BOOK II.

BARBADOES.

CHAPTER I.

GEOGRAPHY-AREA-EARLY SETTLEMENT-HISTORY, &c.

THIS most ancient of the British colonies is situated at the south-eastern extremity of the great American archipelago, in latitude 13° 5' north, longitude 59° 41' west; extending about twenty-two miles in length, and fourteen in breadth, with a surface of 106,470 acres.

For general reference, I give the Course and Distance from Bridge Town, Barbadoes, to St. Pierre, Martinique; and thence to the principal Ports in the Northern direction, down to St. Thomas; with the Distance added to each Course, for turning in and out of the Ports.

Course and Distance from Bridgetown, Barbadoes, to Carenage, St. Lucia; and thence to all the principal Ports in the Southern direction to Port of Spain, Trinidad; with the Distance added to each Course, for turning in and out of Ports.

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It may be necessary to premise that Barbadoes is the most windward of all the Caribbean islands, because it holds the most easterly position; while the Havannah is the most leeward, because it is in the most westerly situation. This division originated in the circumstance of the wind blowing for nearly nine months of the year from the eastern quarter. The Caribbean islands are therefore denominated windward according to their easterly, and leeward according to their westerly, position.

GENERAL HISTORY.-The early discovery of Barbadoes is involved in obscurity; the island remained unknown and unnoticed for a century after the discoveries of Columbus, and the first indication of its existence in the charts of European navigators, was A.D. 1600. It is said to have been first visited by the Portuguese, who, finding it uninhabited, and rude in appearance, named the isle Los Barbados, or, as some say, in reference to the number of fig trees, which from their spreading branches were likened to luxurious beards. The original discoverers left some swine and plants on the isle, and abandoned it. In 1605, an English ship, the Olive, returning from Guinea, accidentally touched at Barbadoes, landed a part of her crew at the spot, where the Hole Town was afterwards built, erected a cross, took possession of the island, and inscribed on several trees, 'James, King of England, and of this island.' Finding no refreshments the crew was reimbarked, and the adventurers proceeded to St. Christopher's, where an English colony had recently been formed. The island was then neglected for nearly twenty years,

when some Dutch men-of-war having visited it, reported favourably of its adaptation for cultivation. These particulars having reached Sir Wm. Courteen, an enterprising London merchant, he endeavoured to effect a settlement on Barbadoes. The beauty and fertility of the island became also much talked of in England, in consequence of a ship of Sir Wm. Courteen's having put in there, in stress of weather; and the mariners, on returning home, expatiated on the advantages of the place. The spirit of colonization was at this time exceedingly active in England—I wish sincerely it could now be revived-and the Earl of Marlborough (afterwards Lord High Treasurer) obtained from James I. a patent for the island, to him and his heirs for ever. Sir Wm. Courteen, having obtained the sanction of the noble patentee, fitted out two large ships with men, arms, ammunition, and every thing suited to the establishment of a new colony. One vessel only arrived at Barbadoes; and a town was commenced in February, 1625, at the spot where the Olive had touched twenty years before, and named James's (by some called Hole) Town. In 1627, James Hay, Earl of Carlisle, stimulated by the representations of Thomas Warner, who had been engaged in forming a settlement at St. Christopher's, applied to and obtained from Charles I. (who had then newly ascended the throne) a grant of all the Caribbee islands, to be formed into a palatinate or proprietary government, under the name of Cariola. The Earl of Marlborough, of course, strenuously opposed this enormous grant, as affecting his prior right to Barbadoes; and litigation com

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menced between the two noblemen, which was compromised on Lord Carlisle agreeing to settle on the Earl of Marlborough, and his heirs for ever, an annuity of 3007. in lieu of his claim. The Earl of Carlisle's patent passed the great seal the 2d of June, 1627, and the preamble of this singular charter runs as follows::

'Whereas our well-beloved cousin and counsellor, James Lord Hay, Baron of Sauley, Viscount Doncaster, and Earl of Carlisle, endeavouring, with a laudable and pious design of propagating the Christian religion, and also of the enlargement of the territories of our dominions, hath humbly petitioned us for a certain region of islands in our dominions afternamed, lying towards the north part of the world, as yet void, and inhabited by savages, who have no knowledge of the Divine Power, commonly called the Caribbee islands, containing the islands of St. Christopher, Grenada, Saint Vincent, Saint Lucia, Barbadoes, Martinique, Dominica, Marigalante, Deseada, Todasantos, Guadaloupe, Antigua, Montserrat, Redondo, Barbuda, Nevis, Eustatia, St. Bartholomew, St. Martin, Anguilla, Sombrera, and Anegada, and many other islands, found at his great cost and charges, and now brought to that pass to be inhabited by a large and copious colony of English, with certain privileges and jurisdictions belonging to the said government and state of a colony and region to him, his heirs, and assigns, to be granted.'

By the succeeding clauses, his Majesty did, by the same grant, for him, his heirs, and successors, make, create, and constitute the said Earl of Carlisle, his heirs and assigns, absolute proprietor and lord of the said region; reserving still the allegiance due to his Majesty, his heirs and successors. It was then added, And because we have made and appointed the said James Earl of Carlisle true lord of all the aforesaid province, as he to whom the right belongeth, know ye, that we have authorized and appointed the said James Earl of Carlisle, and his heirs, of whose fidelity, prudence, justice, and wisdom,