INTRODUCTION. 31 



This suggestion, made in 1858, was partially carried into 

 effect in 1871. By an Act passed in August of that year, the 

 Leeward Islands were united under one Government with a 

 " General Legislative Council/' composed of ten elective and ten 

 non-elective members. Curious enough, this Act actually revived 

 the old constitution of the Leeward Islands. 



The Governor may, with the consent of the Council, make 

 laws for the dependencies comprising the federation : he may, in 

 like manner, make, with the consent of the Legislative body of 

 any island, laws for the peace, order, and good government 

 thereof. 



I must say, however, that, from one reason or the other, this 

 arrangement has not worked so satisfactorily as was anticipated. 



In the year 1876 an attempt was made to form a second 

 confederation of the Windward Islands, comprising Barbados, 

 St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada, and Tobago. Barbados, how- 

 ever, manifested such a determined opposition that the Govern- 

 ment was obliged to desist. 



The prospects of any country depend mainly on its internal 

 resources, its geographical position, and means of communica- 

 tion; finally, upon the dispositions of its inhabitants. The 

 West India islands being small in size, inland communication is 

 neither distant nor on an extensive scale ; but, as they are 

 generally rugged, and occasionally mountainous, travelling and 

 cartage are often difficult. I have already mentioned their 

 capabilities as agricultural countries, and given a sufficient 

 estimate of the character of their inhabitants. I shall only add 

 that, by the natural agency of social intercourse and commercial 

 communications, the character of the population would rapidly 

 improve, and a spirit of industry be created ; I even consider 

 this result as the necessary consequence of the onward march of 

 events. 



Several of the West India islands may be regarded, both 

 from their size and configuration, as unimportant; such, for 

 instance, are all the islands of the Bahama and Virgin groups, 

 Montserrat, Nevis, Tobago, etc. ; others, on the contrary, are, 

 either from their size, position, and fertility, of an importance 

 which cannot be underrated; and a few of them, though at 

 present more or less disregarded, must, by force of circumstances, 

 and in the mere progress of time, rise from their present 

 depressed condition to comparative prosperity and wealth. This 

 may be easily predicted of Cuba, Porto Rico, Jamaica, Hayti, 

 and Trinidad. 



Cuba never will, never can, become Africanized, as the 

 Americans would say, whether it continues a dependency of the 

 crown of Spain, or be annexed to the States. 



