1 90 HISTORY OF THE [BOOK. n. 



dian colonies, the grant of a perpetual internal reve- 

 nue. The refusal of Jamaica, to consent to a similar 

 establishment; the punishment provided for her con- 

 tumacy, and the means of her deliverance, have al- 

 ready been stated; but it was found that the lenity of 

 the crown in relinquishing the system of compulsion, 

 was expected to produce that effect which tyranny 

 had failed to accomplish. The English government 

 claimed a return from the people of Jamaica, for ha- 

 ving dropt an oppressive and pernicious project, as if 

 it had actually conferred upon them a positive and 

 permanent benefit ; a claim in which all the British 

 ministers, from the restoration of king Charles to 

 the reign of George II. very cordially concurred. 



The assembly however remained unconvinced. 



j 



Among other objections, they pleaded that the mo- 

 ney granted by the island of Barbadoes was notori- 

 ously appropriated to purposes widely different from 

 those for which it was expressly given; and they de- 

 manded some pledge,, or security, against a similar 

 misapplication, in case they should subject their coun- 

 try to a permanent and irrevocable tax. The minis- 

 ters refused to give any satisfaction in this particular ; 

 and finding that the assembly were equally resolute 

 to pass their supply bills from year to year only, as 

 usual, they advised the sovereign, from a spirit of vin- 

 dictive policy, to wave the confirmation of the laws, 

 and to suffer the administration of justice in the island, 

 to remain on the precarious footing that I have de- 

 scribed, 



