132
BARBADOS.
Our informant said, he came out to Barbados with English feelings on the subject of slavery ; but his residence in the colonies, and the acquisition of slaves, appeared to have given him a most unfavorable im pression of the negro character. He complained par ticularly of his domestics. Though most anxious to be rid of them, he said they were such wretches, that for the sake of society, he could not conscientiously emancipate them. He was obliged to have three grooms to look after one horse, &c. Without at all concurring in a general extension of these sentiments to the non-predials, it is generally allowed in the colo nies, that the Apprenticeship has had a more unfavor able effect on their character, than on that of the field laborers. Other disinterested persons speak unfavor ably of the condition of the apprentices. The Stipen diaries are, perhaps, with a single exception, accustomed to share the hospitalities of the planters. Many of the ap prentices complain, that they have fewer privileges than before ; they are not allowed to raise and keep poultry and other small stock to the same extent ; and in con sequence, a rise of prices has taken place in Bridgetown market. The free children are much neglected. After 1 8 3 4 many of the planters turned them off the estates, provoked by the disappointment of their expectation, that the parents would consent to apprentice them ; an expectation which was baffled by the perseverance of the mothers, acting under the advice of the Governor, vSir L I O N E L S M I T H . This extreme measure against the free children, was happily not persevered in ; but cases have recently occurred, where it has again been resorted to. On the estates of a once humane resident proprietor, the children are taken care of in the estates' nurseries as before ; but in the vast majority of in-