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ferviceable to thecrown, tho* the confufion of the affairs at home, and the then ur- 

 gent war with the Dutch had wholly prevented the execution of his defrgns for a time. 

 But the nation being at length quieted and the Dutch war at an end, his ma- 

 jefly refolved to act more vigoroufly in thofe parts and to ufe every means likely 

 to reftrain the licentioufnefs of the pirates, who flill continued their depredations 

 under Colonel D'Oyly, Lord Wind for, Sir Charles Littleton, and Sir Thomas Mud- 

 deford, whom he appointed Governors fuccefiively, during the troubles at home; 

 and to this he was flill the more inclined from the frequent complaints of t\\c Sfia- 

 ?iiards y whole fuffcrings were now daily laid before him. 



With this view Lord Vaughan was appointed Governor, and fent out to 'Jamaica 

 with orders for Colonel Lynch, who then governed in the abfence of Sir Thomas 

 Muddejord, to appear at court and anfwer to the complaints of the Spanijh ambaflador. 



This nobleman was no fooner arrived '^Jamaica than he began to put the orders 

 of his majefly in execution; and with fuch vigour as foon put a Hop to the proceed- 

 ings of the pirates, whereof great numbers, with their chieftain Morgan, became 

 induflrious fettlers; while others, unwilling to depart from a courfe of lite to which 

 they had been now long ufed, or, it may be, diffident of the clemency of their prince, 

 retired to Tortugo, where they continued the fame practices for feveral years after. 



But in proportion as piracy was fuppreiTed in this illand, the people, who were 

 become extremely wealthy by their former practices, began to murmur and com- 

 plain of the defpotic power to which they were flill expofed; which, however gra- 

 cious or mild, could not but be diiagreeable, as it was a form of government no ways 

 confident with the Englijh conflitution. In this fituation, however, they con- 

 tinued until the latter end of the year 1680, when his majefly king Charles the Se- 

 cond was graciouily pleafed to grant them a charter or commiffion under the great 

 feal of England, conflituting and ordaining a regular form of government for the 

 ifland ; which was foon after difpatched to the Right Honourable Charles Howard, 

 Earl oiCarlijle, appointed Governor the year before. 



By this grant or charter the government was lodged in the hands of, \ft, the 

 Governor or Captain- General, who is appointed by, and reprefents his majefly. He 

 is veiled with both the ecclefiaflical and military power, as well as civil ; and con- 

 tinues during his Majefty's pleafure. 



zdly, In the council, which is alfo appointed by his M ijefly, and generally confids 

 of twelve perfons of the bell rank and fortunes in the ifland. This body reprefents 

 the houfe of Lords in England, both in power and proceedings; nor do they interfere 

 judicially in matters of propertv, unlefs it be in fuch cafes as are brought before 



them by writs of error out of the grand court, or by appeals from the Court of Ad- 

 miralty. 



2>diy, In the aflembly, which in power and proceeding reprefents the Houfe 



Commons in England. The members of this body ufed to be chofen by 

 the votes of the freeholders, who returned three repjefentatives for each of the 



tewn-pariihes, (formerly only two) viz, 1. Port- Royal, and, 2. St. Catharine's \ 

 and two for each of the other primes (then only thirteen) viz. 1. St. Thomas in the 

 Eajl, 2. St. Davids, 3. St. Andrews (which contained the prefent parifh of King/Ion, 

 4. St. Thomas in the Vale, 5. St. Joh?is, 6. St. Dorothy s, 7. Vere, 8. Clarendon, 

 9. St. Elizabeth's (which contained the prefent St. Elizabeth's, W efimorland and 

 Hanover,) 10. St. James's, 11. St. Amies, 12. St. Marys, and 13. St. George's, 

 which with the parifh of St. Thomas in the Eafl, contained the prefent parifh of 

 Portland ,) making up thirty-two members in all, which was the number of the 



fird aflembliesof that ifland. 



Thefe three bodies, in which the fupreme power is lodged fincethat time, are, by 

 the charter, authorized to make and ordain fuch laws and regulations as they think 

 neceffary for the better government of the community, and profperity or welfare of 

 the colony; and they are generally in force for one vear, or until his majefty's 

 pleafure be known, who always in forces or makes void all the acts palled by them, 







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