300 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT [BOOK. n. 



laws should be enacted in Jamaica, but 6uch as, being framed by the 

 governor and council, and transmitted unto your majesty for your royal 

 approbation, were afterwards remitted to Jamaica, and consented unto 

 by the assembly there j and, in pursuance thereof, the earl of Carlisle 

 canied over a body of laws under the great seal of England ; which lawa, 

 upon ius lordship's arrival there, hav been rejected by ihe general assem- 

 bly, upon grounds and reasons contained in an address to your majesty's 

 governor, and in divers letters received from his lordship in that behalf. 



ist. In the first prace, we find, they are unsatisfied with the clause 

 in the nuitia bill, whereby it is provided, that the governor may, upon all 

 occasions or emergencies, act as governor in chief, according to and in 

 pursiunce of all the powers and authorities given unto him by your ma- 

 jesty's commission ; fearing that thereby they shall make it legal to exe- 

 cute all instructions that either are or shall be sent your majesty's gover- 

 nor. 



adly. They have likewise rejected the bill for raising a public revenue, 

 as being perpetual, and liable (as they say) to be diverted. 



3dly. It is objected, that the said laws contain divers fundamental er- 

 rors. 



4thly. That they were not compared with, and amended by, the last 

 laws sent over by Lord Vaughan. 



5thly. That the distance of the place renders the present method of 

 passing laws wholly impracticable. 



6thly. That the nature of all colonies is changeable, and consequently 

 the laws must be adapted to the interest of the place, and alter with it. 



ythly. That thereby they lose the satisfaction of a deliberative power 

 in making laws. 



Sthly. That this form of government renders your governor absolute. 



9thly. That by the former method of enacting laws your majesty's 

 prerogative was better secured. 



These being the objections and pretences upon which the assembly has, 

 with so much animosity, proceeded to reject those bills transmitted by 

 your majesty, we cannot but offer, for your majesty's information and sa 

 tisfaction, such a short answer thereunto, as may not only give a testimo- 

 ny of the unreasonableness of their proceedings, but also furnish your 

 governor, when occasion shall serve, with such arguments as may be fit 

 to be used in justification of your majesty's commission and powers grant- 

 ed unto him. 



