Star.
London, England, 1823-12-26 00:00:00

N

six o'clock in the morning, and in many river situations,
on account of the heavy slews, not so early; they have
an hour to bteskfast, and another to dinner, and break
off about six o'clock in the evening. The actual quan:
tity of work expected of a prime negro, when working
with a gang, or individually, is to weed one acre. of
young canes daily, or plant over twenty beds, of three
rods each (Rhinland measure); or dig a trench one rod
square, and four feet deep, or cut and carry out a cord
of fire-wood, the distance of twenty-five rods; or hole
sixty rods of cane-holing; or in coffee crops,- when plenty
of coffee is on the trees, gather as,much as, when cured,
• would make thirty ?ponds net coffee. Thirty-axe slaves,
sh'outd cut and carry out to the punts, as many canes as
are sufficient to make three casks of 1,500 pounds each of
sugar: Two men are allowed to work one punt. In a boil-
ing-house of seven coppers to one fire, there would be re-
quired six men to cleanse the liquor, and one head boiler
to superintend them; two fire-makers, and four men to
attend them with dry fuel. A mill of ten horse power
requires two men as feeders, six women 4o remove the
mega from the mill to the logic, one man to stock the
same, six young boys to attend the mill with canes, at
a distance from three to six rods, two boys to keep the
liquor boxes, &c. clean, one engineer and two firemen
to make file under the engine; in the distillery, fire
men more—making thirty-eight slaves about the works.
A cooper is expected to make one cask daily. The sa-
lary of a manager of a plantation of 300 slaves, is from
5000 to 6000 guilders ; first overseer, 1100 guilders ; se-
cond overseer, 1000 guilders ; and junior overseer 600 to
800 guilders per annum. -The punishment of the whip is
getting into disuse, and is not used with the same freedom
and estent as seven years ago ; solitary confine:minis
found to have greater effect in a well-disciplined gang.
With respect to the family connection of slaves, and the
size of room allotted to each person, it is customary to
allow 10 feet of uegro-house room to each person, and
families and connections get together, and divide the
portion of room, as may be most convenient to them-
selves. Besides which, the slaves cultivate as much'
land as they think fit, and raise featheted stock, the
produce of which, and in all other of their transactions,
they appropriate to their own benefit ; and many of
them have been known to purchase their freedom by
tliebe means. A nursery is erected near the manager's
house, where all the children, from two months to eight
years old, are kept under the charge of two or more
elderly women, provided with a cook, and their food,
which is prepared under the inspection of the manager,
consists chiefly of pap, plantains, roots,
.fish, and rice.
From eight years to fourteen, they are placed under the
charge of a careful negro, and employed in rotting
grass, and doing light n ork about the buildings.
It is generally observed, that within the last seven
years the slaves are much improved in their sevieral oc-
cupations, owing to better treatment. Is is at the same
time impossible to disgui-e horn the commonest obser-.
vation, that they are becoming daily more enlightened,
and more artful; ma. ks of a right disposition, or of an
honest character, are seldom seen.,To direct and govern
this newly-acquired intelligence, to correct this temper,
dirpositicni, and habit, and to inculcate with equal zeal
with the Missionat y, obedience, contentment, and resig.
nation to their lot, would seem to be the first obligation
of a Miniaer of the Church of England and Ireland.
This is not exemplifying a description of the economy
and management of a few plantations, but will be found
characteristic of the greater number of them in this co-
lony, since the law regulates that the slave shall have
Ins food and raiment, and that he shall be taken care of
in sickness and old age; and has also ordained the ex-
tent of punishment which a master can inflict,slind has
given to the slave the right of complaining to either of
the fiscals, or to the burgher officers ; and obedience
and industrious habits thus forming clear the way for
general and spiritual education. But the inflames of
education. will be forcibly felt, and lathe present condi-
tion of things it will require essentially the assistance of
the most intelligent Om to support and aid their
countrymen while enlightening their, slaves, or they
will, assuredly, be influenced by those sentiments which
grow out of education—considering, at the best of times,
what a wavering kind of authority is held in the West
Indies. It would seem proper, in order to keep such
an irregular full-grown society in awe of the laWs, that
a Governor should always have a strong military force
with fair», ready to fall instantly' on any part of the Co-
lony. Under such circumstances, the first thing ne-
cessary and imperiously called for, is to procure a
stronger military force for the safety of the Colony.—
This done, it might not be inconsistent with principle
of justice or interest, as against prOprietor or slave, to
give the slaves a stake in the colony ; in so far, that no
plintatioi gang shall be broken upon and disposed of
separately, without the approbation of his Majesty's re-
presentative, or any indisidual attached to a plantation
be disposed of without his consent, unless by judicial
sentence, or when petty crimes, complained of and
proved before his honour the Fiscal, had rendered it
necessary. lam almost confident the duty of amelio-
ration would then peaceably go on ; that it need not be
carried higher at present ; that tranquillity, the love of
country, better principle, and ultimately the formation
of schools, would naturally follow; the power and pro-
' priety of adding other facilities would be evident and
acknowledged; and a change in this society would be
gradually produced, better felt than exPressed. • But,
on the other hand, if the nature of this West India pro-
petty were suddenly changed by any public measure, it
would be a public injustice to leave proprietors ruined,
or Tally of them, at least, exposed to be prosecuted at
law- for the full value of their engagement and mort-
gages. This would, indeed, be an act plegnant with
serious calamity to the kingdom at large, and which
would most assuredly involve therein the welfare of the

West Indies altogether.
Permit me, before I conclude, to offer my congratu,
lations to your Excellency, on the services you have
been able to render, and on the,present tranquillity of a
colony, so recently divided and throt;n into confusion;
and to testify, that, as far as i can learn, the inhabitants
have done full justice to your Excellency's prompt and
decisive measures, at this dreadful period of apprehen-
sion, to tl►e well-disposed part of all classes of this so-
ciety. Tbe termination of what threatened so darkly,
and the tranquillity we shall, we hope, very soonenjoy,
will bring with them recollections belonging to these
eventful days, peculiarly calculated to call forth the
warmest expression of public gratitude ; learningifrom
colonial history how vigorous, unwearied, and impartial
the administration of a Governor snout be, to check the
torrent of principles which aim to being Government
into contempt, and to destroy thehappinsesof socirdli Is.
For these and many blessings this colenY k indebted,

ants, after ten Tars. adm;nistrition, with. a giiteful
sense of the:services received, and which have hitherto
enabled Demerara tp rank high as a colony. " The
sum total of the dupes of a Govetnor of
..; West India
colony appears to-consist in selecting menikto assist ill,
the Cobneils oft he' fespective Colonies with firmness, in-
tegrity, impartiality, and reflection. Individually, a
Governor can dolittle othimself, and meet be content
to confirm the acts and deeds of Gentlemen-long settled
in the colony, and better acquainted than he tan be
with their local interests."
Thus, many things of grave .importance are often
determined upon? which may fairly be attributed to a
Governor's counsellors; but the good order and tran-
quillity of this community will, I trust, be the reward
of your Excellency's Counsellors, and of the many
Military and Naval .Officers and Gentlemen of the
Colony, for assisting the Government, at this very cri-
tical time, with them enlightened and patriotic exer-
tions, which merit so justly the applause of the country,
and to whom, and to Lieutenant-Colonel Goodman, in
particular, this oolony is indebted in an eminent degree.
United in the common purpose, the end and sum of
every rational being, and of all govervient—the bap-
pities& of society—may the. Means 9f happiness in the
power of your Eteelleucy, and tie tlchiout able Court
of Policy; be condocive, under-Penult:lance; to this great
end—suggesting the propriety, end inttising the spirit
of industry, that source of.many blessings, as the best
means of i eviving the credit and Kosperity of the Colony;
' This storm of inSurnictied, 10 it is scarcely to
have been supposed could have ha pened in Demerara,
has nearly blo.vn over. Your Esceilency, like a'skilful
y.ilot,. stemmed the torrent of madness aid folly-4ith
~.
catumqs, befitting the importance of yedi ttgnmAt
and the ectations entertained of your high pre-emii
nence. are now s.tfe; and it is only justi
7,p1
r to add,
that .your E eektency posseised in the hearts of the in-
habitant,' of this colony, a powerfed and sepporting in-
fluence—founded on the basis of loyalty and affection,
on .which every public man must build his reputation
and his power-.-honourable to themielves and to your
ExeClesiey, and which I hope you UM 'still very long
euj4, for the peace and happiness of this United Co-
lony,. lereinain, 'with great respect, ) oar Excellency%
most faithful servant, (Signed) ,
JAMES ROURRTSON, Registrar.

THE
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tiONPONIN. .: I
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FRIDIty, DEPEM Bit. 26, 18425. •
• tia-Sysitais.4l4klyq.lol Ihuk. • •
*CMG • V - •
This day Is a 'thief holiday boll firs• Dank and Stock •Et;
change ; but a number of Beotmgli are sisegOtti at the AuctiUn
Mart. Up to this hour, however. net t laujahl has been don.—
Spanish Is notional at 261 Accordhig to sirs eßress:to4lay;fle
French.liinds left ans. WailitediY, it itif.st. • •
• FLISN.C.ICSTOC/O..XCILANG B. . •
Pie/IS; DM. 24.41'h0t *Whet has Neil more animated, and the
Ordonnance for the dissolution of the.Clia4cr or having appeared
to-day, as was expettaid..l:ausetl the price of Stock tossaaintain ha
ground, although•not viey,ateadily. The Five per cents. for money
closed St 91f. 80c. fot.ths eq,d of the month. The pike, at four_
o'clock, was 91f. 110 c. The Foreign Funds haV'e been extremely
dull. London peper has been negotiated to.a considerable
, Spanish. Beads 2tte 1.. • . . • •
FOREIGN EXCHANGES. , • • •• 't
AISSIZSDAN, Am. 23.—0 n London, 39. 7. 2 M. 38. S.\
Hasmacn, Dec. 19.—Ott London, 36. 8. 36. 11. •
Prnassu Aoki, Dec. s.—On faaadon, 9. 7-16; Parls,loo.