Mayne, his
colleague and contemporary in Port of Spain, this young magistrate
began his career fairly well. But he speedily fell a victim to the
influences immediately surrounding him in his new position. His
head, which later events proved never to have been naturally strong,
began to be turned by the unaccustomed deference which he met with on
all hands, from high and low, official and non-official, and he
himself soon consummated the addling of his brain by persistent
practical revolts against every maxim of the ancient Nazarenes in the
matter of potations. His decisions at the court, therefore, became
perfect emulations of those of Mr. Mayne, as well in perversity as in
harshness, and many in his case also were the appeals for relief made
to the head of the executive by the inhabitants of the district--but
of course in vain. Governor Irving was at this time in office, and
the unfortunate [108] victims of perverse judgments--occasionally
pronounced by this magistrate in his cups--were only poor Negroes,
coolies, or other persons whose worldly circumstances placed them in
the category of the "weaker" in the community.
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