§ Lord Seafordwished to ask the noble Marquess, another question, on a different subject, whether her Majesty's Government had received any communications from Sir Lionel Smith, relative to the working of the free labourers in Jamaica, besides those already on the Table? He put the question at the request of a very numerous meeting which had been convened on the subject, conceiving that the House ought to be in possession of the fullest information from all parties. He trusted, that his noble Friend, if he had received any more communications, would make no objection to their production. He wished also to know whether the noble Marquess had any objection to produce any communications he had received from the agent of Jamaica.
The Marquess of Normanbyreplied, that there was every intention on the part of the Colonial office to give as full information as they were competent to afford relative to the working of the free system in Jamaica. Whether Sir Lionel Smith had received any information other than that which had been laid on the Table, he (the Marquess of Normanby) could not tell, but if he had he had not communicated it to the Colonial office, and should the office receive any further communications from the stipendiary magistrates or other persons, they should be 791 laid on the Table of the House. He had no objection to put the House in possession of every information relating to the House; he could not, however, have included the statement of the agent for Jamaica in the papers already produced; but if the noble Lord would move for it, he had not the slightest reason for opposing the motion.
Earl St. Vincentsaid, that if they were to consider this subject, it was most important that the true state of the island should be known? The statement laid on the Table could not be confided in; it was made ex parte, and if the Colonial office gave credit to it they would be led into error. When the subject came before them, then it would require the exercise of their utmost wisdom and discretion.
§ The communication from the agent of Jamaica ordered to be laid on the Table.