JAMAICA.
303
An apprentice of Dr. B E L L , complained that his master had flogged him. He said also that the doctor had prevented a fellow apprentice from coming down to the court, as a witness of the assault. This the doctor in dignantly denied. The magistrate offered to ride up to his house and decide the case, which was agreed to. 8th. An apprentice from Elmwood, the estate of E D WARD PANTON, the judge advocate general, complained, that though he was a cripple, he had been ordered to go to the field. He produced a large heavy hoe, which had been given to him, and which he had been for bidden to sharpen in his master's time. His former employment was tending hogs and minding the gate, which it was his duty to open to all visitors, but he had been strictly forbidden to admit the Special Magis trate when he came to the estate, and his oft'ence con sisted in having disregarded these orders. He wis told that he could not be ccmipelled to work in the field as a punishment, and being also a cripple, was directed to return to his former employment. 9th. Another negro from the same estate said, that one of his fellow apprentices had received serious injury from a fire in the stillhouse, where he was working under the super intendence of the Overseer's son. He said this man was a very active, valuable negro, and had often saved his master's propert)', when it had been on fire before; but that now he was in the hospital, neglected, and with no one to attend him. The two medical men attending the estate were present, and contradicted this statement warmly. The result of the conflicting testi mony was, that the man was very seriously burnt. He could not feed himself, but was lying in the hospital, which was locked up, and his mother was not allowed to be with him, nor any one but the negro attendant