[[45]] Son to Mr. Pitt; famous for the diamond he brought from the East Indies, and which he afterwards sold to the King of France.
CHAPTER IX.
Governor William Mathew—Insurrection of the Negroes—A Legend of the Ravine—Punishment of the Conspirators.
In 1730, William Mathew, Esq., the lieutenant-governor, succeeded to this government, vacant by the non-acceptance of Lord Forbes and General William Crosbie; and, in the first year of his appointment, fresh regulations were made for the payment of such slaves as suffered death for crimes, according to the ancient custom of the island. The affairs of Fort James were also looked into. In 1680, Colonel James Vaughan, of Antigua, had granted to his majesty Charles II. and his successors, a certain promontory, generally known as St. John’s Point, for the purpose of building a fort, and for the support of the matrosses. This had been done as far as the erection of Fort James; but the other part of the land was not used; and consequently, this year, (1730,) it was determined that it should be given to the matrosses; only reserving a part which might be wanted for the purpose of building hospitals or magazines. In 1731, Antigua suffered very much from a long drought; when the want of water was so excessive, that a pail of that fluid sold for 3s. The following year (1732) amendments were made in the court of chancery. By the regulations of 1715, this court was made to consist of the captain-general or governor-in-chief, and five or more members of council; but as his excellency was not always upon the island when such courts were held, great delays were occasioned, and it was determined that in future the president of Antigua should, in the absence of the governor, or lieutenant-governor, preside.
After a temporary absence, the Lieutenant-governor William Mathew returned to Antigua in the early part of the year 1733, assuming the government as captain-general of the Leeward Islands, and presented his additional instructions to the council and assembly, directing that body to be no longer restricted, as formerly, from making any additional allowance to the salary of 1200l. per annum, allowed by the home government, namely:—“Whereas, it has been represented to us, that the salary of 1200l. sterling per annum, which we have hitherto thought fit to allow out of the duty of four-and-a-half per cent., arising in our Leeward Islands, for our governor-in-chief of these islands, is not at present sufficient for his support and the dignity of that our government, we have taken the same into our consideration, and are graciously pleased to permit and allow that the respective assemblies of our said islands may, by any act or acts, settle upon you such sum or sums, in addition to your salary of 1200l. per annum, as they shall think proper; and you are hereby allowed to give your assent to any act or acts of assembly to that purpose. Provided, such sum or sums be settled on you and your successors in that government; at least on you during the whole time of your government there, and that the same be done by the first respective assemblies of our said island after your arrival there.”
In accordance with this new arrangement, the council and assembly readily granted an annual sum of 1000l. Antigua currency.
In 1734, copper coins were imported from England, and passed at about the same rate they do at this day. Bayonets were also introduced this year into Antigua, for the use of the militia, they having been found to answer so well in the late wars in Flanders. These weapons obtained their name from being first manufactured at Bayonne, in France.
The events of the year 1736 were such as to strike horror into the hearts of all the white inhabitants of Antigua. The negroes, who, as we have before seen, attempted an insurrection in 1728, attributed their want of success to the fact of their having no regular plan; and accordingly they chose one of their tribe, a very powerful black man, to be their king; and vowed to render to him the strictest homage, and follow his every order. This man, whose real name was “Klaas,” although his master called him Count, was a person of undaunted courage and strong resolve; and, was it not on account of the demise of Governor Mathew’s son, which frustrated their original plan of blowing up government house (or at least the house which was hired for the governor at Clark’s Hill) with gunpowder, the night a grand ball was to be given in honour of the anniversary of the king’s coronation, no doubt Antigua would have been another “Hayti,” and “Klaas” another “Christophe.”
There is still an old tradition, which relates to this melancholy subject; and as it may not prove uninteresting to some of my readers, I will give it in a newer dress.
The Fate of Klaas.