FIRST APPEARANCE OF SUGAR-ANTS.
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lection made for the sufferers at Liverpool. Precautions were afterwards taken, by regulating certain buildings about the capital ; but unfortunately those wise regulations have long since fallen into disuse. In 1769, the snow " Rodney" put into Antigua, in distress. She had been despatched from England with convicts, who were to be employed in the State of Maryland, but meeting first with bad weather, and afterwards long calms, all their provisions were consumed ; and when they fortunately made Antigua, eleven of the convicts had died from starvation, and the survivors had eaten their very shoes. In 1771, Sir Ralph Payne, K.G., succeeded to the government. His excellency was a native of St. Kitts, and was esteemed for many qualities. The Antiguans were quite pleased with his nomination, supposing he would have the interests of these colonies greatly at heart. The first year of his administration the common gaol was rebuilt, which had been burnt down in the late fire ; and a portion of land, contiguous to it, purchased for the purpose of enlarging that part appropriated for the use of the debtors. The year 1771 is celebrated as that in which the " Sugar Ants" first made their appearance in Antigua. They were supposed to have made their way from Dominica to this island ; and, minute as they are, they proved a most formidable enemy, by destroying an immense quantity of sugar-canes. This year also marks the appointment of Sir George Pownall to the situation of provostmastergeneral of the Leeward Islands, under letters patent, dated 7th June, in the eleventh year of the reign of his majesty George III. This grant had been made to the father of Sir George, after the death of the former patentee, Mr. Richard Phelps—" to be held with all fees, rights, profits, privileges, and advantages," for the lives of Mr. Pownall, and his two sons, Sir George Pownall, and Mr. John Lillington Pownall. In 1772, Antigua suffered very much from the effects of a hurricane ; great damage was done to the shipping both in St. John's Harbour, and also in English Harbour. The