17, 1838.
From the Guiana Royal Gazette.
"I should fail in my duty to the public, and perhaps no respond to the expectations of yourselves, Gentlemen of the Colonial Section of this Honorable Court, did I not say a few words on the state of the Colony, at this our first meeting after the memorable first of August.
We are now approaching the close of the second month since that date--a sufficient time to enable us to judge of the good disposition of the new race of Freemen, but not perhaps of the prosperity of the Colony.

It is a proud thing for the Colonist--Proprietors and Employers--that nothing has occurred to indicate a want of good feeling in the great body of the laborers.
It is creditable to them, satisfactory to their employers, and confounding to those who anticipated a contrary state of affairs.
That partial changes of location should have taken place, cannot surprise any reasonable mind--that men who have all their lives been subject to compulsory labor should, on having this labor left to their discretion, be disposed at first to relax, and, in some instances, totally abstain from it, was equally to be expected.

But we have no reason to despond, nor to imagine that, because such has occurred in some districts, it will continue.
It is sufficient that the ignorant have been undeceived in their exaggerated notions of their rights as Freemen: it was the first step towards resumption of labor in every part of the Colony.

The patient forbearance of the Employers has produced great changes.

If some Estates have been disappointed in the amount of labor performed, others again, and I have reason to believe a great number, are doing well.