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Show 18 prosper, even as they now do, but for two causes; first, the exuberant bounty of nature, and secondly, the orderly, inoffensive conduct, and patient industry, of the negro race." p. 85. " The rapid dift'usion of marriage among the negroes, and the increase of it even among the white inhabitants in Jamaica, is one of the happiest results of freedom. 'We were assured on good authority that four times as many marriages took place, last year in Jamaica, as in an equal population, on an average, in England-a fact which proves not only that numerous new connections are formed, but also that multitudes who were formerly living as a man and wife without the right sanction, are now convinced of the sinfulness of the practice, and are availing themselves, with eagerness, of the marriage covenant. It appears that upwards of WOO negro couples, were married in the Baptist churches alone, during the year 1839." p. 86. "In the Parish (or county) of St. 1\Iary, rent and wages have been arranged quite independently of each other, and labor has been suffered to find its marltet, without obstruction. The consequcuce is, that there have been no differences, and the people are working well. The quantity of work obtained from a freeman there, is far beyond the old task of the slave. In the laborious occupation of holing, the emancipated negroes perform double the work of the slave, in a day. In road making the day's task under slavery, was to break four barrels of stone. 19 Now, by task-work, a weak hand will fill eight barrels, a strong one, from ten to twelve." p. 89. "At the Baptist station nt Sligoville, we spent several hours. It is located on a lofty hill, and is surrounded by fifty acres of fertile mountain land. This property is divided into one hundred and fifty freehold lots, fifty of which had been already sold to the emancipated laborers, and had proved a timely refuge for many laborers who had been driven, by hard usage, from their former homes. Some of them had built good cottages ; others, temporary huts ; and others again were preparing the ground for building. Their gardens were cleared, or in process of clearing, and in many cases, already brought into fine cultivation. Not n hoc, I believe, had ever been driven into that land before. Now, a village had risen up, with every promise of comfort and prosperity, and the land was likely to produce a vast abundance of nutritious food. The people settled there were all married pairs, mostly with familles, and the men employed the bulk of their time, in working for wages on the neighboring estates. The chapel and the school were immediately at hand, and the religious character of the people stood high. Never did I witness a scene of greater industry, or one more marked by contentment for the present, and hope for the future. How instructive to remember that two years ago, this peaceful village had no exist~ enee ! " p. 90. "On our return home we visited two neighboring |