HISTORICAL SKETCH. 433 



and the proceeds applied to defraying the expenses of the suits 

 instituted and the expedition. 



Captain Feliz Espinosa administered the colony as Acting 

 Governor for a period of six months, when Juan Jose de Salcedo 

 was appointed Governor. He also had to quarrel with the 

 Cabildo, but, in order to have peace, let things alone. The in- 

 habitants who had been banished were allowed to return. The 

 Governor having been laid prostrate by an attack of apoplexy, 

 the alcades came forward, claiming the administration of the 

 colony. Don Juan de Salcedo was succeeded by Captain Fran- 

 cisco Nanclares. He also, as his predecessors, had to suffer from 

 the interference of the Cabildo in the administration of the 

 public affairs of the colony. Governor Nanclares had for his 

 successor Colonel Don Pedro de la Moneda (1757). Unable to 

 find a suitable house in San Jose de Orufia, de la Moneda retired 

 to Port-of- Spain, which thereby became the chief town, the 

 illustrious Cabildo being left in peaceful occupation of San 

 Jose. 



It was about this time that an attempt was successfully 

 made to re-introduce the cacao plant. A new species, the Cacao 

 f or aster o y which being hardier, though not yielding the same fine 

 quality, succeeded beyond expectation. It is this cacao which is 

 still cultivated in our days. It was also about this time that 

 the Aragonese Capuchin Fathers formed new missions, by con- 

 gregating together the native Indians ; viz., at Arima, Toco, 

 Siparia, and, on the eastern coast, at Matura, Cumana and 

 Salibia. 



The Cabildo, nothing daunted, persevered in showing seditious 

 dispositions; a conspiracy was even planned against the Governor; 

 but being discovered in time, miscarried, on which occasion the 

 Governor addressed to the Cabildo a most severe and cutting 

 rebuke. Colonel de la Moneda governed wisely, and was pro- 

 moted to the government of Popayan. 



Captain Don Jacinto San Juan was appointed his successor, 

 and fixed his residence in Port-of-Spain. It appears that against 

 this Governor also the Cabildo conspired ; and he had to resign 

 in the hands of Don Antonio Gil, about the year 1762. A 

 conspiracy was weaved against this new Governor also, at San 

 Tome de Guiana, but failed. The Governor having left for Mar- 

 garita, appointed Don Juan de Bruno to act in his place. Don 

 c c 



