472 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION E. 
century and a-half. There is only a very scanty record of the history 
of Jamaica during this period, but on the 11th May, 1(553, the island 
surrendered to an English expedition under Admiral Penn and 
General Venables. The troops left in occupation suffered much from 
•want of provisions and sickness, and in 1655 an unsuccessful attempt 
was made by the Spaniards to regain the island. Considerable 
reinforcements came in that year, and among other curious arrivals 
was that of 1,000 girls and as many young men, said to have been 
‘“listed” in Ireland. 
In August, 1660, news arrived of the restoration of Charles the 
Second, and from that time to the present day there has been a Governor 
in Jamaica appointed by the Crown, who for very many years has 
borne the title of Captain- General and Governor-in- Chief ; the title 
of Captain-General, I am inclined to think, having been given in order 
to place the Governor on the same footing as the Governor of the 
neighbouring Spanish island of Cuba, who is styled a Captain- 
General. I mav mention that Charles the Second, having been in 
official documents styled “Supreme Lord of Jamaica,” the title, or its 
equivalent, has remained to the present day, and in many Commissions 
issued by the Governor it is set forth that they are prepared in the name 
of Her Most Gracious Majesty Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and 
Ireland, &c., &c M &c., winding up with the words “and of Jamaica 
Supreme Lady.” 
Some of the Governors in old days were men of note, some were 
not without stains on their reputation, and some were removed from 
office by order from home. At first the Governor was assisted by a 
Council of twelve, but in 1662 Lord Windsor came from England as 
Governor, with orders “to constitute a Council and to call Assemblies 
and to make laws, such laws to be only in force for two years unless 
confirmed by the King.” This was the beginning of the famous 
Jamaica Parliament, which consisted of a Council and a House of 
Assembly, which met for the first time on the 20th January, 1664, and 
practically governed Jamaica, subject to certain powers reserved for 
the Governor and by the Crown and the home Parliament, for more 
than 200 years. 
During these 200 years there were many troubles in the 
island from various causes of a political nature, with insurrections 
and outbreaks by slaves who bad been brought in Targe numbers to 
Jamaica, the original Carib inhabitants soon having almost entirely 
disappeared, and there were operations undertaken in Haiti, or on the 
American coast, which, speaking generally, were not very successful, 
except sometimes in the matter of plunder, and which resulted in 
heavy losses — more from disease than battle. There were also troubles 
from French and Spanish enemies, and from pirates of all nations, who 
hovered about the Caribbean Seas; while death, generally in the shape 
of yellow fever, was always busy among the white soldiers and sailors 
and civil residents. 
Towards the close of the 17th century Port Eoyal, which was 
one of the wealthiest towns in the world, from the prize money 
brought by buccaneers, was almost entirely destroyed by a terrific 
earthquake. Of 3,000 houses, only 200 remained, and in other parts 
of the island sugar works were destroyed ; and many thousand people 
perished in the earthquake, or from the noxious miasma generated by 
