A report from the Barbados Council on slavery and reform
This historical volume presents a committee’s findings on the condition of enslaved people in Barbados and the West Indies. It argues against negative portrayals, offering witness testimony and discussion of laws, property rights, and proposals for improving treatment and discipline. The text situates itself as a rebuttal to anti-slavery rhetoric and a step toward measured reform.
- Learn how witnesses from military, medical, religious, and plantation circles describe daily life and care.
- See debates over punishment, health, and the role of authorities in managing enslaved populations.
- Explore the origins and context of 19th‑century opinions on property, compensation, and social order.
- Understand the published argument for moderation and gradual change within existing structures.
Ideal for readers of 19th‑century colonial history, legal history, and debates on slavery and reform.