ST. HELENA 41 



yet too weak, but palateable and pleasant for the buyer. But 

 if any lycencee or retayler of liquor shall think this not a 

 sufficient profitt, they may deliver up their lycences, paying 

 proportionable for the time they have had it, after the rate 

 of Four pounds per annum, which all such retaylers are to 

 do within eight days from the date hereof. 

 " Sattisfied." 



MARTIALL LAW. 

 1 4thly. 



You desire to be tryed by civill law and not by martiall law. 

 We shall write to our Masters about it ; we think it is but 

 reason that the planters should be tryed by civill law except 

 it be in time of war and action, or, that we hope never to see, 

 rebellion, cowardice, neglect of duty, which may be the ruin 

 of the island, and several other misdemeanours in time of 

 action which cannot be judged by the Civil law; and we like- 

 wise design in our Court Martiall to choose worthy people of 

 this island to be of it. 



" Sattisfied." 



GOING ON BOARD SHIPPS. 

 iSthly. 



You desire the liberty that you always had of going on 

 board any ship or shipps in the road, asking the Governor's 

 leave. It is what our Masters say was never done at the Cape, 

 or as we know of, done in any other Dutch factory in India, 

 however, if there be any urgent occasion, the Governor at that 

 time will not deny them leave. 



" Sattisfied." 



BLACK TAX. 



i6thly. 



You desire to be eased something in the tax of ten shillings 

 every year for each black you have. There is no nation under 

 the hopes of Heaven, nay, we are apt to believe if there be 

 any wild people, they contribute to their own safety in some 

 measure. And if any man will look into our Mother country, 

 England, we shall there find the four shillings in the pound 

 tax alone gives the Queen every fifth year their whole estate ; 

 beside taxes of windows, lights, parish duties, and parson's 

 tythes, and sundry other taxes, which every Englishman 

 knows that has five hundred pounds per annum, never gets 

 in above three hundred pounds, and very well if that. And 

 now that the Honourable Company has for six years last past 

 paid for fortifications, by employing the blacks and artificers 

 of this island, about fifteen hundred pounds a year, beside the 

 constant charge of the garrison, etc., for your preservation. 

 We shall only now give you our Masters' reasons'; but mustjtell 

 you we little expected at this time of day such an article from 



