The Statesman.
London, England, 1819-03-05 00:00:00

WEST INDIES.

Lord HOLLAND rose, in pursuance of hie no.
lice, to move for the Acts of the Colonial Legisla.
lures in the West lodise, ma the subject Nimrod to
In the Address of that Bosse seem time since, with
reference to the Registratioe of Slaves, le order the
more effectually to carry the Abolition of the Slave
Trade into elect, to the moral sad religiose iestrac.
titre of the negro population, and to the gesseral is.
provemetit of the coodition of the slaves. He did
sot anticipate any objection to his emotion, bet he
thought it necessary to say a few words upon the
subject. It would be recollected, that at the period
when the Address alluded to was agreed to by their
Lordships, in 1816, there bad recently bees some
enplaning occurrences in Batbadoes, in which it ap-
peared that enusidcroble delosima and alarm prevailed
amongst the slaves, which it was important to
dissipate. This delude° and alarm be was happy to
learn, was altogether at an eud. With regard to the
registration of slaves also, it was highly satisfactory
to him to find that the Colonial Legislatures had
adopted measures for the purpose of carrying that
registration into effect. In Jamaica (he spoke Fara-
rosily of that island, because his information was
chiefly cooked to that), the Legislature had passed
an Act for carrying the registration into elect, and
subsequently another Act to amend the former, and
theogh these might not be altogether what be could
wish, they undoubtedly showed the sincere despoil.
ties of the Legislature of that island to carry tato
effect the intentions of Parliament. With regard to
the moral sad religious Instruction of the slave pis.
potation, he was afraid that not much bad yet been
done, but he was disposed to give every credit to the
noose of Assembly of Jamaica for sincerity of in-
itiation in this respect. When men made pecuniary
sacrifices in any cause, they were undoubtedly ea.
titled to be considered sincere. The Mose of As-
sembly had passed an Act for rstablishing twenty
Curator in the island, with ao appointment of 3001.
currency per season. This, however, had not been
found enough, it not being • sufficient inducement
to Clergymen to go out there, and au Act had sub.
seqeently passed (though it had not yet goat through
the necessary forms) for increasing the allowance to
5001. currency per annum. lie could not bet re.
Bret thst the !loose of Assembly had agreed to mes.
mires which tended to prevent the instreetion of
the rupees by Missionaries, or at least to lay it
ender restrictions, which in his mind were impoli-
tic; bet when he considered how difficult it was
for him in this country to persuade soy considerable
somber of persons to agree with himself in the view
which he took as to the allowing the utmost tolera-
tion to persons of different religious persuasions, he
could Not find fault with the House of Atin-mbly for
not takieg a similar view. Ile could not help, how.
ever, thinking that much good might have been de-
rived from the exertious of those excellent men, the
Moravian Missionaries. With regard to the religious
iestrection of the negro'', he ass happy to do jos.
dim to the seal of a Right Ile,. Prelate, the Bishop
of Leaden. With regard to the general improve-
meat of the condition of the stave Imputative, he
reload it to be recollected, that the Hoses, by that
eapression, did not Winn to confine the improvement
to the physical comforts of the slaves (though un-
delightedly those lief* very material); god whilst be
admitted that the noose of Assembly bad token va-
rious steps to improve the physical condition of the
negroes, nothing had yet been done with a view to
that moral improvement which wee se esseittiel to
their Ile was aware of the difficulties
attendant upon this Titmice, bit be bad a piss in

his tined width be thoeght would have the effect of
predating a tonsiderable portion of 'elitism names
tine soniert the !WENS. It was this: let the Retires
ea* the Registration Act stele the number of slaves
beitseging to each proprietor who had bete baptised,
and let those amongst them wins were instructed in the
Christian religion be certified by theta rate of Minister.
Theo enact that those megrims were Om certified to
be Instructed is the Christian religion, should berets.
dered competent witnesses is a Court of Justice,—
This would be a mark of distinction to the master,
in having slaves so instructed, sod to the negro It
would give also a certain distinction ; and then, If
le might be allowed to say so, as it appeared that
temporal motives prevented Clergymee from pin
out to &maks, in this case, on the ether hand, tem.
pond sentives would be enlisted ise the side of re-
ligion. The honest easily of the master wood moo-
does to his obtaining religious instructive for his
slave, *hint the nave, who, degraded as be uu by
the original crime (for so he meet call it) by which
he was made a slave, still bad, it was well kaown, a
considerable portion of vanity, world be linseed by
the distinction conferred on him, and week! feel that
be had es Interest in attending to religious nerve.
lion, son sot that it was imposed upon hies merely
for the interest of his master, which was too pre-
talent en °pions. His Lordship, after a few fur-
titer remarks upon the necessity for amelleesting the
state of the slave mention, but agreeing that It bad
much better be done by the Colonial Legislatures
time thigh any interference of Parliament, cos.
dead by moving an Address to the Prince Regent,
preying for the communication of the Acts of the Co.
[finial Legislator's upon this subject.
Earl BATHURST complimented the Noble Lord
for the theeperate sod jsdicioea manner in inbkh be
bad introduced his motion. All the islands had
pawed Registry Acts, though not all of the same
hied, bat that had not proceeded fro* any wish to
evade tie operation of gosh a law. In none of these
Acts bad that clause been found by *hick slaves,
net registered, were to be entitled to freedom. In.
streetion had been sent out from home, that a copy
of the registration should be sent over to raglans!,
and that ell debts contracted for the perches' of
naves, should be void, sinless the description of the
sieves geoid be specified. The coetinesece of tie
Registry Act was compulsory open the islands, as so
money could be raised upon West India ellen%
wltimot the slaves had been registered. He agreed
le the ebeervatioes made by the Noble Lord so the
subject of the moral habits of the segroes. The
objection made to the small salaries of Clergymen bad
bees removed by the eabsequent increase, and mach
praiser weather toe Right Reverend Prelate (the Bi•
shop of London) fee his inertias, in that matter.—
Bet the Bishp of Leedom had no more to do with
the Clergy in the West Indies than any other Bishop
on the Beach, as the power tendered in the first In-
stance had been declined by Bishop Sherlock. Steps
should be taken that persons ordained for the porpeee
of going to the West Indies, should actually go set,
and should sot return upon frivolous pretests. Upon
that point he hoped soon to be able to submit a mea-
-1 sere to the Hoese. The Overseers of West India es-
, tales had bees directed to send t he children of the slams
to schools ; bet it would he more advisable that a
Iseult number should first be educated, which would
be gradually increased. A Circular Letter had bens
sent out to all the islands, requiring an accoest of
the number of the Berries converted to Christianity.
Ail the negroes were willing to he Mated ; and, in-
deed, more than once, as they believed it a safeguard"
against inchantmenr, and the Report that had bens
I made in consequence of that letter was nicotined to
give satisfaction. Ile had not the slightest objection
to the motion of the Noble Lord.

The Bishop of LONDON said, that the temper
sod moderation of the speech of the Noble Lord, was
well adapted to answer the end he had in view, the ifs-
pronemest of the black population ; though he did
Dot ogres with the Noble Lord in every part of his
ispeecb. The Church of England had hitherto no
lamas as to the Instruction of the negro popelation,
but bad never shown any want ages! on the subject.
Jamaica was divided iota 11l parishes of greet *went,
laud with little steins of communication among each
other. The Act of the Colonial Assembly, as to the
salary of the Clergy, bad been communicated to bias,
and by the subsequent addition •sold amount to
about 350 i. sterling for each individual. It bad been
justly stated by the Noble Lout who spoke lest, that
he (the Bishop of London) had no more to de with
the Clergy in the West Indies than any other Pre.
late; and that in the course of the last century, bad
been the decision of the Law Miens of the
Crown. As President of a Society foe lb. Propose.
lion of Christianity among the negroes, be had more
inflow's:, than be could have as dioceses' even did be
stand in that character.

Lord HOLLAND esplaintd.
The mode. was Mee agreed to.

The Marquis of LANSDOWN said, that a Pell.'
(ion against • tax en Coals had been rejected en a
former evening, on the ground that ne inch tea was
in contemplation. Bet it appeared from Mr. Hat.
sell's Precedents, that such Petitions were received
by the olbe► Hesse of Parliament ; end he did not
think their Lordship ought to be tame strict as to the
melting of Petitions than the ',oboe House. The
Petition' he had to present was of the same nets,. as
the one that bed been offered to the Heide one for-
mer evening, 'sine that it did not prey In be heard
by Counsel, which be contrived rnald be no reason
for rej►eting the Petition. The Petition wee seed,
and was from Caine, in Wiltshire, pr•yluq that no
additional tea might be imposed upon (kale.
Lord GRANVILLE then presented t►e Petition
from Stroud, its the county of Glosseester, which bad
beta wilhtintwa es • former evening; sad, after'