HISTORICAL SKETCH. 451 



that Sir Ralph Woodford on all occasions manifested his pre- 

 ference for the royalists, whom he treated with consideration ; 

 not so the republicans, whom he distrusted. But it was never 

 proved that he treated them harshly, or refused them admittance 

 into the island. 



To the first Spanish settlers the Crown had made grants of 

 land under certain conditions ; but, as a rule, those grants were 

 not regularly surveyed or registered, so that the occupants could 

 not, in the greatest number of cases, exhibit their titles to such 

 concessions. They, nevertheless, contended that they were lawful 

 owners, and either refused to sell at all to the new comers, 

 or demanded exorbitant prices. Governor Chacon, who was 

 determined to carry into execution the provisions of the cedula, 

 and to protect the new colonists, instituted a searching inquiry 

 into the titles of the occupants, and then issued a proclamation 

 calling upon them to prove the validity of their occupancy ; fail- 

 ing which, they were to obtain new grants. Of course the pro- 

 clamation was ill received, and the measure which it proposed to 

 enforce regarded as highly arbitrary. This interference of 

 Governor Chacon created discontent and rancour. 



Sir Ralph Woodford, who, of course, could not be ignorant of 

 the fact, did not hesitate — in an evil hour, no doubt — to revive 

 the unpleasant question. He knew well that many of the colo- 

 nists would not be able to produce indisputable titles ; and he 

 made up his mind to search for those titles, and to inquire into 

 the grants made by the Crown of Spain — not only those made 

 during and since the year 1783, but also before that epoch. The 

 grantees were called to satisfy the Governor as to the legality 

 of their occupancy ; or, in case they could not do so, to take 

 new grants on paying certain fees. This interference was viewed 

 with jealousy, and strenuously opposed. More; the Governor 

 aimed a blow at those who possessed lands by virtue of the 

 cedula of 1783, but had neglected to register them in the Libre 

 Becerro, as prescribed. The law required also that at least one- 

 fifth of the lands granted should be under cultivation. Sir 

 Ralph threatened to resume possession of the whole, or part of 

 all such lands whenever this condition had not been fulfilled 

 Again, quit-rent was exacted for all the grants; and other 

 vexatious measures were adopted. Soon after, however, the 

 quit-rent was remitted on all lands granted before the conquest. 



