CHAP, in.] WEST INDIES. 191 



Such was the actual situation of Jamaica until the 

 year 1728, when a compromise was happily effected. 

 In that year, the assembly consented to settle on the 

 crown a standing irrevocable revenue of ^.8,000 per 

 annum, on certain conditions, to which the crown 

 agreed, and of which the following are the principal : 



1st. That the quit-rents arising within the island 

 (then estimated at . 1,4-60 per annum) should con- 

 stitute a part of such revenue. 2dly. That the body 

 of their laws should receive the royal assent. And, 

 Sdly. That cc all such laws and statutes of England, 

 <' as had been at any time esteemed, introduced, used, 

 (( accepted, or received, as laws in the island, should 

 " be and continue laws of Jamaica for ever." The 

 revenue act, with this important declaration therein, 

 was accordingly passed; and its confirmation by the 

 king, put an end to a contest no less disgraceful to 

 the government at home, than injurious to the peo- 

 ple within the island. 



I have thus endeavoured, with as much brevity as 

 the subject would admit, to trace the political consti- 

 tution of, Jamaica from infancy to maturity; but al- 

 though its parentage and principles are British, it has 

 been modified and occasionally regulated by many un- 

 foreseen events, and local circumstances. In its pre- 

 sent form, and actual exercise, however, it so nearly 

 resembles the system of government in the other Bri- 

 tish West Indian islands, that one general description 

 (which I reserve for a subsequent part of my work) 

 will comprehend the whole. A minute detail of lo- 



