Jamaica in 1850 or, The effects of sixteen years of freedom on a slave colony / John Bigelow ; with an introduction by Robert J. Scholnick.

Originally published: New York & London : Putnam, 1851.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction / Robert J. Scholnick -- Departure from New York -- How to escape sea-sickness -- Our passengers -- Taylor, cousin of Zachary Taylor -- The Pass of Mayaguana -- Arrival at Port Royal -- Commodore Brooks -- Kingston seen from the Bay -- Kingston Hotels -- Streets -- Inhabitants -- Old people and babies -- Coolies -- Intermarriage between the whites and browns -- Public sentiment about color -- The proportion of colored and white people in public and professional employments -- Colored people of note -- The English policy towards them -- Spanishtown -- Governor Grey -- His embarrassments -- His family -- House of Assembly -- The Public Printers -- The Speaker -- His compensation -- Political Representation in Jamaica -- Impotence of the Legislature -- Executive influence -- The Council -- Deliberations of the Assembly -- Political Parties -- Public Salaries -- Memorial against the Council -- The Poverty of Jamaica -- Depreciation and diminution of exports -- The market value of estates -- Corresponding prostration in the other British West India Colonies -- Physical resources of Jamaica -- Soil -- Fruits -- Vegetables -- Drugs -- Trees -- Irrigation -- Rivers -- Difficulties of transportation -- Harbors -- Mines -- The decline of Jamaica explained -- The complaints of the Planters -- The remedies proposed by the Planters -- The real difficulties in Jamaica stated -- First, the degradation of labor -- Absenteeism and Middlemen -- Stanley's letter to Gladstone -- Encumbered Estates -- Insolvency of the Island -- The Planters and the Home Merchant -- Restrictions on Commerce -- Accumulations of land -- No middle class -- Labor not capital -- Labor to become capital -- Increase of small proprietors -- Carlyle's Remedy reviewed -- Labor and Wages -- Central Mills -- Manufacturing Resources -- Uses of cocoa nut -- Political Influence of the African -- Emigration of the whites -- Destiny of Jamaica -- Climate -- Health -- Precautions -- Alienation of land -- Ocean steamers -- Postoffice department -- Newspapers -- Appendix A. Visit to the Emperor of Haiti -- Appendix B. A Tabular Return of Exports from the Island of Jamaica for sixty-one years, ending October 10, 1848 -- Appendix C. Epitome of the Island revenue for the years ending 1844, '45, '46, '47, and 1848 -- Appendix D. Extent and Resources of the British Colonies.

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