The Sun.
London, England, 1824-09-10 00:00:00

TO TIM MOUT 110 W. THE EMU., lIATHURST, K.O. &C

My Lord—We, the undersigned agents in this kingdom for
ilia Majesty's *West India Colonies, are compelled humbly to
represent to your Livriiship, as the appropriate channel of our
tommunication with his Majesty's Government, our sense of
the dangt.r which now impends over the lives and properties of
our constituents.

W' forbear to enlargy on the distress with which, in a corn.
mercial and agricultural respect, the Colonies have so long
struggled; but it would be in us a gross dereliction of our duty,
were we to delay any longer to state to your Lordship our con-
viction of the dangerous impressions which have arisen on the
minds of the slaves, from the Resolutions which were passed
by. the House of Commons in their last Session, and from the
consequent dispatches of your Lordship to the constituted
authorities in the Colonies. _

Whether these documents have been rightly understood or
otherwise, it is certain that they have been generally interpreted
by all classes in the Colonies as announcing an emuncipation
of the slaves, which is to emanate, more or less, immediately
from the hit:dere= of the British Parliament.
Thus has the value of property in the Colonies, whether in
land or in slaves,
hilated I and et. distress of the proprietors of plantations, andbeen for any purpose of transfer nearly anni.
of all the elutes dependent upon or connected with them, in
the various relations in life, is threatened to be extended from
a loss of income, which might be temporary, to a loss of capi-
tal, which must be Irretrievable.
The confidence between master and slave is destroyed, and
not only is future amelioration of the condition of the slave
in its Place (Howl: faction, impatience, and ill-will, have arisen ;
prevented, but the progress already made in civilization (and
which to an Impartial eye cannot but be evident) is suspended ;
and must, if the present state of things be continued, become
retrograde.
It is our duty
to represent to your Lordship, that the colo-
nies, feebly garrisoned as they were by troops of the line, were
yet, not many months ago, owing to the tranquil and contented
disposition of the slaves, in a state of comparative security ;
but that since the recent proceedings in Great Britain, they
have in some instances been endangered by actual insurrection
and conspiracy, attended by a considerable sacrifice of property;
anti are, generally speaking, so disturbed by irritated feelings,
and by
the exaggerated expectations of the slaves, as to render
their safety precarious, and the reinforcemeets already sent out
or provided_ for them inadequate to their protection.
Untier these circumstances, we most earnestly submit, that
measures propeitionate to the proximity and magnitude of the
danger of the Colonies may be adopted with the least possible
delay.
We respectfully submit, that a proclamation from the King
should be issued and circulated in each colony, giving the
negroes in the most decided terms to understand, that great
misapprehension has prevailed as to the views of his Majesty's
Govertnnent respecting them, and that it is from a dutiful obe-
dience to their masters, and to the laws of those Governments

where they are placed, that they can alone look for support and
protection.

Such a proclamation, we also submit, should be accompanied
by an increase of the military force In each colony.
By these measures, it is hoped that the negroes will become
convinced that they have misapprehended the views of his Ma-
jesty and of the British Govermnent ; that they will resume
their wonted occupations with ebeerfulneis and content; and
that colonial property will regain its fair value.
GEORGE HIBBERT, Agent for Jamaica.
GEORGE CHALMERs, Bahama Aent.
G. CARRINGTON, Agent for I3arbadoes.
A. BROWNE, Agent for Antigua and Montserrat.
J. COLQUIIOUN, Agent for St. Vincent, Domi-
nica, Nevis, and Tortola.
HENRY CUTLER, Agent for Trinidad.
JOHN INNES, Agent for Berbice.
WM. HOLMES, Agent for Demerara.
Feb. 25, 1824.

Downing-street, Feb. 1824.
Gentlemen—l have had the honour of receiving your letter
of the date of the 25th of Feb. 1824.
It is unnecessary for ,me to remind you that his Majesty's
Government became pledged, by the first of the three resolu-
tions unanimously agreed to by the House of Commons, to
" adopt eirectual and decisive measures" for the amelioration
of the slave population in his Majesty's colonial possessions ;
and I should presume that you must be equally acquainted
with the fact, that with one single exception, all the measures
which his Majesty's Govermnent recommended for the consi-
deration of the colonial legislatures were founded on the sug-
gestions of the great body of West India Planters, and that,
with respect to the only measure which is to be so excepted,
viz. the admissibility of slave evidence under certain conditions,
it was considered to be a measure towards which that most re-
spectable body always declared themselves well disposed, and
the cautious qualifications with which it was accompanied were
calculated to remove any indisposition towards it, even if such
existed.

In directing to governors to submit those propositions, and
the remarks upon them, to their respective legislatures, no ex-
pression whatever was used which could justisfy the interpre-
tation, that His Majesty's Government were prepared—much
less that they were pledged—to do more than what the resolu-
tions of the House of Commons unequivocally imposed upon
them.

I regret as deeply as any of you the alarm which has been
unfortunately excited in the colonies ; that result, however, it
was impossible not in some measure to anticipate, as insepara-
ble from the agitation of a question in Parliament of such ex-
treme delicacy and importance, involving so many considera-
tions of public and private interest. But 1 should ill express
my sentiments and feelings upon this occasion, were I not to
assure you tlat I shall beuponthat most willimf to recommend any
measures which may be calculated to dissipate this alarm, pro-
vided that they are not inconsistent with the spirit of the resolu-
tions unanimously passed by the House of Commons on the
15th of May last.
You have submitted to me, that a proclamation from the King
should be issued, and circulated in each colony, giving the ne-
groes to understand that great misapprehension has prevailed
with respect to the views of his Majesty's Government, concern.
ing them.; and that it is to a dutiful obedience to their masters,
and to the laws of those colonies in which they are placed, that
they can alone look for support and protection. The proclama-
tion which you have thus recommended corresponds so closely
in principle with that which I have long ago directed to be issued
in each colonyy, in the event of any misunderstanding of the
views of his Majesty'sf Government on the part of the slave po-
pulation, that I am disposed to consider that your object may
have been anticipated. If, however, you should be of opinion
that it would be more advantageous that a general proclamation
shoUld be published forthwith in the King's name, expressing.
his Majesty's deep regret that the negroes should have conceived
an opinion so erroneous as that his Majesty had sent out orders for
their emancipation, and further declaring that the slave popu.
lation would forfeit all claim upon his Majesty's protection, if
they should fail to render entire submission to the laws, as well
as dutiful obedience to their masters, or should not show a dispo.
sition to avail themselves of all means of improvement of their
moral and religious condition. I will lose no time in submitting
this proposition to the consideration of his Majesty's Govern-
ment.--I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, your obedient
humble servant, (S. S.) BATHURST.
The Agents for his Majesty's West India Colonies.

March 1. 1024.
My. Lord,—We hasten to acknowledge with thankfulness,
the letter which your Lordship has addressed to us on the 28th
ult. affording so early a reply to that we took the liberty of
writing to your Lordship on the 25th of last month.
We consider that in the present critical state of the colonies,
the greatest advantage might be derived from a general procla.
manor' published forthwith in the King's names expressing his
.Majesty's deep regret that the pegroes should have conceived
ell opinion so erroneous alt dortM ills,ajesty hattsent out Indere
for their emancipation, and farthee declaring that the slave
PoPtilktion would forfeit tipon-dri-olajesty's protece.
1
tion if they should fall Wert:lAT entire submission to the laws,
as well as a datifuldedience to their masters, or should not
shew a dinottilie to avail themselves of all means of improve.
alit or 'their moral anti religious condition.
Under a conviction that a proclamation confined to thew
topics will prove so beneficial, we lose no time in gratefully
embracing your Lordship s's offer of submitting that proposition
to the consideration of his Majesty's Government j and at the
'lance time we suggest that the good effects of such a proclama-
tion would be promoted, if it should contain an expression of
his Majesty's highest displeasure at the daring insurrection
which has lately taken place at Demerara, and the attempts at
insurrection In some other colonies.
your Lordship has not noticed our recommendation, that
such a proclamation should be aceompanied by a reinforcement
of troops--a precaution, the necessity of Which, we humbly
nubsuit, has been proved by ex.perien : and for which it does
not yet appear to us that sufficient ion has been 'mule.
The expediency of edepting these ~i'c..:aeures with the least
possible delay, so as that the deters. iliation of his Majesty's
Government thereon, and a proclamation in consequence, may
go out by this week's packet, induce us to defer to another
opportunity, any observations which it may appear to us to be
our duty further to submit upon the subject of your Lordship's
letter of the 211th ult.—We have the honour to be, my Lord,
Your Lordship's moat obedient humble servants,
GEORGE II 11311113 RT, Agent for Jamaica.
GEORGE CHALME RS, Bahama Agent.
GEORGE CARRINGTON, Agent for Barbadoes.
ANTHONY BROWNE, Agent for Antigua and
Slonserrat.
J. COI,QI7IIOUN, Agent for St. Vincent, Nevis,
Dominica, and the Virgin Islands.
WM. HOLMES, Agent for Demerara.
IIENI;Y CUTLER, Agent for Trinidad.
JOHN I NNES, Agent for 13erbice.
The Earl Bathurst, K. (L, &c. &c.

March 9,1824.
My Lord—ln the letter which we, the agents of his Ma-
jesty's West India Colonies addressed to your Lordship on the
Ist inst. we took the liberty of intimating, that after embracing
without delay your Lordship's offer of a royal proclamation,
we might find it to be our duty, respectfully to male some
observations upon the contents of your Lordship's letter of the
28th ult., and to this duty we are now further impelled by ob.
serving, that notice has been given of proceedings to take place
within a few days in both Houses of Parliament, leading to a
discussion most Interesting to those colonies, upon the result of
which, indeed, may probably depend their future existence, as
valuable possessions to Great Britain.
We have declared to your Lordship our conviction of the
dangerous impressions and universal alarm excited in the co.
lonies by the measures adopted in the last year by the House'
of Commons and the British Government ; not
.presuming,
however, to determine whether the object and the spirit of those
proceedings may have been sightly understood or otherwise;
but thence have doubtless originated occasional demonstra.
tions of angry feeling_ among subjects ever distinguished by
loyal attachment to the mother country. Your Lordship has
been pleased to assure us, that " you will be most willing to
recommend any measures which may be calculated to dissipate
that alarm, provided that they are not inconsistent with the
spirit of the resollitions unanimously passed by the House of
Commons on the 15th of May last."
Your Lordship having bean pleased to call our attention to
what appears to you the nearly perfect accordance of all that
was recommended by his Majesty's Government, for the con-
sideration of the Colonial Legislatures, with the suggestions
offered by the great body of West India Planters, we beg per.
mission, so far as this appeal directly Concerns ourselves, to
refer your Lordship to the Memorial which those of us who
represent the old colonies had the honour to address to your
Lordship on the 3d of Slay last, in which we declared, that
" even were we less restrained than we arc by our ofHcial situa-
tions, we could not undertake to decide as to the expediency
of adopting various measures which we had understood to have
been suggested, having in view the additional comfort, intellec-
tual and religious improvement, or extended privileges of the
slaves in the Colonies, since the fitness and policy of such
measures may be varied by the particular circumstances and
existing laws and regulations of each colony ; anti we proceeded
to declare our opinion, that these are matters strictly within the
province of the Colonial Legislature, and concerning . which
they are respectively more competent to judge. We further
declared, that we were most ready and anxious carefully to
communicate to those Legislatures all such suggestions relative
to these objects as his Majesty's Ministers might think fit to
recommend to their attentive consideration."
A reference to this document we feel to be now requisite, in
justice to ourselves, and in order that we way declare to your

Lordship that our sentiments upon this important Subject *re
only the more deeply impressed and confirmed by succeeding
events : but, unconnected as we stand with any proceedings of
the planters resident here, relative to the internal regulations of
the colonies, we may be yet permitted to observe, that the mea-
sures which came under the consideration of the gentlemen who
conferred with his Majesty's Minister's at the time referred to
by your Lordship, did not pretend to pledge, and could not
pledge, either the whole of the colonial interest, or the colonial
Legislatures, and were, so far as we are- acquainted with them,
applicable to the comfort and instruction of the slaves, and did
not express a concurrence in any steps, however groduatedi
towards their emancipation.
Upon these grounds, we trust that when the.proceedlngs of
the last year shall be reconsidered, what has passed in the Howie
of Commons and in communications from your Lordship's office
will be so clearly defined and explOined, as to remove any giP-
prehension which may still exist, either in the colonies or ninon;
those of his Majesty's subjects who are dependent on their fate,
of an intention having been announced by the British Govern-
ment to occasion any injury to that property, which,. Willer the
sanction of the British law, the Colonists possess in their slaves
and estates, without full compensation.
We solemnly, but respectfully, declare to your Lordsh/P,
our full conviction, that only by a declaration under contlxten;
authority to this effect, can a fair value be restored to colonial
property, although we thankfully express a sanguine hope, el
your Lordship in advising a proclamation from the King, cal-
culated to correct the erroneous impression made by the 1, to
proceedings upon the minds of the slaves, has taken s swP.
which will contribute essentially to restore the internsl trio_
quillity of the colonies. We have the honour to be, with
respect, my Lord, your Lordship's most obedient humble
servants,
GEORGE HIBBERT, Agent for Jamaica.
GEORGE CHA LMERS, Bahama Agent.
G. CA RR ING TON, Agen t for Barbadoes.
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JOHNHENR HENRY
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WILLIAM llOLMEASg,enAtgsefloitr fnorerObjectneracs•
To the Right Hon. the Earl Bathurst, K.G. Atc•