74 



TKINIDAD : THEN AND NOW. 



at the court at Madrid. These emissaries represent- 

 ed that France had lost a glorious inheritance by not 

 seizing upon Trinidad for which they had been 

 laying the foundation. Three years after Chacon's 

 honourable acquittal by Court-Martial, the King of 

 Spain was so influenced against him that he ordered 

 his degradation and dismissal from the service and 

 perpetual banishment from Spain. He retired into 

 Portugal where he lived supported by the charity of 

 his friends. 



A favourite nephew of his at length returned 

 from long service in the Spanish navy and boldly ap- 

 pealed against the injustice done to his uncle, and 

 with praiseworthy persistence forced his case to the 

 royal notice. At length, after many delays, it was 

 pronounced that Chacon was a much injured man 

 and the victim of base intrigues. His recall from 

 banishment was ordered, but death at an inn prevent- 

 ed him from being able to avail himself of what was 

 designated " the Royal Clemency." He lived lon^ 

 enough however, to have this mandate communicated 

 to him by his faithful nephew, dn whose arms he died. 

 Thus ended the career of this eminent man, long and 

 gratefully remembered by the British inhabitants of 

 Trinidad. 



The following summary of a few passages refer- 

 ring to Chacon, from an eminent writer, who was 

 well acquainted with Trinidad and its bygone his- 

 tory will, I trust, be of interest. The name of the wri- 

 ter I shall let the reader find out for himself, as it is 



