BRITISH GUIANA. MEMORANDUM of agreement made and entered into this in the of our Lord 18 in the territory of New South Wales, of the other part: in charge over the said agrees to serve the said and such person or persons whom he may place in the capacity of shepherd, farm and general servant, and labourer in the said territory, for the term of five years, to commence from the date of the arrival of the said in the said territory; and to obey all his lawful orders and the orders of such persons as may be placed in charge over him. And the said agrees to pay the said three dollars per month, the said amount to be paid in dollars, or in sterling British money at the exchange of four shillings per dollar. And also to provide the following weekly rations; namely, My Lord, Trinidad Association, 2, Lawrence Pountney-lane, 28 January 1850. In accordance with what has passed at the several interviews with which you have favoured a deputation from the Trinidad Association, they have had frequent conferences with Dr. Gutzlaff, in order to ascertain the conditions upon which suitable labourers may be induced to emigrate from China to Trinidad; and I have now the honour to submit, for your Lordship's consideration, the following suggestions as to the manner in which that desirable object may best be accomplished. As Chinese labourers cannot of course have any knowledge of the West Indies, it appears to be absolutely necessary in the first instance to enter into agreements with them for a period of five years, assuring them of regular employment at definite wages. Although such agreements might be made on behalf of the colony, and the labourers on their arrival be at the disposal of the Governor, yet it seems to be more expedient to offer some inducement to parties interested in the agricultural prosperity of the island, to exert their agency in effecting all the arrangements connected with the first expedition. For this purpose it is proposed that a license shall be granted to some competent party for the introduction of 300 to 500 Chinese labourers into Trinidad, on the following terms: 1. To be assured of the services of the immigrants for a period of 12 months upon any estates he may indicate. 2. The immigrants to have, after one year's service, and at the close of every succeeding year's service, the option of cancelling their contracts upon giving three months' notice, and of being classed among "immigrants introduced at the public expense," and, as such, be free either to enter into annual engagements on the best terms they can obtain, or to employ themselves otherwise upon payment of the monthly tax, 3. If any of the immigrants act upon this option, and cancel their contracts at the close of one year's service, then the party who has introduced them, to be entitled to receive from the Colonial Treasury the sum of 80 dollars for each adult immigrant who may thus cancel his contract; and so at the close of each succeeding year, one-fifth less per annum for each immigrant who may in succession abandon his contract. This provision is necessary to protect the party introducing the immigrants from loss. He will have to pay the same passage-money for women as for men, while their labour will be much less efficient. He will lose the gratuities paid in China upon any who may die during the voyage, and also the gratuity paid on disembarkation, as well as the still greater charge of passage-money upon any who may die subsequently. At the end of a year the best labourers may leave his service and the worst remain, and he may be exposed to the expense of a headman to superintend a diminished number of labourers. It appears that the period during which the emigration may be most advantageously effected, is between the 1st of October and the middle of March. With Dr. Gutzlaff's assistance the Association have prepared forms of the contracts, copies of which are enclosed. These are adapted either for engagements made on behalf of the colony or of individuals. Should the foregoing suggestions appear to your Lordship to be worthy of attention, the Association hope you will have the goodness to recommend them to the favourable consideration of the Governor and Council of Trinidad. BRITISH GUIANA IT is hereby agreed, by and between of Trinidad, and So Sli. HEADMEN. on behalf of the Governor 1. The said So Sli undertakes to engage 50 able-bodied labourers, accustomed to the cultivation of sugar, in vigorous health, and of good character and industrious habits, between the ages of 18 and 25 years, to proceed, according to the agreement annexed, to the island of Trinidad, in the West Indies. 2. The said So Sli agrees to embark and proceed in the same vessel with these labourers, and after their arrival in Trinidad, to superintend personally their labour, and to be responsible for their good conduct, and their faithful execution of the work they may be required to perform. 3. On the other part, the said agrees to provide So Sli with a free passage, and allowances, as enumerated in the annexed form of agreement, to Trinidad, to give him 36 dollars as a gratuity upon his embarkation, and 12 dollars as a further gratuity upon his disembarkation in Trinidad. 4. The said So Sli is to receive salary for his services as above mentioned, after his arrival in Trinidad, at the rate of 12 dollars per month, from the day on which the labourers commence their labour, and during its faithful performance. This agreement to endure for five years, and, in default of his engagements, the said So Sli shall suffer penalty according to law. It is hereby agreed, by and between LABOURERS. on behalf of the Governor of Trinidad, and Ching Chong, agricultural labourer, as follows: 1. The said Ching Chong agrees to embark and proceed in any vessel that may be appointed to convey him to the island of Trinidad, in the West Indies to provide himself with suitable clothing and bedding for the voyage, and to conform strictly to the rules prescribed by the commander of the vessel. 2. The said agrees to provide the said Ching Chong with a free passage to Trinidad, and with the following allowances during the voyage; namely, Rice Pork or salt fish 13 lbs. Pickled vegetables 3 per oz. Tobacco 1 Oz. day. And upon his embarkation to give him as a gratuity 12 dollars, and on his disembarkation in Trinidad a further gratuity of four dollars. 3. The said Ching Chong, on his arrival in Trinidad, agrees to reside and labour upon any estate to which he may be sent, and at any agricultural work which he may be required to perform, on the terms after mentioned. 4. And the said agrees to provide Ching Chong with lodging, and a quarter of an acre of land for his own use, and to guarantee to him regular employment in sugar or other cultivation, at the rate of four dollars per month for six days' labour per week, of twelve hours per day, less time for meals, to commence as soon as possible after his disembarkation in Trinidad, subject to a proportionate deduction for labour not performed. 5. The said Ching Chong promises to render faithful service in every respect, in obedience to the orders of his employers; in default of which he shall suffer penalty according to law. 6. This agreement to endure for five years. WOMEN. It being highly desirable to induce women to accompany their relatives and friends, passage and allowances shall be provided for such as may embark and proceed with their husbands, and two dollars per month additional will be paid to each married couple, in consideration of the woman undertaking to join in the labours of her husband. COPY of a DESPATCH from Earl Grey to Governor Barkly. Sir, Downing-street, 16 February 1850. I HAVE received your despatch No. 8,* of the 4th January, enclosing an extract minute of the Combined Court, in which that body applies for such portion, not 624. 5 I BRITISH GUIANA. exceeding 250,000 7. of the loan authorized by the 11 & 12 Vict. c. 130, as Her Majesty may be pleased to grant to British Guiana. I have to acquaint you in answer, that as other colonies have not thought it for their advantage to accept loans under the Act; I do not anticipate that there will be any obstacle to allotting to British Guiana a considerably larger sum than I formerly contemplated as being likely to be available for that colony. With regard to the objects to which the loan shall be applicable, and the security to be provided for the payment of principal and interest, you will of course guide yourself strictly by the Act, and by the instructions founded on it, which are contained in my despatch of the 15th September 1848; and in estimating the sufficiency of the permanent taxation which may be made available to afford the required security for the interest and sinking fund of the loan, after meeting all prior charges on the colonial revenue, it will be your duty to form your own estimate, and not to be guided by the estimates to which you refer, of the taxation on which the immigration loan was based, unless on a careful revision those estimates shall appear to have been correct. No. 5. Earl Grey to Governor Barkly, 1 March 1850. * Page 12. No. 1, of 1850. (No. 155.) Sir, COPY of a DESPATCH from Earl Grey to Governor Barkly. Downing-street, 1 March 1850. I HAVE received your despatch of the 17th January, No. 19,* forwarding a copy of the Ordinance passed by yourself and the Court of Policy, "for requiring Annual Returns to be made and sent in for purposes of Colonial Taxation." I have to convey to you Her Majesty's gracious confirmation and allowance of this Ordinance. I have also to express to you my approbation of the course which you have sanctioned, of no longer excluding the salaries of the officers, borne upon the Civil List, from payment of income tax. This course is in strict conformity with that adopted in this country. When the income tax was a few years ago imposed, it was, in accordance with Her Majesty's express desire, made to apply to the Civil List as to all other incomes. No. 6. + Page 11. COPY of a DESPATCH from Earl Grey to Governor Barkly. Downing-street, 6 March 1850. Sir, I have to express my satisfaction with the efforts made by you to provide more adequately for the spiritual wants of the Portuguese and other Roman-catholic inhabitants of British Guiana. I have, &c. (signed) Grey. (No. 164.) - No. 7.- COPY of a DESPATCH from Earl Grey to Governor Barkly. Sir, Downing-street, 12 March 1850. I HAVE to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 4th ultimo, No. 24,* informing me that the usual Tax Ordinance had been passed, securing the revenue to the 30th June next, and enclosing a copy of the address which you delivered to the Combined Court on closing the session of 1849. I have received with much satisfaction your statement, that it has not been found necessary to alter the usual tariff of customs duties, nor been deemed requisite to raise a loan to make good the deficiency of the revenue occasioned by the late stoppage of the supplies. It is also highly satisfactory to learn, that the receipts of import duties during the month of January last, have largely exceeded those of preceding years for the same period. COPY of a DESPATCH from Earl Grey to Governor Barkly. Sir, Downing-street, 15 March 1850. IN conveying to you, in my despatch of the 1st instant, Her Majesty's confirmation and allowance of the Ordinance requiring the annual returns to be sent in for the purposes of colonial taxation, I omitted to point out the omission of any return of Colonial Craft being required, an omission to which you have not referred in your despatch. I should be glad to be informed of the reason of this omission. No. 8. Earl Grey to Governor Barkly. 15 March 1850. COPY of a DESPATCH from Earl Grey to Governor Barkly. Sir, I have to convey to you Her Majesty's gracious confirmation and allowance of this Ordinance. No. 9. Earl Grey to Governor Barkly. 30 March 1850. † Page 4. - No. 10. I have, &c. (signed) Grey. COPY of a DESPATCH from Earl Grey to Governor Barkly. (No 172.) Sir, Downing-street, 13 April 1850. No. 10. Earl Grey to Governor Barkly. I HAVE to convey to you my thanks for your despatch of the 11th February 13 April 18,50. last, No. 28, transmitting, accompanied by your observations, the very interesting + Page 22. BRITISH GUIANA. Reports you had received from the stipendiary magistrates, on the working of the metaire system, as applied to the cultivation of sugar. (No. 175.) No. 11. Earl Grey to Governor Barkly. 16 April 1850. 22 March 1850. COPY of a DESPATCH from Earl Grey to Governor Barkly. Sir, Downing-street, 16 April 1850. I TRANSMIT to you herewith, for any observations you may wish to offer on it, a letter addressed to me by the committee of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, pointing out the objections entertained by them to the further introduction of foreign labourers into British Guiana. I have, &c. (signed) Grey. Encl. in No. 10. Enclosure in No. 10. To the Right Honourable Earl Grey, Her Majesty's Principal Secretary for the Colonies, &c. &c. &c. My Lord, THE opposition which the committee of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society have felt it to be their duty to offer to the introduction of foreign labourers into the British emancipated colonies, has resulted rather from the nature and consequences of the many schemes adopted by the colonies, and by the Government, to secure that object, than from objection to the principle on which they were based. In a memorial which they addressed to Lord Stanley in 1841, they thus expressed themselves, that, taken in connexion with other measures then recommended, they were not opposed to "a wise and judicious scheme of immigration into the emancipated colonies, which should, on the one hand, open the labour market to fair and honourable competition, and on the other, should guard against the abuses which have hitherto unhappily marked the course of colonial experiments in this way; and which should be exclusively under the regulation and supervision of the Government." The measures which the committee considered to be necessary in connexion with immigration into the colonies, were, that all commercial restrictions should be taken off the commerce of the colonies with this and other countries; that the duties levied on their produce imported into this country should be reduced to the lowest point, and that the produce of all other countries raised by free labour, should be admitted into competition with it on equal terms. With respect to the conditions of a healthy immigration, the committee have declared it to be their opinion, that it should be conducted at the expense of those who were to profit by it, and not be defrayed out of the public or colonial taxes; that both on the score of economy and morals, no scheme of immigration should be permitted which did not insist upon an equality of the sexes being introduced, except in the case of families, which they regarded as the best class of immigrants; that the Royal Ordinances of September 1838, relating to contracts and vagrancy, should remain in full force in the Crown colonies, and be regarded as a model for all others requiring immigrants; that the administration of these laws, in all cases arising out of the relations of masters and servants, should be vested exclusively in the hands of a stipendiary magistracy selected by the Crown; and that the whole arrangements should be under the exclusive control of the Government; and that the immigrants, after a short residence in the colonies, and a declaration on their part that they desired it, should be entitled to be considered as British subjects. In making these suggestions the committee were animated by a sincere desire to promote the welfare of the colonies, and to develop their resources to the largest possible extent, consistent with the principles of equity, humanity and freedom. The several communications which the committee have felt it to be their duty to forward to your Lordship and to your predecessors in office for several years past, have shown how little care has been taken by the colonies to secure a healthy immigration of labourers, and that gross injustice has been done to the Creole labourers, not only by subjecting them to an unfair competition in the labour market, but by compelling them to pay in the shape of heavy taxation, for the importation of masses of adult labourers from foreign and distant countries, to their own injury in every respect. The result of these unwise proceedings has been to drive large numbers of the Creole population from the plantations, to seek other means of supporting themselves and their families, to burthen the colonies with an immense load |