TRINIDAD: THEN AND NOW. 



91 



quence of the change of government in England, it 

 was decided to govern each West Indian colony by 

 commission. 



Lord Hobart, Secretary of State for the Colonies, 

 in a letter dated July 9th, 1802, wrote thus to 

 Picton : — 



M His Majesty has thought it expedient to place 

 the government of the island in commission ; judging 

 that, from the union of civil, military, and naval 

 talents, combined in the persons selected for this 

 service, advantages must arise which cannot be ex- 

 pected from the labours of any one individual. 



M The experience of your conduct from the time 

 the island was first placed under your charge has 

 induced his Majesty to select you as one of the per- 

 sons to whom this important trust shall be confided/' 



The Commissioners were : William Fullarton, 

 General Picton and Captain Hood of His Majesty's 

 Navy. Nothing could have been more unwise than 

 the appointment of this Triumvirate. From the first 

 they began to quarrel, Picton maintaining that any- 

 thing he did before its appointment must remain as 

 his sole indisputable act ; Fullarton asserting other- 

 wise and attempting to upset some of Picton 's acts 

 and decisions. At first Hood sided with Fullarton, 

 but eventually, seeing through his dishonest motives, 

 sided with Picton, and thus Picton 's acts and decis- 

 ions before the appointment of the Commission re- 

 mained in full force. From that time began what is 

 designated in the following chapter, 



