96
proposal to establish under "official protection" a system for
Female, in a "British colony" = not sufficiently appreciating
the distinction between buying persons into slavery and buying them out of it. As we pointed out in our Report of 27th September 18371,
Bowring moreover did not suggest any other mode of achieving the object. Bonham in his letter to M. Hammond of 4th July 18544, stated that although Mr. White's plan was open to serious objection, he was not prepared to propose a more eligible and proper one, adding that perhaps with some modification the system might be carried out advantageously. The only modification which he suggested was that the married woman should be examined by an Officer of the Government to ascertain that her marriage was valid and that she was a voluntary immigrant.
Of course, the former is an important question. Where a marriage has really taken place, the Government could scarcely...