be so small as not to affect in any material degree the general interest, inasmuch as those who dissented, from the consequent scarcity of land arising from the measure, would demand a high rental for their land.  The maximum system appears to be preferable to the minimum.  I have therefore made choice of it as a stimulus to the laborers to work at least four days or thirty-six hours in the week to pay for their rent, &c. &c., or pay 2s. 1d. for every day’s absence; or, if sick, pay up the labor by working on the Friday, &c., and Saturday, if needful.  Weekly settlements with both parties, or immediate summary ejectment, if deemed necessary.

[Footnote A:  The sums are in the currency of the islands when not otherwise specified, that is 7s 6d to the dollar.]

L s. d. 
Rent of 2 acres of land as a ground for
each able adult, at L5 per acre 10 0 0
Do. of house and garden, from L4 to
L10 per annum, say 6 0 0
Medical attendance, medicine, &c. &c.,
worth L4 per annum 4 0 0
Clothing and Christmas allowance per
annum 1 13 4
----------
21 13 4
----------

Four days’ or 36 hours’ labor in each
    week, at 2s. 1d. per day, or 208
    days, at 2s. 1d. 21 13 4
If task-work were adopted, or the day’s
    labor prolonged to 10-1/2 or 12 hours’
    labor, 3 days’ or 3-1/2 days’ labor
    would suffice, consequently, the
    laborer would have 2 or 3 days
    in each week to work for extra
    wages. 
In addition to the above, say pasturage
    for a horse, at 4s. 2d. per week per
    annum 10 16 8
Pasturage for an ass, at 2s. 1d. per week
    per annum 5 6 4
Run of pasturage and fruit, for a sow,
    barrow, or sholt; IF RUNG IN THE
    NOSE, 10_d. per week_; IF NOT RUNG,
    1_s._ 8_d. per week; per annum, at
    10d. per week_ 2 3 4

The above charges for pasturage might be paid for either by additional labor or in money, and to a good head-man they might be granted as a gratuity, and perhaps an additional acre of land allowed him to cultivate.  It would be desirable that the negroes should, when quite free, work 11 hours per day in the short days, and 12 hours in the longer ones.  I believe the shortest day’s labor in England in the winter months in 10 hours’ actual labor, and 12 hours’ in the summer, for which 2 hours they are paid extra wages.

St. Mary’s, 8th June, 1838.  S.R.