ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM. 411 



ance of examining into matters which would require a little time 

 and attention. And so certain is the governor of approval, in 

 almost whatever he may recommend or object to, that matters 

 may be said to be carried here with a very high hand. Opinions 

 may be contested, but facts are stubborn things ; well then, there 

 are two facts which must tell against our present form of govern- 

 ment. There does not exist one single record of a petition, on 

 matters of general interest, having ever been granted by the 

 Legislative Council, the officials, as one man, generally voting 

 against. For the last five or six years, the governor, on a seat 

 being vacant at the board, has been compelled to go the round of 

 begging the most respectable inhabitants to accept the honour of 

 becoming legislators, ere some complaisant could be found willing 

 to yield to entreaties ; whilst others who had accepted after 

 repeated solicitations, have very soon resigned in disgust. Is it 

 to be thought or said that the public were always wrong in their 

 demands ; and that all those who refused to accept, or declined 

 to retain, a seat at the board, were induced to do so through sheer 

 modesty, incapacity, or from disinterested motives ? And when- 

 ever petitions have been sent home, they have invariably met with 

 repulse, on the grounds suggested by the local government 

 at times, even in the very terms urged by our irresponsible 

 rulers. 



Now, what are the apparent and potent reasons for refusing to 

 the inhabitants of Trinidad a voice in the government of their own 

 affairs ? They are not yet fitted for representative government ; 

 there is not to be found in the colony, a sufficient number of 

 intelligent and independent persons able, or willing, to devote 

 due time and talent to its affairs ; the colony is not thoroughly 

 English in language and habits. 



It is said that we are not yet fitted for representative govern- 

 ment ; but by whom ? By those who wield the power, and by 

 those who, generally speaking, have every reason to be satisfied 

 with the partiality of the government in distributing the loaves 

 and fishes of patronage. There are various forms of representative 

 government, and which generally differ in the greater or less 

 extent of powers vested in the representation. Opinions may 

 differ, here and in England, as to the form best suited to our 

 circumstances ; but this I unhesitatingly affirm : there is here a 

 confessed unanimity of opinion as to the present form of govern- 



