Eight years in British Guiana; being the journal of a residence in that province, from 1840 to 1848, inclusive

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EIGHT YEARS

BRITISH GUIANA;

BEING THE

JOUENAL OF A EESIDENCE IN THAT PROVINCE,

From 1840 to 1848, inclusive.

ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS ILLUSTEATING THE SOCIAI CONDITION
OE ITS INHABITANTS ;

OPINIONS OF THE WRITER ON THE STATE AND PROSPECTS OF OUR
SUGAR COLONIES GENERALLY.

BY BARTON PREMIUM,

A PLANTER OF THE PROVINCE.

EDITED BY HIS FRIEND.

Quis talia fando

Temperet a lachrymis.

VlKGIL.

LONDON :
LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, & LONGMANS.

LIVERPOOL: WAEEmG WEBB.
DUBLIN: J. M'GLASHAN. — EDINBURGH : OLIVER & BOTD.

AND

THOMAS MURRAY & SON, GLASGOW.
MDCCCL.

JOHN NEILION, PBIKIER.

CONTENTS,

Page
Preface by the Editor, - - - - - - 7

January, 1840.
Reasons for going to reside in Guiana ; arrival in plantation For-
tune ; reception by the Negroes ; their rejoicings ; delight of
my family with everything ; discussion of the estate, man-
sion-house, &c., and of the family ; Negro festivities at
Christmas ; their Sunday dresses ; freedom and slavery ;
matrimonial speculation ; Wellinghams, father and son ; con-
stitution of the Colonial Legislature, - - - - 9

March, 1840.
Negroes turning out to work; Scotch overseer; Ridley of the
Moimt ; conversation with him ; governor and Court of
Police ; George ; tiger-cat ; ants' nest and its contents, - 35

July, 1840.
Extraordinary rise in the price of sugar, and its effects on the
planters ; a gaudeamus party ; discussion of the colonial
question, immigration particularly, - - - - 43

October, 1840.
Mr. Wellingham's opinions ; purcha sing of land by tlie Negroes ; ^
cultivation of estates described ; failure of the plough after
being tried everywhere, and the causes ; shovel ploughing ;
great care required in every field operation ; bad quality of
the land in the interior ; conversations with Mr. WeUingham,
with my head foreman, and my manager, on colonial affairs
and labourers' wages; quarrels among the Negroesj^an in-
stance ; their orgies at night ; my private source of anxiety, 58

773811

iy CONTENTS.

Page

January, 1841.

Crop and revenue of 1 840 ; debts of proprietors, how contracted ;
Wellingham's debt; public aflFairs; Sir Henry M'Leod's mis-
sion to the Colony ; governor superseded ^/-o tempore, - 76

JULT, 1841.

Sudden change in the feelmgs of planters ; faU of prices ; debate
on admission of slave sugar into British market ; its effects
on the planters ; despondency, compensation, spoliation ; my
daughter's marriage; conversation with Mr. "Wellingham ; ^
Negroes' dislike to work alone, anecdote in illustration; -■
Portuguese of Madeira, Negroes' opinion of them, and mine ;
island Negroes ; improvements about estates' works ; abortive
attempt to introduce wheelbarrows; Obi, Negroes' feelings
regarding it, -

82

95

Januakst, 1842.

Planters meet to concert measures to save them from ruin, and
frame a code of plantation rules and regulations ; my fore-
man's opinion of the way in which the Negroes wiU receive
them, and also on the measures of government; Negroes'
ideas of White people's interests^ - - - -

Febrxjakt, 1842.

Consternation of the planters in consequence of a strike among
the Blacks, which is likely to be long continued on account
of the proceedings of the executive ; apparent desire of the
latter to keep up wages ; delusion of English people in regard
to Negroes and barbarous people in general, including savage
potentates ; governor's opinion of wages and food ; detailed
statement of Negroes' outlay for food; crop of last year;
Negroes' dislike to work with an imskilful planter ; conver-
sation with Wellingham and his family ; disinclination to
sacrifice my property at present low prices, although I have
little hope of better times ; resolution to protect my family,
at all events, - - - - - - - 99

July, 1842.

Cessation of the strike; Governor u. Mr. Briar ; Distress Commit-
tee of House of Commons derided by anti-slavery party;
story of an ox and a missionary ; hunting in Guiana ; a ma-
rooning party, - - - - - -114

CONTENTS. T

Page

OCTOBEB, 1842.

No effect from proceedings of Distress Committee ; beating of
Africans under pretence that they are Obi men ; misconstruc-
tion of the planters' conduct in England ; Portuguese labour-
ers; many imported ; their singular habits, - - - 122

Jancaet, 1843.
Crops and balance sheet; conversation with Brown on state of
the land ; manuring ; position of Barbadoes planters compared
with oui'S ; sad change in moral conduct of Negroes ; marriage
injudiciously urged on them, and the consequence of it ; their
aversion to paying doctors ; local government will not inter-
fere ; vagrant acts ; anti-colonial faction prevents the passing
of those and all other laws restricting the Negroes ; state of
press ; ignorance of those not interested in estates, - - 128

July, 1843.
Negro idleness ; huntsmen of proprietors ; tales of tigers ; Negro
opinion of American aborigines, - - - - 1 50

Jakuaet, 1844.
Crops and balance sheet ; conversation with my son ; state of la-
bour ; effect of government's abolishing contracts made out
of the Colony ; a blessing to be no legislator in these times ;
bite of a snake ; snakes in general ; rattle-snake ; reptiles and
insects ; life living on life ; the vulture, - - - 1 56

JuLT, 1844.
Eumours of projected immigration ; conversation with Mr. Eidley ;
state of population; depreciation of property; effect of;
planters are ruined ; sanguine expectations from opening up
Brazil to our manufactures ; steady downward progress ; Mr.
Wellingham's distress; conversation with his daughter-in-
la'w', 167

January, 1845.
Crops and balance sheet ; Indian story, - - - - 1 83

July, 1845.
Peel's scheme for admitting free foreign sugar into Britain ; its

effect on planters here, - - . . - 185

January, 1846.
Crops and balance sheet ; free settlers ; planters trying Madeira
once more for labourers ; immigration loan, - - - iss

VI * CONTENTS.

Page
July, 1846.

Arrival of Coolies from India; their appearance; great attention

paid to their health and comfort, - - - - 188

September, 1846.
Coup de grace in the Sugar Duty Act of July ; origin and causes
of it ; English opinions on slavery ; wide dissemination of
free-trade principles ; destructive effect unavoidable ; its en-
couragement of the African slave-trade ; pay-day of the
Negroes described; attendance at school, and progress of
Negro children, - - - - - - 1 9 1

January, 1847.
Conversation with Mr. Wellingham ; free-trade and its object, and
necessary effect ; conversation with Mr. Eidley ; Mr. WeUing-
ham's distress ; sequestration, and our proceedings in conse-
quence, ..-..-. 222

March, 1847.
Pamphlet on the state of the Colony, written by "a planter;"
Hmne's scheme of civilizing Africa, by bringing people to
the West Indies and returning them, considered ; it affords
the only chance of saving the West Indies, and of suppressing
the Airican slave-trade; catastrophe at WeUingham's ; dread-
ful distress ; plans for the future, . - - - 252

July, 1847.
My situation getting more and more precarious; Mr. Himie's
scheme further considered ; immigrants at present here ;
sirdar and his wife ; my family depart, - - - 269

January, 1848.
Lord Greorge Bentinck's Committee ; expectations from it ; a bal-
ance sheet, .--.-.. 287

March, 1848.
Favourable accounts of Lord George Bentinck's Committee, and

hope revived ; sickness ; departure from Colony, - - 289

Concluding Kemarks, by the Editor, - - - - 291

PREFACE BY THE EDITOR.

As the following pages contain within themselves evidence
that they were not designed for publication, it is necessary to
explain some circumstances which led to their being laid be-
fore the public. The writer felt deeply the situation he was
placed in, and became soon firmly of opinion that the policy
adopted towards our sugar colonies would end in their ruin.
He felt also that, notwithstanding his apprehensions, he had
not resolution to withdraw in time from the vortex which a
West India estate has been since 1838, into which all the
wealth possessed by the proprietor, apart from itself, must be
drawn. It will be seen from the journal, that this singular
state of mind occurs to himself occasionally, and that a
twinge of remorse comes across him when he reflects on the
folly of continuing year after year to lay out a lai'ge sum in
addition to his crop, in order to keep his estate in cultivation,
until it became too late to effect a sale. The same strange
feeling prevailed extensively, and still prevails among planters.
Under aU the feelings originating in this state of mind, and
arising out of his position, he felt relief in committing to
paper every thought, incident, and conversation which oc-
curred to him, or in which he was interested, but without the
slightest notion of showing the journal to any but the mem-

PREFACE.

bers of his own family, and not even to them while he was in
life. What changed his intention must now be stated.

When Mr. Premium came home from Guiana, worn out
wath sickness and Avith care, he was morbidly anxious to join
his family m Italy; and, hurrying on to that country, he left
his baggage under the care of that friend Avho is now his
Editor, and, in opening the different packages to get them
through the Custom-house, the manuscript was observed.

This friend, using the privilege of one, examined the paper,
and finding what it was, and considering that information
regarding the West Indies is sought after at present, he be-
lieved it should be published, not because of any merit it
possessed, but as a faithful record of the opinions of one who
had been, during a long life, connected with these colonies,
and who had resided there, taking a personal interest in
everything during eight of the most eventful years in their
history.

The Editor, it may be remarked, has also been a colonist,
and has been obliged to watch, with painful interest, the cruel
effect of those measures which the imperial government have
deemed it wise to inflict on the colonies. He felt that every-
thing which could throw light on the operation of them
should be made known, and, under this impression, wrote in
the strongest terms to Mr. Premium, requesting permission to
give his journal publicity; and the Editor thinks he cannot
do better than state Mr. P.'s arguments against his proposal,
and his own in favour of it.

His first letter was written in considerable alarm at the Edi-
tor's suggestion ; and he began by stating that the journal con-
sisted of entries of all sorts, which could not possibly be of
interest to any one out of his OAvn family — that he had made
them in the belief that they would be seen by no person in

PREFACE. IX

his lifetime, and that they were, in every respect, unfit for
publication ; and, regretting extremely his carelessness in al-
lowing it to fall into the Editor's hands, he requested him
earnestly to think no more of it.

In his next letter, he dwelt on the asperity which charac-
terised his remarks on the members of government, whether
imperial or local, and the anti-colonial party in general,
which, although the natural emanation of that mood of mind
which prevails in the West Indies, is neither consonant with
his own taste, nor in accordance with those feeHngs which he
would like to entertain for his fellow-men.

In replying to his objections, the Editor reminded him that
any passages might be expunged which he particularly pointed
out, but that, in his opinion, it would be better to make little
alteration, in order that the journal might be as neaidy as possi-
ble a transcript of what passed in his mind and in the miads
of his neighbours while they were undergoing the operation of
imperial legislation. It was hhited also that the lighter inci-
dents and anecdotes he alluded to might be amusing to some
readers, mentioning the case of Sir Francis Head's " crow,
with its handful of feathers and lump of carrion," and that to
some those little passages he condemned might be the feathers,
and the serious portion the carrion.

With regard to the more important subject — of the ap-
parent bitterness with which those in power were descanted
on — it was said that the observations in the journal applied
exclusively to the political character of those functionaries,
and that, in treating of them, it was desirable that the public
of the mother country should perceive in what manner some,
at least, of the colonists felt under the treatment they were
receiving.

The Governor, an estimable man, in the opmion of Mi-.

X PREFACE.

Premium, as a private individual, is a different person under
the domination of the colonial oflBce, and forced to adapt his
conduct to that of his superiors ; for he becomes the mere in-
strument of a party, without authority to exercise his own
judgment. Many of the observations also in the journal
apply to a period now gone by — such as those on the press,
which were drawn from him by the manner in which one
newspaper, now extinct, treated of aU subjects which came
under its notice.

After much correspondence, Mr. Premium's consent was
obtained, and the Editor proceeded to arrange the MS., and
to correct it according to the directions of the writer. But
there was considerable difference of opinion in carrying this
into effect also ; and, in short, the Editor took upon himself
the responsibility of giving to the world many passages which
the writer of them would have withheld; others were ar-
ranged so as to give them an aspect more suitable to the
general reader. The real names of parties, who form the
principal characters in the journal, are also suppressed, for
obvious reasons; but there is not an anecdote, incident, or
occurrence, detailed in it, which is not positively matter-of-
fact, even to the sad catastrophe which happened in the
family of Mr. Premium's principal friend.

In fact, although some alterations — such as must take place
in a manuscrijit written with no view to the press — have
been made, care has been taken to preserve the jom'nal essen-
tially in its original state. Many dates have been left out in
order to keep from it everything like extraneous or unneces-
sary matter, and to preserve a sort of continuous form to the
narrative of proceedings.

With regard to the opinions of the writer on the West
India question in general, it is believed little need be said.

PREFACE. XI

They are those of the gi-eat body of unfortunate colonists who
seem to have been sacrificed at two different epochs to popu-
lar excitement, raised by the same great party. On the first
occasion, they were doomed to a slow but almost certain pro-
cess of destruction, by the crude and precipitate Act which
emancipated their slaves; and, on the next, they were further
oppressed by another Act of Parliament which insured, and
more speedily effected their ruin, by subjecting them to com-
petition with slave-importing planters.

Men need not wonder if British planters feel acutely, and
express bitterly the reflections which arise in their minds, on
contemplating the severe manner in which they have been
dealt with from first to last; and in which regard has been
had neither to their mental sufferings nor their pecuniary afiairs.
They have not been deemed worthy of consideration, except in
so far as they were considered useful to the mother country ;
and now, when the party is in power which believes colonies
to be burdens generally, they have experienced the treatment
which such opinions may be expected to originate, and which
too clearly point out the future fate of those once flourishing
settlements, in the hands of political economists.

Mr. Premium's observations on the conduct of the anti-
colonists towards the colonies may appear to be harsh, but
they are also based on correct observation and just deduction.
Nothing in political annals can be more striking than the
fury of zeal manifested by this party, from 1823 to 1833, in
favour of the slaves, as contrasted with the same eagerness of
agitation with which it has advocated the cause of the
Brazilian slave-holder, and the illicit and barbarous trade in
African slaves — for the admission of slave-grown sugar com-
prehends both these interests j and, latterly, the earnestness
with which the same party seeks to abolish the means, by

Xn PREFACE.

treaty and blockade, which are used successfully to check, if
not to suppress the horrible traffic, forms a feature in pub-
lic and political conduct which must strike the observing and
disinterested stranger with astonishment and dismay.

The plan for civilizing Africa, suggested by Mr. Hume, is
recommended in the journal as the only human means which
can be devised, in the existing state of aifairs, for suppressing
this trade. It is obvious indeed that, unless the slaves should
be emancipated throughout the Brazilian empire, no measure
of coercion can be available in preventing the deportation of
people from Africa to the coasts of that country. A glance
at the map avUI satisfy any one on this head.

That permission to purchase slaves on the African coast,
for the purpose of manumitting and bringing them to the
"West Indies, affords the only chance that can possibly remain
to the British planter of competing successfully with his
rivals, is also certain.

It is represented as a heinous crime to redeem human
beings from slavery, by the same men who, twenty years ago,
were incessant in their representations, orally and litei*ally,
of the miseries arising out of the right Avhich one man had to
the " blood, bones, and sinews" of another. Yet, no such
wretchedness ever existed among the slaves of the "West
Indies as prevails now among the bondsmen of African
savages.

This, any thinking person wUl require no arguments to
convince him of. It is certain that ransoming those un-
fortunates is better than allowing them to contmue slaves,
even if transferred to civilized masters. And, in the impos-
sibility of suppressing the slave-trade, the question is reduced
to this compass. For, so long as Ave do not put an end to it,
so long will the native dealers cai-ry their slaves to the coast,

PREFACE. XIU

where, if they do not find a purchaser, the} will either be
butchered or returned as slaves to savage and merciless mas-
ters, unless the agents of freedom are permitted to step in and
rescue them from both sorts of slavery, and the risk of being
massacred, and thus eventually destroy the trade entirely.

November, 1849.

EIGHT YEARS

IN

BRITISH GUIANA.

1st January, 1840.

The events of tlie past year have impressed me so
deeply with a sense of approaching calamity, that I think
it necessary to write do^vn the thoughts, feehngs, and
occm*ences which each consecutive month may give rise
to, in order that my life may be as a beacon and a guide
to my sons, and perhaps even their sons, in after hfe. It
is my desu'e, therefore, that this journal, on which human
eye save mine, while I live, shall not rest, may be read
carefully and attentively by my descendants when I am
gone, that it may serve to guide them in the hard game
of life which the unhappy colonists are obliged to play
with an all-powerfiil and a harsh adversary. For the
benefit also of those of my family, who, at a more remote
period, peruse these sheets, I shall here set down the par-
ticular events of my preceding years.

I am a native of British Guiana. My father, an indus-
trious planter of the Colony, left me an estate there
which yielded a clear revenue of £4,000 per annum. I
had been educated in England, and soon after returning
to my father, he died, leaving me absolute master of his
wealth, as my mother had been removed some years be-
fore, and I had no brother nor sister. I soon returned
to Europe, and, after a few years' travel, married the
daughter of a rich London merchant ; I then set-
tled in one of the maritime counties, living happily,
and enjoying the society of men like myself, of good edu-
cation and independent fortune. Continuing thus in

B

10

the enjoyment of the advantages with which fortune had
blest me for many yeai's, I had a son and two daughters
bom to me ; the foimer was destined to reside on our
estate in the Colony, and to take charge of it in course
of time.

Thus we stood in the year 1838, when an astounding
intimation fi-om the Cabinet to the different settlements,
annomiced the desire of our country, that the system of
apprenticeship, guaranteed to the planter as part of the
price of those slaves he had purchased from the mother
country, through her merchants, should terminate.
Those, like myself, who were intimately versed in colonial
affairs, apprehended the worst consequences from this
abrupt departure from what was considered a settled
course.

The Negroes requfred, instead of less, much longer
time than was comprehended in the term of apprentice-
sliip, to enable them to acqmi'e the habit of thinking and
acting for themselves, as they had been hitherto machines
guided bv the superior minds of others, rather than
rational creatures; children in mmd, with the thews and
sinews, and the violent passions of tropical men, what
was not to be apprehended from them when the control-
hng power was ^^■ithdrawn. Such were the fears which
naturally invaded us, aware as we were, that govern-
ment had taken no decided steps to supply the deficiency
of labour by immigration, for we did not apprehend
\'iolence from them. We had already experienced the
fact, that extensive destruction was unhkely to occur in
a conflict between Europeans and Negroes, owing to the
cause I have just stated — the moral power of the former,
and the want of capacity in the latter to form combina-
tions, and organize any general scheme of aggression
against the Whites. Our knowledge of them, however,
induced us to apprehend that they would seek rather the
gratification of their passions, than the quiet pm'suits of

11

industry, wheu left to themselves; aud alas I the result
seems, in so far as it is yet realized, to waiTant ttose ap-
prehensions.

Mr mind had been tossed on a sea of trouble for more
than a year after we learned that a planter iii our legis-
lature had been the means of at once thi'owing the
Negi-oes on our hands. When I fomid myself, at the
end of one short year after the first of August, 1838, with
only half my foimer annual revenue, I perceived the
time had anived for exertion, when every colonial pro-
prietor must Ik? up and doing with his shoulder at the
wheel, and immediately began those preparations, which
I had long beheld in prospective, for a voyage to, and a
residence of some years in British Guiana. From ii'e-
quently speaking of its probaliility, my family were pre-
pared for the change, and readily gave in to all my plans.
I was now in my fiftieth year; my wife, two years
younger; my eldest gii'l nineteen, and her sister seven-
teen ; my boy, who had now been two ^"ears in the
Colony, about twenty-one.

Sailing from the Thames in October, 1839, we reached
Georgetown upon the 20th November, and were received
on my estate by that exuberance of hilarity which I had
witnessed on former occasions, and which seemed to be
not at all abated. They screamed, danced, and shouted
as the caniage drove up with the family, forming a
dingj- lane along the avenue or approach to the mansion-
house. Some lines in my fi-iend Chapman's pretty poem
of Borbadoes, describe well the joyous excitement which
novelty gives lise to among those rude children of natm-e.
jSlv family, none of whom had been in the West Indies
before, seemed to be struck with wonder at what they
saw — the half-clad forms, and widely expanded mouths,
revealing rows of pearly teeth beyond the common di-
mensions of Em-opean grinders, in contrast with an
ebony complexion, and the singularly wild gestm'es and

12

uncouth cries and exclamations of the group, constituted
a scene which both startled and pleased the women.
"Aha! Massa," cried David, an old driver, as he shook
my hand, "all free now, neber mind, work all the same,
man most work, no work no eat," and those common-
place observations I fomid they all had in abundance —
they had acquired the words, but the meaning, like the
vows of Homer's unlucky heroes, was lost in empty air ;
at least, if they felt its force, they did not perceive the
necessity for acting on it.

My estate stands near a river, commanding the
full view of a splendid stream, which in Em'ope would
be the mightiest of waters, bearing on its quiet bosom
innumerable corials, batteaux, canoes, and every variety
of small craft, which the increasing wealth of the
labouring class enables them readily to acquire ; and
it is a rare thing, even thus early in the career of
freedom, to see a negro on foot, unless he is going a very
short distance. Occasionally a square-rigged vessel will
come gaily along the tranquil waters, as if rejoicing in
the waveless peace of our inland sea, on its course to some
large plantation, there to receive a considerable portion
of its cargo; and many Colony schooners, of ten to twenty
tons burthen, are crossing continually to and fi'o between
the shipping and the different estates, they being the
carriers of produce generally from the latter to the for-
mer. The house is large and commodious, with a gallery-
surrounding it, and all those variations of structure
resorted to in the tropics to promote the cu'culation of air.
A considerable space around it has been planted with
those flowering shrubs, and beautifrJ, though gaudy
flowers, which spring up so luxuriantly on the South
American continent. And amidst them, the gaudy
plumed birds of the country sport in great numbers, and
ghstening lizards of every variety are seen on the ground
and the palm trees which grow also near the house,

13

mixed with the sculpture-hke cabbage palm ; a Httle
farther off, fruit trees of every variety form an ex-
tensive orchard, in which the peach-like mango, the
yellow orange, and the dehcious grape-fruit shine con-
spicuous ; the approach is lined on each side by a regular
roAv of cabbage trees, equal in age and size, which, throw-
ing their branch-like leaves over the road, afford a
partial shelter to the passing equestrian or gig traveller,
from the glare of a noontide sun. On ascending to the
porch, my wife and daughters lifted up their hands with
delight, and some time elapsed ere they could withdraw
their eyes from the new and lovely objects which attracted
them, as they all said they felt they were in another
world — in fauy land. "In a new world certainly," my
dears, was my reply, "but whether it is as good as it is
fair, you have yet to try."

In the meantime, the frequent tap on the far-off drum
came booming along the breeze from our negro village,
gi\ang note of what was to come ; and scarcely had oui"
dinner been hastily finished, for wonder and excitement
took away appetite, when the hubbub, which at a little dis-
tance was like the murmuring of the sea, ceased altogether,
and nothing was heard but the aforesaid tap, until we
found that all the empty space in front of our house was
occupied by the negroes, ready to celebrate the glad oc-
casion of our arrival, after then" own fashion, by banjar and
drum ; and, in a short time, the mirth, with the usual
assistance of a tubful of punch, grew fast and furious,
to the great amusement, and sometimes alarm of the
ladies. The sable performers beat the ground with their
long heels — the toe is not fantastic mth them, — and when
one man chaunted a line of rude verse suitable to the
cause of their merriment, the rest repeated it in full
chorus to a tune of their own, till it swelled loud and high,
far and wide, over the din of the well-beaten drum.
Gradually the bacchanals, advancing onward as the fes-

14

tivity ripened, invaded the house itself, and with such a
multitude of sooty Terpsichoreans, the beams and boards
creaked and groaned, I feared even unto dissolution ; but
there was no remedy. From time immemorial such sa-
turnalia had been endured ; and it was only after hours
of continual exertion that a sort of slackness appeared,
which gave me and the manager, then with me, an oppor-
tunity of representing the fatigues of the family, and how
much better it would be to finish the dancing in their
own village, which reasoning being enforced l^y another
pailftd of rum and other ingredients for punch, that
would last until they were all tired, we got them off after
many strange conges, and sundry skips and yells on the
green, caused by their over-boiling happiness. " Child-
ren ! children ! " muttered I to myself, as I tm'ned from
the scene, " are these the sons of steady and continuous
industry ? No, no ; there is too much of the sun in the
fiery fluid that circulates within — too much of the African
rover of the woods, to labour if he can five without it — too
little of the Euroj^ean mind, to loiow the advantages of a
settled occupation." Such w^cre the reflections which
saddened me as I retu*ed.

Next day, while my Avife and daughters Avere en-
gaged in exploring the wonders which this new province
in the kingdom of Flora contained, in as far as the shade
afforded by the trees j)erniitted, I was fully occupied with
my manager in an anxious inquiiy into the internal econ-
omy of my plantation. I write this journal mider a
forebochng that all things here shall pass away, and the
place of their fathers be no more known by my grand-
children. Therefore, I gi\-e a short sketch of the For-
tune as it is in 1840. It is about one mile A\-ide, by one
and three-quarters deep — the fa9ade, or A\idth, extending
along the bank of the river and parallel with it, the depth
running from the latter back towards the busli or pj-ime-
val forest. In the centre is a large canal, Avhich goes

15

from front to back for about a mile; and from this, navi-
gable trenches, fifteen feet wide, diverge at right angles
into the fields on each side, their number and length cor-
responding to the extent of the cultivation. By means of
punts on these canals, the canes are brought from the
fields to the mill and sugar-house, which stand at about
a quarter of a mile fi'om the mansion, at the extremity of
the large canal. Besides those trenches for navigation,
there is another series for drainage; each field being
intersected by small drains at the distance of thirty-six
feet fi'om each other, which are from two to two-and-a-half
feet deep, and of the same width. These empty their
waters into a larger one of fom' feet, which again conveys
them into the main drain or great acqueduct, which car-
ries off to the river the waters of half the cultivated lands.
They are called sideline trenches, and run close to the
dam or boundaiy extending from the river unto the bush.
As all the estates lie parallel to each other, the boundary
here is a dam consisting of the earth thrown out of
these large draining trenches on each side ; the trench on
the next plantation lying on the other side of the dam.
At the embouchm'e of those sideKne trenches, a sluice
or koker, proportioned to the body of water evacuated, is
erected, and regularly opened at low water, and shut when
the tide rises high enough to demand it.

The land extends to frilly a thousand acres, one half
of which is in cane cultivation. Two years before this
period, the banana or plantain had covered about one
hmicfred acres more, and had been kept in a most luxu-
riant state of culture for the benefit of the negroes, as the
law required ; but now that the latter were free agents,
and the scarcity of working people was rendering it dif-
ficult to keep up the necessary extent of canes for the
crop of the estate, the manager had been obliged to aban-
don ftdly two-thirds of it, telling the labourers that they
must now do like the Whites, and buy their provisions,

IG

or raise tliem on the grounds allotted to families on the
plantations for themselves. They thought this a great
hardship, for they fully expected to continue in the enjoy-
ment of every advantage they had in foi'mer times, and
to have their wages in addition. Some of the leading
men among them actually complained to the stipendiary
magistrate of this injurious treatment, as they believed it
to he; and he, being one of those who served the anti-
colonial party rather than the government, deemed it ne-
cessary to hold a solemn inquiry into the facts on the
estate, but finding that they were indisputable, the deci-
sion of the manager he was obliged to confirm, as he could
discover no hitch whereupon he might hang some token
of his zeal in the cause of the party he belonged to. The
beha\'ioiu' of that man in this instance gave rise to many
heartburnings among the people, and to many comj)laints
from the Negroes against the representative of the estate
afterwards ; whereas, if he had simply told them how the
law stood, and that the proprietor was not bound to find
food for them after the first of August, 1838, and if he
had not proceeded to the estate to hold a sort of trial of
the manager, everything would have gone on smoothly ;
but poor blackie, being delighted to find that he had a
sort of power over the Massa (for the manager was also
my attorney or agent), would have brought him to a si-
milar account eveiy Satiuxlay, if the patience of the func-
tionary had not at last given way, and his love of ease got
the better of his party spirit.

The crop for a lorig time had been on an average 500
hds., with the usual proportion of rum and molasses.
But the year 1839, for the first time during fifty years,
had seen a diminution of that number by one half^ and
the cause of this sad falling oif it was now my anxious
desire to ascertain accurately, or rather, I should say, to
discover if any, saving the want of labom*, really did exist.
The manager, ]Mr. Brown, was a man of good education,
who had been long on the property, and was consequently

17

well acquainted with the capabilities of the land, and also
with the character, general and specific, of the people.
He said that of two great evils arising out of emancipa-
tion, he scarcely knew which was the worst, but they
both arose from the same cause, the absence of a control-
ling power over the Negi'oes, who were like infants whom
the law takes care of, unable by their own judgment to
regulate their actions properly. They could not bring
themselves to work continuously, and when they were
in the field, no threat nor pxmishment in the power of any
one to inflict, could induce them to execute their task
with that nice attention which tropical agTiculture, and
especially the culture of the cane, requu'es; and it ap-
pears doubtful to him, whether the mere abstraction of
their former quota of labour, or the slovenly scratching
work now obtained, operated most injiuiously for the
planter. They both have a direct tendency to diminish
the production of the land, and in that way had jointly
resulted in a general loss of crop for the bygone year,
of fully one moiety. On the Fortune, nearly one half
of the former population had gone away. In fact, on
almost every estate, there was a general upheaving of
society, the ties by which it was kept together in other
days having been broken asunder, and a restless desire
for change, in hopes of still further improving their con-
dition, taking possession of the labouring population.
Many a planter reHed on former attachment, fostered by
kind treatment ; but a child remembers not such associa-
tions, and can the NegTo, with his puerile mental develop-
ment, be actuated by them? On ignorance of this fact
with many, and wilful neglect of it among others, the
resolution to emancipate them mthout sufficient prepara-
tion, and, subsequently, the sudden termination of the
period of apprenticeship as fixed by the act, are owing, and
out of it all the evils which the sugar Colonies now suffer,
and are doomed to undergo hereafter, must emanate.

c

18

A system which shuts the ear of the ruler against the
voice of practice, as opposed to that of theoiy or imagina-
tion, cannot work well, especially in the Colonies, which
are so distant fi'om the seat of government, and from
whence the soimd is but feeble, as compared with the
turbulent agitation and loud outcry which the partizans
of the opposing faction are able to raise, and which indeed
overaw the ministerial party. The time has arrived
when the struggle of classes to promote the interests of
their order, is to trouble the nation and influence the
parhament. It is thus the welfare of those settlements
which have fostered the immense manufactming power
in Britain, until it has become dangerous pohtically to the
state, is overshadowed and utterly lost sight of by the
colossal interest they engendered; and if such base ter-
giversation is possible, as anything may be in this age,
judging from the aspect of the tunes, we may even anti-
cipate that before many years elapse, fi'ee trade will make
such progi-ess as to force all other considerations to give
way to it; and the question of slavery, hitherto regarded
as one of morals, and to which commercial and all other
national interests must give place, shall be forced into the
shade, and a demand made, that restrictions on the for-
eign and ilhcit slave trade shall cease, as incompatible
with that unhmited scope which mercantile enteri^rise
m every form and in every quarter demands. The doc-
trine sought to be established seems to be that wherever
cloth or iron, or any article which has undergone mani-
pulation in Great Britam, can be sold, whatever may be
the commodity received in exchange, every thing that
clogs in the least, or mterferes with the transaction, must
be removed. But I need not look forward; sufficient for
the day is the e^^l thereof.

After an anxious and harassing moniing, spent partly
m the fields, I retm-ned in the afternoon to my family,
more care-^^vorn and dejected than ever. It was some

19

relief to find tlieni in good spiiits, and 1 resolved at all
times to conceal, as much as possible, the anguish which
the state of affairs might occasion me, and Avhicli I had
no doubt now, would be my portion. Still, however, I
trusted that something might occur to assist us in our
efforts; and, hke my fellow sufferers, I yet, with a sort
of despamng look, tm*ned my eye to the mother country.
"Now, Barton," said my wife as I entered, "clear those
moody brows ; I and the girls are so delighted with the
place ! the gay sunshine ! the blooming flowers in Decem-
ber ! the lovely bu'ds, and the joyous face of every thing
about us, from the aspect of nature, to the dark visage
of the Negro, that we are determined neither care nor
sorrow shall reach us." " Ah, so ! my lively dame,"
repKed I; "and what say you, young ones?" "Oh!
papa, we have been so happy to-day, George has shown
us every thing about the place, and really it looks like a
paradise." "And where is Master George?" enquu'ed I,
"for he hath not been at his work to-day." "How could
he," cried my wife, "I hope he asked leave, nevertheless;
did you George?" "Certainly," rephed he, "I could not
think of it otherwise." "Right, my boy; discipline
among Whites as well as Blacks, is essential to the success
of a sugar settlement." In the bosom of my family, I
now, as on former occasions, found solace and consolation
for every affliction. My son George is well acquamted
with the principal persons in the neighbourhood, and he
entertained us with an account of them, preparatoiy to
the intercourse which must now tal^e place. He is a
tall handsome lad, though embrowned by the toil of an
overseer's employment, and, I flatter myself, possessed
of considerable talents; but he, unlike me, looks on the
bright side of the picture, and has confident expectations
that good times are in store for us.

My wife, born and educated in London, has those pre-
delictions which are peculiar to people who belong to a

20

large city, and she never, even in the gay neighbourhood
where we resided in England, was perfectly reconciled to
a continued absence from that centre of all attractions,
the grand metropolis. The parks, the theatres, and the
opera, were to her the summit of hmnan fehcity, and
other gaieties, lacking their presence, were only to be
endured, not enjoyed. It was a proof of her naturally
kind disposition, and her fondness of her family, that she
gave up so cheeifally those cherished likings in favour
of us whose partialities took an opposite direction, and we
often told her that we beheved she really cared as little
for London as we did, especially when, on the annual
monthly sojourn there, she manifested always much
earnestness to retui'n to her rm^al home. Certainly, how-
ever that may be, no family was ever happier or more in
unison than ours. It would be difficult to tell whether
parents or children loved each other best. Yet a removal
to a distant Colony for the first time, Avith one at my
wife's age, and with her associations fixed for many years,
so different from the ideas she was to acquire in her new
abode, altogether constituted a change which gave me
anxiety of a different nature from that arising out of the
general condition of my class. Not that she was singular
in her position. Many ladies of the province had returned
to theh- husbands' estates under even more disheartening
circumstances, for it was well known that a majority
.of my fellow planters were involved in debt; over those I
had a great advantage, for having never spent my income,
I had some thousands of pounds at my credit in England,
besides a considerable sum in one of the Colonial banks.
My two gii'ls were lady-like and handsome; the eldest,
Grace, of rather a grave and meditative disposition, but yet
exceedingly pleasing in her manners; Jane, the youngest,
lively and full of glee— both all that I could wish in^dis-
position. Thus was I situated with my flock around me
at the eventful era in the West Inches, of a commencing

21

struggle for the means of supporting existence; that such
it is, every thing indicates, and therefore I put the expres-
sion down in this record of my opinions.

Looking abroad, I can see nothing to enhven the pros-
pect. The parhament and people of England are deter-
mined to treat us like step-childi'en, and to carry out their
intentions, have sent a governor who is wedded to them
in every way — a whig in principle, and an obedient ser-
vant in all respects to his master, the colonial minister.
Really, we cannot expect anything else : governors are
generally poor men, with nothing but their claims on
powerful friends by which to obtain a livelihood, and
if they set themselves up in opposition to their employers,
ranged on the side of the Colony they govern, they cannot
expect to continue in the good graces of those on whom
they depend. In each settlement two parties exist, which
are regularly pitted against each other, as much as buyer
and seller in any commercial transaction. The official
men are continually stickling for the rights of the parent
country, and making demands which the interests of the
Colony requu^e of her representatives to resist. Thus,
it is perfectly understood they are opposed to each other,
and, in general, harmony and good humour prevail among
both parties; but, when not a fraction of property, but
the whole of it, is at stake, men need not wonder that
angry expressions occasionally emanate from colonial
members, on hearing proposals containing, perhaps, the
germ of a new and destructive ordinance to be imposed
by the privy council. Yet is has been the fashion for the
press to assume, that the wrangling in the local legisla-
ture is invariably the result of bigoted obstinacy, and
narrow-minded prejudice, on the part of those who protect
the colonists in their rights and privileges, and are bound,
by the very nature of their office as representatives, to do
so. Doubtless, the gentlemen of the colonial office are
often really surprised to find that some scheme, which

22

they imagined to be a specimen of siu'passing skill in
legislatorial science, has been pronounced impracticable or
pernicious by the men experienced in such matters as it re-
lates to, and to whom it is submitted in the local assembly;
their wrath is excited accordingly, and directed, not, (as it
should be, like the Scorpion's sting,) against themselves, but
showered in thundering despatches on the refractory colon-
ists, and those documents, when published, are descanted
on by the press generally in a very unfriendly spirit to
the planters.

In short, it does seem to be impossible to instruct the
inhabitants of the mother countiy in the habits and customs
of the people, to say notliing of the most judicious policy
and mode of government to be instituted among their off-
spring abroad. I have often heard it said by enquiring
friends, that they can find no books to inform them on
West Indian affau's. Now, the fact is, books are not
wanting, but the interest to make them amusing — the
sauce, as it were, to the meat, is not widely difRised
among our countrymen, and so long as the European
population of the Colonies is but a tiny fi'agment, project-
ed periodically from the great mass at home, this must
continue to be the case. It is this too, which, becoming-
more powerful in its operation as new Colonies are
planted, and fresh drains made on our adventurous youth,
diverting them to another hemisphere, has the effect
of weakening, from year to year, our influence in the im-
])erial parliament, because this must depend much on the
number of relatives which the members have either resi-
dent or interested in the Colonies; within the last six or
eight years, symptoms have shown themselves of diminish-
ing emigration from Great Britain to the West Indies.
That those signs will become more decided, if Ave continue
to retrograde, while Australia advances steadily on the
career of improvement (only checked now, it is be-
lieved, for a short period), and other settlements are

23

forming in the same region, which promise to edipse the
elder one.

British Guiana, formerly three separate Colonies, is
now one, they being united under a single governor. It
is a captui'ed, and afterwards ceded territoiy. Its laws
and local regulations, M^ere seciu'ed to it by the articles
of capitulation ; but the Queen in council (as in all such
cases) has the power of imposing any orders that are
deemed proper, subject to the revision of Parliament.
The constitution, in so far as the Colony is interested,
is representative. The legislature consists of the Court
of Policy, containing five official members, viz., the
governor, chief justice, attorney-general, collector of cus-
toms, and government secretary; and five colonial mem-
bers, chosen from the body of the planters, by a college
of electors (or kiezers as they are styled in the original
Dutch), who, when a vacancy occurs in the Court of Po-
licy, send in two names to that body, one of which the
members are obhged to select as that of the new member.
This college consists of seven, who are elected by the votes
of all the inhabitants who pay above five pounds sterhng
per annum indirect taxes. The lower legislative body is
called the College of Financial Representatives; they are
six in number, and, as their designation implies, are con-
fined in then- duties to the care of the financial concerns
of the Colony. They meet every year in conjunction
with the Court of Policy, constituting thus the Combined
Assembly, but, separately, they have no power to legislate,
and it is only in regard to money matters that they are
joined for this pui-pose with the higher court. The latter
has the initiative in all bills, and in framing the estimate,
but each item is discussed separately by the combined
assembly, and passed or rejected, and in the same manner
the ordinance imposing taxes for the year is debated and
passed.

It was not to be expected that British Guiana, in this

24

age of reform, should be without its patriots, and it has
been our misfortune to be troubled with a few of them,
the principal being the editor of a rabid and radical Chro-
nicle, and his chief abettors certain missionaries of the
London Society and volimtaries among the dissenting
clerg}^men. In scanning, with tiie keen eye of the dema-
gogue, the constitution of our legislative courts, they dis-
covered what they imagined to be a tangible evil in the
college of electors; and, indeed, one would almost fancy
that the sagacity of our Dutch predecessors had devised,
in this institution, a check in some future day on the de-
signs, either of racUcals like the parties I speak of, or of in-
dividuals who, by their influence wath the emancipated
tax-payers, would be able to control any election. This
body stands as a shield between popular excitement, how-
ever caused, and the colonial constitution. Abolish it, and
the multitude of hucksters, small shop-keepers, carters, &c.,
belonging to the Negro population who are voters, would
thrust such men into the legistatui'e as might render its
sittings a mockery. Those who desu'e to have the Court
of Policy elected directly by the votes of the tax-payers,
seek to break do^AOi a banier between them and power.
Some good and well-disposed persons, unquestionably,
have taken up the cry, misled by the plausible word,
Reform, which, by some process of reasoning peculiar to
them, they readily induce themselves to believe must be
beneficial, although they cannot distinctly perceive how
it is to come about. Om- legislature, as it stands, pos-
sesses a majority in favour of colonial interests in the
Combined Assembly, which is of vast importance, if the
imperial government continue to respect it. But cer-
tainly, many years ago, the colonial minister, feeling tlie
curb imposed on liim by this state of affairs, did declare
formally, that the Financial Representatives had no author-
ity, except to impose taxes in conjunction with the Com-t
of Policy, the latter announcing the amount of revenue
necessaiy for public business, and the former liavinc!: no-

25

thing to do but consider and decide how it was to be
raised. Should this doctrine be established, the crown
would tax the Colony as it thought proper, the Court
of Policy, by the casting vote of the governor, who is
president ex-officio, being entirely at the disposal of the
home government; but the colonists have steadily and
manfully resisted this infringement on their privileges,
and hitherto the matter has been allowed to rest on the
old understanding.

In this manner do affairs, public and pi'ivate, stand on
my return to the Colony, after an absence of ten years, at
wliich distance of time my last periodical ^dsit had been
made. The change in the general aspect of the country
and the people, does not strike one at first. On Sundays,
the alteration in the dress of the Negroes is especially re-
marked ; for on week days they prefer the former state of
semi-nudity, as more natural to them. Li fact, many of
them, like the Highlanders, find the confinement of tight
nether garments insupportable, save on Sundays or holi-
days, when vanity gets the better of aversion. The Creoles
are wonderfully improved in their taste for dress, and on
those days have really a smart easy air, as if they had worn
buclo'a clothes of the first fashion always. But the
African has less judgment, and the most ludicrous exhi-
bitions are to be seen on the highway, while they are
crowding to church. My wife was both shocked and
amused by them on Smiday. For instance, one man
appeared with nothing but a hat, and the fig leaf of
modern savage life, a lap ; another had the latter, and
nothing else saving a new swallow-tailed coat, and gloves,
all the rest was "birth-day suit." The ladies had in-
variably, whatever their dress might be, perhaps merely
an apology for a short petticoat, umbrellas over their
heads to shelter them from the sun, under which they
had been probably working the whole week. But in
reality, they arc as much for ornament as use, and in

D

26

imitation of the White ladies and their parasols. These
are extreme cases, however, and hke ^^rari nantes in
gurgife vasto." In general, the Creole women look re-
markably well in those showy ch'esses which they are
now enabled to purchase, and to which they are at-
tracted by their unchastened taste. White garments
always improve the appearance of a black individual, pro-
vided the features are good, and the general symmetry
of figure is pleasing. Wliile the Africans are often found
to be ill-shaped and ugly, the Creoles of both sexes are
more frequently observed to possess agreeable countenances
and handsome persons, than to be disagreeable in either.
I fear, from the short experience I have had of their
manners and customs, that they are not improved by
emancipation. Indeed, the command of money which
they enjoy, places them under many temptations to which
they have been hitherto unaccustomed. Like all people
in their stage of civilization, they have a great fondness
for ardent spirits, and an enormous quantity is consumed
throughout this province, especially during the "big
holiday," as they call the Christmas festivities, when
th'inking, fighting, and rioting are indulged in to an ex-
tent known perhaps nowhere in Evirope out of Ireland,
This I have witnessed witliin the last few days. Diu*ing
the former times, it was customary to allow great license
to the slaves on a holiday; a case of drunkenness was
always overlooked, or if it required attention for the sake
of the man himself, the party was safely locked up in
hospital until he should recover the use of his senses.
Now the scene is altered, if I may judge from what I have
already observed, as the roads and grounds are hteraUy
strewed with sleeping men, who have thrown themselves
down as they were overcome by the potent liquor, where-
ever that might be. The necessity of every planter
urging him to conciliate the labourers, in order to draw
them towards him, the enforcement of any salutary regu-

27

lation is out of the question, unless the stipendiary
or the pohcc take it into their own hands, and they sel-
dom trouble themselves until they are complained to,
which few managers or proprietors will venture on at the
present period. The feet in our body politic, fairly
threaten to change places with the head, and to regulate
the proceedings of the social machine. The man will be
master, and the master will be just what the man chooses
to make him.

My family have not enjoyed the view from the porch
so much within the last week ; and, indeed, they rarely
ventm'e to look beyond the gallery since Christmas. The
scenes they saw on that day changed altogether the
joyous feehng which the delicious climate, with its balmy
air and sweet flowers, had excited. My girls droop and
look languid, although our neighbours, who are pleasing
lively people, have been very attentive; our intercourse
having been so frequent as to occasion already a sort
of intimacy among them. It is an amusing study to en-
quire into the opinions, thoughts, and expectations of the
proprietaiy body at this eventful epoch ; and, I need
scarcely say, that they all vary as much as could possibly
be expected ; but among the thinking and calculating,
fear preponderates over hope. With the ignorant and
the youthful, sanguine expectations are indulged as to the
futm'e prospects of the sugar settlements. "You will see,"
say they, "the price of sugar rise so high that the expen-
ditm'e we now consider exorbitant will be little felt,
because whatever our revenue may be from a very high rate
of prices, oui' expences will not increase, and if we get
forty pounds for one cask of sugar, and a corresponding
rate for rum and molasses, we shall be better off than
when we had much better crops, more abundant labour,
and a lower rate of expenditure." Then one of the more
thinking class of planters will inteqiose with, "And shall
this continue? will the people of England not begin to

28

imagine that they are paying too clear for the whistle
Cof freedom) ? John Bull likes cheap charity; it is very
well to emancipate slaves when we are to obtain great
glory for so doing, by paying only two fifths of their value ;
it is a good bargain ; but when we are to buy oiu' sugar
fifty per cent, dearer than the French, John will say,
' This is nonsense, we are not to pay too dear lor the name
of philanthropy either, it is not worth it, e'en turn to the
right about and cut the concern.'" "O," then ^^ill cr}'
our sanguine politicians, "such a thing is absurd, impos-
sible; the national credit is at stake; it would be as bad
as taking the sponge to the national debt, or adopting
any other of the crude radical schemes of the day." I reaUy
think so too. I cannot imagine such a breach of good
faith, and such a cruel destruction of property as would
ensue upon it. Gloomy as the prospect is which the de-
privation of labom' has opened up to us, I cannot believe
or imagine that the most infatuated cabinet would render
it altogether hopeless, by opening the ports of Great Bri-
tain to the sugar of slave-importing countries. To anti-
cipate such calamitous legislation is to slander tacitly the
capacity as well as the integrity of a parliament repre-
senting the first empire of the world. Yet those who
really, if such there be, look forward to this catastrophe,
are not altogether without grounds for apprehension,
when we regard the reckless course recommended by the
manufacturing or free trade party, which, if adopted,
would sweep off every existing interest for the bene-
fit, as they fancy, of the weavers or spinners, but which
would destroy them as certainly as the Colonies. Surely,
however, there is yet some good sense left to the nation ;
and, powerful as that party is, I cannot think its adherents
will gain their ends.

" Papa," said my youngest child to me, one morning
lately, in gtnswer to a question, "it is wonderfiil how
much the most striking feature in the general aspect of

29

this country is kept out of sight, by those who write on
it, as well as other warm climates in wliich the masses are
not civilized." " You mean the scanty wardrobe of the
people. Why, my dear, I dare say the ladies in general
are shocked, as you have been, by this deficiency ; but
it is wonderful how time and custom reconcile us to such
peculiarities." " Oh ! " said the poor girl covermg her
face, " I shall never be able to endure it. It has dis-
gusted me with the place entirely." " Pooh ! child. See
how other young women of refinement endm-e it ; how
perfectly unconscious they appear in the presence of our
half- clad blackies, and even take a lesson from them.
Trust me, twelve months hence a naked arm will not af-
fect you so much." " And then," said mamma, " instead
of the nice, smiling, good-humom-ed Negroes we have
seen in England, to find that they are here not only half-
savage, but proud and insolent ! Just yesterday I heard
one who must have been a stranger, enquire if that bucla'a
woman was the old man's wife — meaning you, of course —
and if the old woman " ( " meaning you, of course," inter-
posed I, Avith a laugh,) " was to remain on the estate."

"Well," replied I, "it is not very poKte, I must allow ;
but in your own England,' it will be granted, the peasant
is nearly as boorish as the poor labourer here, if he has
not the same opinion of his own consequence, for it is on
that particular that the whole absiurd demeanour of poor
spoiled blackie rests. The country lout of England sur-
passes him in native surHness of deportment, which we,
vdth a self-complacency peculiar to om'selves, style inde-
pendence, as if it was necessary to be rude to maintain the
dignity of hmnan natui'e; — but you find the servants civil
enough?" "Yes, certainly," repHed my wife, "they are
very different from the gang, as you call it, generally."
"And that is," answered I, with the air of one who had
gained a victory, " a proof that farther intercom-se with
the Whites will amend the apparent upsetting incivility

30

of them all. They have been accustomed to regard free-
dom and slavery as the natural distinction between man
and man ; and they think, as freemen, they are entitled
to the same consideration as the Whites, which, as slaves,
they coidd not aspire to. They understand httle of the
gradations of society among Europeans, and it is only
of late years that any of them, in this comparatively new
Colony, could miderstand why a freeman should labour
with his hands ; manual work of almost every description
having been performed by slaves, it was natural to con-
nect it with a state of slaveiy ; and, indeed, they say now
that a servant is a slave for a certain period, in the same
manner that they were formerly bondsmen for life; and it
cannot be denied that a hired servant is pretty much in
that position." "My dear father," said my eldest girl,
"you sm-prise me; what is there about an Enghsh servant
that is slavish?" "Nay," rephed I, "if you take that as
a test, what is there, or what has there been for many years
about blackie, to realize the idea which people in England
have of a slave; they picture such a captive as Sterne's,
for instance, and they raise a wail over him as if he was a
reahty. The Negro, for many years before his emanci-
pation, after he was humanized, in fact, or in other words,
partly reclaimed from his African wildness, has been
very nearly in the same situation as a labourer, excepting
the strong fact, that the fee simple of service had been
bought, not only for his own life, but that of his posterity.
I do not deny that this destroys all analogy between the
parties, but what I mean to say is, that the slave was as
well protected, and in the same way, in his rights, as the
servant is in his; his food, clothing, lodging, and garden
grounds were all fixed by law, and officers appointed, who
were independent of the planters, to see that the provisions
in their favom' were strictly carried out; injurious treat-
ment of a slave by any in authority over him, was severely
punished; and, in fact, to such length did this go at last,

31

that it Avas universally remarked to be much safer to get
into a quarrel with a white than a black man." " Oh, my
dear," said my spouse, "I am well versed in that already;
but nobody believes what you say, so you may as well
keep quiet on the subject, — ^who imagines that a slave has
any rights!" "Why," observed George, "when one be-
lieves that a man has a right, as they say the slave-owner
has, to the blood, bones, and sinews of another, it is very-
natural for one to fancy that the man should dispose
of those said ingredients in the slave's composition as he
might think best; for instance, he might keep him, as the
cattle are kept in Abyssinia, for the supply of his own
table, if he liked such dainties, to be devoured as the said
blood and flesh might be required; or, if he chose to dis-
pose of the said coraponent parts in another way for his
amusement, he might get as much pleasant flogging out
of the blood, bones, and sinews, day by day, as would
keep him in that variety of enjoyment for at least several
days; or if he selected another method, roasting for ex-
ample— ^" "Child, child! cease this absurdity — " "Nay,
father ! this is exactly the sort of reasoning by which the
anti-slavery people at home lead the ignorant population
to believe the almost universal practice of the Whites here
to be, that of wanton cruelty towards the Blacks."
"Come, come!" cried I, "there is not a more zealous ad-
vocate of the ill-used planter than you are, but you must
not treat the subject in this manner.

" Tell me, girls, for it is some time since I asked the
question, how the society of the Colony advances in your
good graces." " Why," replied my youngest and most
lively damsel, " if we do not exactly relish the sable portion
of the populace, I think we are agreed in being delighted
with the agreeable manners of the more light com-
plexioned." " Is it even so, and without any exceptional
cases ?" " Nay, not so neither," replied Mrs. Premium,
" there are a few sombre or morose characters whom we

32

profess not to understand ; but Mi'. Eidley, and the Wel-
lingliams, whom we have seen most frequently, are in
fact such as those whose company we chiefly enjoyed in
EngLand — pleasant, wann hearted, hospitable country
gentlemen and their families." "Very time," said I,
" that is exactly what they are in every respect ; and
although one of them at least has the evils of the times
bearing hard upon him, he has too much comlesy to show
it among those friends who are better off. Now, Jane,
give me a sketch of the Wcllinghams, father and son, and
I shall tell you fi'ankly if you are near the mark in your
charactenstics." " Why, father," said she, holding down
her head, with a sly look, " I am not sure that I shall be
on safe gi'omid." "Nay, nay," cried Mrs. Premium,
glancing at Grace, and smiling, _ "no insinuations."
"Aha!" thought I, " here hath been sometliing beyond
sugar planting. How natural it is for women to specu-
late on matrimony !" " Now, what are you thinking of,
papa?" cried Grace, slightly colouring. "I know by
that look there is something passing in your mind."
" Nothing, child, save a passing reflection on the tendency
in womankind to speak and ruminate on the effect their
charms have on the lords of the creation. Here have you
been but a few wrecks, and already is it thought probable
that you are making havoc among the young noblesse of
our Colony." " Some nonsense of Jane's ; nothing else,
I assm-e you, papa." "I should really think so," said
I gi-avely. "'Truly it can be nothing else, although
you arc so intelligent-looking, all of you." The truth is,
my good dame is a little too much bent on seeing her
daughters well settled, as she calls it, in the world ; and
her brain, I may say, is in a state of fermentation when
a good-looking young man with a handsome fortune comes
across her. I have always remarked that this disposition
comes naturally to the sex ; and that when it manifests
itself at an early stage of the daughter's hfe, it is alto-

33

getlier in controllable. My girls were amused by this
quality in mamma, wliicli tliey were acute enough to per-
ceive very soon, but I feared that they might acquire a
little taste for it also, and thcU:, I think, of aU other female
foUies of the minor kind, the most disagreeable in a young
woman, and therefore have always repressed any appear-
ance of it by a grave or morose look, or by derision. Ha\ang
been so much occupied with business, I paid little attention
to visitors, and was frequently absent when they came; I
had thus been ignorant of the circumstance, so important
in my wife's eyes, that young Charles WelHngham, the
heir to a large estate, had twice sat down in a window
tete-a-tete vdth. Grace. My youngest knew well the style
in which I wished to curb this propensity of her mother,
and met me freely ■n^th a corresponding sly raillery, not
always imderstood by mamma. "And so," continued I
gravely, "this gentleman has actually conversed with
Grace alone, — and pray what did they talk about?" "O,
many things of com'^e, but I believe longest upon the
electric eel which George brought yesterday, and which
Mr. Welhngham described most minutely; and also the
lake in Essequibo where it was obtained." "Ah! well,
and did Grace get a shock from the fish or did Charles,
or were both electrified?" "O fie!" said my wife in
a low tone, and rather aside to me, "so indelicate to
her!" "Egad! the afiair has advanced rapidly since it
is ah'eady a myster}^," said I, again glancing at Grace,
whose head was averted, but I could see from sundry
quiverings of her hair, that she was suppressing a strong
impulse to risibihty. "I am quite shocked, ]\Ir. Premimn!
Grace, dear, fetch the eau-de-cologne fi^'om my room;
now do let the girl alone (afler she had gone) ; one
would imagine that you had forgotten altogether that
there were such things as tender feelings in the world."
"Nay, my love, that is impossible," quoth I, "miless I
should altogether forget you, which is not in natm-e, — but

E

34

you speak of tender feelings, — I rather think you mean
tinder ones, for if they are so easily kindled they must be
of some similar combustible material." "Just keep yom'self
quiet, for the love of decorum." "Rather, my dear wife,
keep you that in remembrance," replied I, more gravely,
"and for decorum's sake, do not fancy every man who
speaks without a witness to yom- daughter to be in love
ynih. her; 'let not thy wish,' as old Will hath it, 'so often
be father to that thought.' " Here my spouse, as on for-
mer occasions, showed her resentment of my injurious
speech, by silently taking up a book and beginning to
read, and soon after lea\'ing the room, while a shght
twinkle from Jane's eye told me how well she understood
and enjoyed the scene.

"But you have not given me the character — flung me
the picture, as Sir Walter hath it — of our two fi'iends,"
continued I, "so go on." "Well then, to begin," said
Jane, "I hke them both very much. The old gentleman,
vidth his spare form, dark countenance, and lively man-
ners, I should imagine a good specimen of the planter
who had long resided on his own estate; while tlie son,
not long from college, and ardent in the pursuit of what-
ever he undertakes, is a combination of the impetuous
child of the sun and the sombre Englishman, the latter
part of his character appearing in the praiseworthy man-
ner in which he keeps down his fiery chsposition to suit
the laborious occupation imposed on him by the position
he now occupies; those traits I have partly observed,
partly learned from others. I tell you this at once, papa,
to save you the trouble of criticising my critique."
" Fairly done," replied I, " and tolerably correct ; a little more
shading, perhaps, in the latter figure would make a more
truthful picture; I fear me the youth's passions are at
times somewhat overpowering. His father, alM^ays a mUd,
quiet man, has, since the advent of our bad times, had
to struggle with debt left to him by his predecessor, which

35

makes his large property inconvenient to him, by inducing
people, wise mammas and others, to believe him richer than
he is." "Would it not be well, papa, to let that fact be
known in some quarters, it may save much care and anxiety,
you know." "Ah! you sly one — I believe you are right,
however, and on second thoughts it can't be secret long;
these times are hkely soon to lay open every man's affairs,
as well as if they were posted up in printed papers on the
pillars of the court-house." "I do hope you are too dis-
trustful," replied my young one, "for every man seems to
be lively and cheerful around us." "Climate, my dear;
the effect of sunshine, which produces a sort of excitement
similar to intoxication. Have you not heard that French-
men are never unhappy fi'om anything, so long as the sky
is unclouded. And why do so many people hang them-
selves in England, but because they have no sun to cheer
them — at least to speak of; no, no, the people of the
Antilles see no things Hhat cast their shadows before;'
they are so dazzled by their blazing luminary — ^" "And
what are you, my friend," repHed my spouse, who had now
entered, "truly you offer a contradiction in yourself to
your OAvn words ; at home, remarkable for cheerfulness —
here, already christened the Croaker of the Colony." " Say
yon so ; then my wise neighbours begin to feel the force
of my remarks. Well ! as Croaker says, ' God grant we be
all as well this day three years.'"

1st March, 1840.

I AM gradually settling down into a regular planter,
being every day in the field to see that all hands are about
their business ; not as distrusting Mr. Brown, who is an
excellent fellow, and indefatigable in his attention, but to
satisfy myself, by ocular observation, of the causes which
have led to such an extraordinary falling off in the crops.
I am already convinced that unless some change take^
place in the population, either by an immense accession

36

to it, or by some miracle like that MTouglit by tlie wand
of the magician in the tale of Valentine and Orson, which
endowed a savage with reason by a single gyration in the
air, there can be no chance of gettmg continuous labour
from the people. Throughout the last month, I have been
every morning in the fields, and although the gang num-
bers in the aggi-egate more than 500, and should have
from 120 to 150 at work with cutlass, shovel, or hoe every
day, we have not had an average of one-third of that
number. Nothmg can be more striking, as contrasted
with the same occasion in England, than the "turn-outs."
The bell rings at half-past six; about half an hour after-
ward they wiU be seen mo^^ng about their cottage doors,
preparing hot water and sugar (or coffee), and boiling
their breakfasts, consisting chiefly of plantains with a
piece of salt pork or fish. The former they take before
going out, the latter they carry with them in a tin sauce-
pan, and eat occasionally dm'ing the veiy leisurely per-
formance of their specified task, which is generally over
before one. I have seldom seen more than two-thhds
of those who went to work for the clay, in the fields before
eight. The young and strong easily get tlu'ough their
allotted work in four hours, and if they are much in want
of money, they will do three tasks in one day. A man
did so many last month ; he was about to be married, and
wanted funds for the customary festivities.

I was amused yesterday by a Scotch overseer who had
been some short time in the Colony before 1838. He
found fault with a young fellow engaged in digging a
drain, saymg "that he did not make it deep enough."
"Hey! obusha!" said the negro, looldng impudently in
his face, "you tink tha' work no straining." "It's no
straining a bit, if ye were not lazy," quoth Saunders,
snatching the shovel from his hand, and beginning to dig-
like one who knew what he was about. "Kay!" said
blackie, scratching his head, and looking on with indignant

37

sui'prise; then muttering, "bye uiii bye, sun sha' burn
you fo dish here." But the untiring buckra persevered
for half an hour, dui'ing which he made more progress
than the other in the two houi's in which he had been
scraping at the trench that mornmg; then thi'OAAdng down
the implement, he told the man he would engage, for a
reasonable hu'e, to do as much as two of the strongest
men on the estate, and never look over his shoother after
it. "Just see him noo," cried he in -svrath, as the negro
resumed his shovel, "he grips it as if it brunt his fingers."
When I say that they perform their tasks according to
the tariff" fixed by law, I mean that they go through with
them, but they are always inadequately done, and left in the
most slovenly condition ; if the people blamed for so doing,
they look for another employer who will treat them with
more indulgence.

My neighbour Ridley, of the ^lomit, as his plantation
is rather inaptly denominated, quasi lucus a 7ion lucendo,
for there is not even a hillock in the cultivated parts of the
province, has been much mth me lately. He is one of
those men who have fought their way up fi'om the lowest
step on the planting ladder to the highest, in the face
of many chfficulties, and is, as may be imagmed, a person
of great energy, slu'ewd, sensible, and well versed in colo-
nial affairs, although he has not had the advantage of a
first-rate education. He and I agi'ee in our general \aews
of West Indian matters, but he is sanguine as to the
prices which we are to obtain for produce, and veiy lately
was exidting over the prices cmTent, which anticipate
a state of the market to fulfil his predictions; "and," said
he, "it is full time that this should take place, for the
great evil is pressing more closely on me every day. I
have already abandoned one-thu-d of my cultivation, and
I shall be obliged forthwith to give up some more fields;
yesterday, I had only 40 at work, instead of 80 or 100,
my usual gang in former days. So it is not difticiUt to

38

divine tlie upshot ; I must be contented with half crops,
and unless we get double prices, how can we get on with
double expenditinre." "I admit the truth of your asser-
tion," replied I, "but I cannot perceive how, because it is
necessary to our success, that we are, as a matter of course,
to have miprecedented prices." "Why, where is the
article to come from?" enquired my friend hastily; "if the
quantity produced is less by one half than in preceding-
years, it must rise excessively." "You forget altogether
now^, what we have often discussed." "Pooh, pooh!" cried
he, "my dear IMr. Premium, you are not seriously ex-
pecting that the people wdio have been so much agitated,
and for many years, on the subject of slavery, are to turn
romid all at once and encourage the system they have
been so strenously condemning; I have always thought
you were joking, as you do so often on other subjects, when
yon enter on that topic." "Well, my fi-iend," said I, "we
shall not anticipate worse calamities than those we are
already afflicted Avith — sufficient for the day is the evil
thereof. The question of immigration seems to be now
entered upon w4tli energy, although only in the Colonies;
the imperial government continuing in the same inert state
regarding it, and we may hope to have an addition to oiu-
nmnber of labom'ers." "Only, I fear, to the numbers,"
replied Mr. Ridley; "I am decided in my opmion that the
only suitable labom^ers for us are Africans — Europeans
have been tried, and they have failed. Those of the same
blood whom they now propose to bring fr-om Madeira
and the Azores may stand the climate better, but I ha^e
doubts on that point, fi'om what I have seen of those who
are already here." "And the CooKes of India," said I,
"have not frdly answ^ered expectation." "Better, how-
ever, than the Portuguese fi'om Madeira, but neither
of these races has the robust form of the Negroes." " It is
wonderful what men are driven to by the pressure of cir-
cumstances; a friend of mine imported thii-ty Irishmen

39

fi'om Connauglit last year, and he told me a few weeks
ago, with a look of dismay, that he would pay any one
handsomely who would take them off his hands.
'What!' said I, 'Donnybrook?' 'Ay,' answered he,
'as regularly every evening as their gTOg, and they
never miss that; such a set of wild mffians never
appeared in these regions before; they are enough to
scare the Indians from the settlement altogether, and they
are accoimted but savages inferior even to Africans.'"
"God help us all," said ]\Ir. Kidley with a sigh, "it is well
with you who are rich, even if your estate is utterly de-
stroyed, but what are those to do who have still some
balance of purchase money unpaid, when they are barely
able to clear their way, and totally imable to pay a
shilhng of interest. The prospect is dai'kening in regard to
labour; the total Avant of subordination naturally arising
out of a deficiency, is becoming a concomitant as bad as the
monster evil that creates it." "That," I said, "naturally
follows; when a labom'er becomes so valuable that you
are under the necessity of concihating him, how is it pos-
sible that anything like suborcUnation can exist?" "True,
certainly," replied :Mi'. Eidley, "but there is a wanton
disregard to rule among them now, which shows the child
out of school, or, if you will, the dog out of the chain —
they manifest a degree of exultation in bemg able to set
at defiance the regulations of the estate. Two days ago,
a fellow stood up in my cane field, stretched himself
out, called aloud that all might hear, 'dis ha work no
good, me da go fish, O!' and straightway shouldering his
shovel, marched oflP; a few of the rest gazed at him for a
short space, and one by one followed him. When the
bulk of the gang saw what was going on, each man fol-
lowed the example of the leader, just like a flock of sheep
after the first who takes the leap, and in half an hour
there was not one left in the field." "That is a sin-
gular feature in theii- character," said I; "if one of them

40

quits his work from any cause whatever connected A^ath
the labour in hand, thej are all sure to go; they seem to
think it degrading to remain if one refuses to continue at
the task: a stranger would imagine they were all going
to fish, whereas not one but the ringleader would think
of it, and perhaps not even he."

" Did you hear, neighbour, what our wise governor
said the other day?" enquired Eidley. "In repl^dng to j
the urgent anxiety of the colonial members of the Court, \
to impress on him the true condition of the Colony, he
became impatient, and, glancing over his spectacles at the
last speaker, exclaimed, in his own style — 'You assert ruin ;
I assert prosperity.'" "Well," I answered, "and they
were doubtless struck by the force, if not by the elegance
of this pithy expression." "O, doubtless," quoth Eidley;
"and he then explained to them that he had the best
authority for saying so. There was not a merchant in
Water Street who would not tell them trade was better
than before emancipation. 'Yes, truly,' responded Mr.
Briar, with a sardonic grin, 'they have reason to speak
of prosperity. All the money drawn from our pockets to
pay enormous wages, increases and keeps up their sales
in the meantime. That is only a proof of the extent of
the evil that presses on the agricultural interest.' This
was a poser to his Excellency, who looked first to his
planting member, and then to his government Secretary
— in vain. Honour to staunch old Briar!" continued
Mr. Ridley enthusiastically; "there is no gammon about
him." "We want a few more like him and his old friend.
They have both a correct knowledge of the true in-
terests of the Province, to say nothing of then* talents,
which are known to be great. It is wonderful how per-
tinaciously ignorant the official or government party per-
sist in being of the internal condition of the Colony."
"They are misled," replied Ridley, "first, by their own
desire to obtain intelligence favourable to the success of

41

emancipation, which prompts them to apply to wrong
persons; and, secondly, by two or three planters whose
minds have a singular bias, derived probably from their
whig politics, especially him who is called the governor's
member in the court, and who is, on other points, a
shrewd, clever man, and an excellent member. The
press, too, is shamefully ignorant of what is called the
colonial question, to say nothing of the condition of la-
bour on the estates, and misleads the people at home."
"That I do not wonder at, when we consider the high
wages paid to all sorts of handicraftsmen. The marvel
is, how a press can be supported here at all; not that the
conductors of newspaj^ers are unable to pay agents who
would report to them regularly the state of the interior.
It is the want of such persons which places the editors at
the mercy of any planter, known to be such, who volun-
teers information, the correctness of which they have no
means of ascertaining; but they open their columns to all
discussions which correspondents choose to enter into. I
speak of tlie respectable portion of the press, not of that
really rabid and blackguard journal, which, to the dis-
grace of the planters, professes to support them, and it is
said they keep up: the manner in which this paper men-
tions the governor, whom it generally styles 'grand-
mamma,' would sink it in almost any country of Europe.
It is not by such defenders or base auxiliaries that we
must assert the justice of our cause." "That may be,"
said Ridley, with a grin ; "he makes the dogs feel though,
and there are some who require a smart blow to produce
that effect upon them."

George, who is remarkably assiduous in his own depart-
ment, instead of occupying a room in the manager's house,
has, since our arrival, at his mother's request, taken up
his quarters in the mansion-house. I am thus put in posses-
sion, every morning, of any particulars which Mr. Brown
deems of too little importance to have a place in the daily

F

42

report of the gangs, wliiclihe sends over about nine (tlu
hour of breakfast) on each day. He has thus kept his
mother and sisters amused by any incidents occurring
among the people, or in the fields. One day he was for-
tunate enough to catch a young tiger-cat in the cane
piece, which he brought home. It was about the size of a
kitten two months old, and hitherto it seems to take very
well with the change in its style of living; its house,
instead of the fields, being a large wooden cage made of
lath; but it is often out about the kitchen and pantry, and
it is fed upon cows' milk. Another morning he came
home with a wood-ants' nest, an article miiversally used
here to feed young ducklings withal; and George, in his
zeal to show how the process is gone through, got a cut-
lass, and, taking up the nest, wliich was a large blackish
incrustation, containing myriads of young ants as well as
old ones, round the branch of a low tree or shrub, which
he had cut off in such a manner, as to leave a piece
sufficiently long attached to the nest, to insert in the
ground, and keep the fonner a couple of feet from it.
This he fixed in a pond in the poultry yard, near the
edo-e, and gi^'ing it a cut, out fell a shower of ants, which
the ducklings, who were sv^dmming below in eager expect-
ation, greedly gobbled up. We were all ranged round
the spot, I enjoying the gratified cm'iosity of the rest, for
there was nothing of novelty in the scene to me, when
George called out that there were salempenter's eggs in
the nest, and proceeded to dig out careftdly two or
three of these soft, dark-coloured, reptile productions ;
then laying them on the ground, he cast a sly look at me,
and gently opened one with the point of his cutlass;
a general scream attested the success of his legerdemain,
for a young salempenter instantly issued forth, and, to
their utter astonishment, ran in among the ladies' feet.

A sort of instinct teaches the animal that there must
be a suitable temperature there for maturing its offspring :

43

and its eggs are often found in the substance of these nests,
in which they are most hkely deposited, after a hole has
been opened for the pui'pose, by the reptile.

1st July, 1840.

We have just got the accounts, by a running vessel,
of a most extraordinary rise in the price of sugar, which
has had a corresponding effect on the Colonial market in
Georgetown; the article, which, before this anival, fetched
no more than four stivers, now readily selling at seven.
From what I have already observed, I am sure this intel-
ligence will produce great excitement, similar to that wliich
occurs in a man who is unexpectedly raised from despau*
to happiness; my nearest neighboiu's have done nothing
since, but ride round and congratulate each other over
and over again. I met my friend KicUey a couple of hom's
after he got the news, and he galloped up to me with a
broad grin on his bronzed visage: "Well, neighbour,"
exclaimed he, while yet twenty paces off, "You cry ruin;
I assert prosperity! Egad! om: nder is likely to be nght
for once, I think to his own sui-prise." He then grasped
my hand with a true West India clasp, and bm'st into a
laugh that lasted five minutes — " Sugar at forty pounds !
think of that. We shall do yet; depend on it, we shall
do yet." It was not in my nature to throw cold water on
such a singular reaction, either literally or metaphorically,
though the former seemed to be indicated, as the doctors
say; and I warmly congratulated him, myself, and the
whole planting world, on tliis most blessed occasion.
While we were going on towards my house, our meeting
having occurred on that part of the road which crosses
my estate, Charles Wellingham came up also on horse-
back, bound on the same errand of congratulation; his
face was flushed, and liis whole appearance shoAved that he
was agitated by some powerful emotion. He rode up to me

44

without speaking, and to my great surprise burst into tears.
" Why, Charles!" cried I, "has anything happened— any-
tliing amiss." "Nothing, my dear sir," after a pause to
recover liis composure; "I shall explain by-and-by. I
came to tell the good news, or if you have heard abeady
of the great rise — " "O yes, I have." "Then to wish
you joy of it, for myself and my father." "And how
does your father comport himself mider it?" enquired I;
"I hope with more equanimity than some folks." "O,
you know he is always steady and composed, and he in-
clines to think that it will eventually do no good— that is,
he says so; but I can see, and it rejoices me exceedingly,
that he is in excellent spirits now. Is that George yon-
der?" said he, checking himself, and cantering oif to the
house without farther parley. "Ay, ay, neighbour," said
Ridley, "that chap has more in his head than sugar."
"Poh! Ridley; a hot-headed, thoughtless lad." "He is all
that, but a clever fellow and a good one also; a great
favourite of mine is Charhe." We discussed, as we walked,
the merits of the extraordinary news in all its bearings ;
and we were perfectly agreed as to the effect it would
produce on the di'ooping spirits of the proprietary body,
but we differed widely on other subjects. "It will lead
to mischievous competition for labour," said I. "But the
government must, and will give us immigrants, to have
more sugar thrown into the market." "They will just do
what the weavers of cotton and broadcloth will let them,
and I do distrust them grievously." "You are wvongf
wrong decidedly," answered Ridley, rather sharply; "but
we shall not, on this joyous day, begin with our old argu-
mentation ; here we are at the house, and a glass of san-
garee will suit me better than a dry debate."

We entered, and found Charles the centre of an eager
circle of listeners, including my good dame, wdio had not
paid quite so much attention to yormg Wellingham after
the hint she got fi'om Jane, but now she appeared to

45

enter into all his feelings, Avliich indeed apparently had
reference only to sugar and molasses; but they were so
sincere, and evidently so deep-seated, that their ardent
expression carried conviction to the minds of all, and uni-
versal gladness prevailed in the hall, which burst out on
our approach. "Joy, joy!" was echoed on all sides, and a
general shaldng of hands immechately ensued. I always
sympathise with people, whether in adversity or pros-
perity, and in the course of a few minutes, I was fairly
carried away by the torrent of overflowing happiness, and
joining the rest in everything. After much mirth and
laughter, which seemed to increase, the longer it continued,
I exclaimed joyflilly, "Why not muster all together, and
make a day of it!" "Surely! excellent!" instantly re-
sponded the unceremonious visitors; and in a few
minutes Charles set off for his father, and Ridley for his
wife; I sent for the clergyman, the doctor, and a fcAV
other neighbours ; and about fom" o'clock, we had assem-
bled, a sample of the gay and happy people who might
be found, at that hom^, in every planter's house of the
wide-spread "Indian Isles."

Our dinner passed off in the same mirthful style; but
I have observed that men generally are more dis-
posed to disputation when their minds are relieved from
an oppressive load in a sudden and unexpected manner —
this was the case in the present instance. The older men
of the party laiew each others' sentiments, and though
anxious to enter on speculative anticipations, feared that
we might become too warm for the harmony of the meet-
ing; but the doctor was a young man fond of arguing, and
possessed of that disposition which many have, to humble
those who seem to be undidy exalted. This young philoso-
pher entered into a hot dispute with Charles Wellingham
as to the duration of our good prices, and it may be well
imagined that, as the parties waxed warm, they took in
the whole range of the West India question. Charles,

46

being easily excited, was soon rather too keen for calm
argument, but there is a concentrated earnestness about
him, as I said before, which carries liis auditors along
with him, and he seemed to obtain the victory in the
opinion of the listeners. This led to an observation from
the clergyman, and that to one from Ridley, and in a few
minutes the confusion of Agramant's camp prevailed, and
I, the Don Quixote of the day, was called on to keep
order. The ladies had been gone for some time, and I
knew it Avas impossible to stem the flood long pent
up, so we plmiged at once into the middle of affairs, each
talking to his next neighbour, and giving full utterance to
his secret thoughts — for the good wine by tliis time was
doing its work — and amid the din of conflicting tongues,
was at times heard an appeal to the chair, which passed
miheeded. The two professional men caught the excite-
ment of the planters, and entered keenly into the debate,
but they were both opposed to all the rest in it.

After this had continued for half an horn*, the efferves-
cence began to subside, and a forcible exclamation from
Charles Welhngham arrested the attention of all, and
fixed it on the parties who began the dispute. We were
now inchned to admit that only one should speak at a
time. "Nay," cried Charles, raising his voice, ''if you
maintam the doctrine that we are not entitled to free
immigration from all parts of the world, I wiU concede to
you the disputed point, because I cannot argue against a
supposition so mijust." "Upon what gromids do you
claim such a right." "Rather say upon what gromids you
should deprive us of the common privilege of nations, to
receive into thefr tenitory what people they think proper."
"You are all, at this moment, mider the influence of a
bugbear; or rather you were, before to-day, living in con-
stant dread of losing your estates from want of labourers,
and the imperial government wisely interferes to prevent
you from injming yourselves and others, by importing

47

unsuitable people, under this unreasonable apprehension."
"Yes," said Charles sarcastically, "you have now stated the
question; the imperial government, despising our remon-
strances, and trusting to the reports of such governors as we
are blessed mth, believes that it knows better the state of
the planter's affairs than he does himself, and not only tells us
so, but acts accordingly; it is like saying to a starving beg-
gar, 'You are quite wrong, my good friend — youhaveplenty
to eat. Mr. So-and-So, yom' good neighbour, tells me so.
Take my word for it, you are in good health and flemish-
ing circumstances;' although the bloodless cheeks — ^like
our diminished crops — testify in favoiu' of the injm'ed
party." "I think you will admit that the privy council
understands the business of legislation better than the in-
experienced men who constitute our Combined Assembly."
"Inexperienced! you are certainly unfortmiate in the
selection of that word, unless you mean to apply it simply
to the construction or composition of an orcUnance, and in
so far I agree with you; ministers might put it into better
language, but that has little or nothing to do Avith the
bearing of the ordinance on the subject to which it relates
— it is the mere gilding of the pill, doctor, and affects not
its substance — do not mistake the manner for the matter."
"Upon that principle, there would be no necessity for
choosing men of talent to fill om* com-ts; mere practical
men would be best." "Unquestionably they are; and of
them is the elective portion of our legislative assemblies con-
stituted. But I see what you mean to infer, which is, that if
mere experience is to estabhsh the law, the Negroes them-
selves would be as good legislators as their masters. You
might as well say that a child is as able to reason, and to
arrive at a connect conclusion, as a man. The Negi'oes are
children in intellect. Om' colonial members, although not
highly, are yet well educated; and, fi'om long practice in
the Com*t, have acquired a knowledge of its fonns, and of
the business brought before it, which would shame the bulk

48

of the House of Commons, who do not possess, in regard
to the mode of conducting their business, so much in-
formation." " But I am not disposed yet to concede the
principal point, that the planters themselves are the best
judges of what the Colony requires. Yovi must grant me
patience. It is said that the class of planters is paramomit in
the proA-ince, and that others are orerlooked in consequence
of this state of affairs, which, indeed, has become identified
with the law, because a man must be a proprietor before he
is eligible to the Com't of Policy." "\Vlien that law was
enacted by our Dutch predecessors, there were few men of
suitable station or intelhgence, excepting among the
planters. The word, by-the-by, used in the ordinance is
colonist (fi*om colonus, husbandman) ; and the Dutch seem
to have taken it for granted, that every man, fit for that
Com't, would possess land. But if you look aromid you
even now, saving professional men, who have no time for
it, whom AA-ill you find to place there save planters? The
merchants are, generally speaking, proprietors; the same
observ^ation applies to all who hold a respectable position
in society, who have been long enough here to understand
the wants and the e\dls of the Colony." "Do you not admit
that bad consequences may accrue fi'om indiscriminate
immigi'ation ? " " Unquestionably. But I insist, that in re-
gard to it, we cannot know precisely how to act, luiless fi*om
experience. The government, by refusing to sanction
oin* ordinance last year, has literally said to the inhabitants
of all parts of the world, excepting a few inconsiderable
places, 'You shall not enter the British teiTitory in the
West Inches.' Suppose the government of the chfferent
Eiu'opean nations shoidd retaliate, and forbid British
subjects from entering any foreign comitry whatever,
woidd the whole nation not be furious at the injustice of
the measm'e." "I grant that it appears to infringe on
that liberty Avhich is recognised by all nations, of fi'ee and
imrestricted entrance and exit, subject only to such fiscal

49

regulations as each may deem necessary. But we are in
a peculiar position. Our population differs widely from
that of any European countr)^; and a wise legislature
must consider what effects may be j)roduced by intro-
ducing a race that will not amalgamate with our masses."
"A very nice and dehcate cabinet it must be, to draw
such fine distinctions. Once more I say, let all people
have access to this, as to every other place ; and if it
turns out, that the climate or the labour is unsuitable,
we can easily stop the tide of immigration ; but, in God's
name! when the preservation of thousands of famihes
from starvation is the question, don't let fine spmi theories
be indulged in — let us have practical proof — real illustration
of the evils now apprehended, and no more, before we give
up the only means of keeping our estates in existence."

"Well said, Charles," quoth Ridley, "that is exactly
the point. Doctor, I think he has done you." "Hush!"
said I, for we had all been listening attentively, the serious
and loud tone of the speakers having kept us quiet, "do
not excite them more, they are warm enough already;"
and to give them time to cool, I went on — "Doctor, there
is a great deal in what you say, when taken in connection
with the prevailing sentiments in England, which, though
the result of defective information, and AATong conclu-
sions, must still be considered here in relation to that
question; and, with our old enemies opposed to us, the
once called anti-slavery party, but now more appro-
priately styled the anti-colonial faction, having for its
basis the proud cotton lords of Lancashire, we stand a
poor chance of vindicating oiu" rectitude of purpose ; there
is no assertion too strong for the credulity of the people
of England regarding the Whites of the West Indies."
"Too true, indeed," replied IVIr. Wellingham ; "I verily
believe, if Mr. Scoble should tell them that we dine on
Negro steak every day, they would beheve it. But, in re-
gard to the question which has given rise to this lengthened

G

50

discussion between our young friends, I must say that
Charles' opinions are mine, and, I think, those of the
planting body in general; at the same time, the doctor is
right in bringing forward the ideas of other parties, and
in so doing, is most friendly to us. It is not unknown
to you that we have, among ourselves, enemies to
the Colony, as bitter as any to be fomid within the
British seas." " Aye!" said Kidley, "thanks to that same
Scoble, who contrived, on his ^isit here, to sow the seeds
of distrust between the labourers and their employers,
and to fonn a new cabal of wliich he ^^as the nucleus, to
create discord everj-where; a strange thing for a man
to earn his bread by telling baseless tales of other people
— a new trade in these times of novelty." "True ! " said
WeUingham ; " still you must extend, even to liim, the
benefit of the effect produced by general opmion. Scoble
came here, fidty impressed mth the behef that we were
all that the anti-colonial party represented us to be ; and,
heated with zeal — for lie is a violent partizan, that can-
not be doubted — entered on his business as if the ac-
knowledged and engaged agent of the Negroes; then,
departing abruptly, he left us as ignorant as when he
came, having mixed httle with the Whites, and know-
ing nothing at all about the opinions of the Blacks. Pie is
entuely for his party, the object of which is to get rid*
of Colonies, because they interfere with that great trade
which men's excited imaginations pictm-e to them' as the
effects of an unrestricted intercoui'se between aU foreign
countries and Great Britain. A thing, by the way, just
as likely to occm- as the fidfihnent of Johanna Southcote's
prophecies, or any other equally improbable predictions."
"I am not so sm-e of that, WeUingham," said I; "other
nations may not give in to it, but om- comitry has an in-
creasing, and already powerfid party, who support that
doctrine; and it would not sm'prise me to see it carried
into law, even in my lifetime, and so as to embrace eveiy

51

branch of trade." "I think with you, that some striking
enactments may be made relating to great importations ;
but when these are carried into effect, and when ministers
begin to de\ase new scliemes on the same principle, affect-
ing the interests of those who are calculating only on
ruining their neighhoui's, not themselves; when every
great branch which gives employment to native industr}^,
is attacked one after another; and when commercial
nations, instead of reciprocating, are disposed, as they will
be, to encoiu'age more than ever, their own trade, seeing
our rich country opened to them most unexpectedly, then
will the eyes of theorists be unsealed, and not till then."
" Well now, my fi-iends, oui* meny meeting, as I expected,
has tmTied out to be something of a political one — the
verv^ nature of it, in fact, and oui' exuberance of happiness,
has brought on this result ; but I see you are all passing the
Avine, so we -mil join the ladies, if you please, and take our
coffee there." Just as I finished this address, I obsen^ed
Ridley very busy ^^^th a demonstration for the edification of
the clerg>-man, who sat next to him, and Ave paused until it
was over; he had placed a mango so as to support a pine-
apple at the top, the other end resting on the table.
"Xow, Reverend," said he, "here is my illustration : let
this little mango represent the Colonies; the more largo
and important pine, oui' glorious mother-country. You
perceive how gracefully the latter reclines on the fonner,
but I A^dthcbaw the mango, and lo! the stately pine top-
ples over, fallen from its high estate. That will be the
state of yom- mighty England, credit me, it will." "Well,
Mr. Ridley," said the other, good-humouredly, "let us
hope they will continue to rest on each other. I profess
not to miderstand your great question, and when I engage
in yom- discussions, it is to promote them." We then
rose and went to the dra^Wng-room. The ladies were
enjo}dng some music, not being so deeply and abstract-
edly interested in the sugar trade. There v,ere Uxo or

52

three who sang well; and ray girls were generally re-
puted excellent as songstresses. When we joined them, the
hilarity of the evening seemed to revive after being sup-
planted for a time by grave and somewhat angry conversa-
tion. I observed that young Wellingham went directly
up to Grace, and that they were soon engaged in a
tete-a-tete conversation. Ridley had "harj^ed my fear
aright" in the hint he tlu^ew out, and my exhilaration
was a little damped when I perceived that she really ap-
peared to prefer his conversation to that of any other
person; for, putting his position of a man depending
altogether on West India property out of the question,
there were circmnstances in his case that imphed other
dangers to the happiness of his wife. With the best dis-
position and the kindest heart, Charles was notoriously
headstrong and rash in all his actions; and it was with
surprise his neighbours discovered that he was able to
keep his natm-al propensities so much under command, as
to undertake and go through with the drudgery of a
plantation; for his father, under the necessity of economis-
ing, had made him manager, after he had been some two or
tliree years with an experienced planter as overseer. It
was his great attachment to this only remaining parent,
and, indeed, only near relative, for they were alone in
the world, that enabled him to chain down his more
volatile nature, and I augvu'ed that in time, such a good
son must prove an excellent member of society; yet I
feared that he might, before years had tamed him, get
into some trouble from this natural disposition, and there-
fore wished to discom-age his attentions to my daughter.
I walked up to them and inquired of her if "she had sung
yet?" She repHed "that she had, but was ready to sing
again if I wished it." "Do so, my dear," said I; "amuse
om* fiiends." "I shall sing some verses that papa gave
me lately," I could hear her say; "they are not very good,
but perhaps, as the production of some friend, he Hkes
them. So saying, she selected the following : —

53

The fair ship rode on the tropic seas,
Bendiug her course to a southern land,

When seemed a voice in the rustling breeze
To fall on mine ear in accents bland.

"O maiden young, thou dost travel far
From the home of thy childhood's glee,

Where the feeble sun, like a northern star,
Looks coldly aslant on hill and lea.

" And Fancy now, by her magic power.

Doth people for thee each well-known scene

With the groups of old, to cheer this hour.
Though the wat'ry waste rolls wide between.

"Thine eye doth rest on the sparkling waves —
Thy thought is fixed on the woodland free,

With its green bank, which a brooklet laves.
Under the shade of a large oak tree.

"For there wert thou oft, a joyous child.

In the merry band of elfins fair.
Who a mother's graver mood beguiled.

With their laughter loud and fi-olics rare.

"But thine eye hath changed; a moisture lies

Thick on the sable fringe of its lid,
As the wandering thought, like lightning flies.

Where the germ of thy future is hid.

" To that gay land, which the blazing day

With a halo of gladness surrounds ;
Where the pulse beats high, and Youth doth say,

'Those surely are Pleasure's enchanted grounds.'

" 0 maiden, beware, the thorn of care

Is ever beneath the rose of joy."
Then died that voice in the calm sea air,

And left me so, to my musings high.

54

After stopping, she continued at the instrument, pro-
bably expecting that Charles, who stood immediately
behind, would address a few words to her, but he was
standing, with his arais folded, in a deep study. She
tm-ned round after a little — ""VMiat!" exclaimed she, in
sm'prise, "why, ]\Ir. Wellingham, you seem to be in
"musing high;" is it the song that has changed your
mood so thoroughly and so suddenly?" "O!" cried he
impatiently, "confound these debates, they A\dll come
across me even when your voice is sounding in my
ears: but pray, tell me how long it is since you acquired
those verses!" "A few weeks, perhaps; I scarcely recol-
lect. Why?" "Nothing ; except a sort of curiosity I
have to know how old they are." "Really it is impossible
to tell precisely; I can ask papa, he may know. I am
sure it is not more than a month smce he requested me
to sing them fii'st." "Nay, don't trouble yoiu:self," re-
plied Charles, turning over the music, "do let us have
something else." Sitting a little apart, and pretending
to read a paper, while the rest were fully occupied,
I observed all their motions. "Alia!" thought I, "j^ou
are sensible, my fine fellow, that this is not to my mind."
Mrs. Ridley was a native of that singular little island
which sends, throughout the West India archipelago, a
race pecuUar to itself, and remarkable for industry wher-
ever they go. She was a "Bachan ba^\Ti," as she said of
herself, and the daughter of a small planter, who emigrated
to this continent, and in a year or two acquired the manage-
ment of a plantation, in which he contrived to feather his
nest tolerably well, leaving, at his death, a pretty fortune to
his only child. She was not of the upper class of society in
that island. Those who belong to it are remarkable for the
elegance of their manners, and their high, chivalrous bear-
ing on all occasions. "I think," said she to my wife, "they
get on very well." "A^nio is it you are speaking of, ISIi's.
Ridley?" "Who! my dear ma'am, who can it be but the

55

two who are a-courting there?" "Heavens," my wife mut-
tered, for I was then by her side, " what a Vandal ! " " You
are merry, Mrs. Ridley, as we all are this gay evening; but
don't let any one hear you, lest it be thought you are
serious." "What! an't it true then? how strange! well
I never doubted it since I first saw them toirether."
"My dear Mrs. Ridley," repHed my spouse, in great dis-
tress, "do not say so; it is nothing but two young people
amusing themselves; I assm'e you there is nothing of the
sort going on." Mrs. Ridley was very much sm-prised,
and, being a matter-of-fact person, totally unused to a con-
ventional state of society, soon afterwards took an oppor-
tunity of crossing the room, and saying to Charles, very
much to his discomposure, "So you an't a-comting after
all, only at your make-believes, to make us all fools, you
wdcked one." Though pretty well accustomed to the lady,
this was more than he ever reckoned upon, and he fairly
broke down in an attempt to laugh it off. "Madam,"
said he, at last, "what caii you mean — is it part of a
play you are acting?" " Oh you queer one ! Don't mind
what he says, Mss Grace." "Really, Mrs. Ridley," re-
phed Grace, tm-ning round ft-om the piano, with a flushed
comitenance, "you and j\Ir. Wellingham seem to have
some strange jest between you, and as I do not under-
stand it, I shall leave you to enjoy it." "Well," said the
lady, "if that don't beat cock-fighting! just when I was
a-going to do her a sarvice. Did you ever!" "No,
madam, never, by heaven!" cried Charles, flinging away
in ungovernable rage. Grace, like a young fawn startled
by some unexpected incident, hastily M'ithcbew and sat down
beside her mother, tm-ning a look, as if half angry and half
afraid, toAvards the lady who had thus so effectually inter-
rupted the tete-a-tete she was engaged in. Giving her time
to recover composm-e, her mother inquired what she had
been talking about with Mrs. Ridley. "O don't ask me;
she is a most singiilar person; hardly fit for decent

56

society," said the poor girl, in a tone between laughing
and crying. " She is odd, my dear. Did you observe how
angry Charles Wellingham looked on quitting her ? She
has a strange way of saying whatever comes into her
head, no matter what it is; it w^ould seem as if she had
no control over her tongue whatever." "It is exactly
so; and that would be nothing, if she did not fancy
such absurd things!" JMi's. Premium was puzzled to
guess what had happened to discompose her child, for she
did not imagine that tlie worthy Mrs. Ridley would carry
her matter-of-fact system so far as she had done.

Although that lady could not understand what had
occasioned it, she yet perceived that her friends fled from
her like quicksilver, and the Barbadian pride, which is
always, like Norval's, "excessive," taking the alarm, she
stalked across to her husband, with starched mein, and
erect carriage, to signify her opinion, (as she muttered to
herself,) that it was high time to quit a company which
did not value them, as they should be estimated, at
more than sixpence in the pound. Just then Ridley
himself came up to me, remarking that I seemed un-
usually abstracted, "ruminating on the future, doubt-
less," said he. You are a thinking man; I am a working
one; and though I cUffer from you often, let me tell you,
I have more confidence in your opinions thaii my oa^ti."
This was exactly like my worthy friend — a frank, kind-
hearted Northumbrian, from the dingy neighbourhood
of Newcastle. His wife tried him sorely, sometimes, but
he always laughed, M-ith great good humom*, at her
peculiarities, and thus contrived to take off the most
striking absurdities about them. "I wish to speak to
you ISIr. R.," said that lady. "Ah, well! what is it-
now? Something wrong, eh!" I tm-ned away, and
sought out Jane for a pm-pose I had in view. Mr.
Ridley was listening, with a comical expression of counten-
ance, to his wife's gi-ievances in detail, which she re-

57

counted in a lofty style of indignation. "NVliile she Avas in
the middle of her harangue, Jane walked up, hanging
on my arm, and, stopping as we got near them, spoke,
loud enough for the lady to hear, in the following strain :
"Really, papa, that Charles Wellingham is a strange
creatm'e; I think his head is not right, he has been so
absolutely rude to eveiybody this evening; Grace com-
plains of him sadly, and I saw him look at least very angry
at ISIrs. Ridley and some others. ^Vhat can he mean ?"
"Nothing at all, my dear; he is excited by the sugar
discussion in the other room, that is all, and he has not
been thinking of either Grace or Mrs. Ridley." "Very
hkely. I think it must be so ; and, perhaps, a Kttle more
wine than usual, you know." There was a gradual sulk-
ing of the hstening lady's voice as we talked on, and it
died away gently. I glanced at her husband, and saw
him accomphsh a wink to his Avife with a strange giimace,
as much as to say, "you hear that; you are not the only
one, so be quiet." I then took a short turn Avith my
daughter, and coming up to them, discovered that eveiy
trace of pride and anger had vanished; and she imme-
diately sat down, with Jane beside her, to talk of other
matters. Thus I was relieved in my mind, for nothmg
gives me a more mipleasant feehng than the occurrence
of any mismiderstanding in my house. We spent the
evening in the same joyous manner as the day, and parted
like true West Indians, luider a firm beHef that we had
many more such happy occasions before us. There is
much wisdom in the philosophy of Epiciunis, if it be tem-
pered by the exercise of a proper discretion. In my
opinion, we ought to seek innocent happiness when and
where we can find it, without always fanc}dng that its
enjoyment brings misfortune nearer to us.

58

1st October, 1840.

Wellingham lias just left me. We had both augured
rightly in regard to the effect of high prices ; and Ridley
frankly admits that he has been wrong as to the compe-
tition among planters, and the exertions which the im-
perial government would instantly make to increase our
stock of labom-ers. The managers of estates are eagerly
over-bidding each other in the labour market, and there
is danger of the public business of the prolan ce being
interinipted, because ministers will not grant an immi-
gi'ation ordinance, and om' Combined Assembly, in con-
sequence, will not grant the supplies necessary for sup-
portmg the expenses of government, including our very
heavy civil Hst. These are both the result, the inevitable
and natural result, of the cruel policy adopted towards
us. The present cabinet is driven entirely by the vis a
tergo, and those who push strongest are sure to carry it
along with them. The anti-colonial faction, otherwise
the free trade party, could not accomplish what they aim
at, the separation of our Colonies from the mother-coun-
try, if not then' absolute destruction, without keeping, at
its present amou.nt, the diminished supply of labour; and
they, being the paramount party of the day, easily con-
trive, under the ridiculous plea of protecting the Negro
in his exclusive right to labom* (these are the advocates in
every other quarter for the abolition of monopoly!), to gull
the people, and thus force the Colonial Minister to stand
by with his arms folded, while the sugar planters are !
gradually sinking from decay into actual ruin. I spealc }
without reference to the present year, wdiich is unquestion-
ably one of great prosperity; but will those people wdio can \
ruin us by withholding the requisite supply of labour, per- ; \
mit us to prosper by prices which are really a bmthen on Pj
the people of England, but which, with om' enormous ^i
wages to labourers, are necessary to om- very existence ? |
I do not mean to say that the planters have not a real | !

59

contract with the parent country: unquestionably they
have; and the introduction of slave-grown sugar would
be a breach of fliith, as flagrant as any that ever was
committed. But are the actions of our enemies just, now,
to us? ^\nierefore, then, if they are not, should we rely
on their justice for the future, or expect them to permit
Government to protect us in the markets ?

Wellingham contends that the good sense of our comi-
try, if the question is ever brought before it, will Imow
how to decide between free immigration into om* Colonies
and low-priced produce, and the latter, with a re\-ival of
the foreign slave trade mider all its horrors; for that is
really the proper way to put the case. Yf e could supply
the market with the article at a moderate rate, if we had
unlimited access to labour; rmless we get this, the slave-
dealer must provide England ^dth sugar. The state of
bur Colony at this moment, must strike any reflecting
mind with dismay. The planters, disposed to put faith
in the parent-country, and perhaps, by the influence
of climate to be sanguine, are rejoicing at the pros-
pect just opened to them, of prices which will, in spite
of the enonnous cost of cultivation, afford a good re-
venue from their estates, as if this good fortune M^as to
have no end; and in consequence, the value of planta-
tions has risen at least thirty per cent, since the first of
July. The great mercantile houses in Britain liave
caught the excitement, and are encom-aguig speculation,
some of them lending money on mortgage, as in the
olden time, and others bupng plantations for them-
selves; and, as a necessary consequence, all the old pro-
prietors, having abundance of waste land on their estates,
are straining every nerve to extend their cane cultivation ;
but as this cannot be done without additional hands, an
eager competition is the consequence, and also a rise in
the pre\dously unreasonable rate of wages. I have had
difficulty in keeping my good IMr. Brown in check,
though on the spot ; and he grumblingly tells me, that

60

our working list is getting smaller every day — a certain
sign that my neighbom's are giving more than he does.
I feel the difficulty of choosing a decided line of conduct
in a case like this, for I see plainly the present state of
affairs cannot continue; but, on the other hand, if I ad-
here to former rates and tasks, my estate must suffer
severely, even in its now diminished fields — for it was
found necessary about the middle of this year, to abandon
several of the most distant. I beheve I shall have to give
in to the prevaiHng system, with my eyes open to the
evils of it. On a sugar estate witliin the tropics, a few
months of neglect will destroy every variety of cultivation,
fi'om the extremely rapid growth of noxious weeds. It
would risk not only the whole crop to continue with
half the present number of people, but the ratooning
afterwards, and consequently the very existence of my cul-
tivation. Still, it is a ten'ible thing to plunge into an
increase of the present ruinous contingent expenses of a
projserty, A\dth one's eyes fully open to its evils. The crop,
in so far as it has been reaped, promises no increase on that
of 1839; but the price is nearly double, so, in place of a
loss, I am sure of some profit this year.
• A new propensity of the Negroes begins to be strongly
developed; they are making pui'chases of land to a con-
siderable extent throughout the pro\'ince. The pohcy
of selling it to them, is called in question, but it is absurd
to suppose that it can be prevented. Will a man who is
in distress wait to ascertain whether it is for the interest
of the Colony, before he parts with his waste land? And
any new local regulation prohibiting him, would be no
less impolitic than tp-annical. The gi'eatest efforts have
been making, since the year 1833, to find substitutes for
manual labour. The plough, above all other means, has I
been tried most perseveringly, I may say on nearly
every plantation; but in no one instance has it been
found to suit so well as to supersede the shovel and hoe.
Our soil (being a stiff clay) causes the operation to be

61

exceedingly severe on cattle ; and the small drains, which
are at a distance of only thirty-seven feet from each
other, and two feet deep by two wide, impede the
proceedings very materially. It is surprising how many
horses, mules, and oxen have been sacrificed m the
endeavom' to establish this mode of tillage permanently.
One of my neighbours lost sixteen oxen in ploughing
about twenty acres, and after all, some hands were obliged
to go over it -sAatli the shovel. In order to get through
their w^ork, those who used the plough were under the
necessity of giving the cattle enormous quantities of oats,
in itself an extremely expensive contingent, and to spell
(or reheve) them in the middle of the day; so that one
set, varjang from three to six, was employed no more
than four hom*s at a time. This, rendering so many in-
dispensable, made the general expense as high as that of
manual labour, taking the mortahty into consideration,
and it w^as not nearly so effectual.

In fact, cane culture is more like garden cultivation
than any other. The drills or cane holes run across the
beds or space between every two drains. They are from
two to two-and-a-half feet mde, and from one to two feet
deep, according to the soil. The earth taken out of them
by the shovel, is deposited on a bank of the same width
as the hole (the space between every two holes bemg
so called), and is used, in weeding, to earth up the
young plants after the weeds are removed, the bank
on one side bemg taken for that purpose, and on the
other as a place on wdiich to deposit the weeds. In
these holes the cane tops are planted either in a double
or single row, very much in the same way as potatoes are
planted in England, and in about a fortnight the sprouts
appear. In six weeks, they require a first weeding and
earthing or moulding, and in general they need one more
moidding and weeding, and two w^eedings without the
moulding, before they are considered to be beyond the
planter's care. In the last weeding, the process of stripping

r)2

or trashing is gone through, which consists in detaching
the dead leaves from the canes, to allow a fi'ee circulation
of ah. From this brief sketch, it is e^adent that the
greatest care is necessary in performing exery operation
connected with the cidtm'e of this plant. If the di'amsj
are obstructed in any way, or if they are not cleaned or^
dug out regularly, the canes will not grow. If the latter ^
are not properly planted, and if the weechng and mould-|
mg be not carefully performed, the crop Avill be vei
indifferent. Again, if the stripping be done by reckless
persons, they will break do^Aai canes, and be as destructive
as so many cows tui'ned into the field. Indeed, one ha
only to comprehend the nature of the work that
essential to the proper growth of the cane, to understanc
how much the planters suffer by the existing disorganiza-j
tion of their labouring population.

My manager, who enters most zealously uito everyl
thing, is fretting at the state of affahs, and looldng thin!
George, having now charge of the books, is less in the
field, but I am every day there, and we have a very effec
tive staff, consisting of two other overseers besides George,'
and a Yorkshire engineer, or rather blacksmith, for
that was the original vocation in which he was engaged
by the manager, but having a tiu'n for the other de-
partment, which is akin to his own, he was soon able
to take charge of the steam engine for crusliing canes,
which has been for many years an appendage of every
sugar estate m this province.

I have here set down the routine of a field during the
first year, or rather the first crop. Tlie canes, at twelve
or sixteen months old, according to locality and seasons,
are cut and gromid off by the engine and mill. Then the
field being cleared of every obstruction to the sprouting
of the cane stumps, by remo%ang leaves and grass left
upon them, and depositing the latter on a bank, where
they are soon converted, by decomposition, into manure,
it will be found, at the end of six weeks, that supplies are

63

i\([uired from stumps being dead, as they will be occasion-
illy, and cane tops are inserted in such blank spaces as
are then discovered; after which, the routine is exactly
tlie same as in the first crop, and it will be similar in
(■\'ery succeeduig one, until it is deemed proper to re-hole
the land, that is, to dig fi'esli cane holes. They are
generally renewed when the bank has become level with
the hole.

But our great anxiety for diminishing the requisite
labom", has latterly brought into practice a system of
shovel plougliing the cane rows or holes, so as to loosen
and turn up the earth for the more free admission of air
and water; and fi'om what I can gather concerning it,
the opinion gains gromid that it will ultimately super-
sede holing entirely, especially in our river districts,
where the soil is not so deep as on the coast, and where,
consequently, they cannot get a virgin soil by going
deeper, fit for the support of vegetation; the subsoil,
generally, being a hard clay called mora, on which notliing
thrives but the stately tree bearing that name. Tliis
shovel ploughing is generally practised on estates in those
districts, and the time for doing it is when supplymg is
required, although some planters believe it to be more
advantageous when the canes are about three months old,
and others begin with it as soon as the field is relieved.
While upon the subject of land, I may here record my
conviction that the scheme which has been lately much
discussed, of settling a Colony in the interior, would not
succeed, because of the very inferior quality of our soil
beyond the bounds of the alluvial deposit, which does not
extend farther than a few miles from the sea. This may
be reacUly imagined, as the land could only be overflowed
for a limited distance either by it or the different rivers;
hence we find that estates, almost from their first settlement,
have been confined to their immediate neia;hbourhood.
It is true thatj at aji early period of colonization.

64

the Dutch began high up the rivers, but they speedily
came nearer to the sea, and within range of the tides,
which they secm'ed themselves fi'om by the dams I have
already mentioned. The depth of this deposit is very-
great near the sea, as the colonists have lately ascertained
in boring for artesian wells; it is supposed to vary from
seventy to two hundred feet or more. High up the rivers,
according to the report of wood-cutters and postholders,
the land is of very inferior quality. Under such a disad-
vantage, and ANath a locality so near the equinoctian hue
as the 7th degree of latitude, who would think of coming
here, when the immense unpeopled wilds of New Zealand
and Australia, with a fine chmate, are open to him, to
say nothing of Canada and the United States, with their
kindred population?

I have now another source of anxiety besides the
general one, my daughter Grace manifesting a decided
partiality for the company of Charles WeUingham. In
fact, from the naturally innocent frankness of her dispo-
sition, she has made no attempt to conceal it. A few
days after the gaudeamus party, as I may call it, Charles
met me on the road, and in some little confusion explained
the cause of his emotion on that day when we con-
gratulated each other in presence of ]Mr. Ridley, and he had
been so strangely affected. I feared he was about to enter
on another subject, and put on a veiy grave look; but,
with that fi'ankness pecuhar to him, and which makes him
so engaging, he told me that his father had been threat-
ened by the merchant who holds a mortgage on his estate,
with foreclosure, and this sudden rise in the price of pro-
duce had induced him to suspend proceedings — ^the same
mail bringing both pieces of news. I was struck at once
by his honest candoiu*, for he was perfectly aware that I
perceived the mutual attachment between him and Grace,
and he knew also, fi'om my reputation for pradence, that
tlie state of his father's affau's would be considered a for-

65

uidable obstacle, seeing that lie was dependent on liim.
Partly ti'om pleased surprise, and partly from a feeling
)f relief in finding that he did not enter on the dreaded
ojiic, I shook him warmly by the hand, and expressed a
U'jie that something would occm* to enable my worthy
riend, his father, to get the mortgagee pacified. "No-
hing but pa^Tnent of the money can do that," said he
A'ith a gentle sigh; "but I am sanguine now we shall
ncceed; we have a larger gang, and this year we shall
■ertainly make a third more than last crop, which, with
ho great prices of the day, will enable him to pay con-
siderably." "I sincerely hope it may be so, my dear
Dharles, both for your sake and his." "You are very
vind, !Mi-. Premium; I must not think of myself at all
mtil he is easy, so your Avishes, having reference to him
done, will be everything to me. I am a thoughtless fel-
ow — such is my character, and I am conscious that I
lave earned it — but no man has better intentions, Mr.
Premium; of that you may rest assured." "And I am
jure of it, my boy; so let us have no more of this very
grave conversation so unlike you, and, I may say, me too."
\ly wife and I begin to talk rather fi-equently on this
subject, for she has adopted the belief that her daughter
js more fond of retiring into corners, and of being even
A"ithout her lively sister's society, than she had ever been
pefore, and she even blames herself for encom'agmg
pharles' attentions at first. But still the match-making
nother peeps out. fehe was inquiring just this day what
:ouId be the amount of Charles' salary as manager for his
iather? "Poh!" said I, pettishly, "what has that to do
«th it? You do not imagine that fi'om two hundred to
:hree hundred a-year would suit your daughter for an
ncome." "Certainly not, my dear; but then really
)ne hardly knows what to do or say." "Just keep quiet,
md let matters take their course. Grace knows my sen-
:iments, and she has sense enough to act for hei'self;

I

66

matters are not so far advanced yet. But of this I wish
every person among us to be aware, it is the defect in
Charles' character, his want of steadiness, and his im-
petuous temper, that I object to, rather than his want of
fortune, although I do not see how we could get over that
circumstance either."

Mrs. Premium sighed deeply, and shook her head;
"Grace," said she at length, very sorrowfully, "has keen
and deep-seated feelings, and a mind also that is able to
control them, but I can perceive that her person suffers
in the struggle — she does not look so well as she did six
months ago." Wq have had many such conferences ;
and, being generally correct in my prophetic appre-
hensions, I begin to perceive that, although they say
"forewarned is forearmed," I am very likely to be drawn
into an approval of this match. I make light of the affair
with my wife, but it gives me very gi'eat uneasiness. I
think there is a natural reluctance in every father, who
feels as he should do, to part with his child, even when he is
convinced that she is likely to be happier away from him.
It is a different feeling altogether from that which prevails
when a son embarks on the sea of life; he is fit to fight
his own battles ; but a girl is entirely at the mercy of her
husband in everything that relates to the enjoyment of
life in connection with the visible world.

A few daj's ago, my foreman, David, who is a very
sensible negro, but like all of human kind, attached to the
interests of "his order," came to me to "hab (as he said)
a leetle conversation." It is wonderful how fond they
have become already of speaking like the buckras, and how
sharp they are in picking up phrases, although they do
mispronounce the words very "ingeniously." "Well,
David, I am glad to see you; it is long since you called
to inquire for the family. Sit doAvn and take a glass of
sangaree." I was then in a little office I had established
for myself in a comer of the gallery, for purposes like the

67

[>resent. David was willing enough to do so, his
tailings having a "lean" that way, so the liquor was
ordered. "And how are you getting on to-day; a good
held list?" "No, massa, beny bad; da he (for that
reason) I come speak to you. Dem all say the plantations
round about give more Avage, and dey can't stand it no
longer, dat is the trvit; I sorry, but can't help." "And
what do you advise, then, my good friend?" "!Massa
must give five bit for the task, like other ghentlemen.
No so; them sha' go away. I try best keep dem, but
what use? Money every ting. Sweet word won't buy
pork or gi'og." "So, then, you think I must raise the
wages one-fourth on account of the rise in the price oi
sugar. Am I to understand that they will consent to
work for the old rate if sua;ar comes down to what it was
last year, which, by-the-by, is a great deal more than
any of us can afford." "Can't say dat; Negro no hab
sense like buckra to onertand ting, but dem say governor
tink the price too small — tink so last year too." "Did he
say so to any one?" "Yes; his butler tell the people dem,
he eerie gubna say so at his dinner-table." "So, 'whisper
it not, lest the birds of the air do carry it,' here," thought
I, "is an instance of the mischief done by want of com-
mon prudence in a ruler; it shows also how the Negroes
are alive to every tiling affecting them. And are you
sm'e that oiu* neighboiu*s have all given in to this increase
of wages?" "Everyone. Massa Charles (Wellingham)
de very first." "Ha! indeed; that agTees with what he
said the other day in speaking of his worldng gang, and
very Hke Charles, too." "Clebba ghentleman, !Mass
Charle," continued David, "he know nigga fashion; make
plenty sugar dis time." "And pays them well, doubtless,"
said I. "Yes, sir; give five bit and plenty rum too, and
leetle bit plantain sometimes." "And has he many more
hands?" "Double twice, massa," quoth David, earnestly;
"dat is the way for do. Massa, let me do so, I sha' soon

68

bring plenty shovel men; if massa no do um, other people
take all the hands — story done (all is over)," with a signifi-
cant gesture, indicating a complete vacumn. "And so, you
are of opinion that the people who have lived on the
estate so long, most of them all their days in fact, will re-
move because they can get, for a month or two, higher
wages in other places." "Every one of them, massa,
ceptin myself; me sha' li^e and die here, me born here,
fadder born here, whafor me sha' go away? — neber!"
"Why, David, you are fully as well off as you would be
anywhere else; you have a capital house, with three good
rooms, besides Idtchen, offices, and garden, and eighteen
dollars a month of salary." "D at true; but Tompy hab
twenty though, and better house too." "And who, pray,
is Tompy?" "The foreman at ]\Ii'. Wellingham's."
"What! Charles again! I do fear me this sanguine
natiu'e of his is pushing matters too far," said I to myself
"Are you acquainted with Mr. Ridley's people at the
Mount, David?" "O yes, bery well." And here he
made that expressive somid with his breath, which it is
impossible to commit to wTiting, like heh! heh! pro-
nounced \erj short, and which implies siu'prise and dis-
pleasure united. "Tlia buckra! heh! heh!" "Ay! how
does he get on with his people." "Can't say, massa; him
fashion differ fi*om ebery one." "Has he raised his
wages." "Yes, he raise um," replied my foreman, with
a broad grin, "but he raise de work too. O tha buckra!
matty no dey! the people dem call he de debble Scotch-
man." "Why?" "Because he work so strong; he self
Stan' whole day in the field, never left um, and no tnist
no one, obsha nor foreman; then whole gang go up say,
must get more price. He say, "bery well, certain; but
'pose you get more price, you no see, me must get more
Avork; that stand in reason." "And are tliey working on
these new conditions." "Dem still work so, but they
will go away. Dis time the people can't be made fool;

69

dem get savee too much." "David, you are a sensible
fellow, now; and can think a little, what do you believe the
present state of things will end in? You must not mind
what the governor says, or any of those gentlemen who
belong to him; they live in to^^^l, and do not understand
anytliing about plantations." Da^dd looked at first very-
wise, as if in reply to the compliment, and then puzzled;
at last he uttered this oracular response: — "K the price
um pa}^ for making sugar more an de price um sell for,
de proprietor dem muss top work." "Quite clear, David;
but the wages cause the cost to be so high of making the
article. Do you think the people, by-and-by, when sugar
falls in the market, will work for smaller Avages?" David
shook his head, "Not so long dey can get ground to Avork
for demselves. Massa, look here ; nigger no hke work, it
is not his fashion: gib plenty money, he do um; gib httle
bit, he rather work his own land." "But supposing he
has no land of his oaati." "Massa know better; he see
bery well too much in a country all round about, and
plenty plantation massa Avant to sell mn now; the
nigger buy plenty aready." "Do you tliink they have
much money among them?" "Some hab deal; by-and-
by, massa avlU see many nigger buy gromid. Massa have
too much Avaste land at the north side Hne, better make
money; sell him, so get hands to settle there work on
plantation." "Not a bad idea, David, and I liaA^e already
thought of it; but we must consider it longer before I
agi'ee to it." " Strangers Avant me to ask massa if he go
sell mn." "Well, you may say that I shall do so by-
and-by, if I get a very good price, and if they agree to
work on the estate at the current rate of Avages." " O
}'es, dem shall all do that at first ; better no bind dem, dough,
only make trouble." I had discovered previously, that
to get at David's real sentiments, it was necessaiy to
flatter him a little, which, elevating him in his OAvn
opinion, put him in the position of a confidential fi'iend;

70

and as he was really a sensible man, thoroughly ac-
quainted with the habit of thought and the customs of his
countrymen, I found my interest in arriving at his secret
opinions. This last remark coincided perfectly \\dth what
was passing in my mind. In coming to the determina-
tion to part with this piece of land in lots to the labom*ers,
I at fii'st intended to bind them to work mth me; but,
reflecting on the disposition Negroes have to regard every
obligation in the light of a burdeii to be thrown off, I
began to imagine that the very tie itself might be the
cause of their going to other estates for work, while, if they
were left unfettered, they would naturally, it being
nearest to them, give it the preference. As for enforcing
any such agreement, it would be impracticable en-
tirely, without a cost of time and trouble in jfrequent-
ing courts, which would be far more than commensiu'ate
with the advantages arising from it. I got a vast deal
of information from Da\'id about this time, regarding the
fever of excitement that prevailed; but, in order to do
justice to my brother planters, it is necessary to explain,
that the greater number only aimed at retrieving their
lost ground, by bringing again into cultivation those
fields which the inadequate return yearly had forced them
to abandon, because they had not wherewithal to pay
labourers sufficient to keep them up; all of course owing
to the generally diminished amoimt of labom^, and con-
sequently enhanced value of it. After a few more con-
ferences with David, and the proposing purchasers of
land, and finding that the reluctance which was felt by
our proprietary body to the measure, as tending to en-
courage a sort of disconnection from the estates, of the
labouring class, Avas fast vanishing before the urgent
demands for money, and confined now to those (a very
small minority) who had no spare land, I proceeded im-
mediately to have it surveyed.

It extended to one hundred acres, and being divided

71

into lots of one acre, of half an acre, and a quarter of an
acre, I calculated that, in eighteen months, the whole
would be sold, such being then the rage among the
Negroes for acquiring an independent prope]*ty, on which
each might sit down under his own fig tree (literally
almost), for I observed that the first thing done on the lot
by the purchaser, is the planting of a few fruit trees, the
cocoa nut being generally preferred. The drains are then
dug, and plantains and ground provisions planted while
the cottage is in course of erection. They generally pay
only about a half of the purchase money on getting pos-
session, and in a year the balance should be forthcoming;
but there are some who cannot come to a final settle-
ment within the year. The price is two hundred dol-
lars per acre, or at that rate. They do not get a title,
or transport as it is called, until everything is paid; so
the proprietor incurs little risk in giving indulgence,
although he must lose interest, that being a con-
comitant in money transactions, neither understood nor
recognised by Blackie. The simplicity in the legal
process here of giving an absolute title to real property,
has often struck me as admirable, when contrasted with
the complicated and expensive measures necessary to
that purpose in the mother country. The transport (or
transfer) is advertised thrice (three weeks) in the Ga-
zette, with the names of the parties who give away and
who receive the property. Any creditor of the former
may stop proceedings by giving notice, in the form required
by law, at the Registrar's Office, and the matter comes
before the Court of Justice at its first sitting, where it is
decided whether the objection is valid or otherwise. If no
objection stands on the books of the Registrar after a
third advertisement, the transport is passed by a judge,
who scans it carefully to see that the deed is per-
fect in regard to legal fonn, as well as substantially
correct. The name of the new pi'oprietor is then recorded

72

in connection with his acquisition. The same fonn is
observed in regard to mortgages. In either case, the
expense amounts to only a few pounds for the lai'gest
estate in the Colony, or the heaviest mortgage.

Mr. BroMTi came to me the day after the conversation
I held with Da^id, which has been related, and, with a
face " wan with care," tried once more to impress on me
the propriety of keeping up in the race of competition
■vvith our neighboui's. "If we do not," said he, "we must
abandon more cultivation." "Well, ^Ir. Bro^m," cried
I, for the twentieth time, "can you give me any better
assurance than when we last talked on this subject, that
the rise in wages which you recommend so earnestly, will
be the last." "I cannot, sir, nor can any man; but
the question is now simply, whether it is best, when prices
are unprecedentedly good, to allow the estate to fall so
far back as to threaten next year's crop ^vith almost cer-
tain destruction, rather than raise wages to the rate now
cmTent throughout the Colony." "Which amounts
merely to this, Mr. Brown, stated even in the strong
manner you have just done, that, because other planters
are carried away by theii- sanguine disposition, I must be
so also; it appears to me a most injudicious step on their
part, and I am very reluctant, very loth to give in to it,
indeed." "You are unquestionably better able to judge
than I am, sir, of the chance we have of long enjojong
the present prices; but you are aware that opinions are
divided, even among those who are best able to mider-
stand the question." "I see your inference, ISIi'. Bro^^^l;
but the strongest argument you can lu'ge is undoubtedly
the folly of our neighbours, and the consequent risk, from
then' absti'action of our people, that we lose a crop I
shall decide soon; in the meantime, I have not made
up my mind." Even if he is a man of comprehensive
understanding, the manager of an estate is still subject to

73

those influences which affect mankind in general, and the
most prominent among these is self-interest. There is
much zeal for the proprietors among managers; and the
reason is to be fomid in the fact that, by acting on it,
they are enhancing their owm reputation; but the mana-
ger's character is to be raised by increasing the crops,
without reference either to prices or contingent expenses,
for no one inquires whether an estate is managed econo-
mically or otherwise — the actions of the planter are
measm'ed by the size of his crops and the condition of his
fields. We cannot wonder then that they should be
more particular in regard to what, in eveiy sense, espe-
cially concerns themselves, and that they should always
inchne to pay such wages as would give them an advan-
tage, even over their neighbours, in regard to labourers.
We cannot expect them to identify themselves with the
proprietors, and sink their ovm interest entu'ely in that
of their employers. It is not in human natm-e, for their
character is at stake.

One featm'e in the new state of existence is beginning
to give us great annoyance here. Scarcely a night
passes without some boisterous quarrel, which disturbs
the whole plantation, and rouses us from sleep, the man-
sion-house being only aboiit a couple of hundred yards
from the Negro village. There is seldom any mischief
done, for the heroes have all the scolding propensities
which we observe in those of the Iliad, before engaging
in battle; but the parallel holds good no farther, inasmuch
as Homer's men proceeded to work in earnest, while ours'
content themselves with the war of tongues throughout.
It would be a very amusing sight, no doubt, for one whose
fortune did not depend on the people, to watch closely
their demeanour on such occasions. They are exceed-
ingly sensitive in regard to themselves, but they cannot
feel so acutely for their neighbours. It is not to be looked
for. The ladies, in general, are the fire-brands among

K

74

them; ejc uno disce omnes. One day I was standing on
the path leading from our village to the field, where they
were going to work, when a man came along limping as
if his foot had picked up some thorn or similar annoyance.
A woman whom he passed, tickled by his uncouth gesture,
cried out, "Hey! Quaco, you da go dance in a field, da
new catreel disha, eh?" Quaco laughed with the laugher,
and passed on; but there Avas one behind who could not
brook this insult on her husband's dignity. She came
straight up to the other lady, calmly deposited the basket
which held whatever articles she took to the cane field
with her, and then her hoe, on the ground, and forthwith
opened fire, setting her arms a-kimbo, with — "You
laugh my man, eh — you laugh my man, eh, mamma —
eh, mamma?" "Kay, sissie, me no laugh bad — da good
laugh me laugh" (meaning that she was joking). "You
is a vile nigga mamma, no bit of lady bout you; dat is
what you is." The other had hitherto been cool, but she
now sprang to her feet, and assumed the same belligerent
attitude as her opponent. "You say me no lady, you
saucy, good-for-notting Congo dat you is." "Me Congo!"
exclaimed the first then, in a very sluill tone, as if this
had been the climax of impudence; "me Congo! da
liard you is. You know bery well me dooble Creole;
you is Ebbo, dough! nasty Ebbo, wha savee, eat dem
mattie." Their voices rose to a crying pitch, as one
pungent recriminating remark followed another, till the
quari'el ripened, and they formed a nucleus for their
friends and relatives as they passed to work, who, instead
of keeping aloof as sensible persons would on similar
occasions, all took part in the strife of scolding, and it !
was an hour afterwards when the mass of them appeared
in the field, while the principals did not come at all.
Thus it is; a silly, childish dispute is every day involving
perhaps a hundred people in a wordy squabble that
annoys us for two or three days.

75

Proprietors and managers, to say nothing of overseers
and foremen, have long left off interfering in them, find-
ing that their influence was as nothing to the inflamed
passions of a rude people. If they actually proceed to
blows, which happens sometimes Avhen they are drunk,
then the stricken party next day sets out to collect evi-
dence, and to calculate the value of his assault, in the
way of damages. Several have been to me after such an
affair, to tell particulars and inquu*e how much I thought
the beating they had got "was wort" (worth); and,
generally, unless there was something bad in the case, I
aj)praised the property at a low figiu'e, to discourage this
absurd sort of speculation. It grieves me to say, that I
am now persuaded there is also a change for the worse in
their morals, in the face of our immense church establish-
ment, and the schools which are so liberally scattered
over the province. The orgies which they hold at night,
and which the high wages they receive enable them to
keep up m a manner suitable to the inchnations of a semi-
civilized population, are both fi'equent and licentious in
the extreme. I have had ocular proof of what I now
record; for, resolving to try every means to put down
such meetings as JVir. Brown represented them to be, and
which his authority had been altogether unable to sup-
press, I marched deliberately into one of them to ascertain
whether mine would be more effectual. They had been
dancing for nearly the whole night, and it was about
three in the morning when I surprised them, in a large
building, consisting of three cottages thrown into one by
removing the partitions, a hberty they had taken without
leave some time before, and which we found it convenient
to wink at from fear of disgusting them with the place;
there they were, overcome by spmts and fatigue, lying
along the floor indiscriminately, men and women. I
tried to rouse them ; but if I succeeded, the pai-ty turned
sullenly from me, and instantly relapsed into his lethargic

76

state of repose. The women, perhaps ashamed of their
condition, could not be prevailed on, by any means, to
lift then- faces from the floor. As I gazed on this dis-
gustmg scene, which was illuminated by an expiring
lamp, I began to be aware, from certain unmistakeable
sounds, that my presence had caused as much anger as
sm'prise. At last, a tall fellow whom I did not know,
and who was e\idently from another plantation, started
up with — "Glial massa nigga! buclora here! whausefor
he here, eh!" looking impudently in my face; at the
same moment, a voice whispered behind me — "Massa
better go." I took the hint immediately, recollecting
some tales of irreverent, not to say dangerous, treatment
wliich proprietors had met ^v^ith when they intruded on
similar meetings, and mth the same laudable intentions.

Januaey, 1841.

We have now been more than a year in tliis, to most
of us, new comitry, and have become colonized; all of us
having had what is called the seasoiung fever, which in
our cases was mild, being rather of the mtermittent than
the remittent form, as the doctor said. My wife hasJ
been for some months very earnest with me regarding]
our eldest daughter, whose health, she insists, is suffering]
from anxiety and uncertainty. She is indeed paler, but]
so is her sister; all European women become so in warm'
climates. It is not difficult to see that Charles has, with-
out absolutely declaring himself, let them all understand]
the state of his affections, and my poor wife's bram hasj
been in a state of excitement smce she perceived that her]
daughter was incHned to reciprocate, if she got a little
encouragement. With some, marriage is a singula
triumph for mother as well as daughter. My wife is a|
mother of that description; but I knew my gfrl would!
maiTy no one, except the object of her affections, even to]
ensm-e her mother's triumph. Pondering on the matter]

77

long and anxiously, I at last came to the resolution of
opening my mind fully to Charles v,\\en he made his
proposals, which nothing but suspicion of me and my
strict principles, kept him from making some time ago.
His father never threw out a hint regarding it, of com'se,
although his son's attentions were the subject of conversa-
tion tlu'oughout the Colony.

As George kept his books with great exactness, he is
able to tell me (within a trifle) the result of last year's
proceedings. The crop was 210 hds. of sugar and 18,000
gallons of strong rum, including the molasses, which had
all been distilled; nearly three-fourths of it were made
since the prices rose so considerably, and consequently
the gross revenue w^as ver}' high in proportion to the
quantity of produce. It amomited to within a little of
£10,000. The labour account came to 12,500 dollars,
or about £2,700. The other cm-rent expenses, such as
coal, casks, &c., wear and tear of buildings, with salaries
to the Whites, amomited to fully 8,000 dollars more — the
total was nearly 21,000. Altogether the expenditm-e in
raising that crop reached to £4,500. The nett income
of my estate then, for 1840, was fully £5,500. A better
retm-n than I got for many years previously, from 500
hds. and rum in proportion, notwithstanding the vast
increase in the expense of producing. No man can be
surprised if the planters in general, who, for the last two
years, have been sinking money, should be exceedingly
elevated on finding that a balance of nearly the same
amomit which had been pre\-iously on the wrong, was
now on the right side of the account. Those who had
looked forward in despair of impro\dng their affairs
wdthout the help of the imperial government, begin now
to pray inwardly that the latter wall let them alone,
for they know by experience that it is more likely to
give in to clamour against them, than petitions in their
favom'.

78

It cannot be denied, that for those who have faith in
the justice of the mother country, the prospect is now
verv' inviting, and that the general opinion incHnes to
this behef, the contmued demand for, and rise in the
value of estates, svifficiently indicate. I am one of those
who felt uneasy from the very commencement of this
altogether novel (at least of late years) state of the mar-
ket; and I am not sorry now that there are some appear-
ances of a decline, not likely to be considerable, but
sufficient to operate as a damper on the speculative
excitement wliich prevails. There is probably another
reason why the crop of last year has turned out so well.
I was formerly in the practice of shipping all the sugar
to my respectable friends in London, Omnium, Dibs,
and Rhino, but ha\ang been ad\ased to try the George-
town market, I did so, and finding it decidedly better
than any in Great Britain, I continued to sell the produce
there, from Jmie 1840. By doing this, the planter has
the advantage of obtaining the liio-hest rate which mer-
chants will give in order to get their vessels loaded, and
generally there are some who, from want of interest to
obtain freight, are fain to speculate in produce; in fact,
there are respectable firms who do it regularly. The loss
by leakage on the voyage is also saved; and, in short, the
gross benefit is estimated at from thirty to fifty shillings
per cask. By far the majority of planters are unable
to avail themselves of the local market, they being bound,
by mortgage, to consign their produce to British houses,
and in their ships.

A sort of delusion prevails in the mother comitry re-
garding those debts of the planters. The idea of impro-
vidence and extravagance being generally associated
with that of a West Indian, debt is invariably regarded,
among those who are rmacquainted with the colonies, as
the results of those faihngs in him. Now, there are ex-
travagant persons in the West Indies, who get into diffi-

79

culties from their own folly; Ijut in far the greater
number of cases, the debt is contracted when the estate is
bought, which is always done here in the way of specula-
tion, not of investment, as in England. A man has
£5,000, and he washes to buy a property worth £20,000
perhaps. He applies to a mercantile house, and obtains
a loan equal to the sum he possesses. He has thus on
hand £10,000, and it is paid to the seller of the estate.
For the remaining £10,000, he gives a first mortgage
to the same party, and comes under contract to pay it
by instalments; and to the merchants, he grants a
second mortgage for their £5,000 on the same estate,
and becomes bound to pay them off in a space of time
calculated to commence in its instalments when the
seller is paid off; and he is held boimd by the same
contract, to ship all his sugar in their ships, and to
consign it to their house in Great Britain. I should
say that this mode of pm'chasing plantations ob-
tained till within the last few years, when the system
of cash transactions, made necessary by the impaired
credit, under existing circumstances, of every colonist,
was introduced. According to the old custom, it was
calculated that a pmrchase thus made, should clear itself
in from seven to ten years; and m many instances not
more than a fomih of the price was paid doAvn, so well
Avas it understood that the estate should pay the instal-
ments by its crops, as they became due. All those who
had bought property about the time when the slaves w^ere
emancipated, are thus, at the present moment, with
unHquidated instalments, varjing in number and amount
with the terms of the arrangement under which they are
due. My fi-iend WeUingham is oppressed by a mort-
gage left on his property by an uncle who bequeathed it
to him, and also by several annuities to more distant
relatives, so that he has found great difficulty, up to last
year, in parang the interest of the former, and the full

80

amount of the latter; while the mortgagee for nine years,
contented with interest alone, had threatened in June last
to foreclose on an over-due instalment. To him, there-
fore, and many more, this sudden rise in the market has
been the means of averting positive ruin in the meantime.
As to public matters, the greatest excitement has pre-
vailed, and the governor of Trinidad, Sir Henry Macleod,
is here at present to allay the fennent, and reconcile the
differences between the Executive and the Colony in its
representatives. The former refused an immigration
ordinance ; and the latter, impelled by absolute necessity,
avowed that ■\^dthout more labourers they could not ven-
ture to levy such an amount of taxes as was required for
the purposes of the government, because they could not
see that the inhabitants were able to pay them, and they
refused to furnish the supplies under the circumstances.
The Colonial Minister, fincUng himself in a dilemma, got
out of it by sending Sir Henry as governor pro tempore
et re nata, to make an arrangement with the Colonial
Representatives, which was effected in a few days, one
party granting a civil list ailid the necessary funds, the
other guaranteeing an immigration ordinance, with pro-
visions, though not satisfactory to the planters, yet such
as they saw they could only obtain at that time. It was
amusing to obsen^e the demeanour of our ruler in abey-
ance in the meantime. He was literally like a bear
sucking his paws; and I am siu'c would have been highly
pleased if Mr. Briar and his brethren had gone off in a
hurricane to the antipodes. It is scarcely possible for
the governor of a Colony, under the Wliigs, to be popular:
however keenly he may feel for the suffering people, he
must conform, in practice, to the rules laid down by liis
master; if he remonstrates, then the latter will say,
"This fellow has been bitten by the rattlesnake, we must
look for another." By this phrase, it seems the Whigs
mean that he has acquired a knowledge of the time

81

interests of tlic Colony, which, requiring a different hnc
of policy, is not the sort of information they wish to have,
and therefore they insinuate that he has become too in-
timate with the planters, and is adopting their prejudices.
The family of the present governor, although he is not
liked, are justly appreciated throughout the settlement,
and most deservedly, for the ladies are not only very
agreeable in then' manners, but highly accomplished,
and in every way fitted to adorn their position in the
province. The governor, personally, would be more
popular, did he not consider pohtical opposition as du-ected
towards himself, rather than his office. A man who can-
not draw a well-defined hne of distinction between the two,
must ahvays be thinking himself ill-used, when the
offending person has not perhaps even thought of him as
connected with the question in dispute. Our worthy
representative of the Colonial IViinister (to call him the
King's is rather hyperbolical), cannot conceal the dislike
he entertains for the colonial members of our Combined
Assembly in general, which he signifies by a peculiar
and expressive grmit, when their names are mentioned
in his presence. This has its disadvantages; for instead
of being surromided at his table by the aristocracy, such as it
is, of the Colony, he has none there save the gentlemen
who hold subordinate offices under him, with occasionally
a professional man, and the officers of the garrison, who
are not the people in whose conversation anything is to
occur likely to throw light on the condition of the settle-
ment, either by anecdote or matter-of-fact contained in
the news of the day. Most of those who are familiar
with the inmates of government-house, in fact, knowing
the bias of the executive, adapt their discom'se to the
taste and feelings of its head, as polite people generally
do. Thus, all information to be gleaned casually and
without premeditation, of those who are best able to give
it, and which is the most effectual in convincing, is shut

L

82

out from him. Remonstrances and petitions are received,
under existing circumstances, as attempts of one class to
obtain unjust and rnifair advantages over another; and
the idea of protecting the Negroes, who are really the
masters on plantations, absurd as it is, still prevails with
our official men, so as to be paramoimt over every other
consideration. There is, in short, a wide space between
the latter and the planters, and in this slough, as it may be
called, of distrust and ch'sbeUef, every statement of facts is
doomed to be lost.

July, 1841.

The change in the aspect of the market already noticed,
has turned out more serious in its extent and prol^able
permanence, than was then anticipated; and the alarming
nature of the late debate in parliament, has produced a
sudden reaction on the unfortunate planters, Avho are all
beginning now to perceive that they are in the position
of the frogs m the fable, and that their destruction, if not
sport to the people of England, is considered a matter
of very tri^nal consequence in the mother countr)^ In
this melancholy triumph of my anticipations over those
of my neighbours, I can perceive that the forebodings
which led me, a man of fortune almost independent of the
colonies, to exile myself, will be ultimately realized; and
yet, although I have that impression on my mind, I can-
not bring myself to sell the estate and return to England.
In fact, the time has gone over for that, because, although
an estate was sold at a high figure in May, I doubt if a
good price could now, after the laj^se of only two months,
be obtained for any plantation. Such is the absolute
change that has at once occurred in the opinions of all
men here, only eleven or twelve months after tlieir hopes
had been elevated in the same proportion, but on very
different grounds.

83

The latter position was like a castle in the air, as it really

: : ins on the extraordinary excitement consequent on

msition finom despair to hope. The former is

;I nit, which, in whatever way the planter

to swallow him np. The debate reveals

siate ot tccling that prevails among the popular re-

. : sentatives, who must be understood as giving utterance

t; the sentiments of their constituents, and they are

:-|ui vocally in favoui" of tlie admission of slave-grown

_:ir.

Thanks to Sir Eobett and the Conservative party, we
safe in the meantime: but what security have we for
- future? Our countiymen collectively, with a great
, .il of talk regarding justice and generosity, seldom
iiiustrate their daims to those qualities by any striking
ranee of either. The compensation, so called, given to
planters, they glory in representing as an act of gener-
:y: while, in point of &ct, it was a sdfish spoUation of
une particular class, to raise the reputation of the country
fiff philanthropy. Little calculation is necessary to
prove that. In terms of the Emancipation Act, appraisers
were appointed by government to adjust the apportion-
ment of the £20.0QO,.0'(}0 : and they were exju-essly directed
by the act to take the average rates at which sales had
been efl'eoted in the colonies during eight preceding
years, Ji-om books in which such sales were recorded.
This l^eing done by :> :r . i: was found that the slave-
holders got. ir: :::_■ : - _ : ' ~ i -^ of the compensation
fond, just e:_^ : ;1 :!„::_.: :ui . i.ui-.iice sterhng in the
pound of the real market value of their property, so fairly
ascertained : and, notwithstanding their sti-ong remon-
strances, they could not make ministers nor parhament,
to say nothing of the people, imderstand that property of
a much higher value than that of the slaves who culti-
vated it, was to be endangered by the act. And does
not the proof of what I have said regarding the Britisli

84

nation laying claim to a character -which really does not
belong to it, find confirmation doubly strong in the fact,
that after ^Testing fi-om us tlu'ee-fifths of one species of
property, and in all probability rendering all other pro-
perty m the West Indies Avorthless by the same deed, it
is now apparently resolved that measui'es shall be adopted
which will consmnmate and ensure the ruin of the planters,
because by them sugar may be obtamed a very trifle
cheaper ! Is there philanthropy or justice in this manner
of proceeding? I say it is now resolved, because the
character of the debate is in itself a demonstration that a
great change has taken place in pubhc opinion in regard
to om* question, and that of slavery. John Bull has got
rid of the stigma by sacrificing us, and as, in his short-
sightedness, he cannot see that he will be l^lamed for self-
ishness and inconsistency, he chucldes at the idea of get-
ting the article as cheap as his neighbour, while he can hold
up his head and say — "Thanks to the munificence of
Great Britain, there is not a slave in her dominions."

It is to be hoped that some time must elapse, breatliing
time for the miserable colonists, before this act of national
tergiversation can be canied into effect; and, in the mean-
tune, that we may be enabled to get labour imported suf-
ficient to supply the loss of it, which has been caused
by emancipation; as an earnest of this, Ave are akeady
reaping the fiaiit of our new ordinance, m large arrivals
of Portuguese fi'om Madeh'a, the Colony paying the cost
of theu* conveyance. They are chiefly located on the
coast, until it is ascertamed that they are fitted to stand
the climate, the fact being doubtfiil still, firom the differ-
ent results, as detailed by those who had them on their
estates, when only a few had been imported.

The price of sugar in the colonial market of George-
town is nearl)" at the cmTent rate of the first half of 1840,
from the unexpectedly large quantities that have come in
from the East Indies. Yet it was to be anticipated that a

85

stimulus would be given there to the raanufactiu-e of sugar
by British machinery, on the equalization of the duties,
and the general expectation among those who were
acquamted with the subject, of gi'eatly deficient crops
in the West Indies. Foreign colonies are also extend-
ing their cultivation of the article, in the belief that
Britain must be reduced to the necessity of being supphed
by them. My two neighbom's are quite chop-fallen.
Ridley has been ill from extreme depression caused by
the news; while Wellingham has the most despondmg,
cheerless look that can be well imagined.

In the month of March, his son, encouraged by the
aspect of the times, made proposals in form for my
daughter; and I, in conformity with the plan I had long
before resolved to adopt on this occasion, fi'anldy, and
■without resen^ e, told him the state of my mind regarding
him. He received it with perfect good temper, and the
most engaging submission, declaring that he was well
awai'e of those infirmities m his nature, but as his dis-
positions were good, he hoped to correct them in time.
He then told me that he acted with the full sanction of
his father, who proposed that they should Hve together as
heretofore; and, "in order to make me perfectly indepen-
dent, he would raise my salary as manager to two
thousand dollars, which, he thought, with other consider-
tions, might do well enough." "Well, Chai'les," said I,
"as I have been candid -with you on one side of the ques-
tion, it is right I should be so also on the other; I have
stated the principal objections; I lilce you and yom*
father, and if you promise to keep yourself imder com-
mand, and do nothing of consequence without the advice
of yom* seniors, I shall not oppose yom* views — your
success of com'se must depend altogether on Grace." His
eye brightened at this, and I could perceive he was sm'e
of his object. From that day, my poor ^vife, who has, it
may be whispered, less mind than either of her daughters,

86

was in a flutter of excitement, which, to keep the house
quiet, I was obHged to allay, by getting the affair arranged
as speedily as was consistent with propriety. They were
married early in April, and they seem now to be as happy
as people so situated generally ai'e. But now, when the
prospects of the planters have been blasted as suddenly
as they were excited, I begin to repent me of the facihty
with which I gave in to my wife's remonstrances — the
Welhnghams' sohcitations — and, not the least, poor
Grace's looks ; but, after all, it may only end in want of
fortune. He is young, strong, and possessed of talents
which, if properly applied, will always enable him to sup-
port a small establishment like his present one. I have
given her, dm'ing my Hfe, an annuity, which, joined to
Charles's salary, makes them comfortable.

Old Wellingham is one of those characters who are lively
in company from making an exertion to be so, but who
generally shun gay society. My family often express a
wsli to see more of a man who is so agreeable; but I know
he is frequently days and weeks when his words are few, and
his eye averted from the world. Eidley is very different.
I cannot say of him that he takes " Fortmie's buffets and
her smiles alike ;" but he enjoys the latter to the full ex-
tent, and he meets the former with a stern composure,
like that of a brave man in presence of an enemy whom
he has to encomiter. Such is he now. I met him two
days ago, and he came up wdth a sad smile. "Well,
neighbour, I do fear — in fact, I always felt, as it were,
that you would be partly right in regard to prices, the
rise being so sudden ; but who would think that the ques-
tion of introducing the sugar produced by slave labom' into
the British market would be entertained by even a minority
in a British parhament." "My friend," said I, "self-
interest being the governing motive in the actions of all
men, you should have dipped deeper into human nature
before you made up your mind to rely so much on justice

87

predominating over it." "But," said he impatiently,
" the nation, if it sanctions at any future time such a fla-
grant crime, deserves to be accounted infamous throughout
all countries in the civilized world." " Well," answered
I, " what of that ? Will the manufacturers of England hug
themselves less eagerly on carrying then* measures, because
the chai'acter of the nation may suffer ? Bodies of men,
Ridley, will do things that individuals would shrink
from vnth. loathing and abhorence. There is, perhaps,
not one of these Manchester men — not even Bright him-
self, or Cobden — who w^ould singly reduce to misery
and starvation his next door neighbom", to promote his
OAvn views ; but, collectively, you see they do not hesitate
to immolate a large body of their countrymen." " And
that," said Ridley, "just amoimts to this, that they can
halloo each other on to any mischief which they, indi-
vidually, would not dare to think of. Very like the dif-
ference between the man who will not venture to destroy
another when he is alone, but, aided by two or three more
lilve himself, will attack and overpower him anyAvhere :
just different shades of guilt." " We are becoming too
severe," said I ; " but, to retiu^n to my original position,
the workings of self-interest in a party so strong as the
manufactm'ing is in England, must ultimately prove dan-
gerous to the state : it is an imjyerium in imj^eiio — a
^power capable of ruhng the rulers of the land." " Aye,"
replied my friend bitterly ; " John Bull will find in time
that this cuckoo will prove too large for his nest." "They
have long desired to open the ports of the world to their
goods, at any injury they may inflict on what may
be called the bulwarks of our constitution; and now,
chunk with prosperity, they aim at rivalling in rank and
power, as well as wealth, the hereditaiy legislators of the
land ; but, finding that public opinion is too firmly esta-
blished in favour of the latter, then- next object will be
to pull them down to the level of themsehcs."

We had many sucli conversations. Wellingliam, since
tlie bad accounts arrived, has rather kept out of my way,
but he pretends, aUhough it is with a sunken eye and
desponchng visage, that things are not yet so desperate —
that West Indians are always in the clouds or in the
mud, never preserving a happy equilibrium, and that the
majority in our favoui' is still overwhelming in parliament.
His son, sanguine ever, redoubles his assiduity and atten-
tion. Ridley says, except himself, he does not knoAv a
manager who works so hard; indeed, his wife complains
that he over-fatigues himself in the field. The impres-
sion which has been made on the public mind, may be
explained by what I have described as existing in my
own immediate circle. Merchants, who are like the
mimos£e, extremely sensible of the slightest touch (from
adverse times), begin to shake their heads and look
ominous to those who are either their debtors ah'eady or
wish to become such. One thing is universally talked
of, a reduction of wages to a suitable rate. The planters,
paralyzed by this suddenly re-opened prospect of a gulph
likely to devour them, loudly exclaim that they cannot
now afford even the rates fixed by the tariff of 1838, to
say nothing of the rise which the high prices of last year
enabled them to give ; and the Negroes, on the other
hand, not being able to imdcrstand how wages should
depend on the price of sugar, but fancying that the buckra
country is full of money, are, with the suspicion that
naturally belongs to their class, inclined to believe that
the Wliites wish to take advantage of them. Unhap-
pily, the head of om' executive, who ought to set them
right in that respect, is too much disposed, whether from
ignorance or necessity is of no consequence, to take the
same view of such questions.

!Mr. Brown, not having been able to keep pace A^-ith his
more ardent neighbours, on account of the restraint im-
posed on him by me, complains that the crop has suffered

89

much from want of labourers, to which I reply philoso-
phically, that I can better afford to have a bad year than
most of my neighbours, and as some must suffer loss,
seeing that there is not a sufficient number of labourers
for the whole, it is better it should fall on me; to this he
only answers by a singular stare, as if to ascertain whether
I could be in earnest. Although many left him for
higher wages, they have since manifested an inclination
to return, if he would meet them half-way, by giving
half the amount of the rise in addition to the old rate ;
but he has remained firm, in order, if it be possible, to
keep them to habits of a more settled nature. Negroes
are like chikh'en, as I have often said, in their fickleness,
and, in fact, generally ; but in one thing they show a sort
of cat-hke steadfastness. I mean in attachment to what
has been long their home. There can be no doubt, how-
ever, that the propensity they now mdulge in to a great
extent, of roving from place to place, and remaining but
a short time in one, will ultimately eradicate the feehng
of partiality for their original locality; and this propensity,
being a sort of restlessness consequent on, and arismg out
of their altered condition, is too strong to be checked by
any other consideration whatever. It is really an aston-
isliing sight for one just from Europe, to witness the cool
indifference with which a request is received regarding
the performance of any particular sort of work. The
greatest aversion is also shown by the people here to do
anything alone, so that on all occasions it is necessary to
send two for any job, even if it cannot occupy more than a
few minutes. They are always ready, too, with an excuse
for it. The best way to illustrate anything is to state a
fact in point. The following occurred to myself. An old
carpenter was desired by me to take a hammer and a
couple of nails, and fasten a board that had got loose on
the railing of a bridge. "Massa tell mangea (manager) ?"

M

90

"No, it is not necessary for such a trifle; go directly."
"Who me sha' take, sa?" "Why, what do you mean?
you can't want anybody to help you to drive a nail?"
The old man, after staring a httle, came close up to me,
and inserting the point of a fore-finger among the wool
of his head, in order to give force to the illustration,
"Massa savee catch 1 — se with one finger?" inquired he.
But as I said already, a man who has been accustomed
to see the poorer class begging for work as a favour, is here
amazed by the unnatural necessity that exists for actually
begging people to work for wages far above the value of
their labour. What can such a state of affau's end in,
but ruin to all depending on these labom'ers? Unless,
indeed, the subject of immigration is taken up by govern-
ment, as a question in wliich the nation is interested. It
is true, we have gained something by the ordinance; but
we would have both Asia and Afiica opened to us, as
well as the islands in the Atlantic and the countries of
Europe. From the experience we have hitherto had, I
fear the worst from the powei'fal confederacy agamst
us. The Aborigines Protection Society has now taken
on itself the care of all people on the face of the earth, I
suppose, mider this very comprehensive designation; and
a strange thing it is, that a number of gentlemen, most of
them seldom out of London, should be seized mth the in-
clination to inile mankind in this manner, especially that
portion of it which knows just as little about the patronising
society, as the latter knows of them. It is an easy tiling for
those men, over their wine, to sit in judgment on their fel-
lowmen — to damn the West India planter — save the New
Zealand cannibal — and hug themselves in the belief that
they are acquirmg reputation for themselves by such
omnipotent deeds. But while the world laughs at them,
there is still an exceptional portion of the political popula-
tion, who find their account in leaguing with, and
cajoling those their simpler bretln'en; and they are our

91

deadly foes, the anti-colonial faction of Britain, powei-ftil
already, and yearly adding to their dangerous influence.
The Negroes, now in a position to exact their own
terms fi'om the unhappy proprietors, are fully aware of
the advantages they possess. This they show in their
contemptuous treatment of the Madeira people who come
here. A few of my folks had gone to a part of the coast
where some of these yellow buckras are located, and had
fallen in with them at work in the fields. "Well, Trim,"
asked I of one on his return, "you saw the Portuguese ;
what do you think of them? can they work well?"
"Yes me see dem; massa, for true dem bucki'a?" "Cer-
tainly they are buckras; wliy do you ask?" "Case, me
tink say, dem bucks (Indians) ; such nasty, good-for-
notting buckra, me neber see; sailor self ghentlemen ober
dem; dem must be de bucks of the White contree."
"Ah! Trim, you don't like them; you think they will
bring doMTi wages, eh?" "Dem shan't," replied Trim,
with energy; "before dem sha' bodder we, we sha' fight
them, so send um back, good-for-notting buckra trow-
away (castaway buckras) ; dem begga, too, Negro gie um
bittal (victuals)." This last vituperation alluded to a
singular featm'e in the character of the Portuguese, who
are not only exceedingly industrious, but so fond of
money that they are unwilling to spend any portion
of their wages, and actually beg so long as they can obtain
something by it. It is evident that they excite the
jealousy of their black compatriots; and this may be by
their diligence, for it is said that they are so anxious to
acquire riches, that they work too zealously under the
burning sun, which they ought to avoid, selecting the
mornings and afternoons for their tasks, as they have been
earnestly advised to do. But I only speak of them from
hearsay: if they can stand the climate, they will prove a
blessing to us. I have heard of some cases of mahgnant
fever among them, and it is said the medical men apprehend

92

a great deal of sickness from their habits, which are fihhy
in the extreme, and the hard work, wliich they will not
be dissuaded from.

We have obtained, besides those inhabitants of Madeira,
a host of people from the West India Islands, tempted
by the wages and the free passage in conjmiction. A
large proportion of those are but indifferent subjects, who
perhaps avail themselves of the terms to get a ramble in
the land of mud, as our Colony is denominated by the
islanders. They are chiefly Barbadians, and some are
said to be good men, while others are the very refuse of
that place. We have an agent there, and in other places
where there is a likelihood of obtaining people ; and it is
suspected that those officers are not so particular as they
should be in their selection. But, in truth, they have a
difficult part to play, and a battle to fight with almost
every man of any note in the places where they are re-
cruiting. Labour is scarce in every part of the British
West Indies, even Barbadoes, where the population is
extremely dense, and the wages not one-thhd of ours.
Still, sugar requiring many hands, and only a certain pro-
portion, as with us, being constantly at work, the planters
and others in want of sen' ants, look with bitter jealousy
on their abduction by our agent. In the meantime,
while measures are anxiously pressed forward by the
planters to increase the supply of manual labour, no
means are spared to diminish the necessity for it by
mechanical improvement. Perhaps the most successftJ
of the hundreds which have been suggested, are those
which convey the canes from the punt to the mill — cane
carriers, each a chain of padcUes fastened together by links
and rods, revolving round a wheel at one end, and a
drum at the other, and resting on a strong wooden frame.
It is worked by the steam-engine. The canes, being
thrown on it from the pmit, are drawn up by its revolution
to the mill, in such manner that they fall in exactly

93

between the crushing rollers. It saves the labour of
several persons, the canes having been previously carried
on the peoples' heads to the mill. After they are crushed,
another improvement, equally valuable, comes into play
for the removal of the megass or crushed canes, consisting
of a truck railway, with a gradual ascent, till it reaches
midway between the eve and the top of the loge or
bam, where the megass is deposited. On this frame,
trucks loaded with the latter (into which it drops from
the mill), are pulled up by means of a strong rope through
a pulley between two posts at the upper extremity of the
railway, where is a platform to receive the truck on
attaining its proper elevation; and from this platform, a
horizontal railway goes the whole length of the log^,
along which the truck is pushed by two men, until it
reaches the spot where it is to be emptied, which is done
by opening its sides (they being on hinges for the pm-
pose), and allowing the megass to fall down. It is also
wrought by the engine.

Various schemes have been tried to lighten the laboui"
of caiTying the dried megass or ftiel to the fires under the
sugar boilers or coppers as they are called, but they have
invariably been defeated by the obstinate adherence of
the Negroes to old practices, there being no possibility
of doing tliis by the ordinary steam-engine of an estate.
Tram-railways were made, and trucks placed on them;
but the Negroes preferred the original mode of carrying
it on their heads in enormous bundles, although they
could convey twice as much in the other way in a given
time. It was long ere they could be prevailed on to use
wheel-baiTOws for any purpose, such being the inveterate
force of habit, and eveiything with them going, by a sort
of impulsive instinct, above their heads. It is said that a
proprietor imported a dozen wheel-barrows some years
ago, and selecting a few of the most intelligent of his
people, showed them how they were to be used. After

94

a great many "cha! clia's!" and "heli! lieh's!" they began
to trundle them as if actually in fear; but massa had no
sooner turned his back, than they all stood still, and one
fellow fairly lifted the baiTow on to his head, exclaiming
loudly upon massa for bringing that "new something to
bodder a' we." Wheel-baiTows are now in general use,
however, and the desu-e of being like the Whites is gradu-
ally overcoming prejudices in general. Some verj'' strong
and pernicious feelings of this sort still linger among
them ; and of these, perhaps the most absm'd and dangerous
is their behef in the superstition of Obi. The influence
of opinion — that which they observe to obtain among the
Wliites — has certainly had some effect in diminishing
their faith in the power of those who practice it; but, if it
has done this, it has also taken away part of the fear with
which they regard such characters. This is observed to
be the case among the Creoles, who are disposed to be-
lieve that every African is an Obi man, especially if he is
very old and very ugly, and they do not scrapie, on the
shghtest occasion, to beat him unmercifully, if they think
it can be done with impunity. I have an African of this
description, and already he has been twice beaten in that
manner, although I could not perceive that he had done
anything to offend the young scoundrels who attacked
him. The first, I took to task for the offence, and de-
manded why he had dared to maltreat a man old enough
to be his grandfather. He shook his head, "Da man no
good." "Why is he not good?" "He savee kill people."
"Did he wish to kill youV "Massa, tha' 'tory no good
for talk; da man no ha' God, he ha' debbil." "And do
you think he has power to raise the devil on you?"
"Heh! no good for talk." "If you thought he had that
power, you would not dare to strike him; you do it
because you wish to show your matties you are not
afraid of Obi; now you shall pay Goliah four dollars for
that beating, or go before the magistrate." He paid

95

the money. The next, I sent to the stipendiary, and he
was fined in six dollars.

They have a sort of ill-defined idea, that the Obi man
has power by his art, to destroy some persons who are
not Christians; and they think it very grand to beat him,
as it shows they are like buclvras, and not afraid of liim.
But no Negro, whether Creole or African, likes to speak
on the subject of Obi. There is a latent fear of some-
thing lingering in their minds in connection with that
villainous, and, at one period, cruel superstition, which
shows that the light of civilization is yet contending with
aborigmal and cimmerian darkness in their minds. I say
this of the Creoles. The Afi'icans still beheve in Obi
with pristine faith, although some of them have an idea
that the Christian religion, mider certain circumstances,
will prove too strong for it.

January, 1842.

-^HE downward tendency in prices, was arrested about
the middle of the bygone year, when they were still a
shade higher than in 1839. The feehng of distrust and
despondency, which was great in proportion to the mag-
nitude of the evil, and the sudden manner of its approach,
has been partly removed by the usual effect of time. But
there is a prevailing sense of the impossibility of doing
anything under existing prices of labour; and the pro-
prietary body, unanimous on this point, agreed to have a
general meeting in Georgetown, to fix a new tariff, with
a code of regulations suitable to the exigencies of the
case. This meeting has just taken place, and the par-
ticulars having been arranged, it was settled that district
meetings should also be held; which, adoptmg the rates
of wages and the regulations agreed on, should alter them
to suit any peculiarities that might exist in each locality,
it being impossible that they could apply in the same
manner to all places.

96

Whilst this is going on, the Blackies preserve an ominous
silence, and David tells me they will not give in to the
regulations; and, strange to say, although he is a sensible
man, I cannot make him understand the urgency of the
necessity for a measure of this sort. "You see, David,
if the sugar I make sells for no more than twenty thou-
sand dollars, and if I pay more than that in expenses, I
won't continue to make it." "Certain." "Well, sugar
will not rise — the price is higher now than it was before
the great first of August, so we must not look to that, then
the only thing left us is to reduce expenses." "Certain;
but wages no all." "The other expenses of an estate are
all as much reduced as possible, (even the salaries of the
Whites,) many of them depend on the cost of articles in
Europe, such as coals and staves." "All true, massa."
" Then you see that we cannot help this reduction — it is
forced on us by absolute necessity." "Massa remember
I told him before time, if White people don't gib good
money, Negro won't work?" "I remember it quite well."
"Da so he stand (so it is), Nigga," said he, energetically,
"will not Avork in dis here country for leetle money; I
don't care who know it, me say so." I knew he was per-
fectly in earnest by his aspect. "Then, David, you must
allow, nevertheless, that we are obliged to do it, you see
that." "No, Massa, me don't see dat; me tell you true.
The king or queen, wha they call um ? before he make
new law for Nigga, must know bery well he can't work
without good money ; if sugar no bring good price, let the
queen give the plantation massa dem money to pay the
people; da he do um, da he take um from plantation
make he free." I thouo;ht for a minute on this strange
proposal. "And do the Negroes really talk in that way,
David?" "Every one talk so: they no have story wid
sugar; if de queen liab power take away slaves, queen
have power to pay a' we proper." Here, thought I, may
rulers learn a lesson in practical wisdom, fi'om "babes and
sucklings" in intellect.

97

The plain meaning and tendency of David's reasoning,
which he gives as that of his countrymen generally, is this,
that a government, before it undertakes a great measure,
affecting the interests of so many people as the Emancipa-
tion Act does, must surely have calculated the cost of its
operation in every way, and resolved that this shall be
paid by the country generally, without allowing the un-
fortmiates who are operated on, to bear the whole
expense. It is an excellent commentaiy, considering the
quarter it comes from, on the measures of government for
the last eight or ten years. It may perhaps remind the
reader of the Sien'a Leone anecdote regarding a poor hoy
whose leg a charitable surgeon took off for nothing, to
save the individual's life, and whose mother brought him,
as soon as the stump was well, and laid him down at the
surgeon's door, saying — "After massa cut off poor boy
foot, me come see what massa give for support him."
But David's remark goes farther than that. He has faith
in the wisdom of the king (this word comprehends
ministers, parliament, and eveiy ruling power), and he
thmks he is prepared with money to cany out honestly,
and without loss to anybody here, the purposes of the
Act.

The Negroes invariably look on the White peo^^le col-
lectively, as having only one interest; hence their coolness
towards Scoble and others who manifested what they con-
sider a very suspicious leaning towards them, when they
should naturally be all for those of their own colour.
They also are of one mind as to the lawfulness of slavery;
and they would consider the taking away of slaves ft-om
a man, exactly in the same light as forcibly depri\'ing him
of his estate in land, unless the most ample compensation
should be made. They are accordingly mystified entirely
as to the proceedings of the imperial government; for the
intelligent of them know perfectly well that the proprie-
tors only got about two-fifths of the value of their bond-

N

98

men. Slavery being the lot of the many in Africa, they
are disposed, by tradition or experience, to regard it as
the natural state of society, and the proper position of the
labom*er, exactly for the same reason that the English-
man looks on freedom as his birth-right, because it was
the inheritance of his fathers. I have never heard a
Negro say that it was otherwise than unjust to emancipate
them without paying their price ; but some, having been
imbued with the Radical doctrine, insist that we Avere
paid enough for property that was unproductive. David,
however, is not one of those. He knows what the article
would have fetched in the market, and no sophistry can
persuade him that it was not worth the market price.
He himself, as he proudly told me, was appraized in 1832
at 4,500 guilders of our currency, or about £360 sterhng.
He was knowai to be a good man and a good diiver.
But to resume the conversation — "You think, then,
David, that the Idng (qvieen you mean — it is a lady) must
have informed herself on every point connected with this
question, and that she will not let the work stop without
giving what money is required to pay what you call pro-
per wages." "Yes, massa, de queen and her council liab
too much wisdom to do big thing like that in such loose
fashion, dat would be worse than Congo Nigger." "Then
you think that all this fright among the proprietors, and
their meetings, are just for nothing — no good reason?"
"Yes, da so dera say, dem say bucki'a want to fool them
— put plenty money in dem pocket." "Now, David,
you can't believe that; do you not think it possible that
the planters are not supported by the queen as they ex-
pected?" "Perhaps (doubting! y) may be so, massa." I
knew perfectly, by the tone in which he spoke, that he
did not agree with me. I was aware also that reasoning
with him was entirely out of the question, until something
should occur to stagger him in what is at present a point
that he pins his faith to. After a short pause, he went

99

on — "Dem say governor no 'gree with the plantation
massa; he no think wage too much." "Ay! do the
Negroes fancy that to be the case." "Massa no hear
some go to his office? dem say, so he tell them." "I
can't beHeve that, David; he could not do anything so
far Awong, and so contrary to facts." "So dem say; me
no know." And thus our conversation terminated. I
was really alarmed by the last piece of news, having
generally found my foreman correct as to what was re-
ported.

1st February, 1842.

The greatest consternation now prevails over the
Colony, in consequence of the cessation from labour which
has occurred on the universal adoption of the rate of wages,
with the i-ules and regulations, by the proprietary body.
It has been produced, as much by the very singular conduct
of the executive, as by those measm'es which were forced
on the luckless planters by grievous necessity. The
Negroes flocked to the government office, where they
were talked to, either by the governor or one of his chief
officers, in that sort of undecided manner, which, with a
rude people natm'ally suspicious, is almost sm^e to mis-
lead. Instead of being told plainly, that the planters
had each a right to frame what regulations and rate of
wages he thought proper for his estate, and to considt
with his fellows as to what was most proper, which is
all we did — the Negroes were informed that the mat-
ter would be considered, and so forth. We soon learned
that it had been considered in a manner we little ex-
pected— that a copy of what we had agreed upon as
our new code of plantation wages and regulations, had
been formally submitted to H. M. Attorney-General, to
ascertain whether the document was not illegal ; in other
words, whether means could not be found to force us to

100

abandon those changes we deemed essential to our pre-
servation from ruin. It is proper to say, that the
governor objected to the rules, not to the alteration in the
wages. It would be thought a most t^Tannical thing in
England, if the lord-Heutenant of a comity would inter-
pose his authority between a master-manufacturer and
his workmen, in regard to the estabhshment of regular
hours for labom', so as to have all hands employed at once
— the occupation of cottages belonging to the former, or
anything, in fact, which was purely matter of bargain be-
tween the two parties. We have been accustomed to
arbitrary measures from our governors, and this did not
startle us so much in itself, as being an indication of the
gubernatorial feeling, but as a sort of corollary to all the
proceedings of the executive hitherto, and an explanation
of them. It looked, in fact, when taken in connection
with the apathy of the government in regard to immigra-
tion, as an evidence that ministers desired to keep up the
high rate of wages for the benefit of their protegees, the
Negi'oes. It is not sm-prising that the planters should
entertain such opinions, knowing that the opposition of
the guardian Anti-slavery Society to immigration into the
sugar colonies, is ostensibly based on the belief that a re-
duction of wages will ensue upon it; and being aware also
of the immense power which this body, in connection with
the cotton aristocracy, now has in the coimcils of the
nation. The thinking portion of them feel that they are
mider the feet of this poweiiul confederacy, and that
every danger is to be apprehended from the grasping,
one-sided, self-aggrandizing ideas which have got absolute
possession of its members. A strike was to be feared,
and it was fully anticipated by the proprietors ; but one so
fostered and encouraged, cannot fail to affect chem deeply,
wdien they take into consideration its probable conse-
quences, and its duration under such circmnstances ; for
how can they calculate on the resumption of labour at the

101

necessary reduction, if the people believe the governor,
and consequently that omnipotent power, according to
their belief, the queen, to be against any alteration that
would reduce wages.

I have heard the governor and his satellites argue, in
a conversational way, that the Negroes required very high
wages, and, in fact, could not exist without them, owing
to the high price of food. He judged of the latter by his
own experience, and by the same very singular mode of
analogy adduced b}^ the anti-slavery folks when they speak
of the hardships of the Negi'o's case. It is not long since
one of them, in telling a sad tale of a free Afi'ican who
had been entrapped by a villainous ship captain into
slavery in the West Inches, asked triumphantly at the
close of his story — "How would an EngHsh gentleman
like to be seized on his own estate, amidst all his enjoy-
ments, and flung, mangled and fettered, into the hold of a
ship, and forced to toil all his days in a foreign land."
The tale was bad enough, without the absurd attempt at
comparison where none could be. No beings can be
more unlike than the wild, naked savage, following the
impulse of his passions, and scarcely endowed with reason,
and the highly-refined and intellectual gentleman; but
one requires to see both in their proper state. The
strange fashion adopted by travellers, of giving high-
sounding titles to the headmen of savage tribes, misleads
the people of England. Judging from what they see
and hear of kings and princes nearer home, they can-
not imagine any who bear those attributes to be so
widely different from them ; consequently, any dark-com-
plexioned man brought from Asia, Africa, or America, is
an object of veneration with them, if he has one of those
grand designations, although he can scarcely bear the
clothes rendered indispensable by the climate, and re-
gards with a keen, hungiy look, the children he passes on
the streets.

102

But this does not concern our governor. The articles
his butler buys in the market, cost him considerably more
than they would in London; but no labom*er is expected
to live like a gentleman. Indeed, the state of society
here is now such as to produce that extraordinary condi-
tion of the lower classes, and it is just what we suffer
from; but the inference from the governor's observation is,
that he cannot get food at a lower rate. Let us see how
the case stands. The food which the Negro enjoys more
than any other in his natm'al state, is the fruit of the musa
or plantain tree, with some seasonmg, such as salt fish or
pork, with pepper, &c. The allowance fixed under the
sanction of the protector of slaves in former times, and
confirmed by the privy council, was, per week, three
pounds of salt fish (cod), or fom' pounds of herrings or
mackerel, and two bunches of plantains, weighing, at
least, tliirty-five pounds each, for full-grown people, or
rather for all who were above twelve years old; and half
those quantities for children under that age. Now, take
the case of a man with a wife and three children. He
will require for them ten and a-half pounds of salt fish,
and seven and a-half bunches of plantains. The price of
fish is at this moment at about twopence per pound, and
that of plantains at one shilling and sixpence per bmich;
the aggregate cost of a week's food wiU therefore be
thirteen sliillings. The wages of the two, for only twelve
tasks ar-week, will amount, at one shilling and eightpence
each, to twenty shilhngs. But this cannot be accounted
more than half of the benefit the labourer derives from
his connection with the proprietor. He has a cottage
worth four dollars, or sixteen shillings, a-month (four shil-
hngs a-week), and as much garden ground as he chooses.
The latter advantage, in fact, renders the expense of plan-
tains imnecessary, for he can raise either them, or ground
provisions, perfectly sufficient for his family, by a few
minutes' work on each day. It is quite true that if the

103

Negro must drink Madeira and champaign, and eat of the
most delicate viands, this pay will not suffice; but any
one may see, by the above calculation, that he can aiFord
a great many things which the poor, shivering, hard-
worked peasant of Europe knows only by name. Yet
the worst of this supei-fluity is the effect it has on the
morals of the people.

Those who, in accordance with what I have just said,
ai'e disposed to judge the Africans by a European stand-
ard, would do well, in thinking on their present state, to
fancy the case of so many school-boys, with more pocket-
money than they can dispose of without injmy to them-
selves. This is an evil that all parents and guardians are
anxious to avoid, by limiting the amount to the lowest
sum compatible with the due supply of those articles
which are necessary to the healthy, moral, and physical
enjoyment of the youths.

But he has still other advantages. On many estates,
the same privileges are continued which the slaves enjoyed ;
a medical man being provided for them, and nm'ses in sick-
ness ; a certain allowance of rum had been daily given to
each, until the legislature veiy properly put an end to it
lately, by imposing a tax on the consumption of the article
within the Colony, and limiting the sale to houses hcensed
for the purpose; a salutary measm*e, as a check on
drunkenness, and a principal som-ce of revenue, legiti-
mately derived, to the Colony. It has been alleged
that the taxes press severely on the labouring population ;
but, I presume, no person who is unprejudiced, will say
that two shillings per gallon on rum is a high impost,
especially when the object of its imposition is the benefit
of the Negroes themselves. They still get the liquor at
a rate too low to prevent them from drinking more than
is good for them. It has been called by some of the offi-
cial people, the poor man's beer of this province, and they
urged that as an objection to the tax, but the effect of the

104

two on mankind is very different. It is a strange argu-
ment to bring forward, as it suggests immediately the
burthens upon what is bona fide the poor man's beer in
England, and who has nothing to spare from his wages
where-wdth to pay for it. The price at the licensed liquor
store is only one shilling per bottle, duty included, of
proof spirit. Allowing grog to be one of their necessaries,
there is just another upon which a tax is paid, which
is salt fish, and it amounts to about one farthing per
pound, being comprehended in the twopence mentioned
as the price of it. A man thus pays on fish three shilhngs
and threepence per annum more than he would if it was
untaxed. There is also a shght duty on the requisite
articles of clothing, (two and a-half per cent., ad valorem,)
which, in our climate, are few for labom'ing people. On
gay and fine garments, it is just, if they can buy them,
that they should pay a coiTcsponding rate. In short,
vn\h the advantage of better wages for fom' hom's' work
than Enghshmen get for twelve, they have their food at a
cheaper rate, and pay no taxes except what we have speci-
fied on necessaries, while the Englishman pays duty on his
malt, sugar, tea, coffee, chocolate — the two first, and one of
the three last of which are considered by him as indispensa-
ble, and wliich, exceptmg malt (or rum), the Negro gets
free of any biu'then whatever. They are too lightly
taxed, when we consider tliat the public expenditure
has been so enormously increased by the operation of
the Emancipation Act in their favour, for hospitals, po-
lice, jails, and penal settlements, together with teachers,
clergymen, paid magistrates, and a host of other of-
ficers, who were all either created expressly for their
behoof, or rendered essential by the measures adopted for
their benefit; and when reference is made to the value
of labour, as contrasted with the cost of tlie articles required
by the labourers. But the unhappy planters do not wisli
to ciu*tail their enjoyments, if the mother country shall
continue to think them innocent; they onlv wish to have

105

such prices for their produce, as will enable them to sup-
port the expense of cultivation, and give them where-
withal to pro^^de food and clothing for their own families.

The crop of last year has, in accordance with Mr.
Brown's predictions, fallen considerably behind that of
1840, having been only 155 hds., Avith 13,000 gallons
of rum, and the expenses being increased, the loss on the
year has been about £1,500. Some of my neighboui's
have been more unfortunate, the largest amount sunk
in the district, in one estate, being £5,000 ; an enor-
mous sum, and a loss truly startling, when we consider
that it may be of frequent occurrence, so long as the culti-
vation is kept up.

Wellingham has had a better retm*n, which, with the
profits of 1840, has put his mortgagee into good humour,
and the whole family, including the yomig wife, seem to
be in excellent spu'its. Ridley, however, has fallen back
a little, though not to the same extent as I have suffered.
He literally puts his shoulder to the wheel; and now
that I know him better, I can perceive that he is labour-
ing under great anxiety, which he masks under a hearty,
bluff manner. He is one of those who direct their atten-
tion chiefly to the quality of the work performed, and to
the enforcement of the strictest economy in the routine
of the estate; and he finds it necessary, in order to satisfy
himself that his views are properly carried out, to be in
the field while the gangs are there, because he has foiuid
that the overseers are useless in keeping the labourers to
the honest and faithful discharge of then* duty, their
authority, commands, and remonstrances being alike dis-
regarded. As manager of his own property, he finds
that he has infinitely more weight with the people than
another person would have who w^as not at the same time
proprietor.

NegToes have a sort of hereditary respect for the lords
of the soil; and, while they would openly deride an over-

o

106

seer, and quietly offer a passive resistance to tlie directions
of a manager who did not suit their tastes, they would
yield obedience readily, so far as they will do so now, to
the dictates of the plantation massa. But while they act
thus, they are by no means insensible to the absurdity of
any solecism in plantership, which an inexperienced
proprietor would be guilty of; and it is a singular fact
that, although they will ruin an estate by the careless
performance of their tasks from day to day, they do not
like to work under an unskilful planter. On an estate
near this is a yomig manager, preferred to the charge on
account of his relationship to the proprietor, whose
actions have lately been severely criticised by his neigh-
bours. About a fortnight ago, some twenty or twenty-five
men, with their shovels on shoulder, came to me, in
absence of Mr. Brown, to offer themselves for hire. I en-
tered into conversation with them in the usual way,
asked their terms, and so forth, and, finally, whence they
came. I learned that they were from the plantation I
liave just alluded to, and I then said that although Avill-
ing to take all the good hands who offered themselves, I
did not like to deprive a near neighbour of his ablest
shovelmen. "Why do you leave him?" There was a
dead silence for half a minute; and, no older man inchn-
ing to speak, a little bustling youngster of about twenty
came forward — "Massa," said he, "no use for tell lie, tha'
nyung (young) mangea no ha' sense, he da play h — 1
yander." Then they all opened like a pack of hounds.
"He mad." "He let in salt water for kill cane." "He
boil sugar berrout (without) lime," were the phrases,
among twenty others, most distinctly heard. "But,"
said I, "if you do the work well in the field, what is it to
you if he spoils the cultivation ? you have nothing to do
with that." "Massa," said the same youth, "we no want
estate to hab cracterV "Indeed," was my reply; "I
sliould think it is what you care very little about; it is

107

notorious that all of you now do the plantation work very
badly; if you wish your own to have a good character,
why don't you do it as well as in the old time?" "O dat
is oder ting." "Why?" He would not answer, but I
could do it for him. Individually, they like to indulge
their indolence by doing their tasks in the easiest, and,
consequently, the worst manner; but they are all proud,
and each would Hke to see his comrade doing the work
properly, although he will not, because he wishes, in
speaking to a friend on a neighboming estate, to be able
to crow over him, and to tell that his cidtivation looks
better, and liis crops are larger than those of his neigh-
bour. It has often struck me that the Negro is the
proudest of mankind, and the most sensitive in regard to
aggi'ession on his self-esteem.

It may be imagined that this feeling might be tm-ned
to good account, by proper management on the part of
the resident proprietors. It has been foimd, however, by
Ridley, and I suppose all the rest who are in immediate
charge of their own estates, that they can only control
the disposition, so as to make it advantageous, when they
are in the field and literally standing over the laboui'ers,
which is absolutely impossible at all times, because there
are always two gangs on every plantation, and frequently
three or four; but if there was no more than one, an in-
dividual woidd find it almost impracticable to watch every
turn of the hoe or shovel made by thirty or forty people
at a time. The overseers on those estates where they
are least attended to by the Negroes, can do no more than
make a memorandum in the morning of the position oc-
cupied in the field by each person, and, in the afternoon,
he is enabled by it to take down the manner in which the
labour of each has been performed, and the amomit of it.
If the manager believes, from what he knows of his people,
that the bad work may be made better, he directs those
who are reported as malperfbrmers, to go over it again

108

next day, othen\ase wages will be stopped. From what
has already been said, it will be understood that the fre-
quent repetition of this order will go far to depopulate an
estate.

It is true, that if the planters could be unanimous, and
if they all possessed the requisite firmness to hold out
sufficiently long, this evil might be amended; but when
one considers the state of trembling anxiety in which men
are whose means of existence are at stake, and also, the
effect which a single person of weaker nerves than the
rest would produce among people so constituted, by
departing from the hue which they had all agreed to fol-
low, one Mill not be surprised that the planters cannot
maintain a discipline of the natm'e required. I fear, in
the present attempt to lower wages, we shall experience
the impossibility of adhering to our own rules; it is
already whispered that some planters, alarmed by the
governor's proceedings, have postponed the introduction
of the reduced rate on their estates.

I am intemipted by my friend Welhngham. He tells
me that last mail brought him a letter from the house
which holds his mortgage, couched in the most friendly
terms, and intimating that so long as his crojDS continue
to be as good as the last, they wUl be as indulgent as they
possibly can; and "Charles," continued he, "is quite
sanguine as to our futm'e returns." "I do not doubt it,"
rephed I; "Charles is generally so. But pray, what do
your merchants say to the expenses of last year?"
"Why," said he, with a sigh, "they do say that they
were veiy great; but they have hopes of, in fact, they
inculcate forcibly, the necessity for retrenchment." "Of
course; but can they tell you how it is to be done? any
abatement hinted at in freights an d commissions ? " "Nay ;
that we can hardly expect during such times; besides, it
w^ould only be a drop out of the bucket." "But by those
drops the bucket is filled." "Unless we can reduce

109

wages, all other reductions will not avail us." "True;
but if the merchants do not relax a little in their demands,
how can we exjject the labom-ers to give in to our
schemes: if morto;ao;ees claim their bond, without re-

"to n

ference to the difficulties of mortgagers, it is with a bad
grace that those same persons, as planters, insist on a
reduction of wages." "I beheve people generally think
that it is in vain to continue the gi'owth and manufactm-e
of sugar in the present state of the labour market, even
if all other expenses were brought down to one half of
their cmTent amomit." "Indeed, it is doubtM if that
would tm'u the balance in their favour; still, on principle,
everything that lessens cost must be tried. There is
much privation endm'ed by many proprietors in order to
carry out their plans of economy. I heard yesterday of
one who had been accustomed to keep a carriage and pair,
and who sold them lately, and has nothing but an im-
proved sort of canoe to travel in now, while his wife must
stay at home, or go to town, or anywhere else she may
wish to go to, in the schooner of the estate." "I pray
God," said WeUingham, mournfully, "that the mere loss
of comforts may be all that the bulk of om* body may
have to endm'e; but if we are not borne out in om* hopes
of better times, those hopes that we must entertain, or
embrace destitution at once, what is to become of us
all?"

"You are aware," said I, "that I have had this ever
present to mind since the year 1838; and I am now so
sensible of the danger we are in, that I have resolved
while I can yet do so with lionom', to settle the few thou-
sand pounds that remain in my banker's hands on my
wife and children, leaving still a considerable sum with
my merchants to give the estate a fair chance of better
times, by carrying it out, if we are doomed to get out of
our present precarious position." "Ah! Premium,"
replied my friend, with a look of deep despondency,

no

"when one in my situation beholds one in your's, and
one who, besides, is both prudent and energetic, thus
seeing nothing but disaster in prospect, what may I not
expect?" "Forgive me, Wellingham," said I, "we are
brothers, and lil<e brothers we should speak openly to
each other; yet pardon me if I speak plainly to you. I
fear that Charles is, even now, indulging in his naturally
sanguine and hopeful disposition, to an extent far beyond
what present appearances wan-ant; and although I say
it not, I may beheve that this state of feeling will affect
his mode of management. In short, Wellingham, I feai*
Charles may imagine that in raising large crops, he is
doing eveiything, so long as the mortgagee is satisfied."
"But, my dear fi'iend," was his answer, "is not that a
great deal ? The planters, as a body, are straining every
nerve to keep up then- estates, even at a great loss, until
the coming of a brighter day; the mortgagee is a sort of
embodiment of the existmg evils, for they bring him pro-
minently forward, who, but for them, would be in the
background." "What you say is perfectly correct; at
the same time, you must allow^ that the mortgagee will
consider it to be unbusinesslike to continue this state of
affairs long, and you know he is a planter as well as
yourself, and will readily perceive at what cost you are
consigning so much sugar to his friends in England."
He was deeply distressed. "My dear Premium, Avhat
shall I say? God knows all this and more has occun-ed to
me often." "I know it; I know you to be tliouglitf\il
and considerative, but I perceive also, that you are driven
by despair* to drown reflection, and to put off the evil day
by any means in your power. This is the first time I
have spoken to you in such a manner; take it as a proof
of my esteem, and believe me when I say, that I would
not have done it had I not been sm"e that you w^ould de-
rive benefit from it." " But how, my fiiend ?" cried he
wildly; "I think, as God shall judge me, that I shall have

Ill

no time from my merchants if the croj^s fall off." *'Do
you think, if a certain portion of the mortgage was paid,
that the holders of it would give you any considerable
time?" "I know they would; for twelve thousand dollars
they would not ask me a question about it for two years —
these were their o^svn words." "Then I shall give it to you,"
said I quietly. Poor Wellingham stared at me as if he
did not understand what I said, while his face became
pale, and his whole fi'ame was shaken by a A-isible tremor.
"A^Tiat did you say. Premium?" "I said, my dear
Welhngham, that I would stretch out a hand to assist in
dragging you out of the mire," replied I, with a smile,
"on condition that your manager shall not practise any
expensive means to force large crops hereafter."

He grasped my hand, shook it warmly, then turned
round and left me abruptly. "Strange," thought I,
"that a man of such w^ell-knowTi benevolence should be
siu'prised by a good action fi'om another."

But Welhngham speedily returned, and in the warmth
of his gratitude, poured out his whole soul to me. It was
a painful pictiu'e he placed before my eyes by his vivid
representations of the horrors (arising fi'om importunate
creditors, and want of money for any purpose) constantly
present to him, and operating on a disposition remarkably
sensitive and deeply thoughtftil. He went away an
altered man, and left me musing on the many hundred
scenes of misery and woe, such as he had described, then
occurring in the British Colonies. "Alas I" thought I,
"what have the great ones of the earth to answer for!
and what an inconsistent thing is the wisdom of man !
one day, enacting a law to make the steahng of a hand-
kerchief punishable by death; another day, consigning
thousands to want, to starv^ation, by depri-\ang them of
then- property, also by act of parhament !"

I had soon to hold a very confidential conversation
with the son, as well as the father, who, hiui'ied on bv

112

his impetuous disposition, arrived in about an liour, ac-
companied by his Avife. The latter, after Charles had
expressed, with his usual warmth, all he felt and all he
hoped from my friendly efforts in their favour, began to
speak in a manner which suqirised me. She had always
been disposed to look beyond the sm'face of things more
than women usually do; and I perceived now that since
she had hnked her fate with that of a deeply-involved
planter, she had devoted herself to the study of the
planter's business, and of what is called the West Indian
question generally, with the view of guiding and assisting
her husband in his arduous pui'suits, rightly judging that
the influence she possessed over him, might be exerted to
keep in check that impatience and thoughtlessness which
formed the only blemish on his otherwise excellent
character.

"My dear father," said she, after Charles had opened
his mind fully and frankly, and with tears in her eyes,
"you are always thinking more of others than yom-self ;
and I know it was the apprehended diminution of my
mother's enjoyments which brought you out here; but I
wish to point out to you that you may carry yoiu* anxiety
on that head too far, which you will unquestionably do,
if you incur the risk of losing health, as well as property,
in the severe struggle we are all engaged in."

"I have judged dehberately," replied I; "but I am aware
the world will say exactly what you hint at, and probably
ascribe to me, besides, the wealcness of avarice or ambi-
tion." "Then could you not go with mamma and Jane,
settle yoiu'selves in oiu* dear old home, and leave George
to represent you here?" "And do you, my gu'l, desire
this?" "God knows it would cost me many a severe
pang; but when I reflect on the advantages you would
all derive from it, I am not so selfish as to desire to keep
you here." "You have thought over our case, and you
believe I can do no good by remaining." "Like all

113

others Avitli \vlioni.I have conversed, excepthig the over-
sano-uine (irlancing at her husband), I do not abandon
liope; yet I liave little confidence in the justice of the
mother country, which alone can save us." " You
have nearly expressed my feelings and opinions. I con-
tinue to hope, almost against my deliberate judgment ; if
the calamity imphed by the total relintjuishment of hope
was less dreadful, I imagine we would not cling to it so
pertinaciously; but we are now like men on a wreck — to
give up all, even the most remote expectation of being
saved, is to let go our hold and embrace destruction ;
therefore we grasp it to the last. It is true that by re-
tiring noAv, I might live in England, but not in otu*
former abode, my love ; that we must give up all right to
soon, and it would be in a very humble manner, compara-
tively, that we could now reside there. In short, the change
would be so great, and would so affect your mother, that,
actuated also by the same feelings as my unfortunate
fellow-sufferers, I dare not attempt it. They have more
comforts in the meantime, and let the worst come that we
apprehend, they shall not be in want."

"But, my dear sir," said Charles, "you might seU the
Fortune, and realize something considerable in addition
to your funds in England." "Well, Charles, you have
stated another difficulty which I find it extremely hard
to overcome. This estate was valued in 1832, by sworn
appraisers, at £105,000. I got £25,000 of compensation;
how much of the balance could I obtain by a sale?"
"T\liy, perhaps £20,000." "Perhaps £20,000! more
likely £10,000, instead of £80,000. Here again the faint
hope that remains occiu's to me, and Avhispers — 'Don't be
so foohsh as make the sacrifice, it woidd be monstrous;'
and really, as I said before, although calm reflection
points it out to me as the safest course, I cannot bring
myself to adopt it."

But if the family be ruined," said Grace, "and — "
p

114

"That cannot l^e, dear, for I am going to adopt measures
immediately to secure my family in something — " "But,
dearest father," said she earnestly, "recollect that it
would not save 2/ou from the operation of the law if
you Avere ruined." "Nay, my girl, let it take its course;
I am no l^ankrupt now, but a rich man, therefore any
measures I take to secure my family against the schemes
of a reckless government, are not only justifiable, but
perfectly honourable." "But," faltered she, "a jail I"
"The bankrupt laws will save me from that. Now, my
children, you are thinking more of me than yourselves."
"And so we ought," cried Charles, warmly. "Well,
well," cried I, cheerfully, "I hope, as I said, I still hope
for better times; so do not let us make ourselves wretched
while there is yet no cause."

l.s^ July, 1842.

The strike among the labourers continued till the end
of ^larch, when, dispuited and worn out by the opposition
they met with fi'om their people, countenanced, if not
wilfully, at least effectually, by the executive, the planters
gave way, and one after another resumed theu labourers
at the old rate of wages. When one remembers the
destructive effect of time on tropical cultivation untended
by the hand of man, the di'eadful anxiety with which a
planter beholds his cane fields, week after week, assuming
more and more the appearance of so many patches of
ground in a state of nature, will be at once understood.
If the weeds get fairly above the canes and destroy them,
which they must do if the latter are unweeded for some
months, the loss of one crop at least will ensue, and, at
the same time, the planter must be subjected to a great
outlay in replanting the several fields; and how, in such
times, could the impoverished sufferers accomplish this,
most of them with capital and credit already exhausted?

115

I have never in England seen so nincli energy dis-
played in bearing up against severe distress, or sucli
indefatigable ingenuity and industiy in meeting difficid-
ties as they occiu'. It is wonderful how they do not sink
under their intolerable burthens; but faith, and hope
based on it, keep them up. Their faith (I speak of the
mass of proprietors here and in the mother coiuitry), is
yet unshaken, and they expect good out of the evidence
given before the Distress Committee of the House of Com-
mons, although they perceive that the anti-colonial faction
are openly deriding it, and declaring it to be monstrously
over-charged. And such is the prevailing ignorance in
England of what is going on in the colonies, that they
will succeed in nullifying aU that has been said. In this
province there are two hmidred and twenty sugar estates;
of these, it is not expected that more than twenty \\ill
this year make any clear revenue. They are, in point
of soil, superior to the rest. In fact, for the same ex-
pense of labour, they will give t^^'ice as much sugar as
many of the remaining two hundred, and a considerably
larger proportion than all of them. Those fertile plan-
tations, also, are generally the largest, which naturally
arises out of the good quality of the soil, that having been
the inducement to proprietors to purchase more slaves
and extend cultivation. The expenses are always compara-
tively less on large than small estates, for obvious reasons.
The wear and tear of buildings are less in proportion
than on smaller properties ; so are the salaries to Wliites,
also, and several other items of expenditure. The large
plantations on the coast, therefore, with their rich land, are
those which are successful in the struggle with adverse
times.

The governor was openly charged in court, by !Mr.
Briar, with thwarting the constitutional endeavoiu's of the
planters to save themselves from ruin; and his excellency,
getting angry, said to his clever government secretary,

116

that the Honble. member was personal ; but the other
very sagely shook his head, thereby recommending quiet-
ness. There is not a planter in the Colony who would
refuse to back Mr. Briar m his assertion, in so far, at
least, as information obtained from the people mterested
would warrant them in doing so, for the Negroes did not
hesitate to say that the governor supported them in re-
sisting the measures of the proprietors.

The mortality having been very great during the last
twelve months among the Portuguese, the Coiu't of
Policy has, with as much wisdom as humanity, stopped
the bounty on the importation of people from Madeira.
This, of com'se, puts an end to the hopes of the planters,
at present, from that quarter. Indeed, many have arrived
at the conclusion, which, in fact, forced itself on them,
that those people are imsuited to the labours of the field,
both fi'om constitution and habit. But some other
country must be found where the sugar-growers can look
for labom'ers to supply the existing deficiency. Their
enemies have succeeded in closing almost every place
against them. The conduct of the anti-colonial confed-
eracy in regard to immigTation, throws the most violent
proceeding of any other party into the shade. It avows,
as strongly as the plainest language can do, that they are
actuated by hostility to the planters, not by any interest
they feel in the Negroes of the West Indies. If the lat-
ter was their motive, woi.ild they favour, as it is known
they do, the Liverpool people in their cfibrts to introduce
slave-grown sugar? And again, if they keep out immi-
grants fi'om our colonies, do they not indirectly injure the
Negroes they pretend to protect, by bringing on a state
of affairs which will render the introduction of sugar from
Cviba and Brazil indispensable.

In short, everything shows that the destruction of our
colonies is the object at which they aim, because, this
being effected, they imagine they will have unrestricted

117

intercourse with foreign countries, and an immensely in-
creased demand for manufactured goods. Policy, short-
sighted as wicked! It is grasping the shadow, and
dropping the substance. By the time the colonies are
ruined, the manufacturers of foreign nations will stand
prominently forward in competition with those of Britain;
they Avill diive them out of the continental markets by
the advantage they derive from cheaper labom*, and the
men of Manchester will then find that, in destroying us,
they have lopped off a limb from their own body. Shut
out by other nations, the colonial market lost, and the
demand at home greatly diminished by the effect of their
suicidal policy, the}' will begin to feel the evils they have
brought on others.

An incident occurred a few days ago, that gave us all
some amusement. We were just sitting down to break-
fast with a preacher of the Missionary Society, who had
stepped in after visiting some of my people, when George,
ai'riving as usual, from the field, informed us, with a
grave, anxious face, that "Toby was in a trench, and
had been there all night." "Dear me," cried my wife;
"poor thing; I am so sorry!" "Poor, poor, Toby!" said
Jane. "Have they taken him out?" I enquired. "They
are about it now. He is very much exhausted, and 1
think must die. They are trying to get some warm por-
ter down his throat." After a few more observations of a
similar sort, T^oby was forgotten ; and, in due time, the
minister departed. I shall relate, just as it occurred, a
conversation which I had two da^s after, with the stipen-
diary magistrate of the district. "Pray," asked he, "did
an iiccident occur at Fortune the other day?" "No;
not at Fortune." "I was told a man had been drowned
in a trench." "No such thing happened there, I assure
you." He looked much surprised, and proceeded to tell
me that the missionary in question had informed him,
saying at the same time, that as the family seemed to

118

treat the matter with great mdift'ereiice, it was probable
they would not think it necessary to hold an inquest.
The truth flashed on me at once. "Inquest!" cried I,
"inquest on an ox! But, my dear sir, Toby is not dead;
this worthy, humane preacher was no sooner gone, than
the whole family Avere round the patient, and they suc-
ceeded in restoring him." I laughed heartily; but the
magistrate shook his head. I knew what he meant to
signify by the motion ; but being determined to incur the
censui'e of no man AA-illingly, and to walk the path of life
without jostling any one, even a poUtical teacher of the
Word, I Avould not speak any longer on the subject.

This Toby is an old ox, nearly blind, that has been on
the estate for twenty years, and is an object of care and
attention with us all. He comes every day to the kitchen
door for an allowance of plantains, and while there, is
caressed by all w^ho see liim, even the Negroes. He is
the only animal I ever saw them fond of, excepting their
dogs, and they have a high opinion of his sagacity, which
they declare by sajdng, "Toby no stan' like cow, Toby
people." By which they mean, that he is more hke a
man than a cow\

We had last w^eek a marooning party into the bush be-
hind my cane-fields, consisting of the Wellinghams and
Ridleys, with two other famihes, besides ourselves. It
was to be a hunting party, the ladies merely being on the
ground, and under shade, to -s^^tness what part of the
sport chance might throw in the way, and to assist at the
luncheon afterwards. They had been provided with rods,
however, and a couple of boys to bait their hooks, if they
should choose the amusement of angling, the trenches
being all full of fish. Indeed, the country is remarkably
prolific in that article, for if a pond be dug anj'^vhere, and
filled by water from the clouds, it vnll, ere many weeks
pass, be ahve with fish. Mustering immediately after
coffee, w-e reached our destination in carriages, the roads

119

and bridges freely admitting that accommodation, about 7
o'clock A.M. ; and the ladies being lodged under the
umbrageous foliage of a large tree, near a canal, the
gi'ound around which had been previously cleared of all
rubbish and long grass, and furnished with tables, chairs,
and everything that could be required, we set about the
business of the day. On such occasions, dogs of all sorts,
from the fox -hound and harrier to the small Indian cur-
like animal, which generally, maugre its appearance, has
a o-ood nose, are brouo-ht into use. It will be u.nderstood
that although the word hunting is used generally to de-
scribe the sport as practised here, it is more properly
shooting. Yagers go with the dogs into the places that
are to be searched for game (abandoned fields, which had
been once in cultivation, are usually selected), while the
sportsmen, with their guns, are stationed at the different
"coimis ofvantao-e'' on the outside: and when adoo- oives
tongiie, being on the alert, they follow in the direc-
tion of the sound, the beast, Avhatever it may be, always
going straight aAvay from the pursuers, and it often hap-
pens that it comes within shot of tAvo or more of the
party, who have approached the place which the baying
of the dogs indicate as that most likely to be chosen by
the animal to issue li'om.

Many minutes had not elapsed, after the dogs were laid
on, when the deep-toned voice of an English foxhound
reminded me of scenes in another land; but presently, a
noise arose that would have horrified the antique lovers
of the chase, being a compound of the most Adllanous
sounds that ever offended ear; the baying of a noble
homid, blending vdth the yelp of terriers, the sort of half-
howl half-bark of the Indian doos and a reirular bow-wow
from various ciu's of low degree. The clamoiu* approached
my quarter, and Ridley, who was nearest, moving rapidly
towards me, seemed to believe that the game, whatever it
was (for there is no possibility of seeing it vmtil it reaches

120

the cleared ground, the shrubs and high grass being so
dense), would break covert near me. I stood still with
my piece cocked, until a gallant red deer bounded on to
the dam, and without pausing a moment, sprang across
it. He was no sooner out of the line of Ridley and my-
self, for he was between us, than we both fired; and,
springing first into the air, the animal fell do^^oi dead.
A shout of triumph announced otu' success.

In the course of a few hours, we had four acouries
(they look like a cross between the hare and rabbit), two
labbas, and the deer. There was another deer put up,
which Chai'les and George followed in the dh'ection of the
river, after lia^'ng fired at it, for this animal always takes
to water when it is hard pressed. The yomig men, fol-
lowing close on the dogs, came to the water edge just in
time to see it nearly half across; nevertheless, ha^dng
some hands with them as eager as themselves, they jumped
into a batteau they found not far off, and continued the
chase. There is much excitement, and some little danger,
in a water-hmit after deer. The creature smms rapidly,
and turns sharply round to evade its pursuers, throwing
them out fi'equently to a gi'eat distance. Negroes gene-
rally have spears, made of bayonets or cutlasses, fastened
to the ends of long poles, on those excui'sions, which, when
the animal takes the water, are very useftil, for they launch
them with great effect, although, in the excitement of the
moment, the thrower is very apt to capsize the imstable,
keel-less batteau — an occurrence by no means uncom-
mon. They do not like to take guns in such a chase,
probably being afi-aid that accidents may arise from the
Inmy and eagerness of the party. The sportsmen, in
this instance, were doomed to be disappointed; for the
deer, being a powei'ful and a ^\i\J one, turned immediately
on seeing the pursuers, and made for the land, which,
after two or three dodges, he succeeded in reaching; and
■wliere, after deliberately shaking himself, and giving his

121

head a toss, lie cantered off leisurely as one who knew his
position. Tlie dogs followed on the scent, but he escaped
them.

We were merry that day under the greenwood tree.
The cares of the world were for a Avhile forgotten, the
words "sugar" and "labour" being as strictly prohibited
as if a tlu'ee-guinea duty had been imposed on them.
The young men pelted each other with oranges, until .
they began to feel they were rather too hard; and the
old ones, meantime, stuck fast to the well-cooled JSIadeira,
my wife and the other dames looking on, and joining in
the joke and laugh with the rest, until Ridley, who is a
powerful whistler, struck up a sort of imitation quadrille,
that set the young ones to dancing. Such pic-nics are
highly relished here. The extraordinaiy influence of a
bright sky, contrasted with the deep green of the tree
leaves, and reflected from beautiful flowers, which hang
in gigantic festoons from parasites on the loftiest branches,
together ^Aath the splendid plmnage of the buxls, twitter-
ing gaily from spray to spray, tending to heighten the
enjoyment of every one. My friend Ridley, being an
excellent marooner, promoted the mirth of the party in a
thousand ways, and always when the hilarity began to
flag, started something new. Obser%-ing that George was
less vivacious than the rest, he slapped him on the shoulder,
and uplifting his voice, bm*st into song.

We had a hearty laugh at his extemporaneous produc-
tions, and I remarked to Mrs. Ridley that her husband
was coming out in a new character, that of song-maker.
"There am't nothing," said that lady, "that he ain't up
to, if you only try liun. Wliy, the other day he played
on the banjar like any African Negro; and when he was
some years yomiger, before the bad times, he could dance
all theu- dances." "Oh! for shame, my dear! don't ex-
pose your husband." "Ain't it true?" enquired she,
with great gravity, for that good person never laughs, and

122

seldom smiles, not because she Is sad or morose, but simply
because she enjoys anything \Aithout thinking it either
necessaiy or proper to make the fact visible. I should
have mentioned before that, besides our neighbours, we
had Mr. Bro^^^l the manager at this party; and the fore-
man, being a gi*eat himter, was also permitted to find a
substitute for the day, and to assist in the sport. He and
the rest of the sable sportsmen were regaling themselves
a little apart from the bucki*as, and I could perceive they
were much amused by ]\Ii'. Ridlej^s remarks, especially
when the banjar came to be spoken about, and his general
prowess as a mimic of the Negroes. There was a sort of
whispering among them, and then Da\ad rose and came
forward, laughing heartily, with a banjar in his hand,
which he presented, mthout saying a word, to the "Mount
massa." We all saw that his skill on that instrument —
not quite so well knowai to ears pohte, as the fiddle of
Paganini — was fully appreciated among those who loved
it best; and no ^Vliite person can enjoy a burlesque or
caricature of the Blacks with more zest than the latter
themselves, if it is a Wliite who is the perfonner. He
acquitted himself on this occasion so much to the dehght
of the Negroes, that they actually rolled on the ground
in the ecstacy of their laughter. His production was a
sort of song, quite in their style, detailing the adventures
and mishaps of two lovers who were both "fooled" by a
coquettish damsel, the whole being nan*ated in their
dialect.

1st October, 1842.

Events are progressing in regular succession since the
tm'n of last year. Property is e^ddently feeling the
change in public opinion, if we may judge fi'om the sales;
hut certainly it is not yet very decided. It is a blessing
which I think the climate confers on the inhabitants of

123

the tropics, that hope is ever entertained by them even
under the most grievous misfortune. But for it, men
could not exist under the accumulated evils that are
heaped on them in the colonies; where, over and above
the ills that flesh is heir to in all parts of the world, they
have to endure a torture similar to that suffered by the
mouse in the paws of the cat, the object of both powers
apparently being to try how much the victim can bear
before it sinks. The simile cannot be carried out, indeed,
because we are not yet destroyed, as the mouse generally
is, by a coup de grace. But the sad fact is present to
the mind of every colonist, that his adopted country is
only considered by the dominant party of the state, in the
light of a something to be used in promoting the interests
of the mother country, when that is possible. And when
the unhappy Colony humbly represents how the parent
can assist the child, and begs that it may be done, its ap-
plication is regarded as a saucy piece of impudence, and
the reply is — "It will be injurious to the interests of Eng-
land." The Colony rejoins — "But it will save us from
ruin;" and the answer agam is, probably — "It will raise
the price of one commodity half a-farthing per pound,"
accompanied by a stare at our presmnption, as much as
to say — "What is your ruin to us? are we, each of us, to
pay sixpence a year to save you from it? Wliat though
we settled you under those privileges and immunities?
Pshaw ! we know better now ; we repudiate them."
When the Yankies raise their tarijBP against the men of
Manchester, the cry is still — "Cut them off from the
West India trade, and that will bring them to their
senses." The question is not deemed worthy of consider-
ation, whether the inhabitants of the West Indies would
not be ruined by such measui'es, although that, in all
probability, would ensue.

In fiict, neither the people of Britain generally, nor
their representatives in parUament particularly, can under-

124

stand the sufferings of colonists, because tliey are not
brought before them by a force which must make an
impression. The vis a tergo is the rule of action, not the
necessity of a case; and so long as this continues to be,
justice will quail before self-interest, as she does now.

It is the general opinion, that the Negroes are gradually
becoming more insolent as they feel their importance. It
is the usual way in which human natui*e manifests itself
mider such circumstances ; and it would be strange in-
deed if they did not become sensible of their consequence,
cajoled and flattered as they are, in order to get the
paltry modicum of labour which they \^dll condescend
to bestow. But an instance of pride and insolence which
occuri'ed lately, will better illustrate the style of their be-
haviour. One day, the old man who, though innocent, had
been twice beaten as an Obi man since my retmii, came
with another, and a third complaint, of a similar attack;
but this time, the aggressor was a stranger who had only
been a few days on the estate. I had him brought before
me, and proceeded to question him in the usual manner.
As the dialogue is extraordinary, I shall record it verba-
tim. "Did you strike this old man ?" "I did." "And
why?" "It was my pleasure." "Then, sir, for that
brutal act, it is my pleasure that you leave this estate
immediately; and you may depend on it, you shall hear
from the magistrate wherever you go." "My goodness!
is this the way to speak to a gentleman. By Gad ! you're
a fine fellow truly!" "I thought you Avere a labom'er,
not a gentleman," said I, taking off my hat, and bowing
to the dignitary; "but since you are such, take yourself
off at once, here is no place for you." "Well! damme,
this impudence beats cock-fighting. I is a gentleman as
good as you, dough you have a dirty plantation. I shan't
go." He Avas a Barbadian, and s^^oke tolerable English.
I found that the fellow understood the law better than I,
when he positively refused to quit the place. The case

125

was represented to the magistrate, and his assault and
determination to stay where lie was, both tried at once.
He was fined for the first, but the worthy magistrate
found he could not be turned ofl^ as he was the guest of a
woman who had a house on the estate; and thus was I
forced to keep a rascal who annoys the whole population,
his woman excepted, because the law, in its zeal for the
black people, did not provide for any contingency whose
remedy would infringe on their right to have the entu'e and
fi*ee use of their houses. In Britain, tenants of houses are
not allowed to receive and to harbour bad subjects. The
magistrate said it was a hard case, but until some months
elapsed he could not interfere. We shall get rid of him
in tliree or four, I should think; within that time he may
be as insolent as he pleases.

Nothing, after all, is to come of the Eeport of our
Distress Committee. Why do ministers grant those com-
mittees, and put the country to a great expense, if the
evidence taken by them is to be disregarded? The exist-
ence of distress, unprecedentedly severe, has been proved
completely and clearly; yet we are to have no measure
of relief, not even a relaxation in the immigTation prohi-
bition. It is true, the Exeter Hall Association have put
forward their opinion, that the assertions of honourable
and upright gentlemen, of high standing m the com-
munity, are to be disregarded, because theu* representation
of om' case is "too high-coloured;" that is to say, it does
not accord with the declaration of John Scoble, and it
docs not suit the views of the party to admit its truthful-
ness. It has ever thus been with the mihappy planters.
When a rich man is seen to roll past in his chariot, who
has an estate among us, oui' considerate comitr)'men say
to each other, "Talk of West India distress, indeed! look
at that!" as if they had not, in their own countr}^, for one
man with a carriage, a hundred in a state of semi-starva-
tion; as if one case was a type of the whole, when, in

126

fact, the individual is most likely a man to wliom the
plantation is a mere bagatelle in compai'ison with his
landed wealth in England.

We have always been judged by the exceptional case.
How would John Bull look if we expressed our behef that
he and all his family were mmxlerers to a man, because
every newspaper has an account of a mm'der in it ? Yet
this would only be fair retahation.

A great number of Portuguese had been imported last
year*, but, in consequence of their habits, serious sickness
broke out among them, which, it is said, the medical men
of the districts where they were located all predicted.
Instead of applymg the necessary amount of their wages
to the purchase of wholesome provisions, they picked up
food where it could be found; and, in many cases, the
principal article of diet was the wild Tanya root, an
edible remarkable for its pernicious effects on the bowels.
A great many contracted dysenteric affections from its
use, and died in consequence. But the want of proper
nourishment, in conjunction with the hard work which
high wages excited them to, induced a bloodless state of
the system, revealed by pale lips and wan complexions,
which predisposed to a low neiTous fever, resembling
typhus, that carried off more of them than all other dis-
eases put together. Robertson tells me it was necessary
to treat it differently from any other form of fever known
in the colony, vnne and stimulants being fi'equently re-
quired almost from the beginning.

Although they are now pretty diffusely scattered over
the province, I have not had any of them, being desirous
of avoiding the painful and onerous charge of superintend-
ing the acclimatation of such people. It is said they are
enraged in Madeira at our legislature for withdrawing
the bounty, they having no dread of the climate, and be-
ing too poor to pay for their passage. The same di'eadful
difficulty, of course, still continues in providing, on each

127

morning, for the necessary work of the day. In fact, it
is evidently on the increase, a state of affairs which is the
necessary residt of circumstances. While there is scarcely
any addition to the population, there are several fresh
causes in operation to keep the labourers from the field;
the principal of these being the purchase of land by a
very considerable portion of them, who, in their new posi-
tion, will not work even so continuously as they have
hitherto done since 1838. Several families from the
Fortune are now located on lands bought fi'om me. The
whole hundred acres have been disposed of, chiefly to
people fi'om the coast districts, but they are not yet fairly
settled, and, consequently, are occupied with their houses
and grounds. We have not fomid many of them, up to
tliis time, on om* field list.

The Portuguese begin to discover that they are better ^''
adapted to other occupations than those of husbandry.
They are gradually setthng into the town, in the several
capacities of huckster, carter, and porter ; a few are seen
perambulating the rural districts as pedlars. Being all
rigid Catholics, they are interfered with in their zealous
exertions to acquire riches, by the number of Saints'
Days, which are strictly observed by them. I meet them
on the road occasionally, and, if the weather is fine, fre-
quently yviih guitars in their hands, which they touch as
they move along. In passing their little shops in town,
one is very often assailed by the somid of this instrument,
accompanied by the voice of the performer, wliich to my
ears is far from being pleasant. They sing with a sort of
whine, resemblmg the howl of a dog between anger
and sm'prise. In spealdng, the same peculiarity adheres
to their voices, and the NegToes are perfect in their
mimicry of it. I frequently overhear a conversation car-
ried on between two of the latter in a most extraordinary
dialect of the Portuguese, wherein the whine is brought
very prominently and successfidly out.

128

1st January, 1843.

The same disheartening state of affairs, generally, and
an increasing downward tendency in my own case.
George, poor fellow ! this morning presented his annual
report on the year's accounts, wath an anxious, do\^^l-
cast look, as if doubting its effect upon me. The crop
shows no improvement on that of the preceding year, and
the prices having been considerably lower, a larger defi-
ciency is the result. Crop — 152 hds. of sugar, and
12,000 gallons of rum. Loss on it, £1935. "WeU, my
boy," said I, not without a deep sigh, " I was partly pre-
pared for this ; the reality, nevertheless, is fi'ightful. I
need not attempt to say othenvise." " I have seen," said
George, " watliin the last fortnight, the proprietors or re-
presentatives of the eight nearest plantations, and there is
not one of them who will have a clear revenue fi'om crop
1842 ; at the same time some have lost less than we
have." He named all the parties specified by him. The
highest figure in this black list of loss was £3000, the
lowest about £250, the latter being that of Ridley. He
is known throughout the district to be exceedingly parti-
cular regarding all outlay, but my neighbours tell me
that Bro^^ai has the same character, and this entirely ac-
cords with my o'svn opinion of the way in which the estate
is conducted ; but it is again alleged that I give more
allowances and indulgences to the gang than other pro-
prietors ; yet, Avlien I sum up those, they amount to a
mere trifle. In ruminating on this subject, we are in-
variably thrown back on the glaring fact, that three-fifths
of the du'ect outlay is paid in labourers' wages, besides the
expense we are put to for houses to lodge them, doctors,
(I continue the medical man,) and little tilings without
number, which are not at all mider our control in the
present state of the laboiu* market.

Taking this appalling fact into consideration, and sup-

129

posing the estate to be properly managed, the next thing
that stands forward most prominently in reckoning up the
circumstances for or against the proprietor, is the soil ;
if it is poor, it requires twice as much working, and will
yield, after all, less than rich land. Here is a dreadiul
di'awback in those times, which is already operating bane-
fully, because the loss on such soils, the expenses being
infinitely larger than the value of the crop, causes the
rapid abandonment of field after field, until but a small
proportion of the original cultivation remains. There is
a considerable extent of inferior land in the Fortune,
among the abandoned fields; but those which are kept up
are in general productive. "And Avhat says Charles?"
inquired I of George. "He is hopeful that, as his loss is
not very great, only £500, his mortgagee vnYL not
grumble, especially as every thing looks well on the
estate." "Yes, he is always hopeful; and, after all, it
is well for him, since it does not lead to acts of folly,
either on his part or his father's. Many a poor soul,
George, is utterly overwhelmed from Avanting that
holder-up of the -wretched." "And dying," said he, "if
tales be true. There is poor old Blank, a few years ago
worth hundreds of thousands, creeping about Kke the
shadow of his former self; and I could name more."
''And so could I; but why should we dwell on them?
pass a few years, my boy, and the instances of men who
have anything will, I fear, be those which are quoted.
It is a comfort to have you to talk to, and I can speak to
you now as fi'eely as if you were of my own age." "I
am indeed glad, &ther," replied he, with a more cheer-
ful look, " to see that you preserve your equanimity
throughout. After all, we are well off, so have a better
chance to keep our ground till the good times arrive."

It is still thus with him. He never doubts that the
times will mend ; he is only afraid the change may be
distant, " Well ! Mell ! be of good heart. I hope you

130

observe my caution, and take care ho^^' you let your
mother know any particulars." "You may be quite easy
on that head, for she does not inquire into any thing ;
but Jane, I fear, has some apjsrehensions, although she
is too discreet to ask questions. I am not sm'e that Grace
does not let her into her secrets." " And if she does ; it
is a proof that she may be in possession of them with
safety. Grace has, indeed, risen m my esteem since her
marriage ; she is a noble woman, George," said I, en-
thusiastically. "The devotion with which she, a girl
accustomed to look on the amusements as the occupations
of life, has made herself fully acquainted with her hus-
band's affairs, and counsels, assists, and comforts him,
laboriously undertaking all parts of his duty which it is
possible for her to discharge, altogether declare her to
be an extraordinary character." "Charles, I fancy, begins
to be less sanguine as to their ultimate escape from diffi-
culties, for he had yesterday a long conversation with
young Benston regarding Australia, and, being present,
I thouo-ht he listened with more earnestness than usual
to his details." " Benston has some brothers there, has
he not?" "Three; and, until lately, they all did well;
but the accumulation of capital, he says, in the shape of
stock, has affected their markets so much, that they have
been doing nothing for the last two years. Many of our
overseers are already tiu'ning their eyes to Canada or the
United States; and I am sure in a short time we shall suffer
from another evil — the want of white superintendents for
the estates." " That is another necessary and inevitable
consequence of our condition ; for no young men will now
come here, and, in the com'se of nature, many of those
employed will be taken off, so that, even Avithout emigra-
tion to other places, our present number of white agricul-
turists will be diminished fi'om year to year."

Here Mr. Brown came in with his customary Irishes
and salutations on the amAal of a new vear: and I could

131

perceive that his eye quailed and his countenance fell, as
the former lighted on the paper in my hand. " Many
thanks to you, Mr. Brown," said I, "for your good wishes,
which I am quite sure are perfectly sincere. I am sm'e,
also, that the state of affairs exhibited m tliis black scroll
is in no degi'ee owing to want of care, sldll, or attention,
on yom* part." At these words the good felloVs visage
lightened up, and he began eagerly to give his explanation.
" You will perceive, Su', that the bad work done in the
early part of 1841, after the routine of plantation work
was resmned by the people, has affected those fields con-
siderably which were first cut, the return from them being
much below that of the rest for the year; and the yielding
throvighout is worse in 1842 than in any one year since
I came to the estate." "Which, I fear, ]\Ii\ Brown, pro-
ceeds from the work being more inefficiently done." " I
cannot say that there is any improvement, indeed, in their
way of doing the tasks, although I did, as you know, at-
tempt by vigorous measures to force them to do justice to
the fields; every task not properly finished, I did not pay
for dming one whole month, and at the end of that month
(October) two-tlurds of my gang went away. Absolute
necessity forced me to relax in tliis rigid exaction of
honest performance, and they all returned." "The loss
on tliis crop is more here than elsewhere; can you account
for that?"

He paused for a moment, as if about, unwilhngly, to
communicate an unwelcome piece of mformation, but at
last he said, "I do begin to fear that the lands of Fortmie
are now approaching that state which will render them
more imsuitable for cultivation imder the present state of
labom-." "Do you think that they are exliausted?"
"They are now in that condition which, werelaboiu' abun-
dant, would show no sign of being worn out, but, under
our system of bad work, and little of it, I am afraid the
relative retm*n will be smaller." "How much has it been

132

last year?" "Here is an account of the yielding of the
difierent fields, for the last 15 years, extracted fi'om our
journal, and compared by myself. The average, pre\iously
to 1838, was 1^ hds. per acre; from '38 to '40, 1;^^; and
from '40 to '42, inclusive, barely 1 lid. The last year's
yielding, by itself, does not give more than three quarters
ofahd." "That is a very serious affair," said I; "yet,
after all, it is nothing but what any one may see at once
to be a necessary result ; — were we in Barbadoes, now,
manuring would be a sufficient remedy for this evil. —
What do you think of it, Mr. Brown?" He shook his
head. "According to eveiy calculation I have made, and
the practical loiowledge derived fi'om experience by our
neighbours, the cost of collecting and preparing manure,
and of lapng it in the ground, would exceed the profit to
be derived fi'om it. Had we labour at the Barbadoes
rate, it would be downright stupidity and foUy to neglect
it." "And we have no new soil now impoldered upon
which to fall back. The expense of a polder would be
greater, probably, than maniuring for a year or two." "If
you will allow me, Sir," said Mr. Brown, "I shall try
what we can do with one smaU field. We have a quan-
tity of cane ashes on hand, and there is always a lot of
dung fi-om the cattle. We shall manage four or five acres
without much expense." "By all means," said I, "try it;
try eveiything that can increase our chance of getting
over this fearful crisis without absolute ruin; it is our
duty." "Exactly my opinion. Sir," said Mr. Brown;
"and it seems to be the general one; for the shifts and
schemes are innmnerable and endless which one sees
among the estates to keep up cultivation, and to work the
ground better." During the "good times," as they are
now called, manuring the land here w^as never practised,
because, when fields showed signs of exhaustion, they
were thrown out of cultivation, and their places suppHed
by ground taken in from the virgin soil of the estate; and

133

this is still done where there is spare land impoldered, (or
dammed and inclosed,) and requiring only to be cleared,
turned up, and planted. But I sold all my land that was in
that state to the Negroes, believing that I had more than I
could find hands to cultivate. I do not repent of having
done so, for, according to our prospects and expectations,
I have got a great deal more by selling, than I can ever
obtain by cultivating it. It is a singular fact, and at first
view appears unaccountable, that the Barbadoes planters,
^^itl^ a soil so much worn out that it requires to be re-
newed almost every year, keep their ground better than
we do, vnih land that needs no manuring to yield good
crops.

It is the low rate of wages which enables them to hold
out so well, coupled with the high comparative prices
which then' sugar commands in the market, the latter ad-
vantage being invariably the concomitant of a poor and
long cultivated soil. How their wages are but one-third
of ours is not so easily explained. It can only be owing
(for no other satisfactory cause has been assigned) to the
extremely dense population of the Island; yet, it is very
surprising that the amor patrice should be so strong among
the Barbadian Negroes, as to keep them at home on six-
pence a-day, when, by saihng 500 miles, they could get
twent}q)ence, and all the advantages, besides, enjoyed by
the laboui'ers here. Nevertheless, such seems to be the case,
for very few of them have settled pennanently here since
the year 1838, though many have come. They have, in this
cheap labom", an immense advantage, which enables them
to make the most of their sterile soil. In regard to
manuiing, as it is a practice which has long obtained in
the Islands, they have not to begin, as we have, in this
dreadful transition state, and to drill the people to it un-
der adverse circumstances. The Barbadian planters pro-
cure manure fi'om England, in addition to what they col-
lect on the estates in a thousand ways. Here, intelU-

134

gent men have assured me, that between the real cost of
the labour, and the difficulty in getting the people to lay
the manm-e properly on the ground, if it increased the re-
turn 30 per cent., and they obtained the whole in the
megass yard, without being at any expense in collecting
or buying it, the process would not pay; and there are
many who have tried it on a small scale, certainly, but
vnth. a result sufficient to satisfy them. This is one of the
branches of agricultm-e which the wiseacres of England
condemn us for neglecting, judging, as the rule is in that
country, of everything by the practice there, without ad-
mitting local or pecuhar circimistances to have any effect.

David assm-es me that we shall have more labourers
next year, in consequence of the landliolders having got
up their cottages, and having finished the plantmg of
their gromids; but, he says, I must pay a bit, or 4d., in
addition to the common rate for the task, because these
people have no houses from me. It appears to be a prac-
tice lately introduced, and forced on us by the scarcity of
labom', like other exactions; yet it has the appearance,
rather than the reaHty, of justice; for we have no shadow
of control over those settlers; and their labour is less valu-
able fi-om the imcertainty we are in regarding its continu-
ance when we have it, or when it will be at om' disposal
when we have it not. While they are domiciled on a
plantation they have generally some provisions in their
grounds, which they do not Hke to leave abruptly, when
they are not ready for raising. We have thus a slender
hold, which assists a little in keeping them to then' work,
and, probably, wanting it, matters might become worse.

The village, as it really is, which has been thus erected
by a body of fi'eeholders, if I may so call those who have
no tenmre at all, is well enough, if the cottages are taken
separately; but they afford, on the aggregate, a good illus-
tration of the Negro character. Every one wishes to be
considered as the planner and builder of his own edifice.

(

135

and to be not at all Indebted to his neighbour, either for
suggestion or design. They have a sort of jealousy in all
such matters that often goes a ludicrous length. The
villages built by themselves are invariably, in consequence
of this feeling, without any uniformity, and scarcely in
lines so as to constitute streets, one being ten feet in front
of the hue, another twenty behind; again, one will be of
two storeys; those on each side of it only one; while the
exterior is of eveiy shape and fonn which the ingenuity
of man can devise so as to be habitable. But con-
siderable care is generally evinced to have the little plot
of gromid ui front neat and clean, with a fiaiit tree here
and there within its area, and a footpath in the centre
leading to the public road. I strove hard to keep them
right in the formation of the town on this property, and
my suggestions and remonstrances were endm'ed at first
quietly, but afterwards, they generally asked, like a cer-
tain worthy Duke, if they could not do what they liked
with their own, and in a very sulky, cUssatisfied way. In
my opinion there is as large a proportion of self-conceit
^ in the "mental development" of the Negro, as in that of
the most decided coxcomb of Bond Street; their constant
jars and squabbles almost always arising out of offended
vanity.

I am constrained to record here again my con\action
that these people have not been improved in morals either
by the zealous efforts of a very effective body of clergy-
men which we have planted among them, or by the efforts
of local teachers — schoolmasters and missionaries — whoare
numerous in every district. It has been customary for
the organs of the anti-colonial party in England to brand
the more enlightened colonists "VAath the epithets, "de-
bauched," and "comipters" of their dependents; those
persons always assuming that the more removed from
civilization mankind is, the purer it will be. This is one
of the theories of the day, just as plausible, and in everj-

136

respect as hollow and foundationless, as others, which
being acted upon, hurry the empire on to its downfal.
Would it not be well for these uniform defamers of the
White inhabitants of the West Indies to consider what the
habits of the masses were before those who are thus im-
sparingly abused for corrupting them came among them
at all? They cannot be ignorant of the fact, that the
natives of Africa, Avithout exception, impose no restraint
on the intercourse of sexes, and the number of concubines
kept by individuals is to the extent of the means possessed
by them. That they have brought this custom with them
to the West Indies, and that the young white men from
Europe have too frequently adopted it, I should think
cannot be disputed. But those imfriendly observers
throw the blame entirely on the latter, and choose to
overlook the fact that they are the corrupted, not the
corrupters. I am very much inclined to the belief that
men are pure in their lives in proportion to the stage of
civilization in which they are to be found, at least up to
a certain point. Vices are to be detected, among the
semi-savage, at which the enlightened man will shud-
der, and which the theorists of Exeter Hall would not
believe, even if they saw. Since the days of Prince Lee
Boo, people who look into books for knowledge of human
nature, form their ideas of rude nations from that ex-
traordinary character, and readily adopt the belief that
the innocence and purity of primeval times are to be found
in every place where the inhabitants go naked, and do in
almost all respects nearly as the inferior animals do, when
running wild, and without the pale of civilization. In
many instances, such as that of the native Austrahans,
they have certainly the same unconsciousness of doing
wrong, when committing what we consider an atrocity,
which wild creatm"es have on a similar occasion. This
may be innocence and pmnty; if it be, the tiger possesses
store of those qualities.

137

But I am often led away from the point. I Avish to
state here why I think the people are more wicked than
they were ten years ago, notwithstanding the pains taken
to improve them, and owing to the great command wliich
they have of money. More than twenty years ago,
the evangehcal party in England, scandalized beyond
measiu'e at the state of concubinage which prevailed
among our black population, inculcated in every way the
necessity for marrying them without delay, and the dif-
ferent clergymen were spurred on to bring about this
desu'able event as often and as speedily as possible. These
W'Orthy men, finding that they might subject themselves
to the charge of remissness in the discharge of their duties,
and some of them, actuated, it may be, by the same ideas
in regard to the moral effect of matrimony, proceeded to
exhort their flocks to enter into the state, both privately
and from the pulpit ; and the Negroes observing that they
were likely to be looked on more favom*ably by their
pastors, and that the ceremony was sufficiently short and
easily gone through, were soon induced to be married in
considerable numbers. It is said that several applications
were made to clergymen to undo the knot, soon after it
was tied, and that the parties, finding this to be impracti-
cable, speedily disseminated the extraordinary information
among the rest, which led to some falhng off in the
monthly lists of marriages.

Many of them declared at this period that "Many no
for Nigga 't all, da buckra fashion ;" and seemed to have
a rooted aversion to it. The custom of the Whites, how-
ever, and the example which their increasing self-esteem,
since the era of emancipation, has led them to adopt, have
gradually established marriage on the same footing as
among ourselves — an institution which all think they
should experience once in then' lives. They go through
the ceremony, but, I grieve to say, that in too many cases
it is an idle form, in every sense of the word. They have

s

138

generally been on the most intimate footing before — per-
haps living together — and it happens too often that they
disagree, and, without requiring the sanction of the law,
separate, and take new mates, according to the old Afri-
can habit. My wife has just been shocked by such a
case in our o>\ti household. The housemaid and butler,
both young, were mamed eighteen months ago; we
gave them a mamage dinner, and some presents.
They continued in our service, occupying rooms in the
offices which were built for oiu' servants, but, in the course
of six months, they began to fight, and the noise and
tumult in their quarter became so frequent that, after
repeated admonitions, I warned them off, and, finally,
they went away — he, to town, to live with another wo-
man; and she, to reside with a settler in the new village
here.

Unhappily, this is not the only instance that has oc-
cuiTed among our domestics within the short space of
four years. Om* cook, a woman of about forty, six months
ago, without any violent quarrel, deserted her husband, a
man with only one leg, and went to live with the engineer
of the estate — the black one, I mean, a youth of twenty;
while his lawful wife, a gu'l of his own age, by whom he had
two children, went to a neighbouring estate to reside with a
mere lad of about sixteen, who had been working a short
time here. The cook and her helpmate had been joined
together for at least a dozen years. From these occur-
rences in the limited sphere of my establishment, an idea
may be formed of the extent to which such enormities
prevail over the province. There is little doubt that
when the tie becomes in the slightest degi'ee irksome, no
sense of impropriety, or feeling of religious awe, for
the commands of the Most High, will prevent them
from separating. In many cases I have heard of, the
separation has been made with cordial good humour on
both sides. In general, the children, if there are any,

139

go with the mother; in fact, she usually bears the chief
burthen of their maintenance when the pair live together;
and I am of opinion that the wife is the more meritorious
of the two, in nine cases out of ten; the husband being
commonly a tyrant, and forcing the wife, more majorum,
to be his slave in the house. He contributes just what
he chooses to the fmids required for supporting his family,
while she must supply whatever is deficient, or brave his
^vl•ath, which is vented usually in blows ; and he squan-
ders his gains among companions, or other women, in
drmking and debauchery.

As I am on the moral character of those people, I may
as well record another trait wliich has lately been brought
out. On many estates the planters have discontinued
the practice of paying the doctor to attend their labour-
ers, and the latter, instead of making arrangements wdth
the medical man to secure his attendance, with that re-
liance on the Wliites which has liitherto been part of
their nature, for habit is hardly a strong enough word to
express some of their peculiarities, throw the blame on
their masters, when a coroner's inquest finds that the
person has died without medical attendance — an old law^
wisely and humanely requiring that an inquest (or simi-
lar investigation) shall be lield on every one who dies
without being seen while ill by a practitioner. And such
is then' indifference to the fate of each other, that too
many have seen their nearest relatives expire, without
being at the expense of paying for a single visit to them^
They will call in a practitioner for themselves, when
alarmed, but for those depending on them — their aged
and infirm relatives — they will not be at the expense,
although death mvist inevitably ensue. Even with their
cliildren's lives they dally in the same inhuman man-
ner, so that it is not going too far when I say many
are annually lost in consequence of this apathy, in con-
junction Avith disinclination to part with money for a

140

purpose that does not promote their pleasures or their
views in any manner. The medical men try to induce
them to enter into agreements with them, at the usual rate
of one guilder each (or Is. 4d.) per mensem for adults,
and half for children, for medicine and attendance; but if
they succeed in getting tlie arrangement effected, it sel-
dom lasts more than six months, the Negroes generally
faihng to pay the stipulated sum after the first quarter.

So much accustomed have they been to look to the
"VATiites for everything in sickness, that they thought the
refusal to pay the doctor a great hardship, and, in some
instances, complaints were lodged with the magistrates
against their employers. They still get wine and articles
of nourishment gratis from the great house (or mansion-
house), where is a resident proprietor, which is not at
all a pohtic custom. They have abundance of funds,
and to spare; it is time, therefore, they should acquire
habits of self-dependence. Some medical practitioners
in the neighboui'hood of the larger villages which have
lately sprung up from the sale of land, have represented
strongly to the governor tlie mortahty which has occm'red
from want of attendance, during the prevalence of epidemic
diseases. I heard of one village which had lost eighteen
childi'cn from hooping-cough, not one of whom was \nsited
by a doctor. Those gentlemen urged on his excellency
the necessity for some sanitary enactment, to make it im-
perative on people to employ the usual means for the
preservation of life ; and quoted instances to show that the
governments of all nations recognised the necessity for
arbitrary laws when pubhc health was endangered, be-
lie%dng that in such cases people could not be safely left
to themselves. Our own quarantine laws and local regu-
lations dinring the existence of cholera will occur to any
one as parallel mstances. But his excellency, according
to established usage, could not perceive how the legisla-
tive or the executive could, in the existing state of affairs,

141

so far interfere with the hberty of the subject, as to med-
dle A^dth his domestic arrangements, and recommended
what he had been especially, and in strong language, told
had failed — remonstrances and recommendations. Doubt-
less he thinks and beheves that the planters and doctors
have never taken any trouble in the matter.

The jealousy which the executive manifests on all oc-
casions concerning transactions between WTiite and Black,
shows the feeling still cherished by the party in power on
■' both sides of the Atlantic. After the cAddence which has
been laid before the country, clearly demonstrating that
the latter are the dominant class within the colony, one
would imagme that old stories of planter oppression and
cruelty would no longer be credited. Still, however, it
is the pohcy of our anti-colonial faction to sow the seed
of distrust between the government and the planters, by
keepmg up tliis delusion ; and, knowing that in all local
arrangements regarding labour, the fact is too notorious,
that the Negro has it his own way, they seize on any new
orcUnfiUce that apphes more immediately to the Black
population, and denounce it as tyrannical and imjust.
Thus, government, by deferring to this party, is shackled
^ in its power to do good, even to those persons whom the
faction pretend to take especially under their protection.
Such has been the case with oiu' vagrant laws, and every
regulation devised for the purpose of restricting labourers
in their propensity to wander about the province, and
trespass wherever they have a mind so to do.

The planters, of course, desired, by keeping them more
at home, to effect a wholesome improvement m then' idle
habits, and gradually induce m them sometlung like a
disposition to continuous labour. Such attempts have
been either thwarted entu'ely, or fi-ustrated, by the man-
ner in which the measures recommended have been frit-
tered down and Hmited. Yet the government seem
anxious to have some scheme submitted to them which

142

would assist in inducing regular habits of industry,
although they will not permit of such stringent mea-
sures as are in force in the mother country, in regard to
vagrants. Various plans have been spoken of, such as a
tax on idleness, or a fine on those who do not work a cer-
tain nmuber of days in each week; which would either
be evaded by doing the required labour nominally, not
really, or enforced at the cost of much trouble and extra
expense on the estates. But this would be more arbitrary
than any hitherto proposed, and would have httle chance
to find favour with our friends behind the curtain. In
short, to any reflecting mind, the impossibihty of obtain-
ing continuous labom*, where the demand so far exceeds
the supply, must instantly present itsel£ Nothing but
a species of coercion, either based on competition, or a
position in the eye of the law which enables the planter
to exact it, can ensure for the latter the attainment of
this object, which is essential to his prosperity. No one
in any country works for hire willingly. The disinclination
to bodily exertion is still gi'eater in tropical than in tem-
perate regions. When a man, tlierefore, can earn in a
couple of days the necessary funds for a week, what in-
ducement has he, except tlie indulgence of his hcentious
passions, to toil for the remaining four days. We find
that some, who are hoarchng up money for a particular
purpose, win continue then' labour fi'om week to week,
until they have amassed the required sum. We find
others, who are young men, engaged in the piu'suit of
pleasm-e, to whom money is necessary, and who spend it
as fast as they get it ; that is to say, if they appear indus-
trious for one week, they are occupied throughout the
next in getting rid of their earnings. It is thus that no-
thing can be thought of (except positive coercion) in the
absence of that competition which alone, by its healthy
operation, can so adapt the supply to the demand, as to
impose on the labourer the necessity for habitual and

143

regular industry, that lie may supply his legitimate wants.
In this alone, also, will be found the remedy for the increas-
ing licentiousness of oiu' labouring population. What, I
would ask any one, could be expected of a people for whom
others thought and acted previously, when suddenly, and
without preparation, set fi'ee from the wholesome restramt
which had hitherto been imposed on them by the plantation
regulations, and who had never done anything without
the guidance and counsel of their masters — and especially
when, in addition to the removal of restraint, they fomid
themselves possessed of funds wliich they never dreamed
of having the disposal of? The very natural effect of this
rapid transition was to unsettle their minds, and derange
the fixed habits they formerly enjoyed; and, of com'se,
mider the circumstances (having it in their power, by
keeping up the price of labour, to perjjetuate this state of
affairs), what was at first a temporary excitement, has now
become their settled course of life.

I almost tremble when I Amte it, but this being partly a
record of thoughts as well as actions, it must go down. It
seems to me extremely doubtful if the present population
of this splendid province, as it has been called, can ever
recover from the state of disorganization into which it has
been thrown by the measures of government. I fear that
to re-estabKsh a prosperous state of oiu' agriculture, it
will be necessary to import a new population, adequate to
our wants, and sufficient to cultivate the land at a rate
of wages which the proprietors can afford to pay. Doubt-
less this would operate beneficially, in a moral sense, on
the present inhabitants, by rendering the acquisition of
the means for debauchery more difficult. But I doubt if
they will ever be brought to work hereafter for wages that
shall enable the proprietors to keep up then* cultivation
without an accession equal to themselves. Wlien I say this,
I may avow at the same time, that since I left England my
opinions have undergone Httle change; but matters are
certainly fully worse than I expected. My hopes were

144

then slender of a successful issue; and although I am
borne along by the tide of hope which keeps up my
brethren, when I am among them, I never sit down to
write in this Journal without feeling in full force the
gloomy nature of my forebodings. I wonder if any of
my fiiends have the same feelings of faith and hope in
the mother country during the day, and of distrust and
fear when alone and in the watches of the night. I think
it must be so, for among us there is a necessity to appear
confident, in order to prevent creditors from becoming
alarmed; thus an artificial state of feehng is produced.
That there is immense sufferuig from deprivation among
the mass of planters is easily observed; but the question
is, whether this is felt to be permanent or temporary.
The truth may he between, or rather hope is entertained
by one class, but with the other moiety (and the more
thinking), I imagine doubt and despair predommate.

I may mention a remark, made not long ago by an old
ship captam who has traded for many years to the Colony.
"Well, Captain Fallin," inquired a fiieud, "what do
you think of us now? do you perceive any change?"
"Change! by the L — d,'" cried the jolly sailor; "ay! I feel
it. Why, few planters buy anything at all from me noAv."
"Yes! yes! but I mean in appearance." "I tell you
what it is," replied the Captain, his ruddy, bronzed visage
distended by a grin, "there is now a marked difference
between two classes in the Colony. Blest if I can't teU
a man who is on the civil list, when I meet him on the
street, tho' I never saw him before ! There are now those
who have something, and those who have nothmg, -svith
a vengeance ! " It is probable that the worthy mariner saw
more in the mdividual aspects of the commimity, than
one who is constantly in it is able to discover; and cer-
tainly the gentlemen whose pensions are secured by the
civil list orduiance, have a cause for appearing with
pleasant and cheerful countenances, which few not so
favoiu*ed have.

145

It is surprising, also, how little those persons who do not
feel the pressure of the times understand of that which is
going on among those who do. Many of them enter so
tri-saally into what they have no direct interest in, that
they hear of distress with the most perfect indifference,
behe\'ing it to be nothing but a temporary embarrassment,
such as we feel periodically from low prices. Hence the
surprise, and even ridicule, which a plain and forcible
statement of facts meets with too often from the official
section of the legislatm'e.

The state of the press is another misfortune. The un-
principled editor, who conducted the newspaper I afready
alluded to, with almost unexampled effrontery, went
over to the official party, after he had bespattered them
as much as he could, if, indeed, the abuse of such a person
be not, in one sense, praise ; and probably the indi^'idual
felt that gentlemen would be of this opmion when he
so boldly ventured to laud the acts of goA-ernment be-
yond all reasonable bounds, after he had gone so far on
the other side. The non-official section came in of
course then for his unfounded and vulgar denunciations.
No person, on either side, ever thought that it was ne-
cessary to reply to him. Most probably, all felt that,
by doing so, they would place themselves on the same
footing. It may be asked how a newspaper, which is
avowedly inimical to that interest (the agricultural) on
the prosperity of which all others depend, can find nu-
merous supporters in the Colony. The fact may be
strange, but it is nevertheless a fact, and a banefiil one,
because these newspapers are received in England as the
organs of pubhc opinion here. Thus men, not well versed
(and who is at home?) in colonial affairs, taking their
ideas from what they read as having come directly fi'om
the Colony, have the worst opinion of the planters as a
body of agriculturists.

That those newspapers are the organs of a party, which

T

146

may be in connection witli the powerful faction that is
our destiny, and that their supporters are the Radicals
of the settlement, who wish to pull do^^^l what they call
the Planters' Legislature, is generally kno^\^l, and the
question naturally occurs to any man of ordinaiy mmd,
in what class can so many men blind to theii* own in-
terests be found? The answer is, chiefly among those
who have no connexion \^'ith estates, and who are dis-
senters from the two established chui'ches of Great Bri-
tain, and volmitaries. They, unhappily, are too often
opposed to lawftil rule and light supremacy, and they
are headed by tlieir clergymen on all occasions. I be-
lieve the Wesleyan Methodists and the Plymouth Brethren
have always eschewed poHtics, and conducted themselves
so as to command the respect of the community. They
are the only exceptions I am aware of.

We have seen frequentlj'-, also, that the jealousy of
retail mercantile men, who are not either .^proprietors or
mortgagees, has been excited by the radical press against
the j)lanters generally. Now, it is really wondeifal that
so many shrewd persons suffer themselves to be led away,
either by these newspaper mis-statements, or their own
political notions. Surely no sophistry can induce them
to believe that their very commercial existence does not
depend on the preservation of the estates. AE the
money which flows to them arises from the proprietors.
All the goods which are bought in their stores are pur-
chased by the planters or their dependents ; the latter
being a numerous body. AVhat Avould be the conse-
quence (if the plantations were abandoned) to those mer-
chants ? They would lose at once the great body of
labourers as customers — the planters themselves — the
tradesmen and professional men employed by them. And
who woidd remain? Why, the gentlemen on the civil Hst,
including some of the clergy.

And where woidd the taxes come from to support this

147

list? When the planters are ruined the Colony is anni-
hilated. In fact, they are the Colony, and all other classes
are accessories, because they owe their origin and their
existence to the settlement of the planters. It is easy
to trace the career of a place like this. A few enterprising
Dutchmen, after exploring the coast and the rivers, ef-
fected a settlement. They dammed and planted their
little territory, which extended as they grew in nmnbers,
and then they threw off their primitive simplicity. Every
man, at fii'st, was his oa^tii tailor, shoemaker, carpenter,
cooper, &c., besides his own merchant. But with in-
crease of planters, came all those classes and de-
nominations of men which the division of labour had
created in Em-ope; and, in the progi'ess of years,
confining themselves to their own department, the pro-
prietors of the soil gave employment to the many peo-
ple who flocked to the settlement for exercise of their
trades and callings, mitil the latter rose into such con-
sequence that they overshadowed their original creators,
and now they are disposed to look dovm. upon, and to
kick away the ladder by which they mounted to their
present height. K they succeed, they will be in the posi-
tion of the Iiislunan who placed himself astride on the
bough of a tree, with his face to the trmik, to sever the
former with a saw, and, of coui'se, came to the ground
by his success. It is difficult to comprehend how so
many men, who are highly inteUigent, should be so far
misled by pernicious party doctrines and dogmata.

But a stranger here who devotQs himself to the study
of our internal economy, must be astounded by the mis-
taken views of some, and the singiilar ignorance of others,
concerning what is coming daily witlim their observation.
No cit, in the pristine days of London, could be more
innocent of knowledge, regarding the rural chstricts of
England, than the Georgeto^Aii Cockney concerning
what is passing in the plantations of the Colony, imless,

148

as I said before, he is connected with an estate. This
will account for the strange extracts from letters which
appear occasionally in the English newspapers, and also
for a great deal of singular matter fi'om the local press,
the best conducted of which have no means of testing
the accuracy of the statements which they receive fi'om
correspondents. And so long as the people of Great
Britain are disposed to look on communications coming
du'ectly fi'om the spot, in this manner, as more accurate
and authentic than those which are made to the Par-
Kament, or Government, by the planters, or their repre-
sentatives, such erroneous accounts, whether they ema-
nate from party spirit, or are the effusions of men ig-
norant of their subject, and boldly advancing assertions
at variance with truth, will be highly injurious.

The statements which are advanced in Parliament, and
the articles m British periodicals, which evince so much la-
mentable ignorance of our true condition, may be traced to
the sources just mentioned. Of all people, we should
be mianimous m putting forward just and faithful pic-
tures of the state we are in, because, unfortunately, we
have more enemies than friends in England, and, conse-
quently, the averments against us obtain a wider circu-
lation, and are more generally beheved than statements
in our favour. So long as party spirit perverts the mind
and misleads us, so long as agents of our implacable op-
ponents are fostered among us, and so long as men who
know nothing will write letters to be inserted in the jour-
nals of the mother comitry, we cannot hope that the in-
habitants of the latter will arrive at a just conclusion
regarding us. A ParKamentaiy blue book, containing
evidence of our wretched state, has, in its very aspect,
something so forbidding, that no man who is not under
the necessity, will devote himself to the reading of it,
unless, indeed, he is one of us. While it is so cHfficult
to vindicate om'selves from the aspersions of those who

149

aim at our destruction, it is surely our duty to guaxd
against pennitting slanderous assertions, whether emanat-
ing from thoughtless ignorance, party spirit, or malignity,
to go abroad, as fi-om the colonists themselves.

If we look back into the proceedings of former times,
we shall find that we have been often accused on grounds
fm'nished by ourselves, in the manner I have just men-
tioned; and there is too much reason to beheve that
such communications have in a great measure tended to
induce that indifference to our welfare, and that apathy
in regard to our appeals to the Queen or the ParHament,
which we have had to struggle against for many years.
The unHmited Hcence of the press (valuable as it may be
in other places) operates perniciously here, both pubhcly
and privately. A defamed indi\ddual can only obtain re-
dress in the comts of law, in an action for damages against
men who cannot even call the types their own with which
they disseminate thefr mischievous calumnies. I say mis-
chievous, only inasmuch as they operate at home in the
way I have stated; but here, the editors of such jomiials be-
ing knowTi, are perfectly innocuous. So httle are their lu-
cubrations attended to, that I have seen a member of the
court enter a room where a number of gentlemen were
seated, and draw a copy of The Guiana Times from his
pocket, out of wliich he read, amidst the most noisy
mirth, a slanderous article on himself, in which he was
branded \d\h. epithets that would cause the nymphs
of Bilhngsgate to hide their diminished heads. No
person in the Colony has any other notion regarding
those colonial followers of the metropolitan Smiday press,
than " that thefr tongue is no scandal ;" and if they did
as Uttle harm in England, I should not have recorded
here my sense of their peculiar style of animadversion.
The Royal Gazette is the only newspaper which has been
uniformly conducted with strict attention to deconmi, and
a careful avoidance of personahtics. As for the gentle-

150

men who, in their epistolaiy correspondence, heedlessly,
and with singular want of forethought, put into the hands
of their enemies the stick which is to break then* own
heads, they must be allowed also to take their course.
There are no means of staying them.

July, 1843.

The Colony seems to be now sunk in an apathetic state,
probably resulting from the sad experience it has had of
the utter hopelessness of all attemjats to improve its con-
dition. Men become habituated to hardship, as they do to
everything else ; indeed, it is not wonderful if all co-
lonists should believe with Shylock, that "suffering is the
badge of their tribe." Certain it is, that the feverish
anxiety which, for years after 1838, prevailed about the
time when the packet was expected, has now much sub-
sided. She is not likely to bring good news, and she can
scarcely bring any intelligence that will add to the dis-
tress that exists among the planters. Wages, from causes
which are but too obvious, show a decided tendency to
rise in the meantime. Notwithstanchng the arrival of a
few stray people occasionally from the We&t India Islands,
the labour of the Colony is diminishing, fi'om natural
causes, and the annual withcfrawal of many people from
field work. The deaths are not balanced by the number
of youths and maidens who step into the places of men
and women so removed, nor do the importations supply
the deficiency.

This is felt, rather than observed, on the estates, in the
increasing difiiculty the managers meet with m keeping
up their gangs.

It is astonishing how many strong people of the labour-
ing classes arc idle, and how they pass their time. Some
of them find their enjoyment in "sitting down," as they
call it, which means sleeping on benches in fi-ont of their

151

cottages, or lying along and chatting for hours together.
Women are fond of •amusing each other by telling stories,
which resemble our nursery tales in their simphcity.
They call them " Nancy 'tories," but why, does not seem
to be easily understood. They generally relate to some
very trifling affair. A considerable number of the men
are constantly engaged in fishing and shooting, by which
they make a livelihood. The rivers abound with fish,
which, when caught, are speedily disposed of to the
people on estates at good prices. Shooting or hunt-
ing (for they are synonymous here) occupies many idle,
dissipated, Negroes, who wander through the cultivated
fields, each with three or foxu' dogs at liis heels, and, as
may be readily understood, do much injmy, in following
their game through the crops.

Some resident proprietors keep a huntsman each, for
the supply of their houses, and from the abundance every-
where of deer, labbas, and acouries, the man generally
contrives to provide enough for his master and himself;
for it seems to be a rule as well understood as the vulgar
one, according to which the cook helps himself, that the
huntsman shall sell for his own benefit a portion of the
spoil, although he is paid the salary of a domestic. I
tried this method of procuring food, but my sportsman,
on the third day, having brought me a remarkably fine
pah' of wild ducks, and having been rewarded by an extra
glass of brandy, had scarcely departed, when an old watch-
man appeared with a complaint against the yackman (a
corruption of the Dutch word, I believe) . " And what has
he done. Captain?" "Massa, tha' man no good — he dam'
rascal, for true," said Captain, wrathfully . "Well, but what
has he done ?" A Negro has ahvay s a wonderfully circuitous
way of telling a tale. "Massa, he no tief my plantain,"
(he was watchman at the remains of the plantain walk)
— "me can't tell lie — he no tief my fowl — he no lick me —
me can't tell lie.'" " Well, but what did he do ? " " Tha'

152

man go all about want make massa fool, make he tink
he get plenty wild meat, but he too lazy for search um,
so he soot (shoot) my duck, and take him home in a
massa." "Oho! and where did he find them?" "In a
trench; me in a plan' walk, he no see me, me see he bery
well." The culprit was tried, condemned on the clearest
evidence, and discharged. I ne-\'er kept a yackman again.
There was, not long ago, considerable alarm excited in this
quarter by the unusually great number of tigers which
had been seen, or had manifested then* dangerous pro-
pinquity, by can^-ing off many pigs, and killing a cow.
Those jaguars, or tigers as they are called here, are in
reality leopards, being spotted, not striped; but they are,
nevertheless, fi'equently of very formidable size ; and we
had the good fortune to catch one of that description, in
a pit dug for the purpose, deep and narrow enough to
prevent the animal irom jumping out after he had got in,
with a hve pig at the bottom to entice him to take the
downward leap. He was found in the morning, safely
lodged, and with the pig half devoui'ed beside him. The
upward, sulky, glare of his dull, deadly, looking eye, as
he beheld his captors, affected the latter with anything
but a pleasant feehng. A large strong cage was quickly
prepared, so strengthened by innumerable bars and cross
pieces as to resist his attempts on it, and into this he was
forced after the hole on one side had been gTadually sloped
by digging, to admit of his ascent into the opening of the
cage, so placed as to cover the mouth of the hole. Two
steady, trusty, persons stood ready with loaded muskets,
in case he should, by any accident, escape, and get among
the crowd, which was very considerable. After a little
he scrambled u]) into his den, growling deeply, and be-
traying no sign of fear, but something like a desire to be
in the middle of the black mob, that beheld him with no
silent manifestation of triumph.

So soon as the Negroes were assured that he was well

153

secured, and could not possibly get out, they drew near,
and almost all of them addressed him separately, in a
short, pithy speech, expressive of their belief that his
plmidering days were over, and their pigs safe from him,
at any rate. They then raised him up, and placed him
in his domicile on a cart, in which he was conveyed to a
shed near my house, the whole cavalcade following in the
train of the spohator, and exulting over him. The beast
became e\ddently excited at last, from the restless manner
in wliich he moved about his den and regarded the crowd,
utteiing a low, starthng growl occasionally. The next day
he took his food well enough, but did not seem to become
more reconciled to liis change of living. In a few days
he appeared unwell, and one morning was found stretched
out quite dead in liis cage. I was not very sorry for the
loss, for I fomid that he was an expensive pet, from the
quantity of fi'esh meat he required every day. It was
my intention, had he got through the transition state
safely, to give liim to a fr-iend in Georgetown, who could
have abundance of garbage fi'om the slaughterhouse on
which to feed liim; as it was, we flayed liim, stuffed his
skin, and placed it in my entrance-hall. Wlien measured,
he was found to be nearly eight feet long, fi'om point of
nose to tip of tail — I tliink he only wanted an inch; and
he was very strongly made.

Indeed, the strength of their forelegs is astonislung.
On a neighbouring estate, lately, a tiger made an attempt
on a pig pen, placed withm the square of the Negro vil-
lage (contrary to all rule, and the anxious wish of the
proprietor, but an evil he Avas obHged to put up mth),
and so strongly stockaded that he could not accomplish
an entrance, although he paced deliberately round, look-
ing for a proper place. The night was not so far advanced
but some of the people were still moA-ing about, and the
prowler was observed. The hubbub which ensued both
irritated and alarmed the brute, and, finding he could not

u

154

gain his object, he struck one of his paws tlirough an
opening in the palisades, hitting a large boar on the fore-
head so forcibly that the part was literally battered in,
and scampered off. They are frequently shot at night,
but very seldom in the day, being then hidden in the
interior, among the primeval woods or distant savannahs.
I remember an incident which occurred on one of my
former visits to the Colony, and Avhich I may set down here
also. It was reported to one of my neighbours that a tiger
had killed a cow and her calf behind his estate, and that the
animal had been seen retiring into a little detached patch of
bush at daybreak. That gentleman convened a few friends,
who were sportsmen, to search this spot, and imtil they all
arrived, a watch was set on the place to see whether he re-
mained; so that when we entered the Httle piece of bush,
we were sin:e of finding him ; but, after a tedious and anxious
search, we failed to unharbour the game. We had given
up all hopes of seeing him, and begun to shoot parrots
and bush fowls, when, suddenly, one of the party started
out from beneath a tree, with a strange mixture of fear
and surprise on his countenance; and, following the direc-
tion of his eyes with our own, we saw the tiger lying
along a bough, within six or eight feet of the ground,
and watching us, in that sort of crouching, eager man-
ner which the cat exliibits mider similar circumstances,
his tail wagging all the time, and creating a rustling
among the leaves, which first arrested our companion's
attention. Drawing back, until we all came from the
different stations near to this spot, we proceeded to put
each a couple of pistol bullets above the small shot with
which our pieces were loaded, and then, cautiously ap-
proaching until within fifteen or twenty paces, we fired
at once upon the brute, and brought him to the gromid,
after which he was soon despatched. He was only about
six feet and a half long.

155

Altliougli they do not seem to fear the face of man,
I have not heard of a well-authenticated instance of attack
made by one on an individual. There are stories current
of people killed by them, and the Negroes have all that
fear of "tiga" wliich it is said the Hindoos have of the
royal beast of Bengal. But I believe they will not ven-
ture on a man unless severely pressed by hunger, or ren-
dered desperate by position. The Blacks say they will
not touch the Bucks or Indians, because they are neither
men nor brutes. Doubtless this proceeds from the sov- ^
ereign contempt wliich the former entertain for those abo-
rigines, and wliich they have taken every opportunity of
showing. It was a common saying of the Negroes, during
slaveiy, when the question of emancipation was continu-
ally agitating the Colony, "that Buckra free, good; but
Buck free, wha' da! cha! better be plantation slave, forty
times ! " In fact, they do not comprehend how the Indians
can be styled "free people," because their ideas of freedom
have been taken fi-om the appearance of those whom they
have seen in that condition, and who, generally speaking,
belong to the better classes of Whites. Naked Bucks, they
consider inferior to themselves, and even a shade lower in
status than they were as slaves, because of their physical
debility, and unfitness to endure fatigue. There are in-
stances, however, where they have amalgamated and in-
termarried (so to speak) with each other. These have
occurred, chiefly, in the neighbourhood of Posts on
the rivers, the holders of which are stationed there to
keep up our friendly communications with the natives,
and, consequently, often have many settled aromid them.
The gangs of woodcutters, too, are forced by their situa-
tion into continual juxta-position with them.

156

1st January, 1844.

Another year has passed, and brought "no healing
on its wing." The crop of the Fortune seems to be nearly
stationar}^ in its annual amount, wHlthout any considerable
rise or fall, and the prices of tropical produce have not
undergone any very perceptible alteration. George has
again brought up his balance-sheet, and the loss on the
year is £1540. At this period, which, over the Christian
world in general, is one of festivity and enjoyment, I am
doomed to feel all the horrors of my situation ; for, although
I may know fi'om the books previously, how the balance is
to stand at this time, I cannot muster resolution to look fre-
quently at them, so as to understand Avhat the exact sum of
my misfortune is likely to be, until this month comes, and
along with it the necessity for knowing the worst. " On
the whole," said George, "we are aU in this quarter nearly
as we were last year, in regard to losses; there is not one
who has a net revenue." "There is more misery than
we can perceive," said I. "The stern necessity for preserv-
V ing whatever remains of credit, prevents many a poor,
bi'oken-hearted man from unburthening his mind to a
friend, as in former times, when our Colony was remark-
able" for the frank, easy manner in which planters spoke
of their affairs, debts included." "I have heard many,"
replied he, "make the same obsen^ ation ; no one speaks
now as before (my infonnation is obtained under a solemn
obligation to secrecy, in regard to all but you), and even
tlie most common operation of the field is now concealed."
"You say Welhngham is pretty nearly as in 1843?"
"His crop was frdly better, but the loss nearly the same."
"They seem to keep up their spirits; yet Grace, I think,
often looks sadly on her little boy; she is inchned, na-
turally, to be thoughtftil, and, of course, tlie state of af-
fairs, which should cause any one to think, has a more
visible operation on her." "But Charles, I am sure.

157

answers your expectation, or, rather, has sliown to you
that your fears of him were groundless." "Yes, indeed,
he has. Marriage has improved him much. I do not
know a more steady, industrious person. A good-hearted
man, George, who is thoughtless and impetuous, will be
generally improved by a sensible ^^^fe, whom he loves.
It is the selfish, improvident man, who is also heartless,
upon whom the helpmate has no hold ; he believes every
one who gainsays him to be his enemy, and, like a spoiled
child, insists on doing what he has a mind to, without
regard to consequences, and their eftect on others. But
we have yet to see how Charles mil brook the loss of his
estate, provided the times do not improve, and the mort-
gagee insists on foreclosing. "I fear the result of such
proceeding on the father more than on the son." "And
so would most people ; but these occurrences are common
now, and use, perhaps, will lessen the effect." "He is a
singidar man, the elder Wellingham." "He is, George;
an imaginative person, with deep feelings, such, they say,
poets are — although, I should think, he has none of the
fire, and less of the irritabihty which are characteristics
also of genius." "I doubt that," said George; "my
opinion is that our greatest poets had neither the strange
sort of fire which consumes the possessor, nor the eccen-
tricities which are so remarkable in second-rate versifiers;
look at Scott, Milton, Shakspere." "Well! well! we
are not going to discuss the merits of the British poets.
The fact is indubitable, that Mr. Wellingham takes fan-
ciful views of occurrences, and gives to facts a colouring
which can only emanate fi'om an exuberant imagination;
he scarcely ever sees things as other people do, and I
am in doubt whether he does not adapt his conversation
to suit my ideas of the present state of the Colony, rather
fi'om good nature and deference to me, than a settled
conviction in accordance with my opinions." "He cer-
tainly seldom thinks with other people, but in this in-

158

stance, for that very reason, he is more likely to chinie m
with you, for you are aware that your notions on colo-
nial affairs are thought to be extreme, and your gloomi-
ness greater than there is warrandice for." " So I am
given to understand; they style me the male Cassandra
of our Troy." " Yes, and you would have been nominated
long ago to the Court of Policy, if the Kiezers did not
believe that your despairing speeches and observations
would have an injm'ious tendency." "All! you did not
tell me that before. Then my doctrmes have done me
good service, for, trust me, to sit in that Court and com-
bat incessantly the decrees of fate, in the shape of Do\\ai-
ing Street despatches, must be pretty much like the
horrible and ineffectual struggle which a certain aged
Countess (innocent, yet condemned by the foulest tyrant
that ever disgraced a throne — our Hany VIII.) made,
hopelessly, to the last against her legal murderer — the
public executioner." "Do you call the Colonial ^Minister
these fine names?" inquired George, with a smile.
"Figuratively, and afar off, as you see. There are poli-
tical murderers as well as physical destroyers; it may be
a question which of the two offend most seriously agamst
the eternal and immutable dogmata of justice; the mahce
prepense may exist vdih the foimer as well as the latter;
and, certainly, when men in power suffer those who are
under their charge to be destroyed by measvires emanating
from them, after proof has been adduced that this must
inevitably happen, what can any one say but that they
are actuated by foregone conclusions, which involve the
probabihty of that contingency ? And does not the whole
of the e\adence given before the late Committee of the House
of Commons, tend to show, clearly and forcibly, that, mth-
out a large accession of suitable labourers to the existing po-
pulation, the cultivation of exportable produce must be aban-
doned,andouL* Colony destroyed?" "They will neveragree
to consider a colony as an integral part of the empire, and in

159

that consists the whole evil; we are worse off than if we were
a weak foreign nation; because the necessity for preserv-
ing the balance of power would compel our potent neigh-
boiu's to interfere in om* favour; as it is, we are considered
by the latter to be a fragment of Great Britain, and, as
such, not to be meddled with more than Yorkshire or
Scotland. We have thus all the disadvantages of a colo-
nial dependency, without the benefits that should accom-
pany them." "Saving only one — the command of the
British market, without wliich we could not exist at the
present moment." "That is rendered, indeed, essential
to our existence; but by whom? The very people who
prove such harsh protectors, in general; they forced a
system on us which we foretold would be ruinous, and
raise the price of sugar to them considerably." "And a
large, and stUl increasing party are now ciying out about
the difference between sugar in England and on the Con-
tinent. At a meeting near Liverpool, lately, a farmer
inveighed against the iniquity of prohibitmg foreign sugar,
and told the meeting that, but for the duty on it, he
would manm'e his land with the article. Doubtless, he
had been told by some of om* fi'iends of the relative prices
in Cuba and in Jamaica, and, relying on havmg it at ten
pounds a ton, he fomid it would be as cheap as guano."

"Have you looked over the hsts of the estate that I
gave you?" "I have; and I find that there has been,
indeed, a greater number than on any preceding year
since my return; but the aggregate of labour obtained is
not mcreased, according to this other docmnent, and, of
course, the presumption is, from the longer hst of names
■\vithout a corresponding addition to the work done m the
fields, that the people have been more unsettled, and run-
nmg, even more than formerly, fi'om one place to another;
the Barbadians did not remain long." " No ; Bro^\ai found
that they were doing their tasks infamously, much worse
even than om' own gang, and allowed them to go away."

160

"Wellingham had about forty excellent people from that
island; they differ very much it would appear." "I heard
of a proprietor to leeward, who imported upwards of a
hundred, at a great expense, and, in consequence of the
want of a contract, they set off to another planter, and
engaged themselves to him immediately." "Well! our
rulers will say it is not their fault; the man knew that
contracts entered into out of the Colony were not vahd,
and he should not have incurred the risk." "Pretty
much like telling a man who narrowly escapes drowning,
and catches a severe cold by the ducking, that if he
had di'owned quietly, he would have escaped the other.
Men who are di'iven to despair must brave risks and
incur danger, to avoid the certain destruction that awaits
them; it is too much for the Colonial Minister to expect
that we are to succumb to his extinguishing measures,
without an effort to save ourselves." "It is difficult to
tell what they expect; one would imagine, sometimes,
that they regard us as the ancient Spaniards did the
American aborigines — as an inferior race of men, who have
not only no right to the privileges and immmiities which
are enjoyed by our countrymen of Europe, but are in-
capable of feeling the injuries inflicted on us." "Poor
Brown seems to have lost heart altogether. He speaks
frequently now of Austraha; and he told me the other
day, that if he would make up his mind to abandon tliis
sinking ship, and begin the world in another hemisphere,
there are a half dozen more of the best managers among
us ready to go mtli him. Brown is looked vip to by his
class, and they have confidence in his knowledge of the
world." "I cannot be so absm-d as to blame him; every
man must do the best he can for himself; but I should
feel his loss to be a serious additional evil to us." " He
cannot bring his mind to it. There is something so ex-
traordinary in our position, so uncommon in the circum-
stances of a whole community going headlong to ruin,

161

that one always inclines to believe it cannot last, and that
the consummation, after all, will not take place." "Brown
has a little money; advise him to have it safely lodged in
England, George ; he speaks more nnreserv^edly to you,
but you may say I recommend the funds to him, as the
safest investment — unless it be a mortgage on land — which
would give him little interest." "He has shares in the
local bank; they are at a discount, and thus he is already
in for a considerable loss, but the sooner he sells out, be-
fore tliey fall lower, the better." "Decidedly; who
knows how soon a mob-driven government may devise
another scheme, in favour of Manchester, at our expense?
We are by no means certain that the present evils, in-
tolerable as they are, may be the last that our rulers are
to inflict on us." " I shall tell him what you say, and I
have no doubt that he will act on your suggestions; your
opinions go far in this quarter." "Aye! aye! George, I
am the richest of our unhappy order in this small district,
and money always gives weight to the opinions of its
possessor, wonderfully enhancing the value of them. Pass
a few years, and they will ^sometimes think,' as Sir Andrew
Aguecheek did of himself, that 'I possess no more wit
than other men.' "

■ An ugly accident happened in the field two days ago.
A man was bitten by a snake of the labari kind, while
crossing an abandoned patch near to that in which the
gang was at work. The poor fellow saw the reptile, and
was immediately aware that he had been wounded. At
first, the pain was trifling, and he walked easily through
a trench, into the cane field, among the people, to whom
he told his mishap. They have all a wholesome dread of
snakes, and a man was instantly despatched for the doc-
tor, who, by good luck, having been on the next estate,
was here very soon. I went with him to see the pa-
tient, and I shall not soon forget the appearance of the
poor man. The limb was much SAVollen, fi'om the foot

X

162

upwards; two slight marks, like scratches, being visible
above the ancle. His eyes were suffused; and there was
evidently a great determination, as it is called, to the head,
for, while we were there, his nose began to bleed. He
complained much of the pain along the leg and thigh.
Dr. Robertson proceeded instantly to excise the parts
immechately adjoining the Avounds, with the marked por-
tion itself; after which he prescribed frequent doses of
hartshorn, in water. He then walked into my house,
there to remain till the crisis was over, visiting the man
every fifteen or twenty minutes. Nothing can exceed
the attention of medical men, generally, in this Colony;
but, I gi'ieve to say, they are very badly supported by the
black nurses, who usually show much indifference regard-
ing those under their care. The doctor had great appre-
hensions in this case. The labari is one of oin" worst
snakes, scarcely second to the rattlesnake or bushmaster,
both of which are as venomous as any that are known.

This is now the third day since the accident oc-
ciuTed, and the swelling, which yesterday was really
frightful to behold, has evidently decreased a little. He
has no bleeding at the nose now, but his eyes have still
that reddish tinge, and his features seem to be partially
swelled. I thmk there is a shght wandering, too, in his
answers to questions, probably the effect of fever, which
has been severe. The wound looks well, the doctor says,
but he is afraid of mortification, now that danger of im-
mediate death is over. The snakes of the Colony are of
many varieties, and, fortunately, by far the greater num-
ber are harmless, especially those which are frequently
seen near houses. The labari, it is true, is sometimes
found in megass loges, and even in outhouses, but not
often; while the rattlesnake always shuns the haunts of
man. Some time ago, a large one was taken out of a
trench, behind this estate, dead, and brought home by
the watchman as a curiosity, from its size; it was the

163

largest I ever saw, being about six feet long, and of en-
ormous tliicloiess. The head of this reptile is especially
ugly, being large and flat, and protruding over the eyes.
The NegToes believe that it can bite vnth its tail, or shak
shak, as they call the rattle, which is just a prolongation
of the vertebrae of the back, with very little cartilage,
loose and dry, so that when agitated by the motion of the
tail it produces a sound very like (like, and yet so dif-
ferent!) the song of the gi'asshopper, so much sung and
admired by the ancient classic poets.

The individual reptile in question, when thrown out
from the batteau in which Captain brought it, was
soon smTounded by a group, and they all avoided the
tail. When I saw this, I told one of them to cut off
and give the appendage to me. A sort of shudder
ran through them, and, to complete their wonder and
fear, I coolly took out my knife, and stooped to cut
off the rattle. "Massa! you known tha' snake? da shak
shak snake ; he can sham dead, heh ! heli ! Massa
Nigga!" were the expressions I heard around me as I de-
tached the "alarum," for such it is; the animal shaking
its tail, when agitated, by a sort of instinct, probably de-
signed by nature for the protection of the unwary intru-
der on the dangerous creature. The Negroes all exclaimed
against my rashness, for they had an impression among
them that it was not dead, only "maldng believe."

From the circumstance of those fell monsters keeping
generally afar from man, accidents of the sort I have just
mentioned are of rare occurrence. In fact, I do not at
this moment recollect of another as having happened in
this district. Depredations are frequently committed
among the ducks of the estates, by a variety of the boa,
peculiar to this part of America, called the camoeny, a
snake that takes his prey, generally, in the water, mider
which he lurks, with his head up, so as to observe without
bemg observed; and when any aquatic fowl is discovered,

164

be steals upon and seizes it. They are of immense
size, it is said, in some localities. The largest I have seen
was twenty feet long. It had just swallowed a mus-
covy duck, which it seized in the middle of a numer-
ous flock, raising such a noise as brought one to the
spot, who saw the snake, and gave the alarm. He
was shot by repeated fusillades, but not before he had
gotten the duck into his gullet. The Negroes are not
afraid of them, and they eat them with great gusto.

This one was no sooner floating on the water, without
much motion, than the man who owned the prey jumped
in and attacked liim with a knife, ripping up his throat and
stomach, where he found his ])roperty, only half way
down, and whence he speedily extracted it. In fact, the
protuberance caused by the bii'd was visible from the bank
of the trench. Notmthstanding its great length, this
reptile was not thicker than a stout man's leg at the calf.
They are darker than the boas of the East, but beauti-
fully marked, also, with a variety of colours; black, white,
and brown predominating. Indeed, I would say, from
what I have seen, that the venomous snakes are the most
revolting in appearance. The blood snake is understood
to be of this description, and it resembles, strongly, an
enormous earth-worm, being just of that colour, and
usually from foxu' to six feet long. There is another sort,
of a deep gi'ass gTeen hue, and of similar length; while
the coral snake, fi'om eighteen inches to three feet, glides
along among the flowers and shrubs, near a house, in the
gay colours of scarlet, black, and white, which characterise
the substance from which it takes its name. The whip
snake is the most famiHar with man, being generally found
near houses. It is so named, fr-om the resemblance it
bears to the thong of a whip, and is perfectly innocuous.

Some years ago, when in the Colony, and visiting a
bachelor friend, Avho lived in a retired situation, I was
one day recHning on a sofa, and reading, the house being
perfectly still, and no person nearer than the kitchen,

165

when a snake of this variety moved so silently into the
room, that he was in the middle of it before I was aware
of his presence. He seemed to look for some thmgs, as
if he knew they should be there, insects probably, for I
observed him to pick up a spider. At last he espied me,
and, raising his head, in an mstant was coiled up, in-
stmctively, for defence, but immediately afterwards, when
I got on my feet, he retreated with great expedition below
the sideboard, and contrived to ensconce himself so be-
tween it and the wall, that it was only after detaching it
the servants were able to dislodge him. I would not
permit them to kill him, and they were both sulky and
sm'jDrised, when he ghded rapidly do'WTi the outer steps,
and on to the lavm, without being assailed by every sort
of offensive weapon that might come to hand. This one
was about five feet long. Lizards abound about dweUings
of all sorts in the Colony, and move along, frequently,
with great confidence in presence of the inmates.

In fact, but for the number of reptiles of various
sorts, the insect tribes of tropical regions would soon be-
come too numerous to be compatible with the contempo-
raneous existence of man; but, unfortunately, we do not
appreciate, as we ought, the vdse distribution which an
all-kno-\ving and all-seeing Providence has made, of dif-
ferent creatures to preserve the balance of hfe, in its many
varieties. There is nothing more wdsely ordered in the
world than the manner in which it is arranged that hfe
shall prey upon life, and one class of animals depend on
another, inferior in strength, for the means of sup-
porting existence. A species of small ant, which hterally
covers the ground, may be called the tiny scavenger of
this country, as they pick up everytliing fi:om the earth's
surface, of animal substance, which the collective strength
of then* myriads can carry off. They are devoiu*ed by a
larger variety of then' own species, besides other insects
and small birds; and the larger ants themselves constitute
a considerable portion of the food of all sorts of fowls and

166

reptiles. I have said animal substances, but, in fact, no-
thing can lie on any part of a surface, that enters into the
composition of the numerous articles which contribute to
the support of our frame, if the small red ants are able to
remove it, either wholly or by piecemeal; and as these
little creatures are not allowed to lie on the earth, but
must lay dovni theu* lives to preserve in existence others
which are a degree above them in the scale of creation,
it follows, that a great deal of matter, which would be
noxious to life, as productive of disease, is thus prevented
from rotting on the groimd. We see the same rule ob-
served in insects and reptiles of a larger size, each variety
preying on that which is below it in the scale; and, as-
cending higher in the gradation of the ammal kingdom,
we have beasts and birds of prey to prevent the inordi-
nate increase of living creatures ; while vultm'es and
ravens are provided to take off those from polluting die
air which have been doomed to a natural death ; and thus
is the balance insured.

The manner in which the carrion crow winds his game,
tlu'ows completely into shade the powers of the dog. He
may be seen afar off, a veiy speck, seemingly on the edge
of a cloud, but bearing steadily on against the wind;
gradually he follows up the scent, until he finds himself
in the neighbom'hood of the object; then, commencing a
series of gyrations, wliicli bring him nearer and nearer to
the gromid, he at last sweeps along over the trees, wheel-
ing in gTaceful circles near the spot, until he perceives
the dead animal. In the course of an hour, scores will
be congregated round the place, all drawn to it in the
same manner. Our laws protect those birds, and most
properly, by imposing severe penalties on the destroyers
of them; hence their fearless manner in the presence of
those who intrude on them, when they scarcely give
themselves the trouble to go out of the Avay. It is the
only variety of the vulture, in so far as I have heard, that

1G7

is ever seen within the cultivated parts of the settlement ;
in the bush, are those of the tribe which are to be found
in other parts of this continent, among the rest, one that
is called "King of the Vultures."

July, 1844.

Rumours are afloat among our friends in England,
that government have in contemplation a scheme of immi-
gration from those places where labourers can be obtained,
into the West Indies, not limited, as at present, to par-
ticular localities, the people of which are found to be
useless here. The force of circumstances should have
brought this about long ago, had there not been a power
behind the scenes strong enough to balance the claims
of reason and of justice. Probably the cotton lords will
begin to apprehend that the state of the sugar colonies,
rendered unmistakable by the crops now steadily remain-
ing at about half of those obtained in better times, must
tell ultimately on the demand for their goods. That they
should have such fears is very probable, tliey being so
remarkably shrewd, and tenderly alive to their own in-
terests.

It is unpossible almost that such men can fail to per-
ceive that the planters, in the aggregate, are now sup-
porting their estates by the capital possessed by them
independently of their West Indian properties, or by the
little credit they enjoy. With half crops, and double
expenditure in producing them, it cannot be othenvise ;
and it is just probable that our opponents begin to per-
ceive that their policy is reacting on themselves, for all
the outlay on estates eventually goes into the pockets of
tradesmen and manufacturers in England, excepting only
the value of some articles of provision and timber from
America. The clothing of the popvdation, salt meat,
butter, &c., and almost every item consumed as imported
food (excepting salt fish), besides iron and copper in

168

every form used by the plantations in machinery and its
wear and tear, boiling-coppers, stills, &c. — all those come
from the mother comitry. If the supplies are chiefly
from oiu' owii country, it follows that as the work prospers
which gives rise to the demand, so must the latter in-
crease, and vice versa.

I have shown that if the estates cease to work, the cur-
rent which furnished the requisite supply of money, is cut
off at the fountain, and there will soon thereafter be no per-
son to buy a single article produced by the men of Man-
chester and Birmingham, because there can be no export
trade, and those pohtical economists will admit that, Avith-
out it, there can be no importation of goods. Probably
they begin to find that in sacrificing us to Brazil, they
but part with the substance while grasping the shadow.
But this matter-of-fact way of reasoning is almost too
much to expect from them. Although they be plodding
men of business, they seem to be as wild on this subject as
the ardent and imaginative George Canning, when he
waved his hand in the House, and proclaimed that he had
"called a new world into existence," in allusion to the
treaties he had made\^ath the thinly-peopled, and distracted
Republics of South America, which might be called a
world, with reference to their population, on the same
principle that an inlet may be called a sea. This newly-
discovered field for mercantile operations, led to results
which showed that the statesman and the manufacturer
were alike ignorant of the wants and resources of the
few thousand people, so pompously designated by the for-
mer, and should serve as a beacon to prevent the latter
from again deluging places Math their productions, where
they cannot possibly be consumed.

The Liverpool merchants trading to Brazil, if they
succeed in getting the reciprocity treaty between that
empire and Great Britain, which they have exerted them-
selves to procm*e, will most likely fall into that error

1G9

along with their neighbours. If the day should arrive
(but Heaven avert it) when slave-grown sugar is admit-
ted on equal tenns with our own, and the manufactiu'es
of England are received into Brazil on conditions equally-
favourable, we must imagine that the quantity of goods
sent to that country would be, in accordance with the
statements put forth by the free-traders, enonnous.

Notwithstanding the fact, which a reference to our ex-
port tables at the custom-house should convince them of,
they persist in believing that this trade, even now, is more
valuable than the West India, and nothing prevents it
from reaching a ver}^ extraordinary height, but the exclu-
sion of the produce of Brazil. They would still have to
compete with the cheaper labour of the continent of
Em-ope, and the lower freight (rather important items in
the expense of manufacturing goods, and the cost of trans-
porting them to the market), even if they were admitted
into Brazilian ports on the terms of the most favoured
nation. There seems to be something like infatuation in
those men who desire to see theu' comitry forego all the
advantages she possesses over every other nation in her
colonies, which constitute an almost ample field m them-
selves for the legitimate operations of commerce, and which
they would part -sA-ith for the uncertain chance of more ex-
tended transactions with peoples with whom the common
incidents of hfe may set us at variance; and, in event of
a general war, our country, so essentially manufactuiing
and commercial, must be financially nuned, wanting her
colonies. Whereas, did she foster the latter, and keep
within bomids the inordinate ambition of IManchester, by
refraining fl*om injiuing other interests to promote those
of that tovni, trade and manufactm*es would be kept
permanently in a healthy and prosperous state. Verily, if
at this time Great Britain destroys her colonial empire for
the benefit of the manufactm'er and the foreigner, she will
realize the fable of the dog and shadow, and she will cut

Y

170

off her limbs, and leave the helpless trunk to struggle in
competition with those who are strengthened by her
maiming, and who wdll not abate one jot of their own
peculiar advantages, out of love, gratitude, or compassion
to her.

Still the colonial routine goes on ; men, apparently
wearied of appealing to the justice of our imperial govern-
ment, quietly await the accomplishment of their destmy
without clamouring for relief. Nevertheless, the indi-
vidual energy of the planters is as active as ever, few
months passing without some new invention to diminish
the necessity for manual labom*; which, alas! tm*ns out
as fallacious as its hundred predecessors. I fear it will
be found impracticable to work the land here otherwise
than by the hand, miless some new mode of culture, com-
prehending a different method of planting the cane, should
be introduced, and all attempts to do so having hitherto
failed, the case seems hopeless.

Thorough draining, according to the method in use at
home, has been spoken of; but who can afford twenty
pounds an acre for that purpose, which would be the ex-
pense, according to the lowest calculation? And, after
all, it is doubtful if the water would penetrate with suffi-
cient celerity through our stiff soils, baked as they are in the
sun. Doubtless, if once established, the advantage would
be immense, both from its direct operation on the soil,
and its faciUtating the use of the plough, by doing away
with open drains. The difficulty would be in brealdng
and pulverising the ground sufficiently at first, to open
up a passage for water to the bottom of the drain ; but
if this was once effected, the earth would most likely re-
main in an open state, permitting freely the passage of
air and water, with a wide spreading of roots. There are
some, however, who think that the power of the sun is so
great on the stiff clay soils here, that very frequent
turning up would be required to keep them permeable to

171

fluids; Mild, as the canes take at least twelve moiitlis to
attain to niaturityj long before they reached that stage,
they would suffer from rain lodging on the sui'face of the
ground. Non nostrum tantas componere lites. It is not
lilvely to be tried. The day is gone past for expensive
experiments. There is an existing sample of the extent
to which the Colony did go in that way some years ago,
in the canal excavator, a machine for digging and clean-
ing trenches, which, had it succeeded, would have been an
immense acquisition; but as it is (a failure), it has cost
the Colony £7,000 at different times, and engaged the
attention of the best engineers, without the shghtest pros-
pect now of success.

I have mentioned that my friend Wellingham arranged
with his mortgagee, and obtained a letter guaranteeing
him from being molested for two years. The time has
expired, and it is not difficult to observe that, notvdth-
standing all their efforts they cannot keep up their spirits.
Charles has been, according to the uniform account of
his wife, constantly in the field, to secure as much as
he could a proper discharge of duty to the proprietor
from his overpaid labourers. His father, always a shy,
retiring, character, has become more so than ever, and,
Grace tells me, shuns the society even of his best friends.
"Is there any thing in particular that distresses him —
any importunity from his creditors?" I inquired of her.
"No, I am sure there is not," replied she, "but the lapse
of two years without any amendment in our position, and,
consequently, the more hopeless nature of our prospects,
affect him deeply." "Are you sui'e that he has had no
communication on the subject of his mortgage lately?"
" Quite sm'c ; but he has little confidence in the continu-
ance of this unmolested condition." "I fear he is right,
my girl. These are not times for creditors to be merci-
ful," said I, sorrowfrdly, "but you are prepared for the
worst. There is nothing that can come imexpectedly to

172

you." "It is true, my father," said she cahnly, "Charles
and I could manage, I believe, anywhere,- but, I confess,
when I think of others, I am sometimes overcome." At
that instant her eldest boy entered, uttering a joyful cry-
on seeing grandpapa, and running straight up to us.
She seized him, and sobbed convulsively as she held him
to her breast. I turned aside, under a bitter emotion
that was new to me, for this was the first time that she
had been overpowered so suddenly and completely in my
presence. "Oh!" cried she, "but for these little ones
(she has two now) and their grandfather, how well could
we bear up against the calamities of the times, and even
the parting with you and the rest." "Calm yom'self, my
child," taking her hand and trying, rather awkwardly, I
fear, to appear cheerful, "there is stiU hope." "Say not
so, my dearest father, you do not feel that there is, and
trust me, even you have not thought more deeply on this
subject than I have. There can be no hope for mifortu-
nates in debt, under such awful circumstances."

She said this \vith composure, and with the an* of one
perfectly assured of the uncontrovertible nature of the
fact she had stated. "My dear," continvied I, "whilst I
have anything, you cannot imagine you shall be destitute."
"Say not that either, my father," replied she gravely;
"you have duties to others besides me, and neither
Charles nor I will suffer you to sacrifice more on our ac-
count in this hopeless struggle." "But let us not antici-
pate matters; sufficient for the day, you know," said I,
feeling that I could not stand this scene much longer, and
getting on my feet. "Wliere is papa, Johnnie?" said I
to tlie child, by way of introducing something else. He
rephed that papa was still in the field, and would not be
home for one good hour. He is just beginning to speak
intelligibly, "Tell him when he comes in that he must
not stand so much in the sun. Will you?" "Any one
will tell him that in vain, as you know already. I see

173

how It is with you, but beheve mc, it is not thus I am
often ; we are stout-hearted, and not disposed to succumb
under the evils of an adverse world, believe me, my
father," said she, with a smile. "Keep yourselves so, my
darhng, and it will be worth to you untold riches; how
many, in this vale of tears, are lost from want of equa-
nimity, and from drawing, at the outset of life, a too
flattering picture of their futiu:e career! Those sanguine
dispositions suffer most severely by disappointment."
"And you fear Charles rather than me. You see how well
I know you, and can interpret your thoughts. But his feel-
lings and liis ideas are so good, and his judgment so sound
that — " "If he only gives the latter fair-play," int erupted
I playftdly, to assist in getting her out of her present
mood, "he has a chance of doing some good." "Espe-
cially when he has a ready counsellor in me," responded
she, with rather a sad smile, and added more gravely —
"It is indeed so. Charles is naturally impetuous m all
his actions; but so long as he holds me in the same esti-
mation as at present, and submits to my remonstrances,
his ardent disposition is in his favour." On my way
home I reflected on what had passed, and felt convinced
that she was right in all she said, and especially in the
last observation.

They have resolved on going to Australia when the
anticipated catastrophe occurs; but they scarcely venture
to speak on the subject mth Mr. Wellingham, although
it is understood that he shall accompany them. A
strangely constituted thing is woman ! tender, weak,
easily agitated in affairs of trivial import, but when the
welfare and happiness of those she loves are at stake, what,
to her's, is the boasted fortitude of man! and here is a
striking illustration of the fact. WeUingham has been
struggling for years with impending misfortune, and in-
stead of soaring above when it approaches the acme.

174

he seems to be sinking under it; wliile his daughter-in-
law, a young woman reared in the lap of luxuiy, with
every wish gratified and every whim indulged, until after
she has hnked her fate with that of the man to whom she
had given her affections, she finds that she must inevitably
be overtaken by calamity; then from the hidden stores of
her mind are drawn forth those singular qualities which
otherwise might have lain for ever dormant, and she
stands forw^ard the prop and support of the family in
whose fortunes she has involved her own, cheering her
husband and his father in their heartless, because hope-
less, occupation — voluntarily depriving herself of every
superfluous article that her sister, even yet, considers ab-
solutely necessary, and devoting herself to diminish ex-
penditure in each department of the household. It is
even said, but she conceals it, that she makes dresses for
the gay labourers of the estate, at the ordinaiy price, and
with the proceeds contrives to clothe herself and her chil-
dren.

Let any lady who is accustomed to have a carriage and
servants at command, with that indescribable appendage,
half sei'vant, half confidant, a lady's maid, imagine such
a change, and she wiU shudder at it; yet jiut her to the
proof, in nine cases out of ten, if she deserves the name
of woman, she "s\ill endeavour to act as my daughter does.
Success will not alwa^-s foUow the eftbrt, for such strength
of mind is not common to either sex, although in my
opinion that, as well as good intention, is much more
general among womanldnd than the world believes. I
am proud of my child, but her case often overwhelms me
with affliction, which I am obliged to conceal from my
poor wife, whose mind is of a very different order fi'om
her daughter's; and I fancy my youngest knows that I
do not wish to discuss the state of affairs, either here or
at Wellingham's. She is a lively, hght-hearted creatm'e,
and I dare say the futui'e does not give her much uneasi-

175

iiess. It was only the other clay that my wife began to
tliink "Grace was becommg too domesticated; we must
try to prevent her from shutting herself up with her chil-
dren like an ordinaiy dowdy wife; she is really above that
sort of thing, and should not give way to it."

I see less now of Mr. Ridley. Whether he feels the iron
hand of adversity to be more hea\y than heretofore, I
know not; but he seldom comes to the Fortmie, and my
visits to the Momit are rare, because he is not often to
be found -svithin the house. When I saw him last he
was in his usual spirits, and manifesting that peculiar
caustic disposition towards the powers that be, which
he delights in." "Well, neighbour, Scott speaks of a
son of " utter darkness ; " I presume our ruler, how-
ever opposite it may be to his general cognomen, should
be dignified with that appellation, for he seems as
much m the dark as ever regarding the mihappy sub-
jects of his absolute rule." "Anything new lately to
provoke your ire against him?" "Nothing in particvdar,
except his uniform opposition to eveiy thing that is likely
to benefit the planter; the immigration loan, for instance."
"He objects to that as unfair, because the import duties
being the most productive of our sources of revenue, and
the mass of the population om' chief consumers, the ex-
pense of bringmg people to compete with themselves wiU
fall on the labourers. This seems to be the ^aew w^hich
the Colonial Minister takes of it."

"Doubtless; 'hke master like man,'" said Ridley.
"The idea is still uppermost that we are oppressing those
people, by whom we are, in reahty, grievously oppressed.
Can there be a more striking illustration of the manner
in which our remonstrances — om' evidence before Parha-
mentaiy Committees — the faUing off in our crops — and
the universally known fact that we are progressing rapidly
in the career of ruin — are received, when they directly
contradict tlie assertions of our enemies. The anti-colo-

^

176

nial party object to immigration, because it would injure
the present population; the evangelical section declaring
that a flood of barbarism so imported would throw back
the people into their former condition of savages; and the
rest roundly asserting that it would reduce the rate of
wages, thus avowing their feeling of unquenchable hosti-
lity to the hapless planters, who, they know, cannot main-
tain themselves if condemned permanently to the present
monstrous expenditure." "Not only do they so think
and act, I verily believe, in perfect consciousness of the
calamitous effects of their policy on the Whites of the
colonies, but in utter ignorance of the baneful evils
resulting from it now to the happiness of those whom
they profess to support and protect. I do not think they
are aware of the moral disorganization which has prevailed
within the last few years among the West India Ne-
groes, because I have not seen it stated either in Parlia-
ment or elsewhere — yet the fact is mideniable." "It may
not be worse, for ought I know, than the profligacy that
exists in the cities of England, which is extensive enough;
but yet many of the good old ladies, who think they are
upholding a well-behaved and moral population, would
be considerably shocked by some disclosm^es I could make
to them."

"Nay, Ridley, you are slandering our country. Un-
kind, oppressive, she may be, but she is still our countiy,
and, to do her justice, she has none, saving among her most
abandoned, so lost to propriety as our demorahzcd peoj)le
generally." " And what is it owing to, but the want of pro-
per restraint ?" "Undoubtedly; the want of restraint on
grown up children, and the means we contribute, in high
wages easily earned, to the fostering of their vicious pas-
sions and propensities by their gi'atification. I liave not
learned that this fact is known in England; but it should be
sent abroad universally, that one of the chief evils of the
present destructive system is its effect on the customs and

177

habits of the labouring classes. A few years ago the
conduct of these people was much more correct than at
present, I would say up to the year 1838, because they
were under some salutary control; now, they care not
for the laws of God, nor those of man, in the intercourse
of the sexes. And crime is becoming, every year, more
prevalent. Murder, which was fonnerly of rare occur- **^
rence, is now committed fi^equently, and, in nine cases
out often, in consequence of quarrels concerning women."
" A very shocking one happened lately, when a "wife con-
spired A^^tll two gallants to destroy her husband; still,
that is a crime by no means uncommon in England."
"Nevertheless, what I said is incontrovertible. Until
witliin a recent period, there was not a trial for mm'der
in our pro\dnce above once, perhaps, in ten years; now,
I am sure, we have one every year, and other atrocious
offences against the law^s, especially outrages on defence-
less females, and female children, are alamiingly frequent.
It is no palliation to say there are persons as bad in Great
Britain, when the question is, whether the people we speak
of have not been brought to their present condition by
the amehoratmg measui'es of the imperial government,
whose intention certainly it w^as not to reduce them to
the state of the vilest in the mother comitry?" "They
are no worse than when they came here, they, or their
parents." "Worse! my friend! that is not the question;
we condemned the clergy, twenty years ago, for joming
men and women together in matrimony, who understood
nothing regarding it, except that it was the buckra fashion
according to which a man took a wife, with a Httle more cere-
mony than themselves, but nothing else, for they could not
be made to understand the solemn and indissoluble nature
of the tie. There were some with intelhgence sufficient to
comprehend the natm'e of its obligations, but a small min-
ority. The representations of the planters were exclaimed
against as intolerable tyi'anny, and the good people at home,

z

178

judging, as tliey always do, by what they see around them-
selves, decided that marriage would improve the Negroes,
as it did the young men of their acquaintance, and the
clergymen were stimulated to marry them all as fast as
they possibly could. Well might they ask, at sight of
the candidates for admission into the holy state, with the
melancholy Jacques, 'is there another flood toward that
so many strange couples move hither !' Few of them
were bound long ere the cord was dreadfiilly stretched, if
not virtually broken ; but, after all, they had got over the
Avorst stage in their transition to good behaviour, and the
marriages solemnized during the apprenticesliip were much
more generally productive of union and concord between
the parties than those Avhich were entered into ten or
twelve years previously; in fact, until they had money
for all purposes, without reason to manage it properly,
and time enough besides for any amusement, this improve-
ment continued ; now^, as you say, they are fast approach-
ing to the pristine custom of their African -srilds."

"I beheve," rephed Mr. Ridley, "that their propen-
sities are yet those of a semi-ciAahzed people; it is an
old saying that we should not expect to find an old head
on young shoulders." "True! but that is exactly what
has been assumed in legislating for our population; laws
and institutions adapted to an advanced stage of civiliza-
tion, are those which have been prematurely imposed on
it. In point of fact, the children of England are just as
able to understand and keep our laws." "I must say
the clerg}^ of all sorts are zealous and active; no blame
can be attached to them." "Certainly not; but when they
sec 'the silken path of dalliance' open to them on one
hand, and the rough and thorny one of uprightness on
the other, is it to be wondered at if such people prefer the
former, there being no compelling power strong enough
to keep them on the latter, and the selection being with
them." "It is of a piece with the rest. Everything con-

179

nected with us seems now to suffer under the extraordi-
nary pohcy the government have adopted towards the
colonies, wliich is to raise up one class at the expense of
another." "And without being sufficiently acquainted
with that which they want to favom'. Now, Ridley, you
have lived from boyhood here, and no man laiows the
people better, — tell me fi'ankly — we are alone — have you
any hopes of the futm'e?" He stared for a moment, like
one who had suddenly presented to him a frightful figure,
which he feared to look on, yet was obhged to contem-
plate. "My dear fi-iend," said he at last, with a sigh, "I
am afr'aid to answer yom' question, it is one that I tremble
to answer, even to myself, yet it will force itself on us all,
and I doubt if nine-tenths of the planters are not precisely
thinking with us at this moment, though not aloud, as we
are. I have no hope for the ftitm^e, Mr. Premium!" said
he, with a solemnity which was striking m one of his
generally cheei'fal luunoiu'; "have you any hopes of re-
turning prosperity?" "Scarcely now," was my reply;
"I beheve it is still within the power of legislation to save
us, but it must be by almost colonising the province. The
present body of labourers have been allowed their own
way too long to constitute hereafter a regularly industrious
people. But wdll any attempt be made? it is therein lurks
the e^'il. I despair of the disposition to legislate eifectually,
fully as much as in the effect of any measm^e likely to be
brought forward, judging fi-om what we have experienced."
"It is a sad world," said Ridley, with a manner entirely
changed, and in a sunk voice. "I may bless God now
that I have no children, how often have I regretted it
before! but, at my age, to begui the world anew, is in-
deed a hardship which, until within the last twelve
months, I did not believe should ever fall to my lot. There
are only too many of us, however, and when a misfortune
is general, individuals, they say, feel it less. I never lost
heart till a few months ago, and really thought that your

180

forebodings were constitutional, and there are still many
sanguine persons who talk of former bad times being fol-
lowed by good ones, and such common-place methods of
consolation as are peculiar to those who cannot think."
"Not that alone, my friend, but, beHeve me, many a clever
man among us practises a sort of self-deception, being
afraid to look steadily at the prospect his o%vn imminations
would present to him. And when such a man meets with
another of similar opinions, they talk each other into bet-
ter spirits, and their wishes are fathers to many a strange
thought." "It is too true; my o\^^l circle of acquaintances
can furnish examples of such character. Even the majority
of planters are still eagerly grasping at each new inven-
tion, although experience might have lessened their faith
in all such; the rooms of the Agiicultural Society are
filled vnth plans and models." "Yes, many greedy pro-
jectors have preyed on us in our distress; the most absurd
schemes have been grasped at, as ch'owning people catch
at straws; yet our enemies coolly assert that we are averse
to improvement!" "Let them inquu'e mto the number
tried within the last ten years; it has been the custom to
calumniate the planter in every way, and, among other
assertions advanced, to insist that the mode of culture and
manufactm'e were so rude as to disgi'ace civihzed people.
Kthey saw our cane-fields, they might be satisfied; with
regard to the manufactui'e of sugar, it is very singular
that, although scores of new methods have been tried, at
enormous expense, there is yet little comparative improve-
ment. I beheve the soil has more to do with the quahty
of sugar than is generally admitted, and that a process
Hke refining is required to do away with the peculiarity.
But there cannot be a more beautiful specunen of skilful
cultivation than a cane-field here, when the work has been
properly performed, at the right time — as they were seen,
in fact, in former times. I cannot perceive how they are
to alter the mode without the plough, and, I fear, it will

181

never do here." "I cannot see how it would work where
so many open drams are indispensable." "And, under
draining being out of the question every way."

"I have not inquired for some time whether your gang
has improved in any measure; in fact, the question is
idle." "It is indeed. I have been constantly A^th them,
as you know; but what is to be expected from the most
attentive and dihgent manager, with all the overseers he
can aiford to keep, w^hen every two labom-ers require a
superintendent to themselves; they are altogether incor-^
rigible, and I find that standing over them, except while
it lasts (and, as I said, we can't have a man for each),
does no good whatever, for the moment after you have
left one to go to another, the former resumes his old com'se
vdth increased zest; it is an evil that nothmg but compe-
tition can remove." "I hear exactly the same account
fi'om all quarters. Wliat a blessing now is a soil of the
first quality! On the Courabana coast the large estates
are stiU making a tolerable return, though not much more
than a tithe of their former incomes; land that will give
two hhds. per acre, under the present tillage, must be the
richest, almost, in the world, yet, it is said, there is such."
"I met the proprietor of one of those estates when I was
last in town, and he assured me that he had his rum clear,
the crop of sugar, nearly 700 hds., payuig the whole ex-
penditure— a veiy handsome revenue ! " " Assm'edly it is,
and I suppose there may be nearly a score of such plan-
tations in our province out of the 200 that we possess."
" About that number. I do not beheve there is a small
estate now with a net revenue; I mean by 'small,' under
200 hhds." "It is barely possible."

From that day, my friend Ridley had to me an altered
appearance, but he did not shun confidential conversation
as before, excepting, nevertheless, concerning liis own af-
fairs. It is whispered in Georgetown that he has already
been forced to apply to the banks. He was always a

182

man high in character, both as a planter and an indivi-
dual, but it was understood that his estate constituted his
sole fortune, excepting, perhaps, a small sum deposited
somewhere, which, it is evident, is now exhausted. George
tells me that the Negroes observed for some time that he
was altered, — not so brisk in the field, and quieter every
way; but, added George, "they will say the same of every
proprietor now, for they are all under the same baneful
influence, \vith few exceptions." It is quite clear that,
however well every man wishes to keep up appearances,
the state of affairs produces its never-faihng effect of de-
preciating property — estates which have been sold during
the current year having fetched prices fully 50 per cent,
below those of 1840. One estate which was sold in 1839
(the Thomas) for £20,000, has been again sold this year
for £8000. All the sales, in fact, and there are several,
manifest nearly the same falling off in value, thus silently
declaring the operation of our new system to be surely
and progressively destructive of property. Individual
planters, to preserve their credit, the only means left to
them of maintaining estates, are obhged to be silent and
reserved, but each man feels his position the more acutely;
and those who are creditors, not ha\dng the same reason
to be extremely discreet, let hints drop occasionally which
give our small community to understand how quietly and
insensibly the wealth of the Colony is dwindling away.
I speak here, of course, of those who constitute the com-
munity of Georgetown, for, in the rural district, among
the sufferers themselves, every man has his "silent sor-
row," and, by means of it, he guesses at the condition of
his neighbours.

There can be no sign more unequivocal than the result
of pubhc sales as to the opinion prevaihng among the
monied men, who arc cliiefly merchants; nevertheless, the
strange ignorance, which I have ah'eady mentioned as
existing among certain descrij)tions of people, does some-

183

times, though rarely, manifest itself in the pm*chase of a
plantation, wliich is thought a vast acquisition, for the
first month or so, until the luckless purchaser discovers
that it would be dear as a present, supposing he was bound
to keep it up. Some rash speculators of this sort have
suffered rapidly and severely, even to ruin, already,
tempted by the apparently low prices of plantations.
They cannot understand, it would seem, that an estate
now requires a considerable floating capital to work it,
by paying wages, and other current expenses.

The merchants, whose accounts were formerly settled
once a year, have been compelled to shorten credits, and
present them every three months. Thus, unless a man
has the command of money, he cannot get on smoothly,
for on no estate are the canes ready for cutting in such
regular succession, as to keep the proprietor in cash, even
supposing the value of the crop to be equal in amount to
the expenses. A man may thus say now, with great
propriety, that he would not accept of many estates as
gifts, on condition that they should be cultivated under
any circumstances. Such a condition of plantations, each
worth, in former times, half a plumb, it is not easy to
comprehend, without a httle practical demonstration ; and
several have paid dearly for the experience. One man
bought an estate for £5000, formerly valued at £30,000
— thought he had a wonderful baigain — and in tAvo years
was brought to a suspension of payments.

1st Jajstcary, 1845.

There is so little of novelty, and so much of sameness
in the circumstances of the Colony and of myself, that the
task of recording them becomes necessarily irksome, espe-
cially when there is nothing in the prospect particidarly
inviting, save the probability of immigration from IncUa.
Doubtless, were we assured that this would take place,

184

our spirits would be raised; but while only reports are
circulated by newspapers, we have nothing to rely on but
the fact of our loan being allowed, which certainly imphes
an intention on the part of our colonial government to
grant a gracious permission for its expenditure. Mean-
time, the routine of plantation duty goes on in the same
hopeless, profitless manner. Tliis month, the year's loss
is ascertained to be nearly that of 1843. I do not learn
that there is any considerable difference in the crops of
my neighbours. Things move on in the same steady
dowaiward course. In order to avoid reiteration of par-
ticular losses, and cases of special distress, I shall set down
an incident, illustrating the habits of our Aborigines,
which occurred lately, but which we only heard of to-day.
I find that this discussive sort of writing, when I sit down
to my Journal oppressed with care, has the effect of re-
lieving me.

Some famihes of Indians, forming a small tribe, at no
great distance from us, have been in the practice of call-
ing here on their periodical visits to Georgetown, with
parrots, hammocks, and toys of various sorts which they
take to market, and which, as being of their manufacture,
meet with a ready sale. One of those famihes consisted
of a man, his wife, and two childi'en, and one of the latter
was a remarkably fine boy of seven or eight years old, with
more of fire and intelligence in his countenance than belongs
generally to the Lidians of this contment. He thus be-
came a favourite wdth us all, and the party never took
leave without some substantial gifts, in which WiUie, as
we had christened him, shared beyond his legitimate
claims. After a longer absence than usual, the tribe
called one day, and this interesting chUd was immediately
missed from the group. The father, on being questioned
regarding him, merely shook his head, wdiile the mother
tm-ned away, and also remained silent. We were stnick
with concern, for we nerceived that the bov had ched in

185

some sudden and unexpected manner. No inquiries,
however, could elicit further information; and it was only
this morning, after a lapse of some weeks, that we learned
the fate of the poor boy from the postholder whose resi-
dence is in their neighbom'hood. The story he told, and
which he said he had learned from other Indians of the
chstrict, was this. An uncle of the child had quan'elled
with a man belonging to a separate tribe of the same
great clan; and, in pursuance of the cowardly custom
prevalent among them, shot him from behind a tree, wdth
an arrow dij^ped in woorali poison. His death, of course,
was instantaneous; and the murderer fled. The eldest
son of the sufferer looked round for a victim, and in doing
so, had proper regard to his o^vn immediate safety, fight-
ing bemg their abhorrence in general; and his eye one
evening fell on this boy, the nephew of him who had
killed his father, standing with his httle sister on the
river bank. He struck him to the ground with a blow
of his club, and then threw him into the stream, from
whence he never came back. The other httle one would
have shared the same fate, had a noise behind not startled
the man, who fled from the spot forthwith. They must
have blood for blood — "death for a deadly deed." In
this respect, they are hke the nations of Europe in their
rader state, our Saxon ancestors among the rest; but the
feud is managed differently, for the latter went openly to
battle to vindicate then* injm'ies and avenge immolated
relatives; while the fonner, equally impressed with the
absolute necessity of having a victim sacrificed, never
think of another method than private assassination.

July, 1845.

LoOKESTG back mto this Journal, I find I have, unac-
countably, taken no notice of Peel's scheme of sugar duties,
and the admission of foreign free-labom' produce at re-

2 a

186

duced rates into Britain. The fact is, tliis measure pro-
duced no great impression on the planters; for if they
were to be benefited by a reduction of imports and
increased consumption, this was to be balanced by im-
portations from Java and other places to supply the
increased demand. No visible elFect has yet been per-
ceived from the operation of this act, and it has been
little regarded. Men gi'oaning beneath the weight of
many stones, do not feel the addition of a few pounds.
Evils, which would have been felt formerly as severe, are
now, under the predominance of a smgle crushing one,
passed by unheeded. The rmnours regarding unmigra-
tion from India, are now more and more feasible, so that
they are generally beheved, and men are speculating
variously, according to temperament, experience, and the
information they possess, on the fitness of the Coolies for
the operations of oiu' plantations. Tiu'u out as they may,
they afford a chance of increasing the supply of labom",
and therefore come within the range of those legitimate
expedients, few as they are, which the instinct of self-pre-
servation prompts us to try.

January, 1846.

George has presented his annual abstract of accounts,
and there are still the same fearful figures staring con-
spicuously agamst me. There is some singularity in the
httle variety that exists in the yearly drain on my capital,
as it varies only a few hmidi'ed poimds, never exceeding
£2000, or going beloAv £1500. It is evident that the
field operations, and the weather, as well as prices, con-
tinue without considerable alteration, I have not benefited
much by the village of small proprietors on my estate;
the very idea, probably, of its being expected that they
w^ould prefer this place, as nearest, causes them to go
farther. Still, there are some who woi'k regularly. It

187

is to be remai'ked that those who have bought land were
previously among the most industrious, but, it may be,
because they had that object in view. Some of them
continue to be so, others work by starts, like the bulk of
om' labourers.

Those who are to be depended on as tolerably steady
(but a small proportion, it must be allowed), have usually
something in \-iew, for which money is necessaiy, beyond
the mere demands caused by dissipated habits, and when
they have acquired this, the natural disposition too fi'e-
quently manifests itself. There are very few who work
industriously for several years — who have, in fact, been
continuously and regularly at work smce 1838. Any
addition my field Kst has received from the village, has
been balanced by those who have left the estate, many of
my cottages being empty. Da^^d says they have removed
to go nearer Georgetown.

Things move on in their downward progress. Nothing
thrives but the Negro population, and they will ultimately,
I think, be "lords of all." The landed property ah'eady
acquired by them is considerable, although they have not
got so far as to purchase entu'e plantations, except to be
divided into lots among themselves, yet they have begun
to rent estates or fields. They have not succeeded,
hitherto, in these undertakings, although they have met
with every encom'agement from the proprietors, who
would be rejoiced to discover that their energies could be
called forth in this manner. The same besetting evils
adhere to them — ^want of forethought and steadiness, and
the inclination to pro^dde only for the passing day. Thus,
they cannot look forward to the lapse of a whole year,
before they can reap the fi'uits of their labom* in the sugar
crop. They say they will die before the time arrives, and
so work for nothing. They have no consideration for
heirs and successors.

There is little doubt now that the imperial government

188

have become alarmed by our condition, and that extensive
operations, in immigration from India, will take place
next year, under their auspices. Opinions are still divided
regarding the Coolies, but, if they do not cost too much
in bringing, they must be an acquisition ; everything will
hinge on the expense of passage, in relation to their phy-
sical power. The immigration loan of £500,000, secured
on the colonial revenues, having been permitted by go-
vernment, the ordinance has been passed by our Court
of PoHcy. Shij)s have been taken up in England for
Calcutta, and in March we may expect the first batch of
these new people. Another method is to be adopted also
with the natives of Madeira, which has been suggested by
the urgent demand for labourers; with this, however, the
authorities have nothing to do. The planters, rendered
desperate, resolved to try them again, and have imported
them at their own expense, or are about to do so, on the
luiderstanding that they shall enter into contracts when
they reach the Colony. In this manner they hope to
evade the law of contract, though at considerable risk;
but those who have arrived (who are not many) have
readily entered into \\Titten agTeements, not only to re-
main for a certain fixed period, but until they have paid
the money advanced for their passage. A great many
are expected on those conditions during the current year,
and hopes are entertained that in tliis second trial they wtII
agree better with the climate. WelHngham is still going
on, his mortgagee keeping off", it is believed, like all the
rest, on account of the low price of landed property.

July, 1846.

The tide of immigration has now set in. God prosper
it! for it is our only remaining chance, of wliich eveiy
one is aware, and the Governor is harassed by importu-
nate demands for Coolies. Determined to leave no stone

189

unturned, I have embarked deeply in this species of spe-
culation. Besides one hundred Indians, who are now
located on the Fortune, I expect fifty Portuguese from
Madeira in a month. To accommodate these strangers,
I have been under the necessity of building a new range
of cottages, of suitable dimensions, and the cost has dipped
deep into my remaining funds. The law, very properly,
requires that those dwellings shall be inspected by the
stipendiary magistrate, before the people enter them, and
that a certificate of then' ample accommodation, and also
of the proper drainage, and other local cu'cumstances,
implying a salubrious locality, shall be granted by that
fmictionary before the Governor awards the immigrants
to the estate. And no planter can obtain them unless he
employs regularly a medical attendant, properly qualified,
by diploma, and there is an hospital, with the proper
nm'ses and attendants kept up for them. I was fortmiate
in getting mine, scarcely any of my neighbours having
yet been so lucky. Mr. Brown has been brisker since,
but he is sadly busied by the Coolies. They have
all sirdars, who are generally interpreters. One of oiir
sirdars seems to be a man of some education ; he waites
well, and speaks several Oriental languages, and also
English. He was (he says) a sort of teacher at Cal-
cutta. Brown suspects him to be a great rogue, why,
does not appear. It is evident that he has great influence
Avith them all. They have only been here a few weeks,
and have scarcely settled to their work. Indeed, they
seem too fond of parading about in their long, flowing,
white or party-coloured garments.

In their general appearance, they offer a contrast to
the Negroes, the latter being stoutly formed, while they
are rather slender, and evidently inferior in muscular
strength. They are very polite in their manners, the
salaam with the hand to the head, in oriental fashion.

190

being always ready. In a few months, we shall be able
to speak of their qualities as labourers.

The Colony is now on the qui vive. The planters
breathe more fi'eely; and hope, for years a stranger
among us, is again illuminating the bronzed faces of our
broken-hearted agriculturists. Truly, the effect is some-
what ludicrous, for eveiy one is anxious to beheve that
our prospects are improving, while, at the same time, ex-
perience tells all, that they are to have no faith in aught
which comes from the colonial office. " Timeo Danaos
et dona ferentes" quotes a tliinking and cautious man.
"Oh!" cries another, "this is what we have always wanted
— copious immigration." "Ay!" says a third, "but it
is rather too far to the east; comit the cost ere you begin
to 'fleer and rub the elbow.'" It ends generally, how-
ever, in the way that may be expected when self-mterest
is at stake, with an elevation of spirits, in consequence of
expressions arising out of the wish that it may be so. It
is wondei*ful how easily most men are gulled by them-
selves. The fact is notorious, that if a man tells a fabulous
tale, three or four times, he inclines to believe it, although
he was the fabricator, simply because he has been induc-
ed, in order to give it more interest, to represent it as
true. How much more easy is it, then, for those who are
hurrying on to ruin, to teach themselves that any new
measure is to save them, although their cahn judgment
repudiates the belief.

ISIr. Brown is one of those who have the most extraor-
dinary expectations from our fresh importations, and he
spares no labour or expense to make them comfortable in
their new country. In this he is cheei'ftilly backed by
me, and also in a fe^equent inspection of their houses and
in providing articles essential to their comfort, the cost of
which is great, and will never be repaid, except in the
general effect on the Colony. Brown had tried every
feasible improvement, both in culture and manufacture,

191

without effect, the quahty of the sugar being hke the
quantity, very httle improved by them. In the last ex-
periment of manuring, he had been so far fortunate as to
obtain an addition to the crop, which, after paying the
expense of carrying the article out, and scattering it on
the field, gave an increased return of about six dollars per
acre (25s.), which decided him on using all the dung and
ashes, together with rotten megass, which could be ob-
tained by simply lifting them from where they lay, and
depositing them on the cane roots. The small return
will show that the additional crop would not pay for
making composts, or buying manure.

INIr. Ridley has contrived to get credit for twenty or
tliu'ty Portuguese, who are to be brought to him by the
same ship that brings mine. It is, in fact, a mercantile
speculation. The merchant makes arrangements with
planters, before he despatches his vessel to Madeira, so
that when the latter arrives here, her passengers are
taken off immediately, and indentured to their respective
estates, the merchant being reimbursed the whole expenses
by the proprietor who gets the people.

Septembee, 1846.

We have now, indeed, received the coup de grace.
The sugar-duty bill of July last will remain on the pages
of British history as a blot indelibly stamped, which the
brightest deeds of former and of after times may gild, but
never efface. Posterity will read of the zeal with wliich
a whole nation, actuated by the noblest and most philan-
thropic motives, prosecuted the emancipation of our slaves,
even at the risk of injuring, to a ruinous extent, the un-
fortunate holders of such property, bought under the
national guarantee; eveiy consideration seeming to be
overlooked, in the two years preceding 1833, but the
attainment of that great object; clergymen preaching

192

from tJie pulpit with eyes swimming iii tears — field
preachers ranting in by-ways, until their excited imagin-
ations revelled in scenes of cruelty and bloodshed, the
description of which canied their audiences beyond the
bounds of reason ; in short, since the days of Peter the
Hermit, and the crusades against heathenism, never was
such enthusiasm displayed in any cause. Posterity,
perusing all this in the enduring volume of the historian,
will turn over a very few leaves, and while yet glowing
with the noble and patriotic ardour which a peinisal of
the glorious example set by our country to the w^orld has
excited, shall read, that Great Britain resolved to en-
courage slavery, and the Afi'ican slave-trade, because by
so doing she will get sugar cheaper by three-farthings
per pomid! for that is the amount, according to the most
accurate calculation, which will be saved by the consumer
after the article has passed through the hands of broker,
wholesale gi'ocer, and retail grocer, who must all have
their profits, and with whom the lion's share of the advan-
tage will remain — and so reading, a blush, the burning
blush of shame, shall supplant the glow of patriotism on the
cheeks of oiu' children's children. What is to be done now?
The fiightfiil anticipation is reahzed. Our enemies have
done their worst — why, what can we do? "They have
tied us to the stake;" and, "bear-like, Ave must fight it
out" or perish. The question is still the same — shall we
yet bear up against this mountainous burthen, so atro-
ciously heaped on to destroy us ? or shall we, indeed, end
our career of hopeless exertion, by withdrawing from the
wasted, destruction-doomed fields of om' inheritance?
Alas! the fact seems glaring — the tnith clear as the smi
at noon; but who, among our hundreds, can so wind up
resolution as to leave those possessions, in better times the
source of wealth and of happiness, while aught is left, and
fling, as it were, all that remains to him of worldly goods,
to the demons of our wilderness, the jaguar and the ser-

193

pent for a habitation? not one! The struggle Avill be
continued till, one by one, our destiny be accomplished,
and the creditor, himself perhaps to run the same com'se,
has seized on the last farthing.

It is said that the worm will turn when trodden on.
Let not nations wonder at rebellion, when the most
patient drudges of humanity, worn out by long suffering,
and goaded to madness by wanton cruelty, rush to arms.
I never felt before so moved by indignation — never be-
fore believed that a great empire, calling itself the cham-
pion and supporter of freedom and of the weak, coidd
thus trample mider foot the rights of both, adding, at the
same time, to those monstrous injmies, a scornftil disre-
gard of the feelings, as well as the almost suppliant-like
remonstrances of the colonists. I defy the most laborious
and indefatigable searcher for precedents, to find, in the
history of the world, a case of more cruel oppression, or
any rebellion which was based on better grounds. Wliat
was the taxation of America to this? the seizure of a
fraction of property, in comparison with the confiscation
of the whole! But I am not trying to stir any one to
mutiny. Our bitter and powei'fril enemies know as well
as we do, that such would indeed be absurd; and the
ministers who carry their tyi'annical and devastating
pohcy into effect, are also ftdly aware of oui' utter help-
lessness; were it otherwise, our treatment would be far
different. Men may learn from our fate, what the weak
have to expect under the prevalence of the democratic
principle, and the administration of a mob-ruled govern-
ment.

My feUow-sufferers are so elated by the prospect of
getting labour, that they seem to overlook this new cala-
mity. This is natural. For many years, the want of it
has been before their eyes as their greatest evil, and the
chance of its being removed, obscures or throws into the
shade a misfortune of equal magnitude.

2b

194

"My choler being overblown," like the good Duke
Humphrey's, by a "walk round the quadrangle," I am en-
abled to resume my pen for the purjiose of committing
to paper my opinions on the position in which the sugar
colonies are placed by this new act of aggression, I trust
dispassionately, but it is almost impossible to think deeply
under such cu'cumstances, ^vithout becoming much ex-
cited. To expect coolness from a planter in our sad
situation, is like looking for smiles and a cheerful aspect
in one at whose head the pistol of the robber is held,
while his pockets are imdergoing the process of evacua-
tion.

The first feehng by which we are actuated, after the
stunning eflPect of such intelhgence has subsided, is that
of surprise. We cannot imagine upon what grounds the
wisdom of parliament has dehberately adopted a course
which must destroy the colonies. We lose sight for the
moment, and in presence of the fearful reality, of those
apprehensions we entertained previously, and which arose
out of the dangerously increasing power of om* enemies.
We had contemplated the movements of the party with
dread, but it was a terror akin to that which men have
of death, and we flattered ourselves that the time was yet
distant when we should be forced to succumb to their
power.

I speak now of those who, like myself, see the measure
in its progressive consequences. There are many among
us so imthinking and so in'ational, as to believe, notwith-
standing all experience, that ^dth copious immigration,
such as we have, we may do anything. Thus forced to
ponder over the subject, we are led to inquire whether any-
tliing but the pressure from Avithout could exist to induce
ministers to propose, and parliament to enact a law,
wliich, in the present condition of settlements strugghng
with e\als originating in the recent maniunission of their
slaves, so great as to threaten utter annihilation, must

195

necessarily consummate what the great energy of the
colonists alone had hitherto prevented. One of two
positions must be assigned to the parliament and the
government: 1st, They are forced to it by the irresistible
influence of the Anti-colonial or Free-trade party, and
they beheve in the wisdom of indiscriminately applying
the doctrines of this faction to every part of the empire,
without regard to peculiar circumstances; or, 2nd, They
beheve the sugar settlements to be in a state of unprece-
dented prosperity, and able to do what they could not
when in possession of their slaves, from everything being
cheaper to the foreigner — compete with the latter in the
market of Britain.

Although the world w ill beheve that the power of our
opponents, irrespective of aught else, has been suffi-
cient to carry out their purposes, I am of opinion that
many in the legislature were predisposed to tliink our
situation improved by the Emancipation Act; and that,
m reahty, with fr*ee labourers, we are better able to cope
with the Cuba planter than we were before. Any man,
who like me heard Mr. Buxton, in 1833, reply to Mi*.
Godson, when the latter proposed to keep out slave pro-
duce from the British markets, must think in the same
way. Mr. Buxton said that he would oppose the motion
which was brought forward, on the ground (he supposed)
that the British grower of such produce (cotton, for in-
stance) as entered into competition with the foreign article
in England, would be placed in a disadvantageous posi-
tion. But he thought otherwise — he beheved that the
British planter was now, when his slaves were to be free,
much better able to compete with every rival in the
markets of the world. The cheers from all parts of the
house, as this declaration was made, sounded in the ears
of many thuiking West Indians as ominous; but in the
pressing existence of real evils, we lose sight sometimes
of those which are only in the distance, and merely appre-
hended.

196

It is true that thirteen years have passed over our heads
«ince that period, and that experience, in the meantime,
should liave opened the eyes of many, especially those
who were engaged in legislating for the colonies. The
facts disclosed by the evidence taken before the Distress
Committee of the House of Commons, and the despatches
of governors, if laid before them, fui'nished proofs as strong
as the most sceptical could require. But who, unless
compelled by some pow^erful motive, will study attentively
the dull and dry details of a blue book? and how are we
to know that those despatches which contam a true state-
ment of the internal afFau's of each Colony, are carefully
and faithfully laid before parliament? Since the era of
the Reform Bill, which virtually shut the House of Com-
mons against our colonial proprietors, we are almost totally
unrepresented in it. We have, indeed, a very few men
who exert themselves there, but several of them are, like
other West Indians in these times, hampered by the state
of their private affairs, and obliged to cast a sheep's eye
to the loaves and fishes which are at the disposal of go-
vernment.

Men so placed are not hkely to stand boldly up and
demand that certain documents shall be laid on the table
of the House. The Reform Bill, by throwing over our
boroughs to the popular party, has closed the only avenue
by which the voice of oui' colonies can reach the ears of
the people's representatives, and, as a natm'al consequence,
the feehng of indifference to colonial interests is becoming
more and more manifest every succeeding year among
Members of Parliament.

In the absence of all incHnation to sift the arguments
on both sides of the question, the abstract theoiy that a
slave cannot compete in any way with a free man, so capti-
vating in itself to the Englishman, remains uncontro verted.
The minds of oui' countrymen dwell with exulting com-
placency on the elevating power of that condition which

197

it is their glory to believe they enjoy beyond all other
nations, and they point to it as the means of raising their
country to its high pitch of renown. Slavery being the"
opposite state of society, they regard as invariably pro-
ducing a corresponding effect in lowering the energy,
both moral and physical, and in destroying the capabili-
ties, generally, of our race, in-espective of every contin-
gent circumstance. The ennobHng quaUty of the one is
represented by Nelson sweeping the seas of our enemies;
the debasing natm-e of the other, by men in chains, tor-
tured and bleeding, to glut the avarice of their cruel
masters.

That this disposition, so to view the question, has been
artfully taken advantage of by our pohtical antagonists,
cannot be denied. Hence the miserable objects exhibited
on pictm-es on the streets, imploring the pity of their fel-
low-men, and exclaiming, "Am I not a man and a
brother!" with hundreds of others, all directed towards
the attainment of the same object. Our countrymen
believe that slaves become virtually and bona fide the
property of their pm'chasers, and that they may be dis-
posed of in any manner, which does not destroy life, to
the advantage of then* masters.

Thus, oiu: opponents brought prominently forward the
vested right of the owTier in the blood, bones, and sinews
of their unhappy slaves, leading the more ignorant to be-
lieve that the planters could cut and carve on them as
they pleased, so that they stopped short of murder. The
fact was carefully concealed that for many years previous
to the Act of Emancipation, the extent of punishment to
which the master could go was limited to that which is
permitted by the Levitical law — ^forty stripes, lacking one.
Beyond that they could not go, mtliout incmTing a veiy
heavy penalty. Criminals, by sentence of comi;s of law,
and magistrates, were, of com*se, often much more severely
scourged. It has also been the practice to confound the

198

condition of slavery in the abstract with that of those
people who, in the present day, are slaves, and to ascribe
to their position those moral evils which belong to the
countries from whence they w^ere drawn, and where they
prevail ahke among bond and free. They are the evils,
in fact, of savage life, and are weeds which nothing but
the hand of civilization can eradicate. Man, in the wilds
of Africa, is found in a condition resembhng that of the
inferior animals, which intercourse with Europeans, in-
stead of aggravating, improves. The same may be said
of his physical wants and requirements, w^hich any reflect-
ing person will observe must be better attended to by a
thinking taskmaster, for his own sake, than by a mindless
barbarian who acts only on the impulse of the moment.

I should have prefaced the last remark by observing
that the fact is careftilly kept back from om* comitrymen
that the bulk of the Airican population is in a state of
slavery, and that those who are brought to the West
Indies, are not stolen, but bought. In some cases they
are prisoners taken in war, and of those, perhaps one in
twenty may be free men, if any but the chiefs can really
be styled so, in that benighted land. It is certain that
our agents on that coast cannot obtain labourers from
even the Kroemen, who are supposed to be among the
few free people to be fomid there, without a dash, or pre-
sent, to the head man, w^hich can be regarded as nothuig
else than compensation for loss.

Thus, ignorant of the real condition of the Negroes m
their own country, and skilfully managed by our enemies,
the ideas of our comitrymen regarding slaveiy, as it ex-
isted in the British West Indies, became abstract notions
of a social state which never had existence there. Chival-
rous and sentimental "Oroonokos," heroic and "quivered
chiefs of Congo!" dragged from their peaceful and simply
beautiful and elegant homes, by some brutal dealer, and
kept to hai'd labour by the lash of remorseless tyrants,

199

were the subjects on which their imagination clweh, and
the real nature of the change undergone by the objects
of their anxious consideration was never truly presented
to them in its proper colours, until their ideas had been
so deeply rooted, that matter of fact statements made to
undeceive them were looked upon as mere ex parte de-
clarations of the interested planters. Indeed, it became
much easier for the anti-slavery party to keep up the de-
lusion, than for the wretched colonists to impress on the
public mind a correct representation of the Negro's real
condition, from the time he left his own savage land, until
that when the question of his emancipation came to be so
earnestly agitated.

The anti-slavery agitators rung the changes with great
success, on innocent and helpless creatm'es, li\'ing in af-
fluence, or even in princely splendom*, seized by slave-
hunters, and carried off to the West Indies. The general
opinion became firmly estabhshed that the labouring po-
pulation of our sugar colonies were all peoj^le who had
been reduced to slavery by the planters and their acces-
sories— the slave-dealers. Our countrymen, still referring
to and relying on, the statements of our opponents, were
convinced that the ch'cmnstancesmider which the Negroes
were obtained being such as to crush them altogether,
physically and morally, their spirit was broken, and their
bodily strength impau'ed in a corresponduig degree.
From tliis to the next stage in this train of reasonmg,
was but a step. It was soon believed, that by setting the
slaves free, there would be a sudden reaction, like that
which takes place when a dog is roused from his kennel,
unchained, and led foiiih to enjoy the freedom of his hmbs
— the Negroes would be restored to their pristine strength
and spirits, and the labour they would then perform would
at least double that wliich they were fit for, as miserable,
broken-hearted slaves. That this opinion did, and does
prevail in the mother country, is proved by the debate in

200

parliament to wliich I have just alluded — by the deri-
sion with which the representatives of West Indians were
met in 1833, when they m^ged then* claims to compensa-
tion for landed property, which the emancipation of the
slaves would depreciate fearfidly, or render altogether use-
less. And I think the readiness mth which the dogmata
of free-trade, notwithstanding the opinion of its own
apostle, ]\ir. Deacon Hume, have been apphed to the
planters, must be ascribed partly to the prevalence of this
belief, though mainly to the indomitable power, now be-
come paramount, of the anti-colonial faction.

But if the coimtry, and its representatives in parhament
who were not connected vnih the ministry, remained in
this state of ignorance and apathy while the destructive
operation of the Emancipation Act was going on before
their eyes, it is not possible that ministers themselves
could be afflicted with the same mental darkness ; if they
even disregarded the report of the Distress Committee,
and if the governors failed to impress on their mmds the
real condition of the colonies, there were documents con-
taming statistics which could not fail to reveal the true
state of affairs. Such are the reports which those officers
are obhged to give in annually, and in "s^diich the affairs
of each Colony must necessarily be detailed. There are
besides, the ordinances or enactments of om' local legisla-
tures, which must all be laid before the Queen in Council
for approval, and in those relating to taxation, the expen-
diture of each Colony, and the crops, together with other
items on which taxes are imposed, must of necessity ])e
brought under obsen-ation.

One home's perusal of such papers would give an insight
into the condition of tliis settlement which would deter
men who were not acting on a foregone conclusion, or
di'iven to a certain Hne of policy by the madness of party,
from prosecutmg theh* desolating career. A veiy few
words are necessary to explain what I mean by this broad
assertion.

201

While the crops have diminished to one-half of their
former annual amount, since the era of freedom (1838,)
the expenses of the Colony, since the passing of the Act,
have been increased five-fold. The means of supporting
expenditure having been removed to the extent of 50 per
cent., this expenditm*e has, nevertheless, continued to in-
crease gradually on the unhappy colonists, and altogether
from the operation of the Emancipation Act.

The Custom-house returns will show that I am cor-
rect in regard to the quantities of produce made since
1838, and before that period. The Tax Ordinances of
the Combined Assembly, and the blue books containing
the Governors' reports mil testify to my correctness, when
I say that the cm-rent expenses of this province have risen,
since 1831, from £40,000, to fully £200,000, per annum.
In looking over those documents, the reader -will find
ample proof that the increase has arisen out of the Act of
Emancipation.

The principal heads under wliich it occm*s are — immi-
gration, ■v^'ith its concomitants of extensive hospitals for
the reception of those strangers, which are kept up at an
enormous annual cost — teachers and catechists for their
benefit, and that of the emancipated classes, there bemg
more than sixty clergjanen, and a host of schoolmasters,
for a population of 120,000 — a civil list, amountmg to
a great deal more than that of former years — last of all,
a numerous, well-disciplined, and highly paid police force,
together with new jails and penal settlements, rendered
indispensable by the disorganized state of society, and the
rapid mcrease of crime. Lord Stanley, when Colonial
J^Iinister, with that candom- which belongs to his charac-
ter, administered a salutar}' rebuke to our local ruler,
when he ventured to speak of the prosperity of the Colony.
"It may be true," said his Lordship, "that the labouring
classes are in a prosperous state, but it is e\'ident from the
great reduction in the quantity of produce exported, that

2 c

202

the Colony generally is not enjoying prosperity." I do
not pretend to recollect tlie exact words, but tliat is tlie
substance of Lord Stanley's remark on the subject.

It had been then, and is still, the practice of official
men, whether principals in Downing Street, or underlings
in the colonies, to represent the success of the Emancipa-
tion Act as complete, and, doubtless, the Governor of
Demerara was sui^prised to find that his Chief was dis-
gusted with, and repudiated the meanness and chicanery
of the rule which he found estabhshed on takmg charge
of the colonies.

Since Lord Stanley's time, up to the latest period, it
wUl be found that misrepresentation of our condition, to
the parhament and the country, has been systematically
observed. This implies either total ignorance of facts, or
a desire to conceal them. We have shown it to be almost
impossible that the former could exist. But mystification
is doubtless necessary when men are determined to cany
through ruinous measures, and to make blind the world
as to their effect. The anti-colonial and free-trade parties
are now identical, and to the great power of the two con-
joined may be ascribed the rapid progress of these doc-
trines; but when Sir Robert Peel became a convert to
them, thoughtftd people saw at once that they had ob-
tained mastery over the pubhc mind. The straw does
not more sui'ely indicate the wind's com'se than the con-
duct of that sagacious statesman the strength of popular
opinion on any gi'eat question. Resolved to be earned
along with it, he has, on all occasions, trimmed his sail to
the breeze of popularity, and either wavered, as it was
undecided, or wheeled fairly round, when it was unequi-
vocally against him. The Roman thumb turned down
did not more surely proclaim to the prostrate combatants
of the arena the death that was decreed them, than did
Peel's averted face, in July last, annoimce their certain
downfal to the hapless colonists; and not so much from

203

the influence of the man, great though it be, as the proof
it furnished of the extent to which the minds of our coun-
trymen were tainted by free-trade notions, and their ac-
companiments, the doctrines of the anti-colonists, which
were prevalent before the economists became so success-
fill in disseminating their poison.

In 1844, when he brought forward his free sugar
scheme, he declared that the British planter "coidd bear
a little more competition;" these are his own words, with
the evidence of the Distress Committee before him, and
a knowledge of our case, generally allowed to be greater
than that possessed by other statesmen of the day. They
should have been as the writing on the wall to us; but, in
the simpHcity of our hearts, we could not imagine such
base and heartless tergiversation to be possible, for he had
only a short time before turned out the Wliigs on the
very question which he now warmly compliments the
same party on bringing forward, and which he supports
with all his weight, and all his eloquence.

How is it possible that the colonies, too feeble before
to contend with the faction of their enemies, can now
make head against them, thus "forced by those who
should be om's," and the leader of the band of apostates
among the most talented men of his time! It has been
a task like the punishment of Sisyphus to carry on the
cultivation of oui* colonies for the last eight years. It has
not only been labour in vain, because of measures finally
accomplished and carried into effect, but because of the de-
termination to lend us no assistance in any way, either
in labour fr'om proper quarters, or by other means. We
have been lilvc men bomid hand and foot and thrown into
a stream, while ovu' comitrymen stand quietly on the l^ank
and allow us to sink. But now, not contented with setting
us adrift in that helpless condition, they come to the re-
solution of throwing a weight on us, to ensm*e our going
to the bottom — the very men to whom we turned our

204

imploring and confiding eyes assisting to impose the load
that is to destroy us.

I commenced "vvith the intention of trying to discover
the motives by which the nation and the government
were actuated in bringing forward tliis measure, which
fills om^ cup of bitterness to the brim, and I have no
doubt that the two to which I have aUuded, are jointly
those that have produced the calamitous result. The
power of that faction wliich has persecuted us through a
series of years, and which has so wrought upon the sensi-
bihties of om' countrymen as to induce a behef that we
are entitled to no commiseration, even if we were m a
state of distress; but as it is, with wretched bemgs
enfeebled by slavery converted into fi'ee men, and full of
that energy which fireedom bestows, we are fit to meet
the world in competition, although, as heretofore, we are
so bluid to our o^\ti interest as not to perceive it. And
ministers having, like most of their party, adopted the
firee-trade policy, take advantage of those feehngs and
opinions to cany into practice then- new and destructive
doctrmes, without regard to consequences, deliberately
sacrificing the former slave colonies on the altar of this
idol for the sake of consistency, and of showing that no-
thing shall be an obstacle or obstruction to the general
application of their system to every interest throughout
the empke.

The country being thus impressed with false ideas re-
garding us, and the party in power adopting the doctrines
of free-trade, the leaders of that party (the ministry, to
wit) were forced also either to administer the government
in consonance with them, or to resign then' places. They
would not permit the interests of the colonists to stand
between them and power; and, whatever their sentiments
might be in private, they resolved to take advantage of
the national ignorance and apathy, and sweep from then'
path at once, this, the only stmnblingblock in the way of

205

their new political creed. K ministers are cruel in
adopting this policy, the empire at large is not less so
in permittmg it. In fact, the latter is almost exclu-
sively culpable; for if the people had only shown that
they desired the colonies to have justice, neither Whigs
nor Peehtes would have ventured to abandon them.

There needs no inqmry into the probable consequence
of this final measure. The "delendaest Carthago^^ of the
stern old stoic, spoke not more forcibly the opinions of the
man, than does the very natm'e of tliis act point out the
sm'e and miavoidable effect of it. Men strugghng to
keep their places on the edge of a precipice, require but
a shght push to throw them over. They have here one
sufficient to precipitate them into the gulf of rum, were
they safely removed, and far apart from it. Had they
even their fiill supply of labom*, as in former times of
slavery, they could scarcely compete with men who buy
then' labourers fresh fi'om the coast of Africa, and at a
price which hardly amounts to one year's hire of a man
in this province.

Those slaves are treated in Cuba, in some respects,
rather in accordance -sdth the treatment they have been
accustomed to, than the practice of Europeans generally
towards their bondsmen, but there is more of systematic
an'angement in order to procm'e fr'om them the utmost
amount of work which their physical powers ai'e capable
of rendering. There is no regard to comfort, for they
have no houses they can call then' own, the whole popula-
tion being driven into a baracoon at night, like cattle
into their pen, and taken out again in the mornmg to
work. But in one important item, they find it their in-
terest to be la\ish; that is, in the supply of food, which,
bemg equal to the appetite of the slaves, enables the latter
to perform a task lengthened out considerably beyond
what their strength would othenvise be equal to. They
ai'e usually from sixteen to eighteen hours at work in re-

206

tui'ii for this ample nourishment, while ours are only four
hours engaged for a hire, two months of which are equal to
the whole annual cost of a Cuban slave. The planters
of that island have thus four times the work for a sixth
of the cost. Tliis is the advantage possessed by them
over us, excluding the interest on the slave's jjrice, which,
the latter being so low, does not amount to much, and is
far more than balanced by the power which the Cuban
possesses over his laboiu'er, which enables him to apply
his labour when and where it is most required; whereas,
we are glad to get it at all, and in any way, even so as to
please the labourer himself.

The planter of Cuba, and (more especially) of Brazil,
can rely also on having as many slaves as he may require.
Much has been said about the manner in which they are
obtained on the Afiican coast; but the fact seems to be
simply, that the bulk of the population there being slaves,
the native dealer, very frequently a chief or ruler, buys
them from all quarters to supply the European trader;
and certain it is, that when he has a number collected, if he
is disappointed in finding a vessel when he takes them to
the coast, he kills them to save the expense of their main-
tenance until the arrival, w^hich may be precarious, of a
ship. We may understand from this fact, of how little
value human life and slave property are in those barba-
rous regions. Some assert that parents who are fi*ee, sell
their children into slavery when in want of money.

It has been broadly declared by the Anti-slavery
Society, that barbarian immigrants are fit for nothing but
to corrupt the present virtuous population. I imagine
this will be a difficult task. And as to the capabihties of
those rude people, we have learned fi'om the best of all
teachers, experience, that they are infinitely more steady
and regular in their habits than their more enlightened
kindred. The sums amassed by those who have already
returned to their own country, after being only a very

207

short space here, attest the truth of what I \\a\e said. It
may be, that the high rate of wages induces them to
labour so assiduously. Our rivals in Cuba and Brazil
will bring it out, knowing that it is in them, at little cost
and to our confusion. However that may be, I fear it
will be fomid that our only chance of preservation rests
on them. The expense of bringing people from India, and
returning them, will amount to the price of a second-rate
slave in Cuba or Brazil, and be in itself a sufficient bar to suc-
cessful competition, by their means, with the slave-owner,
even if they should prove equally effective as labourers;
a question which is, to say the least, doubtful, but, in the
opinion of our planters generally, the powers of the Bozal
Negro are far superior to those of the Hindu. Indeed,
a glance at their physical conformation when in juxtaposi-
tion, shows how strildngly nature has made the one
superior to the other in animal power. The difference in
the development of their intellectual faculties may be in
favour of the Indian, in so far as mere quickness of appre-
hension and general intelligence go, but in their reason-
ing faculties and habits of thinking, they are nearly on a
par.

Competition is out of the question between British
planters with Hindus at the present cost of importation
and deportation, and current rate of wages, and the Cuban
or Brazilian with Afiican slaves, bought at four hundred
dollars each for jBrst-rate ones, and maintained at twenty-
five dollars a year. The very idea is absurd; and it be-
comes more so when we set seriously about refuting the
Exeter HaU arguments based on the debihtating mfluence
of slavery.

In doing this, it is only necessary to state that the
Negroes, instead of being fi-ee people, in the full enjoy-
ment of all those blessings which civilization bestows, are
not only slaves in then* own coimtry, but slaves to savages
not a whit superior to themselves in their moral natm'e,

208

who have absolute power over them in Hfe and limb —
bones and sinews — (in the language of the anti-slavery
party) to use them up in the way most suitable to their
brutal tastes, and their ferocious passions. Those slaves
have at least a better chance of being regarded as hmnan
beings after being transferred to Europeans, although they
be Brazilian or Cuban planters, and who know tliat in-
jury to them, in their physical parts, is a corresponding
loss to themselves. But the slaves thus brought to Cuba,
instead of being those thinking, sensitive persons the
people of England believe them to be, are, in reality, not
far removed fi"om the brute creation, and so far from be-
ing crushed and prostrated by the change in their posi-
tion, are truly improved in everytliing which their exclu-
sively animal natm'e holds essential to the enjoyment of
hfe. They have more food, some attention paid to then*
health, and the assurance that their lives will rmi their
natm'al com'se.

With the most complete control over the actions of
men in this condition, secui'ed to them by law, the Brazi-
lian and Cuban sugar-growers can laugh at the feeble
and desj)airing attempts of the Biitish planter to compete
with him in the market of the world, by the help of people
from India, who are at liberty to work as they choose,
and for whose services, during five years, a bonus, in the
shajDe of free passage-money, is paid, equal in amount to
the price of a slave, and who are to have, besides, wages
at an exorbitant rate, and all those expensive com-
forts, in houses and land, enjoyed by the present popu-
lation of this province. It is on this that the question
of competition, between Brazil and Cuba, and the British
West Indies, rests, and until it can be proved that the
latter enjoys advantages of another sort than labour, of
which the others are not possessed, it must appear to the
unprejudiced observer a case of competition between men
who do their work by means of unpaid labourers, and

209

men who do theirs by means of people who are paid far
more than the value of their work.

Much has been said of oiu^ fertile soil, as giving us an
advantao-e over om* rivals; but this is altogether founded
in error; the soil of Cuba is equal to that of Guiana.
The principal means, it would appear, however, on wliich
the ministiy rely to balance the advantages possessed by
the slave-holder, are improvement in cultivation and
manufacture. Neither Sir Robert Peel nor Lord Grey can
perceive or admit that the utmost exertions have been made,
since the year 1833, in all the colonies, to improve every de-
partment of plantership, vrith success occasionally, but gene-
rally with disappointment, arising out of the extraordinaiy
effort necessaiy to a beneficial result. The most signally
successfal schemes only can avail them in their distressed
condition, wherem they have to contend with such formi-
dable difficulties; and the expense of conducting experi-
ments has been latterly too much for men who require
all their funds to keep their plantations in cultivation.
Indeed, om' colonists have only been too easily induced to
try improvements before they were properly tested, in
their anxiety, like drowning men, to grasp at straws.

But what an idle and silly thing it is to offer improve-
ments to one competitor, as so many advantages over
another! Surely the members of our cabinet cannot be
ignorant that any improvement introduced into a British
settlement would find its way in a couple of months to
Cuba and Brazil; and that the former, under the stimulus
of American capital and American entei-prise, is more
eager in the search after, and more able to adopt any
new plan that has a likelihood of proving beneficial, than
almost any country in the tropics. Li this very particu-
lai', recommended so forcibly by Peel, our rivals have a
decided advantage over us. It would be better for us,
if, henceforth, no improvements could be made, because
we have neither funds nor credit to undertake them, while

2d

210

the planters of Cuba and Brazil, in the height of their
good fortune, and possessing the confidence of the nionied
interest, can not only carry them into effect, but push
them to any length which affords the slightest chance of
increasing their crops or improving their produce.

The only hope that remains to the British colonists
seems to rest on an importation of suitable labourers to
such an extent as will create healthy competition among
themselves, and reduce wages to that daily allowance
which is sufficient for a comfortable subsistence, but in-
/ adequate to the present inordinate demand for the means
/ of supporting a vicious and licentious career. The mora-
I list may say that it is wicked to bnng a rude and ignorant
people among such a demorahzed population as I have
represented ours to be. But they would prove of mutual
benefit to each other. The new labourers, by their com-
petition, would cut off from the present race that super-
fluous supply of cash which is now their bane. And the
I latter, with their habits of scmi-cirilization, would operate
I beneficially in humanizing the wilder Africans (supposing
they are to come here).

For it would be idle to build a hj-pothesis on our pre-
sent position supported by CooHes alone. The Hindus
would requu'e to surpass, as much as they are suspected
to fall short of the Negro, ere we could compete with the
slave-holder under the vast exjienditm-e requisite to obtain
them. The plan of keeping up ovu' estates by their
means, with pnces guaranteed above a certain rate by the
monopoly of the British market, becomes quite a different
affair when we are exposed to competition under such
ovei'whelming cu'cumstances as I have detailed.

Coohes might have enabled us to supply the home con-
simiption, and with advantage to om'selves; but it is
impossible that with them we can make sugar and sell it
at as low a rate as the produce of Cuba will be made and
sold in England. It is doubtful if the Indian maker of

211

sugar 0)1 the European system, will be able to keep his
ground against the slave cultivator. In fact, we may say
experience is against the probability, for if he could, the
sugar of India would long ago have been more abundant
in the markets of the continent, which were open to it as
well as that of any other comitry; and if that be the case, if
it turns out that the East India planter, with labourers at
twopence per day, cannot support the competition, how
are we to keep it up at twenty-pence to the same people,
and thirty guineas of passage-money for five years' ser-
vice, or six pounds a year in addition to the wages?

We are thus diiven to the conclusion that the importa-
tion we were so anxious to establish, which government
granted apparently with reluctance, and for which a loan
was raised on the guarantee of the colonial revenue, vnll
be rendered utterly abortive, and the £500,000, if so ex-
pended, just so much money tlu'own away, by the Sugar
Duty Act of July last. By it we are thrown back to the
position we have occupied since 1838, in regard to labour,
while we are plunged into despair by being deprived of
our market; and it must be apparent to every one, that
Africa is the only part of the world wliicli by its position
— so near to the West Indies, and its people so well adapted
to our w^ants — affords a reasonable chance of carr^dng us
through in this arduous struggle.

How the many thousands which are required can be
obtained there, is a question wliich it is difficult to answer;
for, according to the best information, we must rely on the
efforts of om' cruisers as heretofore to supply us, the
number of those who have the power of removing being
comparatively small. It is true that the increase of the
illicit slave-trade will in itself multiply in its own ratio
the number of captured slaves. And to what a humiliat-
ing condition are our gi'eat nation and its colonies reduced,
when they are brought to the necessity of trusting to this
detestable traffic, to suppress wliich the national honom'

212

is pledged, for the means of keeping our sugar plantations
in existence! We give a spur to it sufficient almost to
create such an enormity by act of parHament, and we
send a fleet to seize the ships engaged in it, mth the in-
tention of bringing to our colonies the cargoes found on
board of them. And miless we can discover more free
people in the Negro countries, the fact is mideniable, that
the people thus rescued from the slavers are those on
whom we must place our cliief dependence in om' com-
petition Avith the owners of the mifortunates who do not
fall mto the hands of our men of war.

I have been accustomed to look on Hume's plan of
buying the slaves of Africa for the purpose of fi.*eeing and
bringing them to our colonies, as unwarrantable, on ac-
count of its being a sort of departure fi'om our policy m
regard to the slave-trade. But it is e\'ident that we are
now in a strangely anomalous position in relation to it,
and it appears doubtfol whether it would not be better,
both morally and pohtically, to pm'chase the people fi'om
those who would otherwise sell them to the illicit traders,
than to allow the latter to get possession of them. But
before I record my opinions on this very important sub-
ject, I must give it more consideration, and shall therefore
postpone my observations to a futm'e period.

I have ah'eady repeatedly remarked that the singular
pohcy adopted towards us will have an operation varied
in the rapichty of its development, according to the cir-
cimistances of individual estates. The quahty of the soil
is the principal among these, and after it will rank the
pm'se of the proprietor. It is not difficult to understand
why the man who has money %\dthin his reach has advan-
tages over him who has none; and if one plantation can
make 300 hhds. of sugar from an annual outlay in labour
of 12,000 dollars, while another w\W only have a crop of
150 hhds. from the same aggregate amomit of wages, we
can easily perceive that the struggle to keep themselves

213

up will be more successful with the former than the lat-
ter. Thus, the process of destruction throughout the
Colony will be gradual, as it has hitherto been, but it will
advance more rapidly now, with two agents instead of
one to accelerate its progress; and it is probable that, in
two or three years, few estates will be in existence save
those which can produce crops at the smallest compara-
tive expense.

It has been sui'mised that if only the best plantations
were cultivated by the same population, the return would
be better. There is one consideration which would operate
powerfully against that result. The working people of
the province are now becoming rapidly tied, as it were,
to particular locahties, either by the purchase of land for
themselves, or for their near relatives, the latter binding
them as closely, almost, as if they were themselves free-
holders; and these small properties being scattered over
the -mdth and breadth of the land, it would be impossible
to get their owners and their famihes moved about to suit
the labour required on the few rich estates kept m culti-
vation. This of itself is almost a sufficient damper to the
hopes of the larger proprietors, based on the ruin of their
less favoured fellow planters, and, in connection with other
circumstances, will be found to be altogether destructive
of them. Many have been abandoned since 1838, yet
we find that the demand for labour is on the increase.
Various causes are continually withdraw^ing people from
agricultural work, and the fact seems to be estabhshed,
that nothing, savuig a well sustained stream of good un-
migrants of the right sort, can maintain any but a trifling
extent of cultivation throughout the Colony.

The distress so prevalent among this class of proprie-
tors, must now, of necessity, extend by degrees to all
classes of the community, but, more especially, the con-
siderable body of poor colom'ed people who depend on
them; and the question will soon arise, and stand forward

214

for discussion, of how the enormous colonial expenditure
is to be supported. The government party reluctantly
agreed to import duties, having regard to the interests of
then' protegees, the agricultural labourers, and especially
to the apphcation of funds so raised to immigration pur-
poses. But no tax could be fairer than one which falls
upon aU alilie. It was objected to on the ground that
the Negroes, as poor people, should be exempted from
imposts of every description, and it was contended that
the bmlhens imposed for, or arising out of colonial im-
provements, were legitimately laid on landed property.

This singular doctrine, which was grounded on estab-
lished practice, having for its basis the long recognised
principle that the planter is always the projoer object of
taxation, would not suffice in these times. Men who are
ruined to advance the interests of the labom*ers, cannot
perceive why the latter are to bear no part in the cost of
their own advancement, and to assist in paying for a pohce
to protect tliem (from themselves), for poors' -houses and
stipendiary magistrates, who are, in some sort, their pro-
tectors, and various other expensive establishments for
their benefit. Yet, if they were unable to afford this trifle
of 2^ per cent., ad valorem, on articles imported for their
use, the colonists would not think of laying it on them
in common \\itli themselves; but the fact being notorious
that they are better off in their position than the other
classes, there was no reason for exempting them.

The time is hkely soon to arrive, however, which will
bring this matter before the official section of the Com-
bined Assembly, and it W'ill be seen whether they will
agree to forego a considerable portion of their salaries, as
fixed by the civil list ordinance, in order that the import
duties may be remitted, as pressing too lieavily on the
impoverished inhabitants of all descriptions. Let us hope
that when this trying horn' arrives, as come it must, Mr.
Briar and his friends shall have no occasion to apply the

215

" Tu Quoque'" to his political opponents, and to tell tliem
that they, who were so anxious some years ago to make
food and clothing cheap to the labourers, when they ex-
pected to get the means of doing so from the planters,
cannot now object to measm'es having the effect of re-
ducing partially their owti allowance^, wdien directed
towards the attainment of the same great object — the
cheapening of necessaries to the poor — at a time, too, when
almost all the inhabitants but themselves came under that
denomination.

And the colonial minister cannot surely insist on the
adherence of the Colony to a civil list ordinance, granted
when the legislatm'e fully believed and timsted in the
faith of the mother countiy, to preserve for the planters
that advantage in the British market, upon the consider-
ation of which alone such a civil list could be granted or
continued. The Act of July last is an infringement of the
understanding that existed between the local legislature
and the imperial government, when a civil list was con-
ceded by one and immigration by the other. There was
no stipulation, indeed; but the very natm'e of such an
arrangement impKes that there should be no alteration of
the circumstances, caused by one or other of the parties,
which could impaii' the power of either party to keep faith
with the other. If a man is bound to render a certain
amount of labour to another, and that other forcibly and
arbitraiily, by his superior strength, ties up the hands of the
first, he (the first) cannot be held hable to perform the
work agreed on, either in law or justice. If he had been
shackled by a thfrd party, the case would be different.

The silent and imperceptible manner in which depre-
ciation creeps over the property of the Colony, is not the
least startlmg among the many strange characteristics of
the period. ]\Icn jog on, directing their energies so as to
combat the evils that are daily before their eyes, without
adverting to collateral circumstances, until they are sud-

216

denly and disagreeably reminded of certain liabilities,
which, had their estates retui'ned their value, would not
have been thought of. The crecUtor, however, belongs to
a class who watch the state of the plantation market, and
he is fidly aware that a debt of £3,000, which would be
quite secure as against a property worth £20,000, is by
no means m the same position when the property has
fallen to £4,000, with the prospect of coming still lower,
and becomes anxious to realize. In colonies, it is necessary
for men to assist each other in the way of cautionry, and
many secm'ities, who thought their liabilities such as
would never affect them, are hastily and legally called on
to pay their fiiend's debt. Many will not believe in the
change of value wliich property has undergone, until it is
brought home to them in one or other of those ways, and
they are, as it were, at once aroused to a sense of their
true position, and painfully convinced that instead of be-
ing rich, they are become poor men. It would seem
that although they all calculated on losses arising out of the
evils we suffer under, they do not look forward to depre-
ciation as the natural consequence of such a state of
affairs, and are sm'prised to find that their wealth has
crumbled away fi'om them, and literally d■s^dndled to no-
thing in their grasp.

We must now look forward to a rapid extension of the
sight which meets our eyes everywhere — fields foi*merly
beautiful in the deep gi'een luxuriance of the cane, covered
with sour grass, and buildings mouldering in decay, the
greenness of the cane piece being transplanted to them,
which previously sent forth volumes of smoke, betokening
the continued manufacture of sugar, and where now "the
desert serpent dwells alone."

The most angry disputes occur every pay-day, which,
from being monthly, have gradually increased in fre-
quency, until at length they have become weekly. The

217

work done on each day being carefully measm'ed and ex-
amined by both foreman and overseer before it is entered
in the labour-book, it very rarely occurs that an eiTor is
discovered in the entry; but the labourer, from keeping
no "^"ritten account of his tasks, is too often led astray by
the treachery of his memory, and he has neither fear nor
delicacy to prevent him fi'om taxing the Whites of the
estate with cheating or robbing him ; and in consequence,
the paying of them is sometimes a scene of violent abuse
on one part, and patient endm-ance on the other, while
the magistrate is ultimately, in too many instances, called
in to settle the disagreement.

I have been struck \^^th the wondei'fol tenacity and
clearness of Da\dd's memory on such occasions, for he will
go over the week's tasks of almost every labourer if it is
necessaiy, telling not only what sort of vrork he was en-
gaged in, but the value of it according to the tariff, before
the book is appealed to, and I have never seen that he
was wrong. He does not scruple to tell those greedy
and clamorous claimants that they are the robbers; and
truly, judging from analogy, and ascribing to the mass of
them the same advantages of memor}^, one is tempted to
conclude that their claims are made in a perfect conscious-
ness of their being wrong, especially when they are
always on the right side for themselves. It must be
allowed, however, that the majority are both obtuse and
confused in intellect, and ai'e far from possessing heads
like DaA-id's; and in their desire to make the amount as
large as possible, they contrive to jumble the work so in
their non-logical minds, that a satisfactory conclusion is
arrived at, and a larger figure impressed on their senso-
rium than they are entitled to. They submit to the
severe reprimands, couched in the most emphatic lan-
guage of the Negro vocabulary, which the foreman
poui's out with vast volubility on those occasions, with
a degTee of patience that contrasts strangely with the

2 E

218

fierce defiance, both of speech and look, which a hasty
word from an overseer is sure to call forth.

They both fear and respect David, Avhile they glory in
being insolent to the Wliite man, probably because they
think it grand, and it pleases their vanity to act thus;
but, at the same time, they are aware that an overseer
would lose his place, and be amenable to the law besides,
if he raised a hand to them ; whereas, the foreman, bemg
one of themselves, can keep up his authority, and repress
insolence without fear of consequences. They know that
he has much in his power, and they are aware that, being
a strong man, he can apply the argumentum ad hominem
in a very summary and forcible manner, while a blow
from him is quite a different thing in the eye of the
magistrate fi'om one inflicted by an overseer. Nothing
can be more strildng than their bearing towards these two
parties. As the views of the latter are generally the
same, the foreman sometimes fancies that abuse levelled
at the overseer is meant for him, and proceeds to retort on
the quarrelsome subject; when the latter, the instant he
perceives the mistake, will assure him with the greatest
coolness that what he said was applied to the "obisha —
heh! Buddy (brother) how you can tink me sha' talk so
to you?" By the way, the Negroes are much more polite
to each other than the labouring classes of England.
They always style one another "brother or sister," "uncle
or auntie," and sometimes " tatta" (daddy), according to
age. This must have arisen out of their extreme sen-
sibility and wonderfvd quickness in maldng a quaiTel out
of any disrespectful word spoken to them.

The following sketch of last Saturday's scene, may
serve as a tolerable sample of a pay-day, though rather
more noisy than usual. The manager sits down at a table
with the field overseer and his labour-book on one side,
and the principal foreman on the other. The labom-book
is so ruled that there is a small compartment under each

219

day of the week for each labourer, in which the work done
is inserted, and the names are set down, so that every
one has his portion of those compartments on one hne,
distinctly annexed to him. The overseer calls each name,
and the aggregate weekly amount, and the manager,
with a bag of dollars before him, proceeds to count out
the sum.

The first dozen take their money quietly. Then it
comes to Dick Andrews' turn, whose name is called in
connection with "two dollars," but he will not take the
coin. " Obusha, how you make um no more two dollars,
eh?" The overseer reads the entries of each day. He
is absent one day, and he did not finish his task on
another. "Massa Nigga! me no de a field Torsday.
Buddy," applying to some one near, "you no see me?"
but meeting with no response, and getting angry, he ad-
dresses himself to the foreman, although with marked
hesitation. "Da me you speak? da me you ax?" inquires
David, sharply, "da me for watch you?" "Buddy, wha'
me sha' do? Buckra go sheat poor fellow, and no one
for help me; do, buddy." "You want me tell you where
you dey, Thm-sday? You tief fowl (steal fowl) on Wel-
lingham (Wellingham's estate) tlia' Thursday work da',"
cries David, looldng fiercely at the other. A general
titter testifies to the correctness of the statement, and the
abashed claimant, who doubtless thought his doings un-
known, shnks away. He had actually been caught in
the fact, as it turned out afterwards.

The business goes on smoothly again, till "John
Thomson, one doUar," is called out. "Wha' you say,
Obusha, one doUa' for sicli man like me ? Mangea, da
so you go let white man cheat a' we ? Massa Negga ! —
sich rabbery me nebba see!" The book is read to him,
without carrying conviction to his mind, — the money is
tendered and refused — and although he has been little
more than two days at work, he insists that he was pre-

220

sent throughout the week. Da\id tells him distinctly
all he did, but in vain, and while the dispute is still going
on, a woman steps in, desiring the manager to stop John's
wages, because "he owes her, and wont pay." The
manager, on such occasions, attempts generally to effect
an amicable adjustment of the "difficulty," but it often
happens that the creditor "repudiates" the debt entu'ely.
It is so with John Thomson, and the quarrel rises to such
a pitch that both are ordered out of the house, and David
says, "no use fight any more with that man, he too bad;
every Saturday he make 'ruction." "I think so too, we
must give him warning," responds the manager. The
pair return, under pretence of having settled their dif-
ference, but they are no sooner before the manager again
than a violent outbreak occurs, and the foreman takes
the man by the shoulder, and ejects him. "Stop, Mam-
ma," (the accent is always on the first syllable when this
word is apphed to a Negro woman) and David brings
forward two men who prove the debt, and the dollar is
handed to her.

John Thomson is called in, and told that he is to re-
main no longer than the end of the month. This is of
course received with perfect indifference. It is necessary to
select theworst and most useless subjects for such examples.
Good ones must be tolerated — men who work tolerably
well, though they are insolent; but this fellow was not in
the field more than two days a week, on an average.
About a dozen altercations, such as I have described, oc-
curred on Saturday, and as many, more or less violent,
may be calculated on almost every pay-day. It is but
fair to say that the better portion of the people, and they
constitute the majority, conduct themselves with propriety
and decorum; but even the best of them, on occasions,
incline to find fault with the sum due to them, although
they will not be outrageous.

It is the custom to select the foremen of estates, who

221

are of good character, to act as vestry-raen, and the ap-
pointment has an excellent effect, for it stimulates them
to hold themselves up as patterns to those who are under
them. They are all proud of being thought pious, but,
unhappily, rehgion with them is one thing, and morahty
another. The Negi'oes remind me sometimes of the
Itahan brigands, who invoke their saints to assist them
in committing a miu^der, (although they do not carry the
blasphemous and monstrous doctrine so far,) for they have
the same mdistinct idea that it is only necessary to bend
before the heavenly powers, in adoration, to accomplish
their salvation, and that good deeds are not essential to
the attainment of that great object.

They are all anxious to learn to read and write also,
and the progress which the children make is quite rapid
enough to confute the American notion that they are an
inferior race. Wliat I say, however, relates only to
quickness of understanding, and the power of memory.
The fact remains to be proved whether they, in their
present condition, or rather in their existing stage of
civilization, can have the reasoning facidties so developed
by education as to make them appear equal to Wliite
men, who receive that advantage. I doubt it; and I fear
that some generations must yet pass ere the original dark-
ness clears away entirely from their minds. As it is now
■with us, the yomig Negroes are soon able to read "indif-
ferently well," but I am not aware that they get beyond
that. I fear they have barely justice done them, however,
for then' parents frequently take them away from school
in order that they may work, and that they (the parents)
may di'aw their wages — much of the light work on estates
being done by boys and girls, from ten to fifteen years
old.

222

January, 1847.

The balance against the estate is larger even than
usual this year, which might have been expected from the
great outlay on Coolies and Portuguese. I fear tliis grand
experiment of Hindu immigration would not succeed,
even if the sugar duty was unaltered. Brown, who has
devoted himself to these people in every way, begins to
tliink that they will cost much more than they are worth.
He already declares that, according to a calculation he
has made, the difference between the labour obtained from
a Negro, even in his disorganized state, is as three to one,
compared with that of a Coolie. If tliree Coolies then
are required to do the work of one Negro, and if they
cost each seventy-five dollars to import, and the same to
return them to Lidia, it is impossible that then' importa-
tion can benefit the Colony. The Portuguese were doing
fully as well as we expected, until sickness began to ap-
pear among them, and it is astonishing how rapidly and
how baneftilly they were prostrated. The disease is al-
most invariably a peculiar modification of what the doctors
call the idiopathic fever of the country, assuming a form
peculiar to the Portuguese from their habits of body and
their manner of living. It is necessary to give them large
quantities of wine and nomishing food after the first or
second day, for there is a tendency to sink immediately,
and they need constant and unremitting attention, which,
to enforce, I requested Brown to appoint an overseer,
when the malady was most prevalent, to attend to the
hospital exclusively, and the doctor was there every day.
This continued three months, and, in fact, is only becom-
ing unnecessary now. Throughout that time, out of
fifty-two we had never fewer than twenty ill, and six
died. I believe the sickness has been more severe here
than with Ridley, from what cause it is difficult to ex-
plain, the localities lacing both considered salubrious.

22B

We were indefatigable in superintending the preparation
of food for them, and, indeed, an extra cook was intro-
duced into our kitchen, besides tliose who were in the
hospital, to prepare articles for the sick; and I myself was
twice every day there to see if the overseer was doing his
duty. George frequently acted as hospital superinten-
dent, and I am sui'c was as attentive and sympathising as
any man could be. Indeed, but for the great attention
that was paid to them, I think one half would have died.
I have been painfully convinced of their penurious dis-
position by several occurrences. It is quite evident that
they come here to make money, and it is with reluctance
they encomiter anything that, even for the most necessary
purpose, interferes with their long-cherished expectations.
Throughout the province, hope revived is rousing to
extraordinary exertion, nothing being heard of but people
going to this estate, and others to that in great numbers,
as landed from the East India ships, or brought by our
own traders from Madeira, to be exchanged for a return
cargo of sugar. There is only the uncertainty that hangs
over them in regard to their qualifications as field la-
bourers; and, as usual, in such cases, there is a wide
difference of opinion among planters, some insisting that
they work as well as the Negroes, but the majority de-
claring that the labom' obtained fi-om them is much less
than that which is got from the former. The Coolies not ^
only do less while they are in the field, but they are even
more irregidar than the others in their attendance there.
Sheer love of ease, and frivoHty of disposition, seem to be
at the bottom of this; for, in so far as I have seen, they
are by no means so much given to the use of ardent
spirits as the Negroes, and their passions altogether are
less violent, and more under control. Yet some of them
are as debauched as any class of people; generally, how-
ever, they are temperate. The Negroes are not so in
anything that is comprehended in eating and drinking.

224

The quantity they devour occasionally of their favourite
foo foo, or salt fish and plantains, brayed in a mortar into
a solid mass, is truly enormous, and surj)asses the belief
of the uninitiated. The Hindu, on the contrary, with his
rice and fresh peppers, is contented, although the portion
be moderate. Probably this chfference, acting on their
physical conformation, may accomit for the variation in
the degree of energy with which they respectively seek
to attain their objects.

Wellingham has begun to creep more out of his shell,
doubtless expecting that he will swim with the flood that
is to carry us all into the ocean of prosperity. He called
here yesterday, and, -svith a timid sort of doubtful an', as
if afraid yet anxious to hear my opinion on what was
going on, began to speak of the immigrants. I told him
that Brown's ardoiu' was considerably cooled, and his
hopes by no means so sanguine as they were six months
ago; and I could perceive that his countenance fell, while
he observed with a deep sigh, "it is what others have told
me also, and what some of the oldest planters predicted.
Africa, after all, will be our only refuge." "And that
wide field, the wisdom of om- government has shut against
us for the very reason that Mr. Hume would open it — the
heathen barbarity of its people, and their condition of
slavery; the former, the faction of our enemies exclaim
against as likely to be too poweiilil for the improved
manners of our present population, and the rest of the
Whigs say it would tend to promote the African slave-
trade." "So they say; yet how they induce themselves
to believe these absurdities, is wonderful, if true. It is
almost impossible that we should ever get so many as to
out-number the population of the West Indies, and unless
that took place, it is equally impossible that they would
pull down the latter to their own level; as for slavery,
why, a slave cannot exist here ! he is fi'ee the instant he
touches the soil; witness all those who have fled fi'om

225

Surinam to Berbice, and from the French to oiu' isLands,
where their former masters ceased to have property in,
and tried in vain to recover them."

"All true; our colonies are now like the British islands
in that respect, and on the same footing; but they say it
will encourage the slave-trade. Hume's plan is to buy
slaves in Africa and manumit them, then to bind them as
apprentices for five years in the West Indies, after which
they are to retm^n to their own country. And, say they,
the native chiefs will make war on each other to obtain
slaves for us." "Wliy, what do they now if they would
do so then? is it not notorious that the trade is still carried
on, and, instead of being brought from slavery to freedom,
the unfortunates are doomed to midergo a cfreadfrJ voy-
age, and after all, to endure, if they survive, a condition
scarcely better than that which was their lot in their own
country." "Very true, indeed — there is no doubt also
that since the year 1838, the foreign slave-trade has in-
creased, and as the Spaniards and Brazilians, who watch
us narrowly, perceive that we are not getting over the
Emancipation Act, they will engage more deeply in the
odious traffic." " Still, wherever we turn ourselves, how-
ever we exert ourselves, we are kept steadily in a sinking
state by our enemies in England." "They will agree to
such immigration as this, after long importunity; and,
without doubt, the government have faith in the Coolies,
they expect they shall benefit us, and are glad that the
faction have graciously permitted them to sanction their
deportation." "Well ! the question will come to be,
whether they are to permit the slaves of Africa to be fi'eed,
or suffer them to contmue slaves in christian lands, after
risking then* fives in crossing the sea." "That seems at
present to be the prospect; but we must still exert our-
selves to make the most of our Coolies and Portuguese;
it may be we are premature in our conclusions." " Would
to God it may be so; but it seems to me that the fabled

2 r

226

tortures of Tantalus were notliing to those we are doomed
to, for our hopes are not only raised to be dashed in a
few months again, but we endure that continual gnawing
of moral misery, to which bodily suflfering is almost plea-
sure."

I could not fail to observe that ]VIr. Wellingham, dur-
ing this conversation, avoided altogether the question of
competition inflicted on us by the bill of July last. In
fact he, like others, considers that everything hangs on
the success of our new immigration scheme, and if it suc-
ceeds we shall be able to compete with the whole world.
I doubt very much if, under the most favourable circum-
stances, free-labour can compete with slave-labour. But,
after the first impression died away, this most extro/-
ordinary measm*e of government has not produced the
effect on me which a full consciousness of its destructive
tendency might on others, because I was becoming more
and more fixedly of opinion, that the British West India
planters would be ruined as a body, by the effect of the
Emancipation Act, unconnected as it was with any effi-
cient provisions for the supply of that labour which it
■withdrew. Such being the case, our ruin was a question
of time, unless government saved us by a proper supply
of labour. This new infliction expedites the progress
of our downward career, and neutralizes the measure
of immigration we had, Avith great exertions, obtained.
It is certain that we have among ourselves some fi'ee-
traders belonging to the mercantile classes. Indeed, I
doubt if there are many men of those classes who are not
dazzled by the specious promises of this beautiful theory,
which would free them from the trammels of custom-
houses, and permit their ships to traverse from place to
place with as little interruption fi'om human institutions as
that "chartered libertine," the wind.

I can easily fancy that men whose business is com-
merce, and who have no other powerful and counteracting

227

motive, should indulge in golden visions, arising out of"
tliis unrestricted intercourse of mankind. When the
imagination is excited, men do not pause to consider
whether this state of affairs is practicable; but sm'ely re-
flection would convince them that free-trade, literally and
bona fide, is not in the nature of things, and that, to bring
it about, not only the political and financial condition of
all nations must be assimilated, but the ideas and mode of
tliinking among men must also be nearly the same — a
state of society which has never existed since the creation.
The direct effect of it must be, if it really can be carried
on, as oiu' pohtical economists insist, without reciprocity,
to reduce all nations to the same level. Great Britain,
being the highest in the scale of commercial nations, has
little to gain by this levelUng doctrine; on the contrary,
she has everything to lose. Her artisans and labourers,
of all sorts, forming the basis upon which the prosperity
of a country invariably rests, must of necessity be brought
into direct competition with the labourers and artizansof
other nations, in all of whom the rate of wages and the
price of food are fifty per cent, lower. Now, with our
national debt, it is certain that the price of most articles
consumed by the people of England cannot be much re-
duced, while it is equally clear, that the rate of wages
must be brought to a level with the average on the Conti-
nent. On tliis fact rest the whole of the e\dls that must
spring fi'om the measures of 1844 and 1846. Trades-
men must be ruined by competition generally, as the un-
fortmiate silk weavers, particularly, and some other
branches, have been already.

The operatives of Lancashire, and the peasantry of
the richest counties of Britam, being reduced to the con-
dition of the serfs on the Continent, in regard to wages,
wiU not be able to purchase the means of supporting na-
ture. What comes next? — ^we must ask Messrs. Bright
and Cobden, the apostles of free-trade and low wages, for

228

whose benefit, and those whose interests are linked with
theu's, such measures have been thrust upon the good
sense of the nation. Mr. Bright is a man per se, a quaker,
and a pugnacious one, according to ]Mr. Berkeley. There
are few men who would so unblushingly stand forward
on every public opportimity to advocate doctiines which
are specially calculated to advance his own interests. He
wants low wages — ^he will obtain his object. The next
thing is to keep the rate so permanently in order that the
millowners may be able to bear down the continental
manufacturers, and annihilate them, thus gaining the
command of the European markets; and to do this, the
labourers of England must be kept at starvation pomt,
therefore, immigration would stand in his way; and, lo!
Mr. Bright opposes stoutly immigration schemes, to save
the miserable people from then' ^\'retched state.

It is imjDossible that the country can submit for any
length of time to the intolerable tyranny which the selfish
policy of this party would impose on it. But the view is
as narrow as it is selfish, which the political economists
take of the effects of free-trade, even on themselves. If
they cannot realize their ambitious dreams without thus
affecting the condition of their operatives, is it at aU
probable that the latter ■s\t11 remain contented, in the
position they assign to them? Unquestionably they "svill
not, so long as they have the power of remonstrating;
and, failing that, of resorting to the ultima ratio, or seek-
ing in thousands the wilds of Australia or North America.
The whole aim and object of free-trade is to induce a
state of affau's to avert this, and to suit the men of Man-
chester and the holders of stock or shares. Cheapness is
the cry, to enable the poor working spinner to live on
the pittance of wages competition will allow, and to en-
hance the fortunes of the millo-\vners, who are neither
connected with the landed aristocracy of Britain or the
colonies. The latter are necessarily doomed, irrespective

229

of national credit or national honour, because they can-
not raise sugar so cheaply as the slave-holders of Brazil;
who, besides, will take much more cloth and iron, now
that we admit then' produce; and, here again, their short-
sightedness comes in their way, for they cannot see that
Brazil and Cuba can only be advanced on the ruins of our
0A\Ti sugar settlements, and they will lose more than they
gain. It is Avonderful how that same "tickhng com-
modity," that self-worshipping and self-aggrandizing prin-
ciple, bhnds us to the evils of our own endeavours to ad-
vance om'selves. But the liabilities of our country stand
sadly in then* way — taxes must be imposed to meet the
interest of the debt.

It is singular that they bring forward no scheme re-
garding it. Could they but shift the burden on the land,
in the shape of a land-tax, what would not be gained to
the party? And to this matters must come, if their views
are carried out, unless the already-sacrificed landholders
can get it modified into a thirty per cent, income-tax, on
the same prmciple as existing now. But this will never
suit the middle classes, and all their policy will fall to the
ground, imless they can saddle some particular class with
the interest of the national debt, and reduce the pubHc
exjDcnditm'e to the same comparative amount as that of
other countries — thus removing the necessity for duties on
imports. The people cannot see these schemes, which
are framed to benefit one class exclusively, and remain
always bhnd to the tendency of them to destroy the sub-
stance of the rest. As my friend Wellingham said once,
when we were discussing this subject, "I fear the nation
will only be roused to oppose the economists when a gi'eat
many interests have been ruined, and it is clearly per-
ceived that they must all go in detail."

Even the merchants, who think themselves secure in
the unmingled advantages that will accrue to them from
free-trade, on account of the impregnabihty of the na\d-

230

gation laws, had better not be too confident. They are
the most prominent promoters of the new-fangled doc-
trines after the manufacturers; we shall see if they remain
true to their principles, when the sacrificed colonies de-
mand, as assm'edly they will, the abrogation of these laws,
which have hitherto been regarded as the foundation of
Great Britain's maritime supremacy. They cannot,
surely, in so far imitate the Bright and Cobden party, as
to advocate those principles only which have a direct
operation in enhancing the value of their property; and
they surely will not repudiate them when it is found that
they shall have the same effect on that of others, when
appHed to them. We shall see when the time comes.
Meanwhile, the colonies are too much occupied with the
visionary advantages of immigration, to attend to the
fearful calamity that has just been decreed them. The
experience of the planters has hitherto declared unequi-
vocally in favour of African labourers — the few that our
cruisers have rescued from the felon gripe of the slaver,
and brought to our shores, having sui*jmssed not only all
other varieties of imported field-people, but the native
inhabitants of then* 0"syn blood themselves, in regular and
continuous industry, although they still fall short of the
enduring, toil-defying power of the European working-
man in his own country.

The number of people whom we have drawn here since
the year 1835 is enough to stagger our faith in indiscri-
minate importation. More than forty thousand have
been added since that period to our population, and the
crops are still fifty per cent, less than they were previously
to the passmg of the Emancipation Act; yet wages evince
a decided tendency to rise — signs that too truly indicate
the inadequacy of our additional workmen. Still, the
CooHes had only been tried on a small scale, and on a few
estates, when the clamour was raised against the Glad-
stone slave-trade, as the faction too successfully styled the

231

emigration from India, and it was stopped, until lately
revived again under the care of the imperial government.
Thus, still, hke drowning men catching at straws, we jump
eagerly to seize the proffered advantage, and I, with all
my forebodings, and little hope of anything, am carried
along by the side of popular feehng — I should say, was so
carried, for I confess I am astonished at the indifference
which eveiywhere prevails regarding this fatal Sugar
Duty Act.

I have conversed Avith many of our leading men, and
members of the legislatm'e, on the subject, and they agree
with mo, that if government does not save us by immi-
gration, we are certainly doomed; and some even fancy
that in the veiy "nettle" of this danger they perceive the
flower "safety." Notwithstanding the experience they
have had of imperial legislation, they say ministers would
not counsel such an insane act, if they had not some
measm-e in store for us, perhaps unhmited African immi-
gration, which wiU enable us to support the competition;
others, deeply inoculated A\'ith free-trade principles, are
sure we shall not suffer so much as I imagine, and a few
mamtain, boldly and ignorantly, that we possess advan-
tages in our rich soil to counterbalance a host of evils.
Such are the opinions of various parties in our Uttle state
— the last two being those of the non-agriculturists and
liberal gentrj^ of Georgetown. There are two or three,
whom I could name, who see the measure in its proper
hght, and say nothing about it, because, what would it
avail them? They have no opportunity of remonstrating,
and nothing will be attended to now until the effect of
the Act appears, in the faU of prices ; and even then can
we expect to get our feeble wail listened to, amidst the
tumultuous roar of Cobden's successful followers? As
well might we expect the flood to hear the last ciy of the
WTetch whom it devours. Alas! wliile waiting in my
lonely room, and committing to this silent depositoiy my

232

thoughts and feeUngs, the latter will get the mastery, and
I must give vent to them in strong and impassioned lan-
guage. It is at such times that a man, full of his sub-
ject, and having every concomitant ch'cumstance standing
forth in bold rehef in his excited imagination, is apt to
curse — cm'se bitterly — the authors of his misery, and to
fling from him, in wrath, the record of his woes and of
his country's cruelty.

Let any man, gifted with ordinary powers of fancy,
suppose himself for a few minutes to be in the position of
the sugar planters ; let him think on the series of perse-
cutions they have suffered, from the year 1823, the era
of Canning's resolutions, to 1833, when the Emancipa-
tion Act was forced on them, contrary to their most
earnest remonstrances and their most impressive warn-
ings. The struggle they have since maintained to keep
up their estates, under the hope that their enemies in
England would relent, and permit them to get proper
labourers in the room of those who were abstracted from
them, and only to find out at last that, instead of having
their miseries properly considered, and tlie energy appre-
ciated with which they have borne up against almost in-
tolerable ojopression, they were abused by the Wliig
press as mdolent, and bigotted to old forms of agriculture;
and Whig ministers, acting in conformity, have exposed
them, by an act of parliament hastily passed, to certain
ruin.

The whole seems as if the anti-colonial faction, dis-
pleased by the slow and gradual progi'ess of decay under
the Emancipation Act, had resolved on another that
would be more speedy in its operation. We look in vain
throughout the period I have specified for a single mea-
sure, devised by government, for our relief; on the con-
trary, minor ones against us, such as the abohtion of con-
tracts between master and labourer, were imposed; and,
previously to the year 1845, the planters, in the teeth of

233

grievous impediments, were obliged to import, at their
own expense, and at the risk of losing their money from
want of written agreements, more than half of the people
I have mentioned, from such places as the government
would permit them to be brought. Since that year, cer-
tainly, there is some appearance of a desire to promote
immigration, very probably in the extravagant expecta-
tion that it will enable us to support competition with
slave-holding and slave-importing planters, which they
purposed even then to expose us to. And who, I ask,
could think and -wi'ite coolly under such circumstances ?
It is not in our nature. If the man be even placed in
our position by the force of imagination only, he will re-
coil with mingled feelings of fear and anger from the
picture presented to him. Rebellion in all ages would
have been the result of such insufferable wrongs, if there
was the shghtest prospect of throwing off the yoke; but
the powers that be rely no less on the weakness, than the
known loyalty of the West Indians. If the latter had
been wiUing and able to alarm the government by an
affair such as the Canadian one even, ministers would
not have dared to trample on and destroy them. But this
vein must not be indulged in ; I must pause till " the
heat be passed;" and, luckily, I hear ray friend Ridley's
voice in the gallery.

I resume my pen to record our conversation. It
seemed that he came expressly to find some relief in talk-
ing, although with one who, in his opinion, sees things
in the worst light; but since that day when he so frankly
declared his o'i\ai sentiments, he does not shrink from
mine as he did. Nevertheless, people desire to be com-
forted or cheered, although by words that are but wind,
and thus few like to converse freely with me, who have
no reserve on the subject of our condition. "Fine
weather," said he ; " those showers will tell on the young
canes; singular, that though cursed by man, we are

2g

234

supremely blessed by Providence; the oldest inhabitants
say that they do not recollect such a series of good years
in regard to weather during their lives, as that which has
followed the year 1838." "It is remarkable. I think
we have only had one rather severe dry season in all that
time — truly, my friend, a watchful Providence is required
when man is so reckless. Well, what do yovi hear now?"
" The opinion gains ground that we shall have African
immigration to any extent, subject to some limitations as
to localities." "Ay; those hmitations are just the point
on which the whole must hinge. We have been allowed
to do things before under limitations; but can you trace
the report to any authority?" " No, none whatever ex-
cept the conjectures of some recently arrived passengers."
" I am glad of it, for the people here should not assist in
deluding themselves — it is enough that others practise de-
lusions on them — they cannot obtain so many people as
they either expect or desire from Africa without buying
them. Look at the report of om* own agent at Sierra
Leone — a clever, intelligent fellow, who devoted himself
to the business for which he was sent, and who is now
here. We cannot get fi'ee people, in a countiy where the
bulk of the population are slaves, either readily or
abundantly. The Kroo coast seems to be the only lo-
cality which affords a reasonable prospect of them, and
the whole of its inhabitants would not redeem the West
Indies, if transplanted there." " There are free people in
Africa, it seems, but so scattered, that it is extremely
difficult and expensive to collect them.

"How do your Indians get on?" "Why, just as be-
fore. Brown is kept in hot water by their childish fii-
vohty, and the little work they do in the fields, after he
has succeeded in enticing them to it — the fact is, they get
as much by one day's work as will purchase rice and
pepper for a week, and why should they work?" "They
have rollicking fellows at Success, who drink and carry on

235

as well as the Negroes, and pretty mvicli like tlicni."
" And how do they get on ?" " They probably do more
than yours. The calculation there is, that one Negro
does as much as three — here Brown says one African
does as much as fom' Coolies." " So he has said lat-
terly ; in fact, our Hindus don't improve."

" My Portuguese," said he, " are useless as field people,
two-thirds of them being now in the hospital — they can-
not stand the field work." " I begin to be assured of that
also; for, even here, the fondness of money is becoming
msufficient to keep them at it. They are availing them-
selves of every saint's day that turns up, to be idle." "A
rascally set they are! We cannot get them to attend to
their sick relatives, and, if they die, they are left by them
to be buried, as strangers may think proper; but a thing
occurred the other day which I would scarcely have be-
Heved if any person had told me.

" A woman had a child very ill with a dropsical affec-
tion, that the doctor could not reduce except by tapping,
which was done; but the disease retmiied, as it generally
does; and when the woman observed it, she remarked
that the boy was going to die, and very coolly took him
out, laid him on the road, and deserted him. The black
sick nurse found the poor thing lying there, and took it
to the mmatural mother, but she ordered her off, and the
nurse brought it forthwith to me. From what I knew of
them, I feared that the mother would destroy it, and di-
rected the nurse to keep it at her own house carefully out
of her reach. It was a boy of about four years old, and
in a couple of weeks he was better (apparently because
he was away from his parent), and going about the door,
where the jade espied him, and, seeing that he was nearly
recovered, did not hesitate to demand him with the
coolest effi'ontery. But I cannot allow of his restoration
until we see farther." " They have little natural affec-
tion. I have heard of worse instances than this of

236

youi's; nevertheless, they are an acquisition in their way;
they force some Negroes to the fields, who would other-
wise be porters, carters, and jobbers of all sorts, about
town ; and they will do well enough at the buildings of
our estates." " They make capital sugar boilers ; I
have two in my copper M^all, who are the best on the
estate. But we can get plenty for in-door labom" — even
Germans will do for that." " Ay ! it is the blazing smi
that makes the difficulty, and there is no one but he who
seems to have been designed by natm'e for the tropical
agi'icultm'ist — the Afiicau Negro that will cultivate our
fields properly." " But what security have we that they
would not follow the same course as oiu: present ineffi-
cient Negroes, if they were here for any length of time?"
"We have no way of avoiding that, except bringing
them in such numbers as will keep wages at a rate suffi-
cient for a comfortable subsistence, but not for the pur-
poses of indolence and debauchery." " Well, well ! it is
not difficult to foresee the temiination of it all. I think
I am steeled to stand the worst. How are the Welling-
hams ?" " Why, as usual, they do not seem much more
than generally anxious. " " You have not heard the report,
then!" "What is it, in God's name?" " Nay, nothing
specially relating to them. It is said, in fact, that the
house he is mortgaged to, along %\ith other planters, has
sent instructions to their agent here to foreclose all who
owe more than one instalment." " My friend," said I,
after a pause, during which I felt a choldng sensation in
my throat, " it is what we have looked for. Mortgagees
must act as men usually do in their position. I wonder
they ha^-e kept off so long." " And Avhat yviil they gain
now?" "Why, the estates of their debtors, and, along
with them, the chance that remains, if there is any, of
retm'ning prosperity and former prices of plantations.
In fiict, they keep up the latter now; and it is no more
than fair that they should have the chance, such as it is,
of benefiting by better times." "Is nothing due to the

237

people who have struggled so long and anxiously to pre-
serve them?" " A large sum, the value of the property,
minus the compensation money, is due to Wellingham by
the British government; but, assuredly, the mortgagees
are not bound to have any consideration for him. Yet,
they have been considerate, and even Hberal." " Few
men can reason so coolly, mider the circumstances, IVIr.
Premium; but it must be allowed that you are right."
" It is too frequently the case that creditors are estimated
by their conduct, without any reference to circmnstances
— why, they must act in this manner unless the debtor's
interests are to be prefeiTcd to then* own; and if you look
at the value of property now, as compared with what it
was when these mortgages were passed, you will find
that the holders of them must lose immensely, even by
obtaining the estates." " There is no doubt that our
property has been taken from us in an insensible, imper-
ceptible manner, by the gradual depreciation which has
crept on us; and a most singular state of aifairs it is that
makes a man Avho yet has no debt, and seven years ago
was worth £40,000, to be considered worth no more than
a few thousand dollars now." " Yet such is the case."
" I see you are going — I shall go with you as far as
Welluigham's.

I found the family, for the first time during many
months, in the forenoon, aU at home. They looked gi*ave,
and it was evident had been discussing some very interest-
ing question. I was not kept in suspense; for my daughter
Avhispered, while she took my hand, "We have just
heard the report; we ai*e quite resigned." She looked
very pale, but quite calm. Charles had that sort of ap-
pearance which a man has under an mfliction which he
wishes the world to bcHeve he despises, wliile, at the same
time, he feels it bitterly, and his father was wo-begone
and wretched in his aspect. "Well," said the latter,
"you come to tell us the news, I suppose; our destiny is

238

soon to be accomplished. Johnson has just informed us,
on the best authority — that of our mortgagee's agent —
God's will be done!" "Really, after aU, my friends,"
said I, as firmly as I could, "this is no great misfortune,
if you consider the matter properly. The Scotch have
a proverb which declares that it is better to have a cala-
mity reahzed than always impending over us — "Better a
finger off" than aye wagging," is the original. And it was
never better applied than in this case. You cannot suf-
fer more than you have endm'ed for the last three years."
"Quite true," cried Charles, ahnost sternly, "that is ex-
actly what I am always sa}dng." " Come, then, the worst
of it is parting with near and dear relatives — an mipleasant
circumstance, certainly, but wliich yomig people, especially
in this age of transmigTation, are almost universally
doomed to." "Yes, indeed," said Grace, cheerily, "and
this family is not parted, it is only I who shall be separ-
ated fi'om my family — a change that by marriage I was
doomed to undergo already." Her voice faltered a httle,
and that alone betrayed to others the inward emotion that
was gnawing at her heart, and, as I could perceive, strug-
gling with her natm'al strength of mind. "Ah!" said
Wellingham, quite overcome, "this spot has witnessed
the happiest days of my life; and here my angel \^dfe left
me for a better world; here, too, my only child first saw
the light; and thus to leave it, an outcast and a beggar!"
"My dear WeUingham, tliis is not like yom* usual philo-
sophical manner of receiving the buffets of a rascally
world; look round you, and see how many men, as high
in position, and as happy in every relation of life, are
now, or will be soon, exactly as you are. It is consoling
to know that yom' misfortunes are not of your o\vn creat-
ing. I, who am following in your footsteps, who cannot
be more than a year or two behind you, feel that comfort
from this ch-cumstance wliich a vu'tuous and upright
man ought to derive from a clear conscience under the

239

severest calamity. You shall be with your son, that is
yoiu' principal consolation, and you have the means of
establisliing yoin-selves in another and more fortunate
land." "Thanks to you for that, my dearest father," said
Grace, now also weepmg; "I am sure you have much
dimmished your now scanty store for this pm-pose."
"And what if I have; are you not one of us? are we not,
Wellingham, one family? Wliat would you thmk of
settling with my wife, whose health, as you know, is not
so good now, in some sweet, retired cottage in Old Eng-
land— Charles might take a farm." "No! by Heaven!"
btu'st in the latter, with a savage and fierce ejaculation,
"I sit not doAvn a denizen of that country which has re-
duced us all to starvation." "Charles, dear Charles,"
whispered his wife soothingly; and in a moment his better
nature got the mastery. "Forgive me, fathers, for truly
I know not what I do." Thus saying, he abruptly left
the room.

"Poor fellow," said Wellingham, "he has been blaming
himself incessantly mthin the last twelve months, since
our fate became certain, for linking one he holds dearer
than himself A\ath his \^Tetched fortunes, and to-day, I
think, he is nearly distracted." "He does me wrong in
that," rephcd my daughter, "for I entered on the duties
of a wife, as my father knows, with a full knowledge of
the evils we were likely to encounter, and a determina-
tion to assist in combating them; but it is in vain to sug-
gest those things to him now." "And you have been
to him and me, my child, the solace and comfort of our
lives; as God shall judge me, Premium," cried he ener-
getically, "I do not believe I should have been here
now, had w^e wanted yom* ministering angel of a daugh-
ter." "Then," said I, with tears, for the first time during
the painful mterview, in my eyes, "then has she fulfilled
her high mission, and I glory in my child; it is the dark
hour of suffering, not the bright sunshine day of prosperi-

240

ty, that jiroves what we are. But why slioukl Charles
be so sensitive? he was, like every man in the Colony, at
the time of his marriage, sanguine in regard to the future ;
he did not anticipate times like these, and it is little else
than folly, or morbid sensibility, thus to allow the faults
of the imperial government to rest on his head, as acts of
his own. I feared the temper and rather volatile nature
of yom' son, when the marriage took place; he has fully,
by his subsequent conduct, removed those fears, and esta-
bhshed himself in my confidence and good opinion, and
surely he is aware that it is so." "I know not," replied
his wife, "but he is one of those who seek for applause
within themselves entirely. Not that he does not highly
ajjpreciate the good opinion of you both ; but still his mind
is so constituted that he is unhappy unless he can try his
conduct by it, and acquit himself." "Therein doth he
not defer, as he ought, to the experience of others. Come,
Charles!" continued I, as he returned, apparently com-
posed, "sit down and let us discuss, quietly and temper-
ately, the subject of the day." "I beg your pardon, all of
you; but at times, I confess, I find it difficult to comport
myself with unvarying and miruffled composure; now I
can do it, however, and permit me to say, LIr. Premium,
that I feel a great reluctance to settling in England. I
am a Creole, as you know; this is my native country, and
if my Grace and I find that it is no longer a place for us,
I would implore her to let our future tent be pitched in
a foreign land." "And that land is Australia — so it
was formerly arranged. This proposal of mine is made
because of Mrs. Premium's state of health, which has only
lately become indifferent." He did not speak, and I
could perceive that his wife's eyes were suffused with
tears. It was not difficult to guess at what was passing
in her mind. "Charles has lately," said Wellingham,
"taken a dislike to all countries under the sway of our
British Ministers, and his ideas regarding xlustralia have

241

undergone an entire change." "Indeed! He has not
stated that to me; and I was regarding Austraha as the
last resource." "But, Charles, this is but an unmanly,
not to say childish feelmg, wliich must soon go off." He
shook his head. "Rely not on that, Sir; victims of op-
pression, with passions like mine, are not soon reconciled
to the destroyer." "Why, this is the language of insane
rebelHon," said Wellingham; "for God's sake, Charles,
keep yom'self under control, and teach yourself to speak
and act with moderation." "I am cahn, you see, and dis-
posed to sj)eak quietly; still, it is my wish to give free
utterance to my sentiments, where I may with prudence,
and, in so doing, perhaps find relief from the pent-up fire
that almost consumes me." Observing that his eye
flashed and his nostril dilated, as he spoke, I was in doubt
whether he could stand the ordeal that he wished to sub-
ject liimself to, but I felt, after all, it was better the work-
ings of his mind should have free vent, and advised him
to conceal nothmg that he either felt or desired. "I
have only to say that my father misunderstands me alto-
gether, if he thinks such absmxlity as resistance to the
power that overwhelms us ever entered into my calcula-
tions. I merely meant to avow that my dislike to Eng-
land, as a residence, has taken deep root within the last
year, and, if forced to hve there, I believe I should deem
every man I met a foe." "I really did not think as I
spoke, Charles. I wished to see you command yourself,
and converse hkc a reasonable person. Rebellion! Alas !
it would indeed be a tempest in a teapot! even if every
colony, from Canada to Guiana inclusive, engaged in it."
^'Never for a moment, I am siu*e, has the thought of it
been entertained through the -wide spread settlements —
yet much has been said, in language more "sdolent than
you ever heard me use, against those who have reduced
us to beggary." "If such are your feeHngs towards all
places above which the British flag waves, whore would

2h

242

you choose a residence?" Inquired I. "Therein I am
wilHng, and so is my wife, to be guided by yoiu* wisdom
and experience," looking at his father and me; "but the
kindred states of America seem to offer the most pleasant,
as well as the most profitable prospects, for one who, like
me, is young, strong, and not unwilling to exert himself."
"Their manners and customs, Charles," said his father,
"are not those Ave have been accustomed to, and I scarcely
think we would find the people so agreeable as you ima-
gine." "But, Charles," said I, "it strikes me that your
conduct now is at variance with your general behaviour.
You are the least of a selfish person it has been my lot to
meet with; would you desire to drag your father, and
perhaps your wife, to a country they would not prefer?"
I saw Grace watch him, in great anxiety. It was evident
that she would select her native land, if the choice was
A^dth her.

"I am sm"e my father has no partiality for the old
country; but, I confess, I have felt many a pang, from
reflecting that poor Grace might do violence to her feel-
ings, in order to indulge me. Yet what can I do, Mr.
Premium? I distrust myself. I feel that I Avould be
always embroiled Avith the hard-hearted inhabitants,
who would regard the feehngs of a ruined planter as
little as his fortune Avhich they destroyed." "You must
learn, my son, to do like others who live in the Avorld.
No man meets no one in life, except those he likes."
"True; but fcAv men either can submit to be first knocked
doAvn, as we have been, and then abused, as we are likely
to be." "Keep aloof from such Avretches; they are not
fit for society; only. control yourself for the moment that
chance throws you together, and avoid them like pesti-
lence afterwards." He shook his head. "It is easy for
you to talk, and it would be easy for me, also, to appear
convinced by your arguments, but I have that Avithin me
which is incompatible AAith a residence in England — I

243

feel it." "But you can get the better of it. We shall
say no more at present; you have yet many months to
think of departure, even if you are sequestrated to-morrow;
perhaps something will be struck out, meanwhile. But
come all over to the Fortune and spend the day there;
everything must he known now, and I trust to see you
cheerfid yet, even in the midst of all our dismal pros-
pects."

I had been preparing my wife, for months, to hear un-
favom'able accounts from England. In fact, it was not
difficult; for although I had used every precaution to
keep unpleasant information from her, regarding the
planters in general, and ourselves in particular, in a place
where the very atmosphere seems to be impregnated with
tidings of calamity, all my endeavoiu*s, excepting in so
far as the Fortune was concerned, proved unavailing.
Although a woman who meddled with no business be-
yond her own sphere, she was yet acutely sensible of any
thing affecting the interests of her family; and sunchy
casual remarks about the WelKnghams, dropped from
visitors in speaking of the planters in our district, first
aroused her attention, and on talking anxiously with Jane,
the latter, by degrees, let her know all that she had
learned; so, without vexing me, they spoke to each other
on the subject, and thus became gradually prepared for
the worst that could haj^pen — and the first portion of
which I had now to announce. Sitting down with my
wife, in her own room, I began to remind her of former
private conversations aboiit bad news, which we might
expect from home, and she, who was intently regarding
me, heaving a deep sigh, exclaimed, "It is come now
then. Jane saw it in your faces the moment the carriage
drove up. God's will be done! and let us be thankful
that we are all spared in everything but this world's
goods." "I am rejoiced, bej^ond measm'e, my dear, to
see you receive the intelligence so composedly — if, indeed,

244

you know what it is." "Perfectly. You have not been
able to blind us as your good nature prompted. Welling-
ham's estate is to go under execution." "Even so," said
Ij much surprised, and no less pleased. "Since you be-
have with so much fortitude and resignation, half of my
uneasiness about it is gone. Wealth is not happiness. I
feel for old WelHngham, rather than the young ones.
Charles can earn a Kvelihood, and his wife can suit her-
self to any state of society." " Oh ! Barton, do you
remember how proud I was in England of that girl's
superior appearance; beautiftJ in person, and elegant in
manners, how few were her equals ! Now, she is thrown
from the sphere she was born to adorn, and destined to
be one of the drudges of creation ; it is yet hard to bear."
"It is so, my love; but persons Avhose opinions are worth
regarding, will think more highly of om' girl now, than
when smTounded by admirers in a crowded drawing-
room. I do; and I can safely declare, that I have had
more gratification in beholding her amidst domestic dis-
tress— I mean as a woman, apart from her own suffer-
ings— than at any time in our gayest days. She is the
model of a good wife; and if you only heard how Wel-
lingham speaks of her!"

"Thank God, Jane has dechned all proposals in this
vmhappy land; she is yet left to me." There was no
contending against this display of disappointed female
pride. Glad was I to allow her to run on in her o^vn
strain, until she had exhausted her bitterness and vain
repinings. At last I told her that I saw no prospect of
any proprietor in the Colony getting out of the dreadful
state we were all m, except by total ruin, unless, indeed,
they have funds independent of their estates, and they
have resolution to stop short in laying out, to uphold the
latter, and e'en let them go. "You see, my dear, the
advantage of a little caution. That £5000 I settled on
you, and which is now safe in England, will, come what

245

may, keep you from want." I said this to make sure that,
she had the prospect fully before her of our future des-
tiny." "I care not for myself, Barton; God knows, I
can live on little, if I am put to it (she had never tried
yet, good woman) ; it is for the girls I feel." And in this
she was, doubtless, perfectly sincere. " But, oh ! how
thankful we should be that our lives are spared, in a cli-
mate where death is so common. Look at the case of
those miserable Hutchesons, ruined also, and two-thirds
of the family carried off about the very time their estate
was sold by execution." "We are, indeed, blest, in com-
parison with them, and many others. How many fami-
Ues, formerly rich, are on this day without a home!
But now, my dear, go down and speak mth Grace; she
went with Jane into her room ; and speak freely whatever
you think; have no reservation or concealment — only do
not hint at her unfortunate marriage, it might have hap-
pened had she been united to any one. Of this you may
be sure, she has a good husband, and by no means repents
of her choice, even under present afflictions." "I shall
be severely tried, but you may trust me in regard to re-
proaching her; how could you imagine" — "Nay, nay,
don't misunderstand me; how can you imagine I could
mean such a thing? You reproach yom'self incessantly
about her marriage, and I feared you might do so now;
pray, avoid it, for she is even proud of Charles, and, after
all, barring his strange temper, he is a fine, talented fel-
low." "Well, now that I understand you, I shall set
about this painful interview with great circumspection —
painftil it must be, for she has always concealed from me
evciything which I heard even from strangers, doubtless
from the kindest motives." "Oh! doubtless."

We were that day a sorrowful, yet united family; but
the gravest of the party were, unquestionably, Welling-
ham and Mrs. Premium. The former seemed to be un-
able to withdraw his mind from the contemplation of his

246

misfortunes, and the latter yearned to weep alone with
her daughter. I fear there had been more of this on their
first meeting than I expected, for Jane told me that Grace
had great difficulty, after repeated bursts of sorrow, in
bringing her mother to a state of composure. She had
forgotten altogether my cautions, and loudly blamed her-
self for destroying her daughter's prospects in life, until
the latter, stung by her remarks, firmly and emphatically
told her that she did not repent, for a moment, of what
she had done, and were it to do agam, she would many
Charles. Indeed, she said it had all been predicted, every
thing that is to happen, by her father, as of probable oc-
currence, and she, being guided by her affections instead
of ambition, did not hesitate as to her choice. Tliis
had the effect, and the good lady, beginnmg to recover
from the grief which the first sight of her cliild occasioned,
recollected the purport of our conversation, and matters
went on better. Jane told me that Grace, on this occa-
sion, she was sure, cared for nothing but Charles. She
was anxious about him, for his manner was disturbed, and
his whole demeanour altered; he looked, in fact, like one
at war with mankuid. If he recovered his usual state of
nund, she would tliink what is to happen — nothing; in-
deed, it is only what they all expected, and wherefore be
overcome by it?

In the evening, formuig a family cu'cle "without a single
j)erson with whom it was necessary to be guarded, the
conversation became soon interesting; for every one's
mind being occupied in the same manner, we desu'ed to
find relief m talldng over the engrossing topic. "And
now, Charles," said I, " you have had time to reflect on
all that was said this forenoon. What do you say to try-
ing England? I say trying; yom' father agTces to it, and
your wife deskes it. Speak not, Grace; you did not tell
me so, nevertheless I know it." " And so do I," replied
Charles; "and I have suspected it since I first began to

247

feel as I do now." '' If I have ever led you to believe
that I had another wish than yours in this matter, it has
been unwillingly," said Grace, very gravely; "but since
it has been observed that I would prefer England to
America, it does not in the least alter what has been my
intention — to do exactly that which will tend to promote
your happiness, without regard to my feelings." " My
dear Grace," said Charles, "can you imagine me so selfish
as to permit such a course? I must say again, it is be-
cause I have not faith in myself that I wish to avoid col-
lisions with those who have wrought om* ruin. I am
quite aware that what I say may appear silly, and very
lilve boyish impatience ; and if, after fully disclosing my
feeUngs and sentiments as I have now done, it is thought
advisable, and most lilvcly to promote the general happi-
ness of the family, I am willing to do whatever you
choose."

"I expected this," was my answer. "I knew you would
see the folly of repudjiating yoru' country; for, after all,
she is your comitry, and contains milhons who sympa-
thise with, and would save the unhappy planters. Think
of that. They are not all of the Manchester school.
And if you meet Avith one of the latter description,
surely, unless he is rude to you, you can restrain your
dishke of him, and behave like a gentleman." " Really
Charles," said Grace, with a smile, "you are lilie a
quarrelsome schoolboy in this matter; but now that you
have put yourself into the hands of our seniors, all will go
rio-ht. I confess I am happy now." Charles came round
to her — " And is it possible that your happiness was in-
volved in this question, and yet you would sacrifice it to
humour my caprice, if it is such? Oh! how silly you
have often made me feel ! how miserably below her who
is my guide! and never more so than in this instance."
So saying, he Idssed her hand affectionately, and yet re-
spectfully, at which we all smiled for the first time that

248

day with anything Hke glee; and old WeUingham re-
garded them both v^^th a beaming look of warm ap-
proval.

" Charles," said he, faintly sniiUng, " tell us frankly
what has given rise to tliis suddenly increased hatred of
England." " Surely," rephed Charles, quicldy, " it is
not necessary to ask that. All feel as I do, but few so
intensely — so engrossingly; and on that, I believe, lies
the whole diiference. But I mil relate to you an anec-
dote, wliich, perhaps — I vfiR not say positively— first in-
duced me to think that the atmosphere of Britain, though
cold enough, in all conscience, might be too hot for me.
\Aniile there, I was either at school or college, and I left
it very yomig — as ignorant, in fact, of men and manners as
a youth could be. So I cannot speak of the people from
experience. But, a few^ months ago, I met Donald
Campbell at a dinner party in to^\'n — jou know he only
returned about that time, after an absence of a year —
and he was relating, as all our visitors of Europe do, the
singular things he had met with. Anion o- other stories,
he had one of an incident at an ordinary-, or table d^hoiey
in Liveq)ool, at which all were very agreeable, until, in
the coui'se of conversation, it came out that Campbell
was a West India planter, when a surly man, who had
scarcely spoken before, said abruptly, 'Planter, eh! hope
you treat the blacks better — can you make them slaves
yet? — flog them well, eh?' Campbell, you are aware, is
very good-natm'ed; so he laughed at this as a capital joke,
and told him the flogging was all over — ' Worse luck
ours.' 'Worse luck yom's! eh? By G — d! if you had
your deserts, you would all be flogged to death. Pa}?"
twenty millions, eh! and you are ruined! Sarve you
right.' And he struck his fist on the table, looking
round for the approbation of the company. ' Surely, sir,
you are joking,' said Campbell, very quietly. 'No, sir, I
never joke. My opinion is that ever}' planter must be a

249

rascal — take it as you like.' ' Shame! shame!' cried one
or two, while Campbell rose coolly enough, and struck the
brute to the floor. ' Gentlemen,' said he, then, to the
rest — ' a few years ago, I was a man of good fortune — I
am now on the brink of ruin, by the agitation of such
men as that,' casting a look of scorn on the humbled
anti-colonist — 'that is my apology for this rude be-
haviom\' They were candid enough to say he was right,
and his opponent got a hint to move off, not without a
card from Campbell, however, but nothing more came of
it. Now, such a thing as that would, I fear, brmg me
into a scrape that would make you all wretched."
^' But, don't you see the feeHng was against that bnital
fellow?" said Wellingham. "Well, well, I am schooled
good manners be my speed." We were all much better
now, and even rather cheerful. " You should kiss your
wife's hand agam, Charhe," said Ge^^rge — " 'the rod,' you
know." " 'They prate of scars who never felt a wound,'
— ^but this is no time for jesting, George," said Charles,
more gravely; "we must settle our future proceedings
even now. Do you not think so, father?" "The sooner
the^better; for we do not know how soon the provost-
marshal— that gentleman, who has had the misfortune to
become grey, and be obliged to use spectacles at sixty,
which is beheved to be his time of life, may be among
us with his myrmidons. You are aware that he has op-
posed the projected reform in his office, on the plea that
it would very unjustly diminish his emoluments, after he
had been made prematm^ely old, at the above age, by om-
chmate. Thus the underhngs of government still seek
to batten in our impoverished Colony!" "I heard of
the absurdity," said I; "it is of a piece Avith the rest.
This man, a subaltern officer in the army, has enjoyed a
place worth £2,000 per annum for a length of time, and
when it is found the business of the office can be done at
an immenselv inferior cost, he coolly objects his owni

2 I

250

paltry interest to the necessary improvement." " Well,"
said Grace, " but I think Ave must let him alone lest it
be said we are rancorous from our present position; 'the
man must do his miserable duty,' as yovir favourite hath
it, papa."

" It is even so, child," replied I. " But with regard to
your proposition, Charles, I think we would be prema-
ture till you ascertain when the mortgagee means to pro-
ceed. The season for going to Europe is still tlu'ee
months off. If he puts you under sequestration sooner,
why, you can all come here — there is room enough."
" Wliat you say is perfectly just," said Wellingham,
though it did not strike me at first. I fear I am like
Charles — a little impatient under the circumstances."
" Barton, Barton," said my poor wife, who had kept
wondei*fully silent, " are you going to send me off in this
manner, without even consulting me ?" " My dear," said
I, "the doctor told you a trip to a cold climate will
soon be essential to you, and I thought we had discussed
the matter then." " True enough, but you always in-
sinuated that you were to go also; and I shall not go
without you — that's flat." "We shall see, three or four
months after this; there is really no necessity for making
hasty arrangements." We then entered into a rather
lengthy discussion on the state of the Colony generally,
and that especially of oui' own acquaintances and neigh-
bom*s, each communicating what particulars he had
learned at different times since the fatal news arrived of
the new Sugar Dnty Act; and nothing can be more de-
plorable than the aspect of affairs; at the same time, it is
quite evident that the great body of the planters remain
steadfast in their behef in the powers of indiscriminate
immigration, from those unsuitable sources permitted by
the imperial government. Tlu'oughout the afternoon,
however, the behaviour of the elder Wellingham was con-
strained, and far from l^eing easy. It was not difficult to

251

perceive that he had received a blow too severe for his
sensitive nature, and efforts were required to induce his
friends to believe that he had got over the worst.
Charles still preserved, though somewhat modified, the
dogged, sullen look which he had the whole day; while his
wife, with an even flow of cheerful conversation, or of
consecutive observation rather, which was wonderfid,
strove to^^nd^e us all as comfortable as possible; and
she did succeed partially with all, though her mother
could scarcely do anything but watch her, with a teaiiiil
eye, all the time they were ^^ith us.

Jane, however, ably seconded her sister; and they
gradually led us all out of this miserable country to the
merry days of childhood in their fatherland; and after
talking over old stories for a little — "And why not revive
those days? We are poor, but we shall be ha])py, happy
as the rustic people aromid us," cried Jane; "we ought
to rejoice that we shall be so much better off than many
of our wretched acquaintances; it is a sin to repine — is it
not, papa?" " It is, my dear. Under our circmnstances,
you are right to be as cheerful as you can — or under any
circumstances; for it is not only against the Divine com-
mand to give way to despair, but it betrays a weakness
in our nature, based on a selfish principle — for there are
few so stricken by misfortune as not to be less severely
hit than others." " All tlungs should be judged by com-
parison, suffering like the rest; and ours is nothing to that
of twenty I could name in a breath," said Grace. " Oh !
my dear child," cried her mother, "how can you?"
" Dear mamma, just hsten, while I show you how happy
we are to be: — We shall have a nice farm, with a pretty
cottage and a large oak tree, near a brook, exactly like
that we had in other days; and the children shall play
under the tree, as we did m days of yore; and you shall
behold them as you did us; and you wdl be so happy."
Mamma smiled through her tears at this. " And Jane

252

shall sing that song which papa wrote when he came
here, about the two countries and theu' inhabitants."
" I shall sing it now," cried Jane, getting up, excited by
her sister's enthusiasm, and looking at me for approval.
" Truly, my dear," said I, " I think the music may do
good," glancmg at Wellingham, who seemed at times
quite abstracted. Jane ran to the piano, and, speedily
arranging her music, sang one of those effusions — half
comic, hah" serious — that I wrote in better days for their
amusement, and meant to warn them against the gay
Hfe which they had been told the West Indians gene-
rally led.

]March, 1847.

A PAMPHLET has just appeared, written by "a planter,"
which has caused a great sensation throughout the pro-
vince. In it the writer points out the effects of the
Emancipation Act on the crops of this Colony, which
have been diminished by one half; and, as the conse-
quence of such a falling off, a fearful depreciation of pro-
perty, which he clearly proves by quoting the sales of the
same estates, at different periods, diuing slavery and
freedom; w^inding up the whole by stating aU the
sales which have occuiTed since the year 1838; from
which it appears, that up to 1840-1, the prices continued
to be good; but, after that year of high-priced sugar,
there was a gradual dechne in the value of estates,
until, in 1846, they w^ere reduced to one-fifbh of the
prices obtained in 1840. He then shows the utter im-
possibility of competition with Cuba and Brazil, to which
we are exposed, under such adverse circumstances; ex-
posed, in fact, at a time when nothing but a remedial
measure, in the shape of additional laboiu", could save us
from ruin, even under the protection we enjoyed, as the
consequence of emancipation. The mad pohcy of our

253

government cannot fail to strike every one, on penising
this unpretending pamphlet. It is diflficult to account
for the excitement it has caused here, for the truths
stated are exactly those wliich came under the observa-
tion of eveiy man; perhaps with many it merely gave
utterance to theu' o\m hidden and secret thoughts;
while, ■s\ith others, not given to thinking, it placed their
case so strongly before them as to arouse attention and
create alarm. The anti-colonial gentry among us are
fiu'ious at the author, a very qmet, unassuming character,
who keeps aloof as much as he can from pubHc affairs,
and denomice his production as tending to cause unne-
cessary alarm.

One Radical paper declares it to be do>>Tiright non-
sense, for the Colony is just on the " turn," and com-
mencing a career of miprecedented prosperity, under the
auspices of free-trade. Really, the madness of party is
the most singular of all varieties of the disorder. One
could scarcely fancy that it would go so far, m the teeth
of facts staring every one in the face. But while the ma-
jority of the colonists unite in praising this production,
they seem to overlook the object of the author, which, as
he explains in his preface, is to draw attention to what he
considers the only means by which the Colony can be
saved from complete ruin ; and these are, the removal of
all restrictions in bringing people from Africa, and per-
mitting British subjects to purchase slaves there, for the
purpose of emancipating and bringing them to the West
Indies.

He proposes, in fact, the adoption of a plan similar to
that recommended by JNIi'. Hume, by which the West
Indies may be preserved, and the cause of humanity and
of civilization signally advanced. He also declares, un-
equivocally, that without this measm'e it will be impos-
sible, m his opinion, to continue the cultivation of sugar
in the British settlements.

254

I have already said that I hesitated as to the propriety
of adopting a scheme Uke ISIr. Hume's, on account of its
being a depai'ture from the Hue of poHcy and the position
we had taken up in regard to the slave-trade, and might
give foreign nations reason to say that we were evading
our treaties, and acting with insincerity towards them.
The beneficial effect of it on the Negroes I never doubted,
though that is exactly what is called in question by the
anti-colonists. There can be no doubt either that the
iniui of the sugar colonies can be prevented only by such
a measure. It may be doubtful if even it shall succeed.
The fact is, that if it shall not, nothing else can.

In order to give a clear and distinct record in these
pages of my ideas on this important topic, it is necessary
to take a view of the present state of the African popu-
lation, in regard to the slave-trade. The newspapers are
ah'eady teemmg with accounts of the impetus given to it
by the Sugar Duty Act of last year, and preparations
are making by parties interested in Cuba and Brazil, for
caiTying it on wath a vigour commensm'ate Avith the
grand object to be attained — of doubUng their crops, under
the enhanced prices of produce, and thus quadi'upling
the revenues of their estates. It is impossible to doubt
that these statements are correct; for, if the planters and
merchants of those countries found it to be of so much
advantage to them, when sugar was at a low price, how
great must be their inducement now, when the British
government has actually placed riches within their reach.

It cannot be doubted that the coast of Africa will
swann with slavers, and that the slave-buying in the in-
terior will be increased m the same proportion. I do
not doubt also that we shall have the men of Manchester
exclaiming against the blockade, as being of no use, be-
cause the trade is evidently increasing under it. This is
in theu' usual style of sophistry.

The eflficacy of the blockade must be judged by the

255

number of captures, and not by the number who escape ;
for the increase in the latter is to be ascribed entirely to
our famous Act of 1846; — where there are ten vessels for
one Avhich existed before, those which get clear off with
their cargoes must increase in the same ratio; and, pro-
vided the stimulus continues to exist, it will be found
absolutely impossible to put down the traffic, when we
consider the extent of coast, and the relative position of
it and Brazil, between which the distance is so short,
and, in both cases, the length to be blockaded some
thousands of miles. The absolute suppression of the
trade by ships of war, between Africa and Brazil, will at
once appear to any person, on observing these particulars,
impracticable.

But no rational man will imply, from that unfortunate
circumstance, that the doctrines of free-trade should be
applied to this abomination, and the fleets withdra■v^^l.
We might as well say to a surgeon, that, if he cannot
cm'e his patient radically, he should allow the disease to
destroy him at once; or to a felon, that, because we can-
not put an end to the commission of the crime for which
he is convicted, we resolve to let him go unpunished.
But what care the cotton lords of Manchester? doubtless
those mischievous men-of-war interfere with the sale of
broad cloth and trumpery, which are usually exchanged
for slaves, and thus their operations are thwarted. I
firmly beHeve that we shall have them, hereafter, endea-
vouring not only to remove the blockade, but the treaties
under which it exists. Such persons, vnth Cobden and
Bright at their head abroad, and ^lilner Gibson as their
representative in the cabinet, ^vill raise the ciy of hu-
manity to cloak their proceedings, while their actions
clearly show that no class of men can be more resolved to
advance their own interests, uTespective of every other
consideration.

If it is allowed, as I think it must be, that however

256

much the traffic may be crippled and impeded by tlie
activity of cruisers on the coast of Africa, it must, as a
necessary consequence of access being permitted to the
EnorHsh sugar market, continue to such extent as to take
off many thousands annually to Cuba and Brazil, but
especially to the latter country, unless means are devised
to strike at the root of the evil in its very stronghold.
Aiid it does appear to me, that a measure such as that
recommended by Mr. Hume, carried on under the super-
intendence of the governments of France and Great
Britain, would be most Hkely to effect that purpose.
France, in consequence of what is now going on -ndthin
herself among the ft-iends of emancipation, \^ill soon be in
the same position as our own countr}^ in regard to her
colonies, for the latter will be forced to emancipate their
slaves, and, consequently, the same deficiency in the ac-
customed labom", will impose on her the necessity for ef-
fectual measures to supply what it wanted. The two
nations must either adopt some scheme to give the plan-
ters hands to cultivate their estates, or come to the reso-
lution of allowing their sugar estabhshments to perish.
And whether we regard this plan as one calculated to
benefit the West Lidies, or to promote the cause of hu-
manity and the civilization of mankind, it will be desen^-
ing of attention.

In considering it, ■\rith reference to the latter, we must
never lose sight of the fact that the purchase of the Afii-
can slaves by the persons whom the two governments
appoint for that pm'pose, would be followed by their
manumission on the spot; and that those men, thus re-
deemed fi.-om slavery for ever, would inevitably fall into
the hands of the illicit slave-dealer, and be dragged, at
the hazard of their hves, and through shocking hardsliips,
to unmitigated bondage, or be butchered on the coast,
miless they were thus to fall under the mercifid protection
of lawfid authority. The opponents of the scheme dwell

257

with a sort of" hoiTor on it, because it is actually renewing
the slave-trade, and purchasing human blood, bones, and
sinews. In all ages, the act of setting a captive free has
been accounted holy; and breaking asunder the chains of
the slave has been esteemed a deed of singular beneficence
and magnanimity, when accomplished, as it would be in
this case, at the cost of individuals. In the chivalrous
times of Eui'ope, men devoted themselves to the redemp-
tion of their countrymen, enslaved by the heathen, as an
atonement for crimes. It is natural for us to revolt, at
first, from the purchase; but let any man put it to him-
self, whether, if he had a brother who was a slave, he
would not consider it a good deed to pay down his price,
and knock off liis fetters.

Would any man pause at the threshold of the captive's
dungeon, the two being so connected, to inquire whether
he was not about to infi'inge on a grand principle, by
buying a man? It is almost absurd to suppose that any
such person exists among those who are worthy of being
called men. On the contrary, the ^vretch who would
hesitate for a moment, under such circumstances, would
be regarded as an outcast fi'om society — and most de-
servedly. If the principle is morally and rehgiously right,
it applies equally, and with as much force, to the case of
the poor, friendless Negro, as that of him who is brother
to the noblest minister in our cabinet. The slavery they
endui'e in Africa is of the most cruel and deOTadino- de-
scription — their Hves being at the disposal of their lords,
themselves savages, and accustomed, both by habit and
disposition, to look on their slaves in the Hght of cattle,
and, as unworthy of feehng or commiseration, to be slaugh-
tered with as httle remorse. That this is matter of fact
can be ascertained by reference to any traveller Avho has
visited the head-men (kings, forsooth!) of any of their
tribes.

Let us place in juxtaposition the condition of a Negro,
2 K

258

after he has been sold to one of those iUicit dealers, and
that of another who has been taken up by our govern-
ment, and redeemed to be manumitted. The wretched
slave, being transferred to the vessel, is forced to squeeze
himself into a space wliich his body occupies enth'ely, and
in wliich he lies exactly like a hen-ing in a barrel, with
the thermometer at blood heat, and the atmosphere im-
pregnated, to a pestilential degree, with exlialations from
hundreds of bodies so packed. The constant and exces-
sive perspuation creates an immoderate thirst, which all
the water the ship is able to carry can only irritate, not
allay — and this of itself is a species of tortm'e almost in-
tolerable. Throughout the voyage, even if it is favom-
able, no allcN-iation can take place in his distressing situa-
tion. The poor wretch may die in liis place, and he days
before his body is removed. I beheve this occurs on
ahnost every passage. But, if the weather is boister-
ous, the incessant jostling, caused by the rolling and
pitching of the vessel, aggravates, to a state of perfect
agony, the miseries of his former condition. !Many of
them die under the consequences of a gale of wmd. If
he is attacked by sickness, he has scarcely a chance of
recovery, as one may imagine, mider the cu'cumstances,
and dysentery is a prevailing disease among them, owing
to the bad quality of the food (generally a mess of inferior
rice, perhaps half boiled) with which it is customary to
supply them.

In short, it is computed that a third or fom'th of their
numbers at embarkation, will be lost on the voyage, in
ordmary cases; and the fact is too well ascertained, that
the ruffians in charge of them have, on sundry occasions,
thrown them overboard when the ship was chased by om*
cruisers. Let us next behold him with his feUows, meagre,
sicldy looking, and dejected, in the baracoons, at Brazil
or Cuba, Avaiting for purchasers. He is handled like a
cow in the same position, and at length is taken off by a

259

planter to his estate, where, we have it from undoubted
evidence, he is forced to work sixteen out of every twenty-
four hours, and, in place of a comfortable cottage in which
to repose for the few miserable hours he is allowed to
sleep, he is driven with the rest into a sort of stockyard,
with an open shed, where, like any other cattle, they are
locked up for the time of rest permitted to them — no se-
parate houses being granted to particular families. This
promiscuous huddlmg together of them, like inferior ani-
mals, is miiversaUy practised — in Cuba, at least. The
poor creature has no hope of alleviation — no relief to look
forward to — except in death.

Now, let us see the other picture. — There is a man,
manacled and tied to his comrade, with a dogged, sullen
look, as if expecting, yet not caring for some dreadfiil
doom. He is handed over to the white man, who tells
him he is free as the wind of heaven, but, as the price
of his freedom, he must work for five years in the West
Indies, dm*ing which he will be paid for his labour at a
rate much higher than he could form any idea of; that
he should be allowed to choose his master at the end of
every month, if he desired it ; and the law would protect
him in every right and privilege which all men enjoy
there; then, at the end of the five years, he might retmii
to his own comitrj", rich in money, but richer still in the
civilization he has acquired, and in being admitted a
member of the Church of Christ. He falls prostrate,
overcome by his good fortune, and, on rising, his aspect
has undergone a wonderful transmutation — hope is there
now, and the joy of imexpected happiness. He is taken
to a vessel fitted up \sith the most scrupulous attention
to the comfort and the health of its inmates, and boiuid
by the Passengers' Act to carry no more passengers than
three for every five tons of her burthen. There is a
medical man, mth a suitable number of nurses, to attend
him in illness. His food is carefuUy provided; and to

260

the cooking and distribution the utmost attention is paid
by the officers of the ship. The Negro feels at once that
he has entered on a new state of existence, compared with
which his hfe in the African wilderness was as darkness
to light. This continues with him.

On landing, he is hired by a planter, who places him
in a substantial cottage, with as much garden ground as
he chooses — furnishes him with what articles he requires
on the instant, besides his working implements, and tells
him that he shall be supphed regidarly with provisions,
until he has learned the manner ui which his comitrymen
buy their own food; and, finally, that he shall be paid as
his comrades are paid, at the rate of twenty-pence for a
task easily done in four hours. Behold him on the after-
noon of his first working day. He is sitting at the cot-
tage door — his work being over— and he is tuning his
banjar with an expression of inward satisfaction and con-
tentment which the sun of Africa never beheld on the
visage of a slave.

In a desert lone, mischance had rooted him ;

Transplanted now to this soft vale,

Like the green thorn of May his fortune flowers !

To be the property of any man is the hardest lot as-
signed by Providence to a human being. But to belong to
a savage, in a comitry where neither law nor justice is
permitted to interfere between the two, is to be con-
signed, by cruel destiny, to the very acme of earthly
misery. We find, accordingly, that the degraded crea-
tures, when first brought into communication with Em'o-
peans, are exactly such as a long, hereditary coui'se of suf-
fering and subjection would make them. Scarcely re-
sembling, either physically or morally, the enlightened
inhabitants of a civilized country, they strike the latter
with astonishment. And it is a fact well kno>\ai in the

261

West Indies, that the poor wretches, on coming to the
colonies in former times, rejoiced exceedingly on finding
that, when they committed a transgression which re-
quired correction, they were flogged, and not beheaded.
I have often been told by Afiicans — " Buckra country
good — no cut head — floggee no more;" wliich phrases
express exactly the same sentiment.

It is from this condition, then, that it is proposed to
rescue them; and the proposal is regarded with horror by
the Manchester school, whose goods now form the medium
of exchange between the Brazilian dealer and the native
slave-owner. They are shocked, in the first place, at
the idea of simply purchasing men and women, whatever
may be the motive; and, in the next place, because the
African chiefs will have, from the opening of this new
market for their slaves, an additional inducement to en-
gage in wars for the purpose of acquiring them. But,
does it not appear, on the first view of the case, that if a
powerful king should drive the whole of a neighbouring
tribe before him to the coast — a tribe who were the slaves
of a rival chief — to be there sold to the Europeans, and
emancipated instantly afterwards, the tribe in question par-
ticularly, and the cause of humanity generally, would gain
immeasurable advantages ? But they say again, battles
must be fought, and many people slain, before one nation
could obtain possession of the slaves of another. It is
doubtful if such wars are undertaken ; but they are not
likely to be bloody when the object is to take captives;
and we have the authority of travellers for the fact, that
the slaughter occurs when the captors have been disap-
pointed of a market on reaching the coast, where it is the
custom to put their prisoners to death, to save the cost of
maintaining them until a slaver arrives, that being gene-
rally higher in amount, even for a few weeks' mainten-
ance, than the few yards of paltry Manchester cloth, or
the Birmingham musket given as the price, would suffice

262

to repay. But the melancholy fact is too well known,
that the inducement already exists which an extended
market affords. And the question really to decide upon
is, whether it is better to allow the captives taken in those
wars (if such there be) to be carried as slaves to Brazil
and Cuba, or brought, as free people, to the colonies of
France and Great Britain ? For, if we consider the ad-
vantages which the commissioners of those two countries
would possess over the illicit trader, there can be no
doubt that, in a short time, they would obtain possession
of the market, and drive the latter altogether out of it.
Instead of bringing their slaves for sale by stealth to the
coast, and concealing them there, the chiefs would fetch
them openly, receive their price, and see them manu-
mitted immediately.

Treaties might be entered into vnth them, by which
they would be boimd to produce their slaves at periods
specified, when vessels Avould be prepared to receive
them, and the certainty of getting them disposed of, with-
out the delay now attending their transfer, and the con-
sequent expense, would be sufficient to secure to the
emancipators a monopoly of the trade, and, together with
the operations of the fleet, which can by no means be
dispensed with for a time, in a short space to put down
altogether the present barbarous and destructive system.
The number taken off from the coast of Africa, as free
labourers, would certainly not exceed that wliich must be
carried away by the slavers under the stimulus of the
new Sugar Duty Act, which, it is computed, ^^'ill average
from 60,000 to 100,000 a-year. It may be doubted, in-
deed, if the agents of lawfril authority would take so
many as those of the brutal traders; nevertheless, it is
unquestionably in their power to get whatever propor-
tion may be judged proper, by the means which I have
just mentioned, and by giving a price as high as that
which is customary with the latter. Now, if this be the

263

case, as it seems indubitably to be, what becomes of the
argument that we would create wars by the new demand
for slaves?

I cannot perceive that any measure, except the restoration
of his former protection to the British sugar cultivator,
would be so successful in uprooting the dreadful enormity
wliich stands forward at this moment — the foulest blot,
under all the circmnstances, on the lionom' of Great
Britain. We have entered into solemn treaties with
foreign states for the suppression of it, and, like the thief
who hoodwinks his victim by a fair show of honesty and
candour, while he is meditating how to rob him, we offer
a premium to the brutal smugglers engaged in the hor-
rible traffic, in order that sugar may be three farthings
per pound cheaper to the English consumer, and we sieze
as many as we can of those wlio are bought by the ilHcit
dealers, and do with them precisely what we might do
without subjecting them to the risk of a mm'derous voy-
age, and a perpetuation of their enslaved condition.

I am interrupted by the rapid galloping of a horse into
the court, and by exclamations of gi'ief and sm'prise. — I
sit down, after an interval of two days, to record the
dreadful incident which has overwhelmed us all. The
horseman proved to be a messenger jfrom my eldest
daughter, who despatched him, scarcely knowing what
she did, to summon me in haste to her house. The man
told, in the same breath, that his old master was no more
— ^he having been found dead in his bed-room, a few
minutes before he came away. It is impossible to describe
the effect this shocking intelhgence had on my family.
It was some time ere I could bring them sufficiently near
a state of composm'e to permit of my leaving them for a
still more painful scene. I found Grace in a fi'ame of
mind that did surprise me, although I knew the power
she possessed over herself on such emergencies. She re-
quired it all, for her husband was frantic. He had thrown

264

himself on his father's body, and, but for her, on the first
impulse of his excited feehngs, it is hard to tell what might
have happened. I fomid Kobertson with her, and speak-
ing in a soothing strain, wliile Charles lay on the floor,
his body occasionally agitated, as if by some convulsive
movement — but he spoke not a word. I tried to rouse
him to self-command, but he merely raised his head, and
cast on me a scowl, in which grief, despau', and even
anger were strangely blended. "Oh! Charles! my hus-
band!" cried his wife, "will you not speak to me — me?"
and she, as if giving way also to the emotion with which
she had hitherto struggled so successfully, lay down be-
side him. Suddenly, the victim of woe, putting his arm
round her, burst into a passion of tears, and the doctor
whispering that he would be better now, we withdrew
together.

Robertson then, in answer to my anxious inquiries, told
me that ^ir. Welhngham had never consulted him about
any illness, and he had learned from Mrs. Charles and
the servants that he ajDpeared, particularly within the last
ten days, in very low spirits, but there was notliing else
about him to indicate siclaiess. I could not fail to per-
ceive that there was unusual embarrassment about the
doctor, as he talked in this manner. "In God's name,
then," said I, "what is it?" "This; which I found in the
room," replied Robertson, after surveying me keenly to
see, I suppose, whether I was composed enough, and he
drew from liis pocket a vial, labelled, "Prussic Acid —
Poison." I felt a faintness upon me, like a bhght, at tliis
unexpected intelligence, and sank into a chah"; a draught
of cold water, promptly administered, revived me in-
stantly. "Do they know it?" asked I, eagerly. "No."
"Thank God for that." "Just my opinion," said the
doctor; "in fact, I would have kept it fi'om you, for no
other person has seen this fatal proof of the mihappy deed;
your daughter was too much occupied mth her husband.

265

and none of the servants can read. But there is another
evidence, and only one. I found this on the table." So
saying, he handed to me a note, sealed, and adch'essed to
me. Instantly opening it, I read the few following
words: — "My Dear Premium, — I am one of many vic-
tims to the times. I cannot bear up against my evil for-
tune. You or Robertson will be first here, and no one
before you come will be in a fit state to examine into this
room. I rely on your discretion. Farewell, my dear old
fi'iend; may God bless and preserve my children, forgive
me, and permit us all to meet in a better world. C. W."

Tears fell fast fi'om my eyes as they dwelt on this fatal
scroll. "Alas! poor Wellingham! yoru' sensitive nature
was all too fi^-ail for the mighty biurthen fate had imposed
on you; and your son, stronger, yet so much the creature
of impulse, what is to become of him, for he regarded his
father as part of his own being! " "Time," said Robert-
son, who entered into my feelings, and sympathized with
them; "it will be dreadful at first, but we have notliing
to fear; his mind is strong, and the firm beliaviour of
his wife will gradually bring him round."

It appeared that the court had, two days previously,
issued its ^^Fiat Executio" against him, and the mp'mi-
dons of the law must, of necessity, be within a day or two
in possession of his estate. No one had told me of it, for,
in fact, it was a matter of course, and just as certain of
occmTence as any other event. I thought Welhngham
resigned, and perfectly prepared. But his old servant
told me he spent many a solitary hour at his wife's gi'ave,
and his opinion is, that parting with that spot troubled
him more than anything else. We agreed that the cause
of death should be concealed, and that the secret, known
only to us two, should be inviolably kept. I had no doubt
of Robertson's discretion; and it was a relief to me to
think that I had it in my power to save those who were
dear to me the misery of knowmg it. While we were

2l

2m

still speaking together, a servant mentioned that Mr.
Ridley was in the drawing-room. We went down and
found him, with mingled concern and consternation on
his honest countenance. He had galloped over on the
impulse of the moment, to learn the truth. "It is, in-
deed, a sad and sorrowful event," said I; "but God's will
be done I" "So sudden; what has it been — a fit?" "Just
so," said the doctor, readily; "sometliing of that sort."
After making many kind inquiries for the family, and
offering to look after the estate in the meantime, the
warm-hearted fellow left us.

For some days I made that house my principal place
of residence, and had the satisfaction of seeing Charles
gradually regain his self-possession, under the skilful and
assiduous guidance of my daughter. The estate was put
under sequestration two days after the funeral, and Rid-
ley relieved from the charge of the cultivation, wliich he
had entered on with zeal and alacrity, although he had
much to do at home. My own affairs demand my most
anxious attention. The crop of tliis year promises indif-
ferently, and the sugar market already evinces a tendency
downwards. It is evident that I shall soon be among the
majority of planters, and burthened with a plantation
which cannot pay its expenses; while the funds I possessed
elsewhere are exhausted. I may be thankful that my
mind is of a different stamp fi-om poor WelHngham's;
but I cannot help feehng as if I were an altered man,
and, tridy, the change ft'om wealth to poverty must pro-
duce a revolution in a man's moral condition. It is scarcely
possible that one can possess the same ideas, the same feel-
ings, or the same habits, when circumstances operate so
powei-fully on his external and physical relations. Whatever
it may be — whether my health is beginning to fail under
the load of anxiety with which it has long been oppressed,
or a gloom is settling on me fi'om contemplating the past
and the future in conjunction, and producing that change

267

on the man which I liave just been speaking of, I know
not, but things are appearing to me under a new aspect.
My family must go to England, for my wife is far from
being well, and it is desirable that she and the Welling-
hams should be removed, in a month or two — ^but I really
cannot move — it is just the crisis. One year will decide
Avhether it is possible to do anything in tliis unhappy
place, and it is right that I should make the trial, although
I am satisfied ah'eady that, mider the immediate influence
of free-trade and of Manchester, little short of a miracle
will prove adequate to the vast change that must occur —
first in the minds, and afterwai'ds in the measures of those
on whose fiat rests the destiny of om* colonies.

Three weeks have now elapsed since WelHngham's
unhappy death, and liis son is again fit for the active
duties of life, although shockingly altered in appearance,
and grave and moody in manner. I am almost daily
throwing out hints and insinuations to lead them all grar-
dually into the belief that I must remain another year in
the Colony, in order that justice may be done to my af-
fairs, and every remaining chance allowed them. Ridley
has just been with me. He has been fortunate enough
to meet with a man who has faith in the mother country,
and in our powers of competition, and w-ho has actually
offered him fom* thousand pounds for his estate. "It was
sold for £50,000, twenty years ago," said he, "the land
and buildings being valued at half of that sum. I am,
therefore, offered less than a sixth of their cost before the
passmg of the Emancipation Act; and for the other half
(the value of the slaves) about £10,000 were paid; so that,
if I accept this sum, the loss on the property, inflicted by
the British government, will be £36,000." "Be wise in
time, my friend," said I; "would I had taken what I
could get some years ago ! You are losing yearly; put
a stop to such losses, and keep what you have." "It is
my own opinion," replied Ridley, \vith tears in his eyes;

268

"but, Mr. Premium, the hardship is great, after so much
exertion, and so much dreadful anxiety, to begin the
Avorld again!"

"It is too true, my dear Ridley, and I can only say
that "We are aU alike; the demon of destruction seems to
have taken possession of oiu* rulers." " Rather," said he,
with ghstening eyes, "the fanaticism of theory, and the
spirit of party. I was lately reading 'Hmnphrey Clin-
ker,' and there I met with the description of a prime
minister's levee, wliich struck me forcibly. I mean the
scene where Mr. Bramble, while waiting in the ante-room,
perceives the Turkish ambassador enter with his drago-
man, whose arrival being annomiced, the mmister, then
in the hands of his barber, rushes, with the cloth mider
his chin and liis face covered with soap suds, to embrace
the amazed Turk, and then retmTis to finish his toilet.
The ambassador, wiping oflp the soap, addresses a few
words to the dragoman, turning up his eyes at the same
time, and j\Ir. Bramble, being cm^ious to know what he
said, makes inquh.y, and learns that he had exclaimed
piously, 'Holy Mahomet! no wonder this nation prospers,
when it is governed by a council of idiots!' The only
difference between that comicil and the present seems to
be, that theii' measures are not alike successful." "Yes;
truly our present cabinet should stand high in the estima-
tion of a true Mussulman — who believes that fatuous
persons act under the inspiration of Heaven." "I can-
not tliink, after all," rephed my fi'iend, "that ministers
really believe in those monstrous theories wliich are pro-
pounded to them by the anti-colonial faction, and imposed
by that power, which in all ages has overcome right."
"You mean, of course, the power ft'om behind, which,
unseen, pushes them and the nation to destruction." "I
mean the strongest party, which gives law to government,
for, latterly, this has been invariably the case in every
great question." "Ever since the passing of the Reform

269

Bill, which estabhshed the predominance of the democra-
tic principle, and, consequently, of the manufacturing in-
terest, in the decisions of pai'hament. In former times,
we had members of parliament; we have now delegates
sent there, not to express their own opinions, deliberately
and matiu'ely considered before being adopted, which,
as educated men, they are able to do, but to state the sen-
timents on the government of nations taken up by igno-
rant men, who are neither able nor willing to weigh deh-
berately the arguments for and against a measure, and
who bawl for what they are told, by demagogues more
knowing than themselves, is for their o-svn advantage."

We had a long conversation, which ended as all con-
ferences here do now — -vN-ith a feelhig of animosity against
her Majesty's advisers; which, though certainly finding
vent in such observations as I have just recorded, is, by
the reciprocation of opinion, more excited m the main.
Surely no one can wonder at such a state of feehng
among men who see theu' fortunes, in most instances
created by themselves, swept away by no act of their
own, but by the deeds of others, from their grasp. Poor
Ridley seems dreadfully crest-fallen. I imagine his des-
tination vnR be Cuba, from some incidental remarks that
dropt from him. I beheve he will take the paltry sum
offered for his once fine estate, and withdraw for ever
from British rule.

1st July, 1847.

The clouds are lowering more and more gloomily on
our political atmosphere. Prices of produce show akeady
decidedly the influence of Cuba on our market. A feel-
ing of despondency has taken possession of the most san-
guine, and those who laughed at the fears of others are
now really alarmed. Although few in nmnber, they are,
among the planters, those proprietors whose estates, fi'om

270

the advantages of singularly rich soil and other local
causes, have, even up to this time, given a clear revenue
to them; and among other classes, those who can see
that then* prosperity depends on that of the agricultural
interest.

My family, with great reluctance, have agreed to pro-
ceed to England without me, and they are to sail about
the middle of this month. Charles is again liimself, but
I rely chiefly on his wife to keep him in a state of equa-
nimity under the distressing circumstances. I have not
disguised from them my anticipations of complete ruin in
this Colony; and they will go with an understanding
that the small sum I have set apart wall constitute their
whole fortune. Whether the southern parts of Europe
may not better suit both it and my wife's constitution,
may be a question for consideration ; but they will be some
time at home after their anival, miless the doctors order
it otherwise.

George remains Avith me, and I suspect he ■v\ill have
to take immediate charge of the plantation, for Brown,
like a good soldier in action, who sees his comrades
deserting their posts, and is yet reluctant to join them,
has begun to look fixedly to other lands; but still a Hn-
gering desire to continue the hopeless struggle is at issue
with his cooler judgment. I shall have soon to part with
my old friend Ridley, also, who has sold his estate, and
with the full consent of his wife, who would not leave the
tropics for the world, is going to tiy his fortmie once
more as a planter among the Spaniards of Cuba, driven,
as he says, by the British people, to be again a slave-
holder. I shall feel his loss at the time acutely. But,
when misfortune overtakes one, the deprivation of wonted
associates ranks among the petty evils of life — the great
and absorbing one of losing fortune and station throwing
all such into the shade.

I have had a number of Portuguese as well as Indian

271

Coolies for months on the estate, and my experience tends
to confirm all that I learned from others, and have set
down regarding both classes of people. As men to
compete with the robust natives of Africa in tropical la-
bom', they stand nearly in the same position, with regard
to their competitors, as boys of twelve years to men in the
agricultural operations of Europe. Their physical infe-
riority is evident to the Negroes themselves. If the Hin-
du is better able to stand the rays of the sun, he is not
stronger (if so strong) as the man of Madeira. Our
urgent necessity has taught us fearfully to be cautious in
bringing all sorts of people, or rather any sort, save
Afiicans, to oiu' shores. We have, after great labour,
and overcoming much opposition, been permitted by go-
vernment to raise a loan to the extent of £500,000, for
the purpose of importing Coolies from India, and return-
ing them, after five years' service, at the current rate of
wages in the Colony. The expense of bringing them is
seventy-five dollars, and of retmniing them, the same; in
all 150 dollars, or £16 each passage; altogether, £32 for
one Hindu, It is computed by those who have had
most experience of them here, that, taking into account
their frequent absence from the field, and the work they
do while they are there, three of them vnW be required to
perform, in one year, the tasks which one Negro, even in
his present disorganized state, does on the average. We
are thus paiyang, in as far as regards the cost of import-
ing and exporting those people, as much as should bring
us three effective men, while, in reality, we have only
one; and we are under the necessity of finding houses
for ninety when accommodation for thirty should be suf-
ficient, with eveiy thing in the same proportion.

And these are the labourers with whom we propose to
compete with native Africans, bought at four himdred
dollars a-head, and kept at the rate of twenty-five dol-
lars (the cost of maintaining them) per annum, while

272

they are wrought sixteen hours a-day. We will give the
anti-colonial party the full benefit of the interest on slave
property, on which they dwell so much, and still the cost
of the slave will not reach 50 dollars per annum; whereas
our Coolies cost us fully more in the expense of bringing
and sending them away (which, spread over five years,
amounts to 30 dollars per annum, without interest on the
money advanced), and, in house rent, at the low rate of
two dollars a-month — the twenty-pence for every day he
works being the additional cost of the Coolie over that of
the Negro. But when we consider that one slave, well
fed, will, in sixteen hours, do as much as the Hindu in
six days of continuous labour, we can discern the hope-
less nature of the j^resent struggle at once. What an
idle thing it is to exclaim against the immorality of the
Spaniards, and their cruelty, when our oAvn countiy is
the sole cause at present of their overworldng and kilhng
their slaves. If they do so, is it not to the people and
parliament of Great Britahi that this great fact is owing?
Is it not to them the planter of that island is indebted for
the high price he now gets for his sugar, as compared
with what he received formerly, and which makes it pro-
fitable for him to use up and expend Negroes bought
— thanks to the increased slave-trade! — at three or four
hundred dollars a-head? The term "fi'ee-trade" was never
so much misapphed as to this shameful encoiiragement of
the slave-trade. It is like settlino; a fioht between an
armed and an unarmed man, and giving it the name of
a fi'ee, just, and equitable settlement. The Cuban or
Brazilian planter is triply armed — the British sugar-
grower naked and defenceless. A Spaniard cased in
mail, and trampling on a miserable American, would be
a fit emblem of their relative position.

The men of Cuba, among whom are mingled a great
many shrewd, calculating Yankees, have been trying
every method for years back to make the busuiess of

273

sugar-making pay, with even no better market than those
of the European continent; and, in their eager search
after new plans of economising labour, they have dis-
covered that it is cheaper to buy slaves, with the coast of
Africa open to them, than to be at the expense of rearing
children. Hence the small proportion of women in their
gangs. Another fact, established by their experience, is
one which it will be difficult to make our matter-of-fact
countrymen, who judge of all things by what they see
around them, comprehend. They have found out that a
man, whose mental faculties are obscm'ed or mideveloped,
is in the position of an inferior animal in regard to his
physical powers. It is a well known fact that a horse, to
a certain extent, will give increased labom* for increased
food. The planter of Cuba obtains the same result from
feeding largely the Bozal Negro. The latter is incapable
of looking forward into friturity ; the present is all that
his limited faculties permit him to contemplate. If he
has the prospect of getting an enormous dinner or sup-
per— eating being almost his principal enjoyment — he is
morally supported throughout his arduous task as well as
better fitted, by ample nourishment for it, physically. He
has none of that Avear and tear of mind which preys on
the body, and which, in civilized man, arises fi-om deep
thought and the exercise of reasoning powers, not pos-
sessed by the other, to say nothing of those sensibilities,
arising out of an artificial state of society, that are totally
unknown to denizens of the wilderness.

One of the most popular theories in Britain is, that a
slave can never compete with a fr'ee man, and it has its
origin in that disposition of Englishmen which I have
just mentioned. They imagine either that fr'ee Negroes
work like Whites in Europe, or they take the case of a
man, such as they see in their own country, employed in
agriculture, forced off by people of a different race, and
compelled to labour, fettered, and in constant terror of

2 M

274

the whip, and of death itself — the case of one reduced
from compensated to uncompensated labour — from a home
of happiness and comfort to a place of .filth, misery, and
human degradation, the very aspect of which is enough
to break the spirit and paralyze the strength of the un-
happy indi'sddual. It is always assumed that the slave-
liolder reduced them to the condition of slaves, and upon
this the theory rests. The spirit of the man being crushed
and broken, by the change in his condition, his physical
powers are diminished accordingly, and it implies that
the person pre\'iously occupied another and a better posi-
tion, before he came into the possession of White men.

Now, when the fact is kno^^^l that the condition of the
slave in Cuba is better than that of the same person in
Africa, we might fancy that the theoiy, like other dog-
mata founded on imagination, would topple down from its
baseless elevation. But this, it seems to be impossible for
our countiymen to understand. An idea once implanted
in their sensorium is difficult of removal. John Bull asks
himself, "Could I work as hard if I were a slave?" and,
with a shake of his head, gravely answers "No." If it is
told him, "That is an unfair way of putting the case — ^you
are a man weU off, and happy in every relation of hfe,
and a rational person apt to ponder over your situation,
and to sink under misfortune, from dwelHng on it, if it
should overtake you. But in this case there is no misfor-
tune— at least the position of the party is not made worse
— and he cannot, hke you, afflict himself by comparing
his present Avitli his past situation. Feed him well, and
you get plenty of work from liim. The case of a horse
taken fi'om a \vretclied carter, who starved him, to a far-
mer s stable, where he is better fed, is more in point.
The one thinks just about as much as the other." "What!''
John Bull will exclaim in wrath, "speak of a man as if
he was a horse ; it may easily be seen what you are," and
afjain shakino; his head, he will stride oft' as if the matter
had been settled in the most satisfactory manner.

275

The people of England at tins moment, and in the
teeth of the most deplorable facts to the contrary, cHng to
this idle and pernicious theory, and if it was not so firmly
rooted m the minds of all classes, the destructive doctrines
of Cobden, Bright, & Co., in regard to the sugar colonies,
would not have come into practical operation. In fact,
it is a state of slavery (which those theorists believe to
have such debilitating influence on the human frame),
that renders the struggle so unequal at present between
the British and foreign planter, even independently of the
African trade. I have recorded here the chfficulties we
encounter in obtaining four or five hours' labour per
diem at high wages. The planter of Cuba can at all
times command it on the lowest terms. While the cane-
fields here are destroyed by the rank weeds of the tropics,
those of that island are kept beautifully clean; while our
canes often spoil at the mill from want of hands to grind
them off and conduct the manufacture of sugar, the pro-
cess there is gone through with miiformity and undeviat-
ing propriety. The absolute control wliich the slave-
holder possesses over the actions of liis labom'ers, gives
him an advantage over the cultivator by fi'ee labour,
which, in fact, renders it doubtful if, even under the most
abundant supply of the latter sort, the competition could
be successfully carried on in our colonies. It is an ad-
vantage so great, as to take precedence of all others
enjoyed by the Cuban or Brazihan, even the cheapness of
labour itself; and it is just the want of it which, in free
countries, is fomid to be the greatest di'awback. In the
densely-populated plains of Hindostan this is the case.
Nevertheless, in order to give the two systems a fair trial,
as against each other, the importations of laboui'ers should
be fi'eed from all restrictions, and those imported who are
most likely to maintain the struggle against theii" kindred
in slavery; and this brings me back to the subject of
African emigration to the West Indies.

276

From the observations I have ah'eady made on this
topic, it will be seen that I believe the cause of philan-
thropy would gain more even than the British sugar
planters, by the adoption of a scheme like that of Mr.
Hume's. The effect would be to bring those poor, de-
graded outcasts of creation from the bnital darkness in
which they are plunged, into the light of Christianity,
and within the pale of law and civilization — to throw the
strong shield of British protection around those who, in
their own fell land, are at the mercy of ruthless and easily-
infuriated savages, and without an earthly power to save
them.

If this fact is doubted, let the writings of all the tra-
vellers who have visited those benighted regions be con-
sulted— from Mungo Park down to M'Leod, Rankine,
and the latest writers on the subject in general. The
customs of the chiefs seem to resemble, in some respects,
the funeral games of the ancients, inasmuch as they con-
sist of ceremonies in honour of deceased relatives, at
which men are sacrificed to the manes of the departed,
so that they may serve them in the other world. On
these occasions they have dances, during wdiich, if an
individual makes a false step, so that he loses liis footing
and falls to the ground, he is instantly wdthdi'awn from
the circle and beheaded, the accident being considered an
evil omen. It would appear that a certain number, in
proportion to the rank of the chief, must be immolated
immediately after the death of a near connection, and to
them it is customary to give messages to the dead before
they are despatched. One of those authors relates the
story of a king, whose mother had died, and who had
sacrificed a respectable niunber of victims, each having a
special message to the deceased; but, after sending off
the last, he suddenly recollected some words that he
should have given him to convey to her, and, calling an
attendant, he delivered the postscript to him. The poor

277

fellow, not being prepared for the honour, was seized with
fear, and declared " that he did not know the way." " I
A\ill show you the way," cried tlie dignitary, furious at
anything like opposition, and, so saying, he unsheathed
his sabre and struck off the victim's head at a blow. Is
it to be considered a crime, even in Manchester, to
rescue people from being, in life and Hmb, at the mercy
of men like this brutal savage? Is the mere fact of pay-
ing a sum of money to deliver the wretches from such
cmel bondage a crime of so deep a dye ? We have seen
the mist of fanaticism bewilder many good men; and we
can understand how an excited and disordered imagina-
tion may mingle fiction with truth, in such a way that,
by then* obscured faculties, the one is not easily separated
from the other.

But here is nothing to mystify the plainest and most
matter-of-fact understanding ; — the question simply is —
whether it is meritorious, or the contrary, to withdraw
the most wretched people on earth form the cruel oppres-
sion they endure, and to place them among the happiest
peasantry of the known world? I am much better satis-
fied as to the good effect which this scheme would have
on the tribes of Africa, than the planters of the West
Indies, unless the operation of the plan be accompanied
by some measure of protection, for a time, to the latter
against the slave-dealing foreigners. La fact, there is
reason to apprehend that, before the good effects can have
time to manifest themselves the cultivation of the West
Indies ^vill disappear altogether, if the miequal competi-
tion is forced on thenl still. At this moment, estates are
chiefly kept up by creditors, who know that a retm*n to
prosperity is the only manner in which their outlay can
be recovered. Therefore, they risk more, in hopes that
the good sense of the nation will again vindicate itself,
and cast off the pernicious, new-fangled doctrines of the
day. But when they give up hopes of this blessed con-

278

summation, then must the estates be abandoned, fi'om
want of funds to carry them on. Let us see what would
be the probable and progressive effect of an importation
so extensive.

The first step would be to enter into treaties with the
chiefs who at present supply the Cuban and Brazilian
slavers with cargoes, on such a basis as would render it
advantageous for them to adhere to them. This, and the
establishment of agents in suitable locahties, would en-
sure a constant supply ; wliile an emigration scheme, to
suit the circumstances, and under the superintendence of
the governments of France and England, would have to
be constructed immediately, in accordance with wliich the
Africans would be removed in comfort to the Colony,
whether French or Enghsh, for which they are designed.
Contracts with such rude people are out of the question,
at least, until they have been for some time in the West
Indies. They will understand that they are to remain
where they are placed, for a certain term of years. The
particulars of an agreement they cannot comprehend;
but it certainly would be desirable, and of great import-
ance to the planters, if they were bomid to remam at
least one year on an estate, after they have acquired in-
telhgence enough to understand the natiu^e and obliga-
tions of the arrangement. It would tend to confirm them
in settled habits; and the natmre of our cultivation is such
that we should be assured of the number of workmen we
are to have for a year, in order to know what extent of
cultivation we should keep up for that length of time.
But, supposing all those preHminaries to be arranged to
the satisfaction of the authorities appointed by the im-
perial government to supermtend the allocation of the im-
migrants, we shall foUow them to the plantations, where
they are to mingle with the settled inhabitants.

It must be expected that the people imported under
this system would be different from the captured Negroes

279

whom we get occasionally now. The latter, from having
been detained at Sierra Leone, or some other port, for
adjudication, perhaps a length of time, have, from mix-
ing with Europeans, got rid of much characteristic mld-
ness and ferocity of appearance, which, if they were
brought directly and without impediment, they would
possess, and which in fact distinguished them in a marked
manner from the Creoles in former times. If they come
in a few weeks from Africa, they will not only have the
mdigenous aspect of the rude natives there, but be
unable to speak any christian language; and, as the
number of Africans in the West Indies is now very li-
mited, it may happen that considerable batches may be
located on estates, where none but themselves can con-
verse in their native tongue. The Creoles would disdain,
if they could, to " talk country" to them, as they style
the different Guinea dialects. This, by limiting their in-
tercourse, would be a favour of the planter, whose object
would be to keep them from acquiring the idle, spend-
thrift habits of the old inhabitants ; and, for this reason,
the more rapidly they are imported, and the more they
are kept apart from the latter, the better would it be, un-
til their numbers and their more industrious habits should
preponderate over their more civiHzed compatriots, with
their idle and reckless propensities. It is evident, if
they arrive in small parties, as they have hitherto, that
they Avill be absorbed into the mass of idleness and profli-
gacy which now exists in the colonies.

To preserve to them that disposition to labour in-
dustriously for money, wliich the native African, in so
far as we have proved him, possesses, they should come
in such numbers as to admit of their being settled on
estates in considerable detachments, so as to form a small
community among themselves, accessible to the Whites
through an interpreter; and, among the latter, the
clergyman will be our best and most effectual agent in

280

humanizing and keeping them right. As they acquire
the Enghsh language, they will mix with other descrip-
tions of labom'ers; but still, if they are in sufficient num-
bers, they will prefer the society of those who are bona
fide countrymen to that of Creoles. The difficulty will
be, probably, in gradually reducing their wages to the
sum which will enable the planter to compete with his
slave-holding rival. It will be impossible to begin with
that amount; and they cannot be made to understand
the effect of competition in reducing allowances. In
fact, the same difficulty would be experienced in settling
wages by fixed rule, that we encountered in 1842; and
labour must j ust, like other marketable commodities, con-
form itself in value to demand and supply.

Thus, some time must elapse ere the latter is sufficient
to satisfy the former, so as to reduce the rate of wages to
something like the amomit which might afford a chance
of competition with slave-growing countries. I>iudng
that time, and until it is ascertained that labour sufficient
to bring wages to the rates cm'rent in Barbadoes, of 6d. to
9d.per diem, is imported, it is to be feared the chance, which
might otherwise be given to the colonies by the measure,
would be lost, unless some protection should be allowed
them. Every year this is becoming more necessaiy, and it
is probable that the first of free importation would be the
most trying in the feai*ful crisis. What number of steady
labourers might be necessary to keep up the crops of
British Guiana at their former amount, may be pretty
nearly guessed at by referring to the population lists of
1830, and preceding years. The number of the work-
ing classes of all ages then, including children and inva-
lids, may be stated, in round numbers, at 100,000, of
whom 25,000 might be able-bodied labourers. This is
not one year's anticipated importation into Brazil of
smuggled slaves, who are all strong persons. But say
that the importation m families, which is the method that

281

we would adopt, would require the same gross number of
100,000 (setting aside altogether the labour to be procured
from oui* present workmen; and, supposing that the latter
would not work for the low wages implied by this scheme),
there can be no doubt that, if other circumstances suited,
they might be obtained in no extended space of time.

The importation, in point of fact, should be so large
as to prove sufficient for the land which is impoldei-ed
or dammed and enclosed against the rivers and the sea.
Much has been said about the impracticability of adapt-
ing oiu' population to the land, the latter being in such
abundance; but this important fact is overlooked, that the
ex]3ense of impoldering is so great as to limit the extent of
available surface to what is already impoldered. No estate,
even in times when labour was at command, could be
settled, that is, impoldered — trenches of every description
dug, fields cleared and planted,aud buildings ^Aith machinery
erected, under a cost varying from £15,000 to £30,000
or £40,000, or even more. And a mighty change in-
deed must come over the state of "West India affairs ere
any one would think of incurring this large expenditure
for the purpose of creating property, now subjected to
such sudden and ruinous depreciation. The Hmits of
cultivation are, therefore, confined — first, by the number
of estates; and, secondly, by the extent of impoldered
land belonging to them.

It is true, in existing plantations, the virgin soil within
the dams is not exhausted. There is yet a considerable
breadth on many of them; but the most fertile may be
said to be now in cultivation. On the coast, some, by
the terms of their original grant from the Cro^vn, have
right to what is called " a double" or even " triple
depth" — that is, they can have, by applying for them,
crown lands behind theii* estates and in bush, to the ex-
tent of 750 or even 1,500 roods in length, by the
breadth of the plantation itself; or, in other words, a

2n

282

continuation of the latter to those extents. And the only
expense (which is still very great) required in taking in
ground according to this right, is that of impoldering,
trenching, clearing, and planting. But most of the coast
plantations are ah'eady on their second depth, and the
distance from the buildings is fomid to be inconveniently
great; so that, without erecting new works, there is httle
chance of considerable addition to the cultivation in that
way.

We can thus with us make an approach to ascertain-
ing what number of effective labourers will be reqvured
to accomplish that which has so long been a desideratum
in the West Indies — the adaptation of supply to demand
in the labour market. If we take into consideration the
number of cotton and coffee estates, now irretrievably
abandoned, which employed a considerable proportion of
our slave population, and make allowance for improve-
ment in the industrial habits of our present working
classes, we shall find the requisite acquisition not so very
formidable as might, at the first glance, be imagined. It
would be absurd to set down any precise figm'es to decide
the number, for the most minute calculation on the best
data must still be contingent on chcumstances which we
can neither control nor foresee. But the fact is indis-
putable, that the vast tracts of fertile ground so much
talked of by the anti-colonial party as available, are
literally closed to the planters, no less from lack of capital
than the impossibihty of gaining, by bringing them into
cultivation, as much as if they belonged to the empire of
Brazil; and thus a working population, equal in collec-
tive strength to the former slave one, is all that is re-
quired.

The system recommended, which implies a residence
of no more than jBve years of the immigrants in the
Colony, may be in favour of the planters, inasmuch as the
place of those who had become indifferent to labour, from

283

having amassed what to them would be wealth, must be
occupied by fresh hands, eager to follow in the same
track. It is to be remembered, that the wages of the la-
bourer, if he is industrious, form a very inconsiderable
item in the hst of advantages. He has many ways of
acquiring money, such as cultivating what extent of
ground he chooses during three-fifths of the day; rais-
ing stock, of all descriptions, on the fruits of labour so
bestowed, namely, pigs, poultr}', and, in some locaHties,
cattle; and when they have a little capital, there is a
sa^^ngs-bank to receive it on good interest.

The XegTO, after five years of industry under those
circumstances, would be in a condition to return to his
native countrj^ in every respect a new being, and, in the
eyes of his savage kindred, a man to hold high place
among the loftiest of the tribe. But, in order that they
may retain the habits and ideas of civilized life, in so far
as they have acqmred the latter, it is obvious that they
should settle together in nmnbers sufficient to keep up
those habits, and to spread among their comiti-ymen the
knowledge and the civilization they have acquired. For
this purpose, it might be necessary to estabhsh, in those
countries whence the slaves are chiefly obtained, forts
with small garrisons, aromid which the retm'ned emi-
grants might settle, and from which, as from a centre,
the light of religion and of European manners might
spread among the rude sons of the wilderness. By
training them to arms, they would become able to defend
themselves agamst the attacks of neighbom-ing chiefs,
over whom their superior intelligence would give them
decided advantages. It must be borne in mind that, in all
barbarous countries (look back six hundred years to our
own), warfare is the usual state of society — strangers and
enemies are synon}THOus terms. It is only, after the dif-
fusion of knowledge and the dawn of civilization, that
hospitality begins to be thought a virtue. Distrust is the

284

instinct of wild people, to preserve them from those who,
like themselves, are occupied entirely by strife and blood-
shed, and who have no sense of honour, and no feelings
of compunction or pity. The system thus established
would promote trade and commerce no less than the
cause of humanity. The towns Avhich might arise round
those forts would become mai'ts for the exchange of
European for African commodities, and the advantages
arising from it to all parties would be the best guarantee
of its endurance and ultimate success, either as regard-
ing the extinction of the illicit slave-trade, or the civili-
zation of the African tribes. The planters, walling to
make any sacrifice to save the small remnant of their
property, would readily take on themselves so much of
the expense as should justly be charged to them ; but it
is probable that the government would have to advance
the whole of it in the meantime, both cash and credit
having departed from our unfortunate class. It is well
known that the price (or ransom rather) is a mere
bagatelle. The passage would be the most expensive
part of the whole business, and its cost can be easily and
readily ascertained.

I am at this moment decidedly of opinion that no mea-
sm'e less comprehensive than that which I have just
sketched can save the British sugar colonies from ruin;
and that even the restoration of our former protective
duties, unaccompanied by some such scheme, would
prove inadequate. Such being my sentiments, it is diffi-
cult to tell why I linger here. Those more deeply versed
in the workings of the human mind must explain the
mystery. Certain it is, I cannot bring myself to give up
everything, and it may be that, unconsciously, hope ex-
ists within me, in spite of absolute conviction, the result
of long and anxious consideration.

My family have gone from me, and I am left, almost
alone, to struggle with the calamities of the day, and the

285

sad imaginings connected with them. Ridley, too, has
gone to Barbadoes, whence he will proceed to St. Thomas',
and thence to Cuba. I am depressed and dispirited, but
George is full of energy, and, apparently, at least, san-
guine as to the future. Bro-\vn is still wavering, but it
is not difficult to perceive that he will speedily withch'aw
from the losing business he is now engaged in, and begin
a fresh career in a more favoured land; but whether one
of the Austrahan colonies. New Zealand, or Ceylon, is
yet to be considered and decided on.

On looking over what I have written in this Diary on
the subject of African immigration, I perceive that I have
not dwelt long on the advantages which the scheme pos-
sesses as the most powerftJ means of suppressing the
African slave-trade. In fact, it appears to me to be the
only method by which it can be stopped; and I do not
know" that more may be said, because the difficulty of
suppressing it entfrely by armed vessels has been almost
universally recognised; indeed, it is generally believed to
be impracticable. The question then will simply be,
whether it is better to ransom those unfortunates, or allow
them to Hve and die in a state of slavery, as I have said
already. The men of peace, who rely on the influence
of opinion, will think that slavery must soon cease all
over the world. This is the way in wliich Englishmen
reason, and have reasoned since the slave-trade became
illegal.

But the miraculous establishment of this new state of
society throughout the known world, is not a whit more
likely to occur because they think it shall or should do so ;
and the advocates of war in other cases, are not likely to
recommend hostilities, by -waj of enforcing treaties in this
instance, in punishing the guilty depredators as pirates.
Without some strong measure, therefore, the trade must
continue, and go on increasing until the planters of Cuba
and Brazil have a monopoly of sugar-growing. For what

286

country can stand against tliem under such advantageous
circumstances ? The belief that any one can, as I have
already said, is based on one of the wildest hallucinations
that ever possessed the mind of man, and is disproved by
the very facts of the ruin of our colonies, and the con-
tinuance of the African slave-trade — ^I mean, the fancied
superiority of free over slave-labour.

I have derived no comfort from my immigrants. Nearly
all the Portuguese have left me — in fact, only a few sugar-
boilers remain ; and the CooHes are also much diminished
in number. They are a quiet, frivolous race, like harm-
less children. They had httle, with two exceptions, of
the devotion to caste which characterizes the natives
of the East; mdeod, they were most hkely people of no
cast originally, and the greater number were Christians.
The sndar, whom I mentioned as a superior character,
occasionally preached to them in one of theu' own
tongues, as a Christian teacher. It was whispered that
this man had been of high caste, but, for some reason
that remained midivulged, he had lost it. He certainly
had great sway over his comitrymen, and they looked up
to him with reverence. His Arife, also, had an appearance
much above that of her compatriots, from whom she se-
cluded herself generally. I often noticed the taste with
which this couple had adorned their cottage and garden
with all the flowers they could procure and transplant,
and the singular degi'ee of harmony and retii'ement that
reigned around, which was caused by their living apart
from almost every one. I am particular in my remarks
about them, for the poor fellow was taken suddenly ill and
died, and his wife, after attempting to destroy herself, fell
gradually into a state of mind bordering on fatuity, and
was thus frequently seen wandering about the fields ac-
companied by a pet deer, either singing or speaking to
her departed husband. After the lapse of a few weeks,
she was missed one morning, and, in a short time, found

lying under a palm in a small grove, which had been a
favourite resort of both in leisure hours. The circum-
stances by which her death was attended, and the fate
generally of those hapless strangers, in my present me-
lancholy mood made a deep impression on me, and ex-
cited feehngs which found vent in some hues, descriptive
of her condition and her end.

"0 Sadi! my lost one! I still see you here,
Each flower that I gaze on *s the face of my dear;
Each tree that we loved, has thy form in its shade ;
On paths where we roved, thy foot-prmt has staid.

"All things that we cherished are stUl to be seen;
Alone you have perished, and gone from the scene.
The humming-bird comes to our rose-bower still.
And mournfully roams, while he sings through his biU!

"The fawn you did rear, now has lost all his pride,
And droops his fine ear as he walks by my side;
Then stamps he and snorts, as he still did of yore,
"When, to join in his sports, you were wiled to the door.

"0 Sadi! your lone one is weak, weak and low.
My head is so strange grown — I cannot tell how !
The man who is skilful, talks wisely in vain.
He tells them I'm wilful, that grief turns my brain.

"The soft wind blowing, wafts a note from the dove
Where palm-trees are growing — the call of my love! —
To rest then I yield me, stiU dreaming of you.
The palmetto will shield me from fast-falling dew."

The mourner was found, at the dawn of next day ;
But her rest was too sound, and cold where she lay!
The deer thought she slept, and, his chin on her knee,
True watch there he kept, 'neath the shady palm-tree.

286

She had passed to the land where Sadi was gone,
For her heart might not stand in this world alone;
And Peris of lud, at the place of their sleep,
Are heard in the wind, oft to wail near and weep.

Januaey, 1848.

My wife and family have removed on account of her
health to Italy, the climate of England having been found
too severe for her weakened frame. Charles and his wife
are likely to remain in that delightful country, for one
of my old friends has offered to establish him there as
partner in a branch of his house, for which he considers
Charles's talent for business generally will soon qualify
him; and, in the meantime, another of the house will be
joined with him. I am most grateful for this attention,
which is the disinterested act of an old famOiar friend.
There is no change in the condition of the Colony. Lord
George Bentinck, having given notice of a motion for a
Committee of Inquiry into the state of the Sugar Colo-
nies, has again revived the drooping spirits of the planters,
and evidence is to be collected, and persons appointed
to go home to lay it before the Committee, which it is not
doubted will be appointed. In all other respects, we are
the same — gradually losing more and more of our pro-
perty; for me, the past year has been the worst I have
yet encountered, and doubtless it must be the same with
others, when prices have been, for six months at least,
nearly on a level with those of foreign comitries— the ex-
pected and inevitable result of free-trade. My crop has
been about the same as that of the six preceding years,
or rather about the average of them, and the loss is fully
£3,000 upon it.

289

31st March, 1848.

It is represented by those connected with our Colony,
who are watching the proceedings of Lord George
Bentinck's committee, that a remarkably strong case has
been made out in only one month's sitting. The wit-
nesses from all our possessions tell the same tale of deep
distress. Surely we are justified in entertaining some
degree of hope under such circumstances. But, God
help us! om' struggle with the faction is like that we are
engaged in with the slave-owner — altogether unequal and
unfair. It is the combat of giant and dwarf, in both
cases.

I am now worn out by care and sickness. Anxiety is
a powerful assistant to climate in bringing on and keep-
ing up disease. Intermittent fever has laid its grasp on
me, and obstinately retains its hold. I must leave this
scene of want and woe. I have not spirit to enter more
of my now utterly hopeless observations in this sad re-
pository of my thoughts and deeds. In a few months I
hope to be on the pleasant shores of the Mediterranean
sea; and, in three weeks, I shall bid a sorrowful adieu to
the magnificent Province of Guiana.

End of the Journal. .

2o

CONCLUDING REMARKS,

BY THE EDITOR.

And with a sad heart does your friend say farewell to
you, old Barton Premium! May the fair scenes and
soft breezes of Italy be as balm to your wounded spmt
and your shattered frame, for a better man never withered
under the bhght of colonial misrule.

It is smgular how accurately his forebodhigs in the
joui'nal have been fulfilled, although some of them were
evidently throA^^^l off in the bitterness of a heart fretted to
a degree of morbid sensibility by harsh usage. The re-
port of Lord George Bentinck's committee, with all the
evidence taken by it, and constituting, perhaps, the
strongest case ever laid before parliament, has been almost
utterly disregarded by the ministry, who, indeed, were
candid enough, when the appointment of the committee
took place, to declare, in the person of Lord John
Russell, that the line of pohcy to be followed by them
being already marked out, they would not depart from
it. We have also heard the colonial minister declare in
his place, that the measures adopted by government, m
regard to the colonies, have hitherto been wise and bene-
ficial, notwithstanduig the mianimous testimony of scores
of witnesses, given before two committees of the House of

292

Commons, at different times — a space of many years in-
tervening between the periods of their sittmgs — during
which the distress continued steadfastly to increase, and
also, notwithstanding the respectful and forcible repre-
sentations of the planters themselves.

We have heard Mr. JSIilner Gibson, the member for
Manchester, propose to cancel the treaty with Brazil for
suppressing the slave-trade — a fact which, I am sure,
IVir. Premium never really anticipated, although, in a
moment of bitter excitement, he has said that such would
happen. And, to crown the whole, even now, wliile
these sheets, bearing testimony to the ruinous effect of
slave competition, are passing through the press, the
newspapers are teeming with rumours regarduig the fu-
ture proceedings of government, founded on the report
of the slave-trade committee, which, if correct, clearly
show that the sugar colonies are finally and in'etrievably
consigned, whatever the consequences may be, to the in-
fhction of free-trade practice, in every department where-
in they are assailable, even to the extent of free-trade in
men.

Let no one say that such rumours are wild and im-
probable. Nothing could appear to be more so at that
time than the admission of slave sugar to the mar-
kets of Britain ; yet it was carried triumphantly by the
same party. The removal of restrictions on the cultiva-
tion of that article, which they were determined to have
in large quantities, was a natural consequence, and one
to be looked for when the relative position of the two
j^arties, the injm*er and the injured, continued to be the
same, only changed by the increased strength of the for-
mer and the more marked weakness of the latter.

We might have anticipated that the men who, in
1846, laughed at consistency and former professions of
philanthropy as obstacles to the prosecution of their de-
signs, would be ready in 1848 to persevere in the new

293

line of policy, opposed as it is to all their former words
and actions, and to go even a step farther in assisting
these new customers with the means of bringins more
produce to market to exchange for their manufactured
goods.

Their first measure was only an indirect (though de-
cided) encouragement to the slave-trade; their next, it
seems, is to be as direct and straightforward as possible,
and, in fact, nothing less, if rumour speaks truth, than
the removal of the fleets stationed there to suppress it.

The monstrous doctrine, wdiatever may be the inten-
tions of government, is fi-eely advocated by the free-trade
press and the adherents of government generally; and it
would seem that this great step in the advance of Man-
chester doctrines is to follow next after the abrogation of
the Navigation Laws, so that we may soon see commer-
cial and manufacturing Quakers aiding and abetting the
ruffians of all nations in carrying on fi'ee-trade in slaves.
It is almost absurd to combat the arguments of those who
support this most extraordinary proposition.

Great Britain assumed to herself a sort of authority in
the matter of the African slave-trade, which, although
emanating from excessive zeal in the cause, disgusted
foreimi nations with her. She insisted on searching all
vessels on the African coast, and prosecuted her plans
with so much zeal as to excite the national jealousy of
more than one country, which, in fact, led to the adop-
tion of the present system at a recent period.

"What will ministers say to the French RepubUc when
the question of withdrawing the two squadrons comes to
be arranged? Will they fi-ankly say that the same party,
which has for fifty years pretended to advocate the rights
of the Negro, from philanthropic motives alone, has now
taken a difterent view of the question, and is determined
to class the slave-trade aniono- those great items in the
category of the political economists, which are to be

294

freed from all restriction whatever? What else can be
said? If the fleets cannot suppress the trade, no man
can deny that they obstruct it. Their presence is a restric-
tion at least as great as those protecting duties against which
the party wage incessant and um'elenting war, and,
doubtless, appears to them exactly in the same light.

Their manifesto appears in the shape of a " Report"
from the Anti-Slavery Society, in which the withdrawal
is earnestly recommended, amidst the usual quantity of
verbiage and sophistry witli which all their opinions are
promulgated.

Foreign nations cannot fail to perceive at once the
striking inconsistency and the vast poAver of the anti-
colonists. They cannot fail to observe that the same
men who formerly plagued the world with theii* ranting
and outrageous philanthropy, are now to trouble our na-
tion with principles opposite to those which they formerly
professed, and which their immensely mcreased strength
enables them to avow, not only with unblushing ef-
fi'ontery, but with the most absolute confidence in the
success of their endeavours to carry them into practice.
Foreigners must perceive that pure motives of philan-
thropy have never prompted the actions of those men;
and that, fr'om the first, their proceedings have been
studied and arranged, solely with a view to their o\vn in-
terests; and that our gi*eat empire has been drawn in, by
enlisting the best feelings of our nature in their cause, to
carry out the measures of this party in the first place;
and now, when it has waxed so strong, we should not
wonder if the mask is more loosely worn, and power re-
Hed on to bear it through in the second, and scarcely
disguised attempt to destroy our colonies.

It should not be said, perhaps, that the anti-colonists
desh'e the ruin of our sugar settlements, and perhaps
such is not their wish or anticipation. They may think
that it is possible for them to keep their position, while

295

their grand object, the advancement of foreign colonies,
is also attained. But men who must have acquired some
knowledge of the relative condition of the two, can
scarcely believe such a state of affau's to be possible.
What puzzles reflecting people, who are altogether free
from prejudice, is the undeviating hostility they have
shown to the miserable planters, even when they were
prostrated by their power, and at their mercy. The best
of them, the Buxtons, Lushiiigtons, &c., stopped when
emancipation was effected, and, like rational men and
true pliilantlu'opists, supported the planters, as well as
the former slaves, in all attempts to procure amehorating
measui'es. But they were soon obhged to leave their
former fi'iends in cUsgust, and to withdraw from the asso-
ciation. It is well known that the latter passed a resolu-
tion binding itself to support, by every means, the admis-
sion of slave-grown sugar into Britain. A deputation,
consisting of Mr. Scoble and two others, had been pre-
viously sent to Lord Brougham to procm'e liis co-opera-
tion in this most extraordinaiy movement, but that
sharp peer received them with indignation and surprise,
and in the correspondence which followed, he told them
he did not believe before that "three sane men could be
found in the society, to brmg foinvard such a proposition."
This was the first glaring departure fi'om their former
policy, in so far as regards the welfare of the Negroes.
But since the passing of the Emancipation Act, scarcely
a measiu'e has been proposed for the planters' benefit, which
they have not opposed with all their power. Free immi-
gration— ordinances framed to ensm'e social order, and to
promote habits of industry — and, in short, everything
that could be beneficial to the agricultural interest, met
A\dth then- fierce and unqualified hostihty. The argu-
ments adduced by them in support of this last great
attack on both planters and Africans, are, as might be
expected, singular. It is said that the fleet has forced the

296

slave-traders to enter into more extensive combinations.
Why, if this is an objection to it, it is one that apphes to
its efficacy, and proves it. One might as well say that a
police force is injurious, because it causes thieves to be
more cautions and cmming. But although it be true
that the trade has been shockingly increased since the
squadrons of France and England were joined to sup-
press it, no unprejudiced person will say that it arises
from the mere existence of this fact. Is it in hmnan
natm'e that a direct obstacle would induce men who for-
merly kept aloof, to engage in the business? — that be-
cause a formidable fleet scoured the African seas, hmidreds
should risk their fortunes, merely to have the pleasure of
cheating and evading those ships of war? We are called
on to beHeve this by the free-traders, who keep back,
while on the topic, although it is brought forward after-
wards, the real cause of those combinations of men, and
which every one foresaw would have the effect — the
Sugar Duty Act of 1846 (and anticipated rise in the
price of sugar by Brazilians and Cubans), wliich, instead
of loss and mishap, the prospect offered to them by the
ships of France and England, holds out the most tempt-
ing promises of prospective wealth. The immediate
effect of this act is well described by Dr. Cliff in his
evidence before the Sugar and Coffee Committee. The
price of slaves rose at once (he says) in Brazil, and a
great impetus was given to the slave-trade. In one year
after it was passed, seventy thousand slaves were imported
from Africa into the Brazihan empire, whereas only a
very few thousands had been imported in any one j'-ear
prcAdously. This gentleman was a planter of that
coTintry, and one who had formerly been engaged in the
slave-trade, and was thus well quahfied to speak on the
subject. The free-traders and their witnesses bring for-
ward tables to show that the number of people illicitly
carried off from Africa, has been regulated invariably by

297

the price of sugar — a fact which we have always asserted
— and yet, in the face of it, they open our markets to the
sugar of the slave-owners. It is wonderfiil that in
making this acknowledgment, they do not perceive how
awkwardly they are situated. It is exactly what the
colonists have always declared to be the case; and on
this fact rests the charge of inconsistency and want of
philanthropic feeling against the Anti-Slavery Society in
particular, and political economists in general. It was
the higher price obtained in England than on the Conti-
nent which gave the spur, as we foretold it would, to the
slavers, and has covered the seas with their vessels.

It is to be doubted whether the efficacy rather than the
inefficiency of the fleet is not the cause of hostihty to it.
We must judge of this by the number of captures, not
by the number of those who escape; for if we estimate
the extent of the trade by the latter, we must believe that
it is increasing rapidly, and that the ships are not doing
their duty, if we at the same time are led to believe that
no more are taken than before 1846. We must, as in
former times, be guided in our judgment, by the propor-
tion which the captures bear to the number of vessels
engaged in the trade. Admiral Hotham, the witness
whom they especially delight to quote, estimates the sliips
in the slave-trade taken by oiu- cruisers at thuly per cent,
of the entire number engaged in it. We must give all
the weight in this instance to the evidence of the admiral
which has been attached to it in general, and we think it
will be held to be conclusive; no man will beheve that a
heavy blow, and a great discouragement is not given to
any trade, when a third of the capital employed in it is
lost every year. The other naval officer whose testimony
is brought prominently forward is Captain Watson, who
confirms the admu'al in regard to the proportion of cap-
tures, by tables, but who unhesitatingly declares against
the removal of the fleet. This officer inveighs with great

2 p

298

earnestness against the description of vessels sent to the
African coast, which he describes as the worst fitted np
in the British navy. He speaks from expei'ience, and
so many strange things have come to hght, that it would
scarcely excite surprise if this fact should be traced also
to Manchester influence.

It is too probable, judging from antecedents, that the
nation will submit, in this instance also, to the domina-
tion of the free-traders and anti-colonists. It is to be
feared that the same indifference which prevailed when
it was observed that the hostility of the paily to the
West Indies did not cease with slavery there, and that
the object aimed at was to raise up foreign colonies and
countries into great consumers of oru' manufactures, even
if our own colonies should be anniliilated in these efforts to
obtain their ends — that this indifference mil be mani-
fested now, is to be feared, especially when the question
of economy is so forcibly dwelt on, the sum of £600,000
being annually spent in keeping up our share of the
fleet. It is but lately that a question of economy would
be tolerated, when brought forward in opposition to the
rights of humanity. It affords another instance of the
glaring inconsistency of anti-colonial animosity. The
sum of one hundred and fifty millions has been destroyed
(I think we may now say, utterly) in the West Indies to
promote the cause of humanity ; and this comparatively in-
significant amount of six hundred thousand is, I may
venture to say, scarcely more than is annually lost now
and expended by the luckless capitalists connected with
the West Indies, in the vain hope that the estates with
which they are connected may yet be preserved as profit-
able investments. Can a country, can a party, then, say
conscientiously that economy renders free-trade in men
necessary, forcing us to disregard both the rights of hu-
manity and of our deeply-injured colonies? Taken in
connection with Mr. Milner Gibson's motion for repeal-

299

iiig the treaty with Brazil for suppressing the slave-trade,
and with the steady and never-fliihng opposition of the
party to our colonies, the proposal to withdraw the
blockading fleet must be regarded as having no founda-
tion in the inefficacy of the latter, or in the cost of sup-
portmg it.

We cannot imagine that a party professing such prin-
ciples as are necessarily opposed to the interests of the
West Indies, will sanction any plan, such as that which
is advocated by my truly benevolent fi'iend in his journal.
Aji attempt is made to delude the West Lidians into the
belief that emigration fi*om Afi-ica will be promoted by
withdi'awing the fleet. But there can be no doubt tha:^
the latter does not, in the slightest degree, impede the
deportation of free people. The fact is admitted by one
of themselves, the late Secretary at Sierra Leone, who
says that the emigTation of free people fi'om that coast
cannot take place to any considerable extent, because
those who are fi'ee are averse to it. We have it from
other competent authorities, that those who are not
slaves in Africa do not belong to the classes (with some
exceptions) who labom* in the fields — they are chiefs, in
fact.

The withdi*awal of the fleet, therefore, must be re-
garded in eveiy way as a measm'e calculated to destroy
the last ghmmer of hope wliich still remains to the
planters. It may be a question, whether it will not be
beneficial as putting an end to the present ineffectual
struggle, which this hope prompts them to maintain, and
its profitless expenditure of money.

While those proceedings are going on, so strongly in-
dicative of colonial destruction, Ave have proof fi'om other
quarters that foreign slave-owners are bearing down all
attempts at competition with them. The East Indian
papers are all declaring that the firm of Arbuthnot & Co.,
the most energetic and zealous cultivators of sugar in

300

India, on the West India plan, and by means of Hindu
labourers, are about to desist from their hopeless exer-
tions, in utter despair of supplying the article at so cheap
a rate as the men of Cuba and Brazil, and after giving it
a fair trial of three years' duration. From the same
quarter, we find that the attempt to raise cotton there, in
opposition to the sla^'e-holders of North America, is an-
nounced to be a failm'e. All things conspire to show that
the struggle between free and slave labour terminates
generally in favour of the latter, even under the most fa-
vourable circumstances to the former.

In order more frJly to show his unrelenting spirit, the
colonial minister is actually doing what is merely glanced
at in the journal — not predicted — in regard to maintaui-
ing the present enormous expenditure of British Guiana.
Finding that the colonists were enabled to make a stand
against him behind the rampart of their constitution, he
has instructed the governor to have a bill prepared which
virtually breaks down tliis obstacle to his views, by ad-
mitting to the franchise a large body of voters, who, it is
miderstood, wdll support the views of the imperial go-
vernment as opposed to those of the planters. Tliis is of
a piece with the rest.

Earl Grey takes on himself to assume that the enor-
mous annual outlay entailed on the Colony by the mea-
sures of government, are a proof of prosperity; that the
yearly increase of expenditure forced on the hapless
colonists, and drawn from their constantly diminishing
resources, arises from increase of means and substance,
while, in too many instances, it comes from the capital of
those who are scarcely able to procure the necessaries of
life. What can be expected from a minister who has de-
clared the pohcy of government for the last ten years, in
regard to the colonies, to he " wise and beneficial?"

Thus, the loyalty and ready obedience of the colonists
to the mother country are tm-ned against them, and used

301

by their political opponents as an instrument in oppress-
ing them. They should have protested against the many
schemes for the benefit of the labouring classes, Avhich
have raised this expenditure to £220,000 per annum,
when they were brought forward, without a guarantee
that the property of the colonists should not be
impaired and rendered unproductive. They are now
at the mercy of those who seem to have assumed
for their motto the famous saying mentioned in the
journal {inutato nomine). "Delenda est Carthago," seems
to be ever present to their minds, and always the rule
which prompts their actions.

There are too many cases among the wretched colonists
which are the counter-parts of my fi'iend's; and he has
expressed himself to me in the strongest terms, since his
return to Europe, against the strange halluchiation which
prevails among the planters, and the influence of which
he succumbed to while among them — I mean that of en-
tertaining a hope that they will yet be able to compete
M'ith their rivals of Brazil and Cuba, either through the
agency of African labourers, or some other which the
wisdom of pai'liament, or the justice of the great body of
their countrymen, will concede to them at the eleventh
hoiu*.

The delusion is perfectly natural, because a case like
theirs is not to be met with in the annals of Great
Britain, unless it be that of the Darien expedition. But
they are not exactly parallel either. There is no national
jealousy aroused by the West Indians, nor is there any
cause of hostility to them; but they are merely over-
whelmed by an opposing interest, which, although falsely,
thinks it is to gain by their loss, and which has proved
immeasurably stronger than they throughout the arduous
strucpo-le.

Mr. Premium was a man who, as he himself declares,
possessed an ample fortune, independently of his West

302

India estate, and if he had been able to combat the delu-
sion, and dispose of it immediately after the full emanci-
pation of his slaves, at any price, he would have been
still a rich man. But, although a person of sound judg-
ment, he was carried on, from year to year, to lay out
money, mider a hope, of whose existence he did not seem
to be aware — for he always professed to have the gloomiest
anticipations — until everythmg went from him, and he
left the unhappy Colony to his still ardent and energetic
son, who is bearing up against insurmountable hardships
and debts, which are increasmg yearly, and now he can-
not get rid of his estate.

It has been computed that the annual amount drawn
from men situated like Premium on his arrival in the
Colony in 1840, and from mortgagees under this delu-
sive hope, contmues to be still nearly half a million ster-
ling for the whole of the sugar settlements.

It is wonderftJ, indeed, that faith in the future should
remain so firm and immutable after the sad experience of
so many years. There is doubtless much of that sort of
calculation on which Sir Eobert Peel relied, when he
told them that the slaves of the West Lidies would soon
assert theii' fr'eedom, and then the British planter would
be restored to his former position of equahty in cii'cum-
stances with his neighbour. "Mercy on us," says the old
baronet in the play, "a happy man when his brother's
throat is cut!" But the morahst need not start at this
doctrine ; it is neither new nor based on probabihty. We
have had the same prediction any time since the aboli-
tion (by law) of the African slave-trade, when it suited
a man to make it. A Negro insm-rection has never
succeeded, except m St. Domingo, and there success was
owino- to the war of colom's that prevailed in the island.
The Blacks are not able to aiTange a systematic rising,
and to matm-e it so as to ensure a successful result. They
have neither discretion to keep the secret, nor mental

303

powers to contrive udcI combine a plot which would com-
prehend the majority of their numbers, and enable them
to rise as one body and to overpower the Whites.

It is a pity Sir Robert, in his benovelent desire to com-
fort the colonists on his desertion of them, could not hit
on something more satisfactory, and it is a proof that he
felt there was notliing else to be said. Indeed, they were
probably fully aware of the fact when he left them.
Colonists have not to learn that rats, whether creeping
tilings or talking statesmen, are apt to leave a sinking
ship, and they are deeply sensible of his Distinctive faculty
in foreseeing danger.

It is difficult to refrain from expressing an opinion on
what Mr. Premium has emphatically termed the only
means of saving the planters, although these remarks
have extended too far ah'eady. It is certain that many
West Indians slu'unk from recommending this measure
to Lord George Bentinck's Committee on account of the
odium m which it was held among the people of this
comitry, and even some of then* own body.

But he has put it in the proper hght. As it is indis-
putable that the mass of the people in Afi-ica ai'e in a
state of dark and hopeless slavery, the term Ransom is
better appHed to the transaction which removes them as
free men to a fi'ee country, than that of Pm'chase. At
the time ]Mr. Premium made the entry hi his jomTial
which contains his opinions on this subject, the proceed-
ings of the two committees which have since sat, or were
then sitting, were of com*se unknown to him. Much has
come to light since he settled in Italy, and it is known
to his Editor that he is more and more confirmed in
his views since the evidence taken by the Slave Commit-
tee has been fr'om time to time pubhshed.

If it is admitted that slavery exists in Afi'ica to such
an extent as to extend to nineteen-twentieths of the popu-
lation, as is confidently asserted, siu'ely the difterence of

304

opinion which has existed should not continue. Any
man can picture to himself what the misery and sufferings
of a human being must be when bona fide a chattel in
possession of a savage, whom the merest accident may
rouse to a pitch of fary — whom inebriety may tempt to
torture for amusement — and who can, without check or
control, so deal with his abject property as any prompt-
ing emanating from those moods may suggest.

But the strongest reason is unquestionably that stated
in the journal, although what has now been said seems
quite enough to excite the sympathies of all humane peo-
ple. Yet when, along ^^dth it, we become aware that a
great trade is now carried on in the interior of Africa
to provide a sufficient number to supply the demand on
the coast, created by the sliips of Cuba and Brazil, we
are naturally led to believe that a measure which would
meet the poor wretches there, and convert their prospect
of a dreadful voyage and a perpetuity of slavery, into one
of freedom and happiness, would be more agreeable to
our feelings than anything else.

That they would derive incalculable benefit, whether
bought on his own land from their barbarous masters, or
on the sea coast, cannot be doubted. That a system of
redemption from slaveiy would have any other effect than
taking off the gangs of those who now regularly supply
the slavers, there is not the slightest reason to beheve.
It is a chimera with which the imagination of our
countrymen is affrighted by designing men, and which a
Httle inquiry would soon dispel. This being the case, the
question is, simply as Mr. Premium says — whether it is
for the advantage of the African to allow him to go as a
slave to Cuba or Brazil, supposing he has escaped death
by massacre to save expenses, or to take him, as a free
man, to the West India colonies, there to remain no
more than five years, unless he chooses to fix his resi-
dence for a longer period among the well-paid people of

305

those settlements? There can be little doubt on which
side the advantages preponderate.

It is as clear also that it would prove the most effectual
means of entirely suppressing the cruel and detestable
traffic in slaves. It Avould be completely in the power of the
two great nations, who are now engaged in keeping it in
check, to control and command the cargoes sent for sale
to the coast. There would be no concealment nor diffi-
culty of any sort in making the necessary arrangements
with the dealers, and the facilities affi^rded in consequence,
together with the risk incurred from the hostile fleets con-
tinually watching them, would soon drive the smugglers
ti'om the coast of Africa. Unfortunately, this is a ques-
tion which is more likely to be settled in accordance with
feelings biassed by wrong information, than a cool and dis-
passionate judgment, based on true knowledge of circum-
stances.

THE END,

JOaif HBIISON, PRINTBII.

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