CHAPTER XLV.

IMPROVED CONDITION OF THE NEGROES-STATE OF ST. DOMINGO.

"The improvement in their manners, dress, and general appearance the greater intelligence they display, from understanding the language better-the greater comforts they enjoy from improved habits of industry and the advance they have made in religion, are in the highest degree satisfactory and encouraging." Barclay.

"*** In St. Domingo, once proudly and justly termed the queen of the Antilles, cultivation has nearly ceased."-Barclay.

To say that the condition of the slave was ameliorated, without bringing forward some proof of my assertion, would not be satisfactory to those readers who really wish to be convinced of the truth. As they will perhaps look upon evidence more respectfully than upon the mere advancement of an on dit, I will proceed to relate a few of those recent occurrences which so suddenly benefited the negro; and further, to prove that the planters, as I before observed, have caught the spirit of philanthropy, which will stimulate them to extend those benefits as much as lies in their power.

Mr. Coleridge, whose residence in the West Indies did not extend beyond a period of six months, never

theless in that short time saw enough of the planters to justify him in saying, "I know perfectly well that there are many persons scattered throughout our numerous colonies who do inwardly cling to their old prejudices, and very likely mourn in secret over the actual or designed reformations of the present day. But in almost every island there is a majority of better mind, so powerful in numbers and respectability, that it not only puts to silence men of the ancient leaven, but even compels them, through fear of shame, to become the ostensible friends of amelioration." This assertion of Mr. Coleridge, joined to opinions of the same tendency expressed by others, proves, that to the liberality of the planters, among other causes, the slave is indebted for his improved condition. The Bishop of Jamaica confirms the veracity of this statement, when, in his dispatch to Lord Bathurst, he says, "I am happy in being able to assure your lordship that a very general wish to ameliorate the condition of the slaves, and to instruct them in the principles of religion and the established church, seems to pervade the great mass of proprietors*."

Supposing, as I do, that my readers will be satisfied with the instances I have produced of the good intentions of the planter, and of his cooperation in the work of improvement, I will now bring forward some regulations passed in the different islands, by which

* Vide extract from papers presented to Parliament, in a little work, called "Sketches and Recollections of the West Indies."

the slave condition has been meliorated. To place these regulations,-these things that are, in connexion with the things which, in the year 1825, Mr. Coleridge told us ought to be,-will be putting them in the most comprehensible, and, perhaps, the most convincing light to the reader.

In his chapter, entitled Planters and Slaves, after advancing, as I have advanced, the necessity of a gradual emancipation, and contending, as I have contended, that "When the negro peasant will work regularly, like the white peasant, then he ought to be freed," Mr. Coleridge inquires, "How are we to originate this moral stimulus?" and he then adds, "by various means.

"I. By education; that is to say, by teaching every child to read, by providing Bibles and Prayer Books at moderate prices, by building or enlarging churches, or increasing the times of service, so that every one may be able to worship in the great congregation once at least on the Sunday."

All this is now commenced, education has begun its work, and religion is making increasing progress week after week; churches have been erected, schools founded, books distributed, and clergymen appointed with stipulated salaries, who are required to assist in promoting and propagating Christianity among the slaves. Baptisms, marriages, and even the reception of the holy sacrament are now by no means uncommon; and, although it will require long years and steady exertions to convert the slaves into any thing

like a moral and religious race of people, yet the prospect is by no means unpromising, neither is the work that is commenced unprogressive.

Mr. Coleridge proceeds

"II. By amending the details of existing slavery; by enacting express laws of protection of the slaves; by reforming the judicatures; by admitting the competency of slave evidence, and by abolishing the Sunday markets."

The details of the then existing slavery have been amended and are daily amending; laws too for the further protection of slaves, and, more particularly, for restricting and limiting their punishments have been enacted and are daily enacting, and to a few of these I will call the attention of my readers.

In the island of St. Vincent proprietors are by law obliged to keep a book, in which all offences and punishments are recorded, and they are forced, under a penalty of twenty pounds, to produce these books for the inspection of the magistrates, whenever they may be called for. Gang drivers are not allowed to carry a whip in the field.

In Grenada, Tobago, and St. Kitts, late enactions have softened and mitigated the punishments of slaves in the most humane and reasonable manner; and in Dominica the public flogging of the women has been long since abolished.

In Jamaica, the person who shall ill use or over whip any slave is subject to a heavy fine; the chain gang of culprits no longer exists, and magistrates are

obliged to listen to, and to interest themselves in all complaints made to them by the negroes of cruelty or ill treatment.

These, with many other salutary regulations, have been put in force respecting the punishments of negroes, and the colonies have not been less forward in granting to the slaves privileges even greater and more numerous than those recommended by Mr. Coleridge.

In Tobago and St. Kitts slave evidence has been admitted, without the restrictions placed upon it in Dominica and St. Vincent; and, in Grenada, the testimony of the negro is placed on the same footing as that of the white man. In this latter island the Sunday markets have also been entirely abolished, and in St. Vincent they are prohibited from being continued beyond the hour of ten in the morning.

I confess that, on this subject, I differ from those who object to allowing the slave to dispose of his provisions in the public market before the hour of devotion; and I never perceived the great advantage that would be derived from depriving him of this petty privilege. However, this may be my want of penetration and not their want of judgment, and, therefore, I will say no more on the matter.

To proceed in my list of privileges; in Dominica the mothers of six children have two days in the week to themselves, and slaves who either are, or pass as being married, cannot be parted.

In Tobago the slaves have guardians, and are protected from being punished by their drivers.