PREFACE.

ON my arrival at Tobago as Chief Justice, I gathered from all sources within my reach to aid me in acquiring a knowledge of its constitution and laws, information as to the settlement and early history of the Colony. I found in this research so much of interest as to induce me to extend my inquiries to matters of more general history; and I have ventured to embody the result of my labours in the following narrative. We learn, from the early annals of the Island, that its history is intimately connected with the wars of Charles X. of Sweden and the Treaty of Oliva; that under Louis XIV. it became a barony of France; and that its inhabitants had a voice in the election of the First Napoleon as Consul for life. It has been a battlefield where the brave have fought; and we find note-worthy instances of the abnegation of self to the claims of country; while almost all of the more important events that mark its progress of late years belong to the general history of the British Colonies in the West Indies, and have, therefore, with them a common interest. Under these circumstances I venture to hope that my little Book will please those who would

observe the links that unite distant lands in the chain of history, or who are concerned in the polity and condition of the British Colonies in the West. To make the Work more practically useful to those immediately connected with the Island, I have appended Tables of Exports for a number of years-Tables showing the Lots in each Parish, numbered as originally granted-the original Grantee-the name of the Lot, or Lots, if one has been acquired-and the present Possessor, where there is one; and also a List of Estates in cultivation in 1832, and their then Owners, showing also those now in cultivation. The Tables of Lots and Estates may be found useful, among other things, in tracing titles, and ascertaining the boundaries to lands.

To His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor I am much indebted for the ready access afforded me to the Government Papers necessary to the completion of the present undertaking; to the Public Officers, the Clergy, and Ministers of Religion of all denominations in the Island, I return my thanks for the assistance received from them. And I may not fail to acknowledge the obligations I am under to my friend, Mr. DOUGALD YEATES, for his aid in enabling me to complete the Work I undertook, particularly in what relates to the Natural History of the Island.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

The probable Discovery of the Island-Its Aborigines-The settlement
there of Red Charaibs from St. Vincent-An account is given of a solitary
exile found there, a French Priest, who had been banished from Martinico.

CHAPTER II.

The early settlement of the Island-Visited, in the reign of Queen
Elizabeth, by Sir Robert Dudley-A settlement attempted by the English,
from Barbados, in 1625-A grant of it made by Charles I. to the Earl of
Pembroke Attempted settlement by the Dutch in 1632-They are expelled
by the Spaniards of Trinidad-Settlement by the Duke of Courland at Great
Courland Bay, in 1642—A settlement formed on the opposite side of the
Island by Adrian and Cornelius Lamprius, two opulent merchants of Flushing,
in 1654 The Duke of Courland taken prisoner by Charles Gustavus, of
Sweden-The Dutch subjugate the Courland Colony in 1658-The French, at
this time, lay claim to the Island, and include it in the territories granted to
their West India Company-The Lamprius settlers obtain, in 1662, a grant of
the Island from Louis XIV. of France, and a resignation from the French
West India Company of their rights-Louis creates Adrian Lamprius Baron of
Tobago-The Treaty of Oliva-The Duke of Courland obtains a grant
of the Island from Charles II.-In 1666 the Dutch expelled by an expedition
fitted out by private adventurers from England—These, in their turn, driven
out by the French-The French, in 1667, abandon the Island, and set fire to
everything—The Dutch renew their attempts at a settlement―Their settlement
destroyed by the English, under Sir Tobias Bridges, in 1673-The Dutch
again settle in the Island, and fortify it-It is attacked by the French, under
Count d'Estrees, who is repulsed with considerable loss—Another expedition
is fitted out at Brest, and placed under the command of d'Estrees-It arrives
at Tobago on the 7th December, 1677; and on the 12th the Dutch Governor,
Herr Binkes, and all his officers, with one exception, being killed, the con-

quest of the Island is effected-The French destroy everything, and carry the
inhabitants away-By the Treaty of Nimeguen, 1679, the Island is restored
to the Dutch—The Duke of Courland again puts forth his claim in 1682, and
agrees with John Poyntz, an Englishman, for the settlement of a Colony-
This project abandoned, and in 1737 the line of the Duke of Courland becomes
extinct-By the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, in 1684, Tobago declared a neutral
Island—In 1748, the French attempt a settlement, but, on the remonstrance
of the English, abandon it—The French again settle on the Island, and are
driven from it by the English in 1762-By the Treaty of Paris, 1763, the Eng-
lish confirmed in their possession-A Constitution granted to the Colonists—
Tobago included in the Grenada Government-Outline of its Constitution.

CHAPTER III.

General Robert Melville, the first Governor, appointed to the Grenada

Government-Alexander Brown, the first Lieutenant-Governor of Tobago-

Arrives there on the 12th November, 1764-Finds only Charaibs on the

Island-Proclamation of the 5th March, 1764, for the sale of lands within the

Grenada Government-Terms of sale-Quantity and value of land sold in

Tobago-First grant of land on record-George Town in Barbados Bay—

Council and Assembly meet there in 1768-Granby Fort-Legislative Sittings

removed to Scarborough in 1769-William Young, Lieutenant-Governor—

Dominica separated from the Grenada Government in 1771-Progress of the

Colony-Removal of General Melville-Causes that led thereto—Appointment

of Governor Leyborne to the Grenada Government-His death in St. Vincent

in 1775-St. Vincent separated from the Grenada Government-Lord

Macartney Governor-in-Chief of Grenada-The Grenadines and Tobago-In

1777, Peter Campbell Lieutenant-Governor of Tobago-Is succeeded by John

Graham-In 1779, George Ferguson Lieutenant-Governor-Siege of Tobago by

the French in 1781, and gallant defence by Governor Ferguson-Surrender of

the Island-Admiral Rodney's tardy arrival-He declines to engage the

French Fleet-Tobago ceded to the French in 1783-Terms of Cession-Count

Dillon Governor-Recapture of the Island by the English in 1793-Sir

William Young's Journal of a Visit to Tobago in 1792-Charaibs-Louis d'Or

Estate Mr. Clarke's Estate.

CHAPTER IV.

The Island is erected into a separate Government under George Poynts
Ricketts, Esq.-The legal effects of the Recapture of the Island considered
with reference to the laws enacted after that event-Governor Ricketts goes
to Barbados-Is succeeded by William Lindsay-He dies-Stephen De