| Description | Copy of a printed despatch, dated December 1868 which was sent to Granville George Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville, colonial secretary of the government, by Edward John Eyre, 5 February 1869. The intention of the despatch was to defend the accusations made against Eyre by the liberal politician Charles Buxton, MP, founder of the Jamaica Committee), detailing in some length the events of the Morant Bay Rebellion. |
| Administrative History | Edward John Eyre was appointed temporary lieutenant-governor of Jamaica in 1862, being promoted to the governorship in 1864. In the 1860s, Jamaica was suffering from severe political and economic problems, principally due to a dramatic reduction of the island's main export of sugar following emancipation of the slave populace. The poor social conditions and poverty amongst the once enslaved population, in comparison to the white populace, led to the Morant Bay Rebellion in 1865, which was violently suppressed by Governor Eyre. When the news of the rebellion and Eyre's actions reached Britain, there were calls for his removal from office and a public inquiry. The Royal Commission which was appointed to investigate the incidents was critical of Eyre's actions and he was dismissed in 1866. When he returned to Britain, the 'Jamaica Committee' sought to have Eyre tried for murder, but equally there was an 'Eyre Defence Committee' which defended his actions. Others, who had lost property in the rebellion and aftermath, took out private civil lawsuits against Eyre. In the end, Eyre escaped prosecution but was never offered another colonial post. |