, 1875-10-09

to contest the point, 10 a legal manner. as to
the Interpretation put upon the new law by
the Government. This complication, and
the close proximity of the new crop, is report
ed to have disorganised the market, and lessen
ed prices. The coming beetrOot crop is ex-
pected to be a large one.
According to the official list of the Colonial
Service Mr.. Freezing is a Captain in the Royal
Artillery, and by some strange process of
evolution be now finds himself administrator
Of the Government of Barbados, until the new
ly-appointed Governor, Mr.. Pope Hennessey,
can make up his mind to show himself in the
colony. Mr.. Freeling's term of authority may
be short, but he seems determined to make
it memorable. He has probably. by this time,
found out his mistake, and when next he deals
with a colony in which there are representa-
tive institutions kept alive by no small degree
of public spirit, he will exercise a little more
discretion. At all events he has had a lesson
in Barbados he will not soon forget, The in.
habitants of that colony are not accustomed to
dictation from any officer, however distinguish
ed, of the Royal Engineers. In the speech
delivered by Mr. Freezing in opening the legiS-
lstive Session of 1856, he gives himself up
to free criticism. at is difficult to find words
to express his astonishment' at the condition
of the Town. Hall GaOl. He even threatens to
use his power "t0 prevent the Imprisonment
Of persons within any prison" The want Of
discretion shown in this threat is simply
lamentable. OF course, neither Mr.. Freezing
nor anybody else would ever venture to take
such a step. But Mr.. freezing goes further.
Nothing pleaSeS this severe censor. The ar
rangements for employing prisoners are sob
viDusly Objectionable" 1.-The lunatio asylum
has long been considered unfit for the proper care
and treatment of l~unatics." Mr.. Freezing ere
grets that a Bill was not passed last Session" to
repress lawlessness. 1t is with "sOme sur
prise" (for the Administrator has not exhaust
ed his power of aStonishment) he finds Barba-
dos deficient in the registration of births and
deaths. He ais glad to perceive that the
great Importance of education still continues
to be recognised" as If a community like that
of Barbados could be blind to the Importance
of such a subject. The law of Imprisonment
for debt is of the harSheSt character" The
legislation of the mother country on this SUBJ
ieot is founded lit is most refreshing to have
things settled right off III the style adopted by
Mr.. Freeling) "upon the plainest principles of
reason and equitable dealing" Then, in the
next paragraph, an elaborate system of poor
law government, with its attendant taxation,
looms into view. Mr. Freezing proceeds to an
attack upon the savings banks, and questions
the ~propriety of the investments made by
Iuou' H0AC P"AoSAoPH !" S0m' NOA
tains a " thanksgiving to the Almighty disposer
of all things" for neutralising, by a large crop
in Barbados, "the bad effects of protective
duties in the United States. After this exam
pie of military piety, the constant solicitude"
of the mother country (truly an unknown guam
tity) is brought into view for the admiration of
the colonists. Once more " the sacrifices made
by the mother country are held up with very
questionable taste and doubtful historical
accuracy, for the ediication of the Barbadians,
and with another pious aspiration the speech
closes. The Legislature, and indeed the whole
colony, were moved by this extraordinary
address. The last mail brought the replies
which were made by the Council and Assem-
bly,. These were excellent and dignifed in
spirit and language. The Council point out
the F." disastrous consequences" that would
ensue if the administrator carried out his
threat with regard to the prisons, and they
refer with a kind of cautious dignity to the
different subjects which provoked the " severe
comments" of the Administrator. The reply
of the Assembly was more outspoken, and
several of the speeches delivered in the Assem-
bly, we're naturally very spirited. A Barbados
House of Assembly may safely be trusted to
defend its rights, and the announcement in a
despatch from Lord CarnarvOn that unless
certain things were done, his lordship would
interfere with the Constitution" produced an
exhibition of that true Barbadian spirit which
those who are acquainted with the history of
the colony know. so well. The reply finally
adopted by the House of Assembly to the
<sI - q - n "a y HAR - a AL.E =