i 86 
HISTORY OF THE [book iii, 
ed the advantage of English capitals ; but credit is 
sparingly given where payment cannot be easily en¬ 
forced. The inhabitants therefore, whose numbers 
in 1756 amounted to 1,263 whites, and 6,121 
blacks, reasonably hoped to be put on the same¬ 
footing with the sister islands, by the establishment 
of a perfect civil government, and constitutional 
courts of justice among them; but in this expecta¬ 
tion they were not gratified until the year 1773. 
In that year they presented an humble petition to 
the captain-general of the Leeward Island govern¬ 
ment, requesting his excellency to unite with 
them in an application to his majesty, for permis¬ 
sion to elect an assembly of representatives out of 
the freeholders and planters,, in order that such as¬ 
sembly, with the governor and council,' might 
frame proper laws for their peace, welfare, and 
good government; pledging themselves , in that 
case, to grant to his Majesty, his heirs and succes¬ 
sors, an impost of four and an half per centum, in 
specie, upon all goods and commodities the growth 
of these islands, similar to that which was paid in 
the other Leeward islands. 
Their application (thus sweetened) proved suc¬ 
cessful. It was signified to them, that his majesty 
fully considering the persons, circumstances, and 
condition of his said Virgin islands, and the neces¬ 
sity there was, from the then state of their culture 
and inhabitancy, that some adequate and perfect 
form of civil government should be established 
therein; “ and finally trusting that his faithful sub- 
ejects in his said Virgin islands, who should com- 
