These speeches by the controversial Governor of Jamaica, Edward John Eyre, give a firsthand account of the tumultuous events of the mid-19th century that led to his removal from office. Eyre defends his actions in suppressing a rebellion by black Jamaicans and argues that the colonial authorities had a duty to maintain order and protect the lives and property of all British subjects. Eyre's critics accused him of using excessive force and having a racist attitude towards the island's black population. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.