2jo HISTORY OF THE [BOOK. n. 



bidder. The powers and authorities annexed to this 

 office are various ; and the acting officer is high-sheriff 

 of the whole island during his continuance in office, 

 and permitted to nominate deputies under him for 

 every parish or precinct. His legal receipts have been 

 known to exceed . 7,000 sterling per annum, and it 

 is supposed that some of his deputies make nearly as 

 much. 



The office of clerk of the supreme court is likewise 

 held by patent and exercised by deputation. Evidence 

 was given to the house of assembly some years ago, 

 that its annual value at that time exceeded . 9,000 

 currency. Of late I believe it is considerably dimi- 

 nished. 



Of the other great lucrative offices, the principal 

 are those of the register in chancery, receiver-general 

 and treasurer of the island, naval officer, and collector 

 of the customs for the port of Kingston. All these 

 appointments, whether held by patent or commission, 

 are likewise supposed to afford considerable emolu- 

 ment to persons residing in Great Britain. It is com- 

 puted on the whole, ' that not less than . 30,000 

 sterling is remitted annually, by the deputies in office 

 within the island, to their principals in the mother- 

 country. 



It is not very pleasant to the resident inhabitants to observe, that al- 

 most all the patent offices in the colonies are exercised by deputies, who 

 notoriously and avowedly obtain their appointments by purchase. Leases 

 for years of some of them, have been sold by auction j and nothing is more 

 common, at the expiration of those leases, than the circumstance of an 



