He had compromised the crown by the easy terms on which he had rented and sold estates; he had been obliged, in order to maintain the revenue, to work the natives with more severity than ever.

He knew very well that the system, under which he was working could not last long.

One of his maxims was, "Do the best with your time," and he was constantly sacrificing future advantages for such present results as he could achieve.
The Indians, who had been treated badly enough before, were worse treated now.

And during his short administration, if it may be called an administration,--during the time when he was nominally at the head of affairs--he was reducing the island to lower and lower depths.

He did succeed in obtaining a large product of gold, but the abuses of his government were not atoned for by such remittances.