Sugar, 22s. 6d. per cwt.; Coffee, 70s. do. ; Cocoa, 28s. do.; Cotton, 9d. per lb.; Rum, 1s. 10d. per gallon; Molasses, 8d. do. Rate of Exchange in 1836.-Private bills, at 90 days sight, on London, £227 currency for £100 sterling. CHAPTER VIII.-DOMINICA. SECTION I. The island of Dominica is situated in 15.25. N., 61.15.W., about twenty-nine miles in length, and sixteen in breadth, and containing 275 square miles, or 186,436 acres. II. Dominica was the first land seen by Columbus on his second voyage, after having been 20 days at sea from the Canaries: it was made on Sunday, the 3rd. of November 1493, and so named by the great navigator; but its right of occupancy was claimed by the three kingdoms, of England, France, and Spain. The right of possession remained undecided, and Dominica was considered a neutral island by the three crowns, till the year 1759, when, by conquest, it fell under the dominion of Great Britain; it was afterwards ceded to England by the treaty of Paris, February 1763. On the cession of the island to the English, commissioners were appointed under the great seal, and sent out there with authority to sell and dispose of the lands by public sale, to English subjects in allotments of not more than 100 acres of such land as was cleared; and not exceeding 300 acres of woods to any persons who should be the best bidder for the same.' These allotments were disposed of for the benefit of the crown, and were confirmed to the purchaser by grants, under the Great Seal of England, with conditions in each grant, that every purchaser should pay down 20 per cent. of the whole purchase money, together with sixpence sterling per acre, for the expence of surveying the land; and that the remainder of the purchase money should be secured by bonds, to be paid by equal instalments, in the space of five years, next after the date of the grants. That each purchaser should keep on the lands, so by him purchased, one white man, or two white women for every 100 acres of land, as it became cleared, for the purpose of cultivating the same. Or, in default thereof, or non-payment of the purchase money, the lands were to be forfeited to His Majesty, his heirs, L and successors.' The commissioners were also empowered to execute leases to the French inhabitants, of such lands as were found in their possession on the surrender of the island; which lands were again leased to those inhabitants, who were desirous of keeping them in possession, on consideration of their taking the oaths of allegiance to his Britannic Majesty. These leases were executed for a term not less than seven, some 14 years, and others for 40 years absolute, renewable at the time limited for the expiration of the same. With conditions in every lease, 'That the possessor, his heirs, or assigns, should pay to his Majesty, his heirs, or successors, the sum of two shillings sterling per annum, for every acre of land of which the lease should consist. And that they should not sell or dispose of their lands without the consent and approbation of the Governor, or Commander inchief of that island for the time being.' The Commissioners were likewise empowered to make grants, under the Great Seal of lots to poor settlers, to such English subjects as should be deemed fit objects of his Majesty's bounty, in allotments of not more than 30 acres of land to any one person. With authority also, to the said commissioners, to reserve and keep such lands, in the most convenient parts of the island as they should think proper, for fortifications, and the use of His Majesty's army and navy; together with a boundary of 50 feet from the sea shore, round the whole island; and reserving all mines of gold and silver, which might thereafter be discovered there, for the use of his Majesty, his heirs, and successors. By these measures 96,344 acres (half the island,) were disposed of in lots of from 50 to 100 acres, which produced 312,0907. sterling. The prosperity of the island rapidly increased under a system of free trade; but the happiness of the inhabitants was interrupted on the capture of the island, by a large French Lbs. of Coffee. Lbs. of Cocoa. Lbs. of Cotton. Gallons of Rum. Gallons of Molasses. force, from Martinique, under the Marquis de Bouillé, | above them, seem like the newest slates, and remind in 1778, after a gallant resistance on the part of the one of that clear and distinct look which the good British colonists, by which they secured for them. towns of France have when viewed from an emiselves highly honourable terms; these advantages nence. were, however, frustrated by the tyranny and rapacity of the new French Governor, the Marquis Duchilleau, whose memory is deservedly held in the deepest scorn. After five years, our colonists were rejoiced on the restoration of the island to England at the peace of 1783. During the war of 1805, a devastating descent was made on the Island of Dominica by a formidable French squadron; and although Roseau, the capital was burned, the colony was preserved to Great Britain by the skill of Sir George Prevost, and the gallant behaviour of the colonists. The island has ever since remained under the dominion of Great Britain. In 1802, the 8th W. I. (black) regiment mutinied took possession of the Cabrites, and from the lower fort opened a fire on H. M. S. Magnificent, then at anchor in Prince Rupert's bay. The marines were landed, joined the royal Scotch and 68th regiments, and, after two days skirmishing, the 8th W. I. was subdued with great loss. The roadstead of Roseau (it can scarcely be called a harbour) is very capacious and safe, except in the hurricane months, (from the end of August to October), when the sea, from the southward, tumbles into the bay in a terrific manner, sometimes rising to an alarming height. On the last day of September, 1780, the sea suddenly rose to the height of 21 feet perpendicular above its usual level, destroying several houses in front of the beach and wrecking many vessels. The fortifications of Roseau, namely Young's Fort, Melville's Battery, Bruce's Hill, and Fort Demoulin, are very strong and commanding positions. Prince Rupert's Bay, on the N. W. of the island in St. John's parish, is three miles broad, one and a half deep, and safe and commodious enough for the whole British navy at all seasons: it is surrounded by two high mountains, called the Cabrittes, the inner of which is about 500, and the other 600 feet in perpendicular height, both out of the reach of any other elevated land. Fort Shirley lies betwen the two Cabrittes, with a rich plain of 100 acres in extent at its base, and in time of war the fortifications on these heights might be rendered as strong as Gibraltar. The grand Savanna, nine miles from Prince Rupert's Bay, and twelve from Roseau, is a fine fertile elevated plain, upwards of a mile in extent, and at a good distance from the neighbouring mountains, whose terraces jut out from their breasts: around whose declivities flourish the richest verdure, while murmuring cascades of babbling brooks, burst through the luxuriant vegetation, or roll along the hilly avenues, surrounded by magnificent piles of rocks, sometimes black and bare, sometimes green, with countless traceries of lovely creepers, interspersed with gigantic ferns and lofty palms. IV. Dominica, is volcanic: the soil in some places is a light brown coloured mould, which appears to have been washed down from the mountains, mixed with decayed vegetable matter. In the level country, towards the sea coast, and in many districts of the interior, it is a fine, deep, black, mould, peculiarly III. Dominica is one of the volcanic isles of the West, with lofty rugged mountains, and fertile intervening valleys, watered by about 30 fine rivers, and numberless rivulets, springs, and waterfalls, which descend with great impetuosity from the hills, and, under the umbrageous canopy of lofty and magnificent forests, form the most romantic cascades. The height of the elevations have been thus noted:-Morne Diablotin, or Terre Firme, 5,314 feet above the sea; Laroche, 4,150; Coulisboune, 3,379; Outer Cabrite, 542; Inner ditto, 430; Morne Crabier, 485; Morne Bruce, 465; Daniole, 329. The heights of the forts and batteries are Scots' Head, 231 feet; Melville's, 147; Magazine Bat. 320; Hospital ditto, 440; Fort Young, 440; Fort Shirley, 153; Barracks at Douglas Bay, 126; Grand Savannah, 170; Layon, 160. About six miles from Roseau, almost in the centre of the island, and on the top of a very high mountain, surrounded by other more lofty hills, is a large lake of fresh water, covering a space of several acres, and in some places unfathomable; it spreads into three distinct branches, and has a very extraordinary appear-adapted to the cultivation of the sugar cane, coffee, ance. Roseau, the capital, is situate in the parish of St. George, (about seven leagues from Prince Rupert's Bay), on a point of land on the S. W. side of the island, which point forms two bays-Woodbridges to the N. and Charlotteville to the S. 'The landscape behind the town is beautifully grand; indeed the whole prospect from the edge of Morne Bruce, a lofty table-rock occupied by the garrison, is one of the very finest in the West Indies. The valley runs up for many miles in a gently inclined plane between mountains of irregular heights and shapes, most of which are clothed up to their cloudy canopies with rich parterres of green coffee, which perfumes the whole atmosphere, even to some distance over the sea; the river rolls a deep and roaring stream down the middle of the vale, and is joined at the outlet of each side ravine by a mountain torrent, whilst at the top, where the rocks converge into an acute angle, a cascade falls from the apex, in a long sheet of silvery foam. Beneath, the town presents a very different appearance from what it does at sea; the streets are long and spacious, regularly paved, and intersecting each other at right angles; there is one large square, or promenade ground, and the shingled roofs of the houses, tinged with the intense blue of the heaven cocoa, and all other articles of tropical produce. The under stratum is a yellow, or brick clay, in some parts; in others, it is a stiff terrace, and frequently very stoney. Large quantities of excellent freestone have been quarried in the Savanna, and at one time it formed an article of export to Guadaloupe and elsewhere. Several of the mountains of this island are continually burning with sulphur, of which they emit vast quantities. From these mountains issue various springs of mineral waters, (whose virtues are extolled for the cure of many disorders) which in some places are hot enough to cook an egg in less time than boiling water. The sulphureous exhalations from these springs are very strong, often too intensely penetrating for continued respiration, while the soil, or sulphur and sand, around them in the Souffrieres, is too hot for the feet, and scarcely firm enough to tread upon. Owing to the dense vegetation of the island, and the general apathy of W. I. planters for any thing but sugar and coffee, we know nothing further of the geology of Dominica. It is stated that gold and silver mines exist, and that the latter metal was at one time to be found in abundance. called Demoulins, so deep, that, although it was several times attempted, it never could be fathomed; the traces of this remarkable circumstance have, however, long since disappeared. VI. Dominica, in 1692, contained 938 Caribs, and 349 French occupied the part of the coast which had been abandoned by the natives, and which they cultivated by the aid of 23 free mulattos, and 338 slaves. At the peace of 1763, the island contained 600 whites, and 2,000 blacks; in 1773, 3,350 whites, 20,000 negroes; and, in 1788, the population consisted of 1,236 whites; 445 free negroes; and 14,967 slaves. Total, 16,648. In 1792, the negroes were-males, 6,438; females, 5,214; male and female children, 4,462; total, 16,244. In 1798, the number of slaves was 14,967. In 1805, 1,594 whites, 2,822 free coloured, 22,083 slaves. REMARKS. The wet season commonly sets in about the end of August, and continues till about the beginning of January, but with frequent intervals of fine weather. The severity of the rainy season is usually in the months of September and October, when very heavy continual rain falls for days together; sometimes for two or three weeks. The island, indeed, is seldom without rain in some part or the other; and often, during a promising day, the traveller meets with such sudden and heavy showers, that almost in an instant wet him to the skin, in spite of either umbrella or great coat. When the rains are violent and of long continuance, they do great mischief in the island among the plantations, carrying away large tracts of land, with coffee, plantain trees, sugar canes, and ground provisions, which are all hurried into the sea. To the towns also they do great damage, causing the rivers to overflow their banks, or breaking out in fresh places, sweeping off houses, or whatever else stands in the way of these destructive torrents. Thunder and lightning is seldom so severe in Dominica as in many parts of the West Indies; neither are earthquakes so frequent or so destructive. It has been asserted, that soon after the English first took possession of the island, it was split in several places by one of those awful convulsions of nature; and in particular, a large chasm was made in a mountain The population, as given in the Board of Trade returns for 1831, whites and free-coloured, males, 1120; females, 2538; slaves, males, 6859; females, 7373.Total males, 8979; females, 9991.=18,970. In 1832. Births-Protestant, 94; Roman Catholic, 552. Marriages-Protestant, 21; Roman Catholic, 58. Burials-Protestant, 87; Roman Catholic, 99. Births, marriages and deaths in the Town of Roseau, in 1836-Baptisms, 55; marriages, 18; burials, 65. There has been no population return since 1833. Non-Prædial. Prædial Unattached. Attached. Prædial Divisions. Number and valuation of the Slave Population of Dominica, on the 1st of August, 1834; as given in by the sworn valuers and classifiers appointed by the assistant commissioners of compensation for that purpose. Town of Roseau Parish of Saint George No. of Slaves. A VII. Churches, Livings, &c. [B.B.]—A church in the town of Roseau, parish of St. George, capable of containing about 400 persons, of whom from 100 to 200 generally attend: value of living, 2401. sterling, and 601. per annum allowed for parsonage-house. chapel school at St. Joseph's, accommodating about 150 persons, of whom 40, chiefly children, generally Val. in Stlg. attend. There are also two dissenting places of worship in the parish of St. George; one in St. Joseph, and one in St. Andrew's. 778 £. 2615 1686 34304 127809 94112 69623 VIII. Schools in 1836. [B. B.] Three public or free schools in Roseau, 60 male scholars (supported by the bishop of the diocese); one infant school, 60 female scholars; one ditto, with 47 male and 33 female scholars (supported by voluntary contributions. A house, which has recently come into possession of the colony, has been granted by the Legislature to the Dominica District Committee for the use of the schools). One public or free school in the town of St. Joseph, 22 male and 15 female scholars (supported by the Bishop of the diocese). Total for the island.... Making the average value of each slave in sterling? 50l. 158.2.9597d.nearly. Among the number valued are included 2105 children under six years of age who are now free by the operation of the Abolition Act: also are included 397 aged, diseased or otherwise noneffective.-[Dominica Almanack, 1837.] 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.] Number of claims having reference to each division. Prædial attached, 411; Prædial unattached, 162: Nonprædial, 468. IX. Number of Prisoners in Dominica 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. 6 16 10 6 .. I 16 128 128 244 244223 ∞ 1829 1830 32 11 1837 14 58 X. There is a Lieut.-Governor, a Legislative Council | This latter court was revived and regulated by the law of eight, an Executive, a Council of 12, and a Repre- of Dominica, number 74, passed in 1817. It is a sentative Legislative Assembly of 20 Members. The court of record, and the process and proceedings are general business is managed as in the other colonies. conformable to those of the court of common pleas. The militia in 1836 consisted of 10 Lieut.-Colonels; The complaint court is for the recovery of debts, up 3 Majors; 17 Captains; 21 Lieutenants; 8 Ensigns; to 251. The court of common pleas consists of a 1 Surgeon; 1 Quarter Master; 54 Serjeants; 13 Drum- chief and four other judges. The court of grand sesmers; 864 Rank and File; Total, 1092. An excel- sions of the peace consists of the Lieut.-Governor lent body of men. (not being commander-in-chief), the Members of Council, the Speaker, and all the Justices of the Peace who are Members of the House of Assembly. The Chief Justice presides, and the other judges seldom interfere. The court sits twice yearly. Any three Justices of the Court (being Members of Council) may at any time take bail, as in the English Court of King's Bench. The preceding and the Court of Queen's Bench have alone criminal jurisdiction in the island. The laws in force in the island are the common statute law of England, so far as is applicable to circumstances; acts of parliament declared or manifestly intended to apply to the island, or to the colonies in general; and the acts of the island house of assembly, when not repugnant to the laws of Great Britain and sanctioned by the crown. The courts of civil jurisdiction are those of chancery, common pleas, complaints, error, admiralty, and the merchant court. XI. The revenue is raised generally as in the other West Indian colonies. Comparative Yearly Statement of the Revenue and Expenditure of Dominica, in Pounds. [B. B.] 1827. 1828. 1829. 1830. 1831. 1832. 1833. 1834. 1835. 1836. Total 6300 6900 8319 5788 6319 7708 2806 1691 445 1456 1055 439 22527 22164 20924 24206 21195 22771 831 2441 796 1315 2395 5098 2224 753 2150 £28827 29064 29243 29994 27959 31935 *8959 4354 2380 8301 The diminution between 1832 and 1833 must have been owing to the cessation of a parliamentary grant for military protection. There is a local assessment of 24 per cent. on the rental of houses in Roseau, which produces £300 per annum. There is a paper currency of 2,000 dollars=£360 sterling, in notes of two and four dollars each, payable in coin on demand at the Colonial Treasury. The amount of coin in the island is not ascertainable. Ordnance expenditure by Great Britain.-Ordnance service, 1,0037.; barrack service, 1,6061.; Agents to ordnance military corps, 3801.; ordnance military service, 241. Nett charge, 3,0131. [B. B.] Recapitulation of the Establishment.-Paid by Great | 3,0261.; ordinaries, 5,378.; pay of commissariat Britain in sterling money: Civil Establishment, 2600l.; officers, 6121.=15,6671. Deduct re-payments: comJudicial Establishment, 18007.; Ecclesiastical Esta- missariat, 1721.; ordnance, 3021.=4751. Nett charge, blishment, 180.; total, 45801. Paid by the Colony 15,1927. [B. B. 1836.] in sterling money: Civil Establishment, 10321.; Judicial Establishment, 1201.; Ecclesiastical Establishment, 2801.; Pension, 391.; total, 14711. [B.B. 1836.] Commissariat Expenditure by Great Britain.-Provisions and forage: received from England, 22197.; purchased in command, 28681. 50881. Received from England, 717.; purchased in command, 1441. 2161. Miscellaneous purchases, 107.; transport, 2361.; pay of extra staff, 1607.; military allowances, 8131.; special licenses, 771.; contingencies, 481.; ordnance, XII. During the year ending 5th of January, 1788, its exports were,-Sugar, 1,302 cwt.; Rum, 63,392 gallons; Molasses, 16,803 gallons; Cocoa, 1,194 cwt.; Coffee, 18,149 cwt.; Indigo, 11,250 lbs.; Cotton, 970,816 lbs.; Cotton, 161 cwt.; Hides, dye woods. &c. 11,912l. 10s. Id. |