[[56]] In 1676, a similar law had been brought into force, but from some cause had fallen into disuse. The penalty for practising without a licence was, at that period, confined to a forfeit of 5000lbs. of sugar.
CHAPTER XIII.
Governors: Sir Benjamin D’Urban—Sir Patrick Ross—Sir Evan Murray McGregor—Mr. Light—Sir W. G. MacBean Colebrooke—Major McPhail—Sir Charles Augustus Fitzroy.
After the death of Major General Ramsay in 1819, his gracious majesty George III. appointed Sir Benjamin D’Urban to the vacant government, who arrived at Antigua in the following year, 1820.
During the administration of Sir Benjamin D’Urban, the census was taken, when the population was found to consist of 37,031 souls—viz., 4066 coloured, 1980 whites, and 30,985 negroes.
A very efficient militia was also raised, consisting of 15 staff-officers, 87 commissioned-officers, and 843 noncommissioned-officers and privates; making in all, 945.
The year 1825 is celebrated for the arrival of the first English bishop in the West Indies. During the preceding year, George the Fourth appointed, by letters patent, (bearing date 24th July, 1824,) two bishops for the cure of souls in the British West Indies; the one to be styled the Bishop of Jamaica, &c., the other, the Bishop of Barbados and the Leeward Islands, having in his diocese the islands of Barbados, St. Vincent’s, St. Lucia, Grenada, Dominica, Antigua, Monserrat, Nevis, St. Christopher’s, and the Virgin Isles—Trinidad and Tobago, with their respective dependances.
Upon the arrival of Bishop Coleridge in the West Indies, he remained for a short time at Barbados (as head-quarters), and then proceeded upon a tour to the respective islands which constituted his see. Prior to the appointment of a bishop in these colonies, the clergy officiating there were considered under the superintendence of the bishop of London; and that prelate, as well as the archbishops of Canterbury and York, could ordain “any person who should, on examination, be deemed qualified for the cure of souls, or officiating in any spiritual capacity in his majesty’s colonies, or foreign possessions, although such persons might not have possessed the title required by the canons of the church of England, of such as are to be made ministers.
Alas! how many were ordained, and deemed qualified for the “cure of souls,” in the West Indies, who, by precept and practice, led their unhappy parishioners further into the power of the enemy of souls! who, whatever they might preach, lived in open violation of the laws of God and man; and who, after indulging in the grossest sensuality throughout the six days of the week, presumed to enter into the pulpit on a Sunday, and, pro tempore, descant most learnedly and profoundly upon the beauties of morality! But enough of such disgracers of the sacred office—they have passed away to render an account of their stewardship before a holy and a righteous bar; nor should I have alluded to them, did I not wish to impress upon the minds of the Antiguans the blessing they enjoy in possessing a more enlightened and evangelical race of clergymen.
To return to the bishop: a sum of 4200l. sterling per annum is placed at his disposal, to be distributed among the several ministers, catechists, and schoolmasters, as salaries, &c., with the proviso, that no minister shall receive more than 300l. sterling per annum, from such fund.