Liguanea Mountains; but neither of them produced sufficient to pay the expenses attending the labour and process of the manufacture. Mr. Long, however, gives it as his opinion, that it is much to be regretted that the copper and lead mines in this island had not been more effectually prosecuted; because, upon the computation that every sugar estate which produces one hundred hogsheads a year, must be at a certain expense of £65 per annum for copper and lead alone, it will appear, that the island expends £45,000, or thereabouts, every year in these articles; which might be saved. The former failure in working the copper mines was owing to their being undertaken by two private gentlemen, whose fortunes were inadequate to the enterprise: it ought to be a public work, at the expense of the collective body of planters, regulated by an act of the legislature.

In the bed of the river called the Rio Minho, in Clarendon parish, bits of gold have sometimes been found after floods. On this subject a memorable anecdote is preserved in Long's history of Mr. Beckford, so well known in England as an alderman and lord mayor of London: "When he was at his estate in this island, situated on the banks of that river, the manager one day brought him a piece of fine gold, which had been picked up in the sand of the river; and, at the same time, advised him to send for a skilful metallurgist, who would proba bly discover a rich mine within his own land thereabouts. To this proposal Mr. Beckford made no other reply than this— "Whilst we have got so profitable a mine above ground (pointing to his cane pieces) we will not trouble ourselves about hunting for any under ground."

Of minerals, fossils, and shells, the accounts are but imperfect and unimportant, independently of the baths and mineral springs already noticed in the respective parishes where they are found; here therefore our sketch of the natural history of the island is brought to a conclusion.

CHAP. XII.

HISTORY OF JAMAICA.

Establishment of the Protestant Religion in the island of Jamaica, under the government of Oliver Cromwell-of the Church of England, during the reign of Charles II-attempts to restore Popery by James II.-prevented by the glorious Revolution which placed William III. on the throne of England-state of religion in the island from that period to the reign of Geo. II.-Settlement of the Moravians in 1732—account of their ministry.

THAT extraordinary revolution which subverted the ancient monarchical constitution of England, at the same time overturned the ecclesiastical hierarchy of the established church, and substituted in its stead the Presbyterian system, which does not admit of episcopacy, or any other dignified orders or distinctions among the priesthood.

Presbyters, or elders, from whom this party has been commonly denominated Presbyterians, are, in general, the seniors, or principal laymen, of each separate congregation or communion. These manage the temporal affairs of their respective churches jointly with the pastor, who is of course an elder; and elect, with the unanimous concurrence of all the other members, or the majority, being the heads of families, the presiding minister, called the Pastor, and also an assistant, if either the extent of the duty, or the age or infirmities of the pastor, render such an appointment necessary.

In a way similar to these regulations at home, Cromwell, after the surrender of Jamaica to the English government, sent over seven ministers, as the sole religious establishment for the whole island; and in this state the spiritual concerns of the first English settlers remained during his administration.

The restoration of Charles II. was immediately followed by a revival of the old civil and religious establishments in the British colonies; in which the external forms of religion, as well as the laws, were assimilated as nearly as possible to those of the mother country. Consequently, though the established church of England gained the ascendancy, and the parochial clergy of the island of Jamaica were subjected to the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the bishop of London, who claimed it as an appen

dage to his diocese, yet a free toleration, not only of the Roman Catholics, but of different denominations of Protestant Dissenters, was specially enjoined by the king in his instructions to the governors.

But the propensity to Popery which discovered itself in that monarch's reign, and the open encouragement given to it when James II. came to the throne, rendered it absolutely necessary to make restraints by acts of parliament. The island itself was endangered during that short period by the intrigues of the foreign Papists, and the countenance of the Roman For under the hopes, then entertained, of a general restoration of the Romish faith and ecclesiastical government throughout the British dominions. This was providentially prevented by the glorious Revolution, and by the constitution settled by e cil of rights signed by William and Mary, on their joint acre te ance of the crown. Hereby the enjoyment of the civil and religious liberty of the people was firmly and permanently secured; and all fear of the perversion of the kingdom to the superstition, and to the persecuting principles, of the church of Rome, was totally removed. It was, however, judged consistent with sound policy, for the reasons above mentioned, to prevent professed Papists holding any office or place of trust under the government of Jamaica, by obliging all persos aspiring to enjoy them, to take the customary oaths of allegiance and supremacy, which, according to the tenets of their religion, the Roman Catholics of those days could not. of all persuasions are freely admitted as inhabitants, only foreigners are required to take the oath of allegiance.

But men

The bishop of London has at present no jurisdiction, except so far as relates to the conduct of the clergy and their ordina tion; his authority in spiritual concerns in all other respects having been annulled by an act of the legislature of the island. Even in this department he can only send them letters of admonition, caution, or reproof; but it is not in his power to deprive them of their benefices, or to remove them from their cures, whatever immorality may mark their lives. The governor of the island for the time being, personating his majesty, is considered as supreme head of the church; and the right to exercise ecclesiastical dominion constitutes a branch of his prerogative. It is from him that the clergy derive their parochial authority; by him they must be inducted into their respective rectories and livings; and to him they must be accountable for their neglect of duty, and for any irregularity which may disgrace their conduct and degrade their profession. A previous qualification, however, is necessary, before a candidate can be accepted by the governor, He must bring with him testimo

nials of his having been regularly ordained according to the canons of the church of England. These being examined and approved by the governor, his letters of ordination are registered in the secretary's office; but nothing further is required in point of law.

The provision which is here made for the support of the clergy, varies considerably from that of the establishment in the mother country. Tythe laws are unknown; so that the complaints which arise from individual oppression, where tythes are enforced by law, have here no ground for existence. Instead of these, the sums which are appropriated to the uses of the clergy, are established by an act of the legislature, so as not to admit of an augmentation or diminution, except by a new law. These sums are levied by the magistrates, in conjunction with the parish vestries, by whom the fees are also regulated for baptisms, marriages, churching, and burials. These fees become the property of the officiating clergymen, whose established salaries vary through the island, from £100 to £300 per annum, in proportion to the various duties which are supposed to be performed. To these sums have been added £50 per annum, as a remuneration for some losses which the incumbents have sustained in their perquisites, since the burial of the dead within the churches has been prohibited by law. To stimulate them to the discharge of their duties, and to urge them to adorn their profession by the purity of their lives, the laws of Jamaica have wisely decreed, that no minister shall enjoy the emoluments of his office, or the salary annexed thereto, any longer than he discharges in person the sacred trust reposed in him, unless prevented by sickness, or compelled to remove to some distant part for the recovery of his health. This humane exception is, however, too frequently made a cloak to conceal those deformities which the law was designed to prevent. For though the governor has it in his power, on the complaint of the parishioners, to suspend any clergyman in the island for dissolute behaviour, yet the pretext of ill health is generally admitted, and a dispensation is granted. The clergyman then retires as soon as a curate is procured to officiate in his absence, and but little solicitude is manifested for his return. In no part of the island are pluralities allowed. The only circumstance which looks like an exception, is, that the minister of Spanish Town acts also as chaplain to the governor.

In addition to the salaries and fees of office of which we have already spoken, glebe lands of considerable value are annexed to some livings; and a dwelling-house must be provided for each clergyman. In those parishes where no parsonage houses have been erected, the magistrates are obliged to erect one at a

sum which shall not exceed £500, or to hire one at a rent not above £50 per annum. But in cases where neither of these can be done, the stated rent must be paid to the minister, in money, that he may provide for his own residence. From these circumstances and summary statements, it must evidently appear that the clergymen have an ample provision made for their support throughout the island. Nothing seems wanting to render their accommodations comfortable, even where the emoluments are the least, unless through their pride, immorality, or moroseness, they have made enemies of those who would otherwise have been their friends.*

Of the character of the clergy in Jamaica, Mr. Long observes, that "he shall say but little;" and the author of this history chooses to follow his example. Ample room has, however, been left for more pious and zealous labourers in the vineyard of Christ, to use their best endeavours to preach the gospel with energy to the white inhabitants, and to the free people of colour. All these having been baptized in their infancy, have been educated as professed Christians, but have not, in general, shewn in their lives and conversations, that they had a lively sense of the duties enjoined them by the sacred precepts of the pure and undefiled religion of Jesus. And as for the poor negro slaves, most of the clergy of the island have taken part with those selfish and prejudiced men, who on all occasions have exerted their influence to prevent their conver sion to Christianity. They have falsely imagined that it would render them worse servants, by inspiring them with higher notions of themselves than it was prudent for them to entertain, and consequently with a spirit of independence. Whereas the very reverse has been experienced; for the converted negroes, it is now allowed by all the candid proprietors of slaves, are more dutiful, and more contented with their humble situation, than those who still adhere to the barbarous superstitions of pagan idolatry.

To the missionaries belonging to the church of the United Brethren, commonly called Moravians, from Moravia in Germany, from which country they first emigrated, many heathen. nations in different parts of the world, and particularly the negroes employed in the cultivation of the lands in the British colonies, have been indebted for the first knowledge and prac

In this island no legal marriage can take place, unless the banns of the respective parties have been published three times in the parishes to which they belong, or unless a special licence for that purpose be obtained from the governor.