reasonably expected, since Great Britain has SECT. 1. resumed a metallic currency, and the gold coinage has of late years been so immense, that in due time the circulation of it will be extended to the Colonies, by which means an uniform value will be established through the Islands, and the abominations of currency will be removed; this will be productive of the most substantial benefits, by the reduction of the exchange to an equitable rate, and consequently the price of such articles as are imported from Great Britain; the Colonial credit will also be increased from the greater facility and certainty of remittance. The system has already been adopted in Tobago, and the French Islands have always been supplied with their European coins, which maintain the sterling value and denomination. The Garrison for the protection of the Island, Garrison. since the peace has been reduced to one wing of a regiment, with a few artillery men, during the war two regiments were the complement, which the Government undertook to furnish, in consideration of the assistance which was given by the Colony at different periods, towards building the forts and barracks, and of C SECT. 1. maintaining the roads thereto at the public Militia. expence. The Militia consists of all the free inhabitants between the ages of eighteen and fiftyfive, and is formed into one regiment of five hundred and eighty men, two King's companies of one hundred and fifty men, and two Queen's companies of one hundred and twentyfive men, and twenty-five cavalry, these assemble for exercise once in every month, at different stations in the island. The legislature has endeavoured to keep up an effective force of white persons by requiring the planters to keep one white person for every fifty slaves, under a penalty of fifty pounds for each deficiency. 1 SECTION II. -Early History-Yellow and Black Caribs-Cession in 1763-Sale of Lands-First War, 1772-Treaty of Peace, 1773-Separate Government-Capture by the French. THE early history of the lesser colonies in the West Indies is so obscure, and of such little importance in the present age, that it is hardly worthy of any research; there are few records to be found in any writings of those who first visited them, which are not either enveloped in fiction, or distorted by ignorance or prejudice. Imitating the absurd example of the Papal grant of the whole continent of America to the Spanish monarch, other Potentates appear from time to time to have silenced the clamours of their subjects for remuneration, by grants of different islands and tracts of land, with as much propriety, and as little regard for the rights of individuals already in possession of them. Saint Vincent experienced this fate, it is not established that Columbus, or any Spaniards ever were in SECT. 2. actual possession of this island, the inhabitants were numerous and warlike, the coast was difficult of access, and the appearance of the interior was that of a dense forest with numerous rivers and precipitous ravines; possessing these natural means of defence, and abounding with the facilities of existence from a fertile soil, the ocean and rivers being well supplied with fish, and the forests teeming with large trees peculiarly adapted for canoes, it became a chosen residence for a tribe of natives called the yellow Caribs; it was nevertheless included in the Earl of Carlisle's patent which was granted by Charles I. in 1627; afterwards in 1672, a new commission was granted to Lord Willoughby, constituting him Governor of Barbados, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, and Dominica; on his demise Sir Jonathan Atkins was appointed, who in 1680, was succeeded by Sir Richard Dutton. In 1685, Colonel Edwin Stede was appointed Lieutenant-Governor; he seems to have been the first to assert any actual pretensions to the Island, as he sent persons to prevent the French from taking wood and water without permission, fearing that they might gradually claim a right of possession from the exercise of SECT. 2. this privilege; notwithstanding this nominal title, the English and French Sovereigns had agreed to an act of neutrality as far back as 1660, which was also confirmed by the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, in 1748. In the occasional visits to Saint Vincent, two distinct races of men were discovered, they were of different origins, and their appearances and manners plainly corresponded with those of different portions of the globe. One of these tribes had evidently descended from the Aborigines* of the Island, those of the other tribe were as evidently intruders, and the great difficulty consists in accounting fairly and fully for their introduction. Probability is the highest species of evidence that has hitherto been attained, and on this foundation the origin of this people rests. Upon a fair comparison, Raynal seems to have given the most satisfactory narrative of the early Settlements of the Europeans * Baron Humboldt in his Personal Narrative, Vol. VI. p. 9, has given very learned details respecting the tribe of the Yellow Caribs, which it is impossible to abridge into the compass of a note.-See also Bryan Edwards, Vol. I. p. 33, 5th Ed. |