declared his disapprobation, and requested another choice. The House was fully determined to withstand this unusual exercise of the prerogative, and accordingly having declined to re-elect a Speaker, they were addressed by the Governor, who declared that his aim had ever been to promote the interests of the colony, and that he could not give a surer pledge of the sincerity of his profession than by expressing his determination to oppose all seditious and factious proceedings; and with this ended all further intercourse between them, as he never reassembled them during his administration. The mischief which arose from these dissensions was serious in the extreme, as no measure for the public welfare was passed during this struggle for power. It cannot be denied that Governor Hodgson in requiring no more than the usual security from Mr. Smith, was merely exercising a right vested in him by the Treasury Act of 1774-5, nor can it be gainsayed that he had full authority to refuse to accept the Speaker when presented by the Assembly, but his pertinacious adherence in a course which he had proved would not be sanctioned by the people, who, when appealed to, returned the same representatives, was anything but discreet, as he should have been aware that there could be but one alternative, viz., to yield, or resign the government. As either course could not but be deeply mortifying, a prudent man would have avoided both, by yielding a point which was in itself immaterial, or, at least, admitted of a question. When it was evident from the disposition of the electors, that

the Assembly would always be of the same opinion, it was not only a useless opposition on his part, but was actually a misuse of his high office, into which he should never have permitted himself to have been betrayed. His uncourteous and unceremonious mode of dissolving the Assembly was highly unbecoming as it reflected no honour on himself, and was degrading to a branch of the Legislature which he, as the head of the whole, was bound duly to respect.

General Hodgson continued to administer the government, amidst the murmurs of the inhabitants, until the 20th of June, 1810, when he left the colony, and President Trott succeeded to the command.

CHAPTER VI.

President Trott-Governor Sir James Cockburn-President William Smith-Lieutenant-Governor George Horsford-Governor Sir James Cockburn-President William Smith-Governor Sir James Cockburn -President William Smith-Governor Sir William Lumley-President William Smith-Governor Sir Hilgrove Turner-Acting Governor Robert Kennedy-Governor Sir Hilgrove Turner-Acting Governor Robert Kennedy-Governors Sir Hilgrove Turner-Sir Stephen R. Chapman-Acting Governor Henry G. Hunt-Robert KennedyGovernors Sir Stephen R. Chapman-Lieutenant-Colonel William Reid.

MR. TROTT Continued in office until the arrival of Governor Sir James Cockburn on the 31st of August, 1811, who opened the Colonial Parliament in form on the 11th of October, and informed them that he had taken an additional five thousand pounds security from the Treasurer, thus by his first act yielding the point for which his predecessor had so firmly contended. Sir James left the colony in July, 1812, when the command devolved on His Honour William Smith. This year was memorable for the commencement of the war between Great Britain and the United States. An American squadron lay ready at New York to strike a first blow immediately after a secret sitting

of Congress, and two objects were proposed to the American Council, namely to seize either the homeward bound West India fleet, or the Bermudas; it is said that the first project was adopted by a casting vote only. Thus the colony had a narrow escape from capture, as it cannot be doubted but the attempt, although a bold one, would at that time have been completely successful.*

President Smith was relieved, on the 14th of September, by Lieutenant-Governor George Horsford, who administered the government with popularity until the return of his Excellency, Sir James Cockburn, on the 24th of July, 1814. Since the incorporation of Hamilton, the inhabitants of the upper and middle parishes had never ceased their efforts to obtain a removal of the seat of government from St. George, and it added not a little to the pleasure of Governor Cockburn's return when he announced that his efforts had been successful, and the Home-Government had consented to the measure. This had throughout been warmly, but very naturally, opposed by the inhabitants of St. George, who foresaw that the commercial advantages of the place would be greatly deteriorated in con

sequence.

The Legislature having, on the 2nd of December, 1814, informed the Governor, by an address, that proper temporary accommodation had been provided at Hamilton for the public offices, his Excellency replied that the 1st of January, 1815, was named for the removal to take place. The gratitude of the majority

* James's Naval History; Action of H.M.S. Belvidere.

of the Assembly was not, however, confined to mere words, as they passed the following resolution, on the 22nd of December, 1814:

"Resolved as a testimony of our sense of the benefits resulting to the colony from the Administration of His Excellency, Sir James Cockburn, Bart., Governor and Commander-in-chief, generally, and more especially in his zeal and successful exertions to obtain for these islands the improvement and extension of our commerce by the late Free Port Acts, and in removing, with the gracious permission of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, the seat of His Majesty's government to these Islands from the town of St. George to the town of Hamilton, that the sum of Four thousand pounds be granted to His Excellency; and hereby His Excellency is authorised to receive from the public Treasury the sum of Four thousand pounds on or before the eighteenth day of January next, to be invested in a service of plate, or in such other manner as may most fitly hand down to posterity a grateful memorial of the general good which the measures of His Excellency's administration have conferred on the Bermuda Islands. And the public Treasurer is hereby authorised and required to pay to the order of His Excellency the said sum of Four thousand pounds on, or before, the eighteenth day of January next.

By order of the House.

"JOHN NOBLE HARVEY, Speaker."

This was of course opposed by the members for St. George, who were not at all desirous of complimenting *About £2,400 sterling.