To show with what rapidity the laborers grow rich and rise in the world, I give the following extract from the Berbice Advertiser of Nov. 1839. "Astonishing fact. Some negroes on the east coast, not a dozen in all, have bought Northbroke (a plantation) for $10,000, of which they paid down $8,000 last week, the remaining $2,000, is to be paid this week." "What happiness," the editor justly observes, "could our colony disseminate through the human species, did but fresh importations of labor render the cultivation of the great staples compatible with the formation of black villages and towns." It ought to be mentioned that the people who clubbed together to buy this estate had only been free since August, 1838. It may be well to observe here that land in the colony is abundant and cheap; and every laborer who is industrious, and will lay by his wages, has it in his power to become a proprietor within a short period.
That there is no danger of overstocking British Guiana with emigrants will appear by the following extract from an address of Mr. John Scoble, delivered at Albany Tuesday evening, Aug. 1st, 1839. He spoke of "British Guiana, a colony on the coast of South America, and one which some think will ere long rival in its wealth and population the State of New York. It is capable of sustaining a population of forty millions, though the actual number of the inhabitants is now only one hundred thousand."
VI. OFFERS MADE TO SUCH FREE COLORED PERSONS OF THE UNITED STATES, AS MAY CHOOSE TO EMIGRATE TO BRITISH GUIANA.
Mr. Carbery arrived at Baltimore in September last. He came to the United States partly for pleasure, and partly for the benefits of a change of climate. He had been but a few days at Baltimore, when his attention was attracted by the large number of free colored persons in that city; the difficulty they seemed to have in gaining a livelihood; and the discomforts of various kinds to which they are subjected.
Knowing the great want of laborers in British Guiana, and the strong disposition, existing there, to encourage immigration, it immediately occurred to him, that by the transfer of a certain portion of the free colored people of the United States to Guiana, not only might a great benefit be done to that colony, but what all must regard as of still greater importance, a boon of vast value might be conferred upon the free colored people themselves.
Much impressed by these considerations, Mr. Carbery procured a meeting of several of the free colored people of Baltimore, at which he proposed to them to select two of their own number, in whom they had confidence, whom he would send to British Guiana, free of expense, in order to give them an opportunity to examine the country, to judge for themselves, and to report to their brethren, what the prospects for immigrants really are.
The free colored people of Baltimore, upon this suggestion and offer, organized a Committee of Emigration, of which Mr. Green was appointed chairman, and selected Messrs Peck and Price, two of their number, as delegates to visit Guiana. These delegates sailed, free of expense, in the barque Don Juan, from Boston, on the 21st of December last. The result of their mission is not yet known, the agents not having returned,—nor indeed has Mr. Carbery yet heard of their arrival in the colony. The news however of their arrival and reception is daily expected.
In the mean time certain letters which Mr. Carbery had previously written to his friends in Guiana, giving an account of the numbers and the condition of the free colored people in the United States, had excited great attention and sympathy there. A public meeting was held in Georgetown the capital; an "Immigration Society" was established, and a very large sum of money was at once subscribed to form a fund for paying the expenses of all such immigrants as may choose to go to that colony. Of this sum, a considerable amount has been already remitted to Mr. Carbery, who is appointed Agent of the Society for the United States, to be applied towards the outfit of emigrants,—the Society undertaking to pay the charter or passage money on the arrival of the vessels, and to make all necessary arrangements for the entertainment and comfort of the immigrants, until such time, as they may select some regular employment. Mr. Carbery is assured that should the colored people of the United States or any part of them, be induced to accept the offer he now makes, any amount necessary to carry his proposals into effect, will be furnished as it may be needed.
As the agent of the above society Mr. Carbery offers to transport, from the United States to British Guiana, free of any expense to themselves, together with their baggage, all such sober and industrious free colored people as shall see fit to embrace this opportunity, so rare and extraordinary, of at once relieving themselves from the great disabilities and disadvantages under which they now labor, and of securing not only a comfortable subsistence, and perhaps wealth, but what is of far greater importance, both for themselves and their children,—a full participation in all the rights, privileges and immunities of freemen, and a standing and consideration in society, which at present is wholly beyond their reach.