These Montserrat hills had been, within the last three years, almost the most lawless and neglected part of the island.

Principally by the energy and tact of one man, the wild inhabitants had been conciliated, brought under law, and made to pay their light taxes, in return for a safety and comfort enjoyed perhaps by no other peasants on earth.
A few words on the excellent system, which bids fair to establish in this colony a thriving and loyal peasant proprietary.

Up to 1847 Crown lands were seldom alienated.

In that year a price was set upon them, and persons in illegal occupation ordered to petition for their holdings.

Unfortunately, though a time was fixed for petitioning, no time was fixed for paying; and consequently the vast majority of petitioners never took any further steps in the matter.