112 Timehri. 



opposition from the Winkel Negroes themselves, — " most of whom from 

 their infancy having been under the Government consider themselves 

 negroes above the ordinary class and are most satisfied by being under 

 such authority." 



In November, 1831, the Imperial Government — in spite of objections 

 against such a " sweeping emancipation " urged by Governor Sir 

 Benjamin D'Urban — liberated all the Winkel Negroes. They num- 

 bered 298. Their approximate value (on the basis of slave property at 

 the time) was £14,900. It is curious to note as one of the instructions to 

 the Superintendent that: "if it should happen that any slave should 

 desire to decline the offer of freedom he (or she) must nevertheless be 

 emancipated. " Daddy Tom " or " Daddy Gabriel " — who got his leaf of 

 tobacco and his drop of rum on a wet day — did not pant for freedom. He 

 was very comfortable, thank you, as he was ! 



The following Notice was read and carefully explained to all the 

 Crown Servants : — 



To the Crown Servants, Winkel Department, Berbice. 

 1. The Governor has the satisfaction of announcing to the Crown 

 Servants that His Majesty King William the Fourth has been 

 graciously pleased to command that they shall all receive their Free- 

 dom, and they will accordingly receive it as soon as the Deeds of 

 Manumission can be prepared and executed. 



2 The King has also been graciously pleased to direct that all of 

 those now living in dwellings belonging to the Crown may continue 

 to reside therein during their lives, on condition of their keeping the 

 said houses in proper repair. 



3. His Majesty has further benevolently commanded that those 

 who are now old, infirm or insane, the bedridden, blind or otherwise 

 helpless, the infants and young children who have no parents capable 

 of taking care of and supporting them, shall be maintained, as at 

 present, at the expense of the Crown, so long as they shall continue 

 from such helplessness and infirmity to stand in need of that mainten- 

 ance. 



4. With these exceptions, however, the Crown Servant will be 

 aware that upon their manumissions being delivered to them their 

 present allowances from the Crown will cease, and they will be ex- 

 pected to maintain and provide for themselves by their own industry, 

 and they are therefore recommended without delay to think of such 

 employment as they may be most fit for respectively, and as may be 

 most profitable to them, that when they receive their manumissions 

 they may immediately commence that employment for their own 

 support. 



5. In conveying to the Crown Servants these gracious intentions 

 of the King, the Governor feels confident that they will all endeavour 

 to deserve them by an orderly, industrious and respectable course of 

 life. 



B. D'Uhban, 



Governor. 



