No little desire was manifested by the company to know the state of the slavery question in this country.  They all, planters and missionaries, spoke in terms of abhorrence of our slavery, our snobs, our prejudice, and our Christianity.  One of the missionaries said it would never do for him to go to America, for he should certainly be excommunicated by his Methodist brethren, and Lynched by the advocates of slaver.  He insisted that slaveholding professors and ministers should be cut off from the communion of the Church.

As we were about to take leave, the proprietor of the estate rode up, accompanied by the governor, who he had brought to see the new boiling-house, and the other improvements which were in progress.  The proprietor reside in St. John’s, is a gentleman of large fortune, and a member of the assembly.  He said he would be happy to aid us in any way—­but added, that in all details of a practical kind, and in all matters of fact, the planters were the best witnesses, for they were the conductors of the present system.  We were glad to obtain the endorsement of an influential proprietor to the testimony of practical planters.

DINNER AT THE GOVERNOR’S.

On the following day having received a very courteous invitation[A] from the governor, to dine at the government house, we made our arrangements to do so.  The Hon. Paul Horsford, a member of the council, called during the day, to say, that he expected to dine with us at the government house and that he would be happy to call for us at the appointed hour, and conduct us thither.  At six o’clock Mr. H.’s carriage drove up to our door, and we accompanied him to the governor’s, where we were introduced to Col.  Jarvis, a member of the privy council, and proprietor of several estates in the island, Col.  Edwards, a member of the assembly and a barrister, Dr. Musgrave, a member of the assembly, and Mr. Shiel, attorney general.  A dinner of state, at a Governor’s house, attended by a company of high-toned politicians, professional gentlemen, and proprietors, could hardly be expected to furnish large accessions to our stock of information, relating to the object of our visit.  Dinner being announced, we were hardly seated at the table when his excellency politely offered to drink a glass of Madeira with us.  We begged leave to decline the honor.  In a short time he proposed a glass of Champaign—­again we declined.  “Why, surely, gentlemen,” exclaimed the Governor, “you must belong to the temperance society.”  “Yes, sir, we do.”  “Is it possible? but you will surely take a glass of liqueur?” “Your excellency must pardon us if we again decline the honor; we drink no wines.”  This announcement of ultra temperance principles excited no little surprise.  Finding that our allegiance to cold water was not to be shaken, the governor condescended at last to meet us on middle ground, and drink his wine to our water.

[Footnote A:  We venture to publish the note in which the governor conveyed his invitation, simply because, though a trifle in itself, it will serve to show the estimation in which our mission was held.