Histories

Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. “Memorial of the West India Association, on the Present State of the British West India Colonies, Addressed to Lord John Russell, First Lord of Her Majesty’s Treasury.” Parliamentary Papers 1847–48 (17), vol. 45. 5 p.
Pleading imminent financial ruin, this London-based group of planters requested differential duties on slave-grown sugar, labor migration to the West Indies, loan guarantees for agricultural improvements, changes in the regulations and duties on rum and rum production, and permission to market their sugar in any convenient form. Memorial dated 25 October 1837.
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Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. “Despatches relating to the Distress prevailing in the West India Colonies and the Mauritius.” Despatches from the Governors of the West India Colonies and Mauritius relative to their General condition, and the Measures in Progress for the Promotion of Immigration; also, of the answers of the Secretary of State to any of the Above Communications.” Parliamentary Papers. 1847–48 (399), vol. 45.
Collection of dispatches from governors to the Colonial Office requestingimmediate relief, such as the possible raising of duties on their competitors’ sugar. Earl Grey’s response to Governor C. E. Grey of Jamaica is critical of the performance of government and planters since abolition, blaming them for the poor return they receive because production costs and wages remain too high. Remainder of collection contains correspondence on emigration, including Africans from Sierra Leone. Reports on racial tensions between workers, including work stoppages by Creoles in British Guiana. Also includes report on “Coolie” labor in Jamaica containing replies from estates on desertion and vagrancy (1847). Special magistrates’ reports from Tobago, St. Lucia and Montserrat, along with governor’s reports, portray tense labor relations. The crisis, especially in British Guiana, is attributed to the inability of owners to pay wages due to the collapse of many local and London banks in 1848. The failure of the West India Bank at Nevis is described.
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Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. “Correspondence between the Secretary of State and the Governors of the Sugar Growing colonies, as to the Distress now Existing in those Colonies.”
Parliamentary Papers 1847–48 (749), vol. 46.
Collection shows widespread breakdown in the immigration system with the decline in sugar revenues. Consists primarily of correspondence— including Blue Books and extracts from immigration and special magistrates’ reports—on the inability of colonies to pay for immigrants and requests for emergency loans. Governor Light, of British Guiana, argues in favor of emergency assistance. Governor Light warns that if laborers were to buy up foreclosed farms and plantations, “civilization would not benefit from this change of hands.” Includes texts of legislative meetings in various colonies on the issue of “distress.”
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Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. “Correspondence with the Governors of Jamaica, Trinidad, and Mauritius, Relating to the General Condition and Government of these Colonies.”
Parliamentary Papers 1849 (280) (280-II), vol. 37.

44 BRITISH WEST INDIES

The Jamaican papers include reports concerning disturbances among the workers in August 1848 caused by rumors of annexation to the United States and the general failure of the sugar economy. Governor Grey requests preferential duty treatment as well as British assistance for new emigration. Governor Grey also accuses Baptist ministers of inciting the Black population with threats of slavery from America and Spain. Includes report of disturbances from a number of parishes. Reports on unrelated attacks on tax collectors and on police in St. Mary and St. Ann parishes are also included. Jamaica reports include: general economic statistics for 1847 and 1848; plans for an Island Bank; and an education report (1848). Part II, covering Trinidad, contains political economy statistics, ordinances against squatters, Governor Harris’ reports of opposition from squatters, and information on loans for infrastructure, including a railway.