ABSTRACT

Major-General Sir William Gomm acted as lieutenantgovernor until May, 1842, when the Earl of Elgin arrived. His predecessor had happily succeeded in healing the dissensions which had troubled the colony, and in restoring as near an approach to harmony between different classes as was possible in so short an interval from the days of slavery, especially in a community where caste prejudices were so strong. To Lord Elgin belongs the distinguished honour of endeavouring to improve the social condition of the colony, and of developing its varied industrial resources. He anticipated the coming struggle on differential duties. The cry for cheap sugar had now commenced, and though earnest and true-hearted philanthropists had succeeded in obtaining the emancipation of the slaves, they were powerless to prevent the introduction of that policy by which the produce of slave-holding colonies was introduced at length into Great Britain on the same terms as that from her own free possessions. The struggle between the friends of the slave and the advocates of free trade with slave colonies was intense; and though conscientious men were found who were resolved never to use sugar which was the produce of slave labour, they were too few to resist the general demand.