i86 HISTORY OF THE [BOOK n. 



with a jealousy, which, increasing with the increase 

 of their numbers, broke out at length into acts of 

 open hostility and violence towards them. 



In the beginning of 1673, the storm fell on Ja- 

 maica. A new system of legislation was adopted for 

 this island, founded nearly on the model of the Irish 

 constitution under Poynings's act; and the Earl of 

 Carlisle was appointed chief governor for the pur- 

 pose of enforcing it. A body of laws was prepared 

 by the privy council of England; among the rest a bill 

 for settling a perpetual revenue on the crown, which 

 his lordship was directed to offer to the assembly, re- 

 quiring them to adopt the whole code, without amend- 

 ment or alteration. In future the heads of all bills 

 (money bills excepted) were to be suggested in the 

 first instance by the governor and council, and trans- 

 mitted to his majesty to be approved or rejected at 

 home; on obtaining the royal confirmation, they were 

 to be returned under the great seal in the shape of 

 laws, and passed by the general assembly; which was 

 to be convened for no other purpose than that, and 

 the business of voting the usual supplies; unless in 

 consequence of special orders from England. 



If we reflect only on the distance of Jamaica from 

 Great Britain, we may pronounce, without hesitation, 

 that it was impossible for the colony to exist under 

 such a constitution and system of government. What, 

 misconduct on the part of the inhabitants, or what 

 secret expectation on the part of the crown, originally 

 gav.e birth to this project, it is now difficult to deter- 



