348 TRINIDAD. 



gress, but render Trinidad a desirable home for all who may choose 

 to bring hither their capital and industry. This can be done by 

 judicious legislation, and by the fostering of immigration on liberal 

 principles. 



I have already stated, in the Introduction, my views regarding 

 the principles of legislation I consider as the best adapted to 

 these colonies and to our circumstances. I must now add, that 

 the defects I have pointed out become more apparent still, when 

 the comparative position of this colony of Trinidad is taken into 

 consideration, viz., that it is a newly settled country with a scanty 

 population, and less advanced in many respects than some of the 

 old islands. I have more than once heard our talented attorney- 

 general, the Honourable Charles William Warner, say, that many 

 of our laws " were in advance of the civilisation of the people." 

 Concurring in this opinion, to a certain extent, I conclude that 

 these laws are not adapted to the intelligence and circumstances 

 of our population ; and, as they are borrowed from the British 

 code of enactments, I must say that the learned gentleman has 

 been very inconsiderate in his zeal to introduce English legislation 

 indiscriminately into Trinidad ; it would be well, if with British 

 laws, it were possible to introduce British spirit. But what is 

 worse still, with those laws has been introduced, and is sedulously 

 cultivated, the spirit of laissez oiler, as regards their execution ; 

 and yet, it must be admitted by all who have any experience in 

 the colony, that the public will not take an interest in their execu- 

 tion, for reasons which have already been explicitly stated in the 

 Introduction. In no country do I consider the system to be a 

 wise one ; but, in countries such as Trinidad, I deem it to be the 

 worst which could possibly be adopted. Leave it to the people 

 themselves to enforce the execution of the law, and the law will 

 remain unexecuted ; place it under the safeguard of the public, 

 and multiply at the same time the formalities through which it is 

 necessary to pass for obtaining redress of grievances, and indivi- 

 duals will remain indifferent : this, let me declare at once, is the 

 case here. On the other hand, appoint officers to enforce the 

 laws, and grant them at the same time full liberty of action, the 

 consequences will soon become apparent, the law will still remain 

 unexecuted. In fact, the only laws which are properly obeyed, 

 are those regulating the revenue, because the government has a 

 direct interest in them : let the whole administration be conducted 



