RY INTO THE CONDUCT OF ADMIRAL KNOWLES, &c.

The preceding session an address had been presented to the king by the
house of commons, desiring his majesty would give orders for laying
before them several papers relating to disputes which had lately
happened between his excellency Charles Knowles, esq., and some of
the principal inhabitants of the island of Jamaica. This governor was
accused of many illegal, cruel, and arbitrary acts, during the course of
his administration; but these imputations he incurred by an exertion
of power, which was in itself laudable, and well intended for the
commercial interest of the island. This was his changing the seat of
government, and procuring an act of assembly for removing the several
laws, records, books, papers, and writings belonging to several offices
in that island, from Spanish Town to Kingston; and for obliging the
several officers to keep their offices, and hold a supreme court of
judicature, at this last place, to which he had moved the seat of
government. Spanish Town, otherwise called St. Jago de la Vega, the old
capital, was an inconsiderable inland place, of no security, trade, or
importance; whereas Kingston was the centre of commerce, situated on the
side of a fine harbour filled with ships, well secured from the insults
of an enemy, large, wealthy, and flourishing. Here the merchants dwell,
and ship the greatest part of the sugars that grow upon the island.
They found it extremely inconvenient and expensive to take out their
clearances at Spanish Town, which stands at a considerable distance;
and the same inconvenience and expense being felt by the rest of the
inhabitants, who had occasion to prosecute suits at law, or attend the
assembly of the island, they joined in representations to the governor,
requesting, that, in consideration of these inconveniences, added to
that of the weakness of Spanish Town and the importance of Kingston, the
seat of government might be removed. He complied with their request, and
in so doing entailed upon himself the hatred and resentment of certain
powerful planters, who possessed estates in and about the old town of
St. Jago de la Vega, thus deserted. This seems to have been the real
source of the animosity and clamour incurred by Mr. Knowles, against
whom a petition, signed by nineteen members of the assembly, had been
sent to England, and presented to his majesty.--In the two sessions
preceding this year, the affair had been brough