536 HISTORY 



ernments of the others. The chief executives of the other colonies were to take 

 rank as lieutenant-governors, which rank was less expensive to maintain than 

 that of governor.""' The plan was not put into execution. The Executive of 

 the Bahamas ranked merely as a lieutenant-governor until 1840. On the 

 death of Sir James Smyth in 1838 his commission as Governor thereby expired. 

 Francis Cockburn, then in the government of the Bahamas, made application 

 for promotion to the rank of Governor.™ With the consent of the Secretary of 

 State he applied to the local Assembly to grant a sum as an increase in his 

 salary."' The Assembly voted without dissent to grant the addition to his salary 

 and a commission was accordingly sent out to Cockburn as Governor of the 

 Bahamas, which dignity he assumed early in the summer of 1840.™ 



Tempoeaet Administration. 

 Francis Cockburn obtained permission for a temporary absence from his 

 government in the winter of 1840.™ He was almost prepared to depart for 

 England when John Irving, the senior member of the Council, who was to 

 administer the government during his absence, died in a sudden attack of 

 apoplexy."^' This sad event led to a series of embarrassments to the Governor 

 which delayed his departure for over two years.""' The next member of the 

 Council in the order of seniority was the comptroller of the customs, who 

 was excluded from the temporary administration by the colonial regulations. 

 According to these same regulations the second member of the Coimcil in 

 the order of seniority would receive the commission to act as temporary admin- 

 istrator."'" Arrangements were completed by which Patrick Brown, now 



°" It would seem that there was no reason for this in the Bahamas. The home 

 government contributed the same amount to the salary of the Executive here, after 

 the change, that It had paid before. The additional amount for the Governor's 

 salary .was made up by the Colony. At the request of the Secretary of State this 

 portion contributed by the Colony had been discontinued. 



""Misc. Letter Book, 1838-50, separate Ds. of April 9, 1838, and Sept. 9, 1839. 

 The expenses of the chief executive were represented to be such, that it was diffi- 

 cult to maintain the dignity of that position at Nassau on the salary that was 

 attached to the office. Besides the lieutenant-governor had to pay out of his salary 

 for his private secretary and for the stationery for his official correspondence. The 

 additional sum for the salary would be sought from the colonial legislature again. 



=»^ Ds. S. St., 1838, No. 62. 



""Cockburn to Russell, Nos. 11 and 39 (1840). 



"=» Cockburn to Russell, No. 6. 



""■ Log. cit. 



°^^ He had sought the leave of absence for the sake of his health. 



™ By this the commission would have fallen upon Patrick Brown, with John 

 Storr as his alternate. The latter had a dormant commission as temporary admin- 

 istrator. Log. cit., Nos. 130 and 131 (1841). 



