IV. BERBICE,

In this colony nothing whatever appears to have been done in the work of reform. Governor Beard had pressed the subject at different times on the attention of the Council of the colony, but without effect. On one occasion he observes, addressing Lord Bathurst, "I have no hope of the Council redeeming their pledge in this respect, or acceding in any manner to the proposed measures of his Majesty's Government." And again: "I cannot discover any friendly feeling, on the part of the individuals composing the present Council, towards the measures intended by his Majesty's Government to be carried into effect in this settlement." (A. pp. 227-236.)

We have not heard what steps the Government have taken in consequence of this contumacy.

A return has been made to the House of Commons of the taxes and fees paid on acts of manumission in Berbice, from the 1st January 1822 to the 13th April 1824, being upwards of two years and a quarter. In that time there were only twentyfive acts of manumission, being at the rate of about eleven annually; and the amount of taxes and fees alone paid upon them, exclusive of the cost of redeeming the slaves, was 11,564 guilders, being at the rate of nearly 407. sterling for each. (E. pp. 9, 10).

A motion was made, in the session of 1824, for "a copy of the record of the proceedings of the Fiscal of Berbice, in his capacity of guardian and protector of the slaves, with his decision in all cases of complaint of masters and slaves respectively against each other, and the punishments inflicted or the redress given in consequence of such complaint, from the 1st of January 1814 to the present time." To this motion no return has yet been made.

V. BERMUDA.

No account whatever has been received from this colony of the slightest movement towards reform; although it will

be seen, by a reference to the Second Report of the AntiSlavery Society (p. 144), that the laws of no colony more need reform than those of Bermuda.

VI. CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

Since the Second Report of the Anti-slavery Society was printed, a return from the Registry of Slaves has been laid on the table of the House of Commons, by which it appears that the slave population of the Cape of Good Hope, instead of being, as there estimated, only 25,000 (p. 157), amounted in the year 1823 to 35,271-viz. 20,491 males, and 14,780 females. (I.) A disproportion in the sexes so great as this, after the Slave Trade had ceased for 17 or 18 years, raises a suspicion that slaves may have been illicitly introduced.

In March 1823, Lord Charles Somerset, the Governor, issued a proclamation containing regulations for the religious instruction and treatment of the slaves. Compulsory labour on the Sunday is forbidden by it, under a penalty of not more than fifty or less than ten rix-dollars for each offence. Certain regulations are adopted with a view to the marriage and the baptism of slaves. Married slaves* cannot be sold separately, or without their children† under ten, except (and why this exception?) by the decree of a court of justice. The evidence of baptized slaves (why the restriction?) is to be received in all cases whatsoever. Christian slaves (and why not all slaves?) are to pay no tax on manumission. Young slaves are to be sent for instruction to the nearest freeschool, by such proprietors as are Christians (and why not by all?). The property of slaves is secured to them, and they are empowered to bequeath it. In cases of suicide the owner of the slave inherits his property‡. The property of intestate

The right of marriage is confined to Christian slaves. Why may not Mohamedan and Pagan slaves be encouraged to marry, and protected in their marriages, as well as Christians?

+ This rule should also extend to reputed marriages.

The owner seems the last person who should inherit the property of a slave who commits suicide, acts of suicide generally proceeding from harsh usage.

slaves having no relations, is to go to a fund for redeeming female slave children. Owners, &c. are not to inflict on a slave more than twenty-five lashes for one offence, or to repeat the punishment until the delinquent has recovered from the former correction; and no punishment is to be inflicted by any other hand than that of the owner, &c. under a penalty of from fifty to one hundred rix-dollars. An owner killing a slave is guilty of homicide; maltreating him may be punished by fine, imprisonment, or banishment, and the slave may be sold for his account*, but so as not to come into the power of him or his relations. An overseer maltreating a slave will be punished as if he had maltreated a free servant. A slave whose complaint proves groundless shall be punished †.

VII. DEMARARA.

The taxes and fees paid on manumissions in Demarara and Essequibo, from the 1st of January 1822 to the 1st of September 1824, being two years and eight months-during which time seventy-six slaves only were manumitted, being at the rate of twenty-eight or twenty-nine in each year-amounted to 32,750 guilders, or at the rate of about 361. sterling each. (E. p. 5—8).

In return to the motion for "a copy of the record of the proceedings of the Fiscals of Demarara, in their capacity of guardians and protectors of slaves, with their decisions in all cases of complaint of masters and slaves respectively against each other, and the punishments inflicted or redress given in consequence of such complaints, from the 1st January 1814 to this time," the first Fiscal, Mr. Herbert, thus writes: "There is no record of such proceedings at this office; and until the month of April, 1824, there does not appear to have been even a memorandum of the proceedings held before the

* Ought not the slave to be made free?

+ This is surely most objectionable. Why should the complaints of slaves be discouraged? To make the failure of proof a ground of punishment, unless malice or perjury can be proved, is repugnant to all our ideas of justice.

Fiscal as a magistrate" (E. p. 17). Thus it appears that no record has been preserved of the judicial proceedings which have taken place, in the case of 80,000 of his Majesty's subjects, prior to the month of April 1824. The only return made to this order comprises a period of no more than three months, namely, from June 16 to September 18, 1824. The number of complaints in that time is twenty-five, of which seventeen are complaints of slaves against their owner or manager, and six of masters or mistresses against their slaves. The other two are complaints of slaves against each other. The complaints of the masters against their slaves are in every case redressed. One man is reprimanded; two women are confined for a week; one man is punished (it is not said in what manner); of four men accused of ill behaviour, three are punished; and of twenty-six, belonging to the estate Maria's Lodge, accused of running into the bush, striking work, and bad behaviour, four are punished-three men and one woman. It is added, that in this case the Negroes had no ground of complaint, and that the woman was very insolent, saying, "You cannot flog women." (E. p. 19).

The result of the complaints of the Negroes against their owners and managers is somewhat different.

1. The Negroes of Plantation Big Diamond complain of ill-treatment; three of the ringleaders are punished, “the complaint being unwarranted."

2. The Negroes of Plantation Friendship make the same complaint: four are punished, and all are sent back severely reprimanded.

3. Negroes of the Plantation la Bonna Mere make the same complaint it is pronounced frivolous and unwarrantable, and seven of them are punished.

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4. The gangs of Plantation Belle Hope complain of ill usage, hard work, starvation, &c.: the complaint is pronounced frivolous and ill-founded, and three of the ring-leaders are punished.

5. Izak of Plantation Fowlis complains of ill treatment: he is punished.

6. George makes a like complaint he is to go to his work, and to be punished.

7. Sally begs leave to be sold without her child: not allowed, and warned to take care of it.

8. Lucinda complains of various ill-treatment from the manager and overseer of La Jealousie: a made-up story; is punished."

9. Adam complains of his little sister being ill-treated: contradicted by the mother and child; is punished in gaol. 10. A woman and boy complain of want of clothing, and ill-treatment: unfounded; the woman confined eight days, the boy flogged.

11. A Negress complains of Mr. Cantzlaar her master, that he was taking her into the country to punish her for nothing: "she had misbehaved; he was taking her into the country; she ran away to complain: returned to her master to act discretionary."

12. Irins and another complain, that the manager of Plantation Kissingin does not give them enough to eat: "frivolous-restored to the master."

13. Caroline and some others of Plantation Groenseld complain of the manager; Caroline, that he had flogged a Negro till he died; and the rest, that he beat them with a tar rope: "Caroline's story unfounded; six weeks' confinement on bread and water, to be mitigated on contrition:" the rest shewed no marks of violence : "the tar rope was taken away, the Negroes satisfied, and the manager reprimanded.” 14. Peggy complains that her mistress, Miss Neil, treats her ill, and gives her no clothing: "altogether unfounded; is punished."

15. Four Negroes of Plantation Northbrook complain against the manager of hard work, over-work, and flogging: "altogether unfounded; punished, one man rather severely, one very slightly, two seut to work as convicts for a month." "Mr. Stuart the master is very kind and indulgent, but discipline and proper method wanting."

16. Twenty-seven Negroes of the estate Land of Canaan complain of a want of clothing, lodging, food, comforts in sickness, &c.: "just, except as to food; fined the owner 101. for every Negro; ordered him to furnish the things required, and informed the Negroes to that effect."

17. Negroes of Plantation Jans and Coree complain of the