ANTIGUA.
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measure. It was first proposed at a meeting of pro- ^ prietors, by a planter, who produced statements to ^ shew, that under a free system he would have to pay wages to one third only of the negros whom he should be required to support as apprentices ;' and that he could work his estates equally well by free labor, at a less expense. The proposition excited some commo tion at first. The cry was raised that he was betraying the secrets of the planters, and that if this came to the ears of government, they would get no compensation. A persuasion, however, of the superiority of the free system, gained ground in future discussions, and now the most bigoted adherents of slavery acknowledge that free labor is best and cheapest. 24th.—We called this morning upon a gentleman who had kindly introduced himself, and offered to give us information on the cultivation of the island. He is the Town Agent for a large number of estates, and a resident of thirty years standing. His intelligence, experience, and piety, give great weight to his state ments. He furnished us with calculations and com parative statements, to which we shall have hereafter occasion to allude. We called subsequently at the mission station of the brethren; where we found bro ther M o i i R i s H from the interior. While we were sitting with them, an old man came for relief. He was a member of their church ; and appeared to be upM-ards of eighty years of age, and quite blind. He said that he was allowed only six pints of corn-meal a week from the estate, and that last week he did not get even that. These poor and destitute persons are relieved in part, out of a sum annually supplied by some charitable persons in Lon don, who are unconnected with the island, and of