themselves to enforce such measures as should tend ultimately to the final extinction of slavery in the British colonies; that the ministers, in their conferences with the agent of the island, had refused to acknowledge any claim to compensation for the injuries the colonies would sustain in the mere endeavour to carry the scheme of emancipation into effect; that by this refusal the ministers showed an inclination, not only to dispose of the property of the colonists without their consent, but even to violate the common rules of honesty; and that the House ought to adopt the most firm, strong, and constitutional measures, to preserve to the inhabitants of the island those rights which had been transmitted to them from their ancestors." Upon this report the House of Assembly, in the month of December, immediately before the close of their session, voted unanimously the following resolutions:

"That the patient endurance, with which the people of this island have, for years past, struggled against pecuniary difficulties, proves how much they are disposed to submit to, where the evil arises from inevitable causes, or from circumstances affecting the general interests of the empire. But this House would be unmindful of their duty, were they not to protest most solemnly against the continuance of heavy and ruinous taxation on the produce of their soil, at a time when the demands of a state of warfare can no longer be urged in its defence, and the blessings of restored tranquillity have been extended to their fellow-subjects in the mother country.

"That this House cannot contemplate without sensations of astonishment, and the most serious

apprehension, the measures which have been adopted by the Commons House of Parliament in their unanimous vote of the 15th of May last: as if the machinations of a powerful and interested party were not sufficiently active for the work of destruction, the sanction of ministerial authority has been made subservient to their views, and a decree has gone forth, whereby the inhabitants of this once valuable colony (hitherto esteemed the brightest jewel in the British crown) are destined to be offered a propitiatory sacrifice at the altar of fanaticism.

"That this House, composed of the representatives of the people, are bound to guard the rights of their constituents against every endeavour that may be made to infringe upon them: they pause, in awful expectation of the consequences which must result from the threatened innovation, and whilst they wait the event, they are prepared to meet it; the blood which flows in their veins is British blood, and their hearts are animated with the same fearless determination, which enabled their ancestors to resist, with success, every encroachment of despotic power.

"That the enactment of laws for the internal regulations of the island is exclusively the province of the local legislature, subject to the sanction and approval of his majesty. This House, however, will at all times receive, with attention and respect, any suggestion of his majesty's ministers, relating to legislation, when offered in a consistent and becoming manner, and will be ready to adopt such regulations as can be introduced without hazard, and may appear likely to promote the welfare of

and other noisy instruments, which they employed in the most violent manner, for the purpose of compelling him to quit the pulpit, and desist from the performance of his duty. All their efforts, however, were unavailing; the preacher kept his post unmoved, waited with calmness till the annoyances ceased, and then proceeded with his functions. Finding it impossible by this mode to drive him from his post, they had the audacity to invite, by written placards, the persons aggrieved, to assemble on the following evening. Having met at the appointed time, they proceeded to demolish the meetinghouse in which Mr. Shrewsbury officiated; and after they had accomplished this so effectually that not a brick or piece of timber was left standing, they dispersed quietly to their several homes. A proclamation was issued the following day by sir Henry Warde, offering a reward of 100l. for the discovery of any of the actors in the attack on the congregation-house of Mr. Shrewsbury; but this was immediately followed by a counter-placard on the part of the rioters, stating that "the good people of Barbadoes would take care fitly to punish such person or persons as should make any discovery," and warning all missionaries to avoid their shores. Mr. Shrewsbury thought it prudent to fly from the island.

That the apprehensions of danger entertained by the planters were far from groundless, was proved too well by the events which happened in Demerara. There, as in the other colonies, the intelligence of the parliamentary proceedings produced considerable alarm. Although the colonial newspapers were prohibited from

touching on the subject, it was well-known among the negro population that measures for their benefit were going forward; and the general opinion among the whites was, that the wisest course for the colonial authorities would be, to take some steps immediately in accordance with the wishes of the government at home. This, it was expected, would be done at the first meeting of the court of policy, which was looked forward to with so much anxiety, that persons repaired to the capital from almost every estate, in order that they might know definitively what course they were to pursue towards their slaves.

The Court met, and after having continued its sittings for several days, separated without having taken or promulgated any measure. An adjourned meeting was held a fortnight afterwards, and was equally ineffectual. adjourned meeting took place to no better purpose. It was now understood, however, that there was a difference of opinion among the members of the court; for that some of those, who were extensive proprietors, argued that every concession to the slave population was so much taken from the value of their property, and was leading to the absolute destruction of it; and that it was better to correspond with the government before taking any step, and perhaps, on representation, the matter might be abandoned entirely. Thus, the Court of Policy, after meeting for the third time, rose without doing any thing-at least without either public or private communication on the subject, or on the result of their sittings. In this situation, and during these protracted discussions, several of the proprietors,

and those who had the charge of estates, abolished on their respective plantations the use of the whip in the field in the hands of the driver, and substituted the bell for the crack of the whip as the signal for going to work. Matters continued in this state of uncertainty till Monday the 18th of August, when information was received, that an insurrection was breaking out among the slaves on the eastern coast. It first manifested itself at Mahaica; and on that day assumed a more decided form on an estate called Le Ressouvenir, the negroes of which, rescued by force two slaves belonging to an adjoining plantation, who had been taken into custody, and were in the act of being carried back to their master. A Mr. Smith, a zealous missionary belonging to the London Society, resided at Le Ressouvenir, and was at home when the tumult took place. He used his endeavours successfully to rescue the manager from the negroes, and continued his exertions to induce them to return to their duty, till he himself was, by violence, and with a weapon held to his body, driven from the estate.

The first suspicion of the conspiracy was founded on information given to a Mr. Simpson, by a faithful slave; who stated, that the negroes in his neighbourhood had been for some time assembling in great numbers at night; that some incendiaries (among whom were white men) were promulgating news of King George and the parliament having decreed a general manumission, which was frustrated only by the governor, the local authorities, and the white inhabitants; that the negroes were nevertheless resolved on securing

their freedom, and, if no otherwise attainable, by arms; and finally, that they were to commence operations the same night. General Murray, the governor, repaired first to the court of justice, and hastened thence, accompanied by his staff and 8 or 10 of the George-town militia, to the disturbed district. He found several of the estates in insurrection, and the male negroes drawn up in regular order, armed with cutlasses, and some with firearms. He had a parley with them, and endeavoured to persuade them to return to their work. They told him, that they understood that their freedom, or some good thing for them, had come out from the king, and was in his hands; that he and their owners together withheld it; and that they were now determined to take it themselves. He explained the truth to them, and endeavoured to undeceive them; but they were not satisfied, and the governor and his party were fired on from the rear of the body of negroes. On this he retreated; his escape was attempted to be prevented at a bridge, where the negroes were in considerable strength; but partly through entreaty, and partly from the show of force, he and his escort got off. In the course of that night, all the negroes on the estates as far as Mahaica, with only one exception, rose, and took possession of the property-putting the proprietors, managers, &c. into confinement, and, in most places, in the stocks. There was no burning of buildings or canes, nor any personal violence, except where resistance was made to the delivery of the fire-arms, in the course of which three overseers, it is said, were killed, and twice as many wounded. The governor, on his return to the town, pros

claimed martial law, and took measures for the suppression of the revolt. On the same night, detachments of the 21st Fusileers and 1st West-India regiments, which had marched from the garrison under the command of captain Stewart, came up with the rebels at Plantation Wittenburgh, and, after a short engagement, compelled them to retire, having killed and wounded several, without any loss on the part of the troops. A detachment of the 21st, under the command of lieutenant Peddie, continued to push forward, skirmishing occasionally and successfully, and forcing the negroes to retire.

On Tuesday morning, a large body of the revolters, between 700 and 800 in number, and well armed, assembled at Plantation Douchfour. They commenced an attack upon lieutenant Brady, of the 21st, who had marched early in the morning with a small party of that corps under his command from Mahaica, to endeavour, if possible, to arrest their progress: they attempted to surround him; but he effected his retreat to the post in good order, killing and wounding from 10 to 15, without any loss whatever on his side.

On Wednesday morning, the rebels being still in the vicinity of the post, and at the Bridge of Plantation Beehive, lieutenant Brady proceeded to attack them, and, on his march, threw in a small detachment to clear some bushes he had occasion to pass, where the rebels had posted a party well armed to impede his advance. This service was successfully performed, six of the rebels being killed on the spot, the troops possessing themselves of their arms and ammunition, and the main body retreating with great precipitation. On the same morn

ing, a detachment of the Georgetown brigade of militia succeeded in coming up with, and defeating a strong party of the rebels at Plantation Elizabeth Hall, who were compelled to retreat immediately, with the loss of about 40 killed and many wounded. In the mean time, a strong detachment, composed of the 21st Fusileers, and the George-town brigade of militia, under the command of lieutenant-colonel Leahy, proceed ed up the coast on Tuesday evening, and arrived at Chateau Mango about nine o'clock. Leaving a few of the 21st and some militia at that place, the lieutenant-colonel pushed forward with the remainder of his detachment (strengthened by a rifle company, and twenty coloured militia, who had joined him on the march) upon Lusignan, where the rebels were reported to be assembled in considerable force. In releasing the whites upon a plan tation called Better Hope, a few shots were exchanged, some arms taken, and five or six negroes killed. The detachment procceded, liberat ing the white people on the different estates as they advanced, leaving small parties at each to maintain the communication; and they arrived about three o'clock in the morning of Wednesday, at Plantation Bache lor's Adventure, the rendezvous of the disaffected, who were in num ber considerably above 1,500, and were bold enough to assail the sentries with cutlasses. The troops continued under arms; and as day-light began to break, the fronts of two considerable bodies of the rebels were discovered on the bridges to the right and left, amounting to about 1,000 each, all armed, mostly with cutlasses, and bayonets fixed upon poles; they did not appear to have more than