chap, iv.] WEST INDIES. 
i37 
CHAPTER IV. 
Leeward Charaibean Island Government, comprehending 
St. Christopher's, Nevis, Antigua, Montserrat, and the 
Virgin Islands.—Civil History and Geographical De¬ 
scription of each.—Table of Exports from each island 
for 1787; and an account of the,' money arising from 
the duty of four and a half per cent.—Observations 
concerning their decline ; and a short account of the 
islands of Bermudas and the Bahamas. 
HE British Leeward Islands, since the year 
JL 1672, have constituted one distinct govern¬ 
ment; the governor being stiled Captain General 
of the leeward Charaibean islands. He visits each 
occasionally, but his chief seat of residence is An¬ 
tigua 3 the government of each in the absence of 
the governor-general, being usually administered by 
a lieutenant-governor, whose authority is limited to 
that particular island, and where no lieutenant-go¬ 
vernor is appointed, the president of the council 
takes the command. I shall treat of them separate¬ 
ly, and afterwards combine, in a concise summa- 
Vol II. 
