138
WITCHCRAFT.
After the decease of Lord Lavington, William Woodley, Esq., again resumed the reins of government ; but he did not repair to Antigua, being in a delicate state of health. Sir Alexander Cochrane, with a squadron under his command, visited the island during this year on his return from taking the Danish West India colonies of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix. In the month of March, 1809, Wm. Woodley, Esq., the then acting commander-in-chief, departed this life; and James Tyson, Esq., represented himself as the first counsellor, and accordingly took upon himself the administration of the government, without repairing first to Antigua, as he ought to have done. In 1809, it was found necessary to award certain punishments to dealers in witchcraft. Obeah,* as it was termed, raged to a great extent among the negro population in these islands, and led many of them into the deepest crimes. To strike a blow at this infatuation, it was ordained, that if any negro pretended they had communication with any evil spirit by whose aid they could cause death, &c, such slave upon conviction was to suffer capital punishment ; and if any slave prepared a mixture which was intended to cause death, although the poison did not take effect, such slave and their accessories were also liable to the same punishment. In the latter part of 1809, John Julius, Esq., another resident of St. Kitts, elected himself to the office of commander-in-chief, but neither did he repair to Antigua to take upon him the administration. About this period, the Antiguans, out of respect to their late respected governor Lord Lavington, agreed to allow his widow, Lady Frances Lavington, an annuity of 300/. sterling during her life, which was to be paid out of the treasury. The following year, 1810, Hugh Elliot, Esq., was appointed to the government of Antigua and the rest of the * For further particulars respecting Obeah, see Chapter XXXII.