The Sun.
London, England, 1842-01-27 00:00:00

ABOLITION OF SLAVERY.

Happily for the best interests oinTankind, the gloomy
anticipations of the colonists have, in a great measure,
been dispelled. The dangerous experiment of conferring
freedom on a race of men ten times out-numbering their
European masters, * has been accomplished with perfect
safety. In dealing out this measure of justice to the
long degraded African, not a single life has been sacri-
ficed, not a drop of blood has been shed in anger.

THE RECENT HISTORY OF THE ISLAND OF PUERTO
Rico.—This island, while Spain possessed her magnifi-
cent continental empire in South America., was entirely
neglected by the mother country. It was used as a pe-
nal settlement, and merely supplied its own wants. It
had no European trade, and the chief occupation of its
inhabitants was smuggling to and from the Spanish
Main. The fertility of the soil, however, and the fa-
vourable situation of the island for the contraband trade,
attracted by degrees a considerable population, by far the
greater number of whom were adventurers of European
origin. Its growing importance at length attracted the
attention of the Spanish Government, and in the year
1815, its trade was established under a new code of re-
gulations of an extremely liberal kind. The unoccu-
pied land, of which there was great abundance, was
granted to settlers free of all charges, according to their
capital and means of cultivation. Produce was freed
from export duties ; tithes were remitted for fifteen years ;
other local taxes were remitted for a similar period ;
and all direct commerce with Spain or Spanish colonies
was declared free. The astonishing rprogress of the
island, under this liberal system, will appear in-
credible to those unacquainted with the mighty
influences of commercial freedom. The popula-
tion of the colony doubled in the space of twenty
years ; and it must be remembered that, in the
same period, that of the French and British West India
islands, either remained stationary, or decreased. The
value of its exported produce rose in a still more extra-
ordinary degree. In 1810, it amounted to 65,672 dollars ;
in 1832, it exceeded three millions ; or, in oilier words,
in the space of twenty-two years, it increased in value
more than forty-fold. A memorable instance of the en-
ormous powers of unrestricted industry.t

The emancipated negro has advanced, not retrogaded,
in the scale of beings. His wants have increased with
freedom ; and in order to gratify these wants, he must
be content to labour. The comforts of European life
are within his reach ; and he has shown himself ambi-
tious of attaining them. His dress and personal appear-
ance have greatly improved ; and the feeling of self-
respect evinced in his deportment, both to his equals
and superiors, is not the least pleasing feature of
the change. His moral condition has been amelio-
rated in a still greater degree. The marriage
tie, which was formerly quite disregarded, is
now assuming its just and civilising influences. The
blessings of education have begun to be appreciated ;
and the attendance on the ordinances of religion has
been most exemplary. It may, in short, be safely af-
firmed, that no peasantry in the world are, at the present
time, in a• more prosperous condition than those of our
West India colonies. #.—Letter to Lord Stanley on Afri-
can Immigration.
The slave population of the British West Indies,
previous to the Emancipation, amounted to about
800,000 ; the free, to about 80,000.
t See the late work of General Flinter, on this inte-
resting island, page 271. Since the publication of his
work in 1834, the exports of Puerto Rico have increased
considerably.
See Mr. Gurney's Winter in the West Indies, 1840.

LEOMINSTER ELECTION.
(FRom A CORRESPONDENT.)
The writ for the election of a Member for the borough
of Leominster, will be issued immediately after the
meeting of Parliament. The Conservative candidate,
Mr. Arkwright, is still in the field ; but it is most ex-
traordinary that no gentleman of Liberal principles
should have yet come forward. About a month ago, it
was confidently stated among
,the constituency of Leo-
minster that a gentleman of great wealth, residing in the
neighbourhood,
_whose attachment to Liberal principles
admits of no question, would offer himself to the electors;
and if he had done so, there is no doubt, from his great
popularity, that he would have been triumphantly elected.
It is much to he regretted that, up t? the present time,
he should not hi<ve announced his intention to stand.
Thu Liberal <muse in Leominster runs the risk of being
seriously, injured through his dilator). proceedings. But
the Liberal phalanx in the town is staunch and true,
and we may be sure that they will not again allow the
Tories to ride roughshod over them, without a most se-
vere struggle. At the present time,we are notable to state
who the gentleman may be who will have the honour of
being solicited by the Liberals of Leominster to become
a candidate for the representation of the borough ; but
there is no doubt whatever that he, will, in every way,
be admirably qualified for the trust. The Tories are
well aware that the Liberals are strong enough to return
a candidate ; and they, therefore, dread the very idea
of opposition, and by boasting loudly of their strength,
hope to deter any one from entering into a contest. But
their cunning artifices will not prevail—a Liberal candi-
date can, and will be returned for Leominster.