ANTIGUA
AND THE ANTIGUANS:
A FULL ACCOUNT OF
THE COLONY AND ITS INHABITANTS
FROM THE TIME OF THE CARIBS
TO THE PRESENT DAY,
Interspersed with Anecdotes and Legends.
ALSO,
AN IMPARTIAL VIEW OF SLAVERY AND THE
FREE LABOUR SYSTEMS;
THE STATISTICS OF THE ISLAND,
AND BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES OF THE PRINCIPAL FAMILIES.
“Sworn to no party, of no sect am I.”—Pope.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. I.
LONDON
SAUNDERS AND OTLEY, CONDUIT STREET.
1844.
TO THE
HONBLE ROWLAND EDWARD WILLIAMS,
LATE CAPTAIN IN THE 10th REGIMENT OF HUSSARS,
ONE OF HER MAJESTY’S PRIVY COUNCIL IN ANTIGUA,
THE LINEAL DESCENDANT OF
THE FIRST WHITE CHILD BORN IN THAT ISLAND,
AND THE FRIEND AND BENEFACTOR OF ITS INHABITANTS
OF EVERY HUE AND COLOUR,
This Work,
DESCRIPTIVE OF ANTIGUA AND THE ANTIGUANS,
IS, BY HIS KIND PERMISSION,
INSCRIBED
BY HIS FAITHFUL AND OBLIGED SERVANT,
THE AUTHOR.
PREFACE.
Although in the present day the writing of a preface may beconsidered almost a work of supererogation on the part of anauthor, since it is that portion of a work seldom or ever lookedinto, still, as custom demands the form, and there may be someamong my readers who may desire to learn what first led me toundertake this work, I am induced to follow the fashion, moreespecially as on one or two points I am desirous of offering afew words of comment and explanation.
Not being a native of the West Indies, and visiting that part ofthe world for the first time at an age when all looks brightaround us, the novelty of the scenes which passed before my eyesstruck me forcibly, and induced me to make notes of theimpressions I then received. Pursuing the same practice atsubsequent visits, and during prolonged residences, in process oftime my memoranda expanded to a considerable bulk. The increasinginterest I took in everything relating to Antigua, led me toinquire into its early history, and to search out the origin ofthe numerous ancient families whose descendants have resided inthe island from the period of its colonization.
Some of my friends in the island who had become acquainted withmy pursuits, were gratified by the specimens of my labours, whichwere exhibited to them, and urged me to throw my scattered notesinto form. I yielded to their solicitations, and the result hasbeen the following pages, which, while they afford a condensedhistory of the colony from its earliest days, present also arecord of the impressions produced on one, at first, fresh fromEnglish society, but now, by long continued residence, becomealmost an Antiguan; having, it is hoped, lost all relics ofEnglish prejudice, but not become so biassed by her newconnexions, or blinded by the many charms of Antigua or Antiguansociety, as to hold the scales of justice unevenly.
Having been resident in Antigua both before and after the passingof the Emancipation Act, and having had ample opportunity ofjudging of the practical effects of that memorable event, theobservations I have made with relation to it may not beconsidered altogether unimportant.
In perusing the early history