Beginning in the mid-19th century, a privileged few even received an education, many going on to help administrate mainland colonies.

Numbers declined as some settlers returned to England, and others left for mainland colonies and New Zealand.

For seabirds, colonies on islands have an obvious advantage over mainland colonies when it comes to protection from terrestrial predators.

Military costs were still well under control; the mainland colonies cost only about £20,000 a year, though the West Indies garrisons cost rather more.

In 1754 the Board of Trade ordered representatives of the mainland colonies to meet at Albany.

Many ship owners and captains made large profits carrying slaves from Africa to the Caribbean islands and the mainland colonies.

Sayle, however, was a very resourceful man, and secured a number of supplies from the mainland colonies.

From 1617 to 1793 tobacco was the most valuable staple export from the English American mainland colonies and the United States.

It was the largest slave uprising in the British mainland colonies prior to the American Revolution.

The other two mainland colonies having ordered rolling stock refused to follow suit.