The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-02-28 00:00:00

THE WEST INDIES.

We are requested to insert the following letter, by a
most respectable Correspondent:—

Bristol, Feb. 26, 1824.
I have lately met with a most ingenious statement by 31r. T.
Clarkson, which is admirably ralrolated to impose on all those who
are ignorant of the true state of the cane. I allude to Mr. Joshua
Steele's Copyhold system in garbadoes.•
It so happened that I resided on the nearest adjoining estate to
Mr. Steele's, and superintended the management of it myself for
many years. I had therefore a far better opportunity of forming
an opinion than Mr. Clarkson can have. Ile has read Mr. Steele's
acnotint,.-1 witnessed the operation and effects of his plans. The
results have since spoken for themselves, and the following state-
ment ma) be relied on. Any one judging from Mr. Clarkson's
publication, would conclude that the resident proprietors, attorneys
to absentees, and managers in the island of Barb:aloes, must be
the most blind, ignorant, and perverse people in the universe, see-
ing that they would not adopt Mr. Steele's plans, and that even
that moat powerful of all human excitements, self-interest, failed
to operate upon them. But if, instead of relying upon Mr. Clark-
son's account of that system, we were to suppose the very reverse,
we should be more likely to arrive at the truth. Mr. Clarkson
tells us, " that it was attended with considerable advantage (in a
pecuniary point of view) to Mr. Steele, and most agreeable to the
negroes." I am ready to make great allowance for Mr. Clarkson.
He has evidently been misled by Mr. Steele's plausibility. That
gentleman, like many of our philosopher' and enthusiasts of the
present day, was visionary and theoretical. Ile made a great figure
in his study, with pen, ink, and paper, whilst more than one-
third of his land was actually overrun with bushes, and his cane-
fields and provision grounds always grassy and in bad order. lie
possessed one of the largest and most seasonable plantations, in a
delightful part of the island. With all these advantages his estate
was never in as good order as those in the name neighbourhood, and
thecrops were neither adequate to thesize and resources of the estate,
nor in proportion to those of other estates in the same part of the
island. The copyhuld system was noxious to the slaves, because
the power was placed in the hands of a few ignorant and unfeeling
negroes, slaves like themselves. frequently governed by motives of
private pique and secret malice. This could not fail to produce
jealousies and heart-burning% among them. They were paid for the
work which they actually performed, not in the currency of the
island, but in copper pence, which would not pass out of the plan-
tation, so that they were obliged to lay them all out in the estate.
To avoid this regulation, they would purchase articles from the
plantation storekeeper, and sell them again to the neighbouring ne-
groom at a lots, in order to obtain die money of the island. Fi-
nally, after an experiment of thirty years under Mr. Steele, and his
executor, Mr. F. Bell, Mr. Steele s debts remained unpaid, and
the plantation was sold by a Decree of the Court of Chancery. After
the debts and costs of suit were paid, very little remained out of
45,0001. to go to the residuary legatees.
'lt was very well known that the Negroes rejoiced when the
change took place, and thanked their lied that they were relieved
from the copyhold system. Such was the final result and success
that attended this system, which has been so much eulogized by
Mr. Clarkson. A rematkable absurdity appears, however, to have
escaped his notice. The West Indians have been repeatedly
charged with over-working their slaves, under the powerful ex-
citement of the tremendous cart-whip ; yet strange to say, 'lr.
Clarkson assures as that Mr. Steele, by a trifling reward of three
halfpence sterling per day, got more work done by sir of his
negroes than was fornserly flogged out of eighteen of the same
people. I would beg leave to ask rile. Clarkson, whether Mr.
Steele's negroes had no feelings, or the tremendous cart.whip no
terrors ? Again ; Mr. Clarkson tells us of another wonder per-
formed by Mr. Steele's three-halfpenny specific: he says, " The
weak and poor, as well as the lazy and indolent, were brought to
perform the most laborious work with case and ofacsky." How
can persons of common sense reconcile such gross and palpable
absurdities ? In thin manner Mr. Steele led his negroes to the
very threshold of liberty," if we toy rely on his own statement :
but most assuredly his plan was more likely to conduct them to
the brink of the grave. Certain it Ls that .Mr. Bell, who suc-
ceeded Mr. Steele, adopted a very different plan.; for he hired all
the labourers that were to be procured, to assist the copyholders.
The weak and infirm composed a feeble gang, and were not per-
mitted to do hard work; but with all this they decreased under
the system, and were harpy when it was ended. That they were
not disaffected to the usual mode of treatment is proved by their
conduct during the insurrection in 1816, which happened after they
had returned to their original state; not one of them was impli-
cated in the rebellion, although they were pressed to revolt by
some of the insurgents. As I before observed, my residence ad.
joined Mr. Steele's estate; and as the oopyholders did not grow
enough food for their own consu.nption, I for many years under-
took to plant a large field of Mr. Steele's land in Guinea corn, a
moiety of which, when reaped annually, was allowed to me, as an
equivalent for the labour of planting, reaping, &c. I haithere-
thre an opportunity of witnessing the management under the copy-
hold system. After the estate was sold, and the system changed,
I had equally an opportunity of observing the management • and
certainly the manifest improvenient was strong evidence in favour
of the change. Fields which had been covered with bushes for a
series of years were brought into cultivation, and the number of
pounds of sugar was in some years more than doubled, under the
new management. The provision crops also were abundant ; con-
sapiently the negroes and stock were amply provided for.
If Mr. Clarkson, or any other person, should doubt the tor-
eeriness of what I hare advanced, they may apply to the records'
in the Secretary's and Master in Chancery's Offices in Barbadues,
where what I hare asserted will be fully confirmed.
I am, &c. Re
HENRY SEAI,Y.

N.11.--Some further account of this notaiXe—;cl;eine, whit An
been highly eulogized, not only by Mr. Clarkson but by the Edin-
burgh Reviewers, Mr. Cropper, and by almost every writer opposed
to the present Colonial system, will be found in the •• Correspon-
dense between John Gladstone, Esq. M.P., and James Cropper,
Esq., on the present state of Slattery in the British Wen Indies,"
lately published.
• Vide Tboughts on the necessity of improving the condition
of the Slaves. &c. &c., by T. Clarkson," (printed for the Abolition
iociety), p. SI.

- - -
HUNTING APPOINTMENTS FOR NEXT WEEK.
rox
_not: NM.

Lard Petre's will meet this day, Billericay, at ten.
Mr. Winnington's on Tuesday, at ➢tumble Village; and Fri.
day, at the Hundred House, at ten.
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