316 TRAVELS IN THE CONFEDERATION 



over their right to the islands, which they were unable 

 to keep in order, make flourish, or protect from hostile 

 aggressions. In the year 171 7, under George I, 

 Woodes Rogers was sent over to Providence with a 

 sufficient garrison, as the first royal governor. To 

 him the buccaneers found there gave themselves up, 

 in part of their own accord ; the scattered inhabitants 

 returned, and there were new-comers to join them 

 and from that time order and quiet began on these 

 islands, the one-time sea-robbers becoming respected 

 residents, consuming their gains in peace. At the 

 present time the affairs of these islands are adminis- 

 tered by a Governor, in the name of the King ; but the 

 people of all these islands elect from among them- 

 selves an Assembly, consisting now of 21 members, 

 who meet annually and take into consideration the 

 business and the rights of the widely scattered people. 

 Providence, and with it all the Bahama islands, was 

 in the last war conquered by the Spanish in conjunc- 

 tion with the Americans. A fearfully large fleet was 

 directed against this small and, at that time, defence- 

 less island. The conquest therefore was no more 

 glorious than, during their possession, was the be- 

 haviour of the Spanish, who showed little of nobility or 

 largeness of mind. The re-conquest for England took 

 place in the year 1783. The Spanish governor, Don 

 Caracca, with a garrison of near 500 men, let himself 

 be surprised and frightened into a surrender by a 

 small and badly armed corps of 80 volunteers and 3 

 Indians, who had been collected with difficulty by the 

 enterprizing Major Devaux, partly in Florida, partly 

 on certain of the islands. 



