The situation of Codrington College is one of the most delightful that can possibly be conceived; surrounded by hills on every side, possessing the superior advantages of the sea breeze, an unbounded view of the Atlantic, and refreshed by a clear stream of water, collected in front into a small lake. The students receive their board and education for 351. per annum, and are examined and ordained by the bishop if intended for the church. At the central school, about 160 white children are educated precisely upon the plan of the national In addition to the schools here mentioned, there are in each place of worship Sunday schools. There are 1007. stg. also, twice in the week, Mistress 507, night schools in each 4. Mast. 50, of the three districts of Mistress 401. the town. In each 5. Mast. 501. parish, there are estate schoois. There are also 6. 251. each. six private schools. 7. Mast. 207. 8. Mast. 507.) schools in England; all of them are fed during the day, and the major part are well clothed. The beneficial effects of this charity are already confessed on all hands; principles of sobriety and devotion are instilled into their minds, and habits of regularity and peaceful subordination are enforced. From this class of boys the master tradesmen, mechanics, overseers, and even managers, are now supplied. A girl's school has also been founded, under the auspices of the Bishop; they are both favourite institutions, and the chief people in the colony spare neither pains nor 1821 13127 16679 2592 19271 1822 17421 13795 2697 16492 1823 29431 23511 2499 26010 1824 26125 12009 1654 13663 IX. The government of the island is constituted in a manner similar to that already described under Jamaica; namely, a Governor, a Legislative Council, and a Representative Assemby. The Governor's legislative authority is entirely negative, he can only recommend subjects for consideration to the Assembly, and his concurrence is required before any bill can become law; each concurrence, however, not being valid beyond three years, unless sanctioned by the royal confirmation. In his executive capacity the Government is entitled to nominate, and of course remove the officers of militia; the right, however, is seldom exercised beyond the choice of Colonels, who nominate their Lieutenant-Colonels, Majors, and Captains, who in turn appoint their subalterns. The Governor, with the consent of the Council, has power to dissolve the General Assembly, and to issue writs for a new election; with the concurrence of five members he may suspend any member of Council, unless it be an extraordinary occasion requiring secrecy, when his power is absolute, subject to explanation at home. If there be less than seven Members of Council resident in the island, the Governor may fill up the number (to twelve,) pro tempore, for the dispatch of business. As Chancellor, his Excellency has the custody of the great seal, and presides in the Courts of Error and Equity, in which courts the Judges being Council, he only sits primus inter pares, his vote or opinion being of no greater consequence than that of any other member. As Ordinary he takes probate of all testamentary writings; in cases of litigation establishes or annuls the will; and in default of executors appointed by the testator. His Excellency issues letters of administration according to the rules of law. As Vice-Admiral he issues his warrant to the Judge of the Vice-Admiralty Court to grant commissions to privateers. Barbadoes, St. Vincent, Grenada and Tobago, are consolidated into one general Government; and Antigua, Montserrat, St. Christopher, Nevis, Tortola and Dominica into another general Government; the former called the Windward Island Governments for the Commissariat and Ordnance excepted) ment, and the latter the Leeward Island, LieutenantGovernors are oppointed to each; and Governor-inChief at Barbadoes and Antigua. The militia force is strong and well appointed; there are six regiments of several battalions each, together with a corps of life guards, and a numerous and brilliant staff. In 1666, Barbadoes had an effective military force of 20,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry composed of the colonists. Colonial Expenditure from 1828 to 1836.-1828, 18,5667; 1829, 19,9437; 1830, 18,5667; 1831, 18,3541; 1832, 18,3547; 1833, 16,5367; 1834, 17,8417; 1835, 27,5801; 1836, 29,3737. [B. B.] Recapitulation of the Establishment in 1834. Commis- 2,9197; Special Services, 12811.; Contingencies, 9321.; Ordnance, 8,9367.; Ordinaries, 28,5471.; Pay of Commissariat Officers, 3, 1801.;=75,0901. Deduct Repayments.-Commissariat, 10987.; Ordnance, 12891. ;=23871. Net charge, 72,7021. The preceeding statement includes Expenditure, which on several of the items relates to the service of the whole Command, and not of this Colony exclusively. XI .The trade of Barbadoes has fluctuated very much at various periods owing to hurricanes and bad seasons, as well as to the equally injurious fiscal restrictions of man; its early exports were 1829* 1830 203417 77 1831* 341 40279 2849 Val. No. Tons. Val. £ Val. £ No. Tons. Val. £ No. Tons. Val. £ No. Tons. Val. No. Tons. Men. 1822 544210 70 1823 608815 95 1824 389426 89 1825 353246 91 1826 381127 79 1827 219971 90 1828* 88 11016 54846 18000 43963 48877 209 17279 21621 14 1000 24224 48 4000 693180 545 60242 4084 460 53299 3476 457 52168 3818 120 39 2724 999231 949 48717 125 8023 376866 526 57673 3916 475 50776 3797 19406 28642 64050 289 23532 886 1 146 70983 169 10848 369122 536 53932 4034 From Elsewhere, value, 1822, 102847.; 1823, 237147.; 1824, 171687.; 1825, 55427.; 1826, 68047.; 1827, 26751.; N.B. It is to be regretted that the Barbadoes Blue Books, like those of Jamaica, afford by no means the satisfactory documents to statistical science that the importance of the subject demands. Years. 69 CHAPTER VII.-ST. LUCIA. SECTION 1. This very beautiful island is in lat. | of fishing and passage, or drogher boats, with their 13.50 N., long. 60.58 W., about 32 miles in length, from N. to S., and 12 broad, and contains 37,500 acres of land. II. It was discovered on St. Lucia's Day, and first settled on by the English about 1635, since which period it has undergone various changes, being sometimes declared neutral, (as by the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle,) next in the possession of the French, then captured or transferred to the British, and vice versa. By the treaty of Paris in 1763, St. Lucia was allotted to France; and Dominica, St. Vincent, Grenada, and Tobago to England; during the American war, in 1779, it was taken by the British, but restored to the French by the peace of 1783, it was conquered at the commencement of the French revolutionary war in 1794, evacuated in 1795, and retaken in 1796; by the treaty of Amiens it was restored to France in 1801, and recaptured by us in 1803. The detail of the hard fought battles for the acquisition of this isle would be out of place, it may suffice to state that the fortune of war, in 1803 finally left it an English colony, with a French population, manners, language, and feelings. III. The first approach to this island, (which is divided longitudinally by a ridge of lofty hills,) from the S. is very remarkable. Two rocks, called Sugarloaves, rise perpendicularly out of the sea, and shoot to a great height in parallel cones, which taper away towards the summit. These mountains, which are covered with evergreen foliage, stand on either side of the entrance into a small but deep and beautiful bay. Behind this, the mountains, which run N. and S. throughout the island, rise in the most fantastic shapes. When sailing along the shore the variety of scenery is exquisitely beautiful; the back ground continues mountainous, but every three or four miles appear the most lovely little coves and bays, fringed with the luxuriant cane-fields, and enlivened by the neatly laid-out mansions of the planters; while the flotillas long light masts and latteen sails, add life and animation to the scene. On the west coast there is an excellent harbour, called Little Careenage with three careening places, one for large ships, and the others for frigates. It is accessible only to one vessel at a time, (the entrance defended by several batteries) but capable of holding thirty ships of the line. The plains throughout the island are well watered, and the mountains clothed with fine timber. Castries, the only town in the isle, is situate at the bottom of a long and winding bay of the same name. The fort is situate on the summit of Mornefortune, which is about two miles of exceeding steep road, or path, from Castries. Pigeon Island is six miles distant from the harbour of St. Lucia, and, in a military point of view, is of great importance to the colonies, being within a short distance of Martinique, and commanding a view of every ship that may enter or depart from that island; it is moreover valuable for a very fine and extensive anchorage between it and the N. part of St. Lucia. The isle is about half a mile in length N. and S. and a quarter broad, the side towards the sea (W.) is a perpendicular cliff, from the ridge or crest of which there is a gradual descent to the opposite shore, and level ground enough to erect a barrack for 500 men. A barrack and hospital has been constructed on this healthy spot, and it is one of the most salubrious that can be expected in a tropical clime. St. Lucia is divided into Basseterre, the low or leeward territory, and Capisterre, the high or windward territory. The former is well cultivated and most populous; but the climate is unwholesome from the abundance of stagnant waters and morasses. The latter division is also unwholesome, but it becomes of course less so as the woods are cleared away. Indeed the health of all tropical countries will be found to be in proportion to their cultivation. IV. In 1777 the island contained whites, 2,397; free coloured, 1,050; slaves, 10,752; total, 14,199. The Slave Population, according to a Parliamentary Return, was in numbers, Total. Males. Females. Total. Decrease by Manumission. The Board of Trade returns for 1831 state the inha- | for the year, 451; deaths, 430; and marriages, 19. bitants at—whites and free coloured males, 1,690; 4,190 persons engaged in agriculture; in manufacfemales, 1,838; slaves, males, 5,242; females, 6,129 tures, 670; in commerce, 86. -total, males, 6,932; females, 7,967. The births The foregoing taken from returns received from justices of peace, in the several quarters, being the V. Churches, Livings, &c. in 1836 [B. B.].-In Castries the population is about 150 souls. The value of the living is about 300l. sterling. The church will contain about 200, of whom from 20 to 60 generally attend. This church is Protestant. In Castries also a population of 3382 Roman Catholics. The value of the living is not fixed. There is a Parsonage House allowed. The church, when finished, will contain about 800 persons. There is also a small house serving as a chapel, which will contain about 250 persons. Soufriere-Population about 3517 Roman Catholics. Value of living, 5,000 livres per annum. The church is generally full. Vieux Fort-Population 1094 Roman Catholics. Value of living 6,000 livres sterling. There is a Parsonage House allowed, to which is attached 18 acres of uncultivated land. This church will contain about 200 persons. The foregoing is taken from returns received from the curates of the different parishes. VI. Schools of St. Lucia in 1836 [B. B.].-Castries. -A National School, containing 41 male scholars. The mode of instruction is the plan generally pursued in National Schools. The Master receives a salary of 501., paid by the Bishop of the Diocese, and the rent of the school room is paid by voluntary subscriptions until a house can be erected. Soufriere.-A National School, containing 24 male and 8 female scholars. (Mode of instruction as above). The Master receives 401. sterling, paid by the Bishop of the Diocese, and the rent of the school room is paid by voluntary subscriptions. Gros-Islet.-A National School, containing seven male scholars. The Master receives 40. per annum from the Bishop of the Diocese. (Mode of instruction as above). The officiating Minister of St. Lucia at present bears the expenses of this school, which has been established but a short time. [There are no other returns in the B. B.] |