INTRODUCTION. 43 



that this instruction is the more essential in those countries where 

 it is absolutely necessary to impart to the people both religious 

 and social ideas and habits ; but I, at the same time, contend that 

 man has, besides the brain in his head, a heart in his breast, 

 besides an intellect to develop, morals to improve. To this end 

 education must be both religious and secular, and the state, to be 

 impartial, must leave the former entirely to the clergy, though not 

 without aiding, whenever practicable, in the combination of both. 

 Several plans might be followed in the promotion of educational 

 views, either by allowing a certain sum to each congregation for 

 the purpose, the Government retaining, however, full control as 

 regards the plan of secular instruction, and a complete surveillance 

 over the routine and working of the schools ; or by appointing 

 a certain day and hour at which the pupils belonging to each com- 

 munion might attend the religious instructions of their respective 

 ministers. Whatever scheme, however, may be adopted, I have 

 come to the conclusion and that not without experience founded 

 on diligent observation that a purely secular education must 

 necessarily conduce to complete indifference in matters of religion, 

 and, subsequently, to infidelity. 



Various projects may also be devised for the encouragement of 

 agriculture ; but, as a general rule, let all financial enactments, 

 be they in the shape of direct or indirect taxation, bear as lightly 

 as possible on landed property ; admit agricultural implements of 

 every description, as also draught animals or those of burden, duty 

 free ; afford effective protection to the growth of staple and other 

 marketable productions, by attaching a heavy penalty to the steal- 

 ing or destruction of agricultural products ; and guarantee the 

 safety of sugar estates, especially, by making the penalty for incen- 

 diarism as severe as possible say, transportation for twenty years. 

 Aid in the diffusion of agricultural knowledge by establishing 

 model-farms, and teaching thereon the science of agriculture 



Eractically ; for, let it be remembered, that though our popu- 

 ition is purely agricultural, yet the labouring class, in their 

 ignorance, are prejudiced against such occupations; that, with 

 the exception of a minority of the planters, no others possess even 

 the most elementary notions of agricultural economy; and that 

 the emancipated class, having been coerced for years into the 

 tillage of the soil, not only never learned, but, under the circum- 

 stances, never could have acquired the simplest notions of a sound 

 agricultural practice. I consider that no capital could be better 

 invested than in the promotion of such model farms ; they could be 

 made self-supporting, and, under favourable circumstances, they 

 might yield an adequate net revenue for the establishment of a sink- 

 ing fund.* In the management of these farms, not only should im- 



* See Appendix. 



