TRINIDAD : THEN AND NOW, 



117 



Cairns was then known, he having been for many 

 years member of parliament for Belfast, but at the 

 time my friend, the recorder, spoke to me he was 

 in reality Viscount Garmoyle and Lord Chancellor 

 — afterwards Earl Cairns. I called on the day ap- 

 pointed, and was shewn a letter which my friend had 

 received from the Lord Chancellor, in which occurred 

 these significant words : M My brother is at present 

 governor of Trinidad but he is about to resign ; the 

 task of cleaning the Augean stable there was too 

 much for him, I strongly advise your friend not to go 

 there. I enclose you my brother's address, and it 

 will be better if you write personally to him. " My 

 friend did so and showed me the reply he received, 

 from which I took extracts that were a guide to me in 

 my early career in Trinidad. The letter contained a 

 good deal more than what will be foreshadowed. 

 That, however, as Kipling says, 4 c is another story. ' ' 



At the time of my appointment I had served 

 sixteen years dn the Royal Irish Constabulary, and a 

 special training which I had for three or four years 

 undergone in that force — besides having passed 

 through two huge riots in Belfast — in a great degree 

 specially fitted me for what I had soon to undergo in 

 Trinidad. My fellow colonists, — for I am now one of 

 you — don't be offended if I say at this point that the 

 crimes in Trinidad in those days surpassed anything 

 I had ever dreamt of ; but this also in its due course, 

 I have at present to tell of our voyage out. 



On our voyage we had as fellow passengers a 

 few prominent men, recently, or shortly to be, con- 



