomon on entering on his duties as Financial Minister presented a statement to the Assembly shewing a deficit in the Treasury of £58,060 18s. 3d., and obtaining a law providing for the issue, if necessary, of £20,000 of Treasury bonds to meet immediate claims. Soon after Governor Darling left the island on leave and Mr. Edward John Eyre was appointed Lieutenant-Governor.

The Assembly met in November, 1862, and the intensity of former political struggles soon manifested itself in opposition to the Executive Committee. Early in the following year it became necessary to dissolve the House and on the meeting of the new Assembly Mr Westmoreland moved an Address to the Lieutenant-Governor, declaring "that having regard to the mal-administration of the financial affairs of the colony, the continuance in office of His Excellency's present constitutional Advisers is incompatible with the due progress of the public business and the welfare of the island." The address was passed by a majority of one and Mr. Smith and his colleagues resigned. Messrs. Jordon, Westmoreland and Phillips (the lat ter being subsequently replaced by Mr. Price) were appointed their successors. This did not secure political tranquillity and it was not long before the LieutenantGovernor and the Assembly came into direct collision and the Assembly (or rather thirteen members of that body acting as a quorum) "declined to proceed to any further business with His Excellency.' This determination was the result of Mr. Eyre's having instructed the Attorney-General "to adopt proceedings, by way of habeas corpus, to impeach the right of the Assembly to imprison persons for contempt." Mr. Ewart, the Agent-General of Immigration, had been imprisoned by the House for declining to reply to certain questions concerning his office, which had been submitted to him by a Committee of the Assembly, on the ground that the information he possessed was "privileged." Just about this time Mr. Darling was transferred to Victoria and Mr. Eyre appointed Governor-in-Chief-the Secretary of State (The Duke of Newcastle) having promoted him in testimony of his approval of the course he had adopted in the recent conflict with the Assembly. Whilst these political questions were agitating the country "a drought had desolated the provision grounds and deprived the peasantry of their usual food. The American war and increased taxation on imports had also made costly the supply of breadstuffs." Agitators availed themselves of these calamities to excite the public mind. A public meeting was held in Kingston under the presidency of Mr. George William Gordon, at which a resolution was passed calling upon all the descendants of Africa, in every parish throughout the island, to form themselves into Societies * Jamaica Parliamentary Debates, 1860-61. † Dr. Underhill on Jamaica.

and hold public meetings and to co-operate, for the purpose of setting forth their grievances." The greater number of the speeches delivered at these meetings were of a seditious character, and a Committee designated "The Central communicating Committee" was formed, with its head quarters in St. David's.

The movement thus inaugurated soon had its natural effect. On the 11th October, 1865, the Vestry of St. Thomas-in-the-East met for the transaction of their ordinary business. At about three o'clock some hundreds of people armed with cutlasses, sticks, muskets, and bayonets entered the square in front of the Court House at Morant Bay and declared for "war." They were all blacks and their cry was "colour for colour, blood for blood." They began their overt acts by stoning the Volunteers who were drawn up in front of the Court House (a disturbance having been anticipated) and Captain Hitchins was struck on the forehead. The Riot Act was read and the Volunteers fired, but they were soon overpowered. A hand-to-hand struggle ensued during which Captain Hitchins, faint from the loss of blood, rested on the knee of a Volunteer the rifle he had taken from a murdered comrade, and fired his two remaining rounds of ammunition. He was then surrounded and hacked to death. All the officers and many of the members of the Volunteer Corps "nobly died at their post, gallantly doing their duty."* The Custos of the Parish, the Curate of Bath, the Inspector of Police, and a number of Magistrates and other personages were also murdered.

On intelligence of the outbreak reaching the seat of government troops were immediately despatched to the disaffected district and Martial Law was proclaimed. The Maroons of Scott's Hall and Moore Town were called out and headed by their veteran chief, Colonel Fyfe, took the field and did good service in arresting the fugitive rebels. The Pensioners of the West India Regiments residing in Jamaica were called to their colours and responded with alacrity. In Kingston the number of Volunteers increased within three days from one hundred and fifty rank and file to over five hundred, and additional Volunteer Companies were improvised in every parish of the island. "Within three days from the first intelligence of the rebellion reaching Kingston it was headed, checked, and hemmed in, and within a week it was fairly crushed." The Military and Volunteers, however, remained on guard and transport duty during the entire month of Martial Law and their services were appreciatively acknowledged by the Governor in his opening speech to the Legislature, and they received the thanks of the Legislative Council and the Assembly. The relatives dependent upon those who fell in the engagement of the 11th October were pensioned by the Legislature. Mr. Gordon was arrested, tried by a Court Martial and hanged, and a number of the actual ringleaders among the insurgents were similiarly dealt with.

On intelligence of the outbreak reaching England Sir Henry Knight Storks was despatched to Jamaica to assume the government and to act as President of a Royal Commission of Enquiry. He was associated with Mr. Russell Gurney, the Recorder of London, and Mr. J. B. Maule, the Recorder of Leeds. The conclusions arrived at by them were "(1) That the punishments inflicted during Martial Law were excessive; (2) that the punishment of death was unnecessarily frequent; (3) that the floggings were reckless and at Bath positively barbarous; (4) that the burning of one thousand houses was wanton and cruel." The Commissioners also reported that the disturbances had their immediate origin in a planned resistance to lawful authority," and that "a principal object of the disturbers of order was the obtaining of land free from the payment of rent." Her Majesty's Government while giving Governor Eyre "full credit for those portions of his conduct to which credit was justly due, felt compelled by the result of the inquiry to disapprove of other portions of his conduct" and declined to replace him in the government of the colony. Mr. Eyre thereupon left Jamaica.

The Legislature had previously, at the instance of Governor Eyre, passed a law to abolish the then existing Constitution, and to empower Her Majesty the Queen "to create and constitute a government for this island in such form and with such powers as to Her Majesty may best seem fitting," and the act had received the assent

* Governor Eyre's Report to Mr. Secretary Cardwell.

† Governor Eyre's Speech to the Legislature.

of the Crown. Thus was brought to a close a Representative Institution which had existed for 202 years, and which had exercised powers, in some respects, in excess of those of the British House of Commons itself.

Sir John Peter Grant, K.C.B., arrived as Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief of the island on the 5th August, 1866. He brought with him an Order in Council dated the 11th June of that year establishing a new form of government. The new Legislature was designated "The Legislative Council of Jamaica" and consisted at first of the Governor and six official and three non-official members.* A Privy Council was also provided for.

The Legislative Council met for the despatch of business on the 16th October and at once directed their attention to the re-adjustment of the public finances. There had been a deficit on the 30th September, 1865, of £80,656, and there were obligations arising out of the recent disturbances to be immediately met. With the view

of providing for these requirements, without unduly pressing on any particular section of the community, the excise duty on rum was increased, the house tax was extended to all houses under £12 annual rental, a small tax was laid on land and a trade license was imposed on Merchants, Storekeepers, Newspapers Proprietors and other men in business. In the following year additional customs' duties were levied on wines, tobacco and similar articles of luxury and an addition of ten per cent. was in all cases made to the total amount payable on imports. Estates machinery and other articles required for the production of the staples of the colony and the development of its resources were however admitted free. The result of these readjustments was that on the 30th September, 1868, there was a surplus of £5,599 ; this was the first time for many years that the finances of the colony had shown an excess of revenue over expenditure.* The Government had now begun a series of changes in the political and fiscal affairs of the colony.

One of the first measures of reform was the reduction of the number of parishes from twenty-two to fourteen. The parishes were thus nearly equalized in size and population and the annual expenditure for maintenance was greatly reduced. A new revenue system was established, whereby the Officers of Customs and the Collectors of Taxes were placed under a Central Head and the collection of the revenue, both internal and external, was regulated by a uniform system. A semi-military Police was organized and placed under an Inspector-General, and a Rural Police was added as an Auxiliary Force for the detection of crime in the remote districts of the country. The Judicial Establishment was re-constituted. District Courts ou the model of the English County Courts were introduced; Public Prosecutors were appointed as Assistants to the Attorney-General; the Judges of the Supreme Court were authorised to admit Solicitors of seven years' standing to practise as Advocates in the Supreme Court, and a Commission was appointed to prepare a new and revised edition of the statutes of this island. Grand Juries were abolished and the Attorney-General was charged with the power of preferring indictments against person accused of crime. The reduction of the number of Judges of the Supreme Court from four to two, as vacancies occurred, was sanctioned. A Medical Department for providing the inhabitants, and especially those in the rural districts, with medical attendance and medicine, was established; and a change in the educational system, under which the annual grants to elementary schools were based on results, was inaugurated. As a part of this new education movement provision was made for the training of Schoolmasters at a Government Training College in Spanish Town and at the Mico Institution in Kingston. A Government Savings Bank was opened in Kingston, with branches in the several parishes, in substitution of the old Trustee Banks, which were limited in their operations and but indifferently managed by the local Trustees. The postal rates on letters were reduced and postal communication between Kingston and the interior was extended to three posts per week. A Department of Public Works was organized under an officer designated the Director of Roads and Superintendent of Public Works, and an effective system of road supervision was inaugurated. The public buildings which had for years been falling into decay were repaired and commodious hospitals, police stations and other necessary buildings were constructed on modern principles. In the year 1868 Coolie

*See article on Political Constitution in this Publication,

immigration was resumed (after having been stopped for four years) and Cinchona was first permanently planted at Bellevue, on the Blue Mountain Range, by the Government. In the same year the fruit trade with the United States of America was started at Port Antonio by private enterprize.

The greater part of these improvements involved large additional annual expenditure from the Public Treasury; but notwithstanding this there was an annual surplus during the whole period of Sir John Peter Grant's administration. His Excellency in reporting on the finances of the year 1871-72 (the year preceding that in which he left the colony) informed the Secretary of State as follows: "The continuing surplus accrues from no increase of taxation, and is in the face of a large expenditure on public works of utility and importance, of a largely increasing expenditure on such departments as those of education and medicine, and of some increase of expenditure in those administrative and revenue departments which necessarily require development as the population and wealth of the colony became developed."* Among the inposts remitted in consequence of the solvency of the finances were the tonnage dues and the tax on breeding stock, working cattle, and sheep, which were inherited from the old Legislature, and the additional import duty which was levied in 1868.

A Census was taken on the 31st July, 1871, which showed that the population which was recorded as 506,154 had increased by 14.7 per cent. in the ten years ending on that day. Within the same period the Established Church in Jamaica was abolished by the expiry of the Clergy Law and the first Synod of the Disestablished Church was held in Kingston under the presidency of Bishop Courtenay. The Law of Charles II., empowering the Governor for the time, with the advice of a Council of War, to declare Martial Law in times of disturbance, was repealed. Two other noteworthy occurrences took place during the administration of Sir John Peter Grant. The first was the transfer of the seat of Government from Spanish Town, the ancient capital, to Kingston, the commercial centre. The second is the case of the La Have.

The La Have, with papers showing that Kingston was her destination, and with a cargo of guns and munitions of war, was captured on the high seas by a Spanish man-of-war and towed into Port Royal. The cargo was detained by order of Governor Sir J. P. Grant on the advice of Mr. Attorney-General Heslop, under an Island Statute which declared that munitions of war shipped at a foreign port are forfeited to the Crown if imported into Jamaica. Actions for damages were filed by the owners of the vessel and cargo against Sir J. P. Grant, the amount claimed being £35,000. After the first case had been heard and a verdict had been given against the defendant a compromise was effected by the parties to the suits, the Governor giving his promissory note, payable in six months for £7,920, with interest at 8 per cent. to the date of payment and restoring the arms and munitions. The Legislative Council subsequently passed a vote for redeeming the promissory note, but requested the Governor "to urge the Secretary of State, in as strong a manner as His Excellency might deem fit, the justice of the British Government's refunding the amount to the Colony, the seizure having been made for the purpose of carrying out Imperial Policy and International Law. The amount was refunded.

Sir J. P. Grant left Jamaica on the 25th January, 1874, and Mr. W. A. G. Young, the Acting Colonial Secretary, assumed the Government as President of the Privy Council. Sir William Grey arrived as Governor on the 4th April. During his administration the island was afflicted with a hurricane (November, 1874) by which many of the provision grounds of the peasantry were destroyed, and by a severe drought (1876) followed by heavy and continuous rains, which did unusual damage to the roads throughout the Island. Small-pox also prevailed epidemically in some parts of the island, especially in Vere and Clarendon, and endemically in other parts. A considerable commercial panic, in consequence of overtrading on fictitious capital, also occurred. Two of the leading firms of Kingston failed for the large sum of £353,844 and these failures caused several other bankruptcies. The reaction which followed upon this general collapse of trade had a very unfavourable effect on the import duties and on the revenue from stamps.

*Sir John Grant's Report on the Blue Book of 1872.

† See Articles on Church of England in Jamaica in this Publication.