55<^ 



A. D. I 



773" 



1774 — The Virgin iflands, though a part of the general government 

 of the Leeward iflands (fo called in refped of their fituation in relation 

 to Barbados) were hitherto without any regularly conflituted internal 

 government, the lieutenant-governor and council ading in a legiflative 

 and judicial capacity without any aflembly or jury. In confequence of 

 an application of the inhabitants, through the governor-general, to the 

 king, accompanied with an offer of paying the duty of four and a half 

 per cent on all their exported produce (as the other iflands of the go- 

 vernment do) they were now indulged with a houfe of reprefentatives 

 elected by themfelves, who held their firft meeting on the 1" day of 

 February 1774. In confequence of the eftabliflinient of a more regular 



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