Page:Substance of the speech of His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence, in the House of Lords.djvu/48

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

these Maroons, notwithstanding constant intercourse of more than a century with christians, to be totally void of all religion whatsoever; to be completely savage and barbarous, and to go entirely naked, with the exception of short trowsers. Neither have they, though surrounded by the British plantations, shewn any degree of cultivation excepting by the provisions which they grow for their own use. During this Maroon War, my Lords, the slaves on the island of Jamaica remained quiet, peaceable, loyal, and affectionate. The war was soon concluded, and the slaves had the warmest approbation of their masters.

In the Island of St. Vincent the second event took place, namely, the Carib War. The Caribs are the Aborigines of the country, and were permitted to remain in quiet possession upon the mountains of that island. It was not till the peace of 1763 that St. Vincent was entirely ceded to the King of Great