OCR Text |
Show 46 ANTIGUA. and other causes, full two-thirds of the negro population, might be regarded as dead weight. And further, the number of free laborers employed for the same quantity of work, is now decidedly less than this third. We may therefore fauly redcon that the pecuniary saving, on many of the estates 111 ~nt1gun, by the change of slave for free labor, . is at least tlnTty per cent. If the interest of money on the 111vestment 111 slaves, IS added to the debit amount under slavery, the companson becomes much more favorable on the side of freedom. Besides this affair of arithmetic, however, there is the general consideration, that slavery and waste, arc twin sisters, whereas, freedom is married to economy. Under the generous sl!mulus of equal liberty, short methods of labor are invented~ machinery is introduced, every man, black and wh1te, IS thrown upon his own exertions, and into the whole commu~uty, c~; operation infuses wealth. "All cucumstances cons1dered, says Dr. Nugent, the late speaker of the Assembly at Antigua, "I am happy to say, that the free-labor system is the cheapest, and incalculably so on those properties which were incumbered by an unnecessary quantity of hands." : 1st Month (Jan.) 17th.-We had much satisfaction in visiting Newfield, a Moravian establishment-the missionary has a good school and large congregation. The same remark applies to their establishment at St. John's, which we inspected on a subsequent occasion. The Mornvians have actually twelve thousand souls under their care in Antigua, one-third of the whole population. We are. able to bear a clear and decisive testimony to their usefulness in the British Islands ; there it is impeded by no Negro-Dutch, and by no holding of their fellow men: as property. At Newfield, we were met by Sir William Colebrooke's carriage, which conveyed us to Dow's Hill. As we passed along through a picturesque country, we observed a curious species of cactus, abounding on the road-side ; it is called the Turk's head-bearing a strange resemblance to the head of a man-the blossoms at the top, looking like a red cap or turban. ANTIGUA, 47 The Governor's house is built on a hill, overlooking English Harbor, a snug inlet of the sen, very commodious for shipping, with a little town adjoining. From n still higher eminence near at hand, called Shirley Heights, the view of the harbor, and surrounding roclrs and mountains, is one of uncommon interest and beauty. One object which we just descried in the distance, excited peculiar feelings. It was a small Baltimore clipper used in the· slave trade, which some British cruiser had captured, under American colors. After the capture, she was sent to the United States, disowned by the American government, and finally brought into this harbor. When captured, she was only fitted up for the trade; but had previously carried three hundred slaves across the ocean. By what cmel and expert contrivance, so large u nu mbcr · of human beings had been stowed in so small a space, we were wholly unable to conjecture. The fact however was undeniable. Nothing could be more obliging than the welcome which we received from the Governor, and his lady and family. We soon formed an affectionate friendship 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. 1st 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 are told that many such instances have occurred in Antigua. Returned invalided to " Gi lberts." 1st Month 19th, First day of the week.- We had appointed a meeting at n country village called Parham. It was a morning of violent rain ; but about two hundred negroes braved the weather, and united with us in public worship. It is said that they are less willing to come out to their places of worship in the min, than was the case formerly. The reason is curious. |