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TRINIDAD : THEN AND NOW. 



" The square being completed, a day was fixed 

 for its being thrown open to the public ; but who can 

 describe the surprise and dismay of the colonists, 

 when they learnt that by the word public, was intend- 

 ed all classes of the community, whether of white or 

 black complexion. The governor was now regarded 

 as a rash and dangerous innovator ; and, it was 

 judged requisite to represent to him that this new 

 regulation, if persisted in would do incalculable 

 harm. 



He, however, refused to rescind the order, smil- 

 ing at the silly prejudices which he hoped to remove 

 by his example. He daily frequented the square ; a 

 band was in attendance ; every inducement was 

 offered but in vain and these efforts were followed by 

 outrages. For many nights large portions of the iron 

 railings were torn up ; the rare and valuable shrubs 

 collected with such trouble from so many parts of the 

 globe were scattered about the streets. At length, 

 however, the conspirators were detected, and, in due 

 course punished. ' ' 



For many years thereafter no further attempt 

 to ornament or beautify this splendid square was 

 made, except when in 1866, Mr. Gregor Turnbull, of 

 the old firm of Turnbull, Stewart & Co., presented the 

 fountain which now ornaments the centre of the 

 square ; sometimes full of clear crystal water, some- 

 times not. 



I think that for many years the erection of this 

 fountain was the sole attempt to ornament or improve 

 this square ; anyway, in my early days it was sadly 



