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Show 50 ANTIGUA· sioned bv an animal compost imported from Europe, and im~rudently used for manure. Although we were not ahle to visit these islands, we were afterwards fnrnished with satisfactory accounts, from both of them, of the deportment and condition of the pea· san try. The report of the stipendiary magistrate of Nevis, to the Governor General, for the half year ending with the Eleventh month (November) 1839, states, "that the conduct of the laborers was peaceable and orderly, and that a good understanding generally prevailed between them and their employers-that schools were numerous and well attended, marriages frequent, and the sabbath well observed." The fol. lowing report from H. Hamilton, the l'r~sident of Montserrat, to Sir Wm. Colebrooke, dated" January lOth, 1840," seems to be every thing that either the politician or philanthropist could desire. " It aft'ords me great satisfaction to report to your Excellency the orderly and good conduct of our laboring popu· lation. During the Christmas holydays our and chapels were crowded to excess by a well dressed peasantry, and our jail nearly untenanted. The Ia· borers have all returned to their agricultural avoca· tions with a degree of punctuality, which I hope and trust will insure the future prosperity of the colony. The prospects for 1841 are very promising. 'The laborers are settling themselves down quietly and con· tentedly, abounding in provisions, and their growing crops in a high state of cultivation. I am happy to say that the diflerences and jealousies which existed between the parties are wearing away, and giving pl.ace to better feelings. Job-work is daily gaining ANTIGUA. 51 ground. The system of weekly cash payments to the laborer~, to the almost total exclusion of credit and barter, JS now so completely e·s h( blishcd , .i. lnr 1 so punc-tually acted on, th.a t a case of corn[)laint rare 1y occurs, and the. abse.n ce of a c. ontract act is· not fe It a t present. " The st1pend1ary ma!!Jstratc of the s·1 1·11e 'sl 1 b c , ' 1 anc o serves "that repairs. and additions to the re·'t l pr·o pert y m· t he' town arc gomg on; that the value of land in the country is i_ncreased; that an estate which was lately purchased f~r between five and six thousand pounds, (then consrdered a good sale) would not now be ~arted wi~h for £8000; that the amount of imports IS much mcreased; that marriages among the peasantry arc numerous, schools improved and extended an:l the progr.ess in general morals satisfactory." ' fhese testnnonies were confirmed by our fi·iend John Cox Collins, the Hector of Montserrat, whom we afterwards met in Antigua. He informed us that ' t~.~ free-laborers there are working well, and that the ,present crop was estimated at 1500 hoo·sheads beinoo h' h h ' b a 1g average. Last year, the negroes who attend his chu.rch insisted on expressing, by some than k-offcring, :~err ~r:ttJt.ude to God. for the blessings which they ere Cn.Joyrng under freedom; they subscribed £15 158• ~0 be expended in a silver goblet for the commnnwu table; and on the same ground, in the present year, they arc again subscribing their money to supply the table with silver cups. The reefs ne'a r tl1 e coast o f' A ntw· ua are numerous· ~U-~t b ' . Y o, on our approach to it during the DJght we we d ~ re expose to some danger. Early in the mormug, however, a pilot boarded us, and we made E2 |