It was early discovered that the masters generally were disposed to abuse their power and get from their apprentices all that could by any means be extorted. The friends of humanity in Great Britain were aroused, Mr. Sturge, a distinguished philanthropist of Birmingham, accompanied by Messrs. Scohle, Harvey, and Lloyd, proceeded to the West Indies on a mission of inquiry, and prosecuted their investigation contemporaneously with Messrs. Thome and Kimball. Their Report produced a general conviction in England, that the planters had forfeited all claim to retain their authority over the apprentices, and the government was accordingly petitioned immediately to abolish the system. This it was loth to do. It caused inquiries to be instituted in the colonies, especially in Jamaica, with the evident hope of overthrowing the charges of Mr. Sturge. The result more than confirmed those charges. The government still plead for delay, and brought in a bill for the improvement of the apprenticeship. In the progress of these proceedings, urged on as they were by the heaven-high enthusiasm of the British nation, many of the planters clearly perceived that their chance of power during the remaining two years of the apprenticeship had become worth less to them than the good will which they might get by voluntarily giving it up. Whether it was this motive operating in good faith, or a hope to escape philanthropic interference for the future by yielding to its full claim, and thus gain a clear field to oppress under the new system of wages, one thing is certain the chartered colonies, suddenly, and to the surprise of many, put the finishing stroke to the system and made their apprentices free from the 1st of August, 1838. The crown colonies have mostly imitated their example.
The following table exhibits the extent and population of these colonies.
| Population |
| Possessions | Date of acquisit. | Extent. sq. m. | White. | Slaves. | F. Col. |
| Anguilla[[B]], | 1650 | ... | 365 | 2,388 | 327 |
| Antigua[[A]], | 1632 | 108 | 1,980 | 29,537 | 3,895 |
| Bahamas[[B]], | 1629 | 4,400 | 4,240 | 9,268 | 2,991 |
| Barbados[[B]], | 1625 | 166 | 14,959 | 82,807 | 5,146 |
| Bermudas[[A]], | 1611 | 22 | 3,905 | 4,608 | 738 |
| Dominica[[B]], | 1783 | 275 | 840 | 15,392 | 3,606 |
| Grenada[[B]], | 1783 | 125 | 801 | 24,145 | 3,786 |
| Jamaica[[B]], | 1655 | 6,400 | 37,000 | 311,692 | 55,000 |
| Montserrat[[B]], | 1632 | 47 | 330 | 6,262 | 814 |
| Nevis[[B]], | 1628 | 20 | 700 | 9,259 | 2,000 |
| St. Christophers[[B]],], | 1632 | 68 | 1,612 | 19,310 | 3,000 |
| St. Lucia[[B]], | 1803 | 58 | 972 | 13,661 | 3,718 |
| St. Vincent[[B]], | 1783 | 130 | 1,301 | 23,589 | 2,824 |
| Tobago[[B]], | 1763 | 187 | 322 | 12,556 | 1,164 |
| Trinidad[[B]], | 1797 | 2,460 | 4,201 | 24,006 | 15,956 |
| Tortola, orVirgin Isles[[B]], | 1666 | ... | 800 | 5,399 | 607 |
| Total, B.W.I | ... | 14,466 | 74,328 | 593,879 | 105,572 |
| Cape of Good Hope, | ... | ... | 43,000 | 35,500 | 29,000 |
| Guiana Berbice[[B]] | ... | ... | 523 | 20,645 | 1,161 |
| Guiana Demarara[[B]] | 1803 | ... | 3,006 | 65,556 | 6,360 |
| Guiana Essequibo[[B]], | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| Honduras | 1650 | 62,750 | 250 | 2,100 | 2,300 |
| Mauritius | ... | ... | 8,000 | 76,000 | 15,000 |
| Total. | ... | ... | 129,107 | 793,680 | 159,393 |
[Footnote A: Emancipated entirely on the 1st. of August, 1834.]
[Footnote B: Emancipated entirely on the 1st. of August, 1838, by vote of the local legislatures in the chartered Colonies; and by Governor and Council, in the Crown Colonies.]
The unanimity with which the apprenticeship was given up is a most remarkable and instructive fact. In the Council and Assembly of Montserrat, there was an unanimous decision in favor of Emancipation as early as February 1838. In the legislature of Tortola, which passed the bill in April 1838, the opposing party was small. In that of Barbados the bill was passed on the 15th of May with but one dissenting voice. In that of Jamaica, the bill seems to have been passed on the 8th of June, and the Jamaica Times remarks:--"No dissentient voice was heard within the walls of the Assembly, all joined in the wish so often expressed, that the remaining term of the apprenticeship should be cancelled, that the excitement produced by a law which has done inconceivable harm in Jamaica, in alienating the affections of her people, and creating discord and disaffection, should at once cease. Thank God! it is now nearly at an end, and we trust that Jamaica will enjoy that repose, so eagerly and anxiously sought after, by all who wish the Island well."
These facts come down upon the question of the safety of an immediate emancipation with an a fortiori, a much more then. For it is admitted on all hands that the apprenticeship had "alienated the affections of the people;" they were in a state less favorable to a quiet sequel, than they were before the first of August, 1834, yet the danger was not thought of. The safety was an argument in favor of emancipation, not against it. The raw head and bloody bones had vanished. The following is a fair exhibition of the feeling of the most influential planters, in regard to the safety of the step.
From the Barbadian, May 9, 1838.
AT A MEETING OF THE BOARD OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, IN THE NEW COURT
HOUSE, APRIL 24TH, 1838.