APPENDIX.} OF JAMAICA. 295 



ander his hand, and col. Freeman submitted ; but col. Charles Whit- 

 field, otherwise a very good man, went away into the country. 



The assembly received and examined all the laws I brought over, and 

 drw up their reasons against passing them j of each, many were very- 

 frivolous, and the best was, because they were not compared with and 

 amended by the last laws of my lord Vaughan's now with you, and re- 

 ceived some two days before my coming away, the fleet then staying in 

 the downs, and my departure much pressed upon the expectation of war. 

 These reasons against the revenue bill I answered individually 5 but no 

 means or endeavours either I myself, the council, or both could use, 

 would prevail with them ro pass any one of them 5 and I look upon this 

 to be their chief reason, that by not passing them they might the better 

 shew their dislike of that new way of government ; though they urge this 

 for their enjoying a power of altering and amending laws, the necessity 

 of changing them as often as occasions do require, and the distance from 

 this place is so great, that before the king's approbation can be obtained 

 to a law, and returned hither, it may be fit for the public good either to 

 lay that law aside, or much to change and alter it ; and, indeed, in this 

 part of the objection I think they are in the right, for that they will want 

 temporary laws till the colony be better grown: and, upon thorough con- 

 sideration of the whole matter in this part, I am of opinion, it is very aJ- 

 visable and requisite, that there should be leave and power from the king 

 to make laws (not relating to his majesty's power or prerogative) to en- 

 dure for some term till his royal approbation may be had therein j and of 

 this I do earnestly entreat your care. 



Having used all methods possible with the several members apart, and 

 jointly with the body of the assembly, for the passing the laws, I was, 

 after many conferences and debates, and several adjournments, frus- 

 trated, and they threw them all out. Afterwards, in a full body, by 

 the speaker, they gave me the inclosed address, and presented to me a 

 bill for public impost, prepared, without gi'ving me notice thereof, in 

 such terms and forms as was not fit for me to pass it io 5 but at last in 

 some part consented to such amendments as I and the council thought fir, 

 changing the style of enacting as directed in my instructions, but re- 

 straining it to one year, from a fear that if they should have made it per- 

 petual, they should be assembled no more, but be governed by governor 

 and council as they were in col. D'Oy ley's time, when they enacted laws, 

 not only for the itvenue, but other occasions, by governor and cour.ol, 

 and some part of Sir Charles Lvttleton's lime, as appears by our council 



