chap, ii.] WEST INDIES. 203 
that the dependency of the colonies on, and their 
allegiance to, the crown of Great Britain, and also 
their proper subordination to the British parliament, 
‘ This measure, adopted upon your united recommendation, cannot, 
‘lam persuaded, fail of producing every happy consequence, by re* 
* storing and firmly establishing that harmony and unanimity so ear- 
* nestly wished for, and so essentially necessary to his majesty’s ser- 
* vice, and the welfare of this community.’ 
The register of the court of chancery attending, being called in, 
and having produced the records, and read the several proceedings in 
the said address mentioned, he did then, by the command, and in the 
presence of his honour, and in the presence of the council and assem¬ 
bly, enter a vacatur in the margin of the said several proceedings, and 
draw cross lines over the said proceedings and the entries thereof, and 
cancelled the several papers relating thereto. 
It was after a long and arduous struggle, that the people of Ja¬ 
maica obtained this great victory ; no less than five different assemblies 
having been called, and abruptly dissolved, because they refused to raise 
the supplies, unless satisfaction was given them in this business. At 
length, on a change of ministers in Great Britain, the governor (Mr. 
Lyttleton) desired to be recalled, and the lieutenant-governor was di¬ 
rected to comply with their wishes, in the manner we have seen. 
The author of this work was one of a small minority in the house 
of assembly that supported the administration of Mr. Lyttleton, whose 
abilities and virtues were acknowledged even by his enemies ; yet is he 
free to confess, that, being present when the proceedings in chancery 
were solemnly annulled and vacated in the manner related, in the pre¬ 
sence of a thousand spectators, he could not but participate in the ge¬ 
neral triumph and enthusiasm which prevailed on that occasion amongst 
all ranks of people. The towns were splendidly illuminated, the 
shipping in the ports were dressed in their gayest colours, and such 
joy and satisfaction appeared in every countenance, as we may ima¬ 
gine were displayed by the English barons on receiving magna charts 
from the reluctant hand of king John. 
