1829.] Condition of the West-Indian Slave Population. 275 



they had shown to Mr. Canning's resohitions, which alone had any force 

 upon them, and to which alone their agents had given their concurrence; 

 but we liave no disposition to treat a question of so much importance 

 to the political and commercial interests of Great Britain, (important, 

 no doubt, to the colonies, but of an importance incalculably greater to 

 this country than to the colonies) on any such narrow grounds. We will 

 put the case higher, and show what the colonists have done towards 

 effectual and earnest improvement, and we shall be content to rest their 

 claims to more worthy treatment than they have yet experienced, on the 

 result of that statement. 



The orders in council, which Lord Bathurst transmitted to all the 

 colonies, embraced about twelve heads, which were recommended by 

 him as the means of effecting that amelioration in the condition of the 

 slaves which was admitted on all heads to be so desirable. They were 



First, to provide the means of religious instruction and Christian edu- 

 cation for the slave population. 



Secondhj. To put an end to markets and to labour on the Sunday, 

 and to appropriate that day entirely to rest and recreation, and to 

 religious worship and instruction; and instead of Sunday, which had 

 hitherto been the day on which, in most of the colonies, the slaves had 

 cultivated their provision grounds, to allow them equivalent time on 

 other days for that pui-pose. 



Thirdly. To admit the testimony of slaves in courts of justice. 



Fourthly. To legalize the marriages of slaves, and to protect them 

 in the enjoyment of their connubial rights. 



Fifthly. To protect the slaves by law in the acquisition and posses- 

 sion of property, and in its transmission by bequest or otherwise. 



Sixthly. To remove all the existing obstructions to manumission, and 

 to gi-ant to the slave the power of redeeming himself, and his wife and 

 children at a fair appraisement. 



Seventhly. To prevent the separation of families by sale, or other- 

 wise. 



Eighthly. To prevent the seizure and sale of slaves detached from the 

 estate or plantation to which they belong. 



Ninthly. To restrain generally the power, and to prevent the abuse, 

 of arbitrary punishment at the will of the master. 



Tcnthly. To abolish the degrading corporal punishment of females. 



Eleventhly. To abolish the use of the driving whip in the field, 

 either as an emblem of authority, or as a stimulus to labour. — And 



Twelfthly. To establish savings' banks, for the use of the slaves. 



In every one of the colonies to which these resolutions were addres- 

 sed, whether they were received as mere intimations or as possessing a 

 character of authority, steps have been taken to comply with them. °In 

 Barbadoes an act has been passed which the government of this country 

 has confirmed, and which IMr. Huskinson described as containing " un- 

 equivocal advances to a better system of law, of which his Majesty is 

 graciously pleased to mark his approlmtion by its allowance." In St. 

 Vincent a similar bill was passed, and was received with equal appro- 

 bation, which was intimated by the Secretary of State to the Governor 

 in tliese terms. " His Majesty has observed with satisfaction the pro- 

 gress made by those enactments in the measures to be taken for the 

 improvement in the state of the slave population. Upon a revision 

 of the wliole of this law, I am commanded by his Majesty to express 



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