The Jamaica railway is managed by coloured men, who are said to be very careful. It is certain at least that at this time, only one fatal accident had happened since its opening, for which the company paid heavily in damages awarded to several passengers who had been injured.

I arrived at Spanish Town upon the 12th of December.

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CHAP. XXXII.

SPANISH TOWN.

Character of the British Colonial Governments.-Government of Jamaica.-Laws.-Courts.-Position of Spanish Town.-Population. Character of the Inhabitants.—Boarding-House. - Character of Servants and Inmates. - Condition of the Proprietors. Their true Characters.-Causes of their Losses. Streets. Private Houses. Call at the Government House. — Reception by the Governor. Dinner at the Government House.-Table-talk.-Guests.-Drawing- Sleeping Guest.— Hospitality of the Governor.

room.

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As we have now arrived at the seat of government in Jamaica, I shall preface the little I may have to say of the town and its vicinity, by a few remarks upon the government of the colony. I must first however observe, that the governments established in the British colonies generally, seem to approach as nearly to perfection as any systems ever founded for security, order and progress, since men began to live in a state of society. There is not much difference between them, notwithstanding the variety of climates and the different races of which the majority of their populations are composed; and, whatever changes they may undergo, they will always present a remarkable feature in the history of the mother country.

Jamaica is governed by a representative of the British sovereign, appointed by Her Majesty and sent

out from home, a council of twelve members appointed by the governor, each being confirmed in his office by a warrant from the sovereign, and a popular assembly, the members of which are elected in the same manner as are those of the House of Commons.

The governor bears the title of Excellency, and is invested with both civil and military authority. The members of the council are styled “honourable,” and act both in an executive and legislative capacity. When they assume their executive functions they are the ministers and advisers of the governor, and may be said to represent the privy council or the cabinet at home; but in their legislative capacity, they precisely represent the House of Lords.

The House of Assembly consists of forty-five members who represent the parishes in the island, the capital town, Kingston, and Port Royal. Its functions are similar to those of the House of Commons at home.

The forms observed in assembling the colonial parliament, and in adjourning and proroguing it, are nearly the same as those in England. The debates are carried on and the laws made, as in the British Parliament; but the assent of the sovereign is necessary to the passing of such laws as touch the vital interests of the colony and the mother country.

The common law of England is in force in Jamaica, but only such part of the statute law as has been reenacted by the legislature of the colony.

The supreme court of judicature of the island sits at Spanish Town. The chief justice presides in this court, and has associated with him several puisne judges. The

jurisdiction of the court is coextensive with that of the Queen's Bench, the Common Pleas and the Exchequer in England. But there are several inferior courts where all causes are tried in which the claims are not above the value of twenty pounds, excepting only those which relate to freehold property.

There is also a Court of Chancery in which the governor sits as chancellor, and in which the proceedings are the same as those of the Court of Chancery in England.

The capital of Jamaica is seated near the northern extremity of a plain which extends far towards the south-east, and the west, while on the north and the north-west it is approached by a chain of the Blue Mountains which circumscribes its breadth.

The city, though the seat of government, does not contain above 5000 souls; and although like Kingston, it is in a state of decay, it has a more pleasing aspect than its rival, owing to the regular arrangement of its public edifices. Near the centre of the town there is a handsome square, around which stand the more remarkable buildings overlooking an enclosed garden and shrubbery. The most important of these is the Queen's House, which is the residence of the governor of the island and of the officers of the executive government, and next to this, the House of Assembly. The former has a noble portico, is a finely finished building exteriorly, and occupies a whole side of the square, while the latter fills the opposite side and has a colonnade which extends the entire length of the building.

The two other sides of the square are occupied by

well-constructed buildings, consisting of an arsenal, courts, law offices, and other official chambers. These, and the barracks at another part of the town, are all the public edifices in Jamaica which are worthy of mention.

The private houses of Spanish Town are seen at disadvantage, owing to the narrowness of the principal streets. They resemble those of Kingston, but have generally better gardens, are detached, and are often almost buried in the tropical vegetation which surrounds them.

The town appears to be chiefly inhabited by the government officers and country proprietors, with some gentlemen of the legal and medical professions.

I took up my residence at a kind of boarding-house or hotel, where if I had not the same agreeable company as at Kingston, I found myself thrown into society which it is always desirable for a stranger to meet.

The breakfast-bell at ten o'clock on the morning after my arrival, summoned to the table about eight or ten proprietors of estates and members of the legislature at this time in session. The meeting with so many of the residents, was to me extremely pleasing, and it so much reminded me of colonial scenes, which were familiar to me at a very early age, but to which I had been long a stranger, that I felt as if I were entering a new state of existence, resembling one through which I had already passed.

The two principal matters which occupied the attention of the House of Assembly at this time, were the revenue, and measures proposed for the instruction and