The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-09-02 00:00:00

The means of transport at present used are vessels char•

tered by different colonies, consigned to different agents. I
object to this system ; as, though at first view it appears
cheaper, in reality it is much more expensive than if done by
the government; as being liable to run into abuse from the
competition of agents paid per head for the emigrants they
procure their employers ; as creating suspicion and distrust
in the minds of the Africans where they see such a competi-
tion and eagerness to procure them, and thereby preventing
numbers availing themselves of the benefits of emigrating
who would readily embark in a government vessel; and as,
under the present state of our relations with foreign powers
whose flags are used in the slave-trade, liable to obstruction,
delay, and misrepresentation.
I have recommended the establishment of a steam-commu-
nication, by the government, between the coast of Africa and
the West Indies, and given an estimate of its cost. Its
advantages would be very great, and its cost less than any
other means the government could employ. Its immediate
effect on emigration would be by the quick return of the
vessels to give great confidence to the people, and destroy
the feeling of dread they have of the sea. Incidentally, it
would have a most important effect upon the slave-trade ; as
it is probable that if the British government were seen en-
couraging free emigration to their colonies in so decided a
manner, such a panic would be created in Brazil and Cuba,
that not another dollar would be advanced to extend their
plantations or purchase fresh slaves. They are fully aware,
that with abundance of free labour, backed by the wealth of
Great Britain, the colonies of Guiana and Trinidad can meet,
compete, and undersell them in the markets of Europe. In
this view, if the steam-communication were to cost double
what it will do, the money would be well expended.*
The colony receiving the emigrant should pay a certain sum
per mile for the distance he has been brought, towards the
expence of keeping up the steam-vessels; and binding itself
to find such emigrant a free passage back to the place from
whence he came after three years' residence in the colony.t
At all times, the steamers should be available to emigrants
wishing to return, on payment of the rate per mile paid on
their arrival in the colony.
As to the capability of the British Colonies to employ use-
fully and profitably a very large addition to their present po-
pulation, a reference to their exports in 1831 and 1840 will
show, that to bring their producing powers up to what they
were ten years ago, will require more emigrants than the
steam-vessels proposed could convey in several years.

IMPORTS FROM THE BRITISH WEST INDIES.
1831. 1840
Sugar . . Cwts. 4,103,800 ..... 2,200,000

RUM .. Galls. 7,844,157
C0tt0n...... Lbs. 2,401,6&5 866,157
Pimento.... Lbs. 1,800,355 ...... 999,068
Coffee...... Lbs. 20,130,802
But much more than equalling their former production is re-
quired ; for the consumption of sugar in this country would
be increased by the reduction of price to at least 300,000
tons, and, by allowing its use in distilleries and breweries, to
500,000 tons per annum ; which additional consumption may
all be supplied by our West India Colonies. This is irre-
spective of the consumption of Europe ; and the statement
is made to show that we have within ourselves the power of
consuming five times as much sugar from the West Indies
as we now do, provided we could pay for it in manufactures.
Our present consumption is paid fbr chiefly in goods that are
peculiarly of British make, and in which we excel and un-
dersell the world. To show the taste of the Negro popula-
tion in the West Indies. a few of the items are given which
comprize the increase of £1,000,000 sterling in our exports
since 1831.
Value of exports in 1831 £2,500,000
Value of exports in 1840
Increase
Principal articles of incresse, viz.
Imports for the British West Indies—
Cotton G00d5.... from 21,975,459 yards,
to 58,327,111 „

Increase 36,451,641 yards ; Value £555,964.
Increase.
Soap and Candles .
Apparel and Haberdashery
Beer and Ale
Butter and Cheese ..
Leather Manufactures 40,000
Beef and Pork
Hosiery
Machinery..
Bacon and Hams.
Refined Sugar
Glass Ware
Earthenware
Stationery lO,OOO
Books 5,061
In 1840, we paid the West Indies for 110,000 tons of sugar,
in found numbers, 5?; milliions sterling ; 31 millions were
paid in manufactures, and the remainder to cover freight,
charges, &c. Supposing by introducing free labour we increase
the production of sugar to 500,000 tons, and lower the price
from 495. Id. (the average of 1840) to 255. per hundred
weight, we should pay £12,500,000 per annum to the West
Indies, in manufactures to the extent of £8,000,000 and in
freight, charges, profit, &c., £4,500,000 ; giving employment
to 400,000 tons more shipping, and to thousands of work-
men in this country in all departments.
These results seem visionary ; and if the same calculations
were made regarding any other article of consumption, they
might not be realised ; but sugar is an article of consumption
in this country whose consumption is only limited by price
and fiscal regulations. Reduce the one and remove the other,
and in ten years it will come up to 500,000 tons, and pay at
half the present duty 6,000,000 per annum to the revenue.
I mare these statements to show that there is an unlimited
field for the profitable employment of free African emigrants
in our West Indian Colonies ; that we may for years to come
pass through them thousands of Africans, every individual of
whom would reap a direct benefit by his contact with a
clvilized society; who would be welcome to remain and be
adopted into it if he chose, or if he preferred to return to his
native land, would return free of expense, and impart to his
countrymen a portion of the civilization he had acquired, and
and stimulate others to follow his example.
The commercial advantages would not be confined to the
West Indies : these men, returning to their native country,
would carry back new wants, and the knowledge requisite to
create exchangeable produce to satisfy them ; an increased
trade with Africa itself would he the natural result.
I do not expect difficulty in procuring any amount of emi-
gration from Africa, provided the Home Government is con-
vinced that it should be done on African grounds alone, and
undertake to carry it into effect. From motives of humanity
I recommended the removal of a large portion of the libera-
ted Africans at Sierra Leone : they have certainly the first
claim upon us; and I cannot contemplate without dread
their position if the Government expenditure is materially
reduced or withdrawn, and they have not the opportunity of
emigrating. Commencing there would also do away with a
great deal of the opposition that is likely to arise at the be-
ginning of such an undertaking, not only from the slave-
trading and slave-holding interest, whose knell it would
sound, but also from well-meaning men, who by some extra-
ordinary process have arrived at the conclusion that a negro
is better able to appreciate the blessings of Christianity and
the advantages of civilized life in Africa than in the West
Indies. None of these opponents could object to the Go-
vernment removing these poor people from Sierra Leone to
a better position : as well might they object to our removing
the starving weavers in Paisley to Canada or Australia. The
first step to take is to send out positive orders to all our set-
tlements on The coast to receive and protect all corners,
supporting them until the steamer is ready to take them to
the West Indies ; this should be made known by our men-
of-war all along the coast, and any one once under the
British flag should never be given up.
I have never seen a part of Africa where, for food and
protection any number of people might not be got : and I am
convinced, when it becomes generally known, the natives
from all parts would flock to our settlements for embarkation;
always provided that the orders of the Government were
honestly and heartily followed up by their officers.
On their voyage of course their treatment would be regu-
lated by the Emigration Commissioners.
The Governors of such colonies as required emigrants
should from time to time state to the Emigration Commis-
sioners their capacity for receiving and paying for the passage
of the emigrants. Tne steamer on her voyage from Africa
should make the most windward colony, Berbice; where
orders might always be lying for her, as to what colonies she
might convey the emigrants to.
The emigrants when landed should be at perfect liberty to
choose their employers, and to accept or reject the wages
offered them. The Colonial Government should keep them
for ten days, in order to allow them time, to make a deliberate
choice. After that, a test similar to what in England is
called the workhouse test should be used. The Governor
should not interfere at all, even with advice as to their loca-
tion : their countrymen in the colony are their natural ad-
visers ; and nothing is more injurious to their character as
free men, than suspecting them of incapacity to act for them-
selves, which, apportioning them to particular estates would
imply, however well meant on the part of the Government.
Contracts for twelve months should be encouraged, as
tending to give the emigrant habits of steady and continuous
labour, Forms of such contracts should be fixed by the

* The cost of a monthly communication to and from Sierra
Leone and the West Indies, in steam-vessels capable of car-
rying 1000 emigrants of all ages each voyage, or 1200 yearly,
would be £72,000 per annum, or £6 per head—about , equal
to the present rate paid to sailing-vessels. Twelve days
would be the average passage to British Guiana, and seven-
teen or eighteen days back. By the last advices from Sierra
Leone, the ship Superior, a very fast-sailing vessel, had been
out sixty days from Demerara, with returned emigrants;
and the last West India mail brought accounts of the arrival
of the Cleopatra at Trinidad in sixty-two days from Sierra
Leone, having been six weeks becalmed.
The present emigration is going on without any such
stipulation for the return. I consider it essential to the suc-
cess of the whole plan, as a natural and efficient guarantee
that the emigrant shall be well treated by his employers—a
preventive, check against over-population and Pauper*.

Government. and me be valid except entered into before"
and countersigned by a Stipendary Magistrate.
To every emigrant a parchment promissory-note should
be handed, dated on the day of his arrival in the colony, in
some such form as this—

" Three years Efter date, we engage to give the bearer a
free passage to Serra Leone." &c.
Signed by the Collector of Customs, and Secretary of the
Government, and stamped with the Colonial seal.
On an emigrant's return to Africa, a certificate of his
being a British subject should be handed to him ; and if at
any time afterwards he was enslaved, the enslaver, of what-
ever nation, should be punished as a kidnapper of her Majes-
ty's subjects.
The native chiefs should be encouraged and invited to
visit the west Indies ; and the authorities have power to
order them a free passage in the steamers.
All cases of dispute in which the Negro race are either
plaintiffs or defendants, should he heard and adjudicated by
paid functionaries appointed by the Crown.
The money requisite to pay the expense of emigration
should be raised by general taxation in each colony. All
classes benefit by it—all should pay for it; and in this way
the emigrant himself would indirectly in three years pay the
expense of his passage.

EMIGRATION FROM AFRICA, SUPPOSING IT CARRIED

ON BY PRIVATE VESSELS.

A reference to the map will show at once the facility with
which vessels with emigrants; on board can be cleared by
British authorities. _

Commencing at our first station, the Gambia, the wind
and current for ten months in the year is " down " the coast
to Fernando Po : any vessel taking in emigrants to the North
or West of the following points would not be delayed more
than from three to six days in procuring a clearance from the
custom-house, or officer appointed by the Government for
that purpose.
At Cape Palmas H. M. Cruiser.
At Cape Coast Castle The Governor.
At Fernando Po H. M. Cruiser.
At the Gambia From the Custom-house.
At Sierra Leone Ditto
These stations are respectively about 350 to 400 miles apart,
and embrace 2,000 miles of coast.
The clearer should muster the emigrants, ascertain the
quality, quantity, and allowance of food and water, the pro-
portion of sexes, their age, description, and country, give to
all an opportunity of expressing their free consent to the
voyage, offer protection and a free return home to any who
are dissatisfied, make out a muster-roll, sign it along with
the commander of the ship, seal and address it to the go-
vernor of the colony to which the vessel is bound, and send
a duplicate to the Custom-house in London ; another mus-
ter-roll, signed by the clearer, would serve for the clearance
of the ship. A standing set of interrogatories might be
framed in this country to be used by the clearer.
It is presumed that no man could be carried off by force
under such a system ; the clearer having no interest in the
matter, the conveyer being liable to transportation if con-
victed of smuggling any on board after clearing, and having
no inducement to run any such risk; the emigrant being a
free unindentured man on his arrival in Guiana and Trinidad.

DANGEROUS ILLNESS OF THE ARCHBISHOP

OF CANTERBURY.

(From Monday night's Standard.)
With feelings of the most unfeigned regret, it becomes our
painful duty to inform our readers that the anticipations of
Dr. Howley's speedy return to convalescence, in which we
indulged during the latter part of last week, are not, owing
to the inscrutable dispensations of Providence, likely to be
realised. It will be recollected that the bulletin of Saturday
announced that his Grace had passed a good night, and that
he was gaining strength. During the whole of Saturday no
fresh symptoms exhibited themselves from which anything
like an unfavourable conclusion might be drawn ; and, as
may be gathered from the following bulletin of Sunday, the
Archbishop on the preceding night had been in a favourable
condition :

" His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury bad a good
night, but has not been in so favourable a state during the
morning, his strength having rather failed during the day.
" Addington' Park, Sunday afternoon."
Shotrly after breakfast, however, the most Rev. Primate's
health began to decline ; and his Grace has since continued
to fail in strength, as announced in the following bulletin,
dated at seven o'clock this morning :
" His Grace the Archbishop has had some hours of rest-
less sleep, and is much weaker this morning.
" Addington Park, seven o'clock, Aug. 29."
The spasmodic cholera with which the Most Reverend
Primate was originally attacked has not at all returned ; but
the severity of his illness was such as to leave his bodily
_powers in that utter state of prostration, that the best medi-
cal skill has been ineffectual in restoring the tone of his cor-
poreal faculties. The Primate is in his 77th year.
(From the Standard of Wednesday night.)
The following is a copy of the bulletin received at Lambeth
Palace this morning :
" His Grace the Archbishop has passed a tranquil night,
and continues much in the same state as yesterday.
" Addington Park, August 31, 1842."
The inquiries again this morning were very numerous.
The Queen Dowager has regularly sent every day to ascertain
the health of the right rev. primate.