Governors: William Woodley--John Stanley--Major-General Charles
Leigh--Archibald Esdail--John S. Thomas--Robert Thomson.
In 1792, William Woodley, Esq., was again appointed
commander-in-chief; and, soon after his arrival, the increase of
the importation of white servants was again taken into
consideration.
Antigua had never reckoned a large population of whites; indeed,
from various causes, they were continually decreasing. This could
not be attributed to the want of encouragement given to settlers,
but from the situation of the island itself. Although Antigua is
naturally fortified by rocks and breakers, which defends it from
the attacks of large vessels; yet there are so many creeks and
harbours (which, with a small population, it was almost
impossible to protect) that the French and Caribs found it an
easy matter to land in their canoes, and destroy and plunder the
country, and ill-treat the inhabitants. From these circumstances,
emigrants were unwilling to settle here, but preferred going to
some of the other islands, which were less liable to these
incursions. To counteract these evils, and increase the number of
white inhabitants, various plans, as already shewn, had been
adopted by former governors,--fines were imposed upon proprietors
if they did not employ one able-bodied white man to every thirty
slaves, supposing that would tend to augment the population. But
as it was found that the law was still eluded, by owners paying
the penalty rather than maintain so many white servants, it was
agreed, this year, by the governor, council, and assembly to
increase the fine to 53l. 6s. 8d. for every deficient white
servant to forty slaves annually. Possibly this might have had,
in some degree, the desired effect; for, in 1800, we find there
were about 3000 white inhabitants to 36,000 negroes, which had
not been the case for the last forty years.
In 1793, the militia was regulated, and formed into "one squadron
of light dragoons, who were to serve on foot and horseback; two
regiments and one independent company of foot; and one battalion
of artillery." The dragoons were to be named by the governor and
council; and although not to be appointed without their own
consent, when once entered, they were not at liberty to remove to
another corps, unless promoted by the governor to a commission.
Only one person from an estate could serve in the dragoons, which
squadron was to consist of never more than one hundred and eight
men--non-commissioned officers and privates included--or less
than sixty. This was the first year any free negro or coloured
person was allowed to serve in the militia, when they were
appointed to the under services of artillery, and to act as
pioneers, and made subject to the same fines as privates of foot.
It appears this was also the year uniforms were appointed for the
militia, which being well arranged, made a good show upon their
monthly field-days. Antigua was visited this year by a malignant
fever, which caused a great many deaths. It was supposed to have
been brought from Grenada in H. M. S. Experiment, and conveyed
ashore in some of the sailors' bedding.
John Stanley, Esq., succeeded Mr. Woodley in the government, and
arrived the latter end of the same year, (1793,) but he did not
reside often in Antigua, giving St. Kitts the preference. In
1794, Antigua sent a complement of men, and some negro slaves, to
assist in the reduction of Martinique and Guadaloupe; and upon
the taking of those islands, the governor, council, and assembly,
issued a proclamation, forbidding any free persons of colour, or
negro slaves belonging to those places, from coming to, or
remaining in, this island. During the next year an annuity was
granted to the Honourable Edward Byam, the president of Antigua,
for his many services to the island, which has been alluded to in
a former chapter. A sum of money was also raised for defraying
the expenses of the war, which had been very heavy for the last
three years.
Major-General Charles Leigh was appointed commander-in-chief in
1795, but did not continue in the government more than twelve
months. During this period, it was agreed to allow such of the
poorer classes of white persons who might be wounded (while
serving in the militia) so severely as to affect their
after-life, 70l. annually; if killed, their widows to receive
40l. annually, during their widowhood; and their children, 20l.
annually, until they attained the age of fourteen. Additional pay
was also provided for the gunner and matrosses employed in the
several forts, and new regulations for the better ordering of the
militia, which in these seasons of danger was very necessary, for
the West Indies were still in an unsettled state, and their old
enemies the French were always on the look-out for opportunities
of increasing their possessions in these seas. Major-General
Leigh becoming disgusted with the West Indies, he determined to
return to England, and accordingly embarked on board a vessel
bound for that place, on the 3rd July, 1796, without permission
from his majesty.
At the departure of Major-General Leigh, there happened to be
none of the lieutenant-governors of the Leeward Caribbee Islands
in the West Indies; and accordingly, Archibald Esdail, Esq., a
counsellor of St. Christopher's[51] claimed the administration of
the government, and acted as such until his death, which happened
about three months after; but he did not visit Antigua to take
upon him the administration of the government, as he ought to
have done by direction of the reigning monarch. Upon his decease,
the lieutenant-governors being still absent, John S. Thomas,
Esq., another resident of St. Christopher's, represented himself
as first counsellor, and exercised the office of governor until
April, the following year, (1797.) Nothing of any consequence
occurred during his short administration, and very little can be
said about him in this place, for, like his predecessor, he never
honoured Antigua with his presence. The Kittefonians appeared to
have had it all their own way at that period, for no sooner had
Mr. Thomas breathed his last sigh, than another member of that
community, Robert Thomson, Esq., followed the example set before
him, represented himself as the oldest counsellor, and,
consequently, entitled to the vacant government; in which office
he continued until the arrival of the Right Honourable Lord
Lavington, (who was formerly governor under the title of Sir
Ralph Payne,) in 1801. During the three years Mr. Thomson was
governor, he visited Antigua for about three days, in March,
1800, so that the Antiguans had not much of their
commander-in-chief's society; but the council and assembly appear
to have gone on very well without him, and framed some very good
laws.
The first year of Mr. Thomson's government, Antigua had a visitor
in the person of that indefatigable, but unfortunate traveller,
Mungo Park. Mr. Park had embarked on board the "Charlestown," an
American slaver, commanded by a Captain Harris, who was bound to
Antigua with his live cargo. Upon nearing the island, the vessel
struck upon a rock and narrowly escaped shipwreck; it was,
however, at length got off, and brought into St. John's harbour,
where part of the cargo was sold. Mr. Park remained in Antigua
until the arrival of the "Chesterfield" packet, in which he took
passage to England. He speaks of Antigua as the loveliest of all
lovely isles.
Whilst Mr. Thomson was residing at St. Kitts as
commander-in-chief, the Antiguans were busy in again raising
funds to defray the expenses of the war, which had been, and
still were, very great. It was also enacted, that if any free
coloured, or white person, killed or wounded a slave belonging to
themselves or any one else, such offenders were to be considered
as murderers, and, consequently, as worthy of punishment as if
their victim possessed the fairest skin. That the life of a negro
was no longer to be considered "in law" as the "life of a dog,"
but that he was at length to be looked upon as human.
Antigua has always been liable to droughts, and, in such season,
serious losses have occurred from the slaves dying for want of
good water; to remedy this evil, as far as laid in their power, a
tax was imposed upon all sugar plantations and houses in the
island, which did not possess one or more cisterns.
This year (1798) appears to have been the first time that slaves
were really tried by jury, which was then made to consist of six
reputable white inhabitants. If upon trial they were found worthy
of death, the justices of the peace were to acquaint the
governor, or whoever might at such time be in command of the
island, with the sentence, in thirty-six hours after it was
pronounced, under a penalty of 20l. The provost-marshal was also
obliged to attend such trial, under a fine of 20l.; and for his
trouble he was to receive 3s. for summoning each juror, and 33s.
for his attendance.
In the middle of this year, a general council and assembly was
held at St. Kitts; and amongst other affairs discussed, it was
determined to pass certain regulations which would tend to
ameliorate the condition of slaves.[52] All owners of slaves were
to furnish a certain quantity of provisions for each slave, under
a penalty of 10s. per head weekly, which was to be distributed
among the negroes at the discretion of the master, and old and
infirm slaves were to receive their full allowance. Perhaps it
may not be uninteresting to some of my readers to know what was
the weekly allowance the law allowed for slaves, and
consequently, will insert it:--"Nine pints of corn or beans, or
eight pints of peas, or wheat or rye flour, or Indian corn flour,
or nine pints of oatmeal, or eight pints of Cassava flour or
Farine, or eight pounds of biscuit, or twenty pounds of yams or
potatoes, or sixteen pounds of eddoes or tanias, or thirty pounds
of plaintains or bananas; and also one pound and a quarter of
herrings, shads, mackarel, or other salted provision, or double
the quantity of fresh fish or other fresh provisions," all of
which were to be of good quality. Owners of slaves were not
allowed to pay them in money, unless there was absolute necessity
for so doing, under a fine of 20l.; but when circumstances
obliged them to recompense their slaves by cash, each negro was
to receive the sum of 4s.[53] weekly, and have two half days
allowed them to come to market for the purpose of laying it out.
The clothes allowed slaves for a year were, two jackets of
woollen cloth, and two pair of trousers, made of Osnaburghs, for
the men; and two woollen wrappers, and two Osnaburgh petticoats,
for the women. If preferred by the slave, and agreed to by the
master, a blanket and a cap were given in place of one suit of
these clothes. When employed in agricultural work, half an hour
was allowed for breakfast, and two hours for dinner, and they
were not to be called to work before five in the morning, nor
after seven in the evening, unless in crop time, or from evident
necessity! If any owner of slaves cruelly whipped or imprisoned a
slave without sufficient support, they were liable to
imprisonment, or to be fined at the discretion of the justices
before whom the case was tried; and if they deemed it necessary
for the further protection of the slave, they could cause such
slave to be sold at public auction. If any owner of slaves used
unnecessary severities towards them, or put upon them iron
collars, chains, or weights, such owner was liable to a fine not
exceeding 100l. When any slave was attacked by illness, medical
assistance was to be procured without loss of time; and whatever
nourishment the doctor ordered, such as wine, &c., was to be
given, under penalty of 50l. In cases of sudden death among the
slaves, (when they had not been visited by a medical man
forty-eight hours before,) notice was to be sent to the coroner
or justice, when an inquest, of not less than three persons, was
to be held on the body; should the owner neglect to do this,
another fine of 100l. was imposed. With regard to the "marriage
rites" of slaves, if their union can be called so, which was only
nominal, owners were to encourage them to have only one husband
or wife; and if faithful to each other, the woman was to receive
four dollars for her first child, (provided it was alive six
weeks after its birth,) and five dollars for each succeeding
child under the same circumstances, and the slave and his wife to
receive one dollar each at the end of the year. Should their
master fail to do this, it was punished by a fine of 50l.; while
the female who, in this state of conjugal fidelity, had borne six
children, was exempt from any but light work upon her youngest
child having obtained its seventh year.
Religion appears also to have been encouraged among them; for no
owner or manager of negroes was to restrain them from attending a
place of worship on a Sunday, under a penalty of 5l.; and if any
clergyman refused to baptize a slave which was supposed to be
sufficiently informed, such clergyman was to forfeit 30s. To
insure further their comforts, it was ordered that no estate was
to be without a commodious sick-house, furnished with proper
conveniences for the use of the sick, and a sufficient number of
attendants, under direction of a white person, to minister to
their wants. In omitting to do this, the owner of such estate was
liable to a penalty of 100l. for the first offence; and 20s. for
the latter. They were also obliged to return an annual account of
the births and deaths of their slaves, and how the sick were
treated, under fine of 100l.
When a female slave proved _enceinte_ of her first child, her
master was to provide her a house containing two rooms, and not
compel her to go to the sick-house, under penalty of 20l. During
pregnancy, they were not to be employed in the general work of
the estate, but lighter occupation was to be found them; and no
punishment was to be inflicted but imprisonment. So anxious did
they appear for the comfort and well-being of their slaves, that
it was further enacted, that sufficient clothing and provisions
should be provided for them, even if the estate was in debt; and
the costs for such articles was to be liquidated before any other
claim.
A melancholy catastrophe occurred during this year, at Antigua.
Lord Camelford, then acting as commander of his majesty's sloop
"Favourite," had a private quarrel with Lieutenant Peterson, of
H. M. S. "Perdrix;" and some very unpleasant recriminations
passed between the parties. Soon after this, Lord Camelford gave
Lieutenant Peterson an order, which he unfortunately refused to
obey, at the same time making use of some disaffected
expressions; and the consequences were, that Lord Camelford shot
him. His lordship was tried by a court-martial, and honourably
acquitted; but he must have carried a blighted conscience with
him, for--
"Alas! they had been friends in youth;
But whispering tongues can poison truth;
And constancy lives in realms above;
And life is thorny; and youth is vain:
And to be wroth with one we love,
Doth work, like madness, in the brain."
It was this Lord Camelford, who, when travelling through Italy
some years after, pointed out a spot in one of the fair valleys
of Savoy, as the place where he wished to be buried; and
accordingly, his remains were deposited there, amid Nature's
loveliest works. The end of Lord Camelford was untimely; he fell
in a duel, by the hands of Captain Best, a native of Barbados,
whose ideas of honour obliged him to challenge a professed
duellist, although he was himself a complete novice in such
affairs. Captain Best's first fire, however, took effect, and
Lord Camelford fell, mortally wounded. The quarrel originated
with an unfortunate woman, a second Millwood in character; and
Lord Camelford, who was the aggressor, confessed to his second,
before the duel took place, _that he knew he was in the wrong,
but he would not retract words he had once uttered_. It is said
that Captain Best, the successful duellist, was never a happy man
afterwards. He met with heavy domestic afflictions; but in his
last moments he said to a friend, that all his sorrows would have
appeared trivial, could he have wiped from his recollection all
traces of that unfortunate duel.
In 1798 sheep-stealing was made a capital crime in Antigua. It
had been considered so in England since 1740; and the Antiguans
found it necessary to punish such offence as that statute
directed. In 1799, an assize of bread was constituted, which was
intended to prevent bakers from taking undue advantage of the
public. Many other regulations were agreed to, upon this head,
such as not allowing any one to sell bread without licence;
obliging bakers to put a mark upon their bread, and if changing
such mark without further licence, to forfeit 50l. If such bread
was imperfectly baked, to be fined as if deficient in weight; if
damaged flour was used, the bread to be destroyed by a
magistrate, and a fine imposed upon the baker of 20l.; and if a
diseased person was employed in the bakehouse, another 20l.
penalty was enjoined.
In 1800, a law was passed to ascertain the number of negro slaves
in Antigua; and the total number of births and deaths upon an
average, for the last three years; when, upon taking the census,
the number of negroes was found to be 37,000. About this year the
legislature thought proper to increase the salary of the colonial
agent to 200l. sterling, considering that the sum appointed for
his recompence in 1698, namely 100l. sterling, was an
insufficient compensation for the trouble. The agent at this
period was the late Anthony Brown, Esq. Several serious accidents
having occurred during the last few years from the custom of
throwing about squibs, or other fireworks, it was determined that
should any one in future, let their sex or quality be what it
might, offend in this respect, such offender should be fined 40s.
If any slave made or sold fireworks, they were to suffer such
correction as the magistrate before whom the complaint was
brought should deem proper.
Thus ended Mr. Thomson's public career, after having held the
government for nearly four years. As before remarked of Mr.
Thomas, very little can be said about him; for he made St. Kitts
head-quarters, in opposition to the orders which had been sent
out by his majesty, to constitute Antigua the residence of the
commander-in-chief; and did not repair to this island to take
upon him the administration of the government.
------
[51] Perhaps it may be scarcely necessary to mention that St
Christopher's is as frequently called St Kitt's as its real name.
[52] This has been known throughout the West Indies as the famous
"Melioration Act." This appears to have been the last time the
general council and assembly for the Leeward Islands met.
[53] A shilling currency is equal to sixpence sterling. It must
be borne in mind, that all these specified sums are Antigua
currency.