EARLY HISTORY. 



The Treaty of Paris, 1763, required all fortifications in the 

 Bay of Honduras to be demolished, the right of cutting logwood 

 was recognised, but plantations or manufactures forbidden. 

 The Spaniards immediately after signing the treaty, drove the 

 cutters from Kio Hondu, which called forth the disclaimer 

 published in the London Gazette, 21st July, 1764. The 

 King, in 1765, gave a " constitution to the people," founded on 

 their ancient customs, viz., " legislating by public meetings, and 

 the election of magistrates annually by the free suffrage of the 

 people." This, it may be remarked, was the freest constitution 

 ever enjoyed by, or granted to, a British settlement. 



Sir William Burnaby was sent to the settlement to make the 

 necessary arrangements, and the inhabitants were then put in 

 full possession of their lands and rights. Captain Cook, the 

 celebrated navigator, accompanied Sir William Burnaby, and 

 tiey codified the laws and customs of the settlement, which were 

 afterwards published and known as Burnaby's laws. 



From 1779 to June, 1784, the settlement was hardly in 

 existence, almost .everything having been destroyed by the 

 Spaniards. 



The Treaty of Peace at Versailles, 3rd September, 1783, 

 restored the settlement, and allowed the right of cutting logwood 

 between the Belize and Eio Hondu rivers, but the Baymen were 

 still debarred from making plantations : and Spanish Commis- 

 sioners were to visit the settlement twice annually to see if the 

 provisions of the treaty were fulfilled. This treaty apparently 

 waived the rights secured by Article vii of the Treaty of 1670, 

 for the sovereignty of the Spanish Crown is distinctly recognised ; 

 and in 1786 a Superintendent was appointed on a memorial from 

 the settlers. 



On the 27th May, 1784, Don Zevallez, Governor of Yucatan, 

 " commissioned by the Court of Spain to make a formal delivery 



