56
ANTIGUA.
plorable account of the condition of the apprentices there. Many of them were in a state bordering on starvation, because the proprietors had given them larger provision grounds, and a day in the week to cultivate them, in lieu of their former allowances, and the dry weather had rendered their grounds unproductive. From the same cause, there had been a great falling off in the attendance of the schools, the parents not having food to give their children to take with them. The letter concluded by wishing "this system of apprenticeship at the bottom of the sea." 7th.—We went this morning to breakfast with the manager of an estate, which furnishes a striking proof \ of what may be done under a free system, liberally ad ministered. He kindly furnished us with some valu- | able statistical information, and practical remarks. This estate, comprising about two hundred and fifty J acres of cane ground, produced last year, two hundred and twelve heavy hogsheads of sugar, being sixty hogs heads more than its average for the last twenty years. \ Amidst the general drought, this and two or three ad joining properties, were favored with seasonable rains. The result completely falsifies the fears expressed to us \ by many planters, that a large crop could not be taken off without loss, by free labor.* This gentleman, on the contrary says, " Give me a supply of cash, and I . will take off the largest crop it may please Providence | to send." The number of efficient laborers is rather j * A note reeeived since the commencement of the present year, • from this gentleman, speaking of the crop about to be taken off, I when we left Antigua, observes, " In five weeks we have cut seventyseven acres of canes, made fifty hogsheads, and more than half done crop. So far from our people not being willing to labor, I believe they wish they had two hundred instead of forty more to make. We only want such a year as 18.34,/or/r^e labor to tell,^'*