State Of The Colonies.
The Times, 1824-02-10T00:00:00

ITThefoll' vin letter or. t-iis subject is extracted from the Gu:ana ('hron,i6e of the i7th Decernberl TO THE RIGHT-T HON. GEORGE( CANNING. Sir,-.When *ou were called upon to till the distinguished place in iSovernment vrhich you now hold, it was said that at no former period of our history had a Minister of the Crown so difficult a part to perform. But. when we now view the vast increase of that difficultv-when 'we contemplate the novel situation of re'ighbouring nations, and the alarmine condition of the colonies, we feel an asiurance of the coun. trv's safety only in the unlimited confidence which may be placed in rjinr universallv ackcnowledged talents. .-lThe measurcs of the lamented nobleman who preceded vou in oPfice, were nmore characteristic of great ability than of firmnenss - under his adtministration a new and dangerous party grew up, whose influence has long alarmed everv well- wisher and admirer ot the prosperity and greatnesp of England_a partv no les artful and vigilant in every part of the countrv, than intriguing and a-inbitious in arliament tat one moment using the lowly language of the hum- ble * Saint," at another arrogantly anathematizing sat who may op- pose the march of their cunning, schemes. This party. fonnerly denominated " Saints," and now " Philan- thropists,"hare so wonderfully increased in numbersanvi political in- f9uence, as at lecrith to have become po-werful in the House of Coin- mons, w*hilst in the countrv their labr,urs are discoverable in cverv villaze ! Pusily employed in plans wihich subdue the spirit, crip- pile the e .erines. and destroy the industry of the people; everywhere t:ni- humiliation and inzendicity but nowhere industrV and in- deprt'dellce. Ilere wc find a society for somne new " philanithropic" ?ll jct or another-there, an hospital for the reception of the victims of increaing misery. Tn this place is fountled a " Home Mission- arv Scietv,`"-in that, conspicuously standsa " Magdalen Asy- lunm." to receive the unfortotnate victims of growing vice ! until thie land is coyered with " Philanthropic Societies," and establishments of everv kind, instead of infduistrious and high spirited men ! instead of " a bold peasantry, a country's pride." ?ving thus made r.reat prog'ress in subvertinz t'.he old-fashioned condition efEnglis,'nt,en and tleir labours not being very acceptabxle, I w0uld s R p0oc% on the continent, although the easy comfort of the people in Rele.mi and other Places ofFr'rea a luxutiant harvest to the prospect 'if the party; and'Africa not havinz proved theprofitable soil theY h-.d expected, although a prettv round nimber of deluded emigTants had found their graves in the-" thriving colony of Sierra Ieone," and a few mercantile fortunes had been realized in London, by the job; as anew field then was wantel, the party determnined u*pon a trans-Atlantic schemne of amelioration ! The British WVest ; nd.aesa they supposed, maust stand in need of their labours, since there hp.d been no account sent honme of people being starved to deathb boze dvingof hunger. no such thing vas ever heard of in those co ntries, as the scene presented at Vorshlip-street Police-office on the 18th of October last, where a poor woman, " who had seen bet- ter dvss," was charged with, and acknowledged stealinz, in order to preserve the almoost extinruished sparks of life in a nakc'i and starv- ina family ! and who, on beinz detected, made the awful attempt of aelf-destruction ' Althougzh no such cup of misery as this was ever drmined in the British *'sest Inidies, yet the system was pro- nosunced tt be bad, and acquired a good deal of " philanthropic" in- terference. Now. Sir. as it nmay not be unfair to judge cf' cstablishments by the result of their operation. as ivell as those of modern philanthro- PV. -holsc course is everywhere marked with misery. atd often withi disorder, as the present condemned and calumniated constitution of society in these countries..in no Part of this colonv did we hear of hich waav robbery, or housebreaking, or of murders. no one resid- ing on plhntations, e'er considered it important to his safety, whe. ther his doors we-e brIlted at nigit, or not; and, wvhat I wouldsup- aouse to be of as much consequence in one countrv as in another the labounneclarsses here never know want. B,tthis absence of crime, this confidence and plenty, are soon chaneed by the approach of " philanthropic ameliorators." No sooner wvere the feelers of the emtpyrics strethchsi towards this country, than an alteration was ma. nifest: and when thev began in good earnest to " a:nel orate," mur- ders, andi thefts, and burglarics, soon became abundant. People residing in the country completely secured their dwellings at night, and slept with Ioaded fire-armns in' their ruoms ! Such is the comnpa. rative result of the old, with the trial we lhave had of the proposed sys;tern. The West indians may well exclaim, " Better let us eepour OUT present practice, than exchange it for the theories of' phi. In the present truly portentous situation of these affairs, the lTrest Indian, Sir. look towards you with intense interest; you are the rock on whiclt they rest the anchor of their hope; in your firmness. as- weli as in vour p-werful ability, thev depend, not only for due protection of their lives and property, but also for the promulgation to the people of En.land nf authentic facts rclative to the present stare of the colonies, which cannot fail of silencing and covering with shame the encroaching and slanderous party. N arious regulations of a commercial character have for years weighed downthe West Tndia colonies; in addition to which, the mischiceous interference of this pasty, were it still to be permitted by Groveirnnent to proceed in its ruinous career, would very soon tertrnate the profitable cultivation of these countties * and wvhich n:ould con-equently be at once lost to the present proprietors, and their maritimeic and financial consequence to Great Britain: then would be attained " a cornumma:ion," which the Phii'tnthropist.s have unhesdtatintgly declared is " devoutlv to be wished."* I am, Sir, your most obedient and m'ost huirnble servant, AN IN'I ABITANT Ok' DEMERARA. DCc. 5f, 1823. cropper', Letter to lVilherforce. ST1A TE OF THTE COLONvIES.