to serve the execution of such regulations of the former enactment
as had been disregarded by the planters. This act was promulgated in
Jamaica by the governor on the 1st of June; and on the 5th of the same
month he convened the legislature of that colony. In his speech Sir
Lionel Smith informed the assembly that he had called the house together
to take into consideration the state of the island, and to recommend
the early and equal abolition of apprenticeship for all parties. The
assembly entered a warm remonstrance against the abolition amendment
act; but nevertheless on the 16th of June the governor gave the royal
assent to an act for the entire abolition of praedial apprenticeship from
the 1st of August, 1838.

On the arrival in England of the news of this voluntary abandonment on
the part of the planters of the remaining term of apprenticeship. Lord
Melbourne presented to the house of lords an important bill, founded on
the report of Captain Pringle, empowering her majesty in council to
make rules for the government of the West India prisons, to appoint
inspectors, and regulate other matters of necessary discipline. This
bill was sent out and promulgated by the governor in a proclamation
affixed to the doors of their house about six weeks before the meeting
of the assembly. That meeting took place on the 30th of October, and
their very first procedure was to pass four resolutions condemnatory of
Lord Melbourne's bill; complaining of the violation of their rights
by the parliament of Great Britain; asserting that as a body they (the
assembly) had ceased to exist for any useful purpose to the people
whom they represented; and that therefore they would abstain from
the exercise of any legislative function, excepting such as might be
necessary to preserve inviolate the faith of the island with the public
creditor, until her majesty's pleasure should be known, whether her
subjects of Jamaica, now in a state of freedom, should henceforth
be treated as subjects, with the power of making laws for their own
government, or as a conquered colony. Sir Lionel now prorogued the
assembly for a few days; but when they again met they asserted their
determination to adhere to their resolutions, and the result of their
contumacy was the final prorogation of their house.

In consequence of these transactions, on the 9th of April Mr.
Labouchere introduced a bill to suspend the existing constitution for
five years. In the meantime it w