INTRODUCTION. 41 



colony respectively, during the whole period of the session such 

 session to be limited to a certain duration. These sessions should 

 be held in the most central island, and should decide only on 

 general matters, each colony preserving complete freedom and 

 full right to decide on all local or municipal matters. One of the 

 first acts of the general assembly should be the appointment of 

 commissioners to revise the laws of all the colonies, and to con- 

 dense them into a general code for the government of the entire 

 dependency ; each colony, however, retaining full power and 

 authority for local administration, particularly as regards finance 

 and taxation, police regulations, &c. This confederation would 

 absolutely require the appointment of a governor-general, with a 

 responsible council. There should be instituted a high court of 

 justice, which would always constitute a court of appeal : this 

 tribunal to be supported by a common fund, to be furnished by 

 the colonies jointly, according to their respective population. 

 Lastly, there ought to be immediately provided a central lunatic 

 asylum, and a penitentiary for juvenile offenders. 



These are my views on the constitutional changes which might 

 be made in these colonies ; and I am convinced, that by the adop- 

 tion of some such plan, not only would a regeneration be effected 

 in the general system of government, but an improvement also in 

 their local administration. The most essential laws being framed 

 by an assembly, composed of members chosen from among the 

 ablest men in each colony, would undoubtedly be better organised 

 and more closely adapted to the circumstances of all ; nor, as at 

 present, would legislation be hurried through, and a new ordinance 

 required for each contingency. The office and duties of the local 

 legislators being circumscribed within narrower and more prac- 

 tical limits, they could devote more attention to the internal 

 administration of each colony, and but little ground would be left 

 vacant for party discussions. A more extended field being also 

 open to men of talent, they would the more likely aspire to be- 

 coming members of the general assembly ; and complaints which, 

 preferred by the inhabitants of Tobago, Trinidad, or Nevis, &c., 

 at present are disregarded, would probably receive some share 

 of attention when urged by a colonial parliament. 



It would be impossible here to enter into detail regarding the 

 measures which might, or ought to be, adopted by the colonies 

 themselves ; I must therefore restrict my observations to the 

 notice of a few matters which might profitably occupy their atten- 

 tion, there being two points, however, upon which I am more par- 

 ticularly desirous of insisting, viz., the holding out of encourage- 

 ment to agriculture, and incentives to immigration. 



I really believe that the English laws of marriage and testa- 

 ment are not the best adapted to these colonies, particularly when 

 the position of our population is seriously taken into consideration. 



