86 TlMEKRI. 
morning of the ist of January 1842, they were to be con- 
sidered as having agreed to the Regulations. 
This proceeding seems to have been carried out in a 
most blundering manner, without consulting the negroes, 
who only knew of the regulations when printed notices 
were put up, in some cases not until the 31st December. 
The labourers at once became alarmed and sent depu- 
ties to the Governor asking what sort of law this was— 
whether Queen's Law, Planter's Law, or Governor's 
Law? The Governor, was advised by the Attorney- 
General that the final clause of the Regulations could not 
be legally carried out, and told the negroes that they 
were not bound by the Regulations, and must use their 
own judgment in making bargains, but, as the price of 
sugar was lowered the planters did not feel able to pay 
such high wages. Some of the negroes said that if they 
had been consulted they would have agreed to the reduc- 
tion of wages, and perhaps a few of the other rules, but 
now they objected to have these imposed by the mere 
will of their employers, the result being a general strike 
throughout both Demerara and Essequebo. At first the 
labourers wanted to have a public meeting at Beterver- 
wagting, but on the advice of the Governor they gave this 
up. Blankenburg was reported to be in an alarming 
state, the Manager having tried to prevent the people 
working on their provision grounds, and two Justices of 
the Peace sent to the Governor for assistance, who simply 
asked the Magistrate to enquire into the matter, which 
ended quietly. Ultimately both planters and labourers 
gave way to some extent and after several weeks' in- 
activity work was resumed. 
Nothing further is heard of the District Agricultural 
