INTRODUCTION. 33 



derance of the most important of the Antilles — lying 1 at the 

 entrance of the Gulf of Mexico — that it will change the future 

 destinies of the other islands, by exercising over all a favourable 

 reaction by the combined influence of a well cultivated soil, and 

 the superiority of intelligence of its population of European 

 origin.'" Such is the encouragement held out to the Cubans by 

 a man of some reputation, and who had spent twelve years of 

 his laborious life in their island. 



The change which Ramon de la Sagra expected could have 

 been worked by the Cubans, and the influence of a well culti- 

 vated soil, has been partially anticipated in the French colonies 

 of Martinique and Guadeloupe by improved manufacture and 

 the establishment of central usines ; and I am glad to say that 

 the example set forth has not been altogether forsaken by 

 Demerara and Trinidad. And it is to be hoped that, ere many 

 years have elapsed, improved manufacture on private estates 

 and central factories, combined with intensive and rational 

 culture, will have changed the destinies of the. West India 

 Islands. 



The establishment of central factories will encourage the 

 formation of a middle-class, by affording to small proprietors 

 the means of manufacturing into sugar whatever quantity of 

 canes they may plant. I have always been convinced that the 

 existence of such a body is a necessary element in the welfare 

 of all communities, but particularly of those which are chiefly 

 or solely addicted to agricultural pursuits. Wherever such a 

 class does not exist there is an immense gap left open, which 

 the lower classes will invariably attempt to fill up, either by 

 forcing themselves through or dragging the higher classes into 

 the same, thus creating permanent danger to the social institu- 

 tions. This danger is greatly mitigated, if not entirely obviated, 

 when there is a gradation established from the lowest up to the 

 highest. Those who start from below and above to meet 

 midway must interchange ideas in their progress upwards and 

 downwards, and form as an intermediate link between the two 

 extremities of the social scale. The formation of a class of 

 industrious small proprietors was therefore desirable, and ought 

 to have been encouraged, not by granting privileges, as I have 

 heard it contended, but by removing, instead of throwing, 

 obstacles in the way. Such a policy I regard as particularly 

 opportune in countries where, and at a period when, ' by the 

 progress of events, many families have sunk from comparative 

 affluence into the lowest state of misery. At the time emanci- 

 pation was proclaimed, it was thought prudent not to open the 

 public lands for competition. The adoption of such a plan 

 was not perhaps unreasonable or impolitic, since it had for 



D 



