[33] The colonists of North America had, for the last few years, been greatly addicted to piracy: a practice which it behoved the English government to put an immediate stop to, if possible. A person of the name of Kidd, the owner of a small sloop, and who had been early inured to a maritime life, proposed, that if a vessel of thirty guns, well manned, was placed under his command, he would agree to suppress the pirates, and effectually clear those seas from such dangerous frequenters. After some delay, a vessel was equipped by private subscription, and Kidd appointed to the command; but instead of proceeding upon his mission to the American seas, he sailed for the East Indies, where he engaged in the unlawful traffic himself, captured some traders, and, after burning his own vessel, sailed in the largest of his prize ships for the Leeward Islands. After remaining there for a short period, he proceeded in his piratical career to the coast of North America, where, in his search after wealth, he perpetrated those revolting cruelties which have rendered his name infamous, and long caused the inhabitants of those colonies to chat around their winter’s hearth of the deeds and fate of the redoubted Captain Kidd, the lawless rover of the seas. CHAPTER VI. Governor Colonel Christopher Codrington—Establishment of the first market—Accession of Queen Anne—Arrival of Admiral Benbow— Attack upon the island of Guadaloupe, in conjunction with the Antiguan troops—Bravery of Colonel Edward Byam—Arrival of Captain Hovenden Walker—Second attack upon Guadaloupe—Colonel Codrington quits the government—His death—Sir William Mathew— Hon. John Johnson. At the period of his father’s death, Christopher Codrington, Esq., the eldest son of the preceding governor, was in Holland, with his sovereign and his army; but upon the news arriving of General Codrington’s demise, William III. immediately appointed Christopher to succeed his late father as Captain-General and Commander-in-chief of the Leeward Islands, in which capacity he arrived at Antigua, in the year 1700. In the same year, regulations were framed by the legislature, to further increase the number of white inhabitants, and encourage the soldiers who had been lately disbanded, to settle in the island, by giving them grants of ten acres of land, and authorizing the treasurer to advance to each of them, as a loan, the sum of 3l., a barrel of beef, and a cask of flour. Such soldiers as were unprovided with grants were to be allowed 6d. per day, until the time they were put into possession; and those who chose to emigrate from the islands to leeward of Antigua, were allowed 12s. for their passage-money. All tavern-keepers, owners of sloops, &c., were also obliged to employ white men, under a penalty of 30s. for each offence.