The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-03-23

Our Colonial Possessions,


At period when the country is threatened with
hostilities by more than one of the Continental
powers the following statistical account ofour col
onlal possessions cannot fail to possess some inter-
est.
The Colonial office, in Downing street, at the
head of which is Lord Glenelg, (who, notwihstan-
ding the drowsy qualities which he is reported to
possess, ought TO be "wide awake" with the weight
of so important charge upon his hands) posses
SEES the entire superintendent, management and
control of the following of our possessions:-
In North Amerca-Upper and Lower Canada,
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edwards
Island, Cape Breton and Newfoundland contain
ing an area of $4,000 square miles, or 279,400,-
600 acres with population of 100000 of achite
colonists.
In South acknowledgements, Essequibo, Ber-
bice Honduras, and the Franklin Islands; contain
ing an area of 10000 square miles, or l05,600,-
900 acres, with population of 10000.
In the West Indies-Jamaica, Trinidad, Toba-
go, Greneda, ST. Vincent Barbados, Monserrat,
Nevis, ST. Kits, Arguilla, Tortola and the Virgin
Isles, New Providence, and the Bahama Islands,
and St. Georges, and the Burmuda Islands
cotaining an area of $4,000 square miles, Or T.
100000 acres, with population of 100000
In Africa-The Cape of Good Hope Maurtius,
Maize, and the Seychelle Islands, St. Helena, As
cension, Sierra Leone, the Gambia, Accra, Cape
Coast, &C.. containing an area of 100000 square
miles, Or 160,000,000 acres, with a population of
100000
In Australasia-New South Wales, Van Die
mans Land, Swain River, King Georges Sound,
South Australatia, Norfolk Island, &C.. contain
ing an area of 100000 square miles, or 100000
900 acres, with population of 100000.
In Asia-Ceylon, an area of l4,644 square
miles, or 1l,770, $50 acres, with population of y
100000.
In Europe-Gibraltar, Malta, Coca, Corfu, &C.
phalonia, Zante, Santa Maria, lthica Paxe, Cert
go, &c, and Heligoland; containing of l :
500 square miles, or 100000 acres, with popu-
lation of 100000.
Total, 100000 square miles, or 100000
acres, with population of 100000 of British
subjects"
independently of the foregoing we have to add
the following territories, which are "under the
management and influenced by the government of
the East India Company and the Board of Con-
troll in Cannon-row :"
British Territories in MISUNDERSTANDING
an area of 422, 4S3 miles, with population of
S0,636371
Tributary Territories in MISUNDERSTANDING
ing an area of 363,6l0 square miles, with popu-
lation of 54,27l 092.
British Territories beyond Hindoostan-Con-
tanning an area of 50,ll7 square miles, with a
population of 296,054
Tributary Territories beyond Hindoostan-
Containing an area of $4,000 square miles, with
population of 40S,000.
Total, 096210 square miles, with popula
ton of l456l2,517.
In the event of our being again plunged into
war, from the immense quantities of troops and
shipping which they will require to enable this
country to retain possession of them, and the vast
distance which many of these colonies are from
the mother country, it is more than probable that
the loss of several of them would be the result of
these hostilities, with which, it appears, according
to the warke preparations of the ministry, we are
now threatened. The next question will be, as
many of our colonies "do not pay their own ex-
penses," whether the loss of the least profitable a.
mong them would not, in reality, be a real gain to
The country.