to the attendants to call him up immediately, if any change should take place. It is almost unnecessary to add, that every article in the shape of medicine (including port and Madeira wine, &c.) likely to be useful, is always afforded. In short no expense or trouble is spared.

One of the best disposed and most trustworthy women on the estate, is sick nurse, to attend the hospital; her duty is to keep the hospital, and the sick in it, clean, and to cook such victuals for the patients as may be prescribed. I may also notice, that besides the attendance of the medical practitioner, the hospital doctor, and sick nurse, a negro dangerously ill is always allowed the presence of some of his own family.

In every hospital there are, of course, separate apartments for the men and the women; and generally an apartment where delinquents are confined in the stocks.

The NURSERIES are neat buildings, on a ground floor, with platforms for the children to sleep upon, and a spacious yard enclosed as a play-ground. They are under the superintendance of the best nurses, and however able the parents may be to provide for them, they are supported by the master with the food best adapted for their age, such as oatmeal, rice, and a pot of good soup for the whole once a day.

The same author also, speaking from actual knowledge derived from personal observation, details the various measures which are in operation for the education of the slaves and for their religious improvement; and these facts he opposes to the statements of the abolitionists in so forcible a manner, that we could only imagine that these good people, living in a free country, and picturing to themselves the dreadful horrors that, in their opinion, are necessarily attendant upon slavery, had dwelt so long upon the heart-rending representation, that they first imposed upon themselves, by believing in the existence of their own fanciful creations, and then, in their misdirected zeal, endeavoured to impose upon the public, by publishing as facts the impostures of their own credulity.

The following extracts, however, as they serve to shew not only the existence of good measures, but the fruit which they are day by day bringing forth, will give the public some idea of the extent of the measures which are

in action for the benefit of the slave, and of the zeal and perseverance with which they are supported.

The following is an extract from the Report of the Branch Association of the "Society for the Conversion of Negro Slaves" published in "The Barbadian," of Sept. 9, 1828.

The delay of the Report beyond the usual period of publication, although in itself a matter of regret, has afforded opportunity for ascertaining more thoroughly the progress of Religious Knowledge amongst the Slave Population of this island and the beneficial effects of Christianity on their habits.

The labours of the Catechists on the estates in the several parishes, have been, in most cases, continued; and when the Committee observe that in many of the parishes there has been an addition of persons of colour to the congregations, and also that the number of communicants have increased, they cannot but hope that the Form of Prayer used by the Catechists, and the Lectures delivered by them in their several visits, have been, under the Divine blessing, very instrumental to this great end.

In connexion with this portion of their detail, the Committee congratulate the public on that very important measure the abolition of the Sunday market. The example of the principal town in enforcing the late Act respecting the observance of the Sabbath, must, on many accounts, operate on the other parts of the island; and the Committee cannot but trust, that the efficient manner in which the Sunday markets have been put down in Bridge Town, may be followed everywhere. They further hope that provision will be cheerfully made for the erection of additional places of Worship, where those persons may attend, whom the profane use of the Lord's-day has hitherto withdrawn from the public service of the Church.

As a desire on the part of the slaves for instruction on a more extended sysstem than that pursued by the Catechists, has been found to evince itself, your Committee would gladly notice correspondent exertions for meeting and encouraging these feelings; nor can they conceive a plan less open to objection, than that devised, and now partially in operation, under the guidance of the Lord Bishop of the diocese. Your Committee, in the process of this wellarranged scheme, hope to see the body of Catechists merged into that of Sunday schoolmasters: and a higher class

of readers to plantations on Sundays, acting under the immediate superintendence of the Rectors. Some stations have already been selected, in places remote from the parish Churches, where, until Chapels of Ease can be provided, a short service is read, and Bishop Wilson's, or other duly authorized plain discourses, are delivered by the readers, who are, in most cases, young candidates for Holy Orders.

And here your Committee gladly advert to the advance made in the establishment of Sunday Schools, for adults as well as children. To read the Scriptures is an object of eager desire among many of the slaves; and it is most earnestly to be hoped, that instruction in reading, which has been so long and so successfully continued on the Society's estates, as well as a few others in this island, and in many of the other colonies, will no longer be withheld-especially when this mode of gaining sacred knowledge, with the Bible in their hands, is contrasted with the uncertain, limited, and transitory instruction, when merely oral, depending on the leisure, ability, and patience of another.

Your Committee would, under this head, advert with thankfulness to a new and munificent grant of the " Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge," communicated through the Bishop. By this liberal provision, there is secured, on application to his Lordship, a supply of elementary books, &c.; and the facility afforded for the establishment of small parochial, or lending libraries, among the poor, where books are scarce and dear, may surely be regarded as an important object.

Agreeably to an early resolution of the Committee, with the intention of affording all possible encouragement to Sunday Schools, your Committee have, in many instances, authorized the Treasurer to grant small remunerations, not exceeding 101. currency per annum, to teachers of Sunday Schools-either to the master himself, or to approved scholars from the daily school; and in proportion to the extent of their funds, they will continue most readily to promote this simple plan of instruction. advantages arising herefrom are evident. No time is thus lost to the Proprietorto the slave, the association of religious knowledge with the Lord's-day, and with habits of frequenting the House of God, must be invaluable. To go one step further." With an hour or two given every day, on the estate, to teaching the

VOL. X. NO. XII.

The

children to read, and with the Sunday School, and other instruction on the Sunday on one or more principal estates (when remote from the parish Church), much, under God, may be anticipated."

Your Committee have observed with much pleasure a school for the indigent free persons of colour and slaves recently opened in the Hole-town, in the parish of Saint James, which has at present forty-four children; and another near Oistin's, in the parish of Christ Church, consisting of forty-nine children; two have been also lately opened in the populous division of the Bay, in Bridgetown, one for boys, and the other for girls-the number in the boy's school, thirty-two, and in the girl's, fortythree.

In a place so populous as Bridge-town, it was foreseen, that many whose Sabbaths, during the continuance of Sunday markets, were spent in trafficking, or in idleness, if not in vice, might be induced, by a service at a later hour, to attend Divine worship. For this purpose the Cathedral is now opened at a quarter before seven; and judging from the appearance of the Church during a course of Lectures on the Creed, delivered by the Venerable the Archdeacon, the liveliest hopes may be entertained of their benefiting a part of the inhabitants who have been strangers to the House of God.

The following is an extract from the Second Annual Report of the "Society for the Education of the Coloured Poor, and for other Charitable Relief," which appears in "The Barbadian," of Sept. 16, 1828.

The Committee in reporting the proceedings of the Society, most humbly praise and give thanks to Almighty God, for the many blessings bestowed upon them, and for the success that has hitherto attended their humble endeavours.

The fundamental principles of the Institution have been strictly adhered to the past year; that is, of imparting religious instruction to the poorer classes of the coloured community, both bond and free-clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, and giving Christian burial to the dead.

The Committee have the satisfaction of stating, that there are at present under instruction one hundred and six free boys, sixty-one free girls, one hundred and two slave boys, and eighty-three slave girls-making a total of three hundred and fifty-two. Twenty-four

5 11

boys and seven girls are clothed by the Society, including two Brazilian boys, brought to this island by the Buenos Ayres armed brigantine Branizden, Johın M'Kay, master, and left on shore by him, and afterwards given up to the Society by his Honour the President in Council. Those boys are now receiving education, and are boarded at the Society's expense. There are eight Pensioners at the Asylum, for whom two dressed meals are daily provided, and nineteen out-pensioners. The Society have buried seven pensioners, and three other persons, whose friends were not able to defray the expenses of a decent Christian interment.

Of the many persons who have been received at the Asylum, labouring under sickness and want, several have recovered, and resumed their former occupations-one a sailor, who was landed in ill health from a schooner, and conveyed to the Asylum, where he was received and duly attended to. It is with heartfelt pleasure the Committee can state, that this man recovered, and has resumed his calling. The Committee most thankfully acknowledge the kind and gratuitous attendance of Dr. W. J. King in this case, and all others connected with the Society.

The Committee have been enabled, from a generous and liberal-minded public, to do much in their humble way; but they regret, that the calls on the Society, for the last year, have been

more

numerous than it was in their power to meet. Encouraged by a recollection of past favours, they trust it will be in their power to answer more fully the benovelent purposes of the Institution the ensuing year.

In

They have in contemplation the enlargement of the Asylum, which is at present very confined, and in a ruinous state; for which purpose they have purchased a spot of adjoining land. this undertaking, the Committee beg leave to call on the public for their patronage and support. They trust their appeal will not be in vain when it is considered, that they have no other means of carrying on this work of charity but by gratuitous contributions, and the sums which have been kindly voted by the vestry of St. Michael's parish for the last two years:-254., the remaining balance for the last year, and 251., one moiety for this year, have been received, for which they beg to offer their best thanks.

The Committee feel much pleasure in

stating, that a Sunday School has been established by the united exertions of the Lord Bishop and Curate of St. Mary's Chapel (the Rev. J. H. Pinder), in the boys' school room; upon which establishment there are ten male adults, twenty-nine female adults, fifty boys, and sixty-one girls-total one hundred and fifty-who attend the school at nine o'clock in the morning, and two in the afternoon, and from thence proceed to St. Mary's Chapel, to attend divine service.

The slave population in the town and its vicinity have thus an opportunity of receiving religious instruction on the Sabbath; and the Committee trust it will have the effect of producing a great moral improvement in this class of the community.

The Society's income for the year is 3551. 14s. 101d.; expenditure 330L 10s. 51d.; leaving a balance in favour of the Society, 251. 4s. 5d.

The schools are in an improving state -twenty-four boys quitted school for different employments during the last year.

The following is an extract from the Second Annual Report of the “ Ladies' Branch Association for the Education of Female Children of the Coloured Poor, on the Principles of the Established Church of England,” taken from the same paper, under date of 19th Sept. 1828.

The Committee in presenting the Second Annual Report of their proceedings, have to acknowledge with fervent gratitude the continuance of the Divine favour, on their humble endeavours to promote the objects of the Association. The school, under the superintendence of the committee, now receives 144 girls, 61 of whom are free, and 83 slaves. They have satisfaction in being able to state, that these children are daily improving in Christian knowledge; and their progress in reading, writing, and needle-work, is at the same time very considerable.

Next to the Divine blessing, the Committee regard the aid of a benevolent public, and the liberal and efficient patronage which has been bestowed on this Institution, as the cause of its present promising and improving state; and they look forward with humble confidence to the same sources for future support.

The income of the Association this year amounts to 1731. 11s. 41d. and the expenditure to 1711. 10s. 8d. leaving a

balance of 21. Os. 74d. as will be seen by reference to the Treasurer's account

In the island of Antigua, a Society for aiding the education of poor children was established last year, and its first Annual Report was delivered on the 22d of Sept. last. The object of this Society is to act in aid of the Society for the Conversion and Religious Instruction of the Negro Slaves," by providing decent clothing to such children of the poor as, not being entitled to parish relief, were unable to provide clothing; and in effect were precluded from participating in the benefits of education. After detailing the auspices under which the Society was founded, and the encouragement with which it has been supported, the Report details the actual good which has been done.

The number of Girls clothed since the month of March, amounts to 8, who have each received two suits of white and brown linen, which were made up by themselves at the School; and another Girl has received a pair of shoes.

The total number of Boys and Girls furnished during the twelvemonths is 45 of the former, and 9 of the latter, and the cost of materials amounts to 1571. 13s. 01d.; but there remains a surplus of several articles, to the amount of 451. 9s. 11 d., leaving the true expenditure for this period, 1121. 3s. 14d.—The number of Donors is 86, and the total number of Annual and Monthly Subscribers is 275, from whom has been collected the sum of 3641. 14s. 1d., from which deduct the expenditure of 157. 13s. 044., and there will remain a cash balance of 2071. 1s. 1d. now in the Treasurer's hands.

We have only one more extract to add; and this will shew that, while ample provision is endeavoured to be made for dispensing to the slave the advantages which must flow from an elevation of his moral and religious character, and also for training up his children" in the way they should go," according to the true scriptural meaning of the injunction, those who are engaged in this holy employment are not so dazzled by the brightness of the object, for whose attainment they labour, as to overlook the temporal necessities of the objects of their care. The following extract is from the Third Annual Report of "The Ladies'

Association for the Relief of the Indigent Sick and Infirm of Bridge Town and its Environs," taken from "The Barbadian," of the 9th Sept. 1828.

The Committee, in presenting their Third Annual Report to the public, cannot repress the gratification which they experience at being enabled to state, that the objects contemplated at the formation of this Association, have been now unremittinglypursued for three years.

It would be as impossible to enumerate all the cases of relief which has been furnished to individuals during this period, as it would be tedious to dwell on the detail of the particular nature of any single instance. They trust, however, that they may affirm, without fear of contradiction, that in no instance have applications of the destitute "sick and infirm" been neglected. At the same time they confess that their means have often been inadequate to relieve many distressed objects to the extent which their feelings prompted, and peculiar circumstances seemed to demand; yet it must give satisfaction and comfort to every individual who supports this useful charity to reflect, that through their liberality any alleviation, however small, has been afforded to a fellow-creature labouring under disease and want.

The average number of those distressed objects to whom a dinner has been supplied, may be estimated at sixty-eight throughout the year. In two former Reports it was noticed, that a certain number of children of the poorer sort (day scholars at the Central School) received a dinner daily; but as the Vestry have within this year directed that the monthly pension which they used to allow them, should be applied to the purpose of furnishing them with a meal daily at the Schools, and have also increased the sum formerly granted, in order fully to meet the expense, the aid of the Association in this respect is no longer necessary.

The number of out-pensioners, to whom allusion was made in the Report for last year, is now twenty-two, who continue to receive the usual comforts which have been formerly specified. During this year, the Association have afforded relief to eleven seamen who were in great need during the time of illness, and who were recommended to their notice by medical gentlemen, to whom the Society are greatly indebted for their readiness in meeting their wishes, and in furthering the objects of the Association. They have also succeeded in obtaining situations

in families for nine females as servants on wages. The Association assist in maintaining three orphan girls, one of whom is yet at school.

The purchase of the house and premises, as stated in the last Report, was at that time rather anticipated than effected; indeed it was admitted that there was a balance of 1701. still remaining unpaid. The Committee have now the pleasing duty of announcing, that they have completed the purchase-a duty rendered more pleasing, when they advert to the source whence the funds for this purpose were raised. It is owing to the industry, taste and zeal of the ladies who proposed a Bazaar for this object, aided by the exertions of many of their female friends not immediately connected with the Committee, but who contributed a large proportion of articles of ingenuity and elegance, that the Association have secured to them a permanent establishment where the diet is prepared and distributed, and where, in cases of extreme urgency, they may receive any distressed females into their Asylum, as they have on some occasions already done. The sum realized by the last Bazaar amounted to 3091. 16s. 10d. which has been applied exclusively to the design for which it was raised.

To all those kind friends by whose contributions and exertions the funds of the Association have been so greatly augmented, the Committee tender their sincerest thanks.

After payment of the balance of 1701. for the house, &c. (together with the interest,) it was deemed expedient to expend part of the surplus in repairing the buildings belonging to the Association.

These repairs were made under the inspection of Mr. Herbert, to whom the Committee beg to offer their best thanks for the very liberal manner in which he acted on the occasion. The premises are now in thorough repair, and there still remains in hand, from the Bazaar fund, 667. 12s. 54d.

The old materials which were taken down at the time of the repairs, were given to some of the pensioners of the Association; and a further sum of 91. 1s. 2d., by which their houses were secured from wet, and rendered less uncomfortable.

To the "Associated Amateurs of the Fine Arts," the Committee beg to offer their warmest acknowledgments, for giving them the profits of nine days' exhibition at the Picture Gallery, which amounted to 381. 18. 1d.

The Committee have this year to lament the loss of Dr. Frazer, one of the most zealous and valuable friends of the Association from the earliest period of its formation.

The Committee cannot conclude this part of their Report without acknowledging their obligations to all those friends of the charity who continue to support its interests, whether by subscription, donations, or by gifts of articles of food; and they confidently trust, that the liberality of the friends of the Institution, and of the public in general, will enable them not only to continue to afford the relief which they now do to the distressed, but also with the help of the next Bazaar, to provide a Hospital, where very indigent sick females may have medical assistance, and such shelter afforded them as the present confined limits of the Dispensary will not admit of. The Committee hope that this plan will ere long be carried into effect to the increased comfort of numbers of their poor brethren, during the painful season of illness, so trying under the most favourable circumstances, to the true and lasting gratification of all concerned in so charitable a work, and to the glory of God, who is most acceptably praised when compassion is shown by man to his brother.

One word in conclusion. When the various institutions, of the existence and operation of which these extracts furnish lively and interesting proofs, are considered, and their importance duly appreciated, are we asking too much, in begging our readers to pause before they give implicit credence to the statements which are made of the continuing miseries of the slaves, the heartless apathy with which their sufferings are regarded by those in power, and the still more horrible cruelty with which the ruthless slave-owners wield the iron sceptre of their tyranny? It may, indeed, be said that we have not furnished proof that the benefits we have detailed are extended to every slave, or that many instances of individual hardship or oppression may not occur. Is it to be expected that we should? Is it over the land of slavery alone that the curse of Adam hangs? and are there not civilized and enlightened countries, whose annals would give proofs that within their blissful confines, sin brings forth her