BRITISH HONDURAS. 



to the British nation of the lands allotted for the cutting of 

 logwood, delivered the same to the English Commissioners at 

 the mouth of the New River, agreeable to map and instructions 

 received from his sovereign having given over the boundaries 

 and placed the proper marks and trees on the land side, as well 

 as executed every necessary formality for the purpose." 



Additional articles to the Treaty of 17H3 were made in 17S6 

 at a convention held in London, whereby the right of cuttijig 

 mahogany was formally granted, and the Mosquito Cofrst 

 abandoned. The settlers from there joined the Belize settle- 

 ment, 1787. Since the invasion of 1798, when the Spaniaids 

 were repulsed, the English have held the territory by right of 

 conquest in addition to claims of occupation. 



In 1819, the Criminal Court was established by Act of 

 Parliament, and Her Majesty's Superintendent was appointed 

 for the first time under Royal Letters Patent. 



An Executive Council was appointed in 1839 to assist tjie 

 Superintendent. 



In 1850, the inhabitants petitioned for a change in the system, 

 of government. 



The Act of 1853 reformed and amended the ancient system cf 

 government, and it constituted a legislative body, consisting of 

 eighteen elected and three nominated members. The settle- 

 ment gradually grew into a recognised colony, and was so 

 officially proclaimed on 12th May, 1862, when a Lieutenant- 

 Governor was appointed in lieu of a Superintendent. The 

 reformed constitution, after the usual variety of struggles 

 incident to mixed communities, became unworkable, and the 

 ancient institutions of the settlement drifted into the form of 

 a Crown Colony Government, the old elective assembly com- 

 mitting suicide in 1870. 



The present constitution of the colony is regulated by a local 



