Chapter LIII

Government​—​Governor-in-Chief​—​Council​—​Assembly​—​Government officers​—​Judicial officers​—​Ecclesiastical establishments​—​Schools​—​Fortifications and military defences​—​Revenue​—​Exports and imports​—​Population returns.

Antigua is the usual residence of the captain-general and governor-in-chief of the Leeward Islands; and in his absence, the oldest member of council, who is styled president, acts as his deputy. But in case of the death of the governor, or his removal from the office, according to a recent arrangement, the lieutenant-governor of St. Kitt’s takes up his residence at Antigua, and officiates as governor until a fresh appointment is made.

The colonial government of Antigua is confided to the governor-in-chief of the Leeward Islands​—​a council, nominated by the governor, and confirmed by the crown​—​and a house of assembly, consisting of twenty-five members, representing the capital town of St. John’s, and the twelve divisions, which the six parishes of the island compose, elected by the freeholders. The council act in two capacities​—​the one as the advisers of the governor in the administration of the executive branch of government; the other, as an upper house in the legislative assembly.

As the appointed advisers and assistants of the governor, his “privy council,” as they are termed, when acting in that capacity, the members of the council enjoy the title of “honourable;” and their concurrence, or that of three of their body, is required to most of the acts of the governor in his executive capacity. Their appointment, sometimes, is immediate from the crown, though the governor may, in case of a vacancy, appoint ad interim, until a confirmation, which is seldom withheld, is obtained. Leave of absence from the colony may be granted to a member of the council, by the governor, or his locum tenens, for six months, which may be extended by the crown to two years; but by a longer absence, a member incurs the forfeiture of his office. The governor, moreover, has the power to suspend any member of the council from the exercise of his office, until such time as the pleasure of the sovereign may be made known.

In their legislative capacity, the council assume to themselves, with regard to the members of assembly, as nearly as may be, the relation of the House of Lords to that of the Commons in England. Their officers are, a clerk and marshal, the former being the first colonial secretary, and often assuming the functions of the usher of the black rod. The senior member presides, under the title of president. They deliberate in private, excluding strangers, and enjoy the same freedom of debate as do the house of assembly, as the English parliament.

The house of assembly, assimilating itself, as it does, as closely as possible, to the usages of the English House of Commons, needs no further particular notice.

The governor, however, discharges two important functions, which are usually exercised by separate individuals. He acts as chancellor, or rather, as commissioner of the great seal, and, as such, presides in the court of equity; and up to the present time, he has also exercised all the functions of an ordinary, though, we believe, in practice, seldom going beyond granting licences for marriages, and admitting the probate of wills​—​acts for which he is not allowed to grant deputations; but this interference in matters of ecclesiastical jurisdiction may probably soon be dispensed with.

The chief officers of the island are—

1. The Governor, who receives a salary of 3000l. sterling from the British government, besides certain fees of office​—​as, on administering oaths on admission to certain public offices; on granting letters of administration, probate of wills, marriage licences, signature and great seal to writs of execution, letters of guardianship; on every motion made in the Court of Chancery, and on various other occasions; but the fees on granting leave of absence to a member of the council, or commissions to public offices, are usually the exclusive perquisites of his excellency’s private secretary.

2. Public Secretary.​—​His income, arising from fees, is said to equal, if not exceed, that of the governor.

3. Treasurer.​—​Receives from 800l. to 400l. per annum, and 2½ per cent. on all taxes and other moneys received; and also the same on all moneys paid away. He is required to give security on this appointment, from the governor, to the amount of 10,000l. currency.

4. Master in Chancery.​—​His income varies with the amount of business occurring. His fees are, 15s. 2d. for every hour, with other charges in proportion, when accounts are passing before him.

5. The Registrar of Deeds was formerly paid in sugar; but now, for every ninety-six words recorded in his office, he receives 2s., and the same sum for every year in which a search is made for any particular deed in his records. The returns of this office, as of the two preceding, being wholly dependent on fees, it is not easy to estimate their average amount.

6. The Provost Marshal receives a fixed salary of 600l., which is paid from fees, out of which the gaoler also receives a salary of 160l. All incidental expenses attendant on these two offices are also discharged from the same fund; and there is always a surplus remaining, which is placed at the disposal of the governor.

7. The Harbour Master receives 50l. per annum currency for boat-hire, and a fee, varying from 4s. 6d. to 22s. 6d., on certain vessels coming into the harbour, according to tonnage, from 30 tons to 300, and upwards. This officer seems less adequately provided for than any other, considering the attention required, and the responsibility attendant on his office.

8. The Postmaster, who is paid by the home government, receives 80l. sterling per annum.

The judicial officers connected with the colony are numerous, considered with respect to the population; but as none, with the exception of the chief judge, receive pecuniary remuneration, and he only 300l. sterling,^[72] and from fees, the appointments, although high-sounding, are, with this exception, only honorary, and almost parallel with that of the unpaid, though not less useful, magistracy of England. The appointments are as follow:​—​A chief judge; four assistant justices; a chief baron of the exchequer; judge of the vice-admiralty court; registrar of the vice-admiralty court; two masters examiners of chancery; registrar in chancery; provost marshal, advocate, and attorney-general; procurator and solicitor-general; three king’s counsel and a coroner, (the latter receiving 300l. per annum sterling from the colony.) The office of coroner is filled by Sir Robert Horsford, the attorney-general. To these must be added two stipendiary magistrates, appointed under the provisions of the act for the abolition of slavery, and paid by the home government.

The ecclesiastical establishment now comprises a bishop, receiving 2000l.; an archdeacon, receiving 500l. sterling from the British government; the rector of the parish of St. John, receiving, with a curate, 330l. from the colony; the rector of the parish of St. George, who receives a stipend of 230l. sterling; the rector of the parish of St. Paul’s, who receives 250l. sterling; the rector of the parish of St. Peter’s, who receives 300l. sterling; and the rector of the parish of St. Philip’s, who receives a stipend of 275l. sterling.

The stipends are raised by rates on the several parishes; and in addition to these, the clergy receive the usual surplice fees.

There are several day and night schools belonging to the Established Church​—​viz.,

St John’s​—​one boys’ and one girls’; two infant-schools at the Rectory; on Manning’s Estate, Cedar Valley, Marble Hill, St. James’s, St. Luke’s, African Hospital; three evening-schools in St. John’s, and four Sunday-schools, besides at the various parishes in the island. The instruction which is generally given is reading and repeating the scriptures and church catechism, and also certain lessons and hymns. The number of children instructed by the clergy may be reckoned at about 2300.

There are twelve churches, including four chapels of ease. One of these chapels of ease is the private property of the Honourable and Reverend Nath. Gilbert, the descendant of the founder of Methodism in this country, which contains 400 sittings.

Sittings.

St. John’s church contains 1600

St. George’s 600

St. Peter’s, (town of Parham,) old church 300

St. Philip’s, (near Willoughby Bay) 433

St. Paul’s, (Falmouth) 400

St. Mary’s, (Old Road) 250

St. John’s parish has three chapels of ease​—​one at Popehead, called St. James’s 420

Bendall’s Bridge, St. Luke’s 400

And one in town 150

St. Peter’s, one chapel of ease, (private property of Nath. Gilbert) 400

St. Philip’s 260

St. Paul’s, (a temporary chapel at English Harbour) 350

St. Mary’s, (in Ffryes Valley) 250

There is also a temporary chapel at the common gaol, which may be supposed to contain 150 sittings. The Rev. Robert Holberton volunteered, in the early part of 1829, to deliver a religious discourse every Sunday morning, between the hours of seven and eight o’clock, and has not grown weary in this laudable cause. He attends the prison at all times when serious consolations are required, and more particularly those who may have to suffer death by paying the penalty of the law.

Account of Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials.

Baptisms. Marriages. Burials.

1836 Parish of St. John’s 310 112 150

St. George’s 74 38 36

St. Peter’s 116 52 24

St. Paul’s 74 47 39

St. Mary’s 60 40 14

St. Philip’s 122 40 19

Total 756 329 282

1837 Church 662 246 393

1838 ” 528 316 313

1839 ” 723 468 420

1837 Wesleyan Society 96 0 112

1838 ” 108 0 114

1839 ” 95 0 85

1837 Moravians 383 0 318

1838 ” 249 0 256

1839 ” 265 0 254

The Wesleyan society has several Sunday-schools, also day scholars, exclusive of night-schools, which may be reckoned as follows:​—​From the “Ladies’ Society,” and the “Wesleyan Missionary,” conducted by voluntary contributions:​—

Scholars. Teachers.

Sunday-school 1782 155

Day-school 962 19

The Moravian Mission has 1115 0

Besides infant children, whose number may be estimated at about 1800 0

The members of their church may be estimated at about 9000.

Fortifications.​—​There are seven forts​—​namely,

Sterling.

Fort James, which costs the country for captain’s salary150l.0s.

Fort George112l.10s.

Fort Johnson’s Point60l.0s.

Fort Byam50l.0s.

Old Road59l.12s.

Goat Hill Battery60l.0s.

Rat Island60l.0s.

The amount expended for the military defence of this country, sustained by the colony exclusively, not under the control of the ordnance department, amounts to near 2500l. sterling; and that incurred by Great Britain in this time of peace is sometimes over 24,000l. sterling. Some years it may be 1000l. or so under, and particularly now the island has no militia, as it ceased to exist in July, 1838, by order of her Majesty in council.

Revenue.​—​The comparatively yearly revenue may be estimated at about 19,000l. sterling. The expenditure is generally more, which is raised by ¼d. assessed upon all lands; 1d. on every 100 lbs. of sugar; 3d. on every 100 gallons of rum and molasses; a street-tax, and a per centage upon all dwelling-houses or merchant-warehouses, according to the exigencies of the case; also a cistern-tax upon all dwelling-houses of the annual rent of 60l., not having a cistern on or belonging thereto; (while this is a very necessary precaution in cases of fire, it brings in a very good revenue;) an import duty imposed by the British parliament on all American importations, (part of this only is paid into the island treasury, as a per centage is first detained by the collector of her Majesty’s customs for defraying the expenses of officers’ salaries; however, the surplus paid into the treasury may be computed at 9000l. currency annually, but has at times amounted to 16,000l.;) also another import duty, levied by our colonial legislature on all goods imported not coming under the act of the imperial parliament, but such as upon all British or other articles of foreign manufacture may not be considered dutyable, in that case, 2l. 10s. upon every 100l. is paid; also an annual sum is paid by every retailer of spirituous liquors, wines, and beer; and a customs duty on wine imported, (except it be brought from Madeira and the Western Islands.

Amount of Export in the Year 1770.

£. s. d.

To Great Britain 430,210 0 0

To North America, United States, and the West India Islands 35,806 17 6

£466,016 17 6

Amount of Export, in the Year 1787.

To Great Britain, North America, the West India Islands, United States, and Foreign Ports, consisted of 284,526 casks of sugar, 716,545 gallons of rum, 5910 gallons of molasses, 160,510 pounds of cotton, 4l. sterling worth of dyeing woods, and 48,000l. worth of other miscellaneous articles, which together amounted to £592,596 9 0

Shipping Inwards, 1831.

No. of Vessels. Tons. No. of Men

From Great Britain. 55 11783 634

From North America. 50 4410 256

From West Indies. 142 6997 730

From United States. 58 6692 375

From Foreign Ports. 80 2608 336

Totals. 385 32,490 2331

Shipping Outwards, 1831.

No. of Vessels. Tons. No. of Men

To Great Britain. 55 11498 628

To North America. 39 3334 197

To the West Indies. 191 10482 982

To the United States. 31 3686 211

To Foreign Ports. 91 3522 399

Totals. 407 32,522 2417

Amount of Exports for 1831.

£. s. d.

To Great Britain 228,612 0 0

To North America 12,803 10 0

To West Indies 37,766 19 6

To United States 10,372 18 0

To Foreign Ports 7,090 15 0

£296,646 2 6

Shipping Inwards, 1840.

Number of Vessels. Tons.

From Great Britain 51 11,334

From North America and the West Indies 254 10,968

From the United States 79 11,657

From Foreign Ports 158 3,650

Total Number of Men 2,925

Total Number of Vessels 542

Total Number of Tons 37,609

Shipping Outwards, 1840.

Number of Vessels. Tons.

To Great Britain 56 12,953

To North America and the West Indies 251 10,297

To the United States 26 3,844

To Foreign Ports 142 10,781

Total Number of Men 3,133

Total Number of Vessels 475

Total Number of Tons 37,375

Amount of Exports, 1840.

£. s. d.

To Great Britain 401,624 4 6

To North America and the West Indies 328 0 0

£401,952 4 6

Population.

Number of Whites. Number of Coloured. Number of Negroes.

1673no account taken.no account taken.500

1690600no account taken.

17072892no account taken.12,892

1720367219,186

1724520019,800

1729408822,611

1734377224,408

1756341231,428

1774259037,808

17872590123037,808

1788no account taken.no account taken.36,000

18053000130036,000

1810300037,000

1817no account taken.no account taken.32,249

182430,314

182729,839

183129,537

Census Taken in 1821.

Area in miles square. Number of White Males. Number of White Females. Total number of Whites. Number of Coloured Males. Number of Coloured Females. Total number of Coloured.

St. John’s17,9556445631207121016232833

St. Philip’s10,881116461626299161

St. George’s6000563591244468

St. Mary’s14,19081431246594159

St. Peter’s8310100371375365118

St. Paul’s11,941142117259292435727

69,27711398411980170623604066

Number of negroes in six parishes, 30,985.

No census has been taken since 1821, but the population now may be estimated at about the same. The greatest bulk is employed in agriculture; the manufacture is sugar, rum, and molasses. The island is supposed to contain 69,299 miles, or 108 square miles, consequently the average population is estimated to the square mile in this island to be about 343.