TlMEHRI. 269 



work of the governments of the islands seems beyond 

 argument. Any system to be applied hereafter should 

 be of as liberal a kind as existing circumstances will 

 admit, while keeping in view its gradual enlargement in 

 the future, until the time shall arrive when the colonies, 

 united together, may be granted one legislature for all, 

 on the plan of those now enjoyed by Barbados and the 

 Bahamas, if not something better. In new-modelling 

 the existing multiform system of a single chamber, it 

 would be well to constitute a Council, to consist of equal 

 numbers of officials and ele6lives. The ele6lives, again, 

 might be equally distributed between the landlord and 

 the other interests, by the allotment of half the seats to 

 the countrv districts and half to the towns and villages, 

 and by requiring that country members shall be qualified 

 by the possession of a fixed number of acres of land in 

 cultivation, while the representatives of the towns and 

 villages shall need the qualification of a certain annual 

 income. Whatsoever be the plan adopted for the future 

 government of these beautiful islands, let no impious 

 hand attempt to touch the constitutions of Barbados and 

 the Bahamas, whose islanders " feed the eternal flame" 

 of English Liberty, for the political enlightenment of 

 their neighbours. 



