642 



Monthly Rcriete of Literature, 



the ulterior career of discoveries, to pursue 

 ' the sole history of this Jamaica- " since 

 become the source of so much wealth to in- 

 dividuals, and one of the brightest jewels in 

 the British crown." 



After Columbus finally left the island in 

 1504, it was not again disturbed till 1509, 

 when Ojeda, and Nicuessa, between whom 

 the Darien government had been divided, 

 were empowered to make what use they 

 pleased of the unoccupied Jamaica ; but, be- 

 fore the end of the year, Columbus's son, 

 Diego, through Esquimel, his confidential 

 agent, took possession of it, and commenced 

 a colony at Seville, which grew rapidly into 

 importance. In 1521, the parent stock 

 threw off its scions ; but the career of its 

 prosperity was somewhat checked by the 

 death of Diego Columbus in 1526, and the 

 devastations of the French pirates, subse- 

 quently known by the name of Flibustiers; 

 the frightened inhabitants fled, and founded 

 St. Jago, which then became the seat of 

 government. In 1554, Seville was almost 

 utterly destroyed by another visit from the 

 French pirates ; and, soon after, some English 

 privateers (why are they not called pirates?) 

 completed its destruction. In 1580, the 

 territorial right of Jamaica resting in the 

 dethroned Braganza family, the Portuguese 

 poured into it ; and their industry and per- 

 severance quickly accelerated its progress. 

 The country, overrun with hogs, horses, and 

 cattle, was cleared ; a bartering trade open- 

 ed ; and the way paved for the cultivation of 

 ginger and sugar. In 1596, St. Jago, 

 which had risen even into magnificence, had 

 its wings dipt by the predatory visit of Sir 

 Anthony Shirly ; and again in 1G35, by Co- 

 lonel Jackson from the Windward Islands, 

 who exacted a considerable sum for the pre- 

 servation of the capital; and, twenty years 

 after, in 1055, the whole island was finally 

 captured by an English squadron, under the 

 command of Penn and Venables, who had 

 been dispatched to seize St. Domingo not 

 without provocations if these provocations 

 are not to be called retaliations- the murder 

 of 600 English at Tortogua in 1638, and 

 again, in 1650, at Santa Cruz. 



To pour in a supply of people was the 

 first object of the English government, for 

 their new conquest. A supply of Irish was 

 accordingly sent ; and the Scotch transmitted 

 all their felons ; and an order of council 

 directed one thousand Irish girls to be for- 

 warded with all speed all with a due regard 

 to public and private morals ; and to this 

 illustrious origin supposing the order of 

 council executed must the old Creole fami- 

 lies, who are as proud as Lucifer, trace 

 their splendid descent. The population con- 

 sisted, in 1650, of 4,500 whites, and 1,400 

 negroes; and in 1661, the conquest being 

 sanctioned by the restored regal government 

 at home something like a civil government 

 was manufactured for the new colony 

 ihe island partially surveyed divided into 



twelve districts, and a council of twelve ap- 

 pointed which being violently opposed by 

 the soldiers, Colonel D'Oyly hung one or 

 two of them, " just to let them see, the law 

 could do as much as a court-martial." A 

 colony of Jews now flocked to the island, 

 and its " prosperity" advanced rapidly be- 

 yond all precedent the island having be- 

 come the mart the receptacle-general of 

 stolen property the seat of exchange and 

 traffic for swarming pirates. So early as 

 1664 was, in consequence, instituted a re- 

 presentative government 30 members con- 

 stituting the first assembly; and in 1672 

 the population, of all colours, had risen 

 to 17,272, and able to sustain itself without 

 farther aid from the mother country. In 

 1687, James II., as eager for conversion 

 abroad as at home, dispatched the Duke of 

 Albemarle, Monk's son, and his lady, 

 " whose presence, in the gallant language 

 of the Jamaica Legislature, was an honour 

 which the opulent kingdoms of Mexico and 

 Peru would never arrive at, and Columbus r s 

 ghost would be appeased for all the indigni- 

 ties he suffered from the Spaniards, could he 

 but know that his beloved soil was hallowed 

 by such footsteps." The duke and duchess 

 were accompanied by Father Churchill, who 

 quickly bestirred himself, and wandered 

 through the country, says Mr. B., literally, 

 an itinerant preacher of the Roman doc- 

 trines. " He had the pleasure," adds Mr. 

 B., with evident delight, (i in one of his 

 journies, to be half drowned in a river, and 

 half starved on a rock, and vairily hoped to 

 convert the heretics of Jamaica to the true 

 faith." 



In 1692, Port Royal was visited by an 

 earthquake, and 3000 persons were swallowed 

 vip in an instant, and, with them, all the records 

 of this precious society a calamity which 

 was quickly followed by an invasion of the 

 French, but successfully repelled by Captain 

 Elliott. Scarcely again was the island re- 

 covered from the alarms of invasion, when a 

 revolt of the negroes, under Cadjen broke 

 out, which was not finally quelled for forty- 

 seven years " costing," says Mr. B., 

 " 240,000?. and the enactment of forty-four 

 laws." In 1703, Port Royal, which had 

 again reared its head, was completely de- 

 stroyed by a conflagration, which gave oc- 

 casion to a new emigration to Kingston 

 thenceforth the capital of the island. In 

 1727j was terminated the long quarrel be- 

 tween the colonists and the government at 

 home, respecting the revenue act, by a ge- 

 neral acknowledgment of its rights, and 

 that cardinal declaration, which is justly re- 

 cognized as the MAGNA CHART A OF 

 JAMAICA " All such laws and statutes of 

 England, as have been at any time esteem- 

 ed, introduced, used, accepted, or received, 

 as laws in this island, shall, and are hereby 

 declared to be and continue, laws of this his 

 Majesty's Island of Jamaica, for ever." On 

 this memorable epoch stops the history. A 



