CHAPTER XX.
Court-house—Bazaar—Arsenal—Police-office—Government-house—Barracks—House of correction—Gaol—Methodist chapel—Methodism, its rise and progress in Antigua—Moravian chapel—Rise and progress of the Society of United Brethren—Scotch kirk.
After the church and churchyard of St. John’s, the next public building which calls for attention is the court house. This, as before stated, was erected in 1747, William Lowry being the mason, and Duncan Grant the carpenter. Who these worthies were I know not; but a glance at the court house proves they were efficient workmen. In order to raise funds to defray the expenses of its erection, the legislature obtained a loan of 746l. 12s. 4½d. currency, from the executors of Samuel and Thomas Watkins; and Jonas Langford (a proprietor of Antigua, and whose estates still go by his name) lent 1253l. 7s. 7¾d. currency, which debts were to be paid off by levying a tax of 2s. 6d. per head upon all slaves in the island for six years.
The place where it stands was originally the market; but that site being the one most approved of for the erection of a public building, the market was removed to a street nearly facing it, where it has since been held.
The court house is a very noble-looking pile for a West India colony, and indeed would not disgrace the boasted streets of London. The plan of the structure is very uniform and neat. It is built of a fine-grained freestone, the produce of some of the small islands already described, which was furnished by contract for the purpose by Mr. Robert Bannister, a former planter of Antigua.
The principal entrance (to the south) is approached by iron gates; and after crossing a small court-yard paved with large flag-stones, you enter a small corridor, supported by circular stone columns, with plain capitals. At each end of this corridor, a flight of stairs leads to the upper apartments in the east and west wings, the one appropriated to the use of his excellency the governor, when he retires for the purpose of preparing his speech; the other to the clerk of the assembly; below are the marshal’s office, and the office of the colonial secretary.
The ground-floor of the main building comprises one large room, extending the whole length and breadth of the edifice. The east end being fitted up for the sittings of all courts of justice, has its bench for the judges, covered with crimson, and a chair for the governor (when present), over which are the national arms, where the “lion” grins with approved ferocity, and the “unicorn” shews its golden hoofs. Around a huge circular table, which might have feasted “king Arthur” and his gallant “knights,” even better than the stone one which is shewn as having answered for that purpose, are placed the sittings for the barristers, attorney-general, solicitor-general, and benches for the grand and petty juries. Exactly opposite the seat of the solicitor-general, a ready pen has scrawled upon the table a striking likeness of “his satanic majesty.” I hope his aid was not necessary in that part of Astrea’s court, at the time his lineaments were portrayed! This part of the interior is enclosed within a semi-circular mahogany railing. At the lower or west end of the apartment are congregated all the canaille—the very riff-raff of the town—who flock to hear speeches they understand as much as a Greek syllogism; the respectable spectators are admitted within the enclosure. The barristers plead in gowns, but not in wigs, very much to their comfort I should apprehend, in this warm climate.
The upper floor of the court house is divided into two apartments by wooden partitions, leaving a lobby between; but these can be removed at pleasure, making the whole one room, as on the ground-floor. The east apartment is appropriated to the governor and council, when sitting; at other times for the use of the grand jury, or petty juries in criminal causes. A long table covered with “green cloth” runs across the room, and around which are placed very handsome chairs, of unique patterns, (oak, with cane backs, and green morocco seats and elbows,) the one destined for the use of the governor being of larger dimensions, and having the arms of England painted upon it.
The west room is used for the meeting of the house of assembly, and is furnished in the same manner as the other apartment, only that under the royal arms (which are attached to the north side of the room) is a kind of rostrum, furnished with its proper seat, and intended for the accommodation of the speaker of the house of assembly.
On returning by the west flight of stairs, my eyes were directed to a padlock in the wall, which formerly secured the ladder made use of at executions; but happy am I to say, such scenes are now of very rare occurrence in this island.