358 TRINIDAD. 



labourer only, but of the artisan, of professional men, and of the 

 mercantile body. Their profits must be in proportion with those 

 of the cultivators of the soil. Encouragements given to the 

 growths of provisions and minor staples would tend to retain in 

 the colony a large amount of specie. Under present circum- 

 stances we must encourage the production of articles other than 

 sugar, inasmuch as, if we direct all our energy to the production 

 of one, or even two, articles, and they should become valueless, 

 the whole community must participate in the ruin of the planters. 



I may add besides, in the words of Lord Harris, that " In- 

 attention to raising provisions is an evil of serious import, 

 operating unfavourably against reduced cost of production, by 

 rendering the labourers totally dependent upon high money- 

 wages to pay for imported articles of consumption/'' Agaii 

 the provision grower, the small proprietor, must of necessit 

 become a fixture in the island, there accumulating his saving 

 and concentrating his affections. Such a class will consist 

 those already possessed of a small capital, those who emigrate 

 the island at their own expense, and, finally, of imported imi 

 grants, who may have made money by persevering industry, 

 obtain grants in lieu of return passage. 



The geographical position of Trinidad and its natural 

 sources are, as I have elsewhere observed, surpassed only by those 

 of Cuba. Trinidad is a new country, laid open to successful 

 enterprise. Squatting has been rooted out of the land. Crown 

 land is offered for sale at a reasonable price, even in small 

 parcels ; our means of communication are being steadily and 

 energetically developed ; paid immigration is encouraged, and 

 the colony is open to voluntary immigrants; education, both 

 primary and secondary, is placed within reach of the people ; we 

 have perfect freedom of religion. Let us now have agricultural 

 reformatories and model farms; let us have a modicum of 

 representative government, at least in matters of taxation, and 

 we may then look with some confidence to the future. 



