to be burned by the common hangman. Thus hunted down, the remains of the ill-fated colony, ruined in their fortunes and starved out of their possessions, solicited, and, at length obtained, permission to join the Surinam planters in Jamaica. They established themselves between Bluefields and Luana Point; where they may yet be traced at Culloden, and Auchindown. The government of Sir William Beeston was one of political embarrassment, and no inconsiderable responsibility. It fell to his lot to provide against, and encounter, the most formidable attempt which was ever made by a foreign power to subdue the island. He had, moreover, to stem the torrent of overwhelming distress which followed the destruction of its great commercial capital; while his instructions respecting the Revenue Bill were in opposition to the wishes of the community, and the decisions of its senate. Yet he, for a considerable time, secured to himself a greater share of popularity than had been enjoyed by any of his immediate predecessors; and he dissolved this Assembly in tolerable harmony with all its members. There happened indeed an instance of stubborn opposition to his will, in the re-election of Usher Tyrrell, the member for Saint James's, who, at his instance, had been expelled the house. He sent back the return for further consideration; but, with the advice of his council, he at length forbore the provocation, A.D. 1701. and confirmed the writ. The succeeding Assembly, however, exhibited a scene of boisterous June 24. confusion, and continued irritation; for the governor would give no account of large sums of money, books, and writings, connected with unowned treasures found after the earthquake; and charity may suggest that he could render no statement of the disbursement of his Majesty's bounty of four thousand pounds intended to relieve the sufferers by the French invasion. But the consequence was, that the house refused to proceed, was July 28. 1702. prorogued, and then dissolved by proclamation; leaving a stigma upon the character of Sir William Beeston which his explanation never effaced. He was superseded in the government by Major-general Selwyn, governor of Tilbury Jan. 21. Fort; in whose Assembly an address was presented praying that Sir William Beeston might not be permitted to quit the island without accounting for the monies he had appropriated. Selwyn died; and Colonel Beckford, who had a dormant commission, of old date, caused his power, as Lieutenant-governor, to be proclaimed; and so continued the session. Beckford had passed through almost all the public offices in the island, as he observed in his speech, "though with no great applause, yet without complaint ;" and he carried on the business of this session in a manner which redeemed the pledge he had given, that he would April 5. comport himself as well like a faithful servant to his King, as a true lover of his country." Nothing of importance occurred, however; the death of the King caused a premature dissolution, and the proclamation of Queen Anne. June 24. Louis XIV. having seized the Spanish dominions in right of his grandson, their territories in America fell, of course, into his hands. This occasioned "the Grand Alliance" which the late king concluded with the Emperor, and the States-general, against France; and which now involved all Europe in a long, and bloody war, terminated only by the peace of Utrecht in the year 1713. The Queen, therefore, liberally encouraged all adventurers who should attempt to clip the Spanish dominions in the west; and Lieutenant-governor Beckford seconded her views by such means as Jamaica could afford. Admiral Benbow insulted the French, and their new allies, even in their ports. He sought M. Ducass, encountered, and gallantly beat him; but he was compelled to withdraw from the action, ere he had effected the destruction of his squadron. The cowardice of his captains cast a veil over the glory of this achievement, which the gallant Admiral did not long survive: he received a mortal gun-shot wound, and was buried in Kingston church. A court-martial was held on board the Breda, at Port Royal; and of the five officers tried, two were sent home, and suffered the fate which their cowardice merited. The governor had now convened another AssemAug. 6. bly; and lists of negroes, stock, and servants, were returned as follows: The windward districts of the island were harassed by the rebellious slaves; and after adopting measures for "pursuing and destroying them," the house was prorogued without any occurrence worthy of record. Aug. 23. The Earl of Peterborough was appointed governor of Jamaica, and the queen gave him far greater powers than any one in that station had ever enjoyed. Why he came not to his government does not appear probably a better appointment awaited him; for soon afterwards we find him commanding the land forces on board the fleet, which, under Sir Cloudesley Shovell, sailed for the coast of Spain, and receiving the thanks of his country for his signal services in Catalonia. The offensive war, maintained by the Duke of Marlborough in Flanders, withdrew all attention from the prosecution of active hostilities against the Spaniards here; and a small squadron only came to Jamaica. The merchants seized the opportunity for reviving the privateering system; and 1708. the gold mines at Santa Cruz Decana rewarded their daring industry with an immense A.D. Jan. 9. treasure. But as if to exemplify the instability of human prosperity, Port Royal had no sooner reared its head above the ruins of the earthquake than it was a second time, even more completely, destroyed by a conflagration, which burst forth from the crowded warehouses where these spoils were heaped. With the exception of the two royal forts, and magazines, not a building was left. The rapid devastation was principally owing to the quantity of gunpowder, and other combustibles, which were lodged beneath roofs of pitch-pine; a species of covering thenceforth prudently forbidden. This ruinous accident caused a second emigration to Kingston, which now rose as rapidly as her elder sister declined. Port Royal long remained a mere heap of ashes; but possessing all the conveniences of trade, it still continued the favourite, though fearful, resort of the privateers. Colonel Beckford had been superseded by Lieutenant-general Handasyde; a report had prevailed that the enemy was off the east end of the island, threatening a descent, and an hasty bill, providing for the safety of the colony, had been reluctantly passed by the council. The lieutenant-governor convened the next Assembly at Kingston; called attention to the deplorable condition of the sufferers by the late fire; and, with its concurrence, liberally provided for them. But the journals are so defective that none of the records of this session, prior to the first of March, are to be found; and the defi |