104 



TRINIDAD : THEN AND NOW. 



Trinidad at the time of its capitulation ; and the 

 Vicar-General Alvarado certified that he had bap- 

 tised Luisa Calderon on the 6th of September, 1786, 

 thus proving that she was over 15 at the time of 

 applying the " question. " The trial was further 

 postponed and a commission appointed to take evi- 

 dence in Trinidad. Among the many written ques- 

 tions for witnesses to answer was this one :— 1 Did 

 you know General Picton, and what was his general 

 character ? " 



To this question there was an unanimous answer 

 by fifteen prominent inhabitants of Trinidad, many of 

 whose descendants have occupied positions of great 

 trust and wealth. Among them being Chevalier de 

 Gannes, a proprietor for ten years ; Chevalier de la 

 Sauvagere, formerly governor of Tobago ; Don Fran- 

 cisco de Farfan, a planter ; Baron Montelambert, 

 who stated " I came to the island to settle in conse- 

 quence of the honourable report of his character made 

 to me by the Duke of Portland and the Right 

 Honourable H. Douglas ; " Don Hilario Begorrat, 

 ordinary judge, (whom it will be remembered signed 

 the certificate for Picton to fill up relative to ap- 

 plying the " question " to Luisa) ; John Lynch, a 

 proprietor for twelve years ; the Honourable John 

 Nihell ; the Honourable Philip Langton, and others 

 whose descendants I cannot now trace in Trinidad, 

 although, doubtless, if I mentioned them, they would 

 be recognised. 



I will give two specimens of the replies. Cheva- 

 lier de Gannes said : — "I knew him intimately. 



