EMANCIPATION IN THE BRITISH WEST INDIES
In a speech delivered from the Throne by Queen Victoria, at the opening of Parliament, the following notice is taken of the emancipation of slaves in the British West India Islands.
‘My Lords and Gentlemen — It is with great satisfaction that I am enabled to inform you that throughout the whole of my West Indian possessions the period fixed by law for the final and complete emancipation of the negroes has been anticipated by acts of the Colonial Legislature; and that the transit from the temporary system of apprenticeship to entire freedom has taken place without any disturbance of public order and tranquility. Any measure which may be necessary in order to give full effect to this great and beneficial change will, I have no doubt, receive your careful attention.’
(Liberator March 22, 1839, pg4
