“Given under my hand and seal this twenty-second day of May, 1710.
(Signed) “Daniel Parke.”
[[41]] At this period, the island had fallen considerably in debt; and the legislature not having met for some time, from the unhappy differences between them and the governor, they had no opportunity of relieving themselves from their burdens; which difficulties were pleasing to Colonel Parke, in the hopes of their being compelled to make a general compromise.
[[42]] It may be well to remark, that any peculiarities in the diction of the foregoing extracts must be attributed to the time in which they were written: they having been copied verbatim.
For a list of the members of the house of assembly at this time, see Appendix, No. 11.
[[43]] The last will of Governor Parke will be found in Appendix, No. 12.
CHAPTER VIII.
Governor Walter Hamilton—Walter Douglas’s Disturbances—Complaints against him sent to England—Queen Anne recalls him, and reappoints Walter Hamilton—Lord Viscount Lowther—John Hart—Lord Londonderry—Lord Forbes—Colonel William Crosbie.
After the death of Colonel Parke, the government, of course, devolved upon the lieutenant-governor of Antigua, John Yeamans, until such time as despatches could be forwarded to Nevis, where General Hamilton, who was next in command to the late captain-general, (and who had married the widow of Sir William Stapleton, a former governor,) was residing. Four of the members of the legislature were, accordingly, sent to General Walter Hamilton, advising him of the death of Colonel Parke, and inviting him to come to Antigua in order to assume the chief command. General Hamilton received the party with great urbanity and kindness, and accompanied them back to Antigua, where he took up his residence, for the time being, with Dr. Mackinnon, one of the actors in the late affray.[[44]]
Upon the intelligence of Colonel Parke’s death reaching England, Queen Anne was very much incensed against the inhabitants of Antigua; but, after hearing the catalogue of Parke’s crimes, and in order to prevent any further effusion of blood, her majesty was graciously pleased to send a general pardon to all that were concerned in that transaction.