208 TRINIDAD. 



and be possessed, as absolute owners or tenants for life, of some 

 household, or other estate or freehold of real property, assessed to 

 the house-tax at an annual value of no less than 50, or at a 

 rental of no less than 75 per annum. The council is presided 

 over by a mayor, with a salary of 300 a year. It appears, from 

 this statement, that the town of Port of Spain has been in the 

 enjoyment of municipal institutions since before the conquest of 

 the island by the British forces. Similar privileges were granted 

 to San Fernando in the year 1840. The qualifications for bur- 

 gesses are the same as in Port of Spain ; they are for councillors 

 and auditors, 30 and 40, instead of 50 and 75. 



When protectors of slaves were appointed, a part of the powers 

 of the commandants was transferred to those officers ; in the year 

 1834 the stipendiary magistrates superseded them in their judi- 

 ciary functions ; the appointment of commissioners of roads, in 

 1846, contracted their jurisdiction within still narrower limits; 

 and, finally, the " quarters" having been consolidated into wards, 

 in the year 1849, the functions of the commandants ceased 

 entirely ; and, let it be remarked, without the slightest compli- 

 ment on, or remuneration for, their services, although several of 

 them had performed their gratuitous, onerous, and multifarious 

 duties for upwards of twenty years, and had expended much of 

 their private funds in the service of the colony. 



At present the government is somewhat differently constituted 

 from what it was under our first governor?; and the changes 

 introduced are chiefly due to Sir Henry Macleod, and to his suc- 

 cessor, the Right Honourable Lord Harris. 



Trinidad is a " crown colony," under the control of the 

 Colonial Office, the government of which is administered, locally, 

 through a resident GJ nor, assisted by an island executive, arid 

 a legislative council. On several previous occasions attempts had 

 been made to obtain a representative form of government ; and, 

 for the last time, in the year 1853, but without success, they were 

 opposed both here and at the Colonial Office. 



Executive Council. It consists of the Colonial Secretary, the 

 Attorney-General, and the Commander of the Forces, under the 

 presidency of the Governor. It is a mere consultative body, which 

 the governor calls together on important occasions, in order to 

 have their opinion, which he may follow or not, as he pleases. 



Legislative Council. This council consists of the Governor as 



