The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-12-10 00:00:00

slaves they capture for adjudication to our own Colonies. We have been the laughing-stock of the nations who are still carrying on the slave trade, or doing otherwise. •Of all the governments who have avowed loudly their desire to put down the traffic in slaves, we alone have set to work in honesty and good faith to carry out the principle. We have captured thousands, and have in almost every case carried them tbr adjudication to the colonies of other powers. I sat- about four thousand of these poor people located at Surinam, where they had, it is true, dwellings provided for them ; but some very decided means would have been taken to turn them to some profitable account, but for the presence of the British Commissary Judge there, Mr. Samo, whose vigilance and activity in more than one instance resisted the attempt. Thousands have been carried into Cuba; which colony, as well as the Spanish island of Porto Rico, are pros pering beyond all example or comparison with our own, from the capital which is flowing there from Britain as well as America, in consequence of the ample supply of labourers with which various causes have combined to stock those islands. In truth, it will be one of the consequences of any indifference evinced by our rulers to supply an ample remu nerating population for the rich and luxuriant lands of our Colonies, that British capital will go to enrich those of other states, where a certain and large return awaits them ; whilst .they mad• calculate, and perhaps not without.reason, that the wants of Britain will shortly oblige her to seek for Colonial produce from the very slave-labour which we have lavished so.much treasure to put down. lam told that, notwithstand ing all the exertions of our navy, there are so many chances in favour of a slaver evading a cruiser, and escaping from them in a chase, or through the chicanery of the law, that thousands of slaves continue to be imported year by year into the Spanish colonies. I just missed seeing a large lot ex posed for sale in Porto Rico, but that the stock was exhausted, and the spring importations had not yet arrived. If Britain cannot evince the requisite vigour to stop the evils of the slave trade for its own sake, and will not be - induced to any exertion out of sympathy to the West Indian planter, she must be roused to employ her thunders when the present transition state of our Colonies has passed over, and the level to which they have been ieduced has become apparent to the meanest capacity. SUPPLY OF LABOUR FOR AFRICA. To talk of having recourse to any supply, under any form, from the continent of Africa, will, I suppose, be deemed such a heresy with the abolitionists, that they will think that no -one but a Colonist lost to all sense of humanity could have dared to recommend it. lam so convinced, however, that it constitutes the only practical expedient for repairing the gap in the resources of labour under the new system, that I have only to implore them to divest their minds of prejudices engendered by exaggerated ideas of a bygone condition of slavery that can never again exist in our •colonies. Their characteristic benevolence should not make them unjust, even to the West Indian interest. As the mighty conquerors of slavery, they have now full leisure, after the accomplish ment of their victory, to do it justice. For many years they have viewed no side of the question but to condemn it. Without denying its evils to their full extent, it has yet its bright side •—it has been made, under Providence, the rugged nurse to bring a savage and bloody race of barbarians within the pale of civilisation, and in a few short years children of African descent may be in a position, by the very instrumen tality of the institution of slavery, to carry hack to the land of .their fathers that civilisation from which it has pleased , God to estrange and alienate the inhabit: ts of that vast con tinent for so many ages. A cheerful, orderly, and Christian people of African race are springing up in the British West Indian Colonies : this is one of the results of slavery, but it not used as an argument for its continuance, but in proof that the assertions which have been hazarded in the heat of the discussions against the system are triumphantly disproved by. the present condition of the emancipated slaves. The planters of the West Indies have been freely saddled with all the vices of the system; and all that eloquence, poetry, and satire could direct against slavery in the abstract, has been poured upon the head of the devoted master, as if he was a man altogether different from his fellow-sub jects, with an iron heart an d a h eav y h an d, sworn t o the destruction of the slave he had purchased, both in body and soul. The only alleviation to the slave's condition, which those who cried down the master's authority could them selves introduce, was directed, through his influence, by means of laws arbitrarily imposing upon him obligations and expenses that in many cases were a mere idle demand upon his purse, without any corresponding benefit to' the slaves. The abolitionists cannot lay claim to have done one single act of their own beyond persuasion and advice, either for the religious, mental, or social amendment of the negro popula tion. The State has not expended one shilling in the cause ; yet here we rind a people exposed to a test which has tried the most civilised people of Europe—a sudden disruption of old ties, old habits, • old duties ; and yet this people; re presented to have been so abominably treated by their owners, have not been guilty (scarcely in a single instance) of any act even of unkindness against those who have been represented as their old oppressors. They continue to live in the most friendly intercourse; and if they do not work for. him, it is not from any old animosity or ill will, but be cause they have no inducement to work for anybody. At whose cost, but in a very principal degree at that of the planters, do we find the churches that adorn the landscape, and the schools that we pass on the high Way ? Who has reared those snug dwellings, in many of which you will find a neat and clean bed, with many little comforts that could never have belonged to that degraded condition which reams of printed paper have represented to the people of England to be that of the Creole race ? Let the truth be permitted to be told, now at least that the object sought for has been ob tained. The planters, like British brothers, have had every desire, and have been sedulously active, to advance the negro condition as rapidly as the time permitted them, and it is not just to suppose them indifferent to the welfare of a people whom it has been their direct interest to benefit and ameliorate. If one would do justice to the British planter, go and visit the colonies of other European nations, and make a fair comparison between them. HOW IS THE CULTIVATION OF OUR COLONIAL LANDS TO DE MAINTAINED How is the cultivation of our colonial lands to be main tained, and how can it be ealended, without an immigration of labourers from some other regions I have purposely omitted to introduce at any length some topics for which the Colonial Office were, and still are, deeply responsible, from an unwillingness to render my ob servations unacceptable by introducing matters that may no longer admit of redress. In this number is included the case of the currency of Berbice, which was a consequence of a most fla grant robbery, under the guise of a most liberal procednre. The Colonial Office emancipated by its own authority a body of slaves on the Government property, which was pledged as a security for an issue of Colonial Paper that became de preciated the instant that the property was rendered value less; and moreover all claim upon the Compensation Fund was lost by this uncalled for act : to this day no remunera tion has been made to the colony from any Imperial source for this act of liberality, at the expense of the Colony of Berbice. Again, so ignorant has the Colonial Office shown itself at all times of Colonial Statistics, that when at the Peace we gave away, with a free hand, lands obtained at a costly sacrifice of British blood and British valour, little at. tention was paid to details that, however trivial in appear ance, were of great importance to British interests. A value able district within the Surinam Border, which had been planted by our own countrymen, whilst the colony was under British rule ; which was comparatively near, and to wind ward of the Berbice river, rendering it a more natural ap pendage to that colony ; was recklessly given up to the Dutch, simply because the Courantyn river had theretofore been the boundary of the two countries. We also game up at the same time Santa . Cruz, St. Thomas, Barts, and St. Eustatius, all English in their interests and language, whilst we have retained islands that cannot for many years be ren dered so by any exertions of ours. It is a fact, however, that so little arc our best educated young statesmen in formed upon colonial geography, that a man who would blush to be ignorant of the Helicon or the Rubicon is not ashamed to consider Demerary as one of the nest Indian Islands, and would deem any acquaintance with the mighty streams of the Surinam, the Copenaame, the Courantyn, the Berbice, the Demerary, and the Essequibo, to be rather a vulgar accomplishment than otherwise. Again: the flaw in the act of parliament by which slave-grown coffee can be imported as British by having been once landed at the Cape, or at any other colonial port, was a grievous error in com mercial policy, and a gross injustice upon the native growers of that commodity. Moreover, the utter indifference of successive governments to recommend to parliament to pro vide the means for encouraging Religion and Education in the colonies, is a dereliction of duty in the parent state, which deserves every reprobation. The most miserable economy has of late years pervaded the government of our colonies. I should be ashamed to record the stories current in the naval circles of the Antilles, of the shifts to which the Queen's ships are put to obtain the most ordinary requi sites for the service ; or the degree of neglect that is declared to pervade the means of military defence. But what is to be expected in our colonies, when national economy is carried to such a pitch at home, that the man who contracts for a few cats to preserve the arsenal stores at Woolwich free from ver min, has had their bo ird wages reduced from threepence to two pence a week, in order to save abont sixpence to the state? These are the consequences of yielding to a popular, but still a low and ignorant clamour for economy ; which may be just to a certain extent but not to that to which it has been carried. Still, us it is rather the fashion to parade the advancement of science, as a well-deserving government care, I would desire to draw attention to the Botanic Garden at St. Ann's, Trinidad, planted with great attention and skill, under Sir Ralph Woodford, with the most valuable productions of the tropical regions of the last, and which is now allowed to go to waste, because of the expense of one or two gardeners. I believe the garden at St. Vincent, which is also valuable, is equally neglected as an establishment in aid of science. DUTIES OF GREAT BRITAIN TO TILE WEST INDIAN COLONIES. But putting on one side all that is irrelevant to the main interests of the colonies themselves, I would desire to im press on the Colonial Office, that Britain ought to shew her colonies sonic of a parent's kindness as welt as a parent's coercion. Neglect, oppression, insult, habitual inattention to colonial grievances; and a ready ear to every calumny, can and must be discontinued ; for British blood is of much the'same quality in either hemisphere, and will not always endure persecution. Some disposition must be evinced to aid'the colonists by acts of kindness and encouragement, in order to stem the fearful crisis that now impend over the West Indies. The colonies are7really most magnificent pos sessions, and capable of being raised into increased impor tance. Of Barbadoes I have already spoken. Antigua stands next in importance and civilization ; she prepared her self to meet the change to free labour by great exertions ; and although I must admit my disappointment at finding her condition, under many advantages, to be little higher than the average of West Indian civilization, yet I think, she may still be enabled to struggle through the crisis, although with some loss to her former prosperity. St. Kitts and St. Vin cent are next, I believe, in the scale ofcultivation and value ; bur as I did not visit those two islands, I can give no well grounded opinion•of their future prospects. Grenada will, I fear, be much deteriorated, since a great many of the ne groes have left the estates, and established themselves in the mountains. British Guyana might supply an inexhaustibly field for British capital ; yet by returns of the produce exported from this colony during the years 1836, 1837, 1838, it will be perceived that she is gradually sinking in her productiveness. Her soil is of unequalled richness and of boundless extent—she commands the whole course of four as mighty rivers as water the New World, on whose banks, by the reports of those who have explored them to their sources, thousands might reap riches, and whose waters might be navigated for hundreds of miles, it popula tion could be planted upon them. The island of Trinidad, with its magnificent Gulf of Paria, contains resources suffici ent to make it worthy to be considered as the " Eden of the western wave ;" but, alas ! it not only wants a people, but' those that are planted there are greatly scattered, and very insufficiently provided with the means requisite to advance its civilisation. What is to be the fate of Jamaica I grieve to contemplate. Religious dissensions have been added -to all the evils that she shares with her sister colonies. I can only speak of these from the report of others ; but if I am right in con sidering Barbadoes as likely to form the only favourable ex ception to the result of the free-labour system in the West Indies, I understand that the reverse of all on which I calculate for the prosperity of that colony obtains in the island of Jamaica. I observe that it is a proposition much pressed upon the colonists in many quarters, that their attention should be di rected to the:culture of commodities that would require less manual labour than the sugar-cane. Doubtless, if this could be effected as simply as a man changes his coat and waistcoat, there would be good sensz in the advice • but every alteration of culture supposes the abandonment done outlay of capital and the expenditure of another, and it is therefore not well suited to an interest nor a state of very great present depression, if not of actual decay and ruin. The introduc tion of the silk-worm has been specifically mentioned. I had•the opportunity of seeing an establishment for obtaining the cocoons at Port Royal, in the island of Martinique, and I was given to understand that the extreme and constant heat of the climate had so rapid an effect upon the eggs, that a degenerate and feeble race of insects was the consequence. The experiment had not at all succeeded, and was already very much abandoned. Indeed the success of the introduc tion of the silk-worm into the United States, where a more genial latitude can be found for it, is as yet very questionable. The speculations have been hitherto very much limited to the cultivation of plants of a new species of mul berry ; and I was told there, that the silk-iyorm was in very limited operation. Perhaps the cultivation of tea and spices of all kinds could be advantageonsly introduced into our co lonies ; but they would require the import of labourers from the Eastern Tropics to instruct the Creole people ; and an experiment that requires the growth of considerabe trees, requires a very large interval of time ; whereas the evil to be contended with is iisanediate, and nobody can foretell what may be its result after such a period of years as would be required to grow plantations of spice trees. - The vine grows in the islands, and might possibly be cultivated coin inercially, although the constant heat of the West Ine.ies would not be favourable to its well-doing. The• growth of tropical fruits, which has been sadly neglected in our colo nies, would, I should think, be encouraged by the establish ment of steam communication with Europe. There is no impediment to pine-apples being impoited into Great Bri tain, as they now are to New York, as plenteously as oranges, as soon as the passage across the Atlantic is reduced within a shorter and more certain compass. I am satisfied, how ever, that the cocoa is the plant of the most easy increase in • the tropics, and that the cultivation of it might even be car ried ou by white labourers : it requires but slight manual fatigue, and this has only to be encountered in the shade. I observe, that in the course of the years. 1836, 1837, and 1838, the quantity exported from the Windward and Lee ward Wands has diminished from 3,300,636 lbs. to 3762 lbs., which proves that it either requires fiscal encouragement, or that an alteration in the tastes of our population at home has diminished the consumption. I think it might be very ad vantageously extended into the cottages of this country, for it is infinitely more nutricious au article of drink than the bad tea at present within the attainment of our labourers. It is very easy, however, to recommend to the colonists to do this and do that ; but if neither the government, nor the press, nor the self-styled Arnis des Noirs, are - disposed to stir a hand to advance measures of some kind for their ad vantage, the colonists are in no condition to' attempt them by themselves : they require seine overt acts of public sym pathy at this imminent crisis of their future prosperity—they desire the confidence and assistance of the government—they would shake hands and be friends with the abolitionists, and forget and forgive old grievances. We have, doubtless, accomplished a humane and well intentioned measure in abolishing slavery throughout the British einpis - e, and we have done it in a most noble and honourable manner, by paying largely for having our own way in making the experiment. The abolitionists are now in the same boat with the planters ; both must strive to make the success of the free-labour system complete; for if it should fail in any of our colonies, the abolition of slavery is thrown back in the world to an indefinite period. If the plan should be to stand still and do nothing, it will be quite impossible to maintain the extent of cultivation in the colonies. 1 do not entertain any fears that the negroes will take to the bush ; but it is the vagrancy* and idleness of a state of reple tion that is at present working evil. Coercion is not neces sary; the stimulas to industry is wanting, and time must elapse in order to create a taste for new wants and home luxuries. Some plan must, however, be devised to obtain additional labour for these. magnificent colonies, or they will become iu a very short period a very valueless appendage to the British sceptre. • • I trust I shall have been considered to have kept my pro mise of treating with moderation and Mirness, the several questions that have arisen in the course of my reflections on West Indian affairs. Any party feeling in the consideration of them would have been unreasonable, since it may be ad mitted that successive Tory and Whig governments have been pretty equally implicated in their mal-administration of the colonies. The " most thinking people "of this land are too completely engrossed with their little parish matters, to care much about distant possessions ; and nothing but such a war cry as slavery, or the actual revolt of one of the colonies, could awaken thentfrom their indifference upon the subject. Moreover it is rarely found that such - excitement is created in this country by any foreign or colonial occurrence, ex cepting at it affects our commercial relations---:yet the pre sent condition of the West Indies must open a most interes-• ting field of speculation to the philanthropist and statesman, and it might be supposed that the imperial parliament would lose no credit in public estimation, by condescending to en ter upon a consideration of questions of so much moment to these settlements • as the constitution of their government and their colonization. . *lt is not at all uncommon to see, every day in the week, crowds of negro labourers; with their guns and fishin. , - tackle, sauntering about the woods and waters of Guyanaat7tl Trinidad; and they will even go for days together far up the creeks and rivers in boats ; affording •ery good evidence that they are not at all pressed by the res auyusta domi, that they rather love the sport which " gentlemen who live at home at ease" partake of. JAMAICA.-AGRICULTURAL STATE OF THAT COLONY. (Parliamentary Documents ; presented August 27, 1839, and now printed.) _ . • Copies (or Extracts) of further Communications transmitted to the Marquis of Normanby by the Agent of Jamaica,-on the 13th day of June and the 12th . day of July, relative to the Agricultural State of that Colony. . TRELAWNY. Falmouth, April 16, 1839. Gentlemen,--I beg leave, to enclose you a copy of the re port of the Trelawny Agricultural Committee for the mouth of March, and remain, &c. WILLIAM DA.WSON,. Chairman. "TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF CORRESPONDENCE. " Trelawny, April 16, 1839. " The Agricultural Committee for Trelawuy having re ceived 52 returns from different estates in the parish, now beg to report as follows : " The returns show the quantity of sugar made on 50 of those properties, from the commencement of crop up to the Ist of April, 1838, to have been 24521 hogsheads, and 1861 tierces, and from the commencement . of crop up to the lit of April, 1839, to be 12751 hogsheads, and 92 tierces, show ing a deficiency in the present crop of 1177 hogsheads, and 944 tierces. Two estates have not replied to question No. 1. The rate of wages paid for day labour and jobwork when performed, appears to be much the same as stated in the last report. .".The returns show a great difference in some instances in the expense of manufacturing sugar, varying from £4 per hogshead to £11; but taking the average from the whole returns, shows a cost of £6 per hogshead. " It must here be clearly understood that the cost is alone for the manufacture of the sugar, without any reference to the cost of cultivation, or other estate's work, tradespeople, &c. " Out of 52 estates, only 11 show an increase of labour, and that in so trifling a degree as to be hardly worth noticing. " On 10 estates out of 52 a very trifling preparation is making for next crop, and on the. remaining 42 none what ever. " 44 returns show no improvement in continuous labour; eight returns show a very slight improvement, and that to be attributed to higher wages being obtained during the manu factures of sugar. " The returns from 52 estates show a total rent collected, £43 14s 2d. " From the foregoing statements, it will be seen, that no improvement has taken place in this parish since last report, either in the conduct of the labourers or the agricultural prospects for next year. The falling off in the quantity of sugar manufactured, as compared with the last crop, is de plorable, and the approaching rainy seasons forebode the most disastrous results to the planter, for should they set in heavily large quantities of canes now in the ground must be sacrificed. Nothing more can be added to this report than has been already stated, as no change for the better presents itself to the committee worth commenting upon during the last month, and the committee can only lament that the evils under which property laboured at the close of the last report still exist, and that the opinion thereunto annexed of the causes of those evils remains unchanged. Blank forms of returns have been regularly forwarded to all estates in this parish, but the committee extremely regret to observe an indisposition on the part of some managers to fill them up, as will be • seen by the few now sent home, amounting to 52 out of 83 sugar properties in Trelawny, and it must be quite evident that if the necessary information is withheld, the exertions of this committee will be rendered useless. and the object for which it was appointed (namely, to show the real state of property in this parish, and the actual evils under which proprietors are suffering) must be defeated. " W. DAwsoN, Chairman. True Copy, " JOHN DUFF, " Clerk to Commissioners of Correspondence, Jamaica." ST. GEORGE. Returns have only - ;et been received from the following sugar plantations, viz. Spring-garden, on which the number of apprentices on the Ist August last, according to the Al manack, was 409 ; Woodstock, 210 ; Law Leyton, 248 ; Lenox, 238 ; Skibo, 170 ; Iter Boreale, '213 ; Caen-wood, 206 ; Gray's-inn, 213 ; Dover, 119 ; Paradise, 127. From the returns of these estates, it appears that the total amount of the rent received on the whole of these estates from the Ist August, 1838, to the Ist of February, was only £22 10s. ; that the negroes do not work in a regular or continuous manner, particularly in day labour, often not working more than five or six hours ; that the cane pieces are foul ; culti vation in bad order. One estate the return is " about 50 hogsheads sugar lost, in consequence of the small week's work done ; the canes rotted on the ground:" That the in jury done to the canes by the trespasses of stock, owing to the negligence of the cattlemen, and often to the refusal of the labourers to attend on the cattle, has been very exten sive, notwithstanding the high payments made to the cattle men, viz. at Spring-garden £66 a year, with houses and grounds rent-free, medicines, and medical attendance ; Woodstock, 40s. week among three ; Low Leyton, £5 per month fur the horned stock, and 10s. per week for the mules; Lenox rather more than Low Leyton ; Skibo about the same as Lenox ; Dover, two men at 10s. each per week, and one boy 6s. Bd. On one estate the overseer reports, " the crop has been injured to the extent of 30 acres, principally plants Ist and 2d ratoons, on account of the negligence of the watchmen and herdsmen. The above 30 acres have been entirely destroyed by the stock, and not a single cane remain ing, besides 23 acres seriously injured, half eaten down. On another the overseer reports " a loss on the estate of 40 hogsheads of sugar for crop 1839, arising from the negligence of herdsmen." The quantity of sugar made from the Ist of August to the 25th of December is little more than half in the most favourable returns ; but considerably less in many. One• overseer reports " the sugar made from the Ist of August, 1837, to the 25th of December same year, 50 hogs heads: the sugar made from the Ist of August, 1838, to the 25th of. December, same year, 19 hogsheads." CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE SECRETARY OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR AND THE CUSTOS OF ST. THOMAS-IN-THE-EAST AND ST. DAVID'S, JAMAICA. King's House, April 30, 1839. Sir,—ln a letter addressed by you to the clerk of the Coin missioners of Correspondence, under date the 14th of Janu ary last, and communicated by Mr. Burge officially to the Secretary of State, you state " the people' said they did not want the money, and that being free they would not work more than they " thought proper, such is the result of the bad advice they have received." His Excellency having received a copy of this letter, and been required to report upon it, I am directed to request you will state to whom you attribute the " bad advice" you al lude to, and the fact of its having been given, which induced you to make, your report in those terms to the Commission ers of Correspondence. I am, &c. The Hon. M'Cornock. C. H. DARLING, Sec. Golden-grove, Port Morant, May 8,1839. Sir,—l have the honour to acknowledge your letter of the 30th ult., No. 387, informing me that the governor desires I will state to whom I attribute the " bad advice," and the fact of it having been given, which induced me to make the report I did in my letter to the Commissioners of Corres pondence. The fact of file people, not only in this parish but throughout the island, having got bad advice, appears as clear to me as the sun at noon day. 105 people began work on this estate on Monday, the 6th of August, on the terms that had been offered to them in writing in June, viz., ss. per week for five days for able la bourers, with the free use of their houses and grounds, and having medicines and piedical attendance provided for them. Ten of the people went that day to . Mr. Stipendiary Justice Chamberlaine, in Manchioneal, and on returning, they tOld the others that he said they were not to work unless they got much higher wages. People from other estates came during that night, and by advice and threats caused nearly half of those who had been at work in the fields not to resume la bouragain during the remainder-of the week, and many for Several weeks afterwards. The people always told me that, being free, they had been informed they should not work more than they thought pro per; they stilt say so, and act up to it. For four months or more alter the Ist of August the. peo ple were in the habit of going from all the estates in this dis trict to Mr. Chamberlaine, and they invariably said he had told-them that which could not fail to Ue injurious to the es tates. lam satisfied they often misrepresented or exagge rated what he did say to them, and I told himself so; but seeing the influence he had over them; •• 1 requested him in January, when we had commenced crop, to come here and explain he law to them, with their just rights 'and duties ; he accordingly came on the 24th of that month, and I had all the people convened to meet him. Previous to his going to them, 1 gave him a document (a copy of which is here unto annexed marked A,) which had been previously ex plained to them, and I requested him to do so again. As the he said he entirely approved of the terms proposed, I wished him to advise them to enter into a contract before him for king off the crop on the terms which he admitted to be liberal, but he would not do so, because if they broke it they could by law be sent to the House of Correction. I said it would lay with the magistrates to fix the time for which they would be sent, or, in the words of the law, to s abate the whole or any part of the wages " due to the la bourers, and to discharge them from the contract, as to the magistrates might seem proper ;" still he refused. He spoke to the people upwards of an hour and a half, pointing out their rights and duties under the law. A man - named Richard Edwards had previously gone to the King's house, and - on returning informed the people that the "Go vernor had told him he should not pay rents for either his house or grounds," although he had done no work for the .estate during four months. I, of course, knew this could not be true, but I firmly believe he was advised to say so, more especially as he had always been a good man during the 27 years he had been under my charge. As he still insisted it was true, he was called up before Mr. Chamberlaine, and he repeated the same, when Mr. Chamberlaine 'told him " he must be mistaken, ashis Excellency never said any such . thing." This man persevered in refusing 'either to work or to pay rent until some time afterwards, when I distrained on his furniture, and he is now working very well ; he was one of the ten who went to Mr. Chamberlaine on the 13th of August. Chamberlaine gave the people, as I understand, very good advice. lie wished me to be present, which I de clined, as I thought my presence might have been some restraint either on him or them during their long interview. They admitted to me and to others afterwards, that what he had said to them about the law, &c., was precisely the same as they had heard repeatedly from me during the pre ceding six months ; but they alleged, and so did the people on other estates, that what he said to them in January was not the same as he had said to then► before; this, of course, was only their assertion, but they still say so, and I believe that few or none of them went afterwards to ask his advice. As this gentleman will probably be in England when this reaches the Colonial-office, he can confirm or otherwise all that I have stated as to what was said between him and my self. My impression is, that he, perhaps from the best of mo tives, lent himself too much to the side of the labourers, un til he found results following which he never had anticipated. It is only fair to add, that he latterly exercised his influence on several estates in a way that was very beneficial to them. It is well known that when• " bad advice" is given in any part of the island, it soon extends over the whole, by the idlers who are constantly going about, and by the newspapers, which many of the labours in this dictrict read, and the others have read to them. For instance, they all well know that advice had been given long ago, " let, the•canes rot on the ground, and the.ships go home in ballast," rather than take less than a certain rate of wages ; that it was said £lO,OOO would be laid out in land for them, that they might be independent of the planters ; that the stipendiary magistrates in St. Andrew's had refused to sign warrants of ejectment, unless the proprietor would show where the labourers were to find a place to reside on; that in another case they refused to sign unless the proprietor agreed to let the labourer, who had done no work since July, have four months to take out his provisions, in addition to the three months allowed by law. It is certain that very bad advice was given by the stipen diary magistrates in a paper called The West Indian, or Co lonial Freeman, published by him last year, and which he got up (as he said in his prospectus) expressly for the use of .those lately emancipated. He told them in substance, that by their physical strength they might defy the power of the proprietors to elect them. The advice that had the worst effect of all has been that of setting the people against entering into contracts on any terms, which deprive us of continuous labour. That they have been so advised there can be no doubt, from the univer sal dread which they evince even at hearing the subject named. As his Excellency may require further proof, that when bad advice is given in other parts of the island, it is soon known here, I take leave to state, that last week the people in this district knew that a Stipendiary magistrate in St. Anne's had advised some who were in gaol for debt to remain in it rather than pay, although the attorney had offered to release them if they would only agree to work out the amount due by them for rent. This information was the more noticed here, as we have lately been suing for rent from those who will not work. The governor is aware that my letter to the commissioners of correspondence is not the first in which I had stated my belief that the people had got bad advice, for I mentioned the same to you in my letter of the 22d of August. In writing it, and that of the 4th of September, I had a painful and ungra bious task to perform, in conveying to the governor unwel come information of the true state of this part of the coun try. But lam sure his excellency and her Majesty's go vernment will admit, that a magistrate who refrains from ho nestly but respectfully doing his duty, from the fear of giving offence in anv quarter, is unworthy of the trust reposed in him, especially at a crisis like the present, when so grand an experiment is in progress in this important colony. Gloomy as my forebodings then were, sorry am I to say, after eight months' further experience, that they have been more than realized in this parish, by the bad working of the people and consequent loss of valuable property, which cannot with truth be denied by any one ' and which I still firmly believe has arisen in a great degree from the bad advice given to the labourers. I would not have written at such length, but from my anxiety to show both his Excellency the Governor and her Majesty's ministers just and ample reasons for what I said in my letter to the Commissioners of Correspondence. I feel that I should have justly forfeited my character and betrayed the interests of this valuable colony had I written otherwise than I did. I have, &c., THOMAS 111`CORNOCK, Custos. C. H. Darling, Esq. IMMIGRATION INTO BRITISH GUIANA. (From the Guiana Chronicle of Oct. 7.) Differences of opinion may exist as to many measures af fecting this colony, but on one point all parties are agreed, that the colony stands in need of a great addition to its agri cultural labourers. Of great extent and boundless fertility, LABOUR alone is required to make it productive of immense wealth to those who are proprietors of the soil, and of con sequent importance to the mother-country. How this sup ply of labour is now to be obtained, is the next consideration. India, Africa, and the islands seem the best sources from which a supply can be procured. A direct prohibition exists with regard to Hindostan and Africa. Whether the reasons which have operated on the minds of her Majesty's ministers be good or bad, our busi ness is to remove the impediment thrown by them in the way of immigration. We shall not allude to Africa, because we believe that in the. present state of the slave trade, and of the public feeling on the subject, it is useless to expect that a supply of labour, under any circumstances, will be permitted from that quar ter of the globe. With the prohibition on the natives of India emigrating, we have cause to quarrel on every ground. •It is puerile to give the case of Belle Vue. Fanaticism and folly may seize on one case, but it is ridiculous to imagine that this solitary exception to their general good treatment, could justify a rule of such a nature as the order given to the governor-general to interfere with their departure from their native shores. 'Whatever cause has operated to produce so disastrous a result, their is no doubt, that a measure more opposed to political economy and to justice, scarcely ever had the sanction of the Colonial Secretary of State.—At this pe riod it is indeed strange that we are obliged to contend for one of the most simple propositions, that labour should be allowed, like any other commodity, to find its own market— but so it is. British Guiana wants labourers : India is over stocked with inhabitants; and yet they are forbidden to quit their own shores to seek remunerative employment ! Putting aside the claims of this colony on the protecting power of Great Britain, is it just so to treat the native of India? If the proposal were to bury them in a quicksilver or cop per mine, government might interfere to prevent the promise of large rewards destroying their subjects. If another govern ment sought to bring them to their shores, there might be an excuse,"although there would be no justification for inter ference on the ground that they would not be sufficiently protected by the laws of that state, to which they were about to emigrate. Those objections could not be started in our case—a fertile soil—a climate more healthy than their own—better wages— were the sound inducements to their being brought here. Surely the government will not suppose that we are unable to protect them. THIS WOULD BE UNJUSTLY ACCUSING THEIR OWN HIGH OFFICERS OF NEGLECT OF DUTY, AND CASTING A STIGMA OF THE DEEPEST KIND ON THEIR INSTITUTIONS. It is not likely that they would be injured. If the officers whose duty it is to protect them, were inactive —if the proprietors had no humanity—yet even on the ground of interest, the labourers would be taken care of. Why, therefore, are they debarred from bettering their own con dition, and advancing the interest of this colony. We know not, but we are convinced that if a proper repre sentation be made on the subject, accompanied with a pro posal to acquiesce in any additional measures, sanctioned by the home government, for their protection, (although we do not consider any such measure necessary) the order for ex clusion will be rescinded. Fanaticism could alone originate it—it is folly to continue it. Let it be withdrawn, and a benefit will be conferred on those poor people thus rescued from periodical famines, while British Guiana will be raised to that eminence amongst England's dependancies, to which she is entitled, and Britain herself in extended commerce, and loyalty to her institutions, will reap substantial benefit from the opulence and content ment, which a tardy act of justice will produce to this mis represented and most mis-understood colony. DISINTERESTEDLY ANXIOUS FOR THE PROSPERITY OF THIS PROVINCE, WE SINCERELY DESIRE THIS WISHED FOR CONSUMMATION, AND NO EXERTION OF OURS SHALL BE SPARED TO PRODUCE SUCH A SATISFACTORY AND GLORIOUS RESULT. (From the Guiana Chronicle of October 9.) In discussing the questions of Immigration, while we keep in view the grand object of a steady agitation' on the Anti- Coolie Ordinance, we should not overlook the means of ob taining a supply of labour, even it it be of a less permanent and more unfixed nature. ,The West India Islands claim our first attention. In some of those islands, there exists a population in a state of extreme poverty, willing to work if they be but properly re munerated—(we allude more particularly to Grenada, the Grenadines, St. Vincent, and the other less extensive ones, where they receive an inadequate price for their labour)—and, what is more important, impregnatedwith a strong migratory spirit. Why should not we take advantage of their position, and endeavour to induce them to a trial of this country ? Trinidad has been before-hand with us, and not many days back conveyed in one week from Grenada a hundred and forty efficient labourers. Private speculators with a similar intent are there from the same place, and daily enlist large numbers for their estates. When asked why they do not come here? their answer in variably is, that the distance is so great, and the means of a return, if disappointed in their expectations, so uncertain, that they prefer secure poverty at home, to the probable chance of a too lengthened absence from it. To meet this objection the only way is to establish a steamer between the Islands and Demerara, and thus at once, overcome every obstacle. If a committee be formed for the carrying cut of this most desirable project, an immediate supply is ensured, and a de pa established, whence, at all times, labour can be procured. If the Court of .Policy refuse its assistance, the members of the committee ought to subscribe themselves. The advan tages of this plan are so obvious, that we are surprised no stir has as yet: been made in the speculation. , Is Demerara to be ever. the last in the race of.exertion ? We,fear our fel, low-colonists lease themselves open to the charge of Whining too much over the past and palmy days of slavery, instead of looking forward;and girding themselves for the encountering of their difficulties. While we are on this topic, we may as well give expression to an opinion we have long entertained on the policy of in ducing the half-starved peasantry of.lreland to entigra(e We are aware that there is a strait , impression ahroid against it. A failure in one instance does' not entail a total loss of success. _ Besides we do not think that instance was a fair trial. It will be alleged that the heat in the cane-fields would destroy them—WE do not think so. In South Caro lina the sultry,,plose heat is more oppressive than here, while the insects are at least'as tormenting, and yet there are thou -sands of Irish 'there, laboriously toiling amid the uz - ephilic exhalations of the rice-swamp. If they but work half the day, their exertions would be more effective than those of a negro in double the time. But are there no other employ ments in which they might be engaged? Would they not be useful in the buildings," or on a coffee estate? and, as domestics, no comparison can be instituted. Even on the ground of competition, we recommend a trial. A large arri val would have a fine effect on the indolent negro. STATE' OF CULTIVATION IN JAMAICA. (From the Jamaica standard of Oct. 19.) Having travelled in various directions lately, as well viewing with our own eyes as consulting the experience of others—we are enabled to lay before our readers not only a full but a faithful report of the real state of agriculture at the present time in this, parish. In the first place, the ratoons which should now have displayed from three to four feet of good substantial canes, in very few instances exhibit more than half that length; and this arises chiefly from the cir cumstance of the unparallelled backwardness of last crop— canes . which should have been cut in March and April, having been allowed to cumber the ground till at least two months later, and in many places to rot altogether, from the impossibility of getting the labourers to cut and grind them —thereby losing the May rains, to which the experienced planter looks for a good return for the ensuing year. Again : after crop, instead of the labourers turning out and cleaning, and banking, and supplying the canes which in the mean time had got foul, they very contentedly sat down in their houses, or amused themselves in their provision grounds ; the consequence of which is, that .in many places the rows arc scarcely halt supplied, and those canes which have grown up, are seriously stunted from the moss of the mass of weeds by which - they have been surrounded. Another circumstance, tending materially to reduce the growth, may be referred to the very imperfect manner in which the pens have been supplied, few planters having been able to get above one-half of the usual quantity of grass for this purpose. Proceeding to thp • other grounds of prospect for the next crop, we must advert to the still great deficiency cf the plants, arising not only from the disinclination of the labourers generally to prepare the land, but from their refusal in many instances even to plant the canes after the holes have been dug. The former difficulty has no doubt been obviated in a considerable degree where the locality has permitted it, by the application of the plough; but unfortunately there are too many things all necessary on an estate which the plough cannot do ; it can neither plant nor weed the caries ; it can neither cut nor carry them to the mill; and fifty other things which are and must be dependent upon manual labour alone. To this we must add that wherever the plough has been introduced, there the labourers have generally displayed the greatest disinclination to plant,— it being no uncommon occurrence to find a second or even a third relay of topi necessary to complete, after a space of some five or six weeks, what should have been done at once in the course of a couple of days.—The result must of course be a very material deficiency upon the whole, even compared with the present year's enormous defalcation. To attempt to arrive at, or' to buoy one's self up with the prospects of any other conclusion, from some isolated instance of better appearances, is totally useless. But if any such attempt be made, our answer is,—look at last crop : the deficiency ofSt. James's alone (and we shall .prove :t by and by) is not far short of 50,000 cwts, of sugar, and 100,000 gallons of rum ; and yet there are estates in the parish which we could name, that have made more sugar and ruin this year than they did last ; so true it is that there is never a rule without souse ex ceptions I And now, it may be asked, is there no cure for all this in dolence and disinclination to work on the part of the pea santry? We answer, there is;. but that unfortunately it appears to be much easier to point it out than put it in prac tice : we answer that the main root of the disease lies in the over-independence of the labouring classes; and this arises from one simple cause,—their almost unlimited use of their masters' land for the purposes of cultivation ; by which they support themselves much more easily than they can possibly do by any other means. So long as this continues it is in vain to expect any thing else than a great deficiency of labour, and the necessary consequence—an exorbitant demand for what little is given. People who can earn from 3to ss. in nearly as many hours, are not likely to labour more than suits their own pleasure and convenience. If they did, they .would be fonder of hard work than we are, and much more naturally industrious too, than peasantry are generally to be found in any country. Few labour for choice, and it is hardly to be expected that the negroes will. Many of the crops shipped home this year, will not, we are assured, pay the expense of cultivation and manufacture. What then, are we to expect for the future? Why, that many more estates must be abandoned than those already virtually sacrificed. STATE OF BRITISH GUIANA. (From the Guiana Chronicle.) Perhaps, there never was a closer coincidence of sentiment among intelligent men, generally holding different political views, than is now observable in this Colony, on the subject of its condition and prospects. It is not pretended that there is any violence on the part of the peasantry, or indeed, that they are more wicked than other human beings would be, similarly circumstanced. Having no want unsupplied, no il legal or harsh restraint placed upon them, it would be strange that they should exhibit insubordination, or very glaring symptoms of discontent. What all r ersons, capable of form ing An opinion, agree upon, is this, the cultivation-of the country has been going back, with a.vful celerity, since the first of August, last year, and, if a vast addition be not made, without delay, to our labouring population, must, at na dis tant era, be entirely given up. Our crop, as the official returns show, has diminished and is diminishing, with the regularity of a geometrical series. Every fraction, periodically announced, must be divided, again, by another fraction, to find the result for the succeed ing period. Ten thousand five hundred and thirty-three hogsheads, measured the decrease on the first six months of 1838, on one article, sugar alone. Twenty thousand hogs heads of sugar will not nearly cover the decrease on this whole year, as compared with only ordinary years under the coer cive system. And that it will amount to much more in 1840, is clear to every one who knows how desperately our Planters have wrought to take their ripe canes off and turn them into sugar, neglecting the processes necessary for future cultiva tion. It was lamentable to see the first-rate ships in the River, waiting, for five or six months, for cargoes or produ ce , and then taking away sand. Our mercantile navy has dwindled down to a miserable show of idle, light vessels. Nor shall we be less surprised than gratified to ascertain, that the pre sent panic among the merchants of Water -street is owing en tirely to the shutting up of dollars in the office of the cia lV o i r t r h d e er ret m en o t r i e wl e i e n p t l li e Colony, as wages, Re ceiver-General,. for the redemption of the Joe Notes, and not partiallydifficult of f o e a u r social sealed and more of the.money that used to enrich the Absentee, they who sup ply, for Colonial .consumption, the comforts and luxuries of life,.will•erjoy for a while a gaudy sort of prosperity. But it is as deceptive as it is gaudy ; , for the blast that overthrows the planter, will uct 1 nog spare the merchant and the artizan. It is not that there is a strike among the labourers, a se cret combination, an open determination not to work. That might be overcome. The plan of our peasantry, who, although we acquit them of the charge of collusion, are as tonishingly unanimous in their mode of procedure, is, to perform just so much labour, that the planter cannot ab ruptly dispense with their services, but so little, that all his operations are retarded and disturbed. A rustic goes to a proprietor and finds employment at once, being not even asked for a certificate of character. For - a day or two, perhaps for a week. he works tolerably well ; he receives money, and is allowed the use of a house ; and the very ac quisitions which were designed as an encouragement to in dustry, hold out a lure to indolence. —It is very easy to blame the planter for not turning him off at once, and making him pay hard money rent for his cottage. The thing can never be accomplished but by unanimity; and how shall any set of proprietors 'be unanimous, each of whom is himself in so desperate a condition, that his outlay for labour is limited only by the length of his purse, and, in the case of those who have to do with the mortgagee and money-lender, is irre spective even of that? Among all our negro peasants, there is a strong disinclina tion to field labour. It is to be mastered in no other way , than by operating upon their necessities, appetites, or pas sions. As to endeavouring to reason them or preach them into the culture of the cane and cotton pieces, that is com pletely out of the question. Not one of them will adhere to the tillage of the soil, one moment after he thinks he can do Letter. The most sober of them are field labourers only un til they can purchase, with their easily earned money, from some Proprietor abandoning his estate, a cottage and a pro vision ground of their'own, which shall render them, thence forth, quite independent of both cotton and sugar. For thirty miles or more along the coast to the eastward of the Demerara river, the road in former times, lay between rich cotton-pieces, that flourished both towards the sea shore, and towards the interior. The road is still there, but it now runs through a country littlo better than a desert. The cotton pieces are given up to nature, and the regular inequalities of the banks of courida and black sedge are, all that remain to show where the hand of man was. But that desert is being fast peopled. Cottages are rising with extraordinary rapidity and frequency, built by retired agricultural labourers, who, in twelve months, have amassed enough of money to become, actually, proprietors or tenants of patches of groufld, . on which they support them Selves, and as many as they clr.'ose to admit into their society. Time, instead of diminishiag an evil like this, is continually aggravating it. Yet it cannot be disputed, that the-present good prices of the staples at home, now compensate the planter in some degree, for the smallness of his manufacture. If things go on upon the existing system, the mother country, for a year Or two, will suffer In a heavitir ratio than her colonies. But great and well fouilded alarms prevail, lest the protective system be suddenly exploded, and foreign sugars introduced on the same terms as those of the British settlements. The deficiencies of the national revenue, great as they are, and likely to increase, and the demands of the English people, seem to justify a fear that the burden of the loss caused by the emancipation 0%111 be shifted from England to the West :ndies ; that England must have, and will have cheap sugar, though her colonies should be ruined. Already have the clamours of the radical press respecting foreign slave sugar, and of the philanthropical press respecting foreign free, and the unaccountable silence of the Conserva tive organs, diffused general apprehension among our pro prietary body. It must be recollected, that it is not want of money-capital, that is the cause of the present crisis, A man might come out with the most copious supplies of money, yet he would, in the present state of things, find little or nothing of an agricultural kind on which to employ it with profit. Hardly higher wages can be afforded than what are now current. Now, we cannot conceal from ourselves that there are parts of the world, in which, on account of the excess of population, capital may be at once employed by our rivals to the best advantage. Therefore, we encounter a double risk ; that of being ruined by the frauds of the slave holder, and that of suffering from the new impetus given to free labour elsewhere. If the current of commercial pro sperity set in towards the east, it will be a very hard matter to bring it back into its old channel. But it is idle to sup pose, even for argument's sake, that if foreign free sugars be admitted openly, the door will not be thrown open to the clandestine admission of the produce of slave labour. A curious proof of the strong sense entertained by every one, of the imminence of the danger by which we are beset, is afforded by the readiness of all, to bury old differences, and unite in a common effort at self-preservation The Go vernor, who is not to be blamed for the arrival Of the crisis, but who, certainly ought to have seen its sure approach sooner, is willing to do what he can. Planters and mer chants unite in expressing a conviction, that they must do something. A public meeting, and a memorial, are still talked of, and we only want one or two active men to set them on foot. As it has become a struggle for existence, all party feeling is laid aside. There are materials for one of the strongest and most affecting representations to the Home Government and the British People, that ever an unhappy country laid before those who could save it from destruction. Lord Normanby' sentimenta regarding the introduction of lemigrants from the east, are generally known, but the con jecture is too urgent, to be satisfied by the opinion of a sin gle minister. Immigration may be conducted on a good principle, so as•to benefit, incalculably, the two extremities of the British Empire, giving the one that which it so much wants, and which the other can so well spare it. In the name of justice, and humane and wise policy : for the sakeof consistency and honour : on behalf other expatriated sons, the fruits of whose long toil are about tobe wrested from their grasp, •pf her merchants and her seamen, once the guardians of her power and glory, of her artizans, who need a large market for their wares, not dependent on the precarious tenure of fo reign caprice, of her negrO subjects, about to lose the bless ings extorted for them by the and the good, let the mo ther-country be implored to rescue her West Indian posses sions from the peril which stares them on all sides. Nothing but immigration can save us, immediate and to a vast extent. We will enter into every soleMn engagement, consent to every stringent precaution that humanity can suggest ; and jvillsnpport any machinery, however cumbersome, that you may think necessary for the protection of the stranger. If, then, England, with this opportunity of greatness and benevolence before her, neglect to avail herself of it, sae will deserve to periSh ignominiously amid the curses of her chil dren, and to be remembered with the execrations of the whole human family, as a nation that was wilful, not humane, and • that struck her own light fetters from the limbs of some thousands of slaves, that the avaricious and cruel foreigner might torture the bones and sinews of many millions. These are no visionary speculations. Only a year of freedom has - elapsed, and they are being realized everysthere already, in Surinam, in Cayenne, in Martinique, in Guadeloupe and • Cuba, in Manilla and Brazil, in every place in which grow the staples, beginning to be universally neglected over that portion of the tropical west which is subject to Great Britain. TRINIDAD. We have commercialallcesiCOM Trinidad to the latter part of September. Many planters had established a rule on their estates,. that all labourers who did not perform five days' work per week, should pay rent for their houses and grounds for every day they were idle, and the result seemed to prove this a good system, having induced many, who were idly dis posed, to work with tolerable regularity. The following is a comparative statement of produce shipped to 31st Aug., 1838 and 1839:—1n 1838, 19,837 hds. 1214 trcs., and 2337 brls. of sugar; 7579 puns. and 595 trcs. of molasses ; and 130 puns. of rum. In 1839, 17,490 hds., 1121 trcs., and 3144 brls. sugar; 7217 puns. and 426 trcs. molasses ; and 85 puns. of runi. In 1838 the quantity of cocoa was 2,224,936 lbs., and of coffee 393,089 lbs. ' • and in 1839, of the former, 2,382,108 lbs., and of the latter 211,212 lbs. There was, however, little, if any, sugar left in stock last year, while in the present there was about 2,000 hhds waiting for shipping. It was calculated that this year's crop would not fall short more than 500 hl , a better result than had been anticipated. As to the crop of 1841, very few plants had been put in either in the full of the year or in the spring of this, and most of the latter had suf fered much by the long dry weather. The next crop would, therefore, fall short for want of canes, and so much labour had.been turned off to other channels, that, notwithstanding the weekly arrrival of emigrants, the stock of agricultural la bour was still far inferior to the demand. RATE OF WAGES AND ALLOWANCES TO AGRI CULTURAL LABOURERS IN BRITISH GUIANA. For the task of work performed by the present labourers, now and when apprentices, called the 7 4 hours' task, one guilder is given, equal to Is. Gd. sterling. Thie task is easily performed by industrious men and women in four to five hours ; and many of them who go early to work in the morn ing, and remain all day, earn frequently 4s. Gd. per day. Men and women of industrious habits, without fatiguing them4elves, could easily earn 3s. per day all the year round. In addition to the wages above stated, the labourers are allowed houses, grounds for provisions, medicines and medi cal attendance, gratis; and when they perform a week's work they get a small allowance of rice, or plantains, salt fish, rum, sugar, and frequently some pork and tobacco, also gratis : and all well behaved labourers are allowed the pri vilege of rearing poultry, hogs, and vegetables, by which they make a great deal of money. On most of the estates there are now schools and teachers paid by the proprietors, so that all who desire it, get educa tion gratis. There are also churches and chapels in all parts of the colony for the religious instruction of the labourer. CONTINUATION OF REPORT IN REFERENCE TO INDEN TURED IMMIGRANTS. To his Excellency Henry Light, Governor and Commander in-chief, Vice-Admiral and Ordinary in and over the pro vince of British Guiana—and the Hon. the Court of Policy. • We, the undersigned Commissioners, appointed by your Excellency, on the resolution of your honourable court, un der date the 15th of May last, have now the honour to report in continuation. That, we visited the estates in the county of Berbice, where immigrants forming the object of our inquiry, are located; and it affords us great satisfaction to acquaint your excellency and honourable court, that the result of our inves tigation Into the state, condition, and treatment of these immigrants in this county, is most favourable and highly satisfactory. For more detailed information, we respectfully refer your excellency and honourable court to the annexed minutes of our proceedings taken at the time of inspection. Thus most respectfully submitted by your excellency's and your honourable court's most obedient and humble servants, CHAS. ROBINSON, MICHAEL M`TURK, *CHARLES R. WHINFIEL D, sheriff of Berbice. July 12, 1839. * The eriff of Berbice was for ten years in the East Indies. Speaks the Hindoo language. BRITISH GUIANA—COUNTY OF BERBICE. Minutes in cqntinuation of the proceedings of the com missioners, appointed by his excellency the governor, for the purpose of ascertaining the state, condition, and treatment of the Maltese, Coolies, Germans, and Portuguese, under indenture or contract: N. 2.—TIIE COOLIES, CONTINUED. On Highbury, Wednesday, July 10.—We completed our inquiries and inspection of these immigrants on this estate, the property of Messrs. Davidson and Barkley, of London, and situated about twelve miles from New Amsterdam; on the east bank of the river Berbice. These people were landed .from the barque Whitby, in May, 1838 :—their number was as follows : Men. Women. Children 114 5 10 Joined from Water 100........ 1 Decrease by death........... 16 1 Remaining this day 99 4 10 In hospital 8 The deaths are thus accounted for by Dr. Collymore, viz. Of dysentery Diarrhoea General debility - 1 .. . Fever 1 Ulcers • 2 Of those now in hospital, there are cases of in termitted fever 5 Dysentery Ulcer With the exceptions of the cases of sickness noted, the Coolies on this estate are in flue health and spirits. Their indentures are dated the 29th of December, 1837, from which period their services commence. The terms of con tract are, in every particular, similar to those of the same description of immigrants in Demerara and Essequibo, viz. —For live years' service, on wages of five rupees monthly, payable in dollars, at the exchange of two rupees per dollar ; and to be supplied daily with provisions, and annually with clothing, as also medical attendance and medicines. In the contract there is a stipulation for the deduction of one rupee per month, to secure the proprietors from any responsibility of their becoming chargeable to the colony. This deduction, however, has been very properly discontinued since the Ist of November last, and the amount which had been at that time abated, adjusted. Their cottages are very good, and had been erected and prepared prior to their arrival in this colony. The hospital is airy, cleafl, and well-conducted. We would, however, ;propose, that bedsteads and bedding, on the principle of those in the Colonial Hospital, be intro duced in substitution of the existing fixed bedsteads. It is quite evident that every attention is paid to render these coolies comfortable and happy ; and from all the infor.. mation we receive, they have considerably improved since their arrival. They execute their work with a cheerfulness not to be exceeded in any part of the world. Many of them represent, "We feel so content and comfortable here, that if our families were with us, we should prefer remaining in this country. We get more food and are better taken care of than in our own country." Anunto itam, the head sirdar, an intelligent man, who has recently married a young woman from a coolie family on this estate, says " I have only my father and mother in India, no family of my own, and I will go to Calcutta, at any time my master wishes, and return with plenty of these people; they would be glad to come here." WATERLOO - WEST COAST. THURSDAY, JULY 11.—We completed our investigation on this estate, which is the property of the proprietor of Highbury, and situated about nine miles from the Berbice River Ferry-house. These Coolies were landed from the same ship, and at the same time as those on Highbury ; their number was as follows, viz. Men. Women. Children. 46 0 0 Decrease by deaths.. ...... . 5 0 0 Transfer to Highbury .. 1 0 0 Remaining this day In Hospital None. These people, like those at Highbury, have every attention paid them, and they are all in excellent health and spirits, and in all respects comfortable. Their cottages are very good, and kept in better order, even, than those at Highbury. The terms of contract are the same as already detailed, and ge nerally our observations respecting Highbury, apply to this estate. There could not have been a person selected for the superintendence of this class of immigrants better qualified than Mr. Turnbull, who is the manager of Highbury, and •eo-attorney of both estates. No. 4.—PonruGuEsr. CONTINUED. THURSDAY, JULY 11.—Completed our inspection of these immigrants who arc attached to the saw mill establish- Ment in Canje. The number located in 1855, was as follows, Men. Women. Children. 24 3 3 Died Deserted Remaining. l5 2 2 The terms of contract are the same as those of the same description of immigrants in the counties of Demerara and Essequibo. They are now very healthy, and execute their work satisfactorily, and were chiefly employed as woodcutters and mechanics. Not a complaint of any kin CIIAS. ROBINS d. ON, MICHAEL A.I`TURK, CHAS. It. WHINFIELD, Sheriff of Berbec. EXTRACT FROM A REPORT TO GOVERNOR LIGHT, BY DR. SMITH, OF THE COLONIAL HOSPITAL, IN DEMERARA, IN REFERENCE TO THE COOLIES PLACED UNDER HIS CARE FROM PLANTATION BELLEVUE. (From the Demerara Gazette of the 15th August.) 19 cases have been cured, of whom 17 have returned to the estate, and 2 remain in hospital for a few days ; 2 have died 6 remain under treatment. 27. I beg leave to say that I entertain a more favourable opin ion of the constitution of the Coolies, in r eference to their adaptation to this climate, than of any other class of immi grants whom I have seen in this colony. Of the thirty Coolies including the interpreter and two cooks) placed under my charge, none have been attacked since thr 7th June with intermittent fever, the epidemic of British Guiana, nor do any seem to have suffered prior to that period from this cause. I am unable to arrive at any positive conclusion as to the greateror lesser liability of the Coolies to ulcers, when com pared with other labourers in the colony in consequence of those only who were affected with ulceration being placed under my care. lam nevertheless, of opinion, that those whom I treated were not constitutionally predisposed to that affection, bt.t that they suffered in consequence of . chigoes, and of their own ignorance of the proper mode of ridding themselves of these vet) , troublesome insects ; this opinion is strengthened by the fact that, in twenty-five of the twenty seven cases, ulceration was confined to the toes originally. and extendedthence to the foot. DIARY OF AN ASCENT OF THE RIVER BERBICE, IN BRITISH GUAYANA, IN 1836-7. BY ROBERT li. SCHOMBURGK, ESQ., CORR. MEM. R.G.S. Deceived by the Caribs, short of provisions, and frustrated in our attempt to surmount the cataracts, the expedition up the river CorCtityn was obliged to return to Berbice early in November. On my arrival at New Amsterdam, I lost no time in making the necessary arrangements for ascending the river Berbice, which is but little better known'than the Co rentyn, and as being the only alternative left me at this ad vanced period of the season.. I was careful to provide a double stock of provisions, as the difficulty of finding a sufficient supply is one of the chief obstacles to travelling in Guayana. My party, with the exception of Lieut. Losack, was the same as before; the boats' crews consisted of Ara weeks, Warrows, and three Caribs, but who were scarcely equal to man the four corials. Nov. 25, 1836.—Quitted New Amsterdam with the flowing tide, and paddled rapidly up the first or sea reach of the river Berbice, in a south direction for about three miles, when the river turns abruptly in a W.S.W. direction • its average width about half a m il e . A s th e sun rose on the following morning and dissipated the fog, the river's banks presented a continued line of cultivation; thousands of mocking-birds (Orioles Perisis) rose from a wide-branchingand aged orinok tree (Erylhrina Spec. ?) where they had roosted for the night, and gradually dispersed in all directions. As we pro ceeded, cultivation continued on the eastern bank, but on the opposite, Nature had reclaimed her own: What a contrast da these shores now present r .when compared with their aspect towards the close of the last century ! Then plantation fol lowed plantation as far as the Savouette, the last estate of the Dutch West India Company, about sixty miles from the sea : of the greater number of these scarcely a vestige now remains, yet free labour and capital alone are wanting to restore the former scene of beauty arising from high cultiva tion, uncontaminated by the baneful influence of human slavery. Just before reaching the latitude of 6 deg. N., the river makes a circular bend of about a mile in diameter, and at the north-western angle of the bend two small tributaries full in. close to which is the site of a once-famed plantation named Daaperad, now a wilderness. This spot is noted for the height and strength of the Oaptiri, or bore, which is said to rise here from twelve to fifteen feet, and has caused on seve ral occasions the loss of life and property. The peculiar bend of the river will account for its strength. The depth of the channel here, which is much narrowed, is twenty-five feet, but a mud bank projects from the south-eastern shore off Daagerad full three-quarters of the width of the river. At the south-western angle. of this bend a small stream or creek connected with the river Abary, which flows a few miles to the westward, joins the Berbice. It is called Abary-Ilabil, habil signifying creek or expanse of water, and answering to the word Kirahagh or the Caribs on the Essequibo. At night we halted at a cottage called Noytgedazt (not expected), and to us so it proved, and we.were glad to take shelter from a violent thunder-storm which lasted till daylight. The re sident here cultivates rice with much success, and he only wanted labourers to enable him to realize large profits ; the sample he showed us was very fair. Here as well as else where during our progress up the river, we received great civilities from the inhabitants ; to be a stranger insured a welcome. Nov. 28.—1 n latitude 5 deg. 42 min. N. the river makes another sweep to the N,W. At its southern angle is the site of Fort Nassau, the former capital of Berbice, under the Dutch, at a distance of forty-five miles from the sea, by the windings of the stream. The anchorage here is good, in six fathoms water, and spacious, as the fort commands two reaches of the river; current 2% an hour. As we ascend the river narrows considerably, but retains a depth of from five to seven fathoms. At the south-western angle of the sweep we found the first rising ground at thirty miles direct dis tance from the coast. formed by hillocks of heaped-up sand, probably the boundary line of the gradual receding sea of a former era ; they are about fifty feet high, and called Hitia by the Indians ; it is this rising ground that gives the river flowing towards the north the abrupt bend to-the south-east. Here was formerly the site of a post, now only tenanted by some Arawaaks ; four miles south of these sandy barriers the brook Kaderbicie joins the Berbice from the west : it is said to be connected with the stream Abary. by a short portage, while the flerounie unites the Abary with the river Maicony. From KaderbiCie a short path leads across savannahs to the river Wieronie. Five, miles higher we brought up for the ebb tide at the mouth of the stream Moshieba : the campaneros or bell-birds (Ampelis carunculata,) the daras of the Indians, were tolling in all directions : except in the Conocon mountains, on the Essequibo, I had never met ih'ith them in such numbers. Several Arawaaks live in the vicinity of this brook, and a path leads hence to the mouth of the Wieronie, which may be walked in an hour, while it took us nearly five hours to follow the river's course, which at the junction of the Wier onie in latitude 5 deg. 42 min. N. is abruptly turned to the S.E. for five miles, when it again assumes its usual north course. At the north-eastern point of confluence is the site of an old redoubt and a church ; the depth of the river is here seven fathoms. it Peereboum, one mile farther south, sandy hillS again occur, and at their back an extensive savannah stretches to the westward. Peereboom is the residence of Mr. Daggett, an industrious woodcutter, and from whom'we received every civility and assistance. As I deferred the examination of the river Wieronie till our return, we pushed on for jVickie, about.ten miles farther south, situated on the western bank at the junction of the river of that name with the Berbice. Immediately at the back of \Vickie is a marsh, then sand-hills about forty feet high occur, and separate the marsh from the savannah. This spot is the residence of Mr. M'Cullum, who has a very extensive wood-cutting establish ment. We halted here to rate our chronometer. The sand, hills are abrupt, and consist of tine white sand ; no organic remains have yet been found in them ; they remind me of the sand-hills formed by the waves and breakers along the north western coast of the island of Anegola. The wallaba, (Ditnorpha Spec. ?) one of the most useful trees for 'posts, shingles, and staves, occupies the soil almost exclusively here. On issuing • from the wood, two miles to the westward of the settlement, a large undulating savannah partially wooded was before me. Here was an Arawaak settlement of five or six huts ; the men were all absent and employed in wood-cutting, the women seemed rather fright ened at my appearance. I asked for some water, which was readily presented to me in a gourd, but this done, the woman retired to the corner which she had previously occupied. After having given some small presents to the terrified children, I continued - my walk across the savannah until the brook Etonie stopped my further progress. I found some very interesting savannah plants, and returned home almost loaded with them. While absent, some of the Indians had killed a conocoushie or bush-master, the most dangerous snake which Guayana possesses •, it measured a little more than six feet, and its forrnidcble fangs were nearly half an inch long. Mr. M`Cullum told me that several of his men had at times been bitten by them : the remedy he had adopted was scarification, to extract the fangs which generally break off in the wound, and then the application of cupping by means of a glass and some spirit set on fire; oil and strong purgatives are also administered. Mr. M'Cullum has a large wood-cutting establishment where often 200 Indians and upwards of fifty negroes are constantly employed by him in cutting and squaring ti m b er , with the exception of th e ti me th e y a re a bsent to p u t th e i r provision fields in order : as head of the firm under which the business is carried on, he has resided here for many years, and has had good opportunities to form an idea of the com parative value of Indians and negroes as labourers. He says—" I have invariably found that the Indian sets to work at once with good heart, and remains at it until h s task is finished, which is generally two or three hours earlier than the negroes ; but not satisfied with this, he continues to work in his own hours, and I know many an Indian, who besides his regular wages, earns from two to three dollars a-week. They are also in my opinion more honest. Were the Indian well treated, he would prove a most invaluable labourer." That Mr. M'Cullum treats them well is proved by the num ber which he has collected around him : unfortunately this is not the case with all who employ them. To secure an Indian as a labourer, both foul and fair means have been resorted to : he is supplied with articles on credit sometimes to a large amount, provided he is able to work, being aware th a t the Indian considers himself in duty bound to work for hi s creditor until the debt is paid ; but many wood-cutters use every means to prevent his getting out of debt by constantly supplying him with more goods and large quantities of that bane, rum ; thus the poor Indian is always kept in a state of bondage. This unjust traffic is the fruitful source of mis understanding between those who employ Indian labourers : if thus an Indian has received money or articles from two or more settlers, which are often put into his hands when intoxi cated, it causes quarrels among them, and the Indian's con fidence in his employer is shaken, he finds himself harassed, and when least expected, his huts and fields are abandoned, and he emigrates to another district, if not to another colony. The spirit of emigration has lately much increased, and is particularly directed towards Surinam. Mr. M'Cullum ob served to me—" Give me a few thousand guilders to spend in presents, and I would entice every Indian in the upper river Berbice, were it my object, to follow me to Surinam." I myself also know that a little will induce the Indian to leave his residence; he is less tied to his birth-place than many other uncivilized nations, and being of a roaming dis position, he abandons his. fields to the wild beasts of the forest, and plants his hut elsewhere on the slightest provoca tion. I noticed the Indian's habits for wandering in my former reports ; while here, I received another proof, in Kanaima, a chieftain of the Maciisie tribe, whom I left cog.. fortably settled in a house at Aunay, and he had then no thought of leaving his residence and his rich provision fields, at the foot of the Pacaraima mountains ; now he is felling trees and toiling to put but a small spot of woodland in cul tivation for subsistence. If steps are not taken to cultivate the Indian's good-will, the colony risks the loss of many valuable individuals. If the Indian population is of sufficient interest to the colonist, my humble opinion is, that a pro tector of Indians should be appointed, with sufficient autho rity to enforce the-fulfilment of a fair contract between him and his employer. The Indian of British Guayana is a heathen, and while the aborigines of all other Colonies and countries have had religious instruction offered to them, he alone is neglected ; with the exception of the mission at Bartelca Point on the Essequibo, established not for the sake of the Indians, the colony of Guayana has not a single insti tution for the instruction and conversion of the Indian. How great the contrast in the neighbouring state of Columbia, where the advance in civilization is solely due to the exer tions of the Roman Catholic missionaries, who have proved that the Indian is capable of receiving, and will gladly em braccreligious instruction, if offered to him ! The weather was very unfavourable during our stay in \Vickie for celestial observations ; the means of six observa tions gave me as latitude 5 tleg. 33 min. 47 sec. N., and the longitude, by chronometer, 57 deg. 38 min. W. The width of the river was ascertained to be 145 yards, with an average depth of five and a half fathoms : the tide rose here during the springs five and a half feet. While here we had a proof of the speed of a corial, which went twenty-six miles up the river, and returned within twenty-four hours. Dec. 4.—We left \Vickie, on our ascent of the river. At Paripi, four miles farther, the same sand-hills or reefs are close to the river's western bank, with an Arawaak settlement on their top. We stopped at the mouth of the stream, Ka biribirie, famed for its cold waters. I found, however, the difference not so great. as I should have expected ; at five a.m. the air was at 80 deg. Fahr., the water of the river Berbice 80 deg. 2 min., and that of the stream, 77 deg. Dec. 6.—We halted the next day at an early hour at Mo racco, where Mr. M'Cullum carries on his wood-cutting establishment. At starting, at five the thermometer was 68 degrees, while the water of the river was II degrees warmer, namely 79 degrees. The trees in the vicinity of Moracco consist chiefly of differe nt speceies of Wallaba (Dimorpha falcata) some green - hea rt or seperi, Mora, Ya ruri paddle or roller-wood, Kakarally and `Namara. At two miles' distance from the river commence savannahs, extend ing towards the river Demerara. They are said to be inha bited by Indian tribes, who never visit the abodes of the co lonists : by means of barter they procure powder, shot, knives, palempores, &c., from . those Indians who keg) up communication with the coast; and give them hammocks, spun cotton, and crab-oil in return. My informant could not give me an estimate of the number of these Savannah In dians, but from their expressions, they must amount to up wards of thirty settlements, probably about 500 individuals. At Monbacca, a few miles above Moracco, the river assumed a strange feature; it became very winding in sweeps not half a mile in diameter, and being narrowed on either side with patches of a coarse long grass (Panzcum), arid Mocco-moc- CM i (Caladium arborescens) it speared at if there were no outlet : the river turns at a sharp angle, and the distance from shore to shore is not more than thirty-five yards. Its width also became very variable, as at times it widened out into a lake. Here, too, commence the inlets, generally called Itabil by the Indians, and which become very frequent as we ascend. A small . island occupied the middle of the first inlet, and on it caprtmous nature had planted a number of trumpet trees (Cecropia Peltata), in regular rows. They were clothed from their base to their summit with a species (c ti t`A. \ 04 'lO%, `L.2/ 411 ‘n ( 1 ,1- Da IC 4 of convolvulas, while the underwooci was s At Monbacca, on the south-eastern bank of the hip oaf Indian settlement. Beyond we came to some ste e r o ftlat hills, about 100 feet high, and the highest yet seen srdo i, formation. I scrambled up them and was richiY t, w o utb• The prospect over undulating ground extended to tt' i c i , the east upwards of fifteen miles ; and the number of h! do e same formation as that I stood upon, covered r 3t " itia ble , gigan t IC 0( wood, formed one of the finest views of wood i l w ai l l arillicreis s s' s Immediately below our feet the placid river spread gutwhith lake, and distinctly reflected the magnificent trees, of margined its banks. Beyond was an immense el :10 wood of every extent and hue,_from the bright Ye ll ? Mora. somed Hakea to the dark lucid green of the The view in the istance was closed by paratlel rergfoith, thickly-wooded hills; behind us was an extensive savtal with beautiful slopes, covered with verdure and eins7 6 ha s trees. A little beyond the river is narrow ed to leash ago thirty yards, and its current much increased , when widens, and forms several small islands. At th e hrous eno can a path leads to the river Demerara, which is fg% the made use of by the Indians. They follow for two s ) windings of the brook, and thence one day over a land. to Whilst at Wickie I had engaged an Accaway fll! pro accompany me, consisting of the chief, named AndreAdeti men, four boys, and three females. The men Here bOA among the corials, while the women and three of the At he conducted their own craft, one being a small coital , a tippet other a woodskin. The Arawaaks and Accaways of the part of the river generally use woodskins in lieu of eal,' th e They are made of a single piece of the tough Murianara tree, which grows to a very large size. Ate ; io sion is made to the - extent required in the bark, - int o ocl, removed by driving in wedges : when loosened front the 'L u g it is kept open by cross sticks, and is supported at, the the mities upon.two beams, in order to raise those prts ofi n kii woodskin. Vertical incisions at about two feet afar' few inches in depth, arc then made, and the parts bark oLinci, es afterwards by over-lapping. It remains for several Irtfie exposed to the weather before it is fit for use. Th°, ll4 „ ace woodskin is so crank that the slightest motion, " e " s een seated, renders it liable to be upset, I have frequently ..3„,e three men and their baggage in one. Their great aoP_, is, that being slat, they can float where a common copal the smallest description cannot pass, and so light, that crossing cataracts, one man can easily carry his boat °ale. head. When propelled by one man, he squats in the no and paddles on either side. Great care is requisite in ping in or out of them, as if upset, they sink almost instelttio owing to the great specific gravity of the balk. Th e ioa boys who conducted the woodskin on the present oceler, were perhaps not more than eight years old, and we The highly delighted to see how ably they managed i• e D ile boat seemed to fly through the water, and the incoce steersman directed its course so well that it never *, is grounded, though it went over places where there Thor not more than eight or nine inches deep of water. -4 ; also were very expert in the use of the bow and ar r °„ht and wherever they thought their well-directed arrow 11 _', 1 ,1d, procure an addition to their meal, the woodskin was h' i , e a the bow strung, and off flew the pointed arrow, and Ka taken out of the sand, which the water barely CO of these occasional detentions, they were always in generally observed a fish struggling for liberty. In °Y" fl ea the 0 . when we were to stop for breakfast, or at bur night's tlnarte GOVERNMENT NOTICE. thse The lieutenant-governor has thought proper to au' the following desp a t c h, d a t e d th e 14th January, lr m "f r ost 76, which his excellency has had the honour to recell g aa the Right Honourable the Lord Gleneg, should be Pu' in the Royal Gazette for general information. • By order Of his excellency, Guiana Public-building, 2011th. Feb. E. F 18 Y 3 ° 6 17 . "' G 431. Sic. No. 76. 18 36 ' Downing-street, 14th Jan., ue Sir,—l have rece'ved your despatch, No. 40, of 1 6th August. enclosing an ordinance enacted at Trinidad , rtibtr to indented Africans, and enquiring whether, if a l ithe ordinance were enacted in British Guiana, a proportion Africans in question might be sent thither. cog I have the honour to enclose f or y our information the lot of an order in council, dated 15th July, co nfirming l yc e ordinance 'with various amendments, and t o acquain t jo t that should an ordinance of the same tenor with the tun.enct to ordinance be passed in British Guiana, I shall not (Mew. that colony receiving its fair proportion of these Per lti w ith and you will be at liberty to make such arrangements his majesty's commissioners at the Havana, and the lie ute not governor of Trinidad, as may seem most conven ient electing the transfer. I have the honour to be, sir, Your most obedient humble seGrvtanzst,oeig. (Sigded) Major-General Sir James Carmichael Smyth, Bt" "Z 'Zee . (True Copy.) H. E. F. Yours o, GOVERNMENT NOTICE. b 9 tba With reference to the ordip• ance of this day, ras sed Lieutenant-Governor, Major-General Sir James Cara 0 ,,, Smyth, with the advice and consent of the Court of Pl_ regulating the importation ofliberated Africans in this color° his excellency has thought proper to direct, that the two f, lowing communications upon the subject, addressed blrta; excellency—the first (A) to the Combined Court. am; ill second (13) to the Cou r t o f Policy—should be publisheu the Royal Gazette for genera l information. The lieutenancy governor is desirous that every proprietor and &ago throughout British Guiana sh o uld no t only have the 1":,, information as to the terms on which the services of fr ac .. berated Africans may be procured, but also be ina4` tt ir quainted with the views, expectations, and ultimate j, tions of those who have proposed and advocated thei r portation into the colony. H. 4.fri* Proprietors and attorni es d es i rous o f having liberated • • to cans indented to them for th e period, and according t. ° ll be terms and enactments pr escr ib e d by the ordinance, to/ pleased to address themselves to the government sec° according to form C. In order that an estimate of the probable number of li b els ; ted Africans who can a d van t ageous ly be employed in Bit, Guiana may be made up and forwarded to the proper audio ties with all convenient despatch, as also that the lieuteosl3_l, governor may be able to direct the adoption of the necci' ssn preliminary measures, with a view to the liberate d being indented and l oca t e d as soon a s p o ssible after th eil .o l i rivan the ports ot this colony, it is recomm ended doll, unnecessary delay shquld take place in forwarding the OP" cations alluded to in tire foregoing paragraph. By order of his Ex ellencv the Lieutenant-Governo r, H. E. F. YOUNG, Gov. Sec. Government Secretary's Office, Bth March, 1836. A. Copy of a 3finute entered by his Excellency th e Lieutena ll , Governor upon the proceedings of the Combined court 0," the th o February, 136. The 1i 24 euten f ant-governor B states that, with reference to th e despatch from the right honourable the Lord Gleneig, c 1.3400 14th January 1836, No. 76, upon the subject of a proP ° V;ed of the liberated Africans, at presentßritish in theGo'" Isr-s,ie „ of Cuba, being allowed to be " he deems it advisable to lose as little time as Possible i¢ communicating with the authorities at the Havana. H G 1 cellency is of opinion that, by sending an accredited offidee gentleman to the Havana, many references and a-rO d i . j e. of delay will be avoided. Mr. Young, the g overnme ll 'Aie cretary, having expressed his readiness to undertake ITof business the lieutenant-governor intends to avail lilrahsper his services ; and he feels confident that every mew"' e re Ore Combined Court will agree with him, that a , Eu , e d, competent or a more eligible gentleman cannot be elnP., ° , 3 i, s In the exercise of so important and so delicat e a tr rog good deal must necessarily be left to the discretion anu i f A m sense of Mr. Young. Mr. Young will, of cour se, rettA to Guiana with all convenient despatch ; but it has o ceurrr o, it his excellency that, in the furtherance of the object ia Yie_ ca t may be necessary for this colony to have a resident ar.:o% the Havana. This will be one of the objects which g t r in. eiso will be instructed to investigate and report uppn. IstiYidbe be requisite that an agent, on the part of this colony! sb° placed on board each vessel conveying liberated . African' the Havana to Guiana. His excellency is not avrare_ e o such a measure will be necessary, but he thinks it by ot?, improbable. A personal communication with the autnon.:4o at the Havana will, however, enable Mr. Young t°_,, the himself master of the details to be attended to in carrylub important measures of procuring for th's colony a pro of the liberated Africans into effect—as also with resP the forms which may be necessary for obtaining furtheerbr plies. Mr. Young makes no demand for his own ' he t eig beyond the re-payment of his own expenses but '• as (ahotW require money for the payment of an agent or agent' they be found necessary), and that it would be eery tic that any delay should occur for want Of some rfl , _? id be ney—his excellency proposes that a sum of .0100 0 r h t 7 pe r. placed to the credit of the lieutenant-governor, ° ,ares pose of enabling him to take such preliminary me 3 ! the in may appear to his excellency to be advisable ton ar.ra). 14th structions of the Right Honourable Lord Glenelg, mated the January, 1836, upon the subject of removing a part_ v i o e liberated Africans, from the Island of Cuba to the pro of British Guiana, into effect. poecrttiotoo J. CARMICIIAEL SIZIr arY• Til• H. E. F. Young , Gov. Secre Copy of a Minute addressed to the . Members of B. Policy by his Excellency the Lieutenant-Goronor, Or' the 26th February, 1836. • entS Gentlemen — I am desirous of recording my sentim, ~_,, with respect to the proposed importation of liheratedille cans from the Island of Cuba into British Guiana ; 3 , a , jo i period when an ordinance is before this court Or regulal... certain details connected with the measure, appears to alio. me the most eligible opportunity. h that 2. You are aware frbm the Lord Glenelg's d es p atch , ;oc e the introduction of the liberated Africans into this 10 0 * h i s is an arrangement which I had the honour to prole to . ~ seCourt 1: lordshi sponsibility I necessarily would have to incur, I • p. Ii drawing his lordship's attention to the sdbireee; was well aware of the additional trouble, labour, an s i.. tion was acceded to. A person of a less anxious dise e l oc u ) (without laying himself open to the char2e of in"' upon might easily have avoided exposing himself i'o be called,bar to undertake additional occupation of an unpleasant ante by rling nature. A sense of duty—a desire w promot prop _ O, ek ry means in my power, the welfare of ail iniportan.,kr to vince entrusted to my government—and above a ll wi' a " il d, contribute towards the sum total of human hat 1, bava if the ,prole in so much, to dimiuish the amount of human un der) . governed nos_ governed my conduct upon the present occasion. 1 111 :, t he nificent country will, for ages to come, a inply reP o'rers capitalists, and be able to employ any numbcr heated ' 11 1 )(; „,,a The liberated Africans are undervalued, ill-been neglected in the Island of Cuba. So maw/ hai l Go sent there, by our men-of-war, that the b . Panie o sent are alarmed and uneasy as to the Poss_c freC fects, that the introduction of such a number,,,o_,c. op negroes may have upon their slave population. l i t i v _ . fli be the contrary, the services of the liberated ,Alcica _w e ! __ at valued, and he will be treated accordingly. Slaverybsnis, an end, he cannot conspire with slaves. Ile will be ..0 gar; to moderate restraint, and be considered in tutelage t t, l r „, s ipa proportion to his work, and as , years ; and as, during that period he will be taught ! , La of labour and be encouraged iii industrious .moreover, . ri _ 400 paid in ceive religious and moral instruction, I am s ango n l e beeo l32el expectations that the liberated African will eventua,..lse, goo, a respectable and a useful member of society. 1.1 be se, are the motives by which I have Leen r f ra ught' The importation of liberated Africans, is a meal "letit to this as I most sincerely believe, with in ben, . es to th e rising colony • as well as with important a dva:a. $,- ... o pr individuals themselves. Under this impressioi s. lu_l .ref illy posed it—and under that impression I shali ma tv. watch over its progress. (Signed) bul'itt etr.iid,-"- A true copy, February 26, 1839, (Signed) - A true copy, J. CAPNICIISEI. L'VYTO. 11. E. Young, Gov. Secretary. B o SLOW ha s a Dear Barrett," editor of the OConnell pilot, humble apology to the IVlarquis of Wesonoth, Mar- escaped the penalty of a prosecution for a libel on the lu••• quis. • snow o n Wednesday evening, that the engineer and 6 . 0 o rTannAdvTErtLi rwGe . r — e T s o h ientlpraeidnesd oinn their rrp.iii.lo7r,e-,b6oeieteh_net. the passeng ers w alked by the side of the train, which tha for some time advance at the rate of one mile on hour' Bedford Mercury. ffm! ----- LIVERPOOL: TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1839. PRINT ED AND PUBLISHED BY DA JOSHUA FLETCHER, LACE, of SS, Mount ?lessee. a LEONARD ADDISON, of 14, Great Orfordtreet. At. No, 4, ST. Geoaaa'S Cass4soT, lavialPoot. . . . ,•••••• -..---‘'3C It 1-i 1 1; great e LeVatel le ' ' ° "vAL 11 1 ; 1 ; v -- weit .k JP . tl Yau„l li n o „ ;, • tz 7 14'4\ • te 7l 4Z west , I 4.oth raiu i 4 , 1111Z: Thel AL e , 111 CuU ..° Go o d A ter the SPec'lelP Per ' it P e e4t * } it Clntive "iVed (.. A, 1„ 1 '11 1 Y to If e : 4 ', att a t t7 s . V W s t ;Ile i 4 OO tot --u.• it • p . 1 :11 e ai t ` a ‘', 414e1Y, NA" ?tit • Nr, 14"I lL e L To P Vi c A .4 4 _et 11 "e 0 -.„0