should not be paid for it, and that if they worked ill they could not be flogged, as they had formerly been. Yet even under these disadvantageous circumstances, no difficulties occurred except in three of the islands; and even there the difficulties were slight and temporary. THE WORST ENEMIES OF ABOLITION HAVE NOT YET BEEN ABLE TO SHOW THAT A SINGLE DROP OF BLOOD HAS BEEN SHED, OR A SINGLE PLANTATION FIRED, IN CONSEQUENCE OF EMANCIPATION, IN ALL THE BRITISH WEST INDIES! Antigua and Bermuda did not try the apprenticeship system; but at once gave the stimulus of wages. In those islands not the slightest difficulties have occured. The journals of Antigua say: "The great doubt is solved; and the highest hopes of the negro's friends are fulfilled. Thirty thousand men have passed from slavery into freedom, not only without the slightest irregularity, but with the solemn and decorous tranquillity of a Sabbath!" In Antigua there are 2,000 whites, 30,000 slaves, and 4,500 free blacks. Antigua and St. Christopher's are within gunshot of each other; both are sugar growing colonies; and the proportion of blacks is less in St. Christopher's than it is in Antigua; yet the former island has had some difficulty with the gradual system, while the quiet of the latter has not been disturbed for one hour by immediate emancipation. Do not these facts speak volumes? The results of the British Emancipation Bill, in a pecuniary point of view, are truly surprising. To the astonishment of even the most sanguine friends of abolition, the plantations of the colonies are more productive, more easily managed and accepted as securities for higher sums on mortgage than ever they were under the slave system. It appears from an official statement, that, in the first quarter of the present year there is an increase over the average of the first quarter of the three years preceding (emancipation,) of the great staples of West Indian produce exported. From Georgetown, (Demerara,) 20 per cent increase, and on coffee about The hundred million indemnity thus appears to have been a compensation of a novel kind, a compensation for being made richer.— New York Evening Post. ST. DOMINGO. In most other countries we have ministers, or at least consuls to watch over the interests of our merchants; but to send a minister or consul to St. Domingo would be so revolting to the feelings of our southern brethren, that they would probably threaten to dissolve the Union, and so our merchants are left to take care of their own interests there. It may be useful to compare the amount of those interests with the amount of their interests in certain other countries, where we have consuls, and in some instances ministers. HOWE PETER. When the Marquis of Sligo retired from the government of the is land of Jamaica, in 1836, the apprentices raised a contribution amounting to $1,000, to procure a suitable testimonial of their gratitude to his lordship, for the protection and kindness afforded by his administration. This sum was sent home by the hand of Joseph Sturge, and placed in the hands of a committee in London, consisting of T. F. Buxton, Esq. Rt. Hon. Dr. Lushington, M.P. Sir George Stephen, Capt. Moorsom, R.N. W. B. Gurney, Esq. Rev. John Dyer, Rev. John Burnet, Joseph Sturge, Esq. and John Sturge. The committee procured a splendid silver candelabrum, which they presented to his lordship, March 16, 1839, with a suitable address, in the presence of Lord Brougham, Sir George Strickland, Hon C. P. Villers, M.P. W. Evans, Esq. M.P. Jos. Pease, Esq. M.P. and others. In his reply, the noble Marquis said, "It is with feelings of no little pride that I receive this testimonial of the gratitude and good opinion of the Negroes of Jamaica. When I remember that the subscription for its purchase was made after I had left the island, when no advantage could be gained by its promotion, and that it is the only instance which ever has occurred, or can occur in these dominions, of the presentation of such a tribute of respect from persons still in a state of modified slavery, I value it so much that I would not exchange it for the highest distinction which the favor of my sovereign could bestow." THE INSCRIPTION. "Presented to the most noble, Howe Peter, Marquis of Sligo, by the Negroes of Jamaica, in testimony of the grateful remembrance they entertain for his unremitting efforts to alleviate their sufferings and to redress their wrongs, during his just and enlightened administration of the government of the island, and of the respect and gratitude they feel towards his excellent lady and family, for the kindness and sympathy displayed towards them-1837." JOHN SCOBLE. At a meeting in Chatham streets chapel, New-York 1839, prayer having been offered by Rev. S. S. JOCELYN, Mr. SCOBLE was introduced to the assembly by ARTHUR TAPPAN, Esq. chairman of the meeting, and stated that he should prefer, that instead of making an address, questions be put to him that would elicit any information of which he might be possessed. Mr. Scoble adduced facts to show that the planters, as a body, were never in so flourishing circumstances as now. Very many of them have paid off their mortgages, and made improvements on their estates. He then read an interesting passage from the Jamaica historian, LONG, and documents furnished by the House of Assembly at Jamaica, giving a disastrous view of the island before emancipation, and contrasted it with the appearance at the present time. One of the gentlemen from Jamaica then said, he admitted that they did make excellent crops of sugar and coffee in 1838. Some one then asked about the comparative value of estates previous and subsequent to emancipation. Mr. Scoble replied that the value had increased from ten to fifty per cent in different colonies. He stated that a Mr. Allen, of Barbados, became alarmed, and sold his estates for £27,000 sterling, and soon afterwards repurchased it for £30,000 sterling. Indeed, said Mr. Scoble, the lands now will sell for as much as both land and slaves would bring under the system of slavery. A question was then put relative to the moral character of the negroes since emancipation. Mr. Scoble went on to state that the number of prisoners, in the jails, had greatly decreased from 1836 to 1839, that almost all those confined for capital offences were white men, that the offences committed by the negroes were generally petty assaults on each other; that there had not been one conviction for any assault by a negro on a white man since emancipation! He proceeded to remark that now marriage was sanctioned by law, and was "honorable in all." A great improvement had taken place, in this respect, among the whites as well as blacks. That during his whole tour through the British West Indies he had not met with a single planter who said he was willing to return to the old system. He said he would appeal to the gentlemen from Jamaica now present, if he were incorrect. They both exclaimed, "certainly not." (Great applause.) A planter of great respectability in Barbados, told Mr. Scoble that he remembered the time when he thought he would be doing God service if he had put a pistol ball through the brains of Wilberforce or Buxton; but that now he could go on his knees and clasp theirs, and bless them for the abolition of slavery. VICTORIA REGINA. My Lords and Gentlemen:-" It is with great satisfaction that I am enabled to inform you, that throughout the whole of my West Indian possessions, the period fixed by law for the final and complete emancipation of the negroes has been anticipated by acts of the colonial legislature, and that the transition from the temporary system of ap. prenticeship to entire freedom, has taken place without any disturbance of public order and tranquillity. Any measures which may be necessary in order to give full effect to this great and beneficial change will, I have no doubt, receive your careful attention.-Speech to Parliament, Feb. 5, 1839. It is with great satisfaction, I inform you, that I have concluded with the Emperor of Austria, the King of the French,* the King of Prussia, and the Emperor of Russia, a treaty for the effectual suppression of the slave trade, which, when the ratifications shall have been exchanged, will be communicated to Parliament.-Speech Feb. 3, 1842. * Postponed JEAN PIERRE BOYER. The President of Hayti has received, with your letter of the 10th of October last, the different publications that you have sent him. His Excellency congratulates you on the perseverance with which you have pursued the work of abolition of slavery. The warmest desires of philanthropists accompany you in this difficult enterprise, and the President of Hayti doubts not that this holy cause will conclude by obtaining the triumph it merits. I seize, sir, this occasion of assuring you of the particular desire I entertain for the success of your glorious work, and renew the expression of my high esteem. B. INGINAC. Letter to B. Lundy, Nov. 17, 1836. SIMON BOLIVAR. I beg as fervently of my country as I would for the lives of my children, that you will never consent that clime, or color, or creed, should make any distinction in your republic.-Address to the Senators of Colombia. Legislators! Slavery is the infringement of all laws. A law having a tendency to preserve slavery, would be the grossest sacrilege. Man to be possessed by his fellow man!-man to be made property of! The image of the Deity to be put under the yoke! Let these usurpers show us their title-deeds!-Address to the Legislature of Bolivia and Peru. "This distinguished man, who was second to none for patriotism and political philanthropy that the last dozen centuries have produced, is no more. He has left an example worthy the imitation of all slaveholders of every country and clime. "In addition to his great and untiring efforts to break the chains of clerical and political bondage that oppressed his countrymen, he acted the part of perfect consistency in using his influence for the enfranchisement of the African slaves, who were there reduced to abject servility. We have been informed that, in the early stage of the Colombian revolution, he emancipated from 700 to 1,000 slaves; and that he strenuously and successfully urged the total abolition of slavery by the government. Since his death it is stated that he has freed 150 more by will, who were still held by him, and who probably preferred remaining with him while he lived. "BENJAMIN LUNDY." cause it lifted from off them the yoke of civil oppression. The free colored population-because it gave the death blow to the prejudice that crushed them, and opened the prospect of social, civil, and political equality with the whites. The slaves-because it broke open their dungeon, led them out to liberty, and gave them, in one munificent donation, their wives, their children, their bodies, their souls --every thing! The negroes work more cheerfully, and do their work better than they did during slavery. Wages are found to be an ample substi tute for the lash-they never fail to secure the amount of labor desired. This is particularly true where task work is tried, which is done occasionally in cases of a pressing nature, when considerable effort is required. The governor said, "The negroes are as a race remarkable for docility; they are very easily controlled by kind influence. It is only necessary to gain their confidence, and you can sway them as you please." Let it be remembered that the negroes of Antigua passed, "by a single jump, from absolute slavery to unqualified freedom." In proof of their subordination to law, we give the testimony of planters, and quote also from the police reports sent in monthly to the Governor. I have found that the negroes are readily controlled by law; more so perhaps than the laboring classes in other countries."-David Granstoun, Esq. 66 "The conduct of the negro population generally, has surpassed all expectation. They are as pliant to the hand of legislation, as any people; perhaps more so than some."-Wesleyan Missionary. "Before emancipation took place, there was the bitterest opposition to it among the planters. But after freedom came, they were delighted with the change. I felt strong opposition myself, being accordingly unwilling to give up my power of command. But I shall never forget how differently I felt when freedom took place. I arose from my bed on the first of August, exclaiming with joy, 'I am free, I am free; I was the greatest slave on the estate, but now I am free.'"-Mr. J. Howell. BARBADOES.-"The state of crime is not so bad by any means as we might have expected among the negroes-just released from such a degrading bondage. Considering the state of ignorance in which they have been kept, and the immoral examples set them by the lower class of whites, it is matter of astonishment that they should behave so well. "The apprentices would have a great respect for law, were it not for the erroneous proceedings of the managers, overseers, &c. in taking them before the magistrates for every petty offence, and often abusing the magistrate in the presence of the apprentices, when his decision does not please them. "Not the slightest sense of insecurity. As a proof of this, property has, since the commencement of the apprenticeship, increased in value considerably-at least one third. "The most prejudiced planters would not return to the old systent if they possibly could. They admit that they got more work from |