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Show 172 JAMAICA. h e is a vast addition to the qnence o f f1·e edom t er ng the peopI e o f" J amm.c a . of sugar amo consumptiOn the home sale. If d therefore to bl itse , an . fl"ee is not so favora e. The account of co l"ng 9th month c"'. Coffee, for the year ell( 1 • 117,:H3 S ) 30 1838 . . . . ( ept. ' ding 9th month Coffee, for the year en (Sept.) 30, 1839 · · 78,75~) Diminution (about one-third) 38,554 1' h ofl.e e 1. s a very uncertain crop, and the d. efici-e c the compan.s on o f these two y. ears, IS not ency, 011I • I 1 . , often occurred before. We beheve, t mn 1'1" · greatIe r, · h t both in sugar and coffee, t remember t a ' are a so o the )\anter may be increased b_y ~h~ sar· the profit to I 1 the [)roduce is dnmmshcd. . f xpen se, even w Jell mg 0 e 11 1 that a considerable decrease Still it must be a owbec h tl art ides in connexion lace on ot Je , , ' has taken P ' With regard to the . h the chanae of system. . w8it4 0 · t 1. s exp"e ct ccl tlJ'a t coffee will at least t1h e la' sI t amo. unt; but a f,, tr ther decrease on sugar enerally anticipated. . . g c . s this decrease of produce IS Now so 1ar <~ • 1 b "th th~ change of system, it is obvwus y ~o e WI d" g diminution in the quantity to a correspon 111 • the real But here comes the critical qn~sti~n-. the q . t To what is this dimmutwn m . pom · . , I answer <Ie l "' b erat el y ' but WI of labor owmg 1 . I· uder "M . l to causes which c ass u . reserve, atn :Y , I . f" . the most part, 1 f. ,dom t IS, 01 and not un< er rce · . t• ·c the · ,r esult of those impoI "lt i. c a ttc rn pts to ore .lAMA IVA. 173 of freemen, which have disgusted the peasantry, and have led to the desertion of many of the estates. It is a cheering circumstance that the amount of planting and other preparatory labor, bestowed on tl1e estates during the autumn of 1839, has been much greater, by all accounts, than in the autumn of 1838. This is itself the effect of an improved understanding between the planters and the peasants; and the result of it (if other circumstances be equal) cannot fail to be a considerable increase of produce in 1841. I am told, however, that there is one circumstance which tends to prevent this result as it regards sugar. It is, that the cultivation of it under the old system, was forced on certain properties which, from their situation and other circumstances, were wholly unfit for the purpose. These plantations afforded an income to the local agents, but to the proprietors were either unprofitable, or losing concerns. On such properties, under those new circumstances which bring all things to their true level, the cultivation of sugar must cease. In the mean time, the imports of the island are rapidly increasing; trade improving; the towns thriving; new villages rising in every direction ; property much enhanced in value ; well-managed estates, productive and profitable; expenses of management diminished; short methods oflabor adopted; provisions cultivated on a larger scale than ever ; and the people, wherever they are properly treated, industrious, contented, and gradually accumulating wealth. Above all, education is rapidly spreading; the morals of the community improving; crime in many districts dis- |