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latter individuals were, almost entirely at the mercy of the planters, few had the moral courage or the moral principle to withstand the consequences of a faithful and conscientious discharge of their duty. Among the few whom no bribes could seduce, and no threats intimidate some resigned their office in disgustothers sunk beneath the pressure of excessive labour, anxiety, and persecution. Of those that survive, the names of Hill, Palmer, Maddan, Daughtrey, Baynes, Grant, Bourne, and Kent, will be distinguished and cherished by the great mass of the inhabitants to the latest posterity. Slavery will admit of no modification. Under these circumstances, representations as to the nature and effects of the Apprenticeship System were soon made by the Baptist Missionaries;* by the philanthropic Joseph Sturge and Thomas Harvey, who personally acquainted themselves with its results; and successively by the noble-minded Governors, the Marquis of Sligo and Sir Lionel Smith; and truth and justice

* The following is a specimen of the language used towards the missionaries at this period by some of the members of the Honourable House of Assembly. It was used by the Hon. A— Din a debate on a bill to legalize marriages by dissenting ministers.—“The report of a committee appointed to enquire into the working of the Apprenticeship System would that day be presented, by which it would be clearly shown that the evil which now prevailed-that the non-working of the Apprenticeship System, indeed all the mischief of the present day— was to be attributed to the interference of the sectarian preachers; they were a set of lawless miscreants in whom no faith was to be placed, from whom no security could be obtained. They had no reputation to lose or character to give weight to their evidence in a court of justice."

+ The Marquis of Sligo, who is a large proprietor in Jamaica, nobly confirmed his sentiments by liberating all his apprentices before the act of final emancipation was carried, which had great influence on the abandonment of the system.

for the last time stood forth and demanded the fulfilment of their claims. Within the short space of about six months, deputations, varying in number from 140 to 400, assembled in London from different parts of the three kingdoms. Downing-street and Westminster Hall were again besieged; and petitions, signed by upwards of one million of British subjects, in which 450,000 English, 135,000 Scotch, and upwards of 77,000 Irish females-a mighty host, marshalled and led on by the piety, talent, learning, eloquence, and philanthropy of the best portion of the public press imperatively demanded the abolition of the System on the ground of a violation of the contract by the planters. For a time the boon was delayed, and the British Lion was provoked to anger: he put forth his might, and the monster Slavery was no more.

*

SECTION IV.-At length the advocates of liberty and the champions of the oppressed reaped the glorious reward of their self-denying and philanthropic labours. On the glorious and never-to-be-forgotten 1st of August, 1838, 800,000 African bondmen were made fully and unconditionally free. "An act of legislation the most magnanimous and sublime in the annals of the world, and which will be the glory of England and the admiration of posterity, when her proudest military and naval

* Very valuable assistance was especially given on this occasion in London by 'The Sun,' 'The Globe,' 'The Patriot,' The Morning Herald,' and the different religious periodicals, and seconded by a large portion of the provincial press, as well as by that of Ireland and Scotland.

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achievements shall have faded from the recollections of mankind ;" an event which transpired at the most auspicious period of the history of the world-at a time. of the most profound and general peace ever enjoyed since Augustus Cæsar shut the gates of Janus-when the crown of the mightiest empire of the world had just been placed on the youthful brow of VICTORIA, the beloved mistress of a free people.

When a century shall have passed away-when statesmen are forgotten-when reason shall regain her influence over prejudice and interest, and other generations are wondering at the false estimate their forefathers formed of human glory-" on the page of history one deed shall stand out in whole relief-one consenting voice pronounce" that the greatest honour England ever attained was when, with her Sovereign at her head, she proclaimed THE SLAVE IS FREE, and established in practice what even AMERICA recognizes in THEORY: that all men are created equal—that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights -that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

On the evening of the day preceding that which witnessed the actual bestowment of the inestimable boon on the apprentices of Jamaica, the towns and missionary stations throughout the island were crowded with people especially interested in the event, and who, filling the different places of worship, remained in some instances performing different acts of devotion until the day of liberty dawned, when they saluted it with the most joyous acclaim; others, before and after

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similar services, dispersed themselves in different directions through the towns and villages singing the national anthem and devotional hymns, occasionally rending the air with their acclamations of "Freedom's come;" "We're free, we're free; our wives and our children are free." On the following day the places of worship were thrown open, and crowded almost to suffocation; in many instances even the whole premises of a missionary establishment were occupied. Sermons were preached applicable to the event, devout thanksgivings to Almighty God at the throne of grace, mingled with songs of praise, ascended up to Heaven from every part of the land. The scenes presented exceeded all description. The whole island exhibited a state of joyous excitement as though miraculously chastened and regulated by the hallowed influences of religion.*

After the services of the day at Spanish Town, which were deeply interesting, the congregation collected in and about the Baptist Chapel, numbering full 7000 souls, were to be addressed by his Excellency the Governor. These, with the children of the schools, which amounted to 2000, accordingly walked in procession to the square opposite the Government House, headed by their pastor, displaying flags and banners, which bore a variety of interesting inscriptions. Although joy brightened every countenance, the procession moved on with all the apparent solemnity of a fune

* Even the irreligious part of the community on this memorable occasion seemed inspired with religious feeling, and flocked in crowds to the House of God.