the Colony." It will be essential to bear in mind that no other definition of the qualification of a Member of the Court of Policy has existed to this moment, inapplicable as the preceding obviously is to the altered state of things. There was in addition a provision against the eligibility of parties within certain degrees of consanguinity, which however, has been practically disregarded. By a Proclamation of Governor Beaujon in 1796 it was enacted that any person duly elected and declining to serve, should be liable to a penalty of three thousand guilders, unless he had served within two years next preceding his election.

In the first instance, the unofficial portion of the Council was to be chosen from a double nomination by the Colleges of Kiezers or Electors, of which there were two, one for each Colony,* each consisting of seven Members, elected by a majority of the votes of the inhabitants possessing not fewer than twenty-five slaves, such votes to be in writing and signed by the voter. The tenure of the Office of Kiezer, as subsequently defined by Proclamation of Sir Benjamin D'Urban in 1831, was to be for life, unless the party resigned, or ceased to be an inhabitant. The Kiezers, before proceeding to a nomination, were to be sworn to the faithful discharge of their office before the Director-General, a ceremony which continued to be observed before the Governor until the passing of Ordinance No. 16 of 1864.

A periodical change in the constitution of the Council or Court of Policy was secured by providing that the Senior Colonial Member should retire yearly.

The Director-General was to be allowed a double vote, and the Secretary of Demerara was to be the "Minister of the Court of Policy."

Such seems to have been the original Legislative Constitution of the Colony. We now come to the occasion on which what are termed “Financial Representatives" were added.

It appears that in 1795 it was deemed necessary, during a period of some confusion, to introduce four members "commissioned" by the Colleges of Electors of both Colonies to have jointly with the Court of Policy the administration of the public funds. In the following year, however, Governor Beaujon thought fit to annul that arrangement, and to enact that to secure to the inhabitants a more ample representation at the raising of taxes, in lieu of the four above-mentioned, there should be six inhabitants adjoined to the Governor and Court of Policy, three from each Colony, to be elected by the inhabitants qualified as in the case of Kiezers, and to serve for two years, but whose powers should be strictly limited to the raising, with the Court of Policy, Colony taxes, and examining also with that body the public accounts.

Beaujon's proclamation, however, was materially modified, though without affecting the definition of the duties of the financial representatives, by a proclamation of Acting Governor Carmichael in 1812, consolidating the two Colleges of Kiezers and Financial Representatives. This proceeding remained operative, though unconfirmed by the Crown, until 1831, when Sir Benjamin D'Urban became Governor of the United Colony, and it was annulled by a Royal Instruction restoring the pre-existing arrangement, and extending the right of suffrage to the inhabitants of Berbice.

Such is the state of things which has remained

Demerara and Essequebo only are here alluded to.
Beaujon's Procl., Loc. Guide.

up to the present time, with the exception, in regard to the franchise hereafter to be noticed, and from which the inference seems to be clear that the Financial Representatives had, and have, no authority whatever, except by express permission from the Crown, to discuss any item upon the estimate so as to alter its amount, although they might refuse to include any sum to which they objected in their calculations of the funds necessary to be raised by taxation.*

The inherent right of the Financial Representatives to exercise this power, has been, however, strongly maintained by the Colonial Members upon all occasions, and this has led to collisions between the Executive and Elective section of the Court. The position they assume is based upon the construction of certain passages in a decree of the States-General, dated 27th August, 1788, to the effect that "the contributions for the Colonial Chest are to be regulated by the inhabitants themselves;" and in the instructions issued to Director-General Van Grovestein in 1793, “He will take care not to leave the administration of the Colony Chest wholly to the Colony Members of the Court of Policy, but will thereto admit a great number of the Colonists, for example the "Kiezereboth rivers," and also upon the nature of certain entries in the Minutes from 1798 to 1806. They do not appear to bear out the claim of right which has been founded upon them, since the evidence throughout seems to proceed upon the assumption that due provision has been previously made for the Sovereign's Chest, which is represented by the modern Civil List.

The foregoing is a succinct but sufficiently accurate sketch of the Legislative Constitution, as it existed up to the year 1849, when the first step in the process of amelioration was affected by the passing of the Ordinance, No. 15, for regulating the elective franchise, and dividing the Colony into Electoral districts.

The great principle of the whole system of Government is evidently centralization. Until the year 1826, there existed not even local_subdivisions of the Colony. Demerara and Essequebo were then divided into ten Parishes, and the same process was subsequently applied to Berbice. This arrangement, however, was simply ecclesiastical, involving no civil anthority or jurisdiction, for the Members of the Vestries constituted to administer them, were, and still are, nominated from time to time by the Court of Policy, while the combined Court grants the only funds at their disposal whether for maintenance of the fabric, or support of the poor, exclusive of what trifling income may be derived from the seat rents of the churches.

It was not until 1837 that the first municipal body was incorporated, nor has the principle since been materially extended in its application, although some advance has undoubtedly been made.

In the year 1855, under the administration of Sir Philip Wodehouse, an Ordinance was passed to alter and amend the Political Institutions of the Colony, but it was not approved by Her Majesty. Since that time no legislation has been attempted in the same direction until the passing of Ordinance

* During the discussions on the Civil List in 1848-9, it was suggested by some of the Elective Section to adopt this paying the difference between the sums fixed and the course, leaving upon the Governor the responsibility of amount provided.

Proceedings relative to the Functions of the Financial Representative, 1832.

No. 1 of 1864, which, however, is a mere declaratory act, defining the meaning of the term "Colonist,' as employed in the "Plan of Redress" above noticed; and Ordinance No. 16 of 1864, to remove some difficulties in the exercise of the functions of the College of Electors.

Local Finance.

and Legislative Council and House of Assembly are performed by the Governor and Court of Policy, except as regards taxation and finance, which are dealt with by the Combined Court, composed of the Governor and Members of the Court of Policy, combined with the six Financial Representatives. The Court of Policy passes all laws and ordinances, except the Annual Tax Ordinance, which is passed by the Combined Court. The Court of Policy is composed of five official and five elective members. The official members are the Governor, the Attorney-General, the Government Secretary, the Auditor-General, and the Receiver-General. The elective members are chosen as follows:-When a vacancy occurs the seven Kiezers, who are chosen for life, meet and submit to the Court of Policy the names of two persons, from whom one is selected by the Court.

The Colony is divided into five Electoral Divisions, each of which has its Kiezer or Kiezers chosen for life, and one or more Financial Representatives, elected for two years, and eligible for re-election.

1875

Villages. £44,038

£45,977

Guiana.

1

348

2

185

1

54

71

6

784

Indians Chinese Africans

362

In the Colony of British Guiana the Roman Dutch law is in force in civil cases, modified by Orders in Council and local Ordinances; the Criminal Law is now the same as that of Great Britain, and is administered in the same manner, except that there is not the intervention of a Grand Jury.

The Registration of Births and Deaths was established in the Colony by Ordinance No. 10 of 1868.

In September, 1870, a Special Commission was appointed to inquire into the treatment of coolie immigrants in the Colony. The members of the commission were Mr. W. E. Frere, formerly a Judge of the High Court of Bombay, Sir G. Young, Bart., and Mr. C. Mitchell. Their labours resulted in an exhaustive Report, the chief recommendations of which were drafted into an Ordinance by Sir G. Young, one of the Commissioners, which, after careful consideration by the Secretary of State, the Governor and the Court of Policy, passed into law as Ordinance, No. 7 of 1873.

Fifth

Out-door Supervisor of Aid Waiters, E. W. K. Crocker, 5007.

Aid Waiters;—

J. N. L. Braithwaite, 3877. 10s.

W. Bristow.

W. Harris.

E. M. De Groot.

T. Massiah.

R. J. Laurie.

G. M. Stack.

R. C. Swain.

E. Bagot.
J. Garraway.
A. E. Collier.

(Vacant)

2501. each.

2081. 6s. 8d. each.

1661. 13s. 4d each

Surveyor and Admeasurer of Shipping, Thomas Hubbard, fees.

Clerk in Charge of Colonial Bonded Warehouse, J. A. Hancock, 3001.

Assistant Clerks, E. A. Hubbard, 125l.

H. C. Van Genderen, 1251.

C. Brumell.

Wharfinger, C. N. Cox, 2001.

Gauger and Weigher, A. Hubbard, 3421.
Sub-Comptroller at Berbice, J. T. Íbbott, 5007.
Clerk, J. L. Ferdinand.

Aid Waiter, F. Van Holst, 2007.; and 2 Assistants.

Immigration Department.

Agent-General, Jas. Crosbie, 1,200

Chief Sub-Immigration Agent, J. T. Trotter, 500%. *Sub-Immigration Agents, C. B. King, 400l.; Geo. A. Taylor, 4007.; H. Walpole, 400%.; J. P. Denham, 4007.

Chief Clerk, N. W. Forster, 2501.
Second Clerk, H. J. Gladwin, 1887.
Third Clerk, G. C. Broadhead, 1507.

Record Clerk and Madras Interpreter, S. Johnstone, 1751.

Medical Officer to Department, J. P. Watt, M.D., 1,000.

* Thèse officers have travelling allowances.

Clerk, F. Coltman, 1461.

Issuer, J. Craig, 1007.

Judicial Establishment.

Sir W. Snagg, Kt., 2,500l.

Puisne Judge, J. H. King, 1,500l.

C. W. Lovesy, 1,500l.

Attorney-General, W. F. H. Smith, 1,500. Solicitor-General, N. Atkinson, 500l.

Villages.

Superintendent of Villages, T. Daly, 500l., and 1257. for travelling expenses. Cleghorn, 2001.

First Clerk,

3501.

2nd ditto ditto, G. Schrack, 2751. 3rd ditto ditto,

2001. 4th ditto ditto, E. H. Tennent, 2007. 5th ditto ditto, H. Wight, 1751.

6th ditto ditto, F. Verbeke, 1127. 10s.
Provost Marshal, J. D. Fraser, 8331.
First Marshal, J. H. Otterbein, 4167.
Ordinary Marshals :—

C. C. Jones, 2007.
A. Eburne, 1337.
M. Taylor, 1337.
J. H. Blake, 917.
J. H. Bowles, 67%. 10s.

Stipendiary Magistrates:

A.P. Pound.

P. A. Grant.
E. Smith.
W. Humphrys.
H. C. Huggins.
H. P. Plummer.
F. E. Dampier.
H. Kirke.

B. Maxwell.

700%. each, and

100%. travel

ling expenses.

Police Magistrate of Georgetown, and Sheriff of Co. Demerara, J. Brumell, 1,000l.

Clerk and Special Justice of the Peace, W. Seon,

Two other Clerks.

Ecclesiastical Establishments (Church of England). Lord Bishop, The Rt. Rev. W. P. Austin, D.D., 2,000l. (from Imperial Funds).

Chaplains, Rev. W. G. G. Austin, M.A., and Rev.

W. H. Brett.

Secretary and Registrar, Rev. W. G. G. Austin, M.A., fees.

Rural Deans, Demerara, Rev. D. Smith, fees.
Essequebo, Rev. W. Austin.
Berbice, Rev. F. W. Austin.
Archdeacon, The Ven. F. J. Wyatt, 2007.
Rector of St. George's Parish, F. J. Wyatt, 7007.
Incumbent of Christ Church, J. E. Fox, 4161.

St. Philip's, P. Wood, 4167.

Rector of St. Paul's Parish, Rev. T. Farrar, 5007.
St. Matthew's, Rev. D. Smith, 500l.
St. Swithin's, Rev. H. J. May, 5007.
St. Peter's, Rev. H. Wickham, 500l.
St. John's, Rev. W. Austin, 500%.
Trinity, Rev. W. H. Brett, 500%.
All Saints, Rev. F. W. Austin, 500l.
St. Michael's, Rev. T. B. Milner, 500%.
St. Patrick's, G. H. Butt, 500l.

14 Curates, 3001. each, viz. :—

St. Augustine's, Rev. T. F. Moulder.

St. Marks', A. Hitchens.

St. James', (vacant).

St. Bartholomew's, G. Woodhouse.
Trinity, S. Manning.

St. Luke's, J. J. Large.

St. Michael's, W. E. Drew.