5555. Mr. _G. Wood_.] Did the discontent originate in political or commercial views?--It originated in consequence of measures which were considered oppressive upon individuals; it was upon local matters altogether. 5556. Mr. _Forster_.] Do you consider that it originated in commercial questions?--Certainly not. 5557. Were you a government officer at the time that the transaction took place which led to Colonel Finlay’s recal?--I think I was; I think the imprisonment of Mr. M‘Cormack occurred in 1832; I entered upon my office in 1832; I think it was after I became a government officer. After I became a judge I took no public part in opposition to any government, however bad it might have been. 5558. You took no part in that transaction which led to Colonel Finlay’s recal?--I took no public part; I may have given advice to my friends. 5559. Did not a trial arise out of those transactions, in which you were a witness?--No; no trial at all occurred, and therefore I could not have been a witness in any. 5560. _Chairman._] Have you read the remarks of Colonel Doherty on the Report of Dr. Madden?--I have. 5560*. Do you concur in the views which he has taken of the points alluded to?--In almost every particular. 5561. Is there any material point upon which you differ from him?--I think only two: one, with respect to the Kroomen, whose residence in the colony Colonel Doherty thought was injurious, and interfered with the resident liberated Africans; I do not agree with him in that respect; I think that they should not be interdicted at all from coming to Sierra Leone, nor should their numbers be limited. 5562. You believe them to be advantageous to the colony?--Yes. 5563. And, by their example, to the liberated Africans themselves?--Yes, I think even to them, as setting an example of industry, which they would do well to imitate. 5564. Do you concur in opinion with Colonel Doherty as to the character of the Kroomen; he speaks of the Kroomen as men never to be trusted, never converted to Christianity, and likely, wherever they may be, to exhibit a bad example in that particular; do you concur in that?--I agree in opinion with Colonel Doherty, that they would not be converted to Christianity. I do not think them dishonest when they are well treated. I never heard of an instance of any liberated African being converted to the Pagan opinions of the Kroomen; I believe such a thing was never heard of. 5565. You believe that they are more difficult of conversion than other Africans?--It is quite impossible, if I may say so of any body; there never was an instance known of a Krooman being converted. 5566. To what do you attribute that peculiarity?--To their constant return, as I mentioned yesterday, to their own country. They never think of settling any where but in their own country. There is no instance of a Krooman settling any where but in the Kroo country.