In 1889, Pope Hennessy in a letter to the colonial office, remarked that "no one in this Country doubts that the former Constitution was a better one than the present Government by an oligarchy of 4,201 voters." The 1885 constitution replaced the constitution of 1831 remained in force until 1948, when the constitution of 1947 came into effect. The 1885 constitution was amended on 11 September 1913 and again on 18 April 1933. The latter amendment increased the proportion of appointed councilors who had to be non-officials from one third to two thirds (from three to six).
