Correspondence, Original - Secretary of State: Emigration of labourers from Africa...

CO 318/162

1844

Correspondence, Original - Secretary of State: Emigration of labourers from Africa and India to the West Indies: correspondence from 'offices' (Government departments and other organisations) and individuals. Correspondents and subjects are as follows: Offices:

• Colonial Land and Emigration Office (not advisable to use the steamer Novelty as suggested, suggests an alteration of the clause respecting the length of notice to be given prior to terminating engagement of a charter party, termination of contracts with African emigration transports, length of voyage from Loanda and Boa Vista to the West Indies and proper rates of bounty; further on steamer Novelty, vouchers of amount disbursed on account of transports already sent to the Colonial Office, report on proposed instructions to governor general of India, memorandum relating to duties of officer employed to superintend emigration with relevant forms, summary of an Act and two Ordinances to to submitted to the governments of Jamaica, British Guiana and Trinidad to extend the provisions of former enactments relating to emigration, financial instructions to agents at Calcutta and Madras, report on correspondence referred to on the removal of liberated Africans to West Indies with dietary scale, report on Mr Ritchie's letter concerning the emigration of Scottish labourers to the West Indies, report on Mr Marryat's letter on emigration from The Gambia, vessels to carry emigrants to be seaworthy, report on instructions relating to the removal of liberated Africans to the West Indies, observations on Mr Caird's letter respecting his appointment as agent at Calcutta, observations on plan proposed by Mr Hook arbitrator at Sierra Leone for removing liberated Africans, agreement to Foreign Office proposals to amend instructions to officers involved in the removal of liberated Africans from foreign countries to the West Indies [with printed copy of tender, contract with charter party, dietary scale, and list of medicines required]);
• West India Committee (plan of emigration from East to West Indies, recommends Captain Wilson as agent at Madras, proposal relating to immigration loan of £1,500,000 [two items]; plan for emigration from 'Kroo country');
• William Burge, agent for Jamaica (resolution seeking introduction of 5000 migrants into Jamaica with 2000 to be sent in the first year, forwards letter of guarantee signed by Jamaican proprietors, forwards resolution of House of Assembly);
• Charles Marryat (migration from the Gambia);
• Captain Wilson, agent at Calcutta (requests additional information as to his duties, requests passage money and half salary, states that expenditure authorised in financial instructions is insufficient, his salary, his departure for Madras and inadequate provision for expenditure for emigration, his arrival at Madras and proceedings there [two items]);
• Thomas Caird, agent at Madras (acknowledges his appointment and reports on Indian migrants sent to Mauritius, progress made and prospects for emigration, acknowledges letters relating to numbers of emigrants required for the West Indies and to financial instructions, states that 'native' agents have been sent to procure emigrants);
• House of Commons (request for papers relating to emigration, answer of governor general of India to despatch on 'hill coolie' emigration);
• Admiralty (report on fitness for employment of the Novelty);
• India Board (return of labourers from Berbice and Demerara to Bengal, answer to enquiry concerning migration from India, draft of despatch to Government of India, appointment of agent at Madras);
• Foreign Office (expenses incurred for liberated Africans on board HMS Crescent at Rio de Janeiro, Mr Marryat's plan for distribution of Africans, emigration from Madeira not objected to by the Portuguese, distribution of Africans by mixed commission court [two items], proposed alteration of instructions relating to distribution of liberated Africans, approves Mr Cave's suggestions regarding emigration from Africa and 'Kroo country');
• Treasury (Mr Marryat's plan concerning captured Africans, abolition of Mr Ouseley's appointment as agent at Rio de Janeiro, payments made by naval department on account of extra allowances to officers in emigration vessels, financial arrangements [three items], advances to emigration agents in India);
• British and Foreign Anti Slavery Society (remarks on emigration of Chinese labourers from Malacca, Singapore and Penang);
• General Ship Owners Society (requests copy of emigration regulations, thanks for regulations, remarks on instructions which relate to arrangements for the voyage).

• Anonymous [signed 'A Traveller'] (suggests that convict ships on their return voyage should convey Indian labourers to West Indies);
• Henry Barkly (observations in defence of immigration loan, guarantee for payment of the immigration loan by British Guiana);
• Cavan & Company (employment of the Novelty to convey migrants);
• Robert Neilson (refers to previous unsuccessful attempts to promote Chinese migration, slavery in Texas)
• J Ritchie (defrayment of emigration expenses and case of J Bain);
• Messrs Shand (asks if Antigua may share in emigration);
• H & C Toulmin (asks if agent at Sierra Leone has been sent emigration circular);
• A J Wiseman (offers information on 'coolie' emigration);
• H Winshurst (asks if the Novelty will be employed [two items]);
• J Weston, mayor of Birmingham (resolution against scheme of emigration).

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