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Show 18 SANTA CRUZ. the treatment to which they were exposed, was harsh and severe; and then their numbers were constantly ~eclining. Of late years, however, the Danish government has mstltuted various restrictions which have ameliorated the condition of the slaves. They are not allowed, as I understand, to be worked longer in the day, than from 6 o'clock in the morning, to the same hour in the evening, with intervals (not always lonrr enourrh) for breakfast tmd dinner. Legal provisions are made resp:cting food and clothing. The driver in the field is not permitted to carry any more terrible instrument than a tamarind switch of moderate size; and twelve lashes with the rope, and a short period of solitary confinement, (mostly, I believe in a Jirrht room ) are the extent of punishment which even t~e man~er or m~ter is permitted to inflict. This rope, however, is a dangerous instmment of torture ; and I am told that the reduction of the allowed number of lashes, from thi1ty to twelve, is no matter of Jaw, but the simple result of the imperative benevolence of the governor-general, Von Scholten. Any negro has a right to buy his own freedom ; and, in case of need, the price is settled by a public appraiser. Tho consequence of these benevolent provisions is, that the condition of the slaves is improved, and their number is now kept up, with a very small increase. But although slavery in the Danish islands, has undoubtedly !ISsumed a mild form, the degradation which it occasions-the low physical, intellectual, and moral, condition of the slaves, as compared with that of the liberated negroes of the British islands-is obvious and unquestionable. The worst feature of the system is the "Sunday market," as it is called. The slaves are allowed no one of the working days of the week for their own business. The consequence is, that multitudes of them !hrong from the country (often from a great distance) into the towns of Bassin and West End, on the First-day of the week, with their provisions and fruits for sale. 'fhe rum shops arc hard by the market places. The buyers, of course, misuse the day as well as the sellers ; and the scene is one, not only of bmy traffic, SANTA CRUZ. 19 but of noisy merriment, idleness and dissipati'on 1 f s ' · Before we e t anta Cruz, we called on General Sobotkcr, the present Governor of the island, to take our leave; and we ventured to press this subject on his consideration, not without some remarks on slavery 111 general. l-Ie listened to us in a very obliging manner, tmd seemed to look forward to better days i but his last words to us, as we went down his steps from his door ''Patience, pat·ience, patience." ' were, It was very satisfactory to us, to learn from our friend Captam Van Scholten, the brother of the Governor General (then in Denmark) that ~ commission had been appointed at Copenhagen, to enqture mto the state of these colonies, with a view to emancipatiOn: In the mean time seven large buildings have been erected 111 different p~rts of the island, to serve as chapels and schools, (for the religiOus and literary instruction of the Negro populatiOn.. They are not yet in use i bnt several of the plamers are. malnng laudable exertions for the education of theu slaves, m reading, and in a knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. A colored person of the name of Macfarlane, in every way adapted for the office, is employed for the purpose ; this school circulates, with cxcellem clfect, from one estate to another. Havmg been taught their moral and religious obligations, the negroes, on these estates, are already greatly improved and arc much more useful to their masters than in the d· f their ignorance. ' ays 0 The schools held, on the First-day of the week, nnder the care of the. members of the Episcopal church, at Bassin and West-End, are attended by several htmdreds of black mulatto an~ white, children. Some of the planters and their ,~ives, ar~ umted w1th colored persons and others, as instructors in these schools ; and the blessed work is carried on, both among the teachers, and the taught, without prejudice of cast, or distinction of color. . I cannot conclude this letter without observing,that the society m Santa Cruz, IS remarkably agreeable; and nothing could exceed the kindness and hospitality which we received at the |