1831.] Late Meeting of Delegates at. Barbados. 183 



regard to boundaries ; but be this as it may, they will never be at a loss 

 for a pretext, when a favourable opportunity offers, for seizing, by force, 

 whatever they may be unable to obtain by negociation. 



In the meantime, the inveterate enemies of the colonists in this 

 country are again using the greatest exertions to poison the minds of the 

 community, preparatory to another grand attack upon colonial pro- 

 perty ; and we are sorry to be unable to notice any very active efforts on 

 the part of the colonists, to defend themselves from the dangers which 

 assail them. 



We fear that too much importance is attached to matters of minor 

 consequence, and that unless the west use measures to place their true 

 situation in a proper point of view before the public, they may be de- 

 prived of the sum total of their properties, while labouring to adjust cer- 

 tain of the items. 



Under all these circumstances, it is exceedingly desirable that parties 

 in this country — especially mortgagees, annuitants, consignees, and 

 others, whether connected with the legislative and crown colonies, and 

 however their ideas of direct interests may appear to differ, in a slight 

 degree, from those entertained by proprietors or planters, who are less 

 dependent — should cordially join in making common cause with their 

 trans-atlantic brethren for mutual protection : — For if, by the imprudence 

 of our own government, the hostility of the sectaries, or the want of 

 union and activity, in the West India body, colonial property be once 

 destroyed, the consequences not only to individuals, but to the British 

 comnuniity at large, will be more disastrous than would at first sight 

 appear to be within the bounds of reasonable probability ! 



IIEASONS FOR RETIREMKNT. 



There is a charm in the sound of the word retirement which pro- 

 duces a variety of different effects upon different individuals. IMany 

 seem to acknowledge its value, though there are but few who take 

 advantJige of the opportunity which it offers for the enjoyment of plea- 

 sures, whicli, in comparison with them, those of the world are but mere 

 shadows. The imagination of the industrious citizen, while in the labo- 

 rious employment of some of the thousand-and-one methods of getting 

 money in occupation all over the world, pictures to himself the delight 

 which he shall hereafter enjoy when able " to retire." Visions float before 

 him of yellow-looking cottages at some " convenient distance," enjoying 

 a view of the high-road, and the flavour of the summer dust. His ears 

 are gratified with the sound of horns and the rattling of stage-coaches, 

 omnibuses, and flies. His sense of smelling is regaled with the deli- 

 cious perfume of mignionette, holyhock, and sun-flowers, and his ambi- 

 tion is excited by the prospective enjoyment of a " one-horse shay/' 

 What an incentive to continued exertion, what an impetus for renewed 

 apj)lication ! How he will repaint the green palings and the veranda 

 blinds, cultivate his own cabbages, and form a rookery in tlie poplar 

 trees ; keep a bowl of gold-fisli to look at, and a colony of guinca-j)igs 

 to feed ; and, in the enjoynu'nt of his otiuni cum dignitatc, exist in a 

 lilissful forgitfuhicss of the liorror of dishonoured bills and tlie troubles 

 of unruly apprentices. 



