HINTS ON SLAVE LABOUR AND WEST-INDIA CULTIVATION. (Continued from PART I. page 664.) As the success of the measure would S the success of the measure would portant and beneficial results to the country at large, it seems reasonable and proper that Government should, in the first instance, employ a suitable ship, properly appointed and fitted for a Voyage of scientific Research, to acquire the Arts and valuable productions of India, China, and Japan; as well as the Commander fully empowered to engage a proper description of cultivators and artizans; which would not only benefit the West Indies, but Great Britain. The West Indies are already indebted to the East for the few articles of cultivation, principally introduced by foreigners; and it seems incumbent that the importation should now be rendered more extensive and complete by England. Surely the West India Planters should not have less exertion in improving their estates, by introducing valuable productions into the Colonies, than the public-spirited Agriculturalists in this Kingdom have in importing and naturalizing Sheep from Spain, or Turnips from Sweden. From other countries Great Britain has procured almost every article of cultivation; the production of which has added so much to the comfort of its inbabitants and prosperity of the country. It rests with Government and the Proprietors whether the Colonies shall derive proportionate advantage from the adoption of a similar system. The execution of the Plan involves in it a number of details, the particulars of which it would be needless to enter into. Much must be left to the judgment, zeal, and experience, of the Commander, and the abilities of those employed to assist him; as, if the thing is done at all, it should be done well. In forming the arrangements necessary for this purpose, it will be highly necessary to be particularly cautious against giving jealousy or offence to the Chinese government; for, in consequence of its having always been the policy of the Government to encourage agriculture in preference to manufactures or commerce, that country has long been the most fertilized on the face of the GENT. MAG. July, 1814, globe; from which, the population has become so redundant as to constitute a positive evil to the State; for, the price of labour being low, and the means of subsistence difficult to be procured, the smallest failure of the rice crop occasions vast numbers coustantly to perish with hunger; the consequence of this superabundant population is a constant and very considerable emigration, which, like the horrid practice of infanticide, although not immediately authorized by law, is tacitly sanctioned, or rather connived at, by the Government, as a means of lessening the evil; and every day's experience shews that, upon a European vessel leaving the coast of China, the Natives, whenever they can meet with an opportunity, are anxious to be engaged, without even enquiring to what part of the world she may be destined. Such is the spirit of emigration, which, under every difficulty and disadvantage, is seen to induce the Chinese to seek employment, and the means of subsistence *. To collect people of this description together, and to carry them to the several Eastern settlements where there exists a demand for cultivators, has for ages been a regular system of commerce, in which a great number of Junks is continually employed. These settlers are of the most indigent description; and the only method by which the Owners of the Junks can be remunerated for their passage, when they have arrived at their destination, is by an advance from their employer, with whom they engage to work for a limited time, and which advance is afterwards repaid from their earnings. There is, however, one point in the execution of this project, of such prominent importance, that it will be highly proper to say a few words upon it. This relates to the necessity of a proper proportion of the intended Colonists being composed of women, without which the plan would be nugatory.-As the labour of women in the works of agriculture is not required either in Batavia or any of the * The Spaniards are said to have ens gaged Chinese to work in the mines in South America. islands islands to which the Chinese emigrate, and as there is no want of females for domestic purposes, or for keeping up the population, as the Chinese emigrants readily cohabit with the Native women, the Junk-owners and masters (whose profit is one great spring of this trade) have no inducement to procure Chinese women; for, independent of there being no demand, feinales could not be obtained without an advance of money, for the return of which, with the expence of their passage, and a reasonable profit, no expectation could be entertained. The fact of its not being the custom for females to emigrate is, perhaps, the only ground for supposing that emigration is more strictly enforced with respect to this sex than the other. It is an indisputable fact that there exist no provisions against women * and children accompanying their husbands, fathers, and relations, in junks, from one part to another; and, as all foreign trade is prohibited, it is only by the evasion of this law, which, like emigration, is openly connived at, that any intercourse whatever takes place with the Eastern islands. It therefore seems fair to conclude, that, by making it the interest of the Junk-owners to procure women, there would be no difficulty in obtaining a sufficient supply; but, should any obstacles arise, any number of Buggess women may be procured: and, if necessary, Chinese labourers with their wives and families obtained (although at greater expence) from the Borneo Archipelago, where they are already established from necessity, but which situation they would readily quit on the prospect of bettering their condi tion, being not only exposed to great exactious, but the worst of climatest. But, before this expedient be adopted, the importance of the subject and the dignity of the Nation seems to require an open avowal; that Nature (as justly expressed by the intelligent West India Historian) having with most beneficent intention bestowed on distant climes and regions many species peculiar to each; this variety in her works is one of the greatest incitements to human industry; and the progress of men in spreading abroad the blessings of Providence, adorning and enriching the widelyseparated regions of the globe with the reciprocal productions, is one of the most useful employments of our faculties. On the principle of such liberal policy, there can be no objection at least to tender a reciprocal interchange of benefits with the Chinese; for, although in many arts and in a variety and use of productions they much surpass us, we have, notwithstanding, several things of which a knowledge would be a great acquisition to them: instance our superior mode of manufacturing iron, in which the Chinese are very deficient. In such communications the narrow principle of monopoly need not be alarmed, as we never have nor ever shall export iron to China. Every thing which has a tendency to improve a country, and add to the happiness and comfort of the inhabitants, merits the attention of a beneficent Potentate; and it is presumed, that in the proposed occasion there cau be no impropriety in the British Parliament requesting the Prince Regent to address the Emperor of China direct, stating, that, as China is the native land of industry and agriculture, the English Nation, with the feelings of humanity and justice, are Dampier says, “Being near the West-end of Borneo, we saw a brigantine; I sent the yawl aboard; she was a Chinese vessel laden with rice, arrack, tea, porce ain, and other commodities. They had their wives and children aboard, and probably came to settle in some new Dutch factory." And 3 years since a Chinese woman was brought to England. + It has been justly remarked, that "Batavia is the worst of climates; the mortality of Europeans is far beyond what is known in any other settlement, exceeding in the best of times, the most fatal of the West-India islands, the Deaths being S during the first year Survivors after ditto Dutch .... Slaves Chinese 60 in 100 10 .. de. From which it appears that the mortality of the Chinese at Batavia is only the average proportion of deaths that takes place in towns and manufacturing parishes in England, as given by Sir F. M. Eden; which shows how admirably constitu tionally adapted these people are to a West India climate. liorate not only anxious to meliorate the condition of the Colonies, and to do away the Slave trade, but to render slave labour unnecessary for the cultivation of the West Indies--and are therefore earnestly desirous (exclusive of a reciprocal interchange of productions and arts with different countries) to obtain in the first instance a few Chinese, who, from industry and constitutional agricultural habits (in which latter quality the English are unequal to contend with the climate) may, by the force of example, be enabled to show the ignorant and hitherto oppressed Negroes the comforts and enjoyment to be derived from voluntary and skilful labour. Could this measure be accomplished, it would tend to the improvement of both China and England; and the advantages of such people and productions to the West Indies would be (as the President of the Royal Society is said to have expressed himself) “beyond all price." At all events, as the great Nelson was wont to observe to those of less vigorous mind than his own, who doubted any proposition he offered, "It is worth the trial;" particularly as, if this overture be not acceded to, we shall still have it in our power to fix upon a depôt to which the Chinese may bring themselves in vessels of their own country. It is therefore only necessary to add, that, the less it interferes with the common and usual routine and system of emigration (consistently with the great object, a proper selection) the more likely it will be to succeed to the wished-for extent. The ultimate success of the proposed measure must, in a great degrec, depend upon the selection of a proper description of cultivators. The engagement of any vagabond who may feel inclined to seek his fortune from home, without regard to his habits of life, or his qualifications for future employment, would be, not only an idle waste of expence, but a direct means of the destruction of every good effect to be expected from the introduction of these people. The only doubt which can arise will be, whether the distance of the West India Colonies, and the consequent length of the passage, will not present objections and difficulties which no prospect of encouragement or advantage will enable them to surmount. A consideration of the general character of the Chinese will enable us to form a pretty correct judgment as to the weight of the preceding objection. There is certainly nothing in their general habits or disposition which can at all justify the presumption, that those who are disposed to emigrate at all, would forego the prospect of an advantageous and comfortable settlement, merely from apprehension of the trifling inconvenience which might attend a passage little more protracted than they have been accustomed to*. The hope of gain is a China-man's ruling passion; for this he will patiently disregard exactions and oppressions against which the feelings of any other people would revolt; and it would, therefore, be completely shutting our eyes against the evidence of facts, to suppose that consideration of personal inconvenience would ever be put by him in competition with those of pecuniary advantage. The strongest objection of these people to emigrate to the West would certainly be the want of that constant intercourse with their countrymen, which, if settled in the East, they would not be deprived of, and a desire for which, however we may be divested of national prejudice, it is so difficult to be weaned from. This objection, although it might at first operate in some measure as a discou fancy of the system, and would of ragement, would apply only to the incourse cease with its cause; as all those born in the West Indies would become Colonists. Aud even allowing some of the China men of the first importations to return, the women and children (for which they always provide) would remain, and the breed would be fully established. And it may not be improper to remark, that it is not uncommon for the Chinese who emigrate, and return to visit their friends, to come back again to the settlement; and after leaving a there. numerous offspring, to end their days The Commander of this enterprize, having previously fixed on the most eligible spot for the purpose of estab to make a passage from India to the lishing lishing the Chinese on his way out, and preconcerted a plan for their reception and employment onarriving in the West Indies, the mode of conveying them, with their wives and families, is now to be considered. For this purpose the following appears to be a very desirable plan, as it would be attended with little or no expence to the publick, or the Planters. It is proposed that the ships to be employed to convey the Colonists, from the depôt, should be freighted by Government to Port Jackson with convicts: being ready fitted for the conveyance of people, they would be well adapted to the purpose; and the depôt * lying nearly in the usual returning track, they should be ordered to touch there, and take on board the Colonists with their stores and provisions, all which might be procured readily, and at a comparatively trifling expence. The voyage ought to be timed so as to leave China or the depot in November, by which means the ship would be certain of a fair wind and fine weather to the West Indies; and it is a consideration of great importance, that the Chinese would be landed in the most favoura ble season, and settled before the rains commenced. From the West Indies the ship should proceed with a cargo to England: which, if consisting of Navy timber, as suggested by the Writer in 1802, would (after the first importation) with the profit on rice, &c. from the East to the West, added to the Port Jackson freight, fully pay the expence of conveying the Chinese.-It is an essential point that the Chinese to be imported in the first instance, should not be separated from each other on their arrival in the West Indies, but should be enabled to settle on the same spot, so as to form a separate and independent Colony, and thus become, as it were, the germ and foundation of a new and distinct population; totally distinct from the Slaves, or the Slave system. Thus forming, as it were, a separate community, they will not feel themselves, as they *It was formerly proposed to make the depot at Magindanao, which is under the government of a Sultan, who is so well affected towards the English, that in 1776, with the consent of his family, a voluntary grant of the island of Bunwoot, with an offer of Pollock harbour in Magindanao, was made to them by a letter addressed to his present Majesty. otherwise would do, strangers in a foreign land, and will be enabled to maintain amongst themselves those internal regulations of civil polity, to which they are so much attached, and which, perhaps, tend more than any other cause, to keep up those national and peculiar habits which would render those people so valuable an acquisition to the West Indies. In short, with respect to each other, they should be left as much as possible to the undisturbed enjoyment of their own religious laws and customs. This arrangement will form one of the strongest inducements, to the Chinese, to engage in so novel an undertaking, and will be the most certain means of ensuring its ultimate success. The valuable collection of trees, plants, and other useful productions of the East, which it is proposed to import with the Chinese, ought to be planted in the same district, and put under the same care and management; not to be treated as exotics, and objects of curiosity, but with a view to their general propagation, and a diffusion of the knowledge of their various admirable properties and uses. The new Colony being completely settled and established, and the industry of the Colonists put in motion, the benefits of this system would soon be demonstrated by example, and no further assistance on the part of Government will be necessary; for the exertions of individualswill readily discover and employ means of obtaining a supply of these Colonists when shewn it is for their interest; and the great advantages which would in a short time be derived by the Proprietors of the Estates, would, it is not doubted, soon prompt the West India planters in general to take the most active and spirited measures for following an example fraught with such numerous and important benefits; and thus, that strongest of all human motives, selfinterest, supported upon the soundest principles of humanity and policy, would lead (and not by slow degrees) to the extension and general adoption suppression and final extinction of of the proposed system, and to the that of Slavery. Here the Writer would willingly finish the HINTS, &c.; but his original suggestions having been perverted, and very dishonourable attempts made to to deprive him of any merit in the originality, it is due to himself to insert the following Account and Letters: Soon after our acquisition of the fertile island of Trinidad, and during the discussions which then took place on Mr. Canning's Motion in May 1802 concerning the best means of availing ourselves of its resources, the Writer (who, from many years' personal observation in the East and West Indies, and in China, had been led to a consideration of the comparative advantages attending the different modes pursued in those countries) was indaced to take the liberty of suggesting to his Majesty's then Ministers, some Hints for the Cultivation of that Island, and the general improvement of the British West Indies, at a comparatively small expeuce; at the same time providing an effectual substitute for the Slave Trade. The Writer was introduced by Mr. Vansittart, and, at the particular desire of the then Secretary of State for the Colonial Department (Lord Buckinghamshire), explained the details of bis Plan, and the means of putting it in execution; observing, that the success of the measure would much depend upon the person to whom it was confided; when his Lordship was pleased promptly to reply that he "should not think of its being carried into effect unless the Writer would undertake it." Notwithstanding the principle of this measure met with the unqualified approbation of his Majesty's Ministers, the Writer was told by the then under Secretary of State (Mr. Sullivan, formerly of the Madras establishment) that the carrying it into effect could not be proceeded on until an official report should be made by the Commissioners appointed for Trinidad; when the Writer observed, that he trusted this communication would be more honourably treated than his suggestions for building ships of the line at Bombay, and bringing the Resources of Malabar for Naval purposes into action, on account of the scarcity of good Timber in England, and the decayed state of our ships of war; when Mr. Sullivan assured the Writer, that he " might depend upon being faily dealt by on this occasion." Being afterwards aware that the unpleasant termination of that Commission (consisting of Colonel Fullarton, Sir Samuel Hood, and Sir Thomas Picton) had prevented the possibility of any such report being made, the Writer took it for granted that no measures had been taken towards the execution of this project; and shortly after accompanied his friend Lord Nelson, to the Mediterranean. But being in England in 1805, when his Majesty's then Ministers came into power, and a determined disposition was evinced to effect a total and immediate abolition of the Slave Trade, without an intimation of attempting to provide any effectual substitute for it, the importance of the present subject appeared infinitely increased. If the adoption of its principle appeared before a matter of great policy, it now seemed one of absolute necessity. Under this impression, the Writer ventured to submit his Plan, upon a more extensive scale, to Government, which led to an introduction, by the then Secretary of State for the Colonial Department (Mr. Windham) to Mr. Barham, of considerable West India property, who took a most lively interest in the question; and voluntarily offered to remove the Negroes from a considerable plantation, to give up the Estate worth upwards of 40,0007. as well as be at the expence of procuring, provisioning, and settling a Colony of Chinese. The question was deemed by Ministers of sufficient national consequence to be referred to the consideration of the Lords Committee of the Privy Council, before whom the Writer attended several times to give every necessary explanation and information; and their Lordships were pleased to report, a short time previously to the change of Administration,that the proposal from Mr. Barham and Capt. Lay man for the execution was not unreasonable, and that carrying the Plan into effect would be attended with great national advantage; which is recorded in the Minutes of Council for Jauuary 1807. Had therefore Mr. Windham re mained in office a short time longer, this Plan, so important in its object, would long ere this have been com pleted; as both Mr. Windham and Mr. Barbam were heartily disposed for its accomplishment-the one having the power, the other the means, and the Writer the inclination, if not the ability, to have executed it. No |