1'79I. DErCCTS IN THE LAWS OF G. BRITAIN. y7 



In the year 1772 Mr Morris was appointed Lieuten- 

 ant Governor of St, Vincent's, it being then fub- 

 ordinate to che government of Granada. His conduct 

 in the difcharge of that office having been approved by 

 Ids rnajeiiyj the inland was made a feparate government, 

 and Mr Morris received a commiffion as governor of 

 it, in the year 1776. 



During the time of his being lieutenant-governor, 

 he had frequently acquainted the governor of Grenada 

 •of the very defencelefs Itate of the ifiand. There ap- 

 pears to Iiave been a ihameful, and dangerous defici- 

 ency of every article of ammunition ; many batteries and 

 forts ^vei^e' without guns ; there were not fix gun-car- 

 riages in the ifland fufficient to bear the weight of a 

 gUH, much lefs to permit it to be fired ; and all the 

 powder and balls, if collected together, not fufiicient 

 for a fuppiy of two hours, in cafe of neccffity ; and 

 every thing elfs reflecting the fortifications, and mili- 

 tary arrangements, in an tqually ruinous, and neglec- 

 ted ftate. Jldf Morris had orders from home to put the 

 ijiand into a Jleite of defence. He did fo. The neceflary 

 expences in repairing the old, and erecting new build- 

 ings, hr.ve not 3'et (1777) been paidj though it has 

 not even been alledged that any part of his conduft was 

 blameable, or improper. Mr Morris font his bills t-o 

 the treafury, and, although they were allowed, yet they 

 ftill were left unpaid. Under what pretext this could 

 have been done, it is difiicult to conceive ; but fo it was 

 that this worthy man, profecuted by his creditors, was 

 obliged to fell his property for half the value he had 

 formerly refufed for it. His family reduced to want, 

 and he Ivimfelf worn out with anxiety, and overwhelm- 

 ed with difficulties, died without having been able to 

 obtain payment of his juit claims upon government. — 

 The facts refpecting his public condutt do not depend 

 upon Mr JNlorris's bari aflcrtions alone, they are confirm- 

 ed by the original letters which pafied between him 

 and the fecrctaries of Itate, and lords of treafury. The 



Vol. V. \ N 



