to his Lordship, a general reply to these represen tations, and others which had been made by different members of the Committee, was received in a letter from Mr. Hope, the Under-Secretary of State, dated the 4th of September. This letter, and the correspondence to which it has given rise, they now also communicate, and they beg particular reference to all these documents.

While anxious to recommend and promote every possible improvement, whether in cultivation, manufacture, or management, the primary and essential remedy they seek for the evils from which the Colonies at present suffer is immigration,-to be effected at their expense, and to be conducted, in accordance with the Passengers' Act, under the direct superintendence of Her Majesty's Government. This, it will be recollected, was the leading suggestion made by the Committee of the House of Commons last year.

Africa, India, and China being the only countries where suitable labourers may be found, and from which emigration may be encouraged with any probability of extensive success, the Committee have diligently endeavoured to obtain correct information respecting them, and have attentively examined every objection which has, by any party, been alleged against freedom of intercourse between those countries and the West India Colonies. The result of their inquiries is set forth generally in the correspondence and relative papers contained in the Appendix.

With regard to China, it will be observed that Lord * See Report of Committee on the West India Colonies, Appendix, p. 64.

Stanley has permitted an attempt to be made to introduce a limited number of the Chinese labourers who resort to the British settlements in the Straits of Malacca in quest of employment. Whether it will be attended with success seems doubtful. If it should prove successful, it is not improbable that a considerable immigration of these people may eventually take place. The special regulations under which they may be conveyed to the West Indies will be found in the Circular issued on the 30th October last, and in a subsequent minute made on the 27th November, by the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners, copies of which will also appear in the Appendix.

The Committee have to express their particular regret that the intercourse between the East and West Indies is still prohibited, India being the source to which they could look with most confidence for immediate relief. This remarkable interference with the rights of property on the one hand, and of labour on the other, within the British dominions, has been admitted by statesmen of all parties to be at variance with the principles of freedom and just government; but, though no longer vindicated, the grievous injury inflicted on the West India Colonies by this prohibition is not duly estimated. The Committee, however, believe they are now entitled to state that Her Majesty's Government are satisfied that the experiment of emigration to Mauritius has been highly successful, and that they are at length disposed to allow the same benefit to be extended to the West India Colonies. The relaxation granted in favour of Mauritius in January 1842 has been for some time in ope

ration, and has already been productive of immense advantage to that colony, as well as to the Indian people who have been permitted to proceed thither.

Although the Committee have been anxious to obtain emigration from India, as the most certain means of providing for the present urgent necessity, yet they are persuaded it is extremely desirable, as well as practicable, to cultivate a more extended intercourse with Africa. The necessary expense of conveyance is much less, and the affinity of the people with the predominant race in the West Indies renders them eligible immigrants. All the impressions in the public mind relative to Africa have long been associated with the Slave-trade; the proposition to encourage voluntary emigration to our free Colonies in the West Indies was, therefore, so novel, that it was received with great suspicion; and vague apprehensions of possible abuse, which cannot be defined, are still entertained. Her Majesty's Government, yielding to this jealousy, were induced not only to confine the intercourse to one port-Sierra Leone-but also to prescribe regulations which have in practice operated as so many obstructions. This prejudice has already been greatly moderated by the experience of the limited emigration which has taken place, and it will doubtless give way to further discussion and inquiry. There is no reason why free emigration from Africa to our West India Colonies may not be permitted from all the British settlements on the west coast of that continent. In addition to the provisions of the Passengers' Act, one simple regulation would be universally applicable and sufficient; namely, "That a

competent public officer should ascertain, by direct personal communication with the emigrants on board the ship in which they may have embarked, that no one is proceeding under any kind of restraint or fraudulent representation; and that the ship's final clearance should contain a detailed list of the passengers." They can all comprehend the difference between a precarious subsistence at home, and beneficial employment, with personal protection, in our Colonies; and Her Majesty's Government, acting in loco parentis, have the assurance that, in removing under their superintendence, the emigrants will, in every sense, make a desirable change. Such was the unanimous opinion of the West Africa Committee of the House of Commons last year, which, as Lord Stanley remarked in expressing his own concurrence, prised among its members several of the most active and tried friends of the coloured race." *

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Besides the direct accession of labour to be procured by immigration, it would have a great effect in promoting industrious habits on the part of the existing population. A further beneficial influence would be produced by the adoption of an important recommendation made by the Committee of the House of Commons last year, in the following resolution appended to their Report: "That it is also a serious. question whether it is not required, by a due regard for the just rights and interests of the West Indian proprietors, and the ultimate welfare of the Negroes

* See Report of Committee on West Coast of Africa, in Appendix, p. 68; and Lord Stanley's Despatch to Governor Macdonald, in parliamentary paper "West Coast of Africa, 1843." No. 438.

themselves, more especially in consideration of the large addition to the labouring population which it is hoped may soon be effected by immigration, that the laws which regulate the relations between employers and labourers in the different Colonies, should undergo early and careful revision by their respective legislatures." No practical effect has yet been given to this resolution, as regards the Crown colonies; but an Order in Council has been passed, to allow the Court of Policy in Guiana, and the legislative Council in Trinidad, to amend the laws in question; and there is reason to believe that Lord Stanley is in communication with the Governors of these Colonies, as to the best mode of assimilating their legislation with that which has been already sanctioned in Jamaica, under Sir Charles Metcalfe.

Extensive and continued immigration into the West India Colonies may effect a still greater change than emancipation itself. Their interests are now happily identified with the cause of freedom, and consequently with every measure which can tend to the suppression of the slave-trade. In proportion as they may be rendered productive, so will that evil be abated; while, on the other hand, if they be permitted to languish, all the other means employed to accomplish that great object will prove unavailing. The restoration of these colonies to their former production would be the first result. Even the probability, and still more a general assurance, that it might be speedily effected, would shake the credit of the slave sugar-countries; and without credit they cannot procure slaves to sustain their agriculture. Their approaching decline would impart