Explore "Inducements to the Colored People of the United States to Emigrate to British Guiana" by Richard Hildreth on Textopian.
The revenue of British Guiana is chiefly derived from a tax on the produce raised in the colony, and duties levied on the imposts. Parish taxes are unknown, and the laborer is exempt from every species of taxation, unless his income amount to five hundred dollars. The militia laws were abrogated, and the colonial militia disbanded soon after the emancipation took place, so that the poor man is not compelled to contribute any portion of his time to the public service.
There are Episcopalian, Presbyterian and Catholic church establishments supported at an expense to the colony of upwards of $113,000 per annum, as will appear by reference to the Royal Gazette of May 7th, 1839, published in Georgetown, containing an official estimate of the taxes to be raised for that year. There are beside numerous Methodist and other dissenting religious teachers, supported in part by charitable societies in England, and in part by voluntary contributions in the colony. The laboring population of Georgetown and its vicinity have erected several handsome chapels at their own expense.