282 ISLES OF SUMMER. 
which together with his reference to the supplies which had been 
voted, made the idea prominent that his excellency was the gov- 
ernment itself, and not merely an executive officer authorized to 
see that a government of written laws is duly enforced. 
After complimenting the Assembly by telling its members 
that “they had kept pace with the legislation of the mother 
country,” he said: 
“By virtue of the power invested in me by her majesty, I now 
prorogue this parliament until the 11th day of May next.” The 
Governor then retired, accompanied by the officials who had 
graced and honored the occasion with their presence. They were 
followed by the members of the two houses, and by the amused 
and gratified spectators. The latter, for awhile, mingled with 
the crowd outside, whose loyalty may be fairly presumed to have 
been intensified by the inspiring notes of martial music, the 
thunder of deep-mouthed cannon, and the showy uniforms and 
soldierly bearing and evolutions of the colored troops who acted 
as a guard of honor to his excelléncy. . 
- As the legislature was only adjourned for three or four weeks, 
the affair would have been a waste of time and powder, if time 
had there any moncy value, or public shows had been more com- 
mon. 
- On those occasions when we attended the meetings of the 
House of Assembly, its sessions were in the evening, and only 
routine business that did not consume more than half an hour, 
was transacted. Members rose languidly from their easy seats 
and addressed a few words to the speaker in a low tone of voice. 
The speaker had reduced parliamentary brevity to a fine point. 
In putting a question, he very quietly said—<‘ negatives rise—it 
is carried.” This mode insured an unanimous vote in the affirm- 
ative, as something extraordinary would be required to induce a 
member to rise out of his comfortable and roomy chair. The 
