246 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE VICTORIA INSTITUTE. 
I have shown that the natural advantages of Trinidad for 
commerce are very great ; that the expansion of the neighbour^ 
conf iiient is certain to be enormous, and must benetit us ; and that 
our trade has not advanced as much as one would have expected 
from the promises of the past. I have shown that though this 
disappointing state of affairs is to some extent due to extail 
causes, our own inertia, and our fiscal arrangements and tk 
restrictions consequent thereon are not free from blame. Some 
apology is due from a stranger who ventures to criticise M 
customs and policy, but it may be pointed out (hat a stranger, 
free from prejudice or prepossession, is often able to takes 
clearer and more impartial view than those who have grown >p 
among the conditions criticised and who have insensibly comet) 
regard them as natural and unquestionable. I criticise only t) 
stimulate the citizens of the colony to help her to fill the part of 
which she was destined by Nature. Not a great deal of iniagins- 
tion is needed in order to see the boundless wealth of the OrinW 
pouting into her lap, to see her the market and centre of distri- 
bution for a large area, her ships crowding the gulf, a forest of 
masts beside her long quays, her warehouses filled with tk 
products of Europe and Both Americas ; to see the certainty of 
employment att racting a large population, and with reduced cost 
ot Jiving wages lowered and the cost of production decreased; fac- 
tories called into existence by the needs of commerce ; agriculture 
on a sounder, more secure footing— a Trinidad, in fact, twice as 
populous, twice as rich, twice as useful in the world as she is at 
present. 
-^ le Chairman said lie felt that he was expressing the sei 
. , meeting in thanking Mr, McCarthy very much for 
lecture. As a stranger Mr. .McCarthy had put before them ii 
Y ay J he state of theil ' trade, and had unhesitating 
thlt TS 113 ^ exposed their shortcomings and also prorid 
be midp ^ £° r re ^ ect, ' orl on (he improvements that were 
should he 1 ', 1 , e fu , fc , UrG ; The object was a verv grave one* 
sliouid be thoroughly discussed. ' 
Institute V ' that , t ! i< ; now departure at the Vic 
condemned In, er 0,1 w hich all did not agree and it 
when they he!rd 0 “ e , n r mb ?’i S ° f . the Legislatfve Council, 
efforts were beino- v fe (bey must feel that eai 
of the people to°those° 1 .?• bear in order to direct the attet 
cerned. There was unf? w° S '°? S | in ' Tll icb they were mostly 
on these very interesting lIaa '“J-V n ° method of public discus 
slightingly o J f & F? did »* to S ) 
paper could do, because one pape/ffi not f£Z 
