A. D. 1763, 379 



meats to be made on the lands referved for the occupation of the 

 Indian aborigines. The trade with the Indians was declared to be en- 

 tirely free and open to all Britifli fubjedts, on complying with fuch re- 

 gulations as already were, or afterwards fhould be, made for the direc- 

 tion of it ; the traders being only obliged to take out licences from the 

 governors, who were to give them without any fee or reward. 



Agreeable to the arrangement fixed by this proclamation for the new 

 provinces, the king had appointed General James Murray to be governor 

 of Quebec, or Canada ; General James Grant to be governor of Eaft 

 Florida ; Commodore George Johnfton to be governor of Well Florida ; 

 and General Robert Melville to be governor-general of Grenada and 

 the other ceded iflands. 



In the year 1749 an agent, or fuperintendent, fubordinate to the 

 governor of Jamaica, had been appointed, with a fuitable allowance, to 

 dired the Britifh fettlements on the Mufquito fhore, and to cultivate 

 the friendfliip of the Indians of thofe parts. In confequence of the ar- 

 ticle in the treaty of peace for demolifhing the fortifications on the Bay 

 of Honduras, it had become doubtful, whether the office of fuperintend- 

 ent on the Mufquito fhore was alio to ceafe ; but by directions from 

 home he was continued in oflSce. Soon after Captain Otway, the fu- 

 perintendent, fent home the following account of the Britilh fettlements 

 and trade on the tract of coaft under his care. 



At Black river, the principal fettlement, there were 45 white families, 

 and 21 families of meflees * ; and in ten other fmaller fettlements there 

 were 22 families of whites, and 9 of meflees. The annual exports he 

 calculates to be 650,000 feet of mahogany, 110,000 pounds of farfa- 

 parilla, 8000 pounds of turtle fhell, 150 mules, and cotton, indigo, and 

 cacao, in fmall quantities f. 



December 19''. — In the ad of parliament for levying the land-tax for 

 the year 1764, all perfonal effates, including debts, excepting defperate 

 debts, flock on land, houfehold goods, and loans to his Majefty, are tax- 

 ed to pay four fliillings in the pound of their yearly value, which is one 

 })er cent on the capital. The fame tax is alfo extended to all employ- 

 ments and penfions, fhares in the new river, fire offices, &c. excepting, 

 however, offices in the army and navy. 



In that part of the acl, which regulates the taxation for Scotland, it 



' People of mixed breed, between whites and f The quantity of cotton incrcafed confidcr- 



Indians, or between whites and negroes, or of all ably afterwards, and the quality of it was excel, 



ihefc breeds confounded. Mellee, however, in lent, efpecially of that of tlic growili of St. An- 



ftrieter acceptation, means the iduc of a mulatto drcas, i:u iiland about 40 leagues from the fliorc. 

 and a white, who is three quarters white and one 

 quarter negro. 



q E 2 



