Six months in the West-Indies, in 1825

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ANTIGUA.

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seconds, and was found by experiment to possess more than double the power of the usual machine. Hereupon I have imagined a device for sailing ships in the eye of the wind, which I mean to sell to the Admiralty for a patent and a few thousand pounds. There are seven parish churches in the island, one public chapel, and another private one, neatly fitted up by Mr. Gilbert for the use of his own slaves. There are many establishments of Moravians, who live in a quiet and inobtrusive way, and have done much good in educating the young negros on the plantations to the extent that was permitted to them. They are chiefly Germans, and seem a remarkably kind and worthy sort of people. Antigua is the head-quarters of the Methodists, and they swarm in every direction. With that sense of propriety, that modest withdrawing of themselves which characterizes this sect, they have built their meeting-house in St. John's, as in Basseterre, close to the church, and really make such a disagreeable noise with their incessant attempts to sing, that I am persuaded an indictment would lie in England against them for causing a public nuisance. Surely these good folks might be a little sotto voce in their canticles; the introduction of a minor key would be a grateful relief to every ear. They shun three flats as they would so many surplices. What would Charles Wesley


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