This was a great disappointment to the legislature, and it so chagrined them that very many actually withdrew their support from the bill for emancipation, which passed finally in the assembly only by the casting vote of the speaker.
[Footnote A: We subjoin the following brief history of the four and a half per cent.

tax, which we procured from the speaker of the assembly.
In the rein of Charles II., Antigua was conquered by the French, and the inhabitants were forced to swear allegiance to the French government.

In a very short time the French were driven off the island and the English again took possession of it.

It was then declared, by order of the king, that as the people had, by swearing allegiance to another government, forfeited the protection of the British government, and all title to their lands, they should not again receive either, except on condition of paying to the king a duty of four and a half per cent on every article exported from the island--and that they were to do in _perpetuity_.

To this hard condition they were obliged to submit, and they have groaned under the onerous duty ever since.