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Show 16 ed,) the negroes. And under what stimulus bas the work been effected? Solely under that of moderate wages." p. 53. He next visited Dominica, of which he gives equally favorable accounts; but I hasten to make a few extracts from his notices of Jamaica, the island from which the most unfavorable reports have come, and in which the unwise and unkind measures of the proprietors, particularly in regard to rents, have done much to counteract the good influences of Emancipation. "We were glad to observe that the day (Sunday,) was remarkably well observed at IGngston-just as it is in many of the cities of your highly favored Union. A wonderful scane we witnessed, that morn .. ing, in Samuel Oughton's Baptist Chapel, which we attended, without having communicated to the people any previous notice of our coming. The minister was so obliging as to make way for us on the occasion, nnJ to invite us to hold our meeting with his flock, after the manner of Friends. Such a flock we had not before seen, consisting of nearly three thousand black people, chiefly emancipated slaves, attired after their favorite custom, in nent white raiment, and most respectable and orderly in their demeanor and appearance. They sat in silence with us, in an exemplury manner, nnd appeared both to understand, and appreciate, the doctrines of divine truth, preached on the occasion. The congregation is g reatly in- 17 creased, both in numbers and respectability, since the date of full freedom. They pour in from the country partly on foot, and partly on mules, or horses, of their own. They now entirely support the mission, and arc enlarging their chapel at the expense of £ 1,000 sterling. Their subscriptions to this and other coBateral objects, arc at once voluntary and very liberal. ' I have brought my mite for the chapel,' said a black woman, once a slave, to S. Oughton, a day or two before our meeting; 'I am sorry it is no more;' she then put into his hand, two pieces of gold, amounting to five dollars." P· 74. "Here it may be well to notice the fact, that the great majority of estates in Jamaica, belong to absentee proprietors, who reside in England. In Jamaica, they are placed under the care of some attorney, or representative of the owner ; one attorney often undertali ing the care of numerous estates. Under the attorney, is the overseer, on each particular property, on whom the management almost exclusively devolves. This state of things is extremely unfavorable to the welfare of Jamaica. If the proprietors cannot give their personal atteution to their estates, it would certainly be a better plan to lease them to eligible tenants on the spot-a practice which has, of late years, been adopted in many instances. It is only surprising that estates never visited by the proprietor, and seldom by the attorney, but left to the care of inexperienced young men, often of immornl character, should prosper at nil. Nor would they 2* |