CHAP, in.] WEST INDIES. 181 



tants, to pass laws suitable to the exigencies of the 

 colony. 



This memorable appointment of General D'Oyley, 

 with a council elected by the people, may be consi- 

 dered as the first establishment of a regular civil go- 

 vernment in Jamaica, after the English had become 

 masters of it; but in order to create full confidence of 

 security in the minds of the inhabitants, further mea- 

 sures w T ere necessary on the part of the sovereign; 

 and they were readily adopted. D'Oyley desiring 

 to be recalled, the lord Windsor was nominated in his 

 room, and directed to publish on his arrival, a royal 

 and gracious proclamation, wherein, for the purpose 

 of encouraging the settlement of the countrv, allot- 



O O J J 



inents of land were offered under such terms as were 

 usual in other plantations, with such farther conveni- 

 ent and suitable privileges and immunities, as the 

 grantees should reasonably require. The proclamation 

 then proceeds in the words following: " And we do 

 " further publish and declare, that all the children of 

 " our natural-born subjects of England, to be born 

 " in Jamaica, SHALL, FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE 

 " BIRTHS, BE REPUTED TO BE, AND SHALL BE, 

 "FREE DENIZENS OF ENGLAND, AND SHALL 

 cc HAVE THE SAME PRIVILEGES, TO ALL IN- 

 " TENTS AND PURPOSES, AS OUR FREE-BORN 

 "SUBJECTS OF ENGLAND; and that all free per- 

 " sons shall have liberty, without interruption, to 

 " transport themselves and their families, and any 

 (C of their goods, (except only coin and bullion), from 

 t any of our dominions a ad territories to the said 



