BARBADOS.
Barbados was discovered by Sir William Carter, in King James I’s time, planted to little purpose until 1627; since which, the Crops have been so advantageous, as to have raised the Price of Ground thirty fold.
We anchored here in Carlisle-Bay the beginning of August, the resort of most Shipping who load at this Island. The Bay is made by Needham and Pelican Points; the Anchorage 20 Fathom, so clear Water that you may see to the bottom; but so foul and rocky, that the Cables are always buoy’d up with Cask. In the bottom of the Bay stands Bridgetown, the principal of the Island, and is the Residence of the Governor, Factors, and Merchants, who transact their Business here and at their Plantations alternately. There is only one large Church, with an Organ, and about twenty Chappels at different parts of the Island, all Episcopal, there having been no Dissenters these many years. The People are for the most part polite and well-bred, promoting Trade by a magnificent way of living; the chief of them are Colonels, or Captains of Militia, and in the Assembly are divided into a Party-Interest, on the civil Affairs of the Island, their chief Distinction; murmuring, or elate, just as they are in or out of the Governor’s Favour, who can abate in the Customs, or imploy in the Application: (tho’ by the way the fewer Officers, and those Menials, the better advantage to him.)
The whole is a sweet Spot of Earth, not a Span hardly uncultivated with Sugar-Canes; all sides bend with an easy Declivity to the Sea, and is ever green: This delight to the Planter has its Inconveniencies, that there is no Recreation out of Business, but in Drinking or Gaming.
The Propriety was given by King James I. to the Earl of Carlisle; and Anno 1661, King Charles II. purchased it back of Lord Kinoul, that Earl’s Heir, allowing him 1000l. per Ann. Acknowledgment.
Anno 1663, an Act passed by the President (who acts as Governor in their absence) the Council and Assembly, for 4½ in Specie Duty of all Commodities, the Produce of the Island, which it’s computed will amount to 10000l. per Annum.—Madeira Wines imported, at 4l. 10s. per Pipe, raises 7000l. and this, with one Pound of Gunpowder per Tun on each Ship, is appropriated for Stores, and Repairs to Forts.
The Governor is appointed by the King, his Salary formerly used to arise at an uncertain Sum of 4 or 5000l. per Ann. from Presents and Perquisites, since fixed at 1200l., 2000l. and now is 6000l. And as the Council, a part of their Constitution, is in a manner of his own Nomination, being appointed by Letters of Mandamus, as they have Power to make Demands on ancient Perquisites, and sway in the Application of the publick Money; there are various ways of obliging, and his Party will always be uppermost in the Legislature, which consists of him, the Council of twelve, and an Assembly of twenty two, chose at the several Parishes by a Majority of Votes.
One Law is, That no Inhabitant shall be carried off the Island without Leave; whoever engages in the Project, is liable to the Debts; so that when a Family sees Ruin approaching, (a frequent Case of late years) their Remedy is stealing away in Boats to some other Place of Subsistence; and if they cannot this way escape a hard Creditor, they comfort themselves in dying, that it may be their Lot next. Those who depart fairly, are obliged to give publick notice at the Secretary’s Office; and no body objecting in twenty one days, are at liberty.