GENERAL ADMINISTRATION. 207 



courts in Port of Spain to these officers, whose certificate was a 

 sufficient proof of service. These important functionaries were 

 allowed an " alguazil," or constable, as an executive officer, who 

 was paid a small salary, raised by an alguazil-tax levied on every 

 estate. The commandant was always one of the most respectable 

 inhabitants of the quarter, and his office purely honorary. 



Colonel Picton, on taking charge of the island after its capitu- 

 lation, made no alteration in that administrative arrangement, but 

 chose, in addition, from amongst the most influential inhabitants, 

 " assessors," who formed a " council of advice," which may be 

 regarded as the origin and foundation of the " Council of Govern- 

 ment" which succeeded, and was afterwards changed into the 

 present " Legislative Council." 



The powers and duties of the " illustrious cabildo" and " com- 

 mandants of quarters " were gradually modified, until they became 

 extinct in the years 1840 and 1849, by the adoption of the 

 ordinance constituting the " Town Council of Port of Spain," and 

 of the territorial or warders' ordinance. 



The " Court of Alcaldes in Ordinary" was abolished in the 

 year 1823, and the judicial jurisdiction of the cabildo became 

 extinct. In the year 1840 an ordinance was passed for " regu- 

 lating the powers and constitution, and settling the mode of 

 election of the members of the corporate body called the ' Illus- 

 trious Cabildo ? of the town of Port of Spain, and changing the 

 name thereof to thaftrf the Town Council of Port of Spain." The 

 qualifications for electors were, residence in or within three miles 

 of Port of Spain, and the payment of an annual house-rent to 

 the amount of ninety-six dollars ; in addition to which, councillors 

 were to be worth 500 free of all debts. The council was thus 

 rendered elective ; but the governor still retained the presidency 

 over, and an absolute veto on, the proceedings of the town 

 council. In the year 1852, a petition was addressed by the town 

 councillors to the governor in council, praying for a new constitu- 

 tion based on the same principles as those embodied in the 

 Municipal Act of England. The prayer was granted, and the 

 name of the " Town Council " changed into that of the " Borough 

 Council of Port of Spain." The franchise, at present, is, for 

 electors, the occupancy of a house within the borough, rated to the 

 house-tax at an annual rental of not less than twenty pounds 

 sterling ; for councillors and auditors, to be on the burgess list, 



