, 1880-07-17

III n al Ou 0Ds .s1f0Im STHK
great pleasure to WsttAp listen tn ttAee epcpFnVtag-
ing account of its R3Ossitipn ana PtpAsppents Ebich
has just been giveni, it, IS dhya aemYu iftiead and
successor, r suppose must CAP bin, Though IL
is many wears since / Vas fherre-Sirr Anthony
Muserave. He certainly has drawn d much
more hopeful picture of the EN- ancipsted negro
than that which is usually exhibited to us and
he has, moreover, adduced proof. and strong
proof, to show that 80 tar from there being
any ,,retrogression in civilization on his part,
there has been a steady and, on the whole, a
satisfactory progress EDWARDS. I think there
fore that all candid persons must admi that
the old idea which prevailedj among US that
the welfare of the negro was wholly and indis-
soluble connected with the restoration OF
sugar production in the West Indies, was, to
say The least of it, an exaggeration; and that
the institutions of the Colony have been main
tanned Notwithstanding the very great falling
off that has taken place in the production or
sugar [Hear,l IHear At the same time. 1t
certainly struck me, from what | heard OF this
paper Just read, that the extent to which fne
present population 10 still dependent, directly
or indirectly, on the cultivation of sugar-cane,
is consider ably under-estimated in 1t. L fear
that it would be found that if the present Guilt.
walton of sugar was unfortunately further re-
duced the consequences to the population
would be very lamentable. (Hear, hearc 1t
strikes me also that Sir Anthony Musgrave,
arriving 10 Jamaica SO many years after the
event, has, With every disposition to judge
impartially. not fully estimated the difficulties
which the planters had to encounter In that
island at the time of Emancipation. Hear,
hearl. IF they had been idiots enough. as he
seemed to suppose. deliberately to prevent the
negroes from remaining as, residents on their
estates, they certainly wDuldudDa entitled 10
very little COMMUNICATIONS PC 81 Butcaltbough
that has been the notwithstanding lsthSa sfrng-
giles which went on ISsf NHarN Wse o. fnagaro
to rent, ETC., with the nsgsqsa ltpsersafnag Ras
not the intention in tbs 6nHtl nssnncege and
fancy the result was dueotN @greatextens TO
previous circumstances pHcuat&u te1he island,
notably to the fact that the provision grounds
of the negroes in Jamaica we're, tor the most
pas, during slavery situated at o great dis
tanoe from the sugar works. However, Win
out entering into such questions DOW, believing
as l do that the greater part OF the educated
white population is employed on the sugar plan
tations and that its remaining IN the isiand
depends on the continued cultivation OF Inc
cane, l should be sorry to see that reduced at
the present moment and l avn very glad to
learn from Sir Anthony Musgrave that be is oil
opinion that it is entitled to every legitimate
support on the part of the Government.
was glad to learn also that the cultivation OF
coffee is reviving and being .exksnded in the
island, because I think it iR peonledVeadapted
to the climate of the COioay eaHdssRs DiEepTn-
stances Of its populations. uIReferemfoeas sheen
made to the fact that Swhen thseipspsk was
read at the Institutes last year MUGS psuspfsse
was expressed at reinstatement hati4anEalca
coffee still brought the highest IpicsIlnothe
London market. That statement was' ques-
stoned at the time, but I believe there ls no
doubt whatever that the finest coffee in the
world is grown on the slopes Of the Blue Noun
tains, though, unfortunately, the quantity Is
small, and that very excellent coffee is also
produced In Manchester and other parts OF
the island. There ere other minor articles OF
culture, such as pimento, Of which nature mas
gives Jamaica "a monopoly, cocoa, iogwood,
ETC., which have been alluded to in the paper,
but on which / need not now dwell. But L
think we may safely conclude that, great as mas
been the ruin among the old families OF the
island, who were principally engaged IN sugar
planting, the prospects of the future are oy
no means SO black as they are generally re-
presented to be+-ibear, hearl-and L must
add that every one who is really interested IN
the prosperity of the island ought TO feel deep
" indebted to Sir Anthony Musgrave for COM
ing forward so boldly to night and stating his
views In the very able and interesting paper
he has laid before us cloud Cheers.
Mr.. Chambers: I have been requested to
say a few words, and l do so with much satl5-
faction, because ! think there ere many here
who are aware that no one takes q greatef