chap. IV.] WEST INDIES. 185 
for their protection. In 1666, they were driven 
out by a stronger party of the same adventurers, 
who, calling themselves English, pretended to take 
possession for the crown of England* and the Eng¬ 
lish monarch, if he did not commission the enter- 
prize, made no scruple to claim the benefit of it; 
for Tortola and its dependencies were soon after¬ 
ward® annexed to the Leeward Island government, 
in a commission granted by king Charles II. to Sir 
William Stapleton, and I believe that; the English 
title has remained unimpeached from that time to 
this. 
The Dutch had made but little progress in culti¬ 
vating the country when they were expelled from 
Tortola; and the chief merit of its subequent im¬ 
provements was reserved for some English settlers 
from the little island of Anguilla, who, about a 
century past, embarked with their families and set¬ 
tled in the Virgin islands. Their wants were few, 
and their government simple and unexpensive. 
The deputy governor, with a council nominated 
from among themselves, exercised both the legis¬ 
lative and judicial authority, determining, in a sum¬ 
mary manner, without a jury, all questions between 
subject and subject; and as to taxes there seem to 
have been none laid: when money was absolutely 
necessary for public use, it was raised, I believe by 
voluntary contribution. 
Under such a system, it was impossible that the 
colony could attain to much importance. It want- 
Vol. II. 
a a 
