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LETTER IX. 



Dear Sir, 



I Ought to have informed you long ago, of the 

 reafon, why Nevis is called the Mother of the 

 'Engltjh Leeward Charibbee IJlands^ as follows, vtz* 

 As England IS governed by King, Lords, and Com- 

 mons, jufl fo are we ruled by Governour, Coun- 

 cil, and Aflembly, who can make any Law that 

 will laft Twelve Months 3 but if we would have 

 it laft longer, we muft have it confirmed by the 

 King's Privy Council ; and in all other Cafes, we 

 are ruled by the common Statute Law oi England. 

 Every one of the four great Iflands, viz, Nevis ^ St. 

 Chrijlopher's, Antigua^ and Montferrat, have a par- 

 ticular or private Governour, fent us by the King, 

 who prefides over the Council and Aflembly both, 

 when any Publick Act of the Country paflTes, 

 though his Seat is, properly fpeaking, in the 

 Council-Room ; and in cafe of his Sicknefs or 

 Death, the oldeft Council-man takes his place, 

 and indeed is ftiled Prefident always, (even before) 

 as being on fuch occafions, his Deputy. But be- 

 fides, we have a Governor-General, who fuper- 

 fedes the private Governors, and is Chief, where - 

 ever he happens to be ; and in cafe of his Death, 



his 



