JAMAICA.
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only one punishment on the estate since, and that in a case of theft. We met here two of the Special Magistrates, F A CEY and ODELLE, in whose company we visited Montpelier, an estate belonging to Lord SEAFORD. This j property is in the same situation as many others be- i longing to humane, well-intentioned proprietors, resi- j ding in England. The authority of the magistrate is j in constant requisition. The overseer was absent on j militia duty ; one of the book-keepers shewed us the ] premises, though with some appearance of reluctance, i A new substantial stone dungeon has just been erected. • It consists, besides a narrow passage, of two arched ; cells, about twelve feet by nine, and eight or nine feet , high, perfectly dark. The erection of such a building, at a time when penal confinement on estates ought to have wholly ceased, requires no comment ; and it has not been built to remain untenanted. One of the attorneys without any magistrate's order, has twice i directed to be locked up in it, thirteen old women, who i refused to cut grass on their own days. They were ' kept during their confinement on a short allowance of bread and water. We saw also the hospital, which is the worst we have seen on a large estate, and is very dirty and offensive. It consists of three rooms and a j passage, in which there are about twenty patients. • There is a court before it, enclosed with a lofty fence j of bamboos, pointed at the top, so as to exclude the i inmates from all communication with their friends, at j the pleasure of the overseer. We were shewn over the | works and curing house. One of the hogsheads of j sugar had been spoiled by the carelessness of the boilerman. The book-keeper told us, that they never in- | terfered with the negros in the manufacture of the i X