Antigua and the Antiguans. Volume 1

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ADAM AND EVE.

figures, representing St. John the Baptist, and St. John the Evangelist. These figures were intended to receive the vows of the good catholics at Dominica ; but as it happened to be war time, when they took their departure from " la belle France,'" on their passage they fell in with an English man-of-war, who most unceremoniously took them into keeping, and brought them to Antigua; where, by universal consent, they were placed as sentinels in their present position, instead of being decked out in gold and silver leaf, and mock jewels. The negroes, however, refuse to recognise them by their own titles, but have unanimously dubbed them " Adam and Eve"—the Baptist, I suppose, playing the part of the lady, as his garments are longer and more voluminous than those of his companion.

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 746/. 12s. 4 1\2 d. 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 1253/. 7s. 7 3\4d. currency, which debts were to be paid off by levying a tax of 2s. Gd. 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


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