330 ISLES OF SUMMER. 



claimed to have first discovered, they would have occupied a 

 more enviable position, for while the grant would have added 

 nothing to their income, it could not possibly have impoverished 

 or annoyed them. This pestiferous nest of pirates had only 

 served as a burial place for their money and their hopes. 



The British government finally, in the interest and for the 

 security of commerce, bought the title of the legal reiDresentatives 

 of the six proprietary interests, giving for each £2,000. 



Upon the petition of the merchants of London and Bristol, 

 interested in the security of commerce. King George I appointed 

 Mr. Ward Rogers Governor, and sent him with a force of one 

 hundred men and an ample supply of all necessary stores to fortify 

 New Providence. He arrived out in 1717, and an act of indem- 

 nity having been passed, the pirates accepted of its terms, sur- 

 rendered without a struggle, and became, thereafter, down to 

 1742, when Bruce wrote, " the principal inhabitants of the island.'^ 



According to Mr. Mosely, the gubernatorial office was filled by 

 Mr. Rogers from 1717 to 1721, and from 1728 to 1733; George 

 Phenny or Finney was Governor during the intervening years. 

 The population did not exceed 1,000 persons. 



During this period of sixteen years the executive office seems 

 to have been well filled, and peace, security and confidence pre- 

 vailed, so that many families, besides many Palatines, settled and 

 made improvements upon the islands. 



In 1733 Richard Fitz Williams was appointed Governor, and 

 with ample stores, a force of fifty men, and an engineer named 

 Thomas Moore, arrived at New Providence, with special directions 

 to fortify the place. This new colonial Governor was arbitrary 

 and tyrannical, and so abused his power that " the best of the 

 inhabitants and all the Palatines abandoned their improvements 

 and left the iLland." The engineer died suddenly b2fore he had 

 made much progress in his work. In the bad business of oppress- 



