568 HISTOEY 



denials of his own misconduct to the bishop. It was too late to retract. His 

 desire to get revenge had brought him only disrepute. To some of his ac- 

 complices, participation in this affair was only an added act of baseness. 

 Such were the associates in iniquity of one who should have been an example 

 to the people of the Colony. 



This affair caused the removal of George B. Mathew from the govern- 

 ment of the Bahamas. The Colonial Department in London acquitted him 

 of the charges but would no longer intrust to him the administration of 

 the government." Earl Grey, the Secretary of State for the colonies, 

 had evidently thought that the woman, with whom he was accused, 

 had some claims on him, for he had used his patronage to help her 

 husband. On the discovery of this fact Earl Grey decided to recall him. On 

 November 16, 1848, he wrote: " The confidence of Her Majesty in the admin- 

 istration of your patronage would be absolutely destroyed by the discovery that 

 you are using it to provide for an unworthy woman. N"or would it be possible 

 after it became known, for you to enjoy the respect of the colonists necessary 

 to your due influence in the government for a proper exercise of the duties of 

 your office.'"^ He was further informed that his successor would be sent out 

 as soon as possible, and that he might retire from the Colony as soon as he 

 desired."" Governor Mathew left the Bahamas in February, 1849. 



This administration marked an advance in the progress of the Colony. In 

 many lines there had been improvement. The Governor's solicitude for the 

 welfare of the community became the subject of remark in the address of the 

 Executive Council, which was nearest to him in the government.'^ The House 

 address was eloquent in praise of his efforts for the good of the Colony. It 

 acknowledged the business ability of his administration, his accessibility to aU 

 classes, and expressed its appreciation of his efEorts " to carry out every measure 

 calculated for the advantage of the Colony and the community." His success 

 therein was manifest on every side, in every department of the public service, 

 and in every establishment at Nassau.'"" The people acknowledged the ad- 

 vances made in the educational establishment. On his assumption of the gov- 

 ernment, wrote the Governor, " the statute book was suited to the eighteenth 

 century; a poll-tax on strangers impeded trade, the poorhouse at Nassau 



''^ Ds., S. St., 1848, separate Ds. of Nov. 16. 



'^Loc. cit. 



'^ Loc. cit. 



~ Mathew to Grey, No. 14 (1849), enclosure No. 1. 



"'Log. cit., address of the House. 



