526 • HISTORY 



Colony. The apprentices were contented under the regulations as the special 

 justices applied them. The spirit of industry increased. Many apprentices 

 had become independent, the striving for the attainment of which condition 

 had become a great stimulus to them. The near approach of the day when the 

 praedials were to be released caused no demonstrations of anxiety. All reports 

 were most favorable to the good conduct of the laborers.**' 



But as the end of the term of the apprenticeship of the non-praedials ap- 

 proached, certain elements in the population of the mother country began an 

 agitation for the release of the praedials by action of Parliament. A memorial 

 was presented to the House of Commons setting forth as facts many things 

 that were not true at all, of this Colony at least, and praying that final action 

 be taken by that body to release the praedials from the remaining two years 

 of their bondage.'*'" The Ministry made a reply declining to take the lead in 

 making any such recommendations to Parliament.*'^ But the Secretary of 

 State for the colonies made enquiry of the Lieutenant-Governor as to the prob- 

 ability of the local legislature enacting the desired release of the praedials. 

 The state of opinion in the Bahamas, following upon the deep wound of the 

 abolition, was such that the auspices were unfavorable to the introduction of 

 this measure into the local legislature. In addition to this, all parties were 

 so well contented with the existing relations that it seemed unjust to the 

 owners of praedial labor to obtrude a measure to deprive them of it.*" Cock- 

 burn regarded the introduction of this measure as unnecessary.*'^ 



i^evertheless the question was brought up in the mid-summer session of 

 the legislature in 1838.*'* The House of Assembly elected in 1837 was under 

 the control of the opposition.*" The Speaker of the House was also of the 

 opposition faction.*'" There had been several resignations from the House, 



^•^Sess. P., 1839, 37, p. 487 (12-14). 



*'"' Sess. P., 1837-39, 49, pp. 6-8. Petitions to the same effect signed by 600,000 

 women were sent to Parliament. 



"^Loc. cit., p. 6. 



^"Cockburn to Glenelg, No. 5 (1838). 



"^Loc. cit., No. 68. 



"* Loc. cit., No. 84. See also Sess. P., 1839, 37, p. 487 (9). 



"^ On the departure of Colebrooke from the Bahamas, President Hunter, of the 

 Council, had administered the government until the arrival of Cockburn. He 

 dissolved the legislature and called another. Cockburn to Glenelg, No. 86. 



*'° Speaker Meadows was formerly violent in his opposition to the government. 

 He was appointed to the chairmanship of this House without opposition. In 1834 he 

 was the mover of the resolution to censure the Council which became the occasion 

 of the dissolution of the Assembly by Balfour. He introduced the measure in 1836 



