General improvement in the state of society-its

causes.

The part England took in the establishment of colonial slavery is not denied; and if it is to be atoned for now, this will be better done by aiding to extend the blessings of religion and education to the negroes, than by pressing crude and premature schemes of emancipation; which would, by casting them loose from authority, subordination, and industry, be the most effectual means that could be devised, of putting an end to the present fair prospect of their being in time able to appreciate, purchase, and enjoy a state of freedom.

The better observance of Sunday and attendance at church, is not confined to the slaves, but applies equally to the whole community; and is but a part of a general improvement that has taken place on the character and condition of all classes, within the last fifteen years: an improvement which, I have no hesitation to say, may challenge comparison in magnitude with any thing on record, in any country. The causes which have produced so great a change deserve investigation. In the houses of overseers of the present day there is a sobriety, good order, and decorum, so entirely different from what prevailed twenty or twenty-five years ago, as can scarcely be believed by those who have not seen it. I have heard this attributed, and I think not improperly to those circumstances in the mother country which favoured the extension of education; and particularly to the great advance which

took place in the value of farm produce after the breaking out of the late war, which enabled the middle classes in Scotland and the north of Ireland, whence Jamaica is principally supplied with new inhabitants, to give a better education to their families than they had previously done; and to send more of them abroad. The consequence was, that at about that period a class of young men sought their fortunes in the co- lonies, much superior to the indented servants who were before sent out by agents, and to those adventurers frequently carried out on speculation, in ship loads, for sale to whoever would pay their passage. That this is one cause which unperceived, like the silent hand of time, has had a very favourable influence, no one will deny. These young men, at first book-keepers, became overseers, and many of them are now deservedly in the confidence of the proprietors as managers of their estates. The influence of the overseer, correct in his own conduct, kind to his bookkeepers, while he exacts from them that attention to duty, of which they see an example in himself, has naturally a powerful effect upon them; and even upon the slaves, who are much influenced by the persons in authority over them, so much so that it is proverbial among them, Good 'massa make good nigger.'

Other causes have also contributed to produce the change in question. Proprietors, with scarcely an exception, as far as my knowledge goes, in

K

their instructions to their managers have expressed an anxious desire that the comfort and happiness of their people should be made a paramount object.

The legislature has also acted upon the same humane and liberal principles; and in the slave codes of 1809 and 1816, some excellent regulations, which had previously been adopted by the more liberal, were made imperative upon all.— New and extensive privileges were granted to free persons of colour: the arbitrary punishment of slaves was restrained and taken almost entirely out of the hands of subordinate persons; the working of sugar mills, which had previously encroached so far on Sunday that it was scarcely felt as a day of rest by either the white people or the negroes, was forbidden from seven o'clock on Saturday evening till five on Monday morning: magistrates were appointed a council of protection to attend to the complaints of the slaves, &c.

These, and many other excellent regulations of the same kind, seemed rather to follow than lead public opinion, upon which a great change had been effected, by the introduction of a better educated class of white people, by the abolition of the slave trade, and discussions attendant thereon; and by the greater means of religious instruction afforded by the curates and missionaries.

The abolition was particularly important; not, as theorists at home argue, because it prevented the planters from being able to replace the slaves

they murdered by bad treatment;' for they are as cheaply replaced now as they were then; but because it drew the attention of humane people more to a consideration of the state of the slaves; and, above all, because it put an end to the importation of African superstition and barbarism, of which a constant supply was before kept up by the new comers, and more than any thing else had the effect of keeping the whole body in a state of barbarism.

Negroes.

The facts here stated, and which are well known Baptism of to every person who has a practical knowledge of Jamaica, will account, in some measure, for a circumstance which has afforded a fine field for Mr. Stephen's ridicule-the baptism of so many negroes in so short a period of time. Quoting from the returns of the different clergymen to the governor, such paragraphs as suited his purpose, he thus proceeds: One or two of the rectors in 'Jamaica have boasted of very wonderful success ' in the way of conversion; and if the administra'tion of the baptismal right to all adult slaves, 'who come or are brought by their masters to ' receive it, is sufficient evidence of their Christian faith, the facts they state will certainly justify the boast.-There has certainly been nothing equal to it in the world since the apostolic age.' p. 224.

Referring to a paragraph which states that to

wards the end of the preceding year 1816, ‘a

great anxiety was manifested, and which at pre'sent continues for baptism, both by the slaves ' and their masters, he says, 'the latter part of 'this proposition, perhaps, does not mean that the ' proprietors desired it for themselves, but for their 'slaves.' p. 224.

No compulsion, I believe, (the same rector goes on to say) has been exercised by the mas'ter; all has been voluntary on the part of the 'slave; the negroes having freely thrown away 'their African superstitions and prejudices.'-Upon this Mr. S. observes, 'What a singular and fortu'nate coincidence with the new-born eager anxiety of the proprietors to bring them to the font!!!' 'It appears,' adds he, from another of these ' returns, that great numbers on the plantations were baptized at the same time; it is to be hoped the drivers were not behind them on these, as on all • other musters.' p. 225.

More need not be added to shew the spirit in which this part of the work is written. It is very evident that Mr. S. and his party, having laboured to hold up the colonists to detestation as a body sunk in an abyss of moral depravity and irreligion, unparalleled in the world, are very reluctant to admit facts having a tendency to make them appear in any more favourable light.

That in Jamaica the number of established churches has, within a few years, been doubled;