COLONEL FLINTER'S PUERTO RICO.
ON a casual glance at Colonel FtrprrEa's volume, it appeared likely, as we observed last week, " to throw considerable light upon the question of free labour by the Negroes." We find, upon close examination, that the gallant author himself is in Spain, from which country he has transmitted his work for publication. We also discover, that the greater part of his information upon the Spanish system of slavery, and of the practicability of Negro free labour, was put forth as Hints for Emancipation. At present, then, this volume, for practical purposes, is somewhat too late in the day. The plan of apprenticeship—perhaps the necessary re- sult of the compromise which Ministers were compelled to adopt— is a novel experiment, where experience can avail nothing. It were better that the book should only retain its historical value, as exhibiting a clear precis of the Spanish law upon the subject of Colonial Negro Slavery, and some account of its actual state, than acquire a practical use hereafter, from the failure of the ap- prenticeship scheme.
The subject of slavery, however, occupies but a small portion of the volume. The text upon which the Colonel enlarges is "Puerto Rico :" the heads of his discourse are many. He com- mences with a sketch of the former state of the island, and an account of its rapid advance in prosperity (since 1815), attributable to natural advantages and liberal government. As regards the first, it possesses a fertile soil, some natural internal communica- tions by rivers and lagoons, and a good geographical position. With respect to the second, a royal decree, drawn up in accord- ance with the spirit of the age, and carried into effect by an able Captain-General, gave encouragement to settlers and industry, by liberal grants of land (measured by the amount of the indi- vidual's labourers—i. e. Negroes, and whose title was contingent upon cultivation), by establishing full rights of property, light taxation, and exemption from tithes, transfer-duties on the sale of lands, and customs as between Spain or Spanish Colonies, and permitting (rare liberality!) perfect freedom of trade. "The planters are not limited in the sale of their produce; they may ship it to any part of the world where they expect to find the best market. They are at liberty to refine their sugar on their own estates, or ship it in its unrefined state, as may best suit their interest or convenience." Besides this, Don MIGUEL DE LA TORRE commenced, in 1823, some vigorous administrative reforms; he made new internal regulations, and expended a con- stantly-increasing revenue in the formation of roads, and in other public improvements. The results of these measures, the Colonel describes- in rather grandiloquent terms, when presenting a pic- ture of the general appearance of the island. They may, how- ever, be shown with more exactness by a reference to some of the valuable statistical facts with which his work abounds. The imports rose from 869,000 dollars in 1814, to 2,208,000 in 1830; the exports, from 500,000 dollars, to 3,411,945, for the same period. The revenue in 1823, was 362,209 dollars; in 1832, 798,404; in which time the customs had nearly trebled. In 1812, the total population consisted of 183,014 souls; in 1820, fir years after the new charter, it had increased to 230,622 persons; m 1830, it had risen to 3231,838. So much for free trade and reduced taxation, After this general account, Colonel FLI NTER proceeds to describe the physical aspect, and the divisions, improvements, and pro- ductions of the country. He next analyzes the inhabitants; sketches the different classes of society ; gives a minute account of the government, of the internal administration, of its military power and means of defence. Two chapters are devoted to the commerce and capabilities of the island ; in which very detailed and valuable accounts are given of the trade which is carried on with foreign nations, as well as of the respective amounts, and the
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