vincing warning, the insurrection in Jamaica, to prove to a hesitating Government that the crisis would brook no delay? Who, contrary to our wishes, caused the formation of those Parliamentary committees which, designed and demanded by the enemy, ended in their discomfiture? Who sent witnesses at the very crisis in which they were needed; carrying conviction to the minds of many of our antagonists, that slavery must be abolished? Who prevailed on a moneyloving people freely to sacrifice twenty millions of money? Who thus delivered the masters from ruin and desolation? Who moulded the hearts of the Negroes, so that their first act was universally crowding to the chapels, to return thanks to thee; then of their own accord abolishing Sunday markets, and abstaining from any instance of intoxication? and who enabled the Governor to report that no act of violence on the part of the Negroes had occurred?'

"In each of these events, and in numberless others, it were blindness not to perceive the guidance of a more than human hand.

"Let me intreat thee, O merciful Father, to go with me, to guide me, and guard me, and prosper my ways. Oh! the comforting plainness of that promise, If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, and it shall be given him.””

CHAP. XXII.

359

CHAPTER XXII.

TREATMENT OF ABORIGINES.

1834, 1835.

ENQUIRY INTO THE TREATMENT OF ABORIGINAL TRIBES IN BRITISH COLONIES. -ADDRESS TO THE KING ON THE SUBJECT. CAFFRE WAR. ABORIGINES' COMMITTEE. LETTERS.

DESPATCH.

LORD GLENELG'S
MR. BUXTON

TURNS TO THE SUBJECT OF THE SLAVE TRADE OF FOREIGN NATIONS. AN ADDRESS TO THE KING AGREED TO.

ALTHOUGH the summer of 1834 was mainly occupied by Mr. Buxton in endeavours to complete the great work of emancipation; yet his mind was much occupied by a new undertaking, which, however, was in many respects similar to that upon which he had been engaged.

This was an inquiry into the condition and treatment of the aboriginal inhabitants of our colonies; a subject peculiarly calculated to arouse his interest, and, indeed, to excite his indignation. "I protest," he said, "I hate shooting innocent savages worse than slavery itself."

He thus concludes a long paper of meditations, dated January, 1834:

66

Though I practise not, I see what a noble course there is opened for me; and if I have a desire, it is that by the instrumentality of thy grace, O Lord, thou wouldest mould me into a man who is altogether thy servant, in temper, in objects of pursuit, in labours, in meekness, in charity, in

faith, in godliness, in prayer, and in practice, directing my steps heavenward.

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'My attention has been drawn of late to the wickedness of our proceedings as a nation, towards the ignorant and barbarous natives of countries on which we seize. What have we Christians done for them? We have usurped their lands, kidnapped, enslaved, and murdered themselves. The greatest of their crimes is that they sometimes trespass into the lands of their forefathers; and the very greatest of their misfortunes is that they have ever become acquainted with Christians. Shame on such Christianity! My object is to inquire into past proceedings, for the purpose of instituting certain rules and laws, on principles of justice, for the future treatment of the aborigines of those countries where we make settlements.

"O thou God of mercy and justice, who hast supported me and strengthened me in the ten years' combat for the deliverance of the Negro, be thou my guide and guardian in this effort. Let it be conducted under the direction of thy good Spirit. Let prayer be made for its good issue. Give us wisdom and resolution. Move the hearts of those who have power, and the hearts of all thy righteous people in this land, to come to our help. Purify the motives from which we act: let no unworthy desire of praise spring up; but let this good cause begin in a hearty desire to serve thee. Let it be conducted under the guidance of thy wisdom, and under the succour of thy strength. And let it terminate in the entrance of millions of our fellow-men, now barbarous, ignorant, and heathen, into thy Church; let innocent commerce, civilisation, knowledge, and that which is better than all, true faith in Christ, be extended to the barbarous nations, to whom we are as yet known only by our power and our cruelty.

"O God, for the sake of Him who healed the sick, comforted the sorrowful, instructed the ignorant, and shed abroad that light and that influence to which we owe all our present enjoyments, and on which all our future hopes are built, for His sake hear and answer these prayers."

1834.

ADDRESS TO THE KING.

361

To the Rev. Dr. Philip, at Cape Town.

66 January 17. 1834. "It appears to me that we ought to fix and enforce certain regulations and laws, with regard to the natives of all countries where we make settlements. Those laws must be based on the principles of justice. In order to do justice

we must admit

"1st. That the natives have a right to their own lands. "2dly. That as our settlements must be attended with some evils to them, it is our duty to give them compensation for those evils, by imparting the truths of Christianity and the arts of civilised life.

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Having agreed on the points to be aimed at, our next business is to ascertain in what degree we have acted, and now act, in violation of justice and humanity towards the natives what encroachments we have made on their property-what moral and physical evils we have introduced. Next, as to the reparation of these oppressions. Have we done our best, or have we done any thing, for the purpose of improving their condition, and making them Christians? or have we resisted both the one and the other, and done our best to retain them in a condition of debasement and depravity? And, finally, how must we now retrace our steps? and what are the most judicious modes of securing to them some portion of their own land, and giving them an equivalent for their losses and sufferings, by making efforts for their civilisation and conversion to Christianity ?"

On the first of July, 1834, he moved an address to the king on the subject. In his speech on this occasion, he dwelt upon the grievances of the commando system in South Africa. These commandos greatly resembled the border forays of the fifteenth century. On some plea of cattle having been stolen, the colonists used to arm and make inroads into Caffreland; and

after despoiling the lands of the barbarians, they would march home in triumph, usually with large booty. Thus in a single year (1819) as many as 52,000 head of cattle were taken from the natives; and this system of spoliation was continued, till the colonists became persuaded that nothing could secure their own existence, but the annihilation of their irritated foes.*

The address, having been seconded by Mr. Spring Rice, (the Colonial Secretary,) was passed unanimously. It prayed his Majesty, that he would be graciously pleased to take such measures, as should secure to the natives the due observance of justice, and the protection of their rights, promote the spread of civilisation among them, and lead them to the peaceful and voluntary reception of the Christian religion.

To Dr. Philip, at Cape Town.

September 30. 1834. "I have received, and heartily thank you for, your long letter dated May 6th. Pray keep me well informed.

"I have also received the letters and newspapers about the attempted renewal of the Vagrant Act. I think it will

* The following is an extract from a description given by an eyewitness, of a commando sent out from the Cape, in 1830. (See Evidence before Parliamentary Committee, 1835.):- "The military were divided * We were only aware of

* *

into three or four parties. the presence of the other parties in the country by the smoke of the burning villages. One Caffre shouted to us across a ravine, to ask why we were burning his cottage; it seemed difficult to make a reply; there was silence throughout the party!"

This vagrancy act was an ingenious contrivance of some of the colonists, to reduce the Hottentots once more to slavery; but it was prevented from becoming law by Mr. Spring Rice.