The Coolie, His Rights and Wrongs (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1871. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... APPENDIX 307 APPENDIX A. MR. DES VCEUX'S LETTER. Government House, St. Lucia, December, 1869. MY LORD, --I have long had the intention, which I have been prevented by various causes and lately by the pressure of other public duties from carrying out, of drawing your Lordship's attention to the state of the Colony of British Guiana, where I was lately holding the appointment of stipendiary magistrate when your Lordship graciously acceded to my application for promotion. z. But in view of the serious disturbances which lately took place at plantation Leonora, and the more recent meeting of West Indian proprietors in London, which has shown that, while alive to the unsettled state of the colony, and anxious of obviating its effects, they are either unaware of, or are regardless of removing, its causes, I felt that I should no longer delay the performance of what I conscientiously believe an obligatory duty. 3. Knowing as I do that there is a very wide-spread discontent and dissatisfaction existing throughout the immigrant population, both Indians and Chinese (and especially among the latter, though their small numbers make the fact less apparent), and believing as I do that these ill feelings, which have already vented themselves in disturbance, will ere long, unless checked by remedial measures, result in far more serious calamities, and believing also that my five years' peculiar experience in the colony enables me to throw a light on the causes of grievance, which may not reach your Lordship from any other source, and may be useful at the present moment, I trust that I need no other apology for communicating with you on a subject unconnected with my present duties. 4. If your Lordship should approve, I would in a future letter explain the peculiar grievances of which...