(No. 3.) -No. 6. Cory of a DESPATCH from Governor Hincks to the Right Honourable Sir, Windward Islands, Barbados, 27 July 1858. (Received, 16 August 1858.) (Answered, No. 13, 4 September 1858, page 147.) I HAVE the honour to transmit to you the copy of a Despatch from the Lieutenant Governor of St. Vincent, with several enclosures, on the subject of Chinese emigration to that Colony. The cost per head is, if I am not mistaken, much underrated, and I am not aware that the Emigration Commissioners have made any arrangements for procuring Chinese labourers for the Colonies. I have, however, thought it better not to delay transmitting the Despatch, so that the Commissioners may have the earliest possible notice of the wishes of the St. Vincent Legislature. I have, &c. (signed) F. Hincks. Enclosure in No. 6. Encl. in No. 6. (No. 47-) Sir, Government House, St. Vincent, 24 July 1858. REFERRING to my Despatch, No. 37, of the 10th ultimo, transmitting a resolution of the Executive Council of this Government, expressing its desire that provision should be made for obtaining immigrants from China, and requesting I would communicate with Her Majesty's Government, with a view to ascertain whether the Imperial guarantee could be obtained for a loan of 20,000 l. for that purpose, I have now the honour to forward a letter from the Speaker of the House of Assembly, together with copies of the documents to which that letter refers. 2. The purpor: of the Speaker's communication is to inform me that the two branches of the Legislature, having had a conference on the subject of immigration, have arrived at the following conclusions: 1st. That immigration from China would be the most valuable. 2d. That the Colony is in a position, without at present soliciting a loan from any quarter, at once to commence the system of immigration from China. 3d. That the Lieutenant Governor be requested to communicate with the Home Government on the subject, and to solicit that 500 Chinese emigrants be sent to St. Vincent, with as little delay as possible. 3. In adopting these views, I believe the Legislature has estimated the probable cost of introducing 500 Chinese at not exceeding a rate of 20 l. per head for adults, or 10,000 l. in the whole; and that the greater part of this amount will not require to be paid until the actual arrival of the immigrants, from eight to 12 months hence, during which time the immigration fund will go on rapidly accumulating. 4. In my Despatch, No. 37, 10th June, paragraph 4, I showed from a return by the Colonial Treasurer, that at the end of May of this year £. 1,315 1,320 1,000 £. 3,635 showing that at any moment the Colony is able at once to remit to the Emigration Commissioners a sum exceeding 3,000 l., to meet preliminary expenses, advances to immigrants, &c., upon learning that Her Majesty's Government sanction the undertaking, and are ready to instruct the Emigration Commissioners to take the necessary steps to procure for St. Vincent the 500 Chinese required. 5. In 1859 amounts corresponding to the two first items will again accrue to the immigration fund, besides about 1,800 l. more for the Income and Export Tax Acts, which at the close of 1858 will become solely applicable to immigration; there will thus be available in 1859 The difference between this and 10,000 l. could at any moment be raised in the Colony, ST. VINCENT. under an existing "Act to authorize the raising of Loans of Money for Immigration Purposes." 6. It is thus apparent that the Colony is quite in a position at once to advance above 3,000 l. towards meeting the expenses of obtaining 500 Chinese labourers, and to pay the balance of 7,000 l. (if costing so much) on their arrival. But this calculation presumes that all the immigrants are adults, and costing 20 l. per head; whereas it is both probable and highly important that there should be a fair proportion of women and children amongst the immigrants, which would, of course, reduce the average cost per head very greatly below what has been assumed. Moreover, the Immigration Act (16 October 1857) provides in the 22d clause, that onehalf the cost of introducing the immigrants shall be paid by the parties to whom they are indented, which would leave only 5,000 l. out of the 10,000 l. (assuming this to be the total sum) to be actually provided by the Colony. I believe the planters are both fully able and fully prepared to pay their shares, though I have thought it right to satisfy the Home Government, before it takes any steps in the matter, that the Colony itself is able to meet the whole demand which the introduction of 500 Chinese will involve. 8. The reason why the Legislature is pressing for the supply of even the small number of 500 immigrants without waiting to learn the result of the application for a loan, which if granted would admit of immigration on a much larger scale, appears to be that it considers the want of labour to be very pressing, and is unwilling to lose the time which would necessarily b occupied in adjusting a loan, when it can commence the system upon a small scale at once from existing resources, and may at any time extend it if larger funds become available. 9. I have earnestly to support the application of the Legislature, and to express my own strong conviction that additional labour is greatly required in St. Vincent, and that the Chinese will constitute the best and most useful description of immigrants attainable. 10. I enclose another copy of the Immigration Act, and beg to report that the amendments to it which are required by the Secretary of State, as pointed out in your Despatch, No. 229 of 28 June last, shall be made and transmitted with as little delay as possible. His Excellency the Governor in Chief, Barbados. I have, &c. (signed) E. Eyre. P.S.-A communication of similar import to that of the Speaker's, having been received from the President of the Legislative Council, is also enclosed. E. E. No. 20 (Joint Message). F. Eyre, Lieutenant Governor. Government House, St. Vincent, 8 July 1858, Ar the request of the Agricultural Society, the Lieutenant Governor has the honour to lay before the Legislature a letter which has been addressed to him on behalf of the Society by its chairman, expressing the opinion of that body that it is desirable to solicit a loan of 20,000 /, from the Home Government for the purposes of immigration, and that this immigration should consist of Chinese labourers in preference to any other, as being more likely to prove permanently beneficial to the Colony. 2. In transmitting this communication to the Legislature, the Lieutenant Governor has much pleasure in adding, that in a Despatch, dated 10 June ultimo, he brought both these subjects under the notice of the Secretary of State; but that until he receives a reply, official usage precludes him from laying that Despatch before the Legislature. (By command.) (signed) Bouverie Alleyne, His Honour the President and Members of the To his Excellency the Lieutenant Governor E. J. Eyre, Esq. Sir, St. Vincent, 6 July 1858. I HAVE been directed by the Agricultural Society respectfully to request that your Excellency will bring under the notice of the Legislature the great advantage that would result to the Colony by the introduction of Chinese immigrants as agricultural labourers, and to urge on that body the propriety of taking immediate steps to obtain the sanction of the Home Government to bring them to this Colony, and for raising funds for this purpose; and that I should further state, that as other Colonies have obtained the sanction of the Crown, the Society entertains no doubt but that the benefits of this immigration would readily be extended ST. VINCENT. to St. Vincent, and that, in its opinion, a loan ought to be solicited from the Home Government, say for 20,000l. sterling, to carry out this object, and that the society is satisfied that both principal and interest could be repaid by the Colony in a moderate time without at ali pressing heavily on its resources; that from information the Society has received, it appears that the total cost would be at the rate of 20. sterling per adult immigrant, one part of which would be borne by the Colony, and the other by the planter. That the Society considers the Chinese immigrants would prove far more valuable than the East Indian coolie, for it has been proved in Trinidad that he can perform more work, and that he is very industrious; moreover, the Colony is obliged to provide a back passage for the coolie after a certain residence; whereas not only this is not required in the case of the Chinese, but experience has shown that they do not return home, but settle down in the Colony into which they have been introduced. That the Society entertains great doubt as to the success of the endeavours of the Colony to obtain Métaires in any number, and even supposing that some are procured, and also some liberated Africans, it is still of opinion that the opportunity to commence a system of Chinese immigration should not be neglected. I have, &c. Council Chamber, St. Vincent, 22 July 1858. The President and Members of the Legislative Council to His Excellency May it please your Excellency. THE President and Members of the Legislative Council beg to acknowledge your Excellency's message on the subject of Chinese immigration, and to express their entire concurrence in recommending the adoption of the measure, and pray your Excellency to make application to the Home Government on the subject; and they respectfully beg to express their opinion that no immediate loan would be required, as the immigration fund, now in the treasury, and likely to accrue before the arrival of immigrants, would be sufficient to meet the outlay on the first importation, if such importation did not exceed 400 souls. (signed) H. E. Sharpe, President. Sir, Committee-room, St. Vincent, 22 July 1858. I AM instructed by the Honourable House of Assembly to acknowledge your Excellency's joint message, No. 20, enclosing copy of a letter addressed to your Excellency by the President of the Agricultural Society, on the subject of the importation of emigrants from China into this Colony. A conference having been held with the Honourable Board of Council, the conferees are of opinion, that immigration from China would be most valuable, and that the Colony is in a position, without at present soliciting a loan from any quarter, at once to commence the system of immigration from China, and that his Excellency the Lieutenant Governor be requested to communicate with the Home Government on the subject, and to solicit that 500 Chinese emigrants be sent here with as little delay as possible. To His Excellency the Lieut. Governor. I have, &c. (signed) George M. Browne, Speaker. COPY of a DESPATCH from Governor Hincks to the Right Honourable Sir, l'ide Appendix, St. Vincent, intituled, No. 718. Enclosure 1. Enclosure 2. Enclosure 3. Windward Islands, Barbados, 15 November 1858. (Received, 16 December 1858.) I HAVE the honour to transmit to you an authenticated copy of an Act of "An Act to repeal certain Clauses of an Act, intituled, 'An Act to alter the Law of Contracts with regard to Immigrants, and for the Encouragement of Immigration, and for the General Regulation of Immigrants, and to make other Provision in lieu thereof, and further to amend the said Act,'" together with the report of the Attorney General hereon, and a copy of the correspondence on the subject between Lieutenant Governor Eyre and myself. I have, &c. (signed) F. Hincks. Enclosure 1, in No. 7. (No. 70.) Sir, Government House, St. Vincent, 12 October 1858. I HAVE the honour to transmit, in order that your Excellency's pleasure may be signified in relation thereto, "An Act to repeal certain clauses of an Act, intituled, An Act to alter the Law of Contracts with regard to Immigrants and for the Encouragement of Immigration, and for the general Regulation of Immigrants, and to make other provision in lieu thereof, and further to amend the said Act; " together with the Attorney General's opinion thereon in duplicate. 2. The amendments which the present Act makes upon the Immigration Act, 1857, are for the purpose of remedying the defects pointed out in your Excellency's Despatch, No. 229, 28th June 1858. His Excellency the Governor in Chief, I have, &c. (signed) E. Eyre. Barbados. Enclosure 2, in No. 7. (No. 249.) Sir, Windward Islands, Barbados, 21 October 1858. His Excellency Lieut. Governor Eyre. I have, &c. (signed) F. Hincks. (No. 80. Enclosure 3, in No. 7. Sir, Government House, St. Vincent; I HAVE the honour to transmit authenticated copies of " An Act to repeal certain Clauses of an Act, intituled, An Act to alter the Law of Contracts with regard to Immigrants, and for the Encouragement of Immigration, and for the general Regulation of Immigrants, and to make other provision in lieu thereof, and further to amend the said Act." His Excellency the Governor in Chief, Barbados. I have, &c. (signed) E. Eyre. ST. VINCENT. Encl. 1, in No 7. Encl. 2, in No. 7. Encl. 3, in No. 7. ST. VINCENT. Despatches from the Secretary of State. No. 1. No. 1. Right Hon. H. Labouchere, M.P. to Governor Hincks. 25 February 1858. (No. 128.) COPY of a DESPATCH from the Right Honourable H. Labouchere to Sir, Downing-street, 25 February 1858. HAVING observed that a large number of liberated Africans have been taken into Sierra Leone and located among the resident population, I instructed the Emigration Commissioners to take steps for facilitating the conveyance to the West Indies of such Africans as may hereafter reach that port under similar Vide page 139 of circumstances. I enclose the copy of an agreement which they have accord Part I. Parl. Paper, ingly concluded with Messrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co. I have instructed the Governor of Sierra Leone to use his best endeavours to fill the ships furnished. under this agreement with such captured Africans as may consent to emigrate. It is of course impossible to predict the continuance of these captures, or the degree to which the Africans may avail themselves of the opportunity offered them, but I think it desirable to inform you of the steps which I have taken to secure, as far as possible, to the West Indies, the. benefits derivable from the operation of Her Majesty's cruisers. If the Colony of St. Vincent desires to share in the chance of these benefits, I should wish you to forward to me such a statement of the wages and other advantages enjoyed by labourers in that Colony as I may communicate to the Governor of Sierra Leone. If the Colonists also desire to take advantage of the 16th article of the agreement, it will be necessary to make proper provision for paying the proposed freight of 51. per adult on all emigrants from Sierra Leone, other than captured Africans, and a fee of a dollar per adult to the Emigration Agent who will embark them. I have instructed the Governor of Sierra Leone to explain to the emigrants of both classes (as far as possible) that they must be prepared, on their arrival, to enter into contracts of service to last for three years, or (in the case of children) till the age of 18. of 18. Of course, however, it will not be competent to the Government to impose or sanction such contracts, except in pursuance of some law which is in force in the Colony on the arrival of the immigrants. I draw your attention to this point in order that the Legislature may make such provision, in accordance with the above instructions, as they may consider to be under the existing circumstances required. I have, &c. (signed) H. Labouchere. P.S.-You will find in the accompanying Parliamentary Paper, the former instruction to the Emigration Agent at Sierra Leone, and various documents throwing light on this service. No. 2. Right Hon. the Lord Stanley, M. P. to Governor Hincks. 27 February 1858. Page 127. (No. 1.) Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Honourable Lord Stanley, M. P.. Sir, to Governor Hincks. Downing-street, 27 February 1858. I HAVE received your Despatch, St. Vincent, No. 3,* of the 4th January, with one from the Lieutenant Governor, forwarding resolutions of the Legislature of that |