4. In order, however, to comply with the wishes of the colonists, I will instruct BRITISH GUIANA. the emigration agent at Sierra Leone to explain to any of the settled Africans at Sierra Leone who may be disposed to accept a free passage to British Guiana, that they can only be allowed this advantage on condition of entering, upon arrival in Guiana, into contracts for three years' service, at the usual wages of the colony; and that in order to enforce this condition, they will be required before they embark, to sign a promise to pay the Colonial Treasurer the cost of their passage, unless they enter into such agreement, under the sanction of the Immigration Agent-general. In assenting to this arrangement, I am bound to inform you, that it is in my opinion far less calculated to answer its purpose, than one founded upon the principle of the Mauritius Ordinance, with which you are acquainted; but with regard to emigrants introduced at the cost of the colony, I acquiesce in the course which appears to be thought preferable by the inhabitants. You will not fail to observe, that if the Africans themselves should feel averse to the prospect of forming such long engagements, the result must be to lead them. to give a preference to St. Lucia or Trinidad, to which places they have an opportunity of emigrating, without coming under the proposed condition. 5. I agree to the present measure on the assumption that you will be enabled in consequence to pay the Messrs. Hyde & Hodge for the passengers introduced by them, whatever may follow in respect to their forming long engagements. If the immigrants fail to do so, it will be for the local Government to take such steps as may appear proper, for endeavouring to recover from them the amount of their debt for the passage; but the merchants, who have no ulterior concern with the people, and merely provide them with their conveyance into the colony, cannot, of course be expected to run any risk, and they will introduce the immigrants in reliance upon the good faith of the colony to reimburse them for that service. No. 22. (No. 217.) COPY of a DESPATCH from Earl Grey to Governor Barkly. Downing-street, 29 July 1850. Sir, 2. Having called on the Emigration Commissioners for a report on this subject, I enclose some extracts from it for your information, as they contain a useful review of what has heretofore passed, in respect to emigration, from Madeira. 3. I approve of the reduction which you have made of the bounty. With regard, however, to abolishing the existing limitation of the season, I think that more deliberation would be necessary before such a measure could be resolved upon. From the facts recapitulated in the Commissioners' Report, you will perceive that a similar limitation was suggested, and has been adopted for the colony of Trinidad, and that a like course has also been thought advisable at St. Vincent and in Grenada. The authorities of those different places would seem to concur in substance in the opinion which was also given by Dr. Blair, the Surgeon-general in British Guiana, that it was expedient to confine the emigration from Madeira to a particular season. Whilst I regret that any of the planters should feel inconvenience from the restriction, I should not think that it would be justifiable, without stronger evidence than has yet been obtained of the expediency of the proposed change, to remove a precaution which has been so generally thought useful in regard to an emigration which is at all events attended with a mortality calculated to excite the greatest solicitude. If, therefore, you should be deliberately of opinion that the precaution is unnecessary, it No. 22. Earl Grey to 29 July 1850. * Page 71. BRITISH GUIANA. Would be desirable that you should sumbit the question to a medical board of inquiry, in order to have the benefit of a professional report in considering the question. I have, &c. (signed) Grey. Enclosure in No. 22. Encl. in No. 22. Parl. Paper 496, of 1847, p. 2. EXTRACT of a Report from the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners to Herman "WE have to acknowledge your letter of the 31st ultimo, enclosing a despatch from the Governor of British Guiana, relating to the immigration from Madeira to that colony. "The Governor reports the arrival of a vessel from Madeira, with 90 immigrants, and states that he has reduced the bounty from 30 to 20 dollars, which he thinks amply sufficient to keep alive the emigration as at present carried on. We see no reason to doubt the propriety of this step, and would suggest that it be approved. "He further recommends that the restriction which has existed for the last two years. with regard to the season of importing immigrants, and which is said to be a constant source of complaint to the planters, should be withdrawn, stating that although no doubt the opinion of the surgeon-general as to the superior salubrity of this climate from October to May is entitled to great weight,' he is inclined to believe that in practice the mortality would be less among a peasantry emigrating from the prospect of a deficient harvest, than it would if they came weak and emaciated from the actual pressure of famine, as has in some years been the case with the Madeiranese.' He also mentions that arrivals have occasionally occurred during the prohibited months (viz. between the 1st May and 1st October), and that the bounty has been paid provided the people were in good health. "The subject being one of considerable importance, we think it best to submit to Lord Grey a succinct statement of the progress of this immigration, and of the mortality by which it has been accompanied. "The emigration was first set on foot in 1841, in which year 4,312 Portuguese were introduced into British Guiana, but it was immediately followed by a fearful mortality among the immigrants, ascribed by Dr. Blair, the surgeon-general, to the prevalence at that time of the yellow fever, aggravated by certain causes, to which a commission appointed to Parl. Paper 325, of investigate the subject had exclusively ascribed it; viz. the arrival of the emigrants at an 1847, p. 42. improper time of the year (June, July and August), want of cleanliness of person; premature and extreme exertion in the sunshine; parsimony which prevented them from using a sufficient diet, and aversion from the necessary medical treatment.' In consequence of this mortality, the bounty was discontinued, and the immigration fell off so much that the aggregate of immigrants introduced in 1842, 1843, 1844, and the first half of 1845, amounted only to 612 persons. On the other hand, the mortality which had attended the opening of the immigration had so entirely ceased, that in the following year, extending from June 1845 to July 1846, the deaths were only 78. In this year, however, the want of employment, if not the actual famine in Madeira had led to a recommencement of the immigration; and under this pressure 569 Portuguese were introduced into the colony during the second half of 1845, and no less than 2,999 during the first half of 1846. As we have said, this immigration did not immediately tell on the number of deaths, but the number of Portuguese admitted into the colonial hospital, which in the latter half of 1845 had only been 227, Pari. Paper 325, of rose in the first half of 1846 to 407, of which latter number 201, when admitted, had been 1847, p. 43-5. less than six months in the colony. The next half year (during which the bounty had been renewed) 444 persons died on the estates alone, besides the deaths (which we have no means of ascertaining) in the towns and colonial hospital, and this, while the rate of mortality among other classes in British Guiana was not peculiarly high. Almost coincidentally with the receipt of these accounts in England, intelligence of the same complexion arrived from Trinidad and St. Vincent; and the result of the correspondence which took place was, that the Governor of British Guiana was desired to confine the immigration on bounty to what was supposed the healthy period. In 1847 this was not done; 3,756 persons were imported, of whom it will be seen by an annexed table that more than 3,000 reached the colony in the now prohibited months (viz. between the 1st May and the 1st October); during this year 1,266 Portuguese died. In 1848 the prohibition was put in force, and Blue Book of 1848, whether from this cause, or from the cessation of the famine which prevailed during 1847, or as sometimes alleged from the interference of the Portuguese authorities, the annual immigration fell at once to 259 persons, and the number of deaths among the Portuguese to 483. What were the number of immigrants or of deaths during 1849, we have not the means of knowing, though we apprehend the former to have been very inconsiderable. Ibid. p. 82. P. 25. "The general result of what may be called the second emigration, is best exemplified by stating, that from the 1st July 1845 to the end of 1847, 9,402 Portuguese were introduced into the colony, while during the same period, 1,788 Portuguese are reported to have died. Considering that the statistics of British Guiana are not regarded by the Governor as very accurate, we can hardly doubt that a considerable number of deaths are unrecorded. Allowing for this on the one hand, and the probable small number of deaths among the acclimatized acclimatized Portuguese on the other, it may, we think, be assumed that of the immigrants BRITISH GUIANA. introduced during the above period of two years and a half, about one-fifth died during that time. "Viewed in connexion with an emigration encouraged by a Government bounty, this is a very serious loss of life. It is, however, to be observed, first, that it indicates not the ordinary mortality of Portuguese residents in British Guiana, but the loss of life consequent on the process of acclimatization; that in the present case this mortality, like that among the Irish emigrants to North America during the same period, was unduly enhancea by the famine in their own country; and finally, that those Portuguese who survive the period of acclimatization appear to thrive most remarkably in their new home. On this point, the evidence of Sir H. Light was very strong. In his despatch of 16 July 1847, he said, The Parl. Paper 250 of emigrants come here in all the hideousness of filth of body, dress and mind. I can well 1848, p. 431. remember their first appearance here; not any change is shown in the successive arrivals; some of the men are well looking, most of them able-bodied, but both men and women, according to persons familiar with the worst parts of Ireland, might be taken for Irish. "What has been the result? Many of them keep horses, gigs, chaises, dress well, and in contrast with their former appearance, are clean as the Creoles; they have spread their enterprise from one end of the province to the other-trade to every door; a traveller might have starved, had he no acquaintance on his road; he now may get refreshment at every 100 yards, either by land or water, to the utmost verge of habitation.' And he urged, in conclusion, that it would be inexpedient to interfere with the success which is thus held out to the industrious, in order to save the lives of some of them who incur the risks of emigration. "The only remaining facts which appear to bear on the question are, that the suspension of the emigration from April to October inclusive was suggested by Lord Harris for the colony of Trinidad, and that the result of references to the authorities of St. Vincent and Grenada was, the suspension of immigration from Madeira for similar or almost similar periods in those colonies. "We have also to add, that it appears, by recent returns embodied in the Appendix to our Annual Report for this year, that 735 Portuguese have been recently introduced into the colonies of Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, of whom 221 are reported to have died while in Antigua. It would seem that 313 deaths took place among 1,130 Madeirans during the three years ending 31st December 1849." (No. 218.) -No. 23. Copy of a DESPATCH from Earl Grey to Governor Barkly. Sir, No. 23. Earl Grey to Governor Barkly. 30 July 1850.. Foreign Office, 4 May 1850. will perceive, that I have vindicated the Government of British Guiana from 30 July 185,0. of the answer which I have caused to be returned to this communication. You Colonial Office, several misapprehensions under which it appeared to me that the Portuguese minister laboured respecting the care and protection which settlers from Madeira would be likely to receive in the colony. If this correspondence should suggest to you any further remarks which it may appear to you material to make, I shall be glad to receive them from you. I have, &c. (signed) Grey. Sir, Enclosure 1, in No. 23. Foreign Office, 4 May 1850. I AM directed by Viscount Palmerston to transmit to you a copy of a note from the Viscount de Moncorvo, Portuguese Minister at this Court, calling the attention of Her Majesty's Government to the present condition of the Portuguese emigrants in British Guiana, and expressing his hope that Her Majesty's Government will cause inquiry to be made as to any measures which may have been taken, and which it may be intended to adopt, with regard to these persons. And I am to request, that you will lay Viscount Moncorvo's note before Earl Grey, and move his Lordship to enable Lord Palmerston to give an answer to Viscount Moncorvo's note. I am, &c. Eddisbury. Encl. 1, in No. 23. 1 May 1850. BRITISH GUIANA. My Lord, Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure 1, in No. 23. Portuguese Legation, 1 May 1850. I AM commanded by Her most Faithful Majesty's Government to call your Excellency's earnest and most humane attention to the present condition of the unfortunate Portuguese emigrants in the British Guiana, and to the projected regulations, proposed by the so-called committee on immigration from Madeira, to Mr. Barkly, Governor of that colony. If your Excellency will read over the contents of the "Royal Gazette," of Thursday, 24th of January 1850, published at Georgetown in the British Guiana, you will there find sufficient matter to move every feeling of philanthropy in favour of a most unfortunate, deluded and, in most cases, a deceived set of human beings, as those emigrants are. It is certainly true that these emigrants are, strictly speaking, brought to that miserable and forlorn condition by their own acts; as several warnings have been publicly given them not to be too easily decoyed by those emigration agents; and that if they are resolved on leaving their native country with the idea of bettering their condition, to seek at least another country where the climate, the manners, the language and the religion is similar to, or the same as their own; instead of being led like slaves to one of the most pestilential spots on the globe, where they have no resources, nor any one to appeal to for protection, and where they find themselves almost destitute of religious instruction, and of the means of performing those duties to which they are bound by the religion they profess; and in fine, where they are very soon decimated by diseases of a most deadly character. Your Excellency may perhaps imagine, that I am making a sad report of the condition of my unfortunate countrymen, on whose behalf I beg to call, through your Excellency's means the benevolent attention of the British Government. Let me, however, assure your Excellency, that from official accounts received by my Government on this subject, I do not say too much in describing what is passing at present in the British Guiana with the Portuguese emigrants; and looking to past descriptions, I am convinced that I do not exaggerate on this subject. As it is in my recollection, that in the year 1839 (if my memory is right), some papers were printed and presented to Parliament, in which a most deplorable description was given of the state of the Portuguese emigrants, in order that the British Government or the Legislature should provide for their destitute and wretched condition. This state of things was confirmed to me some years afterwards by an eye-witness, whose testimony is of the highest character. I mean the late Vicar Apostolic of British Guiana, Dr. William Clancy, Bishop of Riense. That indefatigable and most charitable and virtuous prelate, called on me on purpose, accompanied by the late Bishop Griffiths, Vicar Apostolic of the London district; and in the interview I had with those two highly respected prelates, Dr. Clancy made a heart-rending description of the state in which the Portuguese emigrants then were. He greatly praised their behaviour, as the most orderly he had ever met with in people of the lowest order. At the same time, he lamented their unhappy fate in many respects; and as a proof of the consequences of such an emigration to a climate so adverse to human existence, Dr. Clancy declared, that "the bones of thousands of Portuguese were bleaching in a field," destined as a sort of burying-ground for them. From all this your Excellency will see, that those unfortunate beings deserve that interest which my Government evinces for them; and I confidently hope, that from motives even of public interest, the British Government will order a strict inquiry regarding what has already been done, and what is projected or proposed with respect to those same emigrants. Because, in this country where so much has been done from motives of philanthropy on behalf of the unfortunate black population of Africa, forcibly carried into slavery, the equally unfortunate emigrants, whose destiny will also be a sort of slavery if the projected regulations are carried into execution, cannot surely be abandoned to the treatment that awaits them, by a generous and ever charitable nation, as the British people have always shown themselves to be. Viscount Palmerston, G.C.B. I have, &c. (signed) Torre de Moncorvo. Enclosure 2, in No. 23. Encl. 2, in No. 23. My Lord, Downing-street, 30 July 1850. WITH reference to your Lordship's letter of the 4th of May, accompanied by the copy of a note from the Viscount De Moncorvo, the Portuguese Minister at this Court, requesting the attention of Her Majesty's Government to the condition of the Portuguese immigrantsin British Guiana, I am directed by Earl Grey to state, for the information of Viscount Palmerston, that an earlier reply would have been conveyed to this communication, but that in the interval, since its receipt, some further intelligence arrived which seemed calculated to throw additional light on the subject of Viscount De Moncorvo's inquiries. 2. The immediate occasion of his note appears to have been the project of a law which he had seen in the newspapers respecting immigrants from Madeira. The object of this scheme, as far as Lord Grey can understand from the newspaper to which the Portuguese Minister refers, would seem to have been to take some security, that if immigrants from Madeira obtained a passage, by aid of public funds, in the character of labourers, they should, in point of fact, labour for a certain period after their arrival. I am to state, how ever, that no such law as the one in question has yet been passed by the Legislature of BRITISH GUIANA. British Guiana, nor has any report been made to Lord Grey that such a measure is now under the consideration of the local Legislature. The matter therefore, which gave immediate occasion to the note of the Portuguese Minister, is not one which at present requires to be further noticed. 3. But Lord Grey cannot perceive the apprehensions which the Viscount De Moncorvo entertains respecting the state of his countrymen in Guiana without endeavouring to remove some errors under which he appears to labour, and without thus, as Lord Grey hopes, affording him the satisfaction of taking a more favourable view of the position of the Portuguese settlers in this colony. 4. The Viscount De Moncorvo alludes to these emigrants as "being led like slaves to one of the most pestilential spots on the globe," without any one to appeal to for protection, and destitute of the means of performing the duties to which they are bound by the religion they profess. With regard to their being led like slaves, it can scarcely be necessary to state that the free people of Madeira proceed to the West Indies voluntarily. The only difficulty has often been to prevent their dangerously overcrowding the vessels in their eagerness to escape from want at home, and to reach a country in which they have heard of the large gains of their predecessors of the same race. When Guiana is denominated one of the most pestilential spots on the globe, Lord Grey feels bound to remark that it is inhabited by numerous Europeans, both of English and of other races, and that it is by no means remarkable for mortality amongst those who have become accustomed to its climate. 5. With regard to the absence of protection, Lord Grey has seen with some surprise that this should be alleged of one of the principal colonial possessions of Great Britain, presided over by a Governor selected by Her Majesty for the care of her people in that part of her dominions, and under the management of a Legislature of which his Lordship is bound to testify that it has often given proof of its willingness to provide liberally for various public institutions calculated for the general benefit of the population. 6. Lord Grey fully agrees with the Viscount de Moncorvo, that nothing could be more injurious than to leave large classes of the population without due spiritual advice and consolation, or to deprive them of the means of attending to the offices of their religion. His Lordship felt it his duty long since to draw the attention of the local Government to this subject; and they have shown no want of readiness to respond to the recommendation. In their very last Session the local Legislature voted the stipend of an additional Romancatholic priest, speaking the Portuguese language. They now provide the stipends of seven Roman-catholic priests, of two catechists who are also in Holy Orders, and grant assistance towards two Roman-catholic schools. When it is considered that the number of Portuguese settlers is estimated by the Governor not to exceed 7,600 souls, and that the whole Roman-catholic population of the colony is not stated at more than 15,000, the foregoing amount of assistance can hardly be denied to be liberal. 7. The Viscount de Moncorvo, however, further alludes to another topic, which Lord Grey cannot but feel with him to be a subject for great regret, the mortality amongst the immigrants from Madeira on their first arrival in Guiana. Far from being viewed with any indifference, this has been a subject of repeated inquiry by Her Majesty's Government. The first large immigration took place in 1841, and a formidable mortality ensued. The colonial authorities immediately, of their own accord, stopped the bounty, and the immigration for some years became of trifling extent. In 1846, however, the want of employment in Madeira, and a temporary scarcity of food, which subsequently amounted almost to a famine in that island, led large numbers of its inhabitants again to flock to British Guiana, where they met with abundance and prosperity; and not long afterwards the colonial authorities were led by the results of a searching investigation to restore the bounty. For it appeared that, although undoubtedly there was a considerable mortality amongst newly arrived immigrants, it was caused to a great extent by imprudences which it was in their own power to avoid; that those who did not suffer by the early risks became accustomed to the climate and healthy; that they signally prospered in their fortunes, and that the great influx of people from Madeira was much promoted by the recommendations of their own countrymen in the colony, who exhorted more to come. The most recent advices from the colony show, that there are now resident there a large number of natives of Madeira, who, having arrived in a state of the greatest misery and destitution, have since raised themselves by their industry to a situation of comfort and independence, and are carrying on an extensive and lucrative trade. Lord Grey cannot but think, that under such circumstances, it would have been inconsistent with the laws of a just hospitality to refuse admission to the numerous emigrants who were seeking a refuge from famine in the year 1846, and that there are still sufficient grounds for affording a moderate encouragement to the influx of a class of persons who materially better their fortunes and become contented subjects, and who seek the colony with the well-known concurrence and advice of their fellow-countrymen already settled in the same place. And his Lordship trusts that the information conveyed in the present letter may dispel some of the apprehensions expressed by the Viscount De Moncorvo, to whom the assurance may further be conveyed, that neither the Secretary of State for this Department, nor the Governor of Guiana, will ever neglect the interests of the respectable and orderly class of settlers which that colony receives from Madeira. The Lord Eddisbury, &c. &c. &c. I am, &c. |