from a feeling of distrust as to their having the
land secured to them. If the land is not purchased
from any of these societies, a parcel of ten or
fifteen colored families get together and purchase
and settle upon some other spot.

"While there are instances of colored men
accumulating property here, the great mass of them
fail even in securing a living without charity or
crime. They have but little forethought for the
future, and care only to live lazily in the
present. The criminal records of the county show
that nine-tenths of the offenses are committed by
the colored population, and I think the experience
of every citizen who resides near a settlement
will testify to their depredating habits.

"'I have given you thus hurriedly and
disconnectedly my views on these subjects. They
are important enough to demand more time and
consideration in their discussion, but I believe
the opinions I have advanced you will find shared
in by a large proportion of the residents of the
Province. I am, my dear sir, faithfully yours.'
----- -----.

"In addition to the testimony of the writer of the above communication,
my views upon the subject under examination were confirmed by the
valuable opinion of the Hon. Colonel Prince, the representative of the
county in the Provincial Parliament for a long term of years. Colonel
Prince has bestowed much consideration upon the negro question, and he
has practical experience of the condition and conduct of the colored
population. In June, 1858, in the course of a debate in the Legislative
Council, Col. Prince was reported to have spoken as follows:

"'In the county of Essex the greatest curse that befell them was the
swarm of blacks that infested that county. They were perfectly inundated
with them. Some of the finest farmers of the county of Kent had actually
left their beautiful farms, so as not to be near this terrible nuisance.
If they looked over the criminal calendars of the country they would see
that the majority of names were those of colored people. They were a
useless, worthless, thriftless set of people, too lazy and indolent to
work, and too proud to be taught. . . . . Were the blacks to swarm the
country and an