muneration for labor in the colony, in the event of their continuing to work for him for the whole term agreed upon he will have saved, by the difference, whatever sum may be necessary to cover the expenses of their introduction; and should they have stipulated for a return-passage, for the expense of that passage also. Lord Stanley would propose that the duration of contracts should not exceed five years; and, as well in order to admit in the calculation the provision for a back-passage, as also with a view to convenience as regards the obligation of the colony, he proposes that any person having imported a Chinese laborer under contract, if such laborer remain in his service for two years and a half, shall be considered to have been repaid the expense of his introduction by the benefits derived by him from the laborer under the contract of service.

In the case, therefore, of a laborer remaining in the service of the person who brings him for the space of two and a half years, even should he then rescind the contract, Lord Stanley proposes that no bounty should be payable by the Colony.

This, however, still leaves the case of a laborer who may not at once on his arrival quit the service of the person who brings him, but may do so before the expiration of two years and a half; this case Lord Stanley proposes to meet by assigning to the person who brought him, instead of the full rate of bounty, a proportion of it, varying as regards that rate inversely in the ratio which the time the laborer remains in his service bears to the whole period of two years and a half.

It will be observed that Lord Stanley, although he contemplates the probability of parties being obliged to stipulate with laborers to provide them a back-passage, makes no provision, in the event of their abandoning their contracts, for substituting any obligation on the Colony to undertake that charge in their stead. Lord Stanley does this advisedly, considering it right that an inducement should be held out to laborers to adhere to the contracts which they have entered into, in having the certainty of all the necessary arrangements made for them by the parties by whom they are introduced; while, at the same time,

should they consider it more advantageous to their own interests to abandon that claim, it may fairly be presumed that they do so on a calculation that the advantages which they obtain are sufficient to compensate them for that abandonment.

Having thus stated the general nature of the provision which Lord Stanley proposes should be made as regards the introduction of Chinese laborers into the West India Colonies, I proceed to the particular steps necessary for carrying the plan into operation.

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First As to the mode of fixing the rate of bounty to be allowed in each Colony, whether Legislative or Crown. This Lord Stanley proposes to leave to the decision of the Land and Emigration Commissioners, after communication with parties interested in the question. But whatever be the amount decided upon, he is of opinion that that amount should be fixed as a maximum; and that parties claiming bounty, or the proportions of bounty above specified, should show that such amount at least had been expended, and should not be entitled to make any pecuniary profit of the introduction of these laborers.

Second: As to the persons who should be permitted to take advantage of the bounty. In the first instance, at all events, Lord Stanley proposes to limit the permission so to do to persons who shall have made special application to the Secretary of State to that effect.

Third: As to the persons before whom contracts are to be made, and the requisites to their validity and proof,—the class of vessels to be required, and the arrangements for the voyage, Lord Stanley proposes to leave this to be determined by the Land and Emigration Commissioners, who will be instructed to take the regulations of the Passengers' Act as their guide, so far as the same may be applicable.

Fourth As to the provisions to be made for carrying out the scheme in the West Indian Colonies themselves. In these a different mode of proceeding, as before observed, is required, according as the colony in each case is a Crown or a Chartered colony; and again, if chartered, according to the actual state of

legislation existing there.

Jamaica, however, being the only

chartered colony in which any extensive provision has been made for immigration, Lord Stanley considers it sufficient, on the present occasion, to advert to it alone of that class of colonies.

The points upon which provision must be made in the colonies, it will have been observed, according to the statement of Lord Stanley's general views, are two only. The one,—the ensuring to the laborer, after his arrival, the benefit of any contract made by him with the person who brings him, with the power at the same time on his part at any moment, or at least at stated intervals, of rescinding it. The other, the ensuring to the person who brings the laborer a compensation in the form of a full bounty, if the laborer repudiates his contract-immediately on arrival; or of a proportionate bounty if he does so at any time within two years and a half after arrival.

As regards the Crown colonies, legislation upon both points will probably be required,―certainly upon one, viz. the validity of contracts. According to the usual course, undoubtedly this latter alteration may be made by Her Majesty in Council; but a power to the same effect having been delegated to the local legislatures by the Order in Council of the 10th June, 1843, and the arrangement being incomplete without the pecuniary provisions, (which must be of a nature which it has not been usual to make from this country,) Lord Stanley directs me to state that, as regards these (the Crown) colonies, he cannot undertake to give effect to the scheme further than by issuing instructions to the Governors to propose the measures necessary for that purpose to their respective legislatures.

As regards Jamaica the case is different. By the late Act, 6th Vict. c. 51, Her Majesty's Government have the power of applying the funds of the colony to provide for immigration from Asia, as well as from Africa, without previously resorting to the legislature; and it appears at least questionable whether, even under the law as it at present stands, contracts of service may not be enforced, although made out of the colony. It may probably be desirable, that doubts on this latter subject should be removed

by future legislation; but, in the mean time, Lord Stanley conceives that all immediate difficulty will be removed by requiring of all persons who may propose to take advantage of the scheme, that they should enter into an undertaking, in a legal form, to give effect to that part of it which will require that contracts made by them with Chinese laborers shall be dissoluble by the Chinese at any time after their arrival in Jamaica, at their option; but, until such option is exercised, shall continue binding on the persons bringing them.

Having thus explained both Lord Stanley's general views in a mode which I trust may have made them intelligible and, as far as appears necessary in the first instance, the particular arrangements which he considers it will be requisite to adopt for carrying his views into effect, it only remains for me to point out to you, that any further proceedings on his Lordship's part must of course await communications in reply to this from yourself, or any other parties desirous of trying the experiment of introducing Chinese laborers into the West Indies; and that, as Lord Stanley understands the West India body in London to be represented on this occasion by you, he considers this letter as being addressed to them generally.

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the letter which Mr. Hope, by direction of your Lordship, addressed on the 4th instant to Mr. Neill Malcolm, as the Chairman of this Committee.

Although there has not yet been an opportunity of laying

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your Lordship's communication before the West India body, it has been considered desirable to ascertain, without delay, the opinions of such of the parties concerned as could be immediately consulted with reference to that part of it which relates to the introduction of Chinese laborers into the West India Colonies from the British settlements in the eastern seas, and I beg leave, on their behalf, to offer the following observations upon the scheme as explained by Mr. Hope. I can at the same time assure your Lordship, that it would be contrary to the intention and wish of the West India body, if any observation addressed by them implied their doubt of the sincerity and unceasing attention which your Lordship has directed to the subject of emigration.

1. As to the mode of fixing the rate of bounty. The proposal to fix a minimum rate, and to require parties claiming it to show that such amount at least had been expended, appears to be objectionable, as involving them in all the questions and delay which generally attend the settlement of accounts with public functionaries, who must act rigidly according to specified rules; and it would be particularly troublesome to proprietors who might employ their own ships in this service, or in the event of the laborers deferring for a considerable time to avail themselves of the option to rescind their contracts. Disclaiming all view to profit on the transaction, it seems, therefore, desirable to fix absolutely, after due inquiry, such a rate as shall be deemed sufficient to cover every expense. Considerable risk, as well as trouble, may be encountered by the parties introducing them before it can be claimed. At first the number will be inconsiderable, and the charges probably greater than after a regular intercourse shall be established, when the rate of bounty may, of course, be revised and altered.

2. As to the persons who should be permitted to take advantage of the bounty. Assuming it to be expedient, as proposed by your Lordship, to limit the permission so to do in the first instance to persons who shall have made special application to the Secretary of State to that effect, yet it does not appear to