278 ISLES OF SUMMER. 
A police force was in charge of the hall and its approaches, 
and gave seats to the citizens and visitors from abroad, who soon - 
occupied all the seats back of the table of the Legislative Council. 
These policemen were all young and black, yet very bright look- 
ing. They wore blue jackets, white pantaloons, and fatigue caps. 
Belts encircled their waists, to which were secured clubs like 
those carried by policemen in northern cities. They seemed to 
be picked men, and were polite and gentlemanly in every respect, 
having nothing of that offensiveness of manner so common when 
ignorance and brutality are invested with a little brief authority. 
The people there assembled to witness the ceremonies were 
evidently highly cultivated and intelligent, and all seemed to 
appreciate and enjoy the honor of this novel entertainment. 
The Governor, having left the Government House, was received 
at the Legislative building by a colored military guard of honor 
in gay uniforms and white turbans. They formed a detachment 
from the First West India rezimant, and presented arms while 
the national anthem was played by the band. The Zouave uni- 
form has special attractions for the negro. 
Soon the Governor, accompanied by high officers of state, and 
followed by the officers and members of the lower house, entered 
the Council Chamber, took a position upon the raised platform, 
gave a dignified bow to the venerable members of the upper house, 
who all rose to receive him, surveyed deliberately and with seem- 
ing satisfaction, his brilliant audience, and then, while still stand- 
ing, read from manuscript his speech. The members of the 
Assembly and others who came with him remained also standing 
on his right. He was dressed in blue, while a moderate quantity 
of gold lace, and a sheathed sword by his side, indicated that 
while Governor he also filled the position of a military commander. 
His army then in commission at Nassau, consisted of two com- 
panies of colored troops. In the division of Legislative honors 
