*C84 Letters on the West India Question. [DEC. 



The great improvement which has gradually taken place since the 

 abolition of the Slave Trade, and the causes of that improvement, are 

 clearly traced out. The negroes themselves are not insensible to the 

 principal cause, which is proverbially expressed in every colony in this 

 sentence " Good massa make good nigger." 



On the progress of religious instruction in Jamaica, Dr. Duncan 

 quotes the following letter from " a young but intelligent and excellent 

 friend" of his own 



" To a religious mind, Jamaica presents a most animating prospect. On 

 all sides the work of conversion is going on. My time is much spent in 

 moving about among the properties I have the charge of. 1 like the manage- 

 ment much. It is all conducted on Christian principles: no oppression, 

 no attempt to keep the negroes in ignorance. Marriages are multiplying 

 the Sunday congregations are enlarging, and the Sunday schools are well 

 attended. It is a delightful sight to see the little negro children, who have 

 been taught to read, winningly and affectionately endeavouring to instruct 

 their ignorant parents." 



Let any unprejudiced person of common sense, compare this short 

 statement (which is amply confirmed by the recent report of the 

 Church Missionary Society) with the allegations contained in most 

 of the petitions recently presented to Parliament, and say whether the 

 planters are, or are not, by these petitions, grossly calumniated. 



In regard to compulsory emancipation, the Doctor argues very ably 

 against the injudicious application of the rude hand of power. 



" The slave-masters themselves, are undoubtedly the best judges of what 

 improvements the present condition of the negroes will bear. * * * * 

 They must be gently conducted by the light of civilization, and above all, of 

 religion ; and thus, as the Scripture strikingly expresses it ' wisdom and 

 knowledge' will become ' the stability of their times.' The difficulty lies, as I 

 have said, in the transition. When the light first breaks in on eyes, which 

 have long been held in unnatural darkness, it dazzles and misleads ; and the 

 excesses to which it may give rise, are dreadful to contemplate. Now, the 

 black population of the West Indies is precisely in this situation ; and nothing 

 can require more delicacy and prudence than the management of such a crisis. 

 To this task, a distant authority, which can, at best, be but partially informed, and 

 which is liable to be guided by feeling and theory, rather than by judgment and 

 experience, is scarcely competent ; and, therefore, do I earnestly deprecate a rash 

 legislation at home." 



Speaking of the evil resulting from the feeble and vacillating atti- 

 tudes in which successive cabinets have placed themselves, and of that 

 shrinking from responsibility, which we ^have repeatedly deprecated, 

 it is very justly observed, "that it has been attended with much evil, 

 and can no longer be persisted in, without the most ruinous conse- 

 quences. Scarcely any measures, however erroneous, if firmly and con- 

 sistently pursued, could lead to more distressing results. Mercantile 

 confidence has been undermined colonial produce has ceased to bring 

 a remunerating price the value of West India property has declined, 

 till it has become almost unsaleable and a general gloom, accompanied 

 with irritation, prevails throughout the colonies. A little longer, and 

 if such a course be continued, the West Indies will fall into utter deso- 

 lation." 



In this view of the subject we most heartily concur ; and we may 

 further add, that the vacillation of ministers in the management of this 

 question, and the constant struggle which has, in consequence, been 



