392 TRINIDAD. 



of their industry ? Let all be placed under that same injunction, 

 which derives its solemnity, its sacred character, from the Creator 

 himself, who, in his economy of providence, has formed no excep- 

 tive class privileged as " Fniges consumer e nati" The interests 

 of all men, living in society, are identified, and the advantages 

 derived by one portion of the community redound, by a reciprocity 

 of action, to the profit of another, and, in course of circulation, 

 will promote the prosperity of the aggregate whole. Let the 

 aversion to field-labour, and particularly to cane cultivation, be 

 neutralised by a compulsion to labour, not in this or that parti- 

 cular branch of industry, but in some mode of profitable pursuit, 

 every industrial effort will then be for the benefit of all, and 

 particularly of those who are not possessed of sufficient intelligence 

 or judgment to control their naturally wayward inclinations. Let 

 us keep in view that idleness produces all the infractions of the 

 civil law, and then a Vagrant Act will be regarded as one of the 

 wisest measures which can be enforced in a civilised country par- 

 ticularly where the climate is an inducement to the " dolce far 

 niente " of indolence. Such an act exists in the mother country, 

 and is rigidly maintained : why is it not so here ? In the year 

 1838, an Order in Council was transmitted to the government, 

 authorising the introduction of regulations of the same nature ; 

 but the English Act was never put into force. Now, although 

 our customs and institutions, in general, are dissimilar to those of 

 England, yet are not the results of idleness as bad, and even worse, 

 in Trinidad than in England ? Undoubtedly : therefore we re- 

 quire some such regulations as those comprised within the Vagrant 

 Act. That such regulations may be enforced and be rendered be- 

 neficial, the example of the French colonies is a telling proof. Let 

 every member of this community be bound to exercise some 

 industrial avocation, each according to his taste, station, and 

 circumstances in life ; let there be no restriction, no impediment, 

 no partiality for any particular interest, or branch of interest; but, 

 let the Act come forth invested with plenary authority, and armed 

 with all compulsory penalties to enforce its requirements, viz : 

 That, to some branch of useful industry, every man's time shall be 

 devoted. To what cause, principally, is to be ascribed the neglect 

 of, and even aversion to, the growth of provisions? To the system 

 of plunder which is organised in the rural districts. And by 

 whom ? Evidently, by the "far niente" class of vagrants. I have 



