Return of the Population, and of the Births, Marriages, and Deaths of Bahamas in 1836. There are five resident strangers not included in the preceding columns. From [B. B.] for 1836, A statement of the Number of Slaves for whom Compensation has been claimed, and of the Number of Claims preferred for such compensation, and of the Amount of Compensations awarded in each of the classes of Prædial attached, Prædial-unattached, and Non-Prædial. [Parliamentary Return to the House of Lords, March, 1838.] VII. Churches, Livings, &c. in 1836. [B. B.]— Christ's Church, in the Island of New Providence; value of living, 340i., Church will contain from 700 to 800 persons, from 400 to 500 generally attend. There is a parsonage-house, a chapel which will contain 400 persons, about 250 generally attend. St. Mathew, in the Island of New Providence; living 3401., Church contains from 300 to 400, about 250 attend. St. John's Harbour, Egg Current Island; living, 270., Church contains 400 persons, a Chapel which will contain 60, about 50 attend. St. Patrick Eludlein; living, vacant, the Chapel will contain 400 persons, from 50 to 60 attend. St. Salvador, vacant. St. Andrews at Exuma and Rugged Island, vacant. St. Paul's at Long Island, vacant. St. David's at Crooked Island, vacant. St. George at the Caicos, vacant. St. Thomas at Turk's Island, 2701., Church will contain 260 persons. House rent is allowed. Peter at Abuco, vacant. St. Christopher, district of Watling's Island and Rem's key, vacant. St. Stephen, district of St. Andrew's Island, vacant. Grand Bahamas, and the Beng Islands, vacant. Most of these Churches are Protestant. There are nine Dissenting places of worship, including the Scotch Kirk. St. VIII. In 1832 the number of male scholars in the Bahamas was 549; females, 568; total, 1117. Four were public schools; four Sunday schools; two day and one free school for infants. The public schoolroom in the town of Nassau is capable of containing 200 pupils. The Wesleyans have two Sabbath and two Catechetical schools in New Providence. In the former, (in 1832) 24 white and 281 coloured children and adults receive gratuitous instruction in reading and writing, by 10 white and 18 coloured teachers. They have also 10 Sunday schools in the out-islands, where 630 whites and coloured children are instructed. There are also about 76 private schools, containing about 230 or 240 scholars; the number of pupils in each varying from three to upwards of 30. This school established in 1836, supported by funds received from bequests, and exclusively under the control of the rector of Christchurch. + Established in 1835. Ditto in 1835; this school is supported by the Baptists. § African settlement, paid by Her Majesty's government. Il Established in 1836. Ditto in 1836. ** Ditto in 1835. ++ Ditto in 1836. Ditto in 1836. §§ This and the following schools were discontinued in October, in consequence of the violent opposition made by the white inhabitants to the admission of coloured children. IX. Number of Prisoners in the Gaols of Bahamas throughout each year, from 1828 to 1836. Male Fm. Totl. Male Fm. Totl. Male Fm Totl. Male Fm. Totl. Male Fm. Totl. Male Fm. Totl. 833 4106 366 33 3 32 27 6 33 225 336 Deaths. 1 1 1 3 1832 111 16 127 20 1833 119 33 152 23 1834 103 30 133 15 27 99 Nil. 27 5 8 97 1835 410 168 578 29 1836 340 167 507 12 1 27 258 138 396 133 49 182 nel; 1 lieut.-colonel; 2 majors; I adjutant; 1 quarter-master; 2 surgeons; 1 serjeant-major; 1 military marshal; 7 captains; 13 Beutenants; 26 sergeants; 27 corporals; 3 drummers; 326 privates:-total, 412. New Providence Marine Corps :-1 major; 1 quarter-master; 1 surgeon; 1 military marshal; 2 captains; 4 lieutenants; 10 serjeants; 8 corporals; 129 X. As in the other West India possessions, the government of the Bahamas is modelled after that of England; viz. a House of Assembly or Commons, consisting of 30 members, returned from the several islands; an Executive and Legislative council of 12 members, approved by the crown, and a governor, who is commander-in-chief of the militia, and has the power of summoning and dissolving the legislative body, and of putting a negative on its proceedings. The elec-privates:-total, 157. tors are free white persons of 21 years of age, who have resided 12 months within the government, for six of which they must have been householders or freeholders, or in default of that have paid duties to the amount of 50l. To become a representative, the person must have 200 acres of cultivated land, or property to the value of 2,000l. currency. There are several courts at law, such as the Supreme Court, which holds its sessions in terms of three weeks, with the powers of the common law courts at Westminster, and its practice modelled on that of the King's Bench, the Courts of Chancery, Error, ViceAdmiralty, &c. Nassau, in New Providence, as before observed, is the seat of government and the centre of commerce; it possesses a fine harbour, nearly land locked, and on the S. side of which the capital extends over a rather steep acclivity to the summit of a ridge, the W. of which is crowned by a fortress of considerable strength, where the garrison is kept. The island is divided into parishes, each of which has its church, clergy, and school, liberally provided for. The streets are regularly laid out, the public buildings good, and activity and cleanliness immediately attracts the eye of a stranger. Governors of the Bahamas, from 1613 to 1838.Chillingworth, 1673; Clark, 1677; Lilburne, 1684; Bridges, 1687; Cadwalader Jones, 1690; Trott, 1694; Nicholas Webb, 1697; Elias Hasket, 1700; Ellis Lightfoot, -; Birch, 1704; Woods, Rogers, 1717; George Phenney, 1721; Woods Rogers, (again) 1728; Richard Fitzwilliam, 1733; John Tinker, 1738; William Shirley, 1759; Thomas Shirley, 1767; Montford Brown, 1774; John Maxwell, 1779; James E. Powel, (lieut.) 1784; John Earl of Dunmore, 1786; John Forbes, (lieut.) 1797; William Dowdeswell, 1797; John Halkett, 1801; Charles Cameron, 1804; Lewis Grant, 1820; Sir J. C. Smith, 1829; B. T. Balfour, (lieut.) 1833; Lieut. Coll. William G. Colebrook, 1835. The military strength of the colony is shown as follows:-New Providence regiment of militia; 1 colo The regular troops amount to about 600 men. XI. Comparative Yearly Statement of the Revenue of Bahamas.-1827, 15,5447.; 1828, 18,461.; 1829, 21,439.; 1830, 17,850l.; 1831, 20,4337.; 1832, 15,8087.; 1833, 10,2017.; 1834, 19,720.; 1835, 22,8037. Revenue of Bahamas for 1836.-Imports: Advalorem duties, 1,766l.; flour, 1,9167.; rice, 5077.; spirits, rum, gin and brandy, 2,971.; wine, 1,0071.; five per cent. on goods, 4,4134.; miscellaneous, 3,0897.: total imports, 15,6691. Exports and Taxes: salt, 2,100.; vendure tax, 1,1947.; tonnage, 1687.; miscellaneous, 9951. total exports and imports, 20,1267. Yearly statement of the Expenditure of Bahamas.— 1827, 17,4597.; 1828, 17,3957.; 1829, 17,8291.; 1830, 19,2057.; 1831, 19,2627.; 1832, 15,098; 1833, 6,4351.; 1834, 20,7377.; 1835, 18,277. Expenditure of Bahamas for 1836.-Civil department, officers salaries, 2,7551.; Ecclesiastical ditto, officers salaries, 1,9157.; Judicial ditto, officers salaries, 3,7077.; Militia ditto, officers salaries, 867.; Light-house ditto, officers salaries, 289.; Special Justices ditto, constables salaries and hire of vessels, 1,7331.; Contingencies, 9811.; Appropriation to public departments, 6,6431.; Commissions of receivergeneral and treasurer, 177., Interest on treasury bills, 9117.: total, 19,9021. Recapitulation of the Establishment in 1836.[B. B.] Civil Establishment, paid by Great Britain in sterling money, 2,5891.; Judicial Establishment, 3,4007.; Ecclesiastical Establishment, 1401.: total, 6,1297. Civil Establishment paid by the Colony in sterling money, 2,755.; Judicial Establishment, 3,7071.; Ecclesiastical Establishment, 1,9157.; Miscellaneous Expenditure, 11,474.; Pensions, 48.: total, 19,9027. Commissariat Department Bahamas.-Expenditure incurred by Great Britain in aid of Civil Establishments and Military Protection in 1836: Rations of provisions and forage, 4,5517.; fuel and light, 268.; transport by land and water, 1897.; pay of Extra staff, 2591.; military allowances, 8541.; contingen cies, 6,9081.; ordinaries, 7,8611.; pay of commissariat officers, 4471.; cash payment on account of the army, 21,341; the value of supplies received from England, and issued to the army in kind during the year 1836, 2,9591.; cash and provision expenditure on account of army, 26,6751. Colonial Service.-Advance to the liberated African department, mail, boat hire, teachers at Carmichael, &c., pay of special justices and clerk of committee of compensation, 6,0381.; amount of general expenditure, 35,5411. None of the above expenses are defrayed by the colony. The particulars of the Ordnance Royal Navy-Amount of cash received from the expenditure in the colony, laid out under a note of military chest, 1,9271.; value of supplies received from Parliament, not to be noticed, agreeably to the Master England, and issued to the royal navy, 9001.; cash and of the Board of Ordnance's letter, dated 11th August provision expenditure on account of the navy, 2,8277. 1828. XII. IMPORTS, EXPORTS, AND SHIPPING OF BAHAMAS. Val. No. Tons. Val. Val. No. Tons. Val. No. Tons. Val. No. Tous. Val. £ No. Tons. Men. 76 3062 172500 4044 251975 122 7047 705 424 50902 2133 20374 3272 84 1750 20120 2123 20 1617 18-28 132915 8 1704 15638 16142 38 429 52389 2516 459 47946 2645 308 24507 1878 1836 71293 23 2972 10245 2471 155 1929 4700 7 440 25400 1 466 48765 2866 472 46251 2854 347 28377 2031 396 34150 2251 From Elsewhere, 1822, 583007.; 1823, 376257.; 1824, 326157.; 1825, 303357.; 1826, 285831.; 1827, 275871.; 1828, 979627.; 1829, 105317.; 1830, 226747.; 1831, 119027., 1833, 11767., 1831, 617.; 1853, 10683/.; 1836, 4426/. 5130 | 217600 422 104265 2235 3800 317659 437 50956 2131 2779 1825 1826 1827 1828 1832 1833 1834 1835 1636 1822 40100 14 2299 18700; 4700 EXPORTS OF BAHAMAS. 317407 354 34941 1965 XIII. Coins of Bahamas as in 1836.-[B. B.] Rates and weights at which gold and silver coins pass current in the Bahamas, by virtue of two several Acts of Assembly, passed in the 28th and 52nd year of his late Majesty's reign. British Guinea.. = Silver Coins.-Spanish milled dollar, 88. Cur., 4s. 4d. Gold Coins. dwt. grs. Currency. Sterling. St.; half ditto, 4s.=28. 2d.; quarter ditto, 2s.=1s. 1d.; eighth ditto, 18. = 64d; sixteenth ditto, 6d. 34d.; pistareen, 1s. 6d. = 93d.; half ditto, 9d. = 4 d. quarter ditto, 44d. 24d. Rates at which gold, silver, and copper coins pass current in the Bahamas, by act of Assembly passed in the sixth year of his late Majesty's reign.-Sovereign, 11. 16s. 11 d.; half ditto, 18s. 5d. 7-13ths; silver crown, 98. 2d. 11-12ths; half ditto, 4s. 7d. 5-13ths; silver shilling, 1s. 10d. 2-13ths; ditto 6d. = 11d. 1-13th; 9d. = 5d. 1-26th; half ditto, 2d. 1-52nd; copper penny, 2d.; half ditto, ld. 11200 12 1 6 3 8 16 3 8 1 Eighth ditto. 4 Sixteenth ditto 2 XIV. European and tropical vegetables and fruits thrive and are abundant; beef, mutton and poultry good and plentiful; the shores abound with fish, and there is turtle enough among the Bahamas to supply all Europe; almost every island has pretty good water; ambergris is occasionally found; cotton was formerly an abundant article of exportation, and there is scarcely a spot in any of the islands that is not covered with a luxuriant vegetation. sponges of good quality abound on the island shores, and the water from the wells at New Providence, has the desirable quality of keeping good at sea for any length of time. The agricultural stock in the Bahamas in 1831, consisted of 1,165 horses, asses, and mules; 3,250 horned cattle; 5,975 sheep and goats; and 3,755 swine. The quantity of produce raised was 30,350 bushels of Indian corn (at 4s. 4d. market price per bushel); 74,250 lbs. of potatoes and yams (at 6s. per cwt.); 3,225 bushels of peas and beans (at 5s. 10d. per bushel); 38,465 dozen of pine apples (at 23. per dozen); 22 tons of cotton (at 5d. per pound); 30,500 melons and pumpkins (at 3. per dozen); 31,300 lbs. of ocre (at 2d. per lb.); and 19 tons of | cassada or cassava, at 10s. per cwt. Return of the Produce, Stock, &c., in 1832. Ship timber of a most excellent quality, is abundant on many of the Bahama islands; logwood, bra. zilletto, fustic, green ebony and satin wood, are produced in considerable quantities for building or planking vessels; the cedar, horseflesh, madeira, mastic, and other durable woods, in great plenty, and there is an inexhaustible supply of very superior firewood; Islands 10 Andros Island Ragged Island & Keys 20 St. Salvador 120 Albaco 450 50 30 Harbour Island 60 . 600 700 300 3500 6000 1700 200 11000 8500 1000 700 within the Bahamas Islands; there are no established fisheries, properly so called; many persons, however, get their livelihood by fishing and turtling on the coast of Cuba, and obtaining sponge on the Bahama bank 50 100 200 4500 1700 40 150 1700, 2500 100 200 100 50 400 550 1500 300 2000 1700 50 500 2200 20000 50 50 200 Number of Ships built in the Colony in 1836. [B. B.] | -In New Providence, 7, of 240 tons burthen, registered according to law; Harbour Island, 3, of 119 tons; Abaco, 4, of 98 tons; Exuma, 1, of 16 tons; Rugged Island, 1, of 6 tons; Rum Key, 1, of 4 tons; Andur Island, 1, of 18 tons: total, 18 ships, 501 tons. EXUMA. Salt is manufactured on this island in a pond of 223 acres; in Rugged Island in a pond of 42 acres; in Turks Island in a pond of 130 acres; on Gunn's Key, and in a pond of 212 acres on Long Key: on Rum Key, in a pond of 650 acres; and in seve ral ponds on Long Island, extent together, 308 acres. There are no mines in this colony. On the Island of New Providence, are several private quarries of porous limestone, used in building houses, &c., and also for dripstones. It is in great abundance throughout the colony, and its value at the quarry is about 6d. per square foot. Smacks and boats are employed in fishing, varying in size from 12 feet to 20 tons. Fish and turtle are worth, on an average, about 34d. per lb. Prices of Produce and Merchandize.-Horned cattle per head, 107.; horses, 18.; sheep, 1.: goats, 168.; swine, 17. 17s. 6d. per cwt.; milk, 1s. per qrt.; fresh butter, 2s. per lb. ; salt butter, 1s. 3d. per lb. ; cheese, 18. per lb.; beef, 9d. per lb.; mutton, 9d. per lb.; pork, 9d. per lb.; rice, 17. per cwt.; tea, 6s. per lb.; sugar, 11. 58. per cwt.; salt, 6d. per bush.; wine, 2s. per doz.; brandy, 88. per gall.; beer, 108. per doz.; tobacco, 11. 178. 6d. per cwt.; Indian and Guiana corn, 4s. 4d. per bush.; potatoes and yams, 5s. 54. per bush.; peas and beans, 58, 5d. per bush.; pine apples, 28. 2d. per doz.; cotton 6d. per lb.; pumpkins and melons, 4s. per doz.; ochre, 2d. per lb.; cassava and arrow-root, 8d. per lb.; garlic, onions and eschalots, 6d. per lb.; oranges, 4s. 4d. per 1,000; lemons, 4s. 4d. per 1,000. [B. B. for 1836.] Wages for Labour.-Domestic, 17. 4s. per month; There are a great abundance and variety of fish Prædial, 18. 6d. per day; trades, 38. per day. |