1 8 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT [BOOK. n. 



of h's kingdom of England, as we undoubtedly are, it will be very hard 

 to have any imposition laid on us but by our own consents ; fur their 

 lordships well knov.-, tir.t no derived power n greater than the primitive. 

 However, if his most gracious majesty, shall not think fit to alter this 

 model, but we are to be governed by the governor and council, according 

 to their lordship's advice, yet we humbly beseech his majesty to do us 

 the grace to believe, that we are so sensible of our duly i-nd allegiance, 

 that our submission to and comportment under his majesty's authority 

 shall be such, as that, we hope, he, in his due time, will be graciously 

 pleased to restore unto us our ancient form of government, under which 

 it hath hitherto pleased God to prosper us ; ending with our hearty pray- 

 ers for his majesty's long and happy reign over us, and most humbly 

 begging his majesty's pardon of all our errors and mistakes, and a gra- 

 cious interpretation of this our answer ; protesting, from the bottom of our 

 hearts, that we are and resolve to die h:s majesty's true, loyal, and obe- 

 dient subjects. 



A true copy. ROWLAND POWELL, Cl. Con:. 



NUMBER XX. 



The humble desire and justification of the members of his Majesty s Council, 



to bis Excellency the Go-vernor in "Jamaica. 



The alteration of the frame of government in this his majesty's island 

 of Jamaica unto that of his kingdom of Ireland, which his majesty, the 

 best and greatest of kings, hath graciously commanded us to submit unto 

 and own, we his majesty's truely loyal and dutiful subjeds, hitherto have 

 and yet do, by a will ng readiness, and ready willingness, declare our 

 entire obedience and hearty conformity thereunto, because his majesty 

 commands. 



> 



And although his majesty's great perspicuity and truly royal prudence 

 is best able to determine what government is the fittest for his subjects ill 

 this island, yet with all due submission, in ail humility we beg leave to 

 represent to his majesty the great inconvenience attending the present 

 frame, in transmitting our laws home. 



The vast distance of place will of necessity require a great expense of 

 time, between the first framing our laws here and the transmitting and 

 icturn of them hither again : so that, before they can be passed into laws 

 by the assembly here, there will probably as great cause aiise to alter as 

 "there were at first to make them. 



