Hisfory.—Whether Christopher Columbus himself ever actually landed on the shores of Guiana seems not to be positively ascertained. It is, however, certain that the Spaniards must have settled in the neighboring countries early in the 16th c.. as in 1580, whee the Dutch began to establish themselves on the banks of the Pomeroon and other rivers, they were speedily driven out by the Spaniards, nor was it until 1602 that they succeeded in obtaining a footing on the river Essequibo. During the 17th and the early part of the 18th centuries, the Dutch were frequently harassed by incursions of the French and by internal insurrections: three distinct colonies were constituted, until, in 1789, those of Essequibo and Demerara were united. Berbice remained a separate colony until 1831, when the three were constituted into the colony of British Guiana, consisting of the counties of Demerara, Essequibo, and Berbice.
Towards the close of the 18th c., the feelinirs of the inhabitants bad become strongly influenced by it desire to place themselves under British sovereignty, and in 1796 effect was given to that desire by the cession of the colonies to an expedition under maj.gen. Whyte. At the peace of Amiens, in 1802, however, the colonies were restored to the then "Batavian republic," to be again surrendered to Great Britain in 1803, which was finally confirmed at the peace of 1814.
political constitution of the colony has undergone but little modi fication since its affairs were administered by the Dutch. It retains peculiarities which distinguish it from that of any other colonial dependency; the principal variations introduced have been the division of the colony into electoral districts; a new definition of the qualification for holding the electoral franchise, and open instead of secret voting. The electors return members of two distinct bodies; one is termed the " college of electors," seven in number, who hold office for life, unless they quit the colony; the special function of this body will be explained hereafter. The other elected body is termed the "college of financial representatives," and consists of six members. The legislative body comprises ten members, five of whom, including the governor, who personally presides over its deliberations, are nominated by the crown, and hold olliee under it, the remaining five are chosen as vacancies occur by the existing members of the court from a double nomination sent up by the college of electors above described.
Once in each year, what is called the "combined court " holds a session for the pnrposo of agreeing upon the annual expenditure, and determining the nature and amount of the taxes to be levied. This court, which is also presided over by the governor in person, consists of the court of policy "combined " with the college of financial repre sentatives, and its legislative functions are confined to passing the annual tax ordinance. Practically, in the legislative body, or court of policy, the governor is able to carry any measure he desires, possessing, as he constitutionally does, a double vote; but it is hardly necessary to add that this power has been very sparingly resorted to, and the same may be said of the power of vetoing any proposition brought forward either in that or the combined court, should he deem it objectionable. The direct responsibility of the governor to the crown for any and all of his acts, has been found in practice an ample safe-guard against any abuse of these large prerogative powers. Another privilege reserved to the governor is that of originating all money votes; aad while the majority in the combined court may reduce, they are prohibited from increasing the amount of any item of the public expenditure as annually settled.
The judicial system of the colony continued until a comparatively recent period, to be as it was established by the Dutch; and the Roman code is still the basis of the administration of justice in civil matters. Trial by jury in such cases, at the option of either party, was introduced in 18-14; and in criminal cases. trial by jury was estab lished by law in 1840, and the English criminal code was adopted as the law of the colony.
Besides the supreme and inferior courts, presided over by judges, there are police and stipendiary magistrates in each town and district, with the ordinary powers of sum mary jurisdiction; it jail in each county, and a penal settlement for the more heinous classes of criminals, situated on the banks of the river Massaruni, about 70 in. from Georgetown. The stipendiary police consists of about 300 men, and there is a strong body of rural constables throughout the colony, consisting usually of the most trust worthy men on the estates, and in the villages, without distinction of races.
There are but two towns, properly so called, in the colony—Georgetown (q.v.) and New Amsterdam (q.v.).