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Show 60 A!\TIGUA. carried 300 slaves across the ocean. By what cruel and expert contrivance, so large a number of human beings had been stowed in so small a space, we were wholly unable to conjecture. The fact however was undeniable. Nothing could he more obliging than the welcome which we received from the Governor, and his lady and family. We soon formed an affectionate friend. ship with them; our friend Cunningham was of the company; and in the evening we held a religious meeting in the saloon, with the family, their attendants, friends, and neighbors-white, brown, and black. True liberality was evidently prevailing at Dow's Hill. First month, 18th.-We received a call from an intelligent lady of rank, who holds considerable property on this island. Her estate under slavery was heavily mortgaged; but under the genial influence of the new system is now free, or nearly free, from its burdens. We were told that many such instances had occurred in Antigua. First month, 19th, First day of the week.-We had appointed a meeting at a country village called Par· ham. It was a morning of violent rain; but about 2.00 negroes braved the weather, and united with ns in public worship. It is said that they are less willing to come out to their places of worship in the rain than was the case formerly. The reason is curious. They now have shoes and stockings which they are unwilling to expose to the mud. In the evening the weather was clear, and we met a congregation,computed to be two thousand in number, at the Methodist meeting-house in St. John's. It was ANTfGU t\, (it an occasion of great solemnity, a large proportion of that respectabl: looking assembly (for such it was) we afterwards found to have been composed of emancipated negroes. I trust it was not unsuitably that we were reminded, on the occasion, of the apostJc's words, "Brethren, yc have been called unto lilfcrty. Only use not your liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but in love serve one another." The next morning we visited the Mico normal school. One Lady Mico, about a hundred and fifty years ago, bequeathed a property, to be expended in ransoming christian captil'es from the Moors. The property has now become large; and, under a late decree of the British Court of Chancery, the revenues arising from it arc appropriated to the purposes of scriptural education-but without sectarian bias-in the West Indies. The school at StJohn's, umlcr this institution, is applied to the instruction not only of children, in reading, writing, &c. but of young persons, m the art of teaching. It is admirably conducted, and is likely to become extensively useful. I lt is a chccringeircumstance of no small importance, that there arc no less, as we were told, than seven thousand scholars in the various charity schools of Antigua. In all these schools the bible is read and tanght. Who can donut the beneficial effPct of these extensive efforts? The moral improvement of the negro population is ~tmply evinced hy two facts-the increase of marriage, and the decrease of crime. th1 ~y the last report of the Mico charity, dated "July, l840" it appears atJts agents in the West Indies have tr.Uncd 2G5 teachers.' |