THE COLONIES OF THE EMPIRE ARE THE ONLY LASTING AND INALIENABLE MARKETS FOR ITS PRODUCE; and the first aim of the political economist should be to develop to their utmost extent the vast resources possessed by Great Britain in these her own peculiar fields of national wealth. But the policy displayed throughout the history of her Colonial possessions, has ever been the reverse of this. It was that grasping and ungenerous policy that called forth a Washington, and cost her an empire. It is that same miserable and low-born policy that still recoils upon herself, depriving her of vast increase of wealth and power in order to keep the chain upon her hapless children, those ambitious Titans whom she trembles to unbind. And yet poor Old England considers herself an excellent parent, and moans and murmurs over the ingratitude of her troublesome offspring! Like many other parents, she means to do well and act kindly, but unhappily the principles on which she proceeds are radically wrong. Hence, on the one side, heart-burning, irritation, and resentment; on the other, disappointment, revulsion, and alarm. Is she too deeply prejudiced, or too old in error, to attempt a new system of policy? In what single respect has she ever proved herself a good parent to any of her Colonies? Whilst supplying them with Government Officers, she has fettered them with unwholesome laws; whilst giving them a trifling preference over foreign states in their commerce, she has laid her grasp upon their soil; whilst allowing them to legislate in a small degree for themselves, she has reserved the prerogative of annulling all enactments that interfere with her own selfish or mistaken views; whilst permitting their inhabitants to live under a lightened pressure of taxation, she has debarred them from wealth, rank, honours, rewards, hopes -- all those incentives to action that lead men forward to glory, and stamp nations with greatness. What has she done for her Colonies -- this careful and beneficent parent? She has permitted them to exist, but bound them down in serf-like dependence; and so she keeps them -- feeble, helpless, and hopeless. She grants them the sanction of her flag, and the privilege of boasting of her baneful protection. Years -- ages have gone by, and her policy has been the same -- darkening the heart and crushing the energies of Man in climes where Nature sparkles with hope and teems with plenty. Time, however, too powerful for statesmen, continues his silent but steady advance in the great work of amelioration. The condition of the Colonies must be elevated to that of the counties of England. Absolute rule must cease to prevail in them. Men must be allowed to win there, as at home, honours and rank. Time, the grand minister of correction -- Time the Avenger, already has his foot on the threshold of the COLONIAL OFFICE. ----------------- CONTENTS. CHAPTER. 1. -- COLONISTS. 2. -- ST. JAGO. 3. -- THE MUTINY. 4. -- THE PRISON-ISLAND.