F
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
C.O.
Reference
• 885
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to the intentions of the negroes to rise upon the whites, from apprehensions occasioned amongst them by the unjustifiable language of the latter as to transferring their allegiance to America; and it is mainly due to the judgment and firmness of Sir C. Grey that the passions of both parties were re- strained without a collision, which might casily have led to an exterminating war of colour.
Hence as regards the Chartered Colonies, it is manifest absurdity to attribute the difficulties to which they are exposed to the Government, unless by that expression it is intended to describe not the Executive Government but Parliament, which by reducing the duties on foreign produce, is supposed to have occasioned the distress which is so loudly complained of.
In what are called the Crown Colonies it is true the Government does possess a larger share of power; but a comparison between the legislative and financial arrangements of these and the Chartered Colonies may safely be challenged as not disadvan- tageous to the former, and undoubtedly their pre- sent condition and future prospects are also far from being more unfavourable.
To these remarks upon our tropical colonies generally, it may be as well to add a few words upon one or two of them individually,
With regard to Guiana much clamour has been raised against the alleged arbitary refusal to allow the local Legislature to reduce the expenditure of the colony.
The facts are as follows:-Over about six- sevenths of the expenditure of the colony no attempt has been made to dispute the right of the body by which the taxes are voted (called the Combined Court) to exercise a con- troul; but the remaining seventh, constituting what is called the Civil List, having been granted for a given number of years, of which about three remain unexpired, the Governor was instructed not to permit this arrangement, which had been freely sanctioned by the Combined Court, to be departed from. No other course could be taken, as the faith of the Crown was considered to be pledged to the judges and other public servants
1 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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