The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-07-21 00:00:00

POLITICS

There is but little noise about politics, as there are but a
few offices within the gift of the people. However, there is
existing in Guiana, as well as all other British dependencies,
a law excluding all persons not born under the British flag
from being eligible to office. However, every man stands
on an equality in the eye of the law.
All criminal cases are tried by a court of three judges and
three assessors ; the assessors are chosen on the spot, from
the tax-payers, without regard to colour.
The only distinction in society is education, character, and
wealth, for the higher walks—then gradations down, accord-
ing to condition, &c.
Agriculturists are in great demand. Every plantation that
we were upon (which were many), wanted from forty to fifty
hands to carry on the cultivation already in operation. The
present cultivation does not extend from the principal sea-
ports over twenty miles in the interior, and on both sides
of those beautiful rivers, the Essequibo, Demerara, and
Berbice, many advantages are offered to industrious and en-
terprising capitalists, who would embark in the cultivation
of vegetables, and rearing feathered as well as other stock
for market, which would make, at present, a handsome
return to the undertaker.

The government land, according to law, is put up, upon
application, at five dollars per acre, and is published in the
papers ; if no one applies to over-bid that sum, it is then
transferred at that price. _ _

WAGES PAID FOR LABOURERS AND MECHANICS.—
The field labour is similar to working in corn-fields, and is
done by task of so many feet or yards. The price for each
task is 3.3 i cents, which, upon most estates, can be done in
four or five hours. We saw a young woman at an estate
called " Success," on the island of Lagaun, finish her se-
cond task by twelve o'clock, and did not appear at all
fatigued. In answer to a question put to her by us, that she
could do three tasks every day, said if she felt inclined after
dinner, she would do another task. We left her to visit
several other estates, and returned about half-past five in the
afternoon, and learned from her own lips, that she had done
the third task about half an hour; the sun at this time being
full half-hour high ; besides, each family has a comfortable
cottage to live in, containing generally two rooms on the
first floor, and one above, with as much ground attached as
they can cultivate in vegetables, and the doctor's bill for
attending all on the estates paid by the proprietor.
On many estates are very fine schools, and would be many
more, could persons be found competent to the undertaking.
There are at present a great many churches in every direc-
tion, and would be many more, should it be required, as
every profession is tolerated and encouraged.
Carpenters are in much demand, as well as many other
tradesmen. The wages given is from 1 dollar to 1 dollar 25
cents ; but we are informed by many master mechanics, that
if our people would emigrate there, they would command
higher wages, as they had been informed that our workmen
could do a great deal more work in a day than theirs.
Every estate presents quite an imposing appearance. The
sugar works being very large, and all the machinery pro-
pelled by steam-engines ; the proprietors, managers, and
overseers' houses are very fine buildings ; the handsome
cottages for the labourers, now being built on an improved
plan, averaging from 30 to 60 in number, gives them the ap-
pearance of a considerable village.
In going through the country, we had occasion to inquire
of the planter, what encouragement he would give to a num-
ber of agriculturists who would undertake to cultivate any
amount of land already in cultivation, upon shares. It ap-
peared to meet their entire approbation ; but before our de-
parture from the colony, we put certain questions to the
Emigration Committee in writing, upon that subject, as well
as others, all of which were promptly answered.

QUESTIONS PUT TO THE COMMITTEE BY YOUR DELEGATES,
AND THEIR ANSWERS :
Demerara, February 26, 1840.
To the Gentlemen composing the Voluntary Subscription
Emigration Society.
Sirs,—We, the undersigned, do respectfully ask the fol-
lowing questions :-
1. Will the emigrants corning into this colony from the
United States have the right of choosing their employers,
without restraint or drawback from them for passage money,
&c. ?
2. What do the gentlemen composing this society think of
the plan of cultivating certain cane-fields upon shares : that
is to say, take said fields, after being cut, and keeping up
the cultivation and delivery of the canes at the works ?
• 3. What portion of the produce should the undertaker re-
ceive as his reward?
4. If bringing on new fields, what quota of the produce
should he receive ?
5. Should the undertaker want advances in money, on
what terms could he procure it ?
6. Should the emigrants bring with them their furniture,
and provisions for their own use, will the same be subject to
duty ? If so, please present us with a tariff of duties on
such articles ?
With due respect, we remain, gentlemen,
Your most obedient and humble servants,
NATHANIEL. PECK,
THOMAS S. PRICE.