UNHANDSOME
TAUNT
OF
THE
GOVERNOR.
75
This encroachment upon the assembly's privileges gave rise to a great deal of ill feeling, and many acrimonious messages passed between his excellency and the members of that body. The following paragraph, copied from one of the governor's speeches, alludes to this subject:— " If you still persist that it is your undoubted privilege to choose your ' clerk,' and will do no business until that be yielded to you, you certainly will have the " Lords' Committee' opinion. It is an undutiful attempt upon her majesty's prerogative; and I do assure you, gentlemen, if the queen does not appoint any other before I go, I will leave you time enough to raise money during this crop to pay off all the public debt !" * This unhandsome taunt of the governor's was deeply felt, and resented by the " house," who, in reply to it, remarks— " We cannot but observe how severe and bitter your excellency reflects upon, and reproaches our country with, the not paying its debt, but compounding the same. We well remember, when the country paid your excellency 1000/. in sugar, at 12s. 6d., your excellency sold that very sugar for 18s. ; so that we hope your excellency has but little reason to complain of the public compounding their debt." And then, in reference to a recommendation of the governor's to enlarge the provision for the clergymen, they go on to mention— " Your excellency next recommends to provide a better is this day appointed to meet ; and to receive all fees, proffitts, and perquisites thereto belonging, for which this shall be your sufficient warrant and commission. " Given under my hand and seal this twenty-second day of May, 1710. (Signed) " DANIEL PARKE." * 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. E
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