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HISTORY OF THE [book vi. 
er nor profit. He is not as lieutenant-governor, 
entitled even to a seat in the council. On the re¬ 
signation, or absence on leave, of the captain-ge¬ 
neral, a lieutenant-governor, if not present, is fre¬ 
quently sent over, who then succeeds to the su¬ 
preme command, and receives the full emoluments 
of the government.* 
* The following instance of ministerial oeconomy may amuse but 
cannot surprise my readers in the colonies.—About the year 1767, 
when the marquis of Lansdowne, then earl of Shelburne, was Secretary 
of State, an application was made to his lordship by some gentlemen 
of Jamaica, then residing in England, for a provision for a lieute¬ 
nant-governor, who should reside within the island at the same time 
with the captain-general. The reason assigned was, to prevent a de¬ 
volution of the government to the president of the council. Lord 
Shelburne had no other objection to the measure than an unwillingness 
to saddle either the mother country or the colony with additional ex¬ 
pense. But finding, among other emoluments of the captain-general, 
that he derived about £.1000 sterling per annum from the command 
of a fortification at Port Royal, called Fort Charles, and conceiving 
the other appointments of the chief governor to be sufficiently liberal, 
his lordship stipulated with the next governor Sir William Trelawney, 
that he should resign fort Charles to lieutenant-governor Dalling, on 
condition of residence. Thus were the wishes of the gentlemen grati¬ 
fied, and a provision made for a lieutenant governor without expense 
either to Great Britain or Jamaica; and, considering withal that Sir 
Wilham Trelawney was the minister’s friend, the conduct of lord 
Shelburne in the business was highly commendable, and bore the fea¬ 
tures of honour.—But mark the result. In the administration of lord 
George Germain, General Dalling, by the demise of Sir William 
Trelawney, succeeded to the chief command : and the new minister, 
considering £.1000 per annum no despicable object, instead of continu¬ 
ing fort Charles as a provision for a lieutenant-governor, seized on it 
for hi-, own use, and soon after assigned its profits over to one of his 
dependants, who has enjoyed it ever since. Thus the island suffers 
