MY purpose in writing this book is so fully explained in the book itself that a Preface is unnecessary. I visited the West India Islands in order to increase my acquaintance with the condition of the British Colonies. I have related what I saw and what I heard, with the general impressions which I was led to form. In a few instances, when opinions were conveyed to me which were important in themselves, but which it might be undesirable to assign to the persons from Whom I heard them, I have altered initials and dis guised localities and circumstances.