TRINIDAD : THEN AND NOW. 



85 



u The free coloured people shall be protected in 

 their liberty, person and property, like other in- 

 habitants." 



Observe well, no restriction is placed upon their 

 religious profession ; nor is any placed upon their 

 liberty, person or property ; but, on the contrary, 

 free liberty to all. No more kidnapping, and no more 

 sequestration — as was formerly the case — of other 

 persons' property, while the equitable administration 

 of the laws, as they then existed, were to be continued 

 till such times as desirable changes should become ne- 

 cessary. These changes did not take place for many 

 years afterwards, while some still remain the law of 

 this land. 



Picton, after having been appointed governor by 

 Sir Ralph Abercromby, wrote thanking him for the 

 appointment and for the confidence thus reposed in 

 him. To this Abercromby replied : "Colonel Picton, 

 if I knew any officer who in my opinion would dis- 

 charge the duties annexed to the situation better 

 than you, to him would I have given it. ' ' 



When Picton was appointed, Abercromby wrote 

 a series of instructions indicating the best methods 

 to be adopted by him in governing the island, and 

 mentioning the polyglot, and, in many cases, difficult 

 and discontented class he would have to deal with. 

 He felt himself in a position that might well have 

 intimidated a man of less resolution ; but he, with 

 that energy by which he was distinguished, immedi- 

 ately applied himself to discover the root of the 



