tented and happy ; and their treatment was certainly very good. GRENADA. A despatch from earl Bathurst to Mr. President Paterson, dated "Downing Street, "26 July, 1824," encloses a copy of the order in council for the improvement of the condition of the slaves in Trinidad; and notifies the appointment of two bishops, the one for Jamaica, and the other for the Leeward Islands. His lordship expresses his hope that the legislature of Grenada, by introducing into their statutes the substance of the enactments in the order of council respecting Trinidad, will lay the foundation for such a system of gradual improvement of the condition of the slave population, as will prove equally honourable to the assembly and beneficial to those for whose advantage it appears to be more immediately intended. Various despatches, from Mr. President Patterson to earl Bathurst, announce the introduction into the legislature of Grenada, and the progress (impeded by the great difference of opinion which existed on some points) of a bill for the general melioration of the slaves of Grenada, having for its groundwork the order in council transmitted by lord Bathurst, as far as it could with safety be adopted. Mr. President Patterson represents the slaves in Grenada to appear perfectly quiet and contented; and expresses his belief that there were no persons in any part of the world more anxious to make them so than those under whose immediate protection they were placed. His last despatch, dated "Go"vernment House, Grenada, 5 March, 1825," informs lord Bathurst that the bill had passed the house of assembly, and was before the council; and that he had every reason to believe that he should be enabled by the next packet to transmit the same, passed into a law. ANTIGUA. "3 September, 1824," acknowledges the receipt of the above despatch, which, he adds, would be laid before the assembly at their meeting on the 9th. ST. CHRISTOPHER. A despatch from earl Bathurst to governor Maxwell, dated " "Downing Street, 26 July, "1824," notifies the appointment of two bishops, the one for Jamaica, and the other for the Leeward Islands. His lordship adverts to a copy of the order in council for the improvement of the condition of the slaves in Trinidad, previously sent to the governor of St. Christopher, and expresses his hope that the legislature of that colony will frame a consolidation slave act, and incorporate in it the substance of the order in council respecting Trinidad. His lordship desires that a communication to the same effect may be made to the legislatures of Tortola and Nevis. Various despatches from governor Maxwell to earl Bathurst, announce the framing by the chief justice of a bill for the general improvement of the slaves of the colony; the disposition expressed by the legislature of St. Nevis to coincide in the views of his majesty's govern ment, as far as was consistent with the safety and prosperity of the colony; and finally, in a despatch dated "Government House, St. Chris "topher's, 10 January, 1825," the opening of the session in that colony; the acknowledg ment by the council of the necessity which existed for the amendment and consolidation of the laws relating to slaves (a measure of which they augur as speedy a consummation as the cautious deliberation which it demanded should permit); and the declaration of the assembly of their readiness cordially to co-operate in any measure calculated to increase the welfare of the slave population. The assembly add, that should they in any particular fall short of meeting the wishes of his majesty's government, such failure would arise only from the impossibility of reducing some of the measures recommended to practice, and from the inutility of others as conducive to the great end in view. ST. VINCENT. A despatch from earl Bathurst to the officer administering the government, dated "Down"ing Street, 26 July, 1824," encloses a copy of the order in council for the improvement of the condition of the slaves in Trinidad; and notifies the appointment of two bishops, the one for A despatch from earl Bathurst to sir C. Bris." Jamaica, and the other for the Leeward Islands. bane, dated "Downing Street, 26 July, 1824," His lordship expresses his hope that the legis- encloses a copy of the order in council for the lature of Antigua will embody in their statutes improvement of the condition of the slaves in the substance of the provisions of the order in Trinidad; and notifies the appointment of two council respecting Trinidad, by which they bishops, the one for Jamaica, and the other for would lay the foundation for such a system of the Leeward Islands. His lordship expresses gradual improvement of the condition of the his hope that the legislature of St. Vincent will slaves, as would prove equally honourable to the revise their ameliorating act of 1820, and eenlegislature and beneficial to those for whose ad-body in it the substance of the order in council vantage it appeared to be more immediately respecting Trinidad; and thereby lay the founintended. His lordship desires that a communication to the same effect may be made to the legislature of Montserrat. A despatch from Mr. President Athill to earl Bathurst, dated "Government House, Antigua, dation for such a system of gradual improve. ment of the condition of the slave population as would prove equally honourable to the assembly and beneficial to those for whose advantage it appeared to be more immediately intended. nor to the intentions of the legislature which passed it. The colony now necessarily reverted to the operation of the old slave laws, under which it had been flourishing near forty years; but, nevertheless, the house would seek an early opportunity of taking into its consideration those important consequences which resulted out of, and arose from, this unlooked-for determination of government. Another despatch from earl Bathurst to sir | wise; at least, those colonies would not be left C. Brisbane, of the same date, recommends a to the gross misrepresentations of missionaries, consolidation bill, and details the objections sent out to them by self-created societies, unwhich suggest themselves to the ameliorating known to the laws and constitution of the act of 1820. empire, and who found it necessary on their A despatch from sir C. Brisbane to earl arrival to make out a strong case against the Bathurst, dated "Government House, St. Vin-colonies, to exaggerate their own merits, and "cent, 10th September, 1824," acknowledges establish an opinion of their great usefulness. the receipt of the foregoing despatches, states -The house of assembly observes, that it had that they had been laid before the two houses of learnt with much surprise and regret that his legislature, regrets that a more favourable result majesty's government had deemed it expedient had not taken place, but expresses a hope that in the present time to disallow the slave-act in the next session the legislature of St. Vin- passed by the legislature of that colony in the cent might be induced to adopt such measures year 1820, after it had been four years in as in a great degree to embrace the substance of operation, and unquestionably acceptable to the the order in council, in framing a new consoli - | slave population. The objections to that law, dated slave bill. Sir C. Brisbane also encloses which had been favourably spoken of by many, the answers of the council and the house of wise and good men, appeared to the house at assembly to his letters to them, recommending | best merely technical, if not subtle, and certhe adoption of lord Bathurst's suggestions. tainly neither applied to the spirit of the act, The council assure his excellency that they shall ever feel themselves bound to support, at all risks and hazards, the dignity and honour of his Majesty's government, as well as the safety, welfare, and improvement of all descriptions of his Majesty's subjects composing the colony; and that they will, on that principle, cordially unite with the honourable house of assembly in such measures as that house might be inclined to adopt for the furtherance of those desirable A despatch from earl Bathurst to sir C. objects: but they could not, at the same time, Brisbane, dated "Downing Street, 1st Derefrain from expressing to his excellency an "cember, 1824," desires that he will take the earnest hope, that precipitance might be avoided earliest opportunity of removing the misapprein introducing untried innovations into that hension into which the house of assembly had tranquil, happy, and hitherto contented coun- | fallen in supposing that the act of 1820 had try; and that their rulers would deign to recol- been disallowed by his majesty's government. lect the wise opinion on government left to his A despatch from sir C. Brisbane to earl country by one of its most profound reasoners Bathurst, dated "Government House, St. Vinand writers" It were good that men, in inno-" cent, 27th January, 1825," acquaints his "vations, would follow the example of time lordship that on the receipt of his communi"itself, which, indeed, innovateth greatly, but cation of the 1st of December, 1824, he had "quietly, and by degrees." The members fur-issued a proclamation renewing the operation of ther took leave to express to his excellency their the slave-act, which had been subject to some extreme satisfaction at being informed, that it doubts; and that at the next meeting of the was his majesty's most gracious intention to legislature he would acquaint them with his place the church in those colonies under the lordship's wishes. control of a bishop of the established church, whose arrival might be shortly expected. They A despatch from earl Bathurst to sir F. P. hailed this as the commencement of an ara, in Robinson, dated ، Downing Street, 26th July, which the episcopal church in those colonies" 1824," encloses a copy of the order in counwould raise itself to that respect and dignity cil for the improvement of the condition of the which should be always attached to it; and they further looked to the measure as the precursor of the downfal of sectarian influence, and that system of craft, cunning, and hypocrisy, which had been so ingeniously organised both in the mother country and those islands for their destruction. Surely, though the representations of princes, governors, generals, and admirals, had, at the instigation of interested fanatics, been rejected as unworthy of attention, the representation that might come from a pious, devout, and disinterested head of the church would meet with some credit from the good and TOBAGO. slaves in Trinidad; and notifies the appointment of two bishops, the one for Jamaica, and the other for the Leeward Islands. His lordship expresses a hope that the legislature of Tobago by revising the slave-court-act, and embodying in their statutes those provisions of the order in council which were not to be found in that act, would lay the foundation for such a system ofgradual improvement of the condition of the slaves as would prove equally honourable to the legislature and beneficial to those for whose advantage it appeared to be more imme diately intended. EE Another despatch from earl Bathurst to sir At the Court at Carlton House, the 10th of F. P. Robinson, of the same date, recommends a consolidation act, and details various objections to the slave-court-act. Various despatches from sir F. P. Robinson to earl Bathurst announce the receipt of the above despatches; their communication to the house of assembly; sir F. P. Robinson's apprehension that in the existing session the assembly would not attend to lord Bathurst's suggestions, and would do no more than frame a consolidation act; expressing a hope, however, that in the January session they might be induced to consent; and finally, in a despatch dated "Tobago, 28th October, 1824," the extinction of any hope, and his decided opinion that nothing more would be done towards the melioration of the condition of the slaves in the colony by the legislature. This opinion was founded on a declaration made to him on the preceding day, that the house of assembly could not concur in the view his majesty's government had taken of the orders in council sent to Trinidad, as they were of opinion that, from the inconsistency that marked many of them, they could not be adapted to the island of Tobago, without equal prejudice to the interest of the master, and the good government and happiness of the slave population. The house was firmly convinced, that in the late act for the good government of the slaves, passed in a former session, they had gone as far as prudence and propriety could justify, and that, in the present state of the slave population, to adopt all the measures recommended by his majesty's government, would be equally destructive of the interests of the master and the happiness of the slave. TRINIDAD. March 1824. Present, the King's most excel- Whereas it is necessary that provision should be "I, A. B. do swear, that I will, to the best of " my knowledge and ability, faithfully execute "and perform the duties of the office of protector "and guardian of slaves in the island of Trini A despatch from earl Bathurst to sir Ralph" dad, without fear, favour, or partiality. So Woodford, dated "Downing Street, 25th March," help me God." 1824, encloses the subjoined order in council, with his majesty's special command that its provisions should be duly enforced. Lord Bathurst observes, that there was nothing in the provisions of the orders which could give to the planters any just claim for compensation. He was as ready as any man to acknowledge and maintain, that the slave must be considered as the property of his master. But a slave had his rights; he had a right to the protection of his master in return for his service, and the law must secure to him that protection. There was nothing in the provisions of the order which went beyond the limits which that principle prescribed. In most cases they did little more than what practice had sanctioned, or the law had already enjoined. The master was not deprived of the service of his slave on any day except Sunday, and it was to be hoped, that no Christian master would so far forget himself as to claim indemnity for the loss of that which his religion must have taught him he ought never to require. Provided nevertheless, and it is hereby ordered, that nothing herein contained shall extend to prevent his majesty from disuniting the office of protector and guardian of slaves from the office of procurador syndic aforesaid, and from appointing a distinct and separate officer to act as, and be the protector and guardian of slaves, in case his majesty shall see fit so to do. And it is hereby further ordered, that the said protector and guardian of slaves shall establish and keep an office in the town of Port of Spain in the said island, and shall regularly attend at such office on such days, and during such hours of the day as the governor or acting governor of the said colony, by any general or special orders to be by him from time to time issued, may appoint; and shall at such office, and not elsewhere, keep, deposit, and preserve the several records, books, papers, and writings hereinafter directed to be kept by him. And it is further ordered, that the said pro tector and guardian of slaves shall not be the owner or proprietor of any plantation situate nor for the time being of the said island shall be pleased to appoint. Provided always, that no persons shall be appointed, or be competent to act as such deputy as aforesaid, who, according to the provisions of this order, would be incompetent to act as the protector and guardian of slaves. Provided also, that the protector and guardian of slaves in the said island shall at all times perform his duty in person, and not by deputy, except only in cases in which the governor or acting governor of the said island is hereinbefore authorised to appoint a deputy for that purpose. And it is hereby further ordered, that the said protector and guardian of slaves shall be, and he is hereby declared to be, a magistrate in and for the said island of Trinidad; and all such powers and authorities, of what nature or kind soever, as are now by law vested in the commandants of the several quarters of the said island, for the maintenance of the public peace and good order, shall be, and the same are hereby vested in the said protector and guardian of slaves, to be by him exercised throughout each and every quarter of the said island. within the said island, or of any slaves or slave employed or worked upon any plantation, or in any kind of agriculture, and shall not have any share or interest in, or any mortgage or security upon, any such plantation, slaves, or slave; and shall and is hereby declared to be incompetent to act as, or be the manager, overseer, agent, or attorney of, for, or upon, any plantation or estate within the said island, or to act as the guardian, trustee, or executor of any person or persons having, or being entitled to, any such plantation, or any slaves or slave; and in case any such protector and guardian of slaves within the said island shall have, acquire, hold, or possess, either in his own right, or in right of his wife, or in trust for any other persons or person, any plantation situate within the said island, or any slaves or slave employed or worked upon any plantation, or in any kind of agriculture, or any share or interest in, or any mortgage or security upon any such plantation, or slaves or slave, or shall act as such manager, overseer, agent, attorney, guardian, trustee, or executor as aforesaid, he shall thenceforth, de facto, cease to be such protector and guardian of slaves as aforesaid, and forfeit such his salary; and some other fit and proper person shall forthwith be appointed to succeed to the said office. Provided, nevertheless, that all acts which may be done by, or by the order of, any such protector and guardian of slaves, after any such avoidance as aforesaid of such his office, and before the same shall, by public notice in the Gazette of the said island, be declared void, shall be as valid and effectual in the law as if no such avoidance of office had occurred. And it is further ordered, that the said pro-instructions as they may from time to time tector and guardian of slaves shall be resident within the said island, and shall not quit the same without a special license to be granted for that purpose by his majesty, through one of his principal secretaries of state, or by the governor or acting governor for the time being of the said island; and no such license shall, in any case, he granted for any time exceeding three months, nor shall any such license be granted by any such governor or acting governor as aforesaid, unless it shall be made to appear to him, on the oath of some medical practitioner, that such absence is necessary for the recovery of the health of the said protector and guardian of slaves. And it is hereby further ordered, that the commandants of the several quarters within the said island shall be, and they are hereby declared to be, assistant-protectors and guardians of slaves, in their several and respective quarters; and the said commandants shall, and are hereby required, in their several and respective quarters, to be aiding and assisting the protector and guardian of slaves in the execution of the powers hereby committed to him; and for that purpose to obey and carry into execution such lawful receive from him, about, or in relation to, the matters herein mentioned, or any of them. And it is hereby further ordered, that in all actions, suits, and prosecutions, which may at any time hereafter be brought or commenced in any tribunal or court of justice within the said island, wherein any slave may be charged with any offence punishable by death or transportation, or wherein any question may arise as to the right of any alleged slave to freedom, or wherein any person may be charged with murder of any slave, or with any offence against the person of any slave, or wherein any question may arise respecting the right of any slave to And it is further ordered, that upon the death any such property as he or she is hereinafter or resignation of the said protector and guardian declared competent to acquire; then and in of slaves, or in the event of his sickness, or other every such case, such notice shall be given to the bodily or mental incapacity, or during his tem- protector and guardian of slaves of every such porary absence from the said island, it shall be action, suit, or prosecution, as, according to the lawful for the governor or acting governor to law of the said island, would be given to the said nominate and appoint some other fit and proper slave, if he or she were of free condition. And person to act as the deputy for the said protector the protector and guardian of slaves shall, and and guardian of slaves until his majesty's plea- is hereby required to, attend the trial or hearsure shall be known; and the said deputy shall ing; and all other the proceedings in every such receive such allowance, to be deducted from and action, suit, or prosecution, as the protector of out of the salary of the said protector and guar- such slave, and on his or her behalf, and to dian of slaves, as the governor or acting gover-act therein in such manner as may be most conducive to the benefit and advantage of any such slave. "cles and provisions necessary for the con. "sumption of the inhabitants; and it is there"fore thereby ordered, that Thursday be also a so exposed, shall order the same to be sold "forthwith, and the proceeds thereof to be apAnd whereas his majesty hath been graciously" plied and disposed of as follows that is to pleased to intimate his intention to make ef- say, one-third to the informer, and the refectual provision for the religious instruction of "mainder to such pious or charitable purposes, the slaves in the said island of Trinidad; and it" and in such manner as the magistrate or will be proper and necessary, so soon as such his" justice ordering the sale shall determine. majesty's intentions can be carried into effect," And it is by such ordinance further ordered, that Sunday markets should be utterly abolished" that in like manner, any person refusing to throughout the said island; and it is therefore" quit the market-place may be apprehended hereby further ordered, that it shall and may" by the authorities aforesaid, who are au be lawful for the governor or acting governor "thorised and required to demand the penalty for the time being, of the said island, and he“ thereinbefore provided; and, in default of is hereby required, in obedience to any in- " payment, to commit the offender for twenty struction which may for that purpose be issued" hours' imprisonment. And it is by the said by his majesty, through one of his principal" ordinance provided, that nothing therein con secretaries of state, to issue a proclamation, in "tained shall extend to the prohibition of his majesty's name, for the discontinuance of" dressing or selling meats in inns or victual. all markets throughout the said island on the" ing houses, nor to the sale of fish at the fish. Sunday; and so soon as such proclamation shall" house, provided the same do not take place have been issued, all Sunday markets shall" during the hours appointed and set apart for forthwith cease, and be absolutely unlawful." divine service. And it is by the said ordi. And in any such proclamation the said governor "nance noticed and set forth, that the limita or acting governor shall and may, and is hereby❝ tion therein before declared, respecting the authorised to make, all such rules and regula-" markets to be holden on Sundays, may not tions as may be necessary for the effectual sup-" afford sufficient time for the sale of the arti. pression of such markets, and to impose such penalties as may be requisite for giving effect to any such rules and regulations. And whereas a certain proclamation or ordinance was, on the market day, on which free persons are in16th day of November, 1823, issued by the "vited to attend, so as to lessen the number governor of the said island of Trinidad, whereby of persons resorting to the market on Sunit was, and is ordered and declared, "that from" days, which is especially retained for the due "and after the first day of December then next," and reasonable encouragement of the slave"the market holden in the town of the Port of "population in habits of industry: and as it "Spain for the sale of meat, vegetables, and "may not occasionally be inconvenient for "other provisions on Sundays, and all other" proprietors to permit their slaves to bring "markets to be holden on the sabbath day" the produce of their labour to market on "throughout the island, should be limited to "another day than Sunday, the day of Thurs "the hour of ten o'clock in the forenoon; and day in each week is thereby declared to be a "that due warning should be given by the market-day in future. And it is by the said "ringing of a bell at half-past nine o'clock to "ordinance further ordered, that when, and "all persons to prepare to depart; and that “ as soon as the same may be found practicable, "from and after the hour of ten in the fore-" the market on Sundays will be further limited 66 noon, no person or persons whatsoever shall" to the hour of nine in the forenoon of the "remain therein, or publicly shew forth, or 66 same day." And whereas it is expedient "exposé for sale, any meat, poultry, vegeta- that the said order or proclamation, of the 16th ❝bles, provisions, fruits, herbs, wares, mer-November, 1823, should continue and be in force "chandise, goods, or effects, on the Lord's day, "after the hour of ten o'clock aforesaid, upon "pain that every person guilty of disobedience, " or nonconformance of this order, shall forfeit "the goods or effects so exposed for sale, or, on "refusing to quit the place, forfeit the sum of "ten shillings. And it is by the said ordi66 nance further ordered, that if any person or “persons shall offend in these premises, it shall 61 be lawful for the chief of the police, or his “assistants, or the clerk of the market, or any alquacil or constable, and they are respect- And it is hereby further ordered, that if any "ively thereby required to seize the goods ex-person or persons within the said island shall posed for sale, and cause them to be taken "before any judge or magistrate, or any regidor of the cabildo, who, upon view of such goods 66 throughout the said island, in the meantime, and until such proclamation as aforesaid should be issued for the absolute and total abolition of Sunday markets; it is therefore hereby ordered, that the said ordinance or proclamation, of the 16th of November, 1823, shall be, and the same is hereby confirmed. And that the said ordi. nance shall be, and continue in force within the said island, until a proclamation shall be issued, in manner aforesaid, for the total abolition of Sunday markets therein. work or employ any slave, at any time between the time of sunset on any Saturday, and sunrise on any Monday, or shall, during that period, |