162] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816. 



spoke of it as tlie icsiilt of a de- 

 lu-ion pi'actised by some design- 

 ing- men upon the most ignoiant 

 of the slave population in the 

 islands, to mal<e them believe 

 th:it the British Cioveinmeat liad 

 interfered in their behalf, by di- 

 rectina; the colonial authorities to 

 make such a change in tlieir con- 

 dition as would almost extend to 

 total emancipation. He said that 

 his Majesty's government had 

 been always disposed to second 

 tlie views of tlie colonial legisla- 

 tures in promoting the c«mforts 

 and happiness of the slaves, for 

 which puipose many saliitaiy re- 

 gulations had been made ; but 

 tliat beyond this, no interference 

 on its part was to be expected. 



Of t]\e notions prevalent in this 

 island respecting the origin of 

 discontents in tlie sla\e popula- 

 ticm, an extract from the Minutes 

 of the House of Assembly on May 

 3d, affords a rennukable exem- 

 plitication. 



" The following message came 

 from the Council : 



" This board fortlier reoom- 

 mends, that an act of the legis- 

 lature should be immediately 

 framed, for the better regulation 

 of tlie Methodist mission in this 

 government ; and thai dissenting 

 preachers of every denomination 

 should in future not be allowed 

 to preach within it, until they 

 have entered into securities, them- 

 selves in 4001. currency, and two 

 freeliolders in the like sum each ; 

 that no doctrine or oj-nnion bhall 

 be inculcated or circulated by 

 the.m unfriendly to the system of 

 government established in this 

 colony, or inconsistent with the 

 duty slaves owe to their masters ; 

 and that every such preacher shall 



also tiike a solemn oath, binding 

 himself in the observance of this 

 obligation ; and furtiicr deposing 

 he has no connexion, and holds, 

 nor will hold, any correspond- 

 ence, directly or indirectly, with 

 any self-created society, or any 

 other unauthoiised set of men in 

 England, who, either directly or 

 indirectly, have or shall attempt 

 to interfere in the relations be- 

 tween master and slave in these 

 colonies. Andrew Rose, 



Clerk of the Council." 



To which was returned the fol- 

 lowing answer : — 



'• The recommendation sug- 

 gested by y-ur Hon. Board, for 

 oljviating" as much as possii)le 

 the baneful and jie.stilent doctrines 

 of certain Met'iodist missionaries 

 within tliis government, has long- 

 been a subject of a most serious 

 reflection in this house ; and it 

 pledges itself to lent! its hearty 

 aid and co-operation to carry into 

 full force and efficiency any law 

 or laws wliicli may be tVamed by 

 your Hon. IJoard for remedying 

 the evil com])lained of. 



Alex. Ckuikshank, Speaker." 



Further intelligence from Bar- 

 badoes, dated May 1 Gth, related 

 that martial law still was in 

 force, and that the militia were 

 much harassed by their constant 

 guard, and their marches through 

 the island in search of the insur- 

 gents, or in coi.veying them for 

 execution to their owner's plan- 

 tations. More than a thousand 

 of these unhajjpy wretches are 

 said already to have lost their 

 lives, and many remained to un- 

 dergo capital punishment ; nor is 

 it to be wondered at, that the 

 slaves who continued quietly at 

 their labour, displayed a &ulky 

 demeanour. 



