262 PLANTING ENTEBPBISE IN THE WEST INDIES. [Feb. 



reformer, do not necessarily fall within the range of my subject ; and 

 hence I believe I shall best carry out the objects of thel nstitute. as 

 well as endeavour to do justice to the great interests involved in 

 the topic of my paper, if I confine myself chiefly to a statement of 

 facts as bearing upon the position and prospects of planting 

 enterprise in the "West Indies, and to a simple enumeration and 

 description of such industries as have more particularly come under 

 my notice. 



These West Indian industries, many of them new ones, are seem- 

 ingly in course of being gradually extended and improved ; and, as 

 the general opinion with regard to the West Indies is that they are 

 either utterly ruined, or in a state of stagnation and decay, I would 

 ask your kind indulgence while I endeavour to place before you tlie 

 results of careful inquiry and observation, and give my reasons for 

 sharing the belief that most of our West India possessions have 

 already passed through the worst of their depression and troubles, 

 and are beginning to enter upon a new and more prosperous career. 

 And, if I am able to place my facts before you in such a manner as 

 to enlist your interest and sympathy in favour of these oldest of our 

 Colonial possessions, I shall feel that my humble effort has not been 

 in vain. 



At the outset, however, I desire, as one who has felt the value 

 and had many opportunities of judging of the results, to express 

 my thanks for the facilities afforded by the Royal Colonial Institute 

 for the discussion of questions aftecting the well-being of the Colonies, 

 no less than for its consistent and powerful advocacy of Colonial 

 interests generally. I am sure I do but re-echo the sentiment 

 of every colonist and planter, not only in the West Indies, but in 

 every Colony throughout the Empire, when I earnestly desire that 

 the operations and scope of the Eoyal Colonial Institute, in relation 

 to Colonial industries, may become, day by day, of a more per- 

 manent and extensive character, and when I heartily wish it God- 

 speed in its noble work. 



I mentioned, just now, that the general impression with regard 

 to the West Indies is that they are either in a state of stagnation 

 or decay. No doubt, owing to the abolition of slavery, and sub- 

 sequently to the low prices of sugar, brought about by unequal 

 competition with bounty-fed beet sugar, the West Indian sugar- 

 planters have had to contend with difficulties unequalled in the 

 history of any single industry. Is it, therefore, a matter of surprise 

 that the sugar islands of the West, depending almost entirely for 

 their prosperity and success on a single industry, when that industry 

 was completely crushed and paralyzed, should have become depressed, 



