The West indies in 1837

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164

JAMAICA.

futile it would be, to expect that any good will be ef­ fected for them, through the agency of the generality of the present race of white residents. On our re­ turn to night, as well as on the preceding evening, a specimen of the opposition which an upright ma­ gistrate encounters in the discharge of his duty, came under our notice. Our host received two letters from a neighbouring Special Magistrate, and a plant­ ing attorney, both dated from the residence, and brought by the messenger of the latter. The purport of the first was to complain of B O U R N E ' S interference, which, as before explained, consists in patiently listen­ ing to those who bring their complaints to him, and referring them, with a recommendation, to the justice or merciful consideration of their proper magistrates or owners. It was stated that this interference had " occasioned more punishment, than the misconduct of all the apprentices in the district." The letter of the attorney was to the same effect. Besides the in­ sight which this incident gives into the gloomy des­ potism of this odious system, we cannot but remark the close alliance which is shewn to exist, between some of the magistrates and the planters. 28th.—We rode over to Spanish Town, which is thirteen miles from Kingston, and the seat of Govern­ ment, in order to pay our respects to the Governor, Sir L I O N E L S M I T H , who gave us a courteous reception. The views he expressed during our interview were si­ milar to those contained in his first speech to the Assembly and Council, and which appear to have cha­ racterised his whole course of policy since assuming the Government. He considered the negros of Jamaica far more degraded than those of Barbados or the other islands. During his predecessor's administration, no


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