JAMAICA.
305
that having worked by agreement, for three days in their own time, for one shilling and eight-pence a day, their master had refused to pay them for more than two j days. He said the apprentices had made no agreement j to work by the task ; their master had forced it on i them, and the former magistrate, (DAWSON) would not j hear a word they had to say. When they complained j recently to their master, he told them, they might go \ to Mr. C H A M B E R L A I N ^ ; that it was their turn now, Î but would be his by and bye ; that he would have jus- ! tice done him, and would send for Major B A I N E S , (a magistrate very popular with the planters in an adjoin ing district.) Complainant also repeated oifensive ex- > pressions used by his master in reference to the magis- i trate's complexion. The defendant in reply, admitted " the expi-essions attributed to him, except the last, which he denied. He said that his people had worked by the task of six baskets a day, for the last fifteen years, and j on the introduction of the Apprenticeship had continued j to do it, under the sanction of CHAMBERLAINE'S pre- j decessor, (DAWSON,) " who was a very fair magistrate," | and he should insist on their still giving him the same quantity. On the magistrate remarking that it was illegal to impose taskwork without the consent of I the apprentices, he said he would do it, adding, " Sir ! L I O N E L SMITH is of a different opinion to you Sir, and j we shall seee presently whether you will be able to pre- i vent it." On being asked respecting his imposing six nights continuous watching, as a punishment on his apprentices ; he said, " he considered himself as their protector, and desired that they should look up to him \ as such, and that the magistrate should not come on the property ; but now they had called him in, they should have enough of him." He enquired in his turn ; DD3