the king. Two years later, a compromise having been effected
with Lord Marlborough, a grant of the island was obtained by the earl of
Carlisle, whose claim was based on a grant, from the king, of all the
Caribbean islands in 1624; and in 1628 Charles Wolferstone, a native of
Bermuda, was appointed governor. In the same year sixty-four settlers
arrived at Carlisle Bay and the present capital was founded. During the
Civil War in England many Royalists sought refuge in Barbados, where, under
Lord Willoughby (who had leased the island from the earl of Carlisle), they
offered stout resistance to the forces of the Commonwealth. Willoughby,
however, was ultimately defeated and exiled. After the Restoration, to
appease the planters, doubtful as to the title under which they held the
estates which they had converted into valuable properties, the proprietary
or patent interest was abolished, and the crown took over the government of
the island; a duty of 4-1/2% on all exports being imposed to satisfy the
claims of the patentees. In 1684, under the governorship of Sir Richard
Dutton, a census was taken, according to which the population then
consisted of 20,000 whites and 46,000 slaves. The European wars of the 18th
century caused much suffering, as the West Indies were the scene of
numerous battles between the British and the French. During this period a
portion of the 4-1/2% duty was returned to the colony in the form of the
governor's salary. In the course of the American War of Independence
Barbados again experienced great hardships owing to the restrictions placed
upon the importation of provisions from the American colonies, and in 1778
the distress became so acute that the British government had to send
relief. For three years after the peace of Amiens in 1802 the colony
enjoyed uninterrupted calm, but in 1805 it was only saved from falling into
the hands of the French by the timely arrival of Admiral Cochrane. Since
that date, however, it has remained unthreatened in the possession of the
British. The rupture between Great Britain and the United States in 1812
caused privateering to be resumed, the trade of the colony being thereby
almost destroyed. This led to an agitation for the repeal of the 4-1/2%
duty, but it was not till 1838 that the efforts to secure this were
successful. The abolition of slavery in 1834 was attended by no ill
results, the slaves continuing to work for their masters as hired servants,
and a period o