556 HISTORY 



of the lands that were at the disposal of the Crown in 1839 were such as had 

 been allowed b}' their holders to revert, in place of paying up the quit rents 

 due on them."" The Executive-in-council fixed two scales of graduated 

 prices, one for town lots and the other for agricultural lands, the prices vary- 

 ing in inverse ratio as the size of the allotments. A new schedule of fees 

 was adopted. The whole plan was based on the results of the experience of 

 men in all parts of the Colony."'' In the graduated scale of prices the Gov- 

 ernor had almost exceeded his authority as granted by the instruction. It 

 was objected to his plan that the graduated scale seemed to place a premium 

 on the purchase of large tracts, and that small tracts were not necessary for 

 agricultural purposes, that forty acres was as small a tract as the government 

 ought to deal with."" In the following year Lord Russell authorized the 

 granting of tracts of twenty acres at a price of 12s. per acre."' This was 

 better suited to the conditions of farming in the Bahamas. The average 

 negro farmer could not well cultivate a tract of forty acres, and it was more 

 convenient for those with small capital to buy small tracts. The execution 

 of the terms of the grants was satisfactory to the people."^ 



While on a tour of inspection. Governor Cockburn called a meeting of the 

 people at the Turks Islands, and adopted a separate plan for the sale of the 

 land there."" Separate schedules of prices were fixed for Grand Cay and 

 Salt Cay.""° At Harbor Island a change was made in the tenure of the 

 agricultural lands. The use of the Common there had resulted in increasing 

 difficulties to the planters. A tract of 6000 acres was sold to the people 

 for $1000 and the grant was made to a magistrate as trustee for the whole 

 settlement."'' Other settlements desired grants on similar terms, but the 



"'Sess. P., 1840, 33, p. 69 (112), report of Surveyor-General in May, 1839. 



"^Cockburn to Russell, No. 62. Sess. P., 1840, 33, p. 69 (114). Here is given 

 the schedule of fees and prices. These fees were exorbitant, in many cases almost 

 equalling the cost of the land without them. The Governor, his Private Secretary, 

 the Public Secretary, the Attorney-General and the Surveyor-General each received 

 a fee from every purchase of land. Such was a part of the plan to supply land to 

 the poor people at small cost. There were at least two unnecessary fees in this 

 list. 



"•^Sess. P., 1840, 33, p. 69 (117). 



"" Ds., S. St., 1841, No. 48. 



"' Cockburn to Russell, No. 62. 



^'^Loc. cit., No. 30. Sess. P., 1840, 33, p. 69 (118). 



^"^ hoc. cit. (119). These schedules were subsequently ratified by the Colo- 

 nial Land and Emigration Commissioners. Loc. cit. (120). 



•>=" Sess. P., 1840, 33, p. 69 (120). 



