44 TRINIDAD. 



proved processes of cultivation and manufacture be adopted, but 

 new cultures might also be introduced. No one can pretend, that 

 everything has already been determined and exhausted in these 

 islands. Not only the production of arrow-root, tulema, starch, 

 tobacco, and rice, might be encouraged and improved ; but a 

 knowledge of the rearing of live-stock is still in its infancy. The 

 cochineal might also be reared, as well as the silk-worm ; particu- 

 larly the species lately imported from the East Indies, and which 

 feed upon the leaves of the castor-oil plant. The cultivation of 

 vanilla and spices might be tried on a large scale, as also the 

 preparation of the plantain-fibre. It seems that part of the 

 20,000,000 sterling, voted by the Parliament as a compensation 

 grant, still remains unappropriated ; to what better or more bene- 

 ficial end could it be applied than the formation of a model farm 

 or estate in each colony ? Really, one cannot avoid feeling grieved 

 when taking into consideration the great, the almost unlimited re- 

 sources of these islands one reflects on the amount of misery which 

 now prevails, and which must continue on the increase, if some 

 step be not adopted to rescue them from the present state of em- 

 barrassment and distress. A bountiful Providence has lavished 

 its choicest blessings on these countries, but man has spoiled, and 

 all but ruined, as fair a field as ever nature laid open to industry 

 and enterprise. 



Besides these measures for the direct encouragement of agri- 

 culture, others might be adopted which would exert an indirect 

 influence on the agricultural interests of these possessions. I take 

 it for granted, that laws which are found highly advantageous to a 

 chiefly manufacturing or commercial nation may not be the most 

 suitable for purely agricultural communities ; and Great Britain 

 may be said to be mainly a manufacturing and commercial country, 

 whereas these islands are purely agricultural. In Great Britain, 

 and very wisely too, the laws have been framed with the view of 

 fostering the interests of manufacture and commerce, and, unfor- 

 tunately, the same principles may be said to have been adopted 

 with regard to these colonies. These principles, I contend, should 

 be restricted in their application. From causes already stated,, 

 the emancipated classes have a strong inclination to retire from 

 rural, and especially sugar labour, and to congregate in towns and 

 villages, where they engage in petty trade, or adopt some 

 handicraft. The number of shopkeepers, tailors, carpenters, &c., 

 is consequently out of all proportion, compared with the require- 

 ments of the country, and almost every small tenement in town 

 or village is occupied by some retailer of fruit, charcoal, &c. ; 

 in addition to the tribe of hucksters who perambulate the 

 streets of the towns and the high roads of the rural districts. If 

 this could be regarded as a sign of prosperity there would be 

 ample cause to rejoice ; but quite the reverse. These shopkeepers, 



