342 TlMEHRI. 
On the 16th of January 1779, 50 guilders were voted to 
the Marshal, BoiN, for distributing Publications in 
Essequibo (p. 137.) The Administration of the colonies 
was reformed by Deputies of the States General, 26th 
May 1789, (Lo. F. No.) 
The Colonial Legislature. — On the 5th of October, 
1766, the Court of Policy of Essequibo passed a Reso- 
lution as to absent Members (p. 25). On the 14th of 
April, 1772, the Members of that Court protested against 
serving unless they were paid for doing so (p. 206).* 
On the 2nd of January, 1773, Albertus Backer 
requested permission to resign his seat. This was 
granted, and thanks were voted to Mr. BACKER for his 
services (p. 26i)t On the 5th of February, 1778, there is a 
record of the arrest of the Members of both Rivers (p. 85). 
This action seems hardly in consonance with a Publica- 
tion of the 6th August, 1776, with regard to respect for 
authorities (pp. 204, 213, 229). On the 2nd of March, 
1779, A. THIERENS applied to be excused from serving 
as a Member, and was so excused (pp. 158, 159). The 
Court of Policy resolved, on the 31st of July, 1797, that 
any person who should be elected a Councillor of Policy, 
was to be obliged to accept the office, under a penalty 
of 3,000 guilders. 
Then, as now, Colonists stood upon the order of their 
* In 1773, Demerara was given a Court of Policy of its own. 
f Albertus Backer was appointed Commandeur, ad interim, of 
Essequibo, on the 18th of April 1787. On the 18th of August 1789, he 
was appointed Governor, in the room of Jan l'Espinasse, and was 
re-appointed Commandeur of Essequibo on the 31st March 1793. 
Leave of absence was granted to him, for one year, on the 31st March 
1794, and, on the 2nd of August 1796, he was re-appointed Commandeur 
of Essequibo on his return to the colony. 
