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Show 108 JAMAICA. the aceful roof of our hospitable ease and abundance, under . pe tleman and a Christian, a . Th Burchell ts a geu ' fnend. omas · tegn.t y an d ta Ie n t , ~·n· d his history alfords a man of modesty, m\e of t'h e tru th of that di· vine declam. tion, remarkable examp .111 o•, He was once msult-tl me I wt Ion ,., "Him that honore 1 '. d .Now he is greatly at his d 1ct 1mpnsone . • .. ed, persecute; ru deli htful country residence, and exerctsmg ease, enJoym, a g t y at his various statwns, 1 ds of the peasan r • ' overmwy t wusan te than that of any other indi- . · omparabl y grea r . 'an mfluence me · · ·t Durm. g an . It.tmate association wtth 11 'Vidual in the vtcmt Y· th days we could not per- ·him and his family for two or I . ree d t~ any political abuse II t dency m us mm ' •ceive the sma est en ' . wd from our own observation, of his well-earned ascendancy !1 h . the firm friend of the d 1 e that wh1 e e ts we are able to ec ar t b every means in his power, b h is anxious to promo e, y Ia orer, e The congregation of country the fair interest of the pl~tnter, d the day school well at-people, at Mount Carey, ts large, an d d d · bly conducted. tende an a nura t f the people as-The appearance, d ress, an d deportmen o B and M'o unt bl d at our large meetings at Montego ay . sem e demonstration that we were m Carey, alforded us ocular . nor .can there be the the midst of a thnvmg peasantry' . · art is least question that this condition of thrift, fo~ wt·h:~:, pon 'the . I the consequence of thetr workmg, ag . . mam y . . 'l'he remaining exceptions, m estates of theu old masters. bl nderstanding between . d' . t to a comforta e u this ferttle tstnc ' b d as we had every the employer ru1 d t h e l ab orer ' 'a re to e trace ' the part of reason tG believe, to a want f d management on 0 goo '. lt even in n t gradual tmprovemer ' attorneys and overseers.. u a ' d . d •d the mismanage· these m. stances, was tal·' mg place ·' an m ec t · Jl to the . ll d b I nged in some cases, c ue y rnent to whtch \~e a u e e. o f b . hind it roots of b-itterness, Period of apprentteeshtp, whtch Je t e h e been the by no mews easy to eradt.c ate. Tlu s appears Cto av belonging case with some noble propertt.e s, n ear JY[ount aWreey , visited the to an English Baron-of course an absentee. JAi\fAICA. 109 principal of them, on which during the apprenticeship, much cruelty had been pmctiscd ; and even just before our visit, certaill provision grounds, improperly occupied (as we were told) by some of the negroes, had been, jar more improperly, despoiled, by the tmning in of oxen upon them. We were pleased to find that Lord -- had transmitted to his agents some admirable written directions---especially with regard to the equitable settlement of the questions of rent and wages-which, if fairly acted on, will, as we believe, ensure the future prosperity of his estates. About one hundred 'llld fifty of his people attended our meeting for worship at Mount Carey, and alter it was over, we entered into a friendly parley with them, with a view of impressing npon them their Clt~·istiau duty, as hired cultivators of the soil. They appeared to us a well-conditioned compwy of peasants ; and they gave us a kind and respectful hearingfully acknowledging the fair and benevolent disposition of the absent proprietor of the estates. We parted from them with the bright hope, that whatsoever remains of misunderstanding between them and their employers, will, ere long, be removed, mid that a tract of land remarkable for natural beanty and fertility, will soon be equally distinguished by the profit which it yields to its owner, and by the peace und comfort of all who dwell on it. Just such a scene of mutual satisfaction, is" Childermas" estate, in the same neighborhood, under the care of-- Matthews, a kind and intelligent overseer. Our friend employs one hundred at1d twenty laborers, who are working admirably; he has obtained sixty-two hogsheads of sugar from the last crop, and is laying the foundation of a largely increased produce. He has built his people comfortable cottages, charges them low rents, and pays them good wages. There can be no question that the proprietor's outlay wi II soon be abundantly repaid. It may, however, be remarked that, in this case, there was evidently the advantage of a ready capital. It is worthy of more than a passing notice, that .the constwt tendency of slavery was to diminish capital ; and now that it is excluUlged for free- 10 |