298 JAMAICA. 



ihterfered at all in this matter. It was thought fufficient, perhaps, 

 that they fliould be left to thofe penalties and articles of war, to 

 which men of every perfuafion are liable in this ifland during naar- 

 tial law. The evafion of thefe fchifmatics is not founded on in- 

 difputable grounds ; for the aS; of parliament (22 George II. 

 cap. 30 [z]), which they fet up to fkreen themfelves, feems re- 

 ftrided to the congregation of iin'itas fratrnm^ or Moravians, fettled 

 in the North- American provinces. This a6l admits them to the 

 privilege of making folemn affirmation, inftead of oaths or affi- 

 davits, in civil cafes ; and difcharges them from perfonal fervice 

 in a military capacity, provided they pay fuch fum of money as 

 may be afl'efled or rated on them, in lieu of perfonal fervice: and, 

 to prevent all doubt of their being of the congregation, they muft 

 piroduce a certificate of their being members of it, figned by fome 

 bifhop of their church, or paftor, neareft to the place of their re- 

 iidence; and mud likewife folcmnly affirm, that they are members 

 as before mentioned ; othtrwife they are not entitled to the benefit 

 of the adl. It feems pretty evident from hence, that this a6b-does 

 not extend to Jamaica, becaufe the laws here exempt no man from 

 military fervice, except the council and fuperannuated perfons ; and 

 admit no fine or aflefiment in lieu of any man's perfonal duty,. 

 Every proprietor of landed eftate here holds under cxprefs condi- 

 tions contained in his patent, that he fhall perfonally bear arms to 

 repel invafions, and fupprefs infurreftions; and his refufal to do 

 fo would make his patent voidable. It is true, the owners of thefe 

 Moravian properties, being non-refideut, efcape from perfonal fer- 

 vice; but they ought to employ fuch agents, or fervants, in the 

 management, who will yield due obedience to the laws of the 

 colony. That exemption cannot poflibly be legal, or juflifiable, . 

 which, if it extended to all, would endanger the ruin of the co- - 

 lony. What, for example, would become of it, if the feduftioa 

 of their example Ihould make converts of all the mihtia in the 

 iOand, fo that every man of them might turn Moravian, and fet 

 vip the pleaof confcience to excufe himfelf from his proper fhare of 

 the general duty and fervice, which the very being of the ifland 



•[a] N. B. This aiTl -prohibits them from ferving on juries, or being evidences in criminal 



T has 



