The time was now coming when Mr Edwards's ta lents were to be exercised in a wider sphere. His uncle dying, bequeathed to him his property ; and, in 1778, he became heir to the much larger estate of Mr Hume, also of Jamaica. His wealth and ta lents united, now entitled him to take a lead in the political concerns of the island. In 1784, he pub fished " Thoughts on the Proceedings of Government, respecting the Trade of the West India Islands with the United States of America." This was followed by a speech delivered at a free conference between the Council and Assembly at Jamaica, held on the 25th of November 1789, on the subject of Mr Wil berforce's propositions in the House of Commons concerning the Slave Trade. It was in 1793, how ever, that hepublished his great work, on which he had been many years engaged, entitled, History, Civil and Commercial, of the British Colonies in the West Indies, 2 vols. 4to. He begins the work by giving a view of the original inhabitants of the West Indies, their manners, institutions, and the means by which they have been so entirely exterminated. This was followed by a sketch of the revolutions through which these islands have passed since the first European invasion. He gives next a geogra phical and statistical description of each particular island. He treats finally, at great length, on the government, social state, and above all, the com merce, of this remarkable region. In the course of the discussion, he enters fully into its relations with the African coast and the Negro slave trade: Mr Edwards, as a great and long-resident proprietor, was almost inevitably led to be a supporter of this traffic. He reasons, however, in a liberal and can did manner on the question, and. does not even at tempt to deny the extent of the evils with which it was accompanied. He only these evils have been overrated ; and that Great Britain, by re nouncing it while it was still prosecuted by the other nations of Europe, would ruin her own colonies, without doing any thing to improve the condition of the Africans. In 1796, he published, in one volume
4to, a History of St Domingo, an island which had excited a deep interest, in consequence of the insur rection of the slaves, and the consequent establish ment of an independent Negro government. In 1801, a new addition of both these works was publish ed, in 3 vols. 8vo, under the general title of History of the West Indies. A fifth edition has just issued from the press. (1819.) When Park returned from his celebrated journey, Mr Edwards, from his oral infor mation, drew up a report of it, which was submitted to the African Society, and published in their Trans actions. Mr Park afterwards incorporated the greater part of this into the general narrative of his Travels, in preparing which he availed himself much of the assistance and suggestions of Mr Edwards. It has been currently said, that this narrative was entirely written by Mr Edwards; but as this assertion has been pointedly contradicted by Park, who has else.. where shown 'respectable talents for composition, it can only be understood in the limited sense which has now been stated. It appears, however, that Mr Park was induced, by Mr Edwards's influence, to give rather a more favourable view of the trade in slaves than reflection afterwards led him to sanc tion.
Mr Edwards, after his removal to England, took up his residence at Polygon, near Southampton; and, in 1796, became member of Parliament for the bo rough of Grampound, which he continued to repre sent till his death, which took place on the 15th Julp 1800. He left a short narrative of his life, which was perfixed to the edition of his history published in 1801.