Possessions. Date of Extent. Population acquisit. sq. m. White Slaves F. Col. Anguilla[B], 1650 . . . 365 2,388 327 Antigua[A], 1632 108 1,980 29,537 3,895 Bahamas[B], 1629 4,400 4,240 9,268 2,991 Barbados[B], 1625 166 14,959 82,807 5,146 Bermudas[A], 1611 22 3,905 4,608 738 Dominica[B], 1783 275 840 15,392 3,606 Grenada[B], 1783 125 801 24,145 3,786 Jamaica[B], 1655 6,400 37,000 311,692 55,000 Montserrat[B], 1632 47 330 6,262 814 Nevis[B], 1628 20 700 9,259 2,000 St. Christophers[B],1632 68 1,612 19,310 3,000 St. Lucia[B], 1803 58 972 13,661 3,718 St. Vincent[B], 1783 130 1,301 23,589 2,824 Tobago[B], 1763 187 322 12,556 1,164 Trinidad[B], 1797 2,460 4,201 24,006 15,956 Tortola, or Virgin Isles[B], 1666 . . . 800 5,399 607
Total, B.W.I . . . 14,466 74,328 593,879
105,572
Cape of Good Hope, . . . . . . 43,000 35,500
29,000
Berbice[B]
. . . . . . 523 20,645 1,161
Guiana Demarara[B] 1803 . . . 3,006 65,556
6,360
Essequibo[B],
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Honduras, 1650 62,750 250 2,100
2,300
Mauritius, . . . . . . 8,000 76,000
15,000
Total. . . . . . . 129,107 793,680
159,393
[Footnote A: Emancipated entirely on the 1st. of August, 1834.]
[Footnote B: Emancipated entirely on the 1st. of August, 1838, by vote of the local legislatures in the chartered Colonies; and by Governor and Council, in the Crown Colonies.]
The unanimity with which the apprenticeship was given up is a most remarkable and instructive fact. In the Council and Assembly of Montserrat, there was an unanimous decision in favor of Emancipation as early as February 1838. In the legislature of Tortola, which passed the bill in April 1838, the opposing party was small. In that of Barbados the bill was passed on the 15th of May with but one dissenting voice. In that of Jamaica, the bill seems to have been passed on the 8th of June, and the Jamaica Times remarks:—“No dissentient voice was heard within the walls of the Assembly, all joined in the wish so often expressed, that the remaining term of the apprenticeship should be cancelled, that the excitement produced by a law which has done inconceivable harm in Jamaica, in alienating the affections of her people, and creating discord and disaffection, should at once cease. Thank God! it is now nearly at an end, and we trust that Jamaica will enjoy that repose, so eagerly and anxiously sought after, by all who wish the Island well.”