The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-04 00:00:00

~~

et `-‘-:7-4‘-::r-e-g--06

PRICE.— 4d.
STAMPED sd.

A Plea for the Negroes of Jamaica.

(TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.)

Slll,—The most recent and reliable information
from Jamaica leaves no doubt in the minds of the
well-wishers to the colony that, as far as regaris the
negro and coloured population, a state of hopeless-
ness and distress prevails. This is not to be won-
dered at, when the sad and suffering condition of
these poor people is borne in mind. From the re-
port of her Majesty's Commissioners it appears
that at least one thousand houses belonging to the
negroes have been wantonly destroyed. According
to the evidence of Mr. Parry, the Government sur-
veyor, the property thus sacrificed is worth not less
than £4,000. This estimate, however, does not in-
clude the mills and minor buildings. Nor does it
include the furniture and clothing consumed or
otherwise destroyed. The distress consequent
upon this reckless destruction of property it
is painful to contemplate. It is estimated
that not less than 5,000 persons, principally
women and children, are at the present time
homeless. They are dwelling in the woods
or in temporary sheds, in vast numbers of
instances deprived by the hand of violence and
cruelty of their natural protectors. The Colonial
Government is prostrate, and has probably not abi-
lity to aid these forlorn and suffering people. Our
duty at the present time seems to be in the first in-
stance to provide shelter for these poor outcasts,
and afterwards to take measures for their social,
educational, and moral improvement. The British
and Foreign Freedmen's Aid Society is prepared to
undertake this important work. Already it has
opened up a correspondence with Jamaica, and a
number of clergymen, ministers, and gentlemen of
the first respectability are prepared to co-operate
with the London society. A gentleman writing to
us from Jamaica on the 23d of May, says—" Since
the receipt of your letter dated the Bth instant,
I have written Mr.
lingness to co-operate in any measures for the car-
rying out of the wishes of the British and
Foreign Freedmen's Aid Society. My idea of
working the thing is, to form a Central Com-
mittee in Kingston, with branch Committees at
Morant Bay, Blue Mountain Valley, at Bath, and
at Manchioneal. I have discovered many real cases
of loss and unrighteous suffering." Speaking of the
district from whence the letter was written, the
writer says—" To give a general view of things
here, I may tell you that there are some 200 houses
in this district burned. 100 may be put down as
destroyed by the recklessness of soldiers and pseudo-
volunteers under Mr. —, their brave lieutenant."
The writer then speaks of the hardships, loss, and
impoverislnent of the people, and says, " General
and great is the distress brought on by our recent
troubles." He concludes by presenting the follow-
ing suggestions :—" That aid be given—
" 1. For the immediate relief of hunger, naked-
ness, and destitution.

" 2. Pecuniary or material help to those who are
desirous of re-building their homes.
" 3. Aid in building or repairing mills, school-
rooms, and places of worship, &c.
" 4. A fund for the formation of primary schools
in villages remote from the central schools."
The writer further says, " the Friends' gave me
£5O, and I got £2O from —. £7O I have been
enabled to distribute already, but to feed, to clothe,
to aid in providing a temporary hut, what was that
among so many ? My humble prayer is that great
as have been our troubles, greater may be the good
stimulated by the Supreme Wisdom and Power."
It would be easy to present touching cases of
distress, but this cannot be needed. The report of
her Majesty's Commissioners—
" That the punishments inflicted were excessive—
"l. That the punishment of death was unnecessarily
fie klucut,
"2. That the floggings wore reckless, and at Bath posi-
tively barbarous,
"3. That the burning of a thousand houses was wanton
and cruel,"
together with the minutes of evidence, are suffi-
ciently thrilling to afford a sufficient justification
for my appealing with confidence to the sympathy
and support of the generous British public. I shall
be glad to receive the donations of those who are
willing to come to the aid of these suffering and
perishing people, or donations may be paid into
Messrs. Barclay, Bevan, Tritton, and Co., Bankers,
54, Lombard-street, to the account of the British
and Foreign Freed-Men's Aid Society, or sent to
the Secretary, 102, Fleet-street, E.C.—I am yours
faithfully,
ALFRED S. CHURCHILL,
President of the British and Foreign Freed-
Men's Aid Society.
16, Rutland Gate, S.W., July 3, 1866.