t into the house of
commons, where this governor's character was painted in frightful
colours, and divers papers relating to the dispute were examined. Mr.
Knowles having by this time returned to England, the subject of his
administration was revived, and referred to a committee of the whole
house. In the meantime, petitions were presented by several merchants of
London and Liverpool, concerned in the trade to Jamaica, alleging, that
the removal of the public courts, offices, and records of the island of
Jamaica to Kingston, and fixing the seat of government there, had been
productive of many important advantages, by rendering the strength of
the island more formidable, the property of the traders and inhabitants
more secure, and the prosecution of all commercial business more
expeditious and less expensive than formerly; therefore, praying that
the purposes of the act passed in Jamaica for that end might be carried
into effectual execution, in such manner as the house should think
proper. The committee, having examined a great number of papers,
agreed to some resolutions, importing, that a certain resolution of the
assembly of Jamaica, dated on the twenty-ninth day of October, in the
year one thousand seven hundred and fifty-three, implying a claim of
right in that assembly to raise and apply public money without the
consent of the governor and council, was illegal, repugnant to the terms
of his majesty's commission to his governor of the said island, and
derogatory of the rights of the crown and people of Great Britain;
that the six last resolutions taken in the assembly of Jamaica, on the
twenty-ninth day of October, in the year one thousand seven hundred
and fifty-three, proceeded on a manifest misapprehension of the king's
instruction to his governor, requiring him not to give his assent to any
bill of an unusual or extraordinary nature and importance, wherein
his majesty's prerogative, or the property of his subjects, might be
prejudiced, or the trade or shipping of the kingdom any-ways affected,
unless there should be a clause inserted, suspending the execution
of such bill until his majesty's pleasure should be known; that
such instruction was just and necessary, and no alteration of the
constitution of the island, nor any way derogatory to the rights of the
subjects in Jamaica. From these resolutions the reader may perceive the
nature of the dispute which had arisen between the people of Jamaica
and their govern