The Sun.
London, England, 1825-01-19 00:00:00

JAMAICA.

We insert an axtract from the Postscript of
the Jamaica _Royal Gazette, which will be pe-
rused with interest by every individual who is
anxious for the moral and religious amelioration
of our Colonies. The House of • Assembly, it
will be found, are taking measures for the effec-
tual support of the Church Establishment, and
for the improvement of their prisons and work-
houses, with the view to the reformation of crimi-
nals. In these good works they require no actual
contribution from the Mother Country, but aid
in the shape of loan, and we sincerely hope that
means may be devised for effecting such desirable
objects.
[Extract from the Postscript to the Royal Jamaica Gazette
dated Dec. 4, 1824.]
Mr. STEWART rose to submit a bill to ap-
point Commissioners to contract for a Loan or Loans of Money
in England, on behalf of the credit of the island. Before lie
would offer the bill, he should request the indulgence of the
House in giving his reasons for submitting this measure to their
consideration. The island had for several years been afflicted
with a series of severe dry weather, and our staple commodities
had, at the same time, been depreciated in price to a degree not
to reward the cultivator or manufacturer. Under these circum-
stances of distress and hardship, it was difficult to discover
means to assist the Colony, or to supply resources at this alarm-
ing crisis. Several objects had occurred to him of vast import-
ance, which should be upheld, and others to be placed on a new
establishment. When we considered that in Kingston alone
there was a population of 30,000 people, and that there was
only one Church of the Established Religion, quite insufficient
for such a population, and- from want of necessary accommoda-
tion many persons were induced to go to other places of wor-
ship, it was obvious this should be remedied. Here then was
a great want. It was for these reasons he thought that part of
the projected L'an should be applied for the increase of
Churches. He believed that the want of sufficient accommo-
dation in the Established Church • induced persons to fre-
quent other places of worship, and which had occasioned the
very great increase of Methodism. He was not intolerant,
for

Homo sum, nihil humanum a me alienum puto ;
he conceived Church and State ought to go together ; he was
therefore for increasing the Episcopal Churches; and, if the
measure he proposed should take effect, a great part of the
money so raised should be applied to the erection of Churches
and Chapels. The House of Commons had lately voted one
million of money for an increase of fifty Churches, and he
thought that House should follow so laudable an example.
Another object he had in view was the improvement of our
gaols.—Any Gentleman visiting Kingston might soon inform
himself of the state of the gaol in that city, which was inade-
quate to all its purposes, and in a wretched condition. It was
some years since he had visited it to report its condition, which
was on their Journals, stating its scite to be an improper one,
as it ought to be some distance from the city. The gaol of
Spanish-Town was in such a shocking state as to be it shame
to the country, and was a dungeon not fit for the reception of
prisoners, who, though unfortunate in trade, should not on that
account he treated with vengeance. It never was intended that
their walls should be so confined as to deprive the prisoners of
the common air, rendering the prison so extremely hot as to
preclude them from taking necessary exercise; their families
might wish to visit them, which, in the present horrid condition
of the prisons, they were obliged, in many instances, to refrain
from. These objects might be provided for with part of the
proposed loans. Another object which would require a portion
of this money he should also notice. It was well known that
we had no means of transporting criminals—the places to which
they formerly were sent now refuse to receive them—many
were consequently concealed in different parts of the island at
this moment, and were a very dangerous description of persons.
He should therefore propose, that the Workhouses in the coun-
try should be established on a larger scale, so as to give public
employment to such criminals in the island.—The House, he
thought, should adopt evary means in its power which would
conduce to the welfare of the island ; and in times so extremely
dangerous, he conceived it would be wise policy to improve and
strengthen the ; and measures should he taken to in-
duce emigration either from England, Scotland, or Ireland, in
families, to be settled in the interior of the island, and thus lay
the foundation for an increasing white population. The in-
terior of the country was not settled, and the immense woods
and fastnesses were receptacles for hordes of Runnaways, in
the highest degree dangerous to the safety of the country.
Another object which would require great attention from the
House was the improvement of the public roads. The Hon.
Member concluded by presenting his bill, which was read a first
time, and then ordered a second reading.

DARTMOUTH HARBOUR.