Barbadoes, March 15.
We made a visit this morning to the senate-house, and were present at a
sitting of the general assembly of the island. The proceedings were
conducted according to the routine of our House of Commons, which the
assembly regards as its model. The representatives, like ours, are
returned from the provinces, two, not from each county, but from each
parish: and, there being eleven parishes in the island, the assembly,
consequently, consists of twenty-two members.
As in our house, so in theirs, the person who presides is denominated
“the speaker.”
Among the members we recognised several of the gentlemen whom we had
seen upon our marooning excursion into the country. It did not happen to
be a sitting of great interest to strangers, there being but little
before the house for discussion, and, consequently, few debates. Reading
and passing a militia act, and some other bills, constituted nearly the
whole business of the meeting. One part of the proceedings, however, we
thought to be strictly in the —— _order of the day_. It was excessively
warm, and we were parching with thirst, when two persons suddenly
appeared with a large bowl, and a two-quart glass filled with punch and
sangaree. These were presented to “Mr. Speaker,” who, after dipping
deeply into the bowl, passed it among the members: nor was the audience
forgotten, for we were most gratefully taught that the hospitality, so
universal in the island, prevails in the senate. The glass was handed up
to us, and we found that it was _relevant_ for strangers to join in this
part of the debate. It came at a moment peculiarly opportune, and we
drank cordially to our friends, and the house of assembly.
We have, lately, had a very interesting party to dine with us on board
the Lord Sheffield; among whom were three gentlemen who had recently
returned from imprisonment; one from France, the others from Guadaloupe.
One of the gentlemen, who had been taken to Guadaloupe, was confined on
board a prison-ship, with several others of our countrymen, where, being
treated with great rigour, and fed with a very scanty allowance of bad
food, he entered into a confidential agreement, with one of his
fellow-prisoners, to concert some means of escape; and, one day, seeing
a boat, convenient for their purpose, come to the ship, they stepped
over the side of the vessel, and descending suddenly into it, as it lay
alongside, immediately threw overboard three of the five negroes, who
were in it, and compelled the other two to take up their oars, and
assist in rowing them away.
The success of this perilous enterprise was equal to the boldness with
which it was undertaken. The sentinels fired at them in vain: being once
clear of the ship they pulled the oars with vigour, and, encouraging the
blacks to their aid, were soon out of reach. Neither boats, nor bullets
were able to overtake them: they were quickly at sea, in their open
skiff, and, gladly, entrusted themselves to the mercy of the elements.
The weather favored them, and they soon made a port of safety in a
British island.
The manner in which the other gentleman, who had been confined in
Guadaloupe, obtained his release was also attended with peculiar
circumstances. Having an opportunity of speaking with the secretary of
Victor Hugues, he represented to him, in strong colours, the very
serious personal injury which his confinement might bring upon him, and
urged the absolute impossibility of his release being injurious to any
individual of the French nation, supporting his appeal with the offer of
a sum nearly equal to 1200_l._ sterling, to be paid to the citizen
secretary, provided he would contribute his aid in obtaining him and two
of his friends permission to leave the island. The secretary rejected
the offer with disdain, expressing both anger and astonishment that he
should dare to imagine that he was capable of being seduced by a bribe;
adding, that “formerly Frenchmen were venal and might be _bought_; but
now, citoyen, we are republicans! and a good republican requires not a
bribe to encourage him to the execution of his duty, nor can he be
thereby impelled to commit a breach of it.” He, nevertheless, listened
with attention to the peculiar severity of the case, and having heard
the particulars, appeared to feel a degree of interest regarding the
hardships which were represented. Upon leaving the gentleman he said
that he would try to intercede in his behalf; and intimated a hope that
he might be able in the course of a week to communicate some report to
him. A few days only had elapsed when he returned, bringing with him the
prisoner’s release, which he presented to him, with felicitations,
expressing himself happy in being the means of his regaining his
liberty, and, peremptorily, refusing to accept, even the slightest
compliment for the service which he had rendered him.
Would all men act thus, my friend, of how little consequence might it be
whether they were denominated republicans, aristocrats, or royalists!
What the form of government, or who should rule the land, could be of
little importance, were honor and virtue made the directors of men’s
actions. Speaking from the warm feelings of the heart, a very elegant
writer has said, “I cannot be more convinced of the truth of any
demonstration in Euclid than I am that that system of politics must be
best by which those I love are made happy:” but, perhaps, it might be
said, with still greater correctness, that _that system of government
must be best, virtue, among the people, most prevails_.
It is idle to declaim against a government, while individuals—while even
_those who complain_ have not virtue enough to withstand the seducing
lures of corruption! Let the people be virtuous, and the government will
never be corrupt. Were men to resist bribery, and to expose their
seducers to public reproach, few attempts would be made against their
independence.