t done much for their improvement, when their notions of
morality are still so elementary that more than half of their children
are born out of marriage. The English planters were encouraged to settle
there when it suited our convenience to maintain the islands for
Imperial purposes; like the landlords in Ireland, they were our English
garrison; and as with the landlords in Ireland, when we imagine that
they have served their purpose and can be no longer of use to us, we
calmly change the conditions of society. We disclaim obligations to help
them in the confusion which we have introduced; we tell them to help
themselves, and they cannot help themselves in such an element as that
in which they are now struggling, unless they know that they may count
on the sympathy and the support of their countrymen at home. Nothing is
demanded of the English exchequer; the resources of the islands are
practically boundless; there is a robust population conscious at the
bottom of their native inferiority, and docile and willing to work if
anyone will direct them and set them to it. There will be capital
enough forthcoming, and energetic men enough and intelligence enough,
if we on our part will provide one thing, the easiest of all if we
really set our minds to it--an effective and authoritative government.
It is not safe even for ourselves to leave a wound unattended to, though
it be in the least significant part of our bodies. The West Indies are a
small limb in the great body corporate of the British Empire, but there
is no great and no small in the life of nations. The avoidable decay of
the smallest member is an injury to the whole. Let it be once known and
felt that England regards the West Indies as essentially one with
herself, and the English in the islands will resume their natural
position, and respect and order will come back, and those once thriving
colonies will again advance with the rest on the high road of
civilisation and prosperity. Let it be known that England considers only
her immediate interests and will not exert herself, and the other
colonies will know what they have to count upon, and the British Empire
will dwindle down before long into a single insignificant island in the
North Sea.

So end the reflections which I formed there from what I saw and what I
heard. I have written as an outside observer unconnected with practical
politics, with no motive except a loyal pride in the greatness of my own
country, an