INTRODUCTION. 23 



of those who contemplated better results, but who, nevertheless, are 

 not at all astonished at the present position of affairs. Had sugar cul- 

 tivation been discontinued, things would certainly have been still 

 worse than they are : forasmuch, as " the progress and prospects of 

 civilisation in these islands are," as has been judiciously observed 

 by the Governor of Jamaica, " closely interwoven with the con- 

 tinuation of a branch of industry to which European capital and 

 skill have, from the earliest period of its history, been mainly 

 devoted ; and because it seems clear that the same economical 

 conditions required to restore a fair ratio of profit to sugar planting 

 would be necessary to render any other species of cultivation what- 

 ever remunerative." And, I will add, because sugar cultivation 

 is, from its very nature, more calculated than any other occupation 

 in this climate to induce industry and create habits of steadiness, 

 as well as to keep up a regular and profitable commercial inter- 

 course with those countries, the influence of which all sensible men 

 must concede, is, and will, for a long period, be necessary to the 

 development of civilisation in these islands. 



I confess I do not fully understand or appreciate the sense of 

 what is meant in reference to " the efforts of the negro population 

 to provide for their daily bread ; " for how could that negro popu- 

 lation subsist without those efforts ? And were they not the best 

 guarantee of gradual improvement and future comfort? or, is it 

 meant that the emancipated had no time left for acquiring the 

 rudiments of instruction ? But, if these elements of primary in- 

 struction are a symptom and a consequence of civilisation, they 

 are not, thank God ! indispensable to moral improvement. 



After all I have said regarding the general condition of the 

 liberated class, it now remains for me to add a few remarks on the 

 character of the African race as exhibited in these colonies ; such 

 hints may prove useful to future legislators. 



Be it the result of slavery, or of natural disposition, or of both, 

 the African does not seem to understand the motives and the 

 object of law. He would not decide a case on principle, but on 

 circumstantial considerations. Whenever he is wronged, he finds 

 the law is not severe enough ; but, as the offending party, he is 

 amazed at its severity. In his own favour, he wishes it to exert a 

 spirit of revenge, and does not seem fully to understand that, in its 

 application, it must be impartial, and be governed by immutable 

 principles. Should justice be done him, he is still unsatisfied and 

 unconvinced, because that justice was not awarded according to 

 his own views ; to realise his ideas, the law must avenge him to 

 the utmost extent, and independently of all extenuation. So 

 truly predominant is this peculiar disposition of the African 

 character that nearly all the heinous crimes he commits have 

 no other cause or source than his exaggerated conception of jus- 

 tice; Shylock-like, his revenge is implacable, but he moreover 



