History of Trinidad

Chapter I

Page. Ancestry of Sir Ralph Woodford — Extraordinary powers given him — Decision of the Prince Regent in the case of the Chief Judge — The Council dissolved and new Members named — Duties of the Governor as " Royal Vice-Patron of the Holy Roman Church" 1

Chapter II

Difficulty of obtaining labour — Immigration from the East suggested by Mr. Burnley — A Committee appointed to examine the Accounts of the Building Committee and the Expenditure of the Parliamentary Grant ... 13

Chapter III

Mr. Joseph Marryat. — Appointed Colonial Agent in 1805 — Correpondence at that time between himself and Lord Castlereagh, and with the Governor and Council of Trinidad with regard to the Agency — Commencement of differences between Sir Ralph Woodford and Mr. Marryat 20

Chapter IV

Mr. Marryat's Accounts referred to Messrs. Edwards, Lushington and Byng, the Imperial Auditors, for their Report — That Report unfavourable in some respects to Mr. Marryat, who in consequence resigns ... 32

Chapter V

Sir Ralph Woodford commences the improvement of Port-of-Spain — Discontent of Householders — Endeavours to find a suitable site for a Leper Asylum — Civil War in Venezuela — Injury to Trade in Trinidad — Sir Ralph offers to mediate between the parties to stay bloodshed — Refugees from both sides hospitably received in Trinidad — Increase of smuggling between Venezuela and Trinidad — Steps taken to discourage it 41

Chapter VI

The Militia — Martial Law — Duelling a common practice in Trinidad — Sir Ralph Woodford's severity towards it — Port-of-Spain in 1816 — Building Regulations — The energy of the Governor distasteful to the " British Party" — "Committee of Landholders" formed in London under the leadership of Mr. Marryat— The policy of Sir Ralph attacked by it — Land Proclamations of 1815-6-7 — Spanish Law concerning tenure of Land 52

Chapter VII

Chacon's Land Policy — Always resisted by the French Colonists — His inability to enforce the Law — Determination of Sir Ralph Woodford to do so — Contrast between the policy pursued by the British Government in Gibraltar and Trinidad VI CONTENTS. Page. 91 113 126 143 159 186

Chapter VIII

, San Fernando destroyed by fire— Sir Ralph's comprehensive scheme for the development of the Colony— Precautions against small-pox— The Indian Missions— Trinidad segregated from the Spanish Diocese of Angostura and placed under the Propoganda— The British, Dutch, and Danish West Indies placed under a Vicar- Apostolic who was to reside in Trinidad — The Right Rev. Dr. Buckley named first Vicar-Apostolic— Order in Council fixing the salary of £1,000 per annum for himself and his successors to be paid from the Trinidad Treasury ...

Chapter IX

Further attempts made, without success, to obtain a change in the Constitution of the Colony — Heavy fines imposed upon Messrs. Lamont, Ross and others for taking part in a duel — Remarks on colonization — Contest between the " British Party" and the "Colonists" properly so-called — Correspondence between the Governor and the Protestant Rector of Port-of-Spain with regard to the consecration of Trinity Church ...

Chapter X

Sir Ralph goes on leave — Government administered by Lieut. -Colonel Young — Whilst in England Sir Ralph suggests plans for supplying Port-of-Spain with water — Correspondence connected with complaints of the " Committee of Landholders" — Character of Sir Ralph as a man and a Governor — Debate in House of Commons, 25th July, 1822 — Sir Ralph violently attacked by Mr. Marryat and warmly defended by Mr. Goulburn

Chapter XI

Return of Sir Ralph from leave — Received with enthusiasm by the majority of the white colonists — The leaders of the free coloured people not well disposed towards him — Reasons for this — Trinity Church consecrated on Trinity Sunday, 1823 — Angry feelings excited in the Colony by a speech made in the House of Commons by Mr. T. Fowell Buxton— Despatch from Lord Bathurst on the same subject — Mr. Burnley's attitude in Council — Meeting of planters in Tacarigua — Debate in Council on Lord Bathurst's Despatch — Interest taken by Sir Ralph in the spiritual welfare of the people shown by his correspondence with Dr. Buckley

Chapter XII

Retirement of Rev. Mr. Clapham — A Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the Laws of Trinidad and the Titles to Land— Two of the Commissioners, Messrs. Dwarris and Maddock arrive— Public Meeting held for the purpose of impressing upon the Commissioners the necessity of introducing the English Law into the Colony, and for a change in the Constitution—Petition against the Order in Council concerning the treatment of Slaves— Despatch from Lord Bathurst on the subject— Difficulties attending the Slave Question— Misrepresentation and misunderstanding on both sides

Chapter XIII

Considerations on the Slave Question continued CONTENTS. VII

Chapter XIV

Page. Solicitude of Sir Ralph with regard to Roads— The Bishop of Barbados given a seat in Council — Death of Dr. Buckley— Public Funeral— Universal regret— Sir Ralph leaves the Colony on account of ill-health — His death at sea — The news received in the Colony with the greatest grief — Sermons in all the Churches — A Public Meeting called for the purpose of raising a monument to his memory — General appreciation of him and of the effect of his long government of Trinidad 195

Chapter XV

Colonel Farquharson acting Governor— Important despatch from Mr. Huskisson with regard to the Land Question — Sir Lewis Grant appointed Governor — Right Rev. Dr. McDonnell named Vicar-Apostolic — Increasing difficulties in connexion with the Slave Bill ... 220

Chapter XVI

Troubles in Demerara and Barbados in connexion with the obnoxious Orders in Council — Trinidad contrasts favourably with other Colonies in this respect 231

Chapter XVII

Death of Chief Justice Ash ton Warner — Serious deficit in the Accounts of the Colonial Treasurer St. Hill — Financial Depression — Hurricane in Barbados — The Government policy towards Roman Catholics changed — The " British Party" gains the ascendancy — Change in the Constitution — The Council of Advice becomes a Legislative Council — Cabildo petitions against the Order in Council for the amelioration of the condition of the Slaves — Public Meeting for the same purpose — The free people of colour decline to join the movement — The Royal Gazette (Newspaper) started as a Government Organ in opposition to the Port-of-Spain Gazette which upheld the interests of Slave-owners — Mr. Burnley takes exception to Dr. Llanos being a Member of the newly constituted Council on the ground of his being an Alien — Lord Goderich then Secretary of State for the Colonies confirms Mr. Burnley's views and Dr. Llanos is removed — Great indignation amongst the colonists of Foreign descent ... 240

Chapter XVIII

Unpopularity of Sir Lewis Grant — Incident in the newly created Criminal Court — Assessors refuse to sit — The new Chief Justice Mr. George Scotland shows himself to be of the Anti-Slavery Party — The Council for the first time composed exclusively of Protestants— Mr. Marryat, son of the late Agent and holding informally the same position, gives great offence by a speech in Parliament — Resolutions passed at a Public Meeting in Trinidad removing him from the Agency and nominating Mr. Burnley in his place — Petition from the Cacao Planters praying for special relief as directly representing the Capitulants ... 274

Chapter XIX

Prosecutions for importing Slaves from other English Colonies instituted — Great excitement and indignation — Documents connected with the trials CONTENTS. VIII Page. 305 326 343 355 stolen from the Court House— Despatch from Lord Goderich modifying the constitution of the Criminal Court— Discord in the Artillery Regi ment of Militia— Sir Lewis Grant leaves and is replaced by Sir George Hill ...

Chapter XX

Antecedents of Sir George Hill— Endeavours to set matters right in the Artillery— Chief Justice Scotland enters two actions for libel against the Proprietor, the Editor and the Publisher of the Port-of- Spain Gazette— The Court House again robbed of all the proceedings in these cases — A large sum of money also abstracted — This was brought back by Father Smith, having been confided to him under the seal of confession — Verdict against defendants for £180 and costs — Meeting of Presbyterian residents to establish a Place of Worship — Discontent amongst the Members of the Church of England — Numerous frauds practised on holders of Compensation Bonds — Deaths of Col. De Soter, Mr. Black and Lady Hill ...

Chapter XXI

Opening of the Colonial Bank — Revolt of the 1st West India Regiment at St. Joseph — Ringleaders tried by Court Martial — Three shot — Remarks..

Chapter XXII

Defalcatious in the accounts of Major Ford the Colonial Treasurer — Earthquake in Martinique — Death of Mr. Rothery the Attorney-General — Mr. C. W. Warner — His parentage and early life — Appointed acting Solicitor- General — Mr. Jackson, acting Attorney-General — Death of Sir George Hill — His funeral — Labour difficulties — Remarkable speech from Mr. Burnley — Trinidad placed under the Governor-General of Barbados — Public indignation — Sir Evan McGregor, Governor-General, arrives and is sworn in — Mr. Darracott refuses to take the oath and is suspended, Dr. Philip being appointed in his place— Intolerance of Mr. Turnbull the Colonial Secretary and Hon. Mr. Roxburgh — First anniversary of Emancipation — Good conduct of the people — Hopeful views in consequence—Lord Glenelg's Despatch— Supineness of the Government under Sir George Hill— The chief cause of all the trouble with regard to squatting— Difficulties thrown in the way of immigration by the Home Government — Evil effects of mistaken philanthropy— Statesmanlike conduct of Sir Charles Metcalfe, Governor of Jamaica — Concluding remarks

Chapter I

5£ni(TKi.HE newly appointed Governor of Trinidad belonged to a Prri ®v]|. g°oc^ °W English family, a strong point in his favour jgjip^J^fff in a Colony in which good birth has always been fully appreciated. Towards the end of the 17th century, Matthew Woodford of New Sarum died, leaving a son, named Matthew after himself, who subse quently became Prebendary and Sub-Dean of Chichester Cathedral. He married Ann, daughter of John Sherer, Esq., of Chichester, by whom he had a son who also bore the name of Matthew, and who married Mary, daughter of John Brideoke, Esq., by whom he had issue : 1 . Ralph — First Baronet, 2. Matthew, D.D. and Prebendary of Chester, 3. John, a Colonel in the Army, who married Susan, daughter of Cosmo George, 3rd Duke of Gordon and widow of John Fane, 9th Earl of Westmoreland, by whom he had two sons, Alexander and John George.

Mr. Matthew Woodford had also three daughters, one of whom in January, 17G0, married Peter Thellusson of Plaistow, Kent, and Broadsworth, Yorkshire, and had issue : Peter Isaac, the first Lord Rendlesham. Ralph, the first Baronet, was at one time Resident Minister at the Hanse Towns, and subsequently Minister Extraordinary at the Court of Denmark, and for his services was created a Baronet in June, 1791. He married Gertrude, daughter of Reesen, Esq., by whom he had issue : Ralph James, second Baronet, born in 1784, the future Governor of Trinidad. a Elizabeth, married in 1801 to John Hammet, Esq. The first cousin of Sir Ralph, Sir Alexander Woodford, commanded a battalion of the Guards at Waterloo, took an active part in the defence of Hougoumont, and died at an advanced age a Field Marshal and Governor of Chelsea Hospital.

He married Charlotte, daughter of Charles Henry Fraser, son of William Fraser who was Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in Pitt's Ministry in 1783. Sir Ralph Woodford, the first baronet, was a man of letters and a wit, and had formed one of the brilliant circle of which the celebrated Mrs. Montague was the centre. On his mother's side he was descended from a family noted for genius and loyalty, the Brideokes, one of whom, Dr. Brideoke, was Chaplain to James, 4th Earl of Derby, and distinguished himself at the historical siege of Latham House. He was afterwards made Dean of Salisbury. When Sir Ralph James Woodford assumed the Government of Trinidad he was in his 29th year, and the mere fact of his having at such a comparatively early age been selected for so important a post is a proof of the high esteem in which he was held by the Ministry of the day.

The experience gained from the disastrous results of the Commission Government, and the recent disputes between the Cabildo, the Governor, and the Chief Judge, determined the Home Government to define clearly the powers which were to be exercised by the new Governor, and these were expressed at great length in his Commission. After declaring that, " so far as circumstances would permit" Spanish law should continue to be the law of the Colony, it was ordered, that all the powers of the Executive Government were to be vested solely in the Governor ; that he should have the same powers and privileges as had been exercised by the Governors under the Crown of Spain ; that the same Courts of Judicature, both civil and criminal, should continue as had existed prior to the capitulation ; that the judicial powers conferred upon the Spanish Governors by virtue of their office should be enjoyed by their English successor with the same authority and jurisdiction, whether appellate or original, which had been exercised by the Court of Royal Audiencia in Caracas.

Appeals in civil causes when the sum or value at issue exceeded £200 were to be made to him, and from his decision appeals were allowed to the Privy Council when the amount at issue exceeded £500,— or for any lesser amount where the matter in question related to the King's prerogative, or to the taking or demanding any duty payable to him, or to any fee of office or annual rent, &c, &c. There can be no doubt that these extensive powers were conferred upon Sir Ralph Woodford in order to enable him to put an end to the confusion originally created by Fullarton, and which recent events had considerably increased. The task imposed upon him was no easy one for the very first step involved the putting an end to abuses which had almost obtained a prescriptive right to exist, and this was certain to raise up a host of enemies against the reformer.

By far the most important part of his Commission was that which gave to Sir Ralph Woodford all the powers of a Court of Royal Audience, and to understand how much this implied it is necessary to explain the composition of that Court. According to Spanish Law a Royal Audiencia was a College of Advocates composed and governed according to fixed rules. As an instance : the Audiencia of Caracas which was created in 1787, con sisted of a Dean (Decano Regente), three Oidors (Judges), two Fiscals, an Escribano, or Registrar, a Relator, or Remembrancer, whose duty it was to keep the Court fully informed of everything connected with the causes before it, and an Escribano de Camera, or Judge's Clerk. In Trinidad the jurisdiction of this Court was now to be centred in one man, who, as Governor, Commander-in-Chief and Vice-Admiral already possessed very extensive powers.

Under its original jurisdiction he had power to deal with all suits in which widows or infants were concerned (technically termed " Causas de Corte"). In all criminal cases he was the Judge of Appeal, and as President of the Royal Audiencia he had a criminal jurisdiction over all offences and crimes, from petty larceny to murder. In the same capacity he had power over the Judges of the inferior Courts who, save when holding direct appointments from the Crown, were removable from office at his option. In the latter case he could a2 suspend them until the matter was referred to and decided by the Sovereign. He was also Intendant of the Royal Domain, and Judge in all matters connected with the Crown Lands, and, as such, dealt with escheats and other causes to which the Crown was a party. These already enormous powers were enlarged and increased by subsequent Orders in Council, and when at a later period Judge Johnson dedicated to Sir Ralph Woodford his translation of the Spanish Law, he did not at all exaggerate in stating that "He," (the Governor) " had, in addition to his judicial functions, the direc tion of the whole financial, legislative, and executive machinery of the Colony."

Doubtless, such a system of Government is opposed to the theories of the present day, but Trinidad certainly did not suffer from Sir Ralph Woodford's administration ; and it is a fact, as worthy of note as it is incontrovertible, that even in more recent times those periods during which the Colony has been blessed with Governors of ability and possessing energy enough to govern and to refuse to be governed, have been periods marked by progress and prosperity. From the day of his arrival it was clear that Sir Ralph intended to hold the reins of Government in his own hands, to see with his own eyes, to hear with his own ears. He carried on a constant cor respondence with the Heads of Departments, and that, not through a Secretary, but with his own hand, so that the whole machinery of the Government was under his immediate control.

The following letter which he addressed to the Surveyor-General a few days after his arrival will serve to show how speedily he had assumed the position he ever afterwards maintained : — Port-of-Spain, 22nd June, 1813. Sir, As Surveyor-General of the Colony, I am to call your attention to your duty in that particular, and which requires your utmost exertions before the season advances too far. The Commandants of Quarters have received my orders to repair the roads in their respective districts, and whenever a defaulter is found it will be your duty to report him ; at the same time you will supply the defect and charge him with the expense, and this in the most summary manner. You will render to me a report of the state of the roads on the 30th instant, and on the 15th of next month, and will prepare for my consideration and approval a draft of such regulations as you shall deem proper for the enforcement of a strict obedience to my orders.

Ralph Woodford. E. Maingot, Esq., Surveyor-General On the 21st June, the Governor took his seat for the first time as Corregidor, or President of the Cabildo. In his opening address he declared that he would always support that Body in the exercise of its functions so long as there was no attempt to interfere with the Executive, or to " reproduce those regrettable discussions which had already done so much mischief." There could be no misunderstanding either the allusion contained in these last words, or the warning they were intended to convey. It was quite clear that the new Governor would not tolerate any interference with him as Chief of the Execu tive, and that he intended to intimate in civil but unmistakable terms, that so far as it claimed any power of control over him as Governor the Illustrious Board was defunct.

A still greater surprise was in reserve for the public. On the 16th of August, the Governor and Council assembled for the trans action of business when Sir Ralph informed the Board that he had examined the accounts of the Committee appointed to control the expenditure of the £50,000 voted by Parliament after the fire of 1808. From those accounts it appeared that the Gaol, still uncom pleted, had already cost close upon £30,000, and that £24,000 would be required for the completion of the Protestant Church. Under these circumstances the Governor said, that pending further instruc tions from the Home Government, he had stopped the further progress of these works. After the Order of the Day had been disposed of, the Governor stated that he had received despatches from the Secretary of State with regard to the differences which had occurred between General Hislop and Judge Smith, the tenour of which he had been instructed to communicate to the Board.

From these despatches it appeared that the whole question had been in the first instance referred to the HISTORY OF TRTNIDAD. Privy Council. As, however, General Hislop had brought no charges against the Judge, and the latter had declared that he had no desire to make a formal complaint against either the Governor, the Council, or the Cabildo, provided he were at once re-instated in the full enjoyment and exercise of all the powers of his threefold Commission, the Lords of the Council had stated that, " they felt themselves relieved of any other consideration than that of the prayer thus made by him." On a careful revision of all the circumstances connected with the case, their Lordships came to the conclusion that Mr. Smith had shewn, " a great want of the temper, discretion and tact, so peculiarly required in the position he held, and therefore they could not recom mend to His Royal Highness the Prince Regent that he should be re-instated."

In order to fully appreciate this episode it is necessary to remember that the Council now addressed by Sir Ralph was composed of the same men who two years previously had supported the action of the Cabildo in suspending Judge Smith, and that some of its members had held seats at the Board since the day it was first summoned by Picton in 1 801 . The senior member, Nihell, had filled offices of trust under the Spanish Crown and after the capture of the Island had been appointed Chief Judge, an office which he had retained until 1809, when removed to make way for Mr. Smith. Next in seniority came Begorrat, the personal friend of Picton, who had upheld the privileges of the Cabildo against the attacks of Fullarton and his party, and Black, who had so boldly resisted the First Commissioner in the case of the Escribano De Castro.

The other members of the Board were men of standing in the Colony who had played no inconsiderable part in its history, and who, in common with the older members, looked upon themselves as identified with the Executive machinery of its Govern ment. These men naturally heard with unmixed satisfaction that Mr. Smith was not to return to his post, and they had already begun to congratulate each other upon their success when the Governor called upon them to listen to another despatch from the Secretary of State, thus worded : — " The view taken by the Privy Council has been adopted by the Prince Kegent, who, however, on a review of all that has occurred, has come to the conclusion that the same want of temper, tact and discretion, which has been shewn by Judge Smith has been equally apparent in the Mem bers of His Majesty's Council whom he therefore directs shall be removed trom their seats, His Majesty having no further need of their services."

The official minutes of the Council only furnish a dry recital of what took place on this occasion, but it is easy to imagine the scene which followed this most unexpected denouement. The unseated members left the Council Room with mingled feelings of surprise and indignation, and being men of position and influence found no lack of sympathy in the hour of their humiliation. At first sight the course taken by the Prince Regent may appear harsh, but on the other hand it must be remembered that the Mem bers of the Council had pursued a line of conduct towards the late Chief Judge which could not but give umbrage to the Government by which Mr. Smith had been appointed. It was asserted at the time, and has been very generally believed, that it was Sir Ralph Woodford who first suggested the dissolution of the old Council in order to replace the outgoing members by men more likely to prove subservient to him.

Of this there is no evidence, but it is likely enough that he was not sorry to be relieved of advisers who on more than one occasion had shewn that they could be very firm in opposition, and to most of whom it was more than probable his almost absolute powers would be highly distasteful.* The Government was carried on for several months without the assistance of a Council, but towards the end of the year the following gentlemen were appointed in the place of the members who had been removed : — Lawrence Nihell, Esq. ; Don Manuel Sorzano ; General Count Loppinot ; Wm. Hardin Burnley, Esq. At this Board the principal elements of which the Colony con sisted were fairly represented. Don Manuel Sorzano was a Spaniard, Nihell an Irish settler under the Cedula of 1783. General Loppinot was a French Royalist, and Burnley an English-American, and it would have been well for the Colony if Sir Ralph Woodford's successors had always been as impartial in the selection of their advisers. * It was this notion that Sir Ralph had procured their removal which caused the hostility to his measures which Begorrat showed in a marked degree some years later.

During the interval which had elapsed between the dissolution of the old Council and the formation of a new Board, the Governor had not not been idle, and among other matters had paid particular atten tion to the complaints of the mercantile members of the community, to whom annoyance as well as pecuniary loss was caused by the dis ordered state of affairs on the Mainland. In order as much as possible to remedy this very serious evil, Sir Ralph wrote to the Admiral on the Station, Sir Francis Laforey, in the following terms : — Trinidad, Sept., 1813. " I must however entreat your kind attention to us in the very unpro tected state we are in and to the daily increase of the maritime and terri torial power of the insurgents on the Spanish Main whose piratical acts are extended to the seizure of boats and trading launches of the Royalists at anchor on the coasts of this Island, thus insulting the King's territory and preventing all intercourse with the inhabitants.

The temptation furnished to the slaves to obtain their freedom by desertion to the country in revolt, is facilitated by the uninterrupted course of their boats in the Gulf which has had only about ten days naval protection since my arrival in the early part of the month of June. If, therefore, you could favour us with a small boat which would remain entirely in the Gulf, and which perhaps you could more easily afford than one of a larger class, you would add much to my ease as well as to that of the inhabitants in general, particularly on the distant parts of the coast. We hear from Margarita that a Spanish frigate and five transports with 1,200 men from Cadiz, have passed from that Island to Puerto Cabello where Monteverde is blockaded by the insurgents. I sin cerely hope they may change the state of affairs, for this Island is a great sufferer by it."

I have, &c, &c, Ralph Woodford. It was not only of the patriots that the merchants of Trinidad had cause to complain. The Commanders of the Royalist vessels com mitted outrages as gross and far less excusable, and the Governor, not having any Naval Force at his disposal, could only remonstrate with them. The following letter is a specimen of the kind of outrage of which he had but too often to complain : — Government House, 9th November, 1813. Sir, It having been reported to me that the Spanish launch Rosario has been taken possession of by H. C. M. Vessel under your command. The said launch being under the protection of these batteries, I have, in the name of the King my Master, the ally of H. C. M. whose Officer you are, to demand the restitution of the said launch with such of the crew and other appurtenances of the vessel as you may have possession of, and in the event of your refusal to comply with this demand, I shall take such measures as I may judge, most advisable for the insult you have committed upon the King's territory.

Ralph Woodford. The Officer Commanding, H. C. M. Vessel, Nuestra Senora de las Nieves. Whilst thus asserting the inviolability of the Island and the waters surrounding it, Sir Ralph Woodford was not forgetful of the interests of its chief town. Not long after his assumption of the Government he addressed the following letter to the Senior Alcalde of the Cabildo : — Dear Sir, 1. I have to suggest, for the consideration of the Board, the present state of the Cabildo Road from St. Ann's bridge. The whole requires immediate repair so as to secure the lives of His Majesty's subjects from further danger, and, as the best materials are close to the road, I think the Chain Negros, with the assistance perhaps of those of the Colony, will, under a proper driver, answer at present the purpose. I have directed Mr. Maingot to trace a path for a new Cabildo Road so as to avoid the irregularity of ground. 2.

The Chief of Police made himself acquainted, by my desire, with the vendors of rum and privately noted their names, which have been since compared with the list received from the Secretary of your Board, and by which there appeared a considerable difference in names and num bers. Mr. Jesse has since ascertained by inspection of the receipts of the parties that his own list is nearly correct, so that forty-three licenses were granted for the present quarter. 3. An active Alguazil appears to be required for the market places, and the superintendence of a Regidor according to the provisions of the Spanish Law, is necessary if order and regularity are desirable. 4. I shall be happy to hear that the debts have been collected. I intended to have presented to the Board a plan for a temporary wood market which Mr. Maingot has prepared, and I wished the licenses to have been given to-day and a notice published that none others must be allowed ; the wood for fuel is at present bad in quality and exorbitant in price, and requires some regulations to improve the former and moderate the latter. 5.