AFRICAN EMIGRATION TO THE WEST INDIES. TO THE EDITOR OF

THE SPECTATOR.

Blackheath, 6th August 1842.

SIR—A pamphlet has lately been publishet by the Anti-Slavery Society, containing answers to certain queries respecting emigration to the West Indies from the coast of Africa, circulated by the Society among its correspondents.

The gentlemen whose replies are published, with that spirit, which thinketh no evil, charitably suppose that the advocates of such emigra- tion intend in reality to reestablish the slave-trade.

As I have advocated emigration from Africa rather prominently, and have no desire to be considered even by the reverend correspondents of the Anti-Slavery Society as favourable to the commencement of a new slave-trade, I send you the copy of a memorandum on the detail of emigration which was handed to a member of the West African Committee, and embodies my views on the subject. I think most, impartial men will allow that the system recommended is unlike any slave-trade, ancient or modern.

I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, MACGREGOR LAIRD. EMIGRATION FROM' AFRICA TO THE WEST INDIES. SUPPOSING IT CARRIED ON BY H. M. GOVERNMENT.

It is presumed that the inquiries of the West African Committee have sa- tisfied them- 1st, That,, owing to the unhealthy nature of' the African climate, it is im- possible to use European agency to any extent in Africa that the agents em- ployed to civilize and instruct the Africans there must beef their own race. 2d, That the way to create such an African agency, on a scale sufficiently great to have any effect on the vast mass of people in Africa, is-to bring num- bers of them into contact with Europeans and civilized men of their °an race. 3d, That the British Colonies in the West Indies are the only parts of the world where such a contact can take

place on terms of mutual safety. Conse- That a free emigration to and from Africa and those Colonies is the natural, the quickest, and the only way to bring such agency into play. This emigration being therefore necessary on African grounds alone, the ex- pense, mode of conducting it, and capability of the Colonies usefully to em- ploy the emigrants so introduced, are important points to he considered. As to the expense. It fortunately happens that the machinery in this country for regulating and conducting such emigration is in existence and operation, in the shape of the Emigration Commissioners. It is desirable, on many accounts, that no separate axe should be created : no necessity exists for it : if, eventually, the present Commissioners are overworked, their number can be added to. No expense need therefore be incurred on that head. The means of transport at present used are vessels chartered by different colonies, consigned to different agents. I object to this system ; as, though at fiat view it appears cheaper, in reality it is much more expensive than if done by the Government ; as being liable to run into abuse from the competition of agents paid per head for the emigrants they procure their employers ; as creat- ing suspicion and distrust in the minds of the Africans where they see such a competition and eagerness to procure them, and thereby preventing numbers availing themselves of the benefits of emigrating who would readily embark in a Government-vessel; and as, under the present state of our relations with Foreign Powers whose flags are used in the slave-trade, liable to obstruction, delay, and misrepresentation.

I have recommended the establishment of a steam-communication, by the Government, between the coast of Africa and the West Indies, and given an

estimate of its cost. Its advantages would be very great, and its cost less than

any other means the Government could employ. Its immediate effect on emi- gration would be by the quick return of the vessels to give great confidence to

the people, and destroy the feeling of dread they have of the sea. Inciden- tally, it would have a most important effect upon the slave-trade ; as it is pro- bable that if the British Government were seen encouraging free emigration to their Colonies in an decided a manner, such a panic would be created in Brazil and Cuba, that not another dollar would be advanced to extend their planta- tions or purchase fresh slaves. They are fully aware, that with abundance of free labour, backed by the wealth of Great Britain, the colonies of Guiana and Trinidad can meet, compete, and undersell them in the markets of Europe. In this view, if the steam-communication were to cost double what it will do, the money would be well expended.' The colony receiving the emigrant should pay a certain sum per mile for the distance he has been brought, towards the expense of keeping up the steam-vessels ; and binding itself to find such emigrant a free passage back to the place from whence he came after three years' residence in the colony4 At all times, the steamers should be available to emigrants wishing to return, on payment of the rate per mile paid on their arrival in the colony. As to the capability of the British Colonies to employ usefully and profitably a very large addition to their present population, a reference to their exports in 1831 and 1840 will show, that to bring their producing powers up to what they were ten years ago, will require more emigrants than the steam-vessels proposed could convey in several years.

IMPORTS FROM THE BRITISH WEST INDIES.

1831. 1840.

Sugar Cwts. 4,103,800 2,200,000 Rum Galls. 7,844,157

4878606,915797

Cotton Lbs. 2,401,685

Pimento Lbs. 1,800,355 999,068 Coffee Lbs. 20,130,802 12,797,039

But much more than equalling their former production is required ; for the consumption of sugar in this country would be increased by the reduction of price to at least 300,000 tons, and, by allowing its use in distilleries and brew- eries, to 506,000 tons per annum ; which additional consumption may all be supplied by our West India Colonies. This is irrespective of the consumption of Europe ; and the statement is made to show that we have within ourselves the power of consuming five times as much sugar from the West Indies as we now do, provided we could pay for it in manufactures. Our present consump- tion is paid for chiefly in goods that are peculiarly of British make, and in which we excel and undersell the world. To show the taste of the Negro population in the West Indies, a few of the items are given which comprise the increase of 1,000,000/. sterling in our exports since 1831.

Value of exports in 1831 £2,500,000 3,500,000 Value of exports in 1840 Increase £1,000,000 Principal articles of increase, viz.

Imports for the British West Indies—

Cotton Goods from 21,975,459 yards, to 58,327,111 Value £555,964. Increase. Increase 36,451,641 yards; Soap and Candles 64,000 Apparel and Haberdashery 43,595 Beer and Ale 41,698 Butter and Cheese 40,081 Leather Manufactures 40,000 Beef and Pork 34,443 Hosiery 30,000 Machinery 29,000 Bacon and Hams 27,198 Refined Sugar 28,000 Glass Ware 20,000 Earthenware 17,000 Stationery 10,000 Books 5,061 In 1840, we paid the West Indies for 110,000 tons of sugar, in round numbers, 54 millions sterling; 34 millions were paid in manufactures, and the remainder to cover freight, charges, &c. Supposing by introducing free labour we increase the production of sugar to 500,000 tons, and lower the price from 49s. Id. (the average of 1840) to 25s. per hundredweight, we should pay 12,500,000/. per annum to the West Indies, in manufactures to the extent of 8,000,000L, and in freight, charges, profit, &c. 4,500,0001.; giving employment to 400,000 tons more shipping, and to thousands of workmen in this country in all departments.

` The cost of a monthly communication to and from Sierra Leone and the West Indies, in steam-vessels capable of carrying 1,000 emigrants of all ages each voyage, or 12,000 yearly, would be 72,0001. per annum, or 6/. per head— about equal to the present rate paid to sailing-vessels. Twelve days would be the average passage to British Guiana, and seventeen or eighteen days back. By the last advices from Sierra Leone, the abip Superior, a very fast-sailing vessel, had been out sixty days from Demerara, with returned emigrants ; and the last West India mail brought accounts of the arrival of the Cleopatra at Trinidad in sixty-two days from Sierra Leone; having been six weeks be- calmed.

f The present emigration is going on without any such stipulation for the return. I consider it essential to the success of the whole plan, as a natural and efficient guarantee that the emigrant shall be well treated by his em- ployers—a preventive check against over-population and pauperism.

These results seem visionary ; and if the same calculations were made re- garding any other article of consumption, they might not be realized ; but sugar is an article of consumption in this country whose consumption is only limited by price and fiscal regulations. Reduce the one and remove the other, and in ten years it will come up to 500,000 tons, and pay at half the present duty 6,000,0001. per annum to the revenue.

I make these statements to show that there is an unlimited field for the profitable employment of free African emigrants in our West Indian Colonies ; that we may for years to come pass through them thousands of Aricans, eveiy individual of whom would reap a direct benefit by his contact with a civilized society ; who would be welcome to remain and be adopted into it if he chose, or if he preferred to return to his native land, would return free of expense, and impart to his countrymen a portion of the civilization he bad acquired, and stimulate others to follow his example.

The commercial advantages would not be confined to the West Indies: these men, returning to their native country, would carry back new wants, and the knowledge requisite to create exchangeable produce to satisfy them ; an in- creased trade with Africa itself would be the natural result.

I do not expect difficulty in procuring any amount of emigration from Africa, provided the Home Government is convinced that it should be done on African grounds alone, and undertake to carry it into effect. From motives of humanity I recommended the removal of a large portion of the liberated Africans at Sierra Leone : they have certainly the first claim upon us; and I cannot contemplate without dread their position if the Government expenditure is materially re- duced or withdrawn, and they have not the opportunity of emigrating. Com- mencing there would also do away with a great deal of the opposition that is likely to arise at the beginning. of such an undertaking, not only from the slave-trading and slave-holding Interest, whose knell it would sound, but also from well-meaning men, who by some extraordinary process have arrived at the conclusion that a Negro is better able to appreciate the blessings of Christianity and the advantages of civilized life in Africa than in the West Indies. None of these opponents could object to the Government removing these poor people from Sierra Leone to a better position : as well might they object to our re- moving the starving weavers in Paisley to Canada or Australis. The first step to take is to send out positive orders to all our settlements on the coast to receive and protect all corners, supporting them until the steamer is ready to take them to the West Indies: this should be made known by our men-of- war all along the coast, and any one once under the British flag should never be given up.

1 have never yet seen a part of Africa where, for food and protection, any number of people might not be got ; and I AM convinced, when it becomes generally known, the natives from all parts would flock to our settlements for embarkation; always provided that the orders (lithe Government were honestly and heartily followed up by their officers. On their voyage, of course their treatment would be regulated by the Emi- gration Commissioners.

The Governors of such colonies as required emigrants should from time to time state to the Emigration Commissioners their capacity for receiving and paying for the passage of the emigrants. The steamer on her voyage from Africa should make the most windward colony, Berbice; where orders might always be lying for her, as to what colonies she might convey the emigrants to.

The emigrants when landed should be at perfect liberty, to choose their em- ployers, and to accept or reject the wages offered them. The Colonial Govern- ment should keep them for ten days, in order to allow them time to make a de- liberate choice. After that, a test similar to what in England is called the workhouse test should be used. The Governor should not interfere at all, even with advice as to their location : their countrymen in the colony are their natural advisers; and nothing is more injurious to their character as free men, than suspecting them of incapacity to act for themselves, which apportioning them to particular estates would imply, however well meant on the part of the Government.

Contracts for twelve months should be encouraged, as tending to give the emigrant habits of steady and continuous labour. Forms of each contracts should be fixed by the Government, and none be valid except entered into before and countersigned by a Stipendiary Magistrate. To every emigrant a parchment promissory-note should be handed, dated on the day of his arrival in the colony, in some such form as this-

" Three years after date, we engage to give the hearer a free passage to Sierra Leone," &c.

Signed by the Collector of Customs, and Secretary of the Government, and stamped with the Colonial seal.

On an emigrant's return to Africa, a certificate of his being a British subject should be handed to him; and if at any time afterwards he was enslaved, the enslaver, of whatever nation, should be punished as a kidnapper of her Majesty's subjects. The native chiefs should be encouraged and invited to visit the West Indies ; and the authorities have power to order them a free cabin-passage in the steamers.

All cases of dispute in which the Negro race are either plaintiffs or de- fendants, should be heard and adjudicated by paid functionaries appointed by the Crown.

The money requisite to pay the expense of emigration should be raised by general taxation in each colony. All classes benefit by it—all should pay for it; and in this way the emigrant himself would indirectly in three years pay the expense of his passage.

EMIGRATION FROM AFRICA. SUPPOSING IT CARRIED ON BY PR IVAT E VESSELS.

A reference to the map will show at once the facility with which vessels with emigrants on board can be cleared by British authorities. Commencing at our first station, the Gambia, the wind and current for ten months in the year is " down " the coast to Fernando Po: any vessel taking in emigrants to the North or West of the following points would not be delayed more than from three to six days in procuring a clearance from the custom- house, or officer appointed by the Government for that purpose. At the Gambia From the Customhouse.

At Sierra Leone Ditto.

At Cape Palmas H. M. Cruiser. AtsCape Coast Castle The Governor. At Fernando Po H. M. Cruiser.

These stations are respectively about 350 to 400 miles apart, and embrace 2,000 miles of coast.

The clearer should muster the emigrants, ascertain the quality, quantity, and allowance of food and water, the proportion of sexes, their age, description, and country, give to all an opportunity of expressing their free consent to the voyage, offer protection and a free return home to any who are dissatisfied, make out a muster-roll, sign it along with the commander of the ship, seal and address it to the Governor of the colony to which the vessel is bound, and send a duplicate to the Customhouse in London ; another muster-roll, signed by the clearer, would serve for the clearance of the ship. A standing set of interroga- tories might be framed in this country to be used by the clearer. It is presumed that no man could be carried off by force under such a sys- tem; the clearer having no interest in the matter, the conveyer being liable to transportation if convicted of smuggling any on board alter clearing, and having ho inducement to run any such risk ; the emigrant being a free unin- dentured man on his arrival in Guiana or Trinidad.