lth beyond the
treasures of the old sugar planters, going to Florida, to Texas, to
South America, taking their energy and their capital to the land of the
foreigner, leaving Dominica, which might be the garden of the world, a
precious emerald set in the ring of their own Antilles, enriched by the
sacred memories of glorious English achievements, as if such a place had
no existence. Dominica would surrender herself to-morrow with a light
heart to France, to America, to any country which would accept the
charge of her destinies. Why should she care any more for England, which
has so little care for her? Beauties conscious of their charms do not
like to be so thrown aside. There is no dislike to us among the blacks;
they are indifferent, but even their indifference would be changed into
loyalty if we made the slightest effort to recover it. The poor black
was a faithful servant as long as he was a slave. As a freeman he is
conscious of his inferiority at the bottom of his heart, and would
attach himself to a rational white employer with at least as much
fidelity as a spaniel. Like the spaniel, too, if he is denied the chance
of developing under guidance the better qualities which are in him, he
will drift back into a mangy cur.

In no country ought a government to exist for which respect is
impossible, and English rule as it exists in Dominica is a subject for a
comedy. The Governor-General of the Leeward Islands resides in Antigua,
and in theory ought to go on progress and visit in turn his subordinate
dominions. His visits are rare as those of angels. The eminent person,
who at present holds that high office, has been once in Nevis; and
thrice in Dominica, but only for the briefest stay there. Perhaps he has
held aloof in consequence of an adventure which befell a visiting
governor some time ago on one of these occasions. When there is a
constitution there is an opposition. If there are no grievances the
opposition manufacture them, and the inhabitants of Roseau were
persuaded that they were an oppressed people and required fuller
liberties. I was informed that His Excellency had no sooner landed and
taken possession of the Government House, than a mob of men and women
gathered in the market place under the leadership of their elected
representative. The girls that I had admired very likely made a part of
it. They swarmed up into the gardens, they demonstrated under the
windows, laughing, shouting, and petitioning. His E