APPENDIX.] OF JAMAICA. 291 



vour all I can to bring them to pass, for which I have greater induce- 

 ments than my being here, without any hopes from the present state of 

 -the treasury, which is exhausted and in debt for their new fortifications. 



NUMBER VI. 



of a Letter to Mr. Secretary Coventry frwn the Earl of Carlisle. 



St.JagOy nth September, 1678. 



SIR, 



The assembly met on the ad instant, and, I find, are so dissatisfied 

 with the alteration of the government, that I question whether they will 

 pass any of these laws : they have objections against several of them j as 

 .the act for the revenue that is perpetual, and may be diverted} they are 

 nettled at the expression in the preamble, that the revenue was raised by 

 the governor and council j and though they cannot deny it to be truth, yet 

 they say that council was elected by the people, and, though continued 

 tinder the name of a council, yet was in effect an assembly or representa- 

 tives of the people. 



I have given into thtir hands a copy of that act and fourteen more, and 

 gave them liberty to compare them with the original. The act of militia 

 and some others I keep by me, till I see what they will do with those they 

 have. All the acts are not yet transcribed j for but one man can write at 

 a time, and they are bulky j but I have enough to keep them employed. 

 The speaker came to me on Saturday, to desire liberty to adjourn for a 

 iew days, which I consented to, and they adjourned till Thursday morn- 

 ing. Lieut. Col. Beeston is speaker, who I recommended to them upon 

 *Sir H. Morgan's assurances that he would behave himself well. He hath 

 the general repute of an honest and discreet gentleman, though he signed 

 the order about the privateer, at which somueh offence was taken j but I 

 am satisfied he was no further faulty, than in complying with the direc- 

 tions of the assembly: and I the rather proposed him (whom they had a 

 mind to choose) to gain the point quietly -of recommending, which my 

 Lord Vaughan, I am told neglected to do. 



The assembly appointed a committee to compare these laws with their 

 former: it is said theyydiffer in many things, especially from these laws 

 last sent from Lord Vaughan, which are most usefully framed for their 

 present benefit. 



