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Show 266 APl'ENDIX. The system of apprenti·c es1 u· p was a most unfortunate attempt , partly to prepare the slave for his freedom, and ~artly to r_croncilc the planter to approaching emancipation. It IS now umversally understood, that the true effect of these intermediate measures bas been that of irritating all parties against each other, and of subjecting the vV est Indian Colonic~ which ~d~pted i4 to. so much difficulty and distress, that, w1th astomslnng unamrmty, they all arrived at the determination of bringi.ng this anomalous system to a conclusion, two years before the ttme £xed upon by Parliament. Thus the great mass of the once slave population have been erected since emancipation, than for twenty years before. Stores and shops have multiplied astonisl~ingly i I cat~ .safely. say tha,~ their number has more than quintupled smce the abolitwn of slavery. -Dr. Ferguson. . "Emancipation has very greatly mcrcased the value of, and consequently the demand for, real estate. That which three years ago was a drug altogether unsalcablc by private bargain, has now many inquirers after it, and ready purchasers at good prices. The importation of lldtish manufactured goods has been considerably augmented-probably one-fourth. u The credit of the planters who have been chiefly aftbcted by the change, has been much improved. And the great reduction of expense in managing the estates, has made them men of more real wealth, and conscque~.tly raised their credH, both with the English merchants and our own. - J. Scotlaud, sen., Esq. "The effect of emancipation upon the commerce of the island mwt neech have been beneficial, as the l'aborers indulge in more wheaten flour, rice, mackerel, dry fisl'l, and salt-pork, than formerly. More lumber is used in the superior cottages now built for their habitations. More dry goodsmanufactures of wool, cotton, linen, silk, leather, &c., are also used, now that the laborers can better afford to induJgc their propensity for gay clothing."-Statem.ent of a merchant and agent for est~tes. . "Real estate has risen in value, and mercantile busmess has greatly 1m· proved."-}[. Armstrong, Esq. . " A merchant of St. Jolm's informed u~, that real estate had mcreased in value at least fifty per cent. He mentioned the fact, that an estate which, previous to emancipation, could not be sold for £600 currency, late!! brought £2,000 currency."-T/tome and Kimball's Six Monti~&' Tour t1 Ant1gua, Barbadoes, and Jamaica. . . The information contained in this work, on the subject of Antigua, WJll be found fully to substantiate the account I have given, of the effects produced in that island by immediate emancipation. Fll.EE AND Fll.IENDLV llEMAUKS. 267 of the Ilritish West Indies became free, without restriction, on the first of the Eighth month, (August,) of the last year. If, in some of these colonies, and especially Jamaica, some difficulties have since arisen between the planters and the laborers, those difficulties ought surely to be ascribed, not to the abolition of slavery, but to those four years of wretched altercation-not to say persecution and cruelty-by which all parties were disturbed, aud, in some degree, unfitted for any new relations to each other. But, in the mean time, the cause of fair work for fair wages, has been making gradual and certain progress. The cessation from n state of slavery, has been followed by no anarchy, no rebellion, no bloodshed, but by a decrease of crime, and by a marked improvement in substantial prosperity.3 3 The following statements respecting Rarbadoes present, on the present point, a most cheering and animating picture.-The first has refer4 cnce to the decrease of crime. l'ROl\1 TUE DARUADJAN 0!' DEC. ] • '' DARJJADOEs.-Comparative table, exhibiting the number of complaints preferred against the Apprentice population of this colony, in the mo~ths of August, September, and to the 15th of October, 1 837; together with the complaints charged against Free Laborers of the same Colony, during the months of August, September, and to the 15th of October, 1838. The former compiled from the Monthly Journals of the Special Justices of the Peace, and the latter from the B.eturns of the Local Ma4 gistracy, transmitted to his excellency the Governor. ApprentlceslujJ. Total of complaints vs. Apprentices, from the 1st to 31st August, 1837, 1708 Ditto from the 1st to 30th September, 1464 Ditto from the 1st to 15th October, 574 Grand Total, 3746 Total number of Apprentices punished from the 1st to 31st August 1608 Ditto from l st to 31st September, 132! Ditto from Ist to 15th October, 561 Grand Total, 3490 |