In allusion to the motives which prompted the legislature to reject the apprenticeship and adopt immediate emancipation, Dr. N. said, “When we saw that abolition was inevitable, we began, to inquire what would be the safest course for getting rid of slavery. We wished to let ourselves down in the easiest manner possible—­THEREFORE WE CHOSE IMMEDIATE EMANCIPATION!” These were his words.

On returning to the hospitable mansion of Mr. Morrish, we had an opportunity of witnessing a custom peculiar to the Moravians.  It is called ‘speaking.’  All the members of the church are required to call on the missionary once a month, and particular days are appropriated to it.  They come singly or in small companies, and the minister converses with each individual.

Mr. M. manifested great faithfulness in this duty.  He was affectionate in manner—­entered into all the minutiae of individual and family affairs, and advised with them as a father with his children.  We had an opportunity of conversing with some of those who came.  We asked one old man what he did on the “First of August?"[A] His reply was, “Massa, we went to church, and tank de Lord for make a we all free.”

[Footnote A:  By this phrase the freed people always understand the 1st of August, 1834, when slavery was abolished.]

An aged infirm woman said to us, among other things, “Since de free come de massa give me no—­no, nothing to eat—­gets all from my cousins.”  We next conversed with two men, who were masons on an estate.  Being asked how they liked liberty, they replied, “O, it very comfortable, Sir—­very comfortable indeed.”  They said, “that on the day when freedom came, they were as happy, as though they had just been going to heaven.”  They said, now they had got free, they never would be slaves again.  They were asked if they would not be willing to sell themselves to a man who would treat them well.  They replied immediately that they would be very willing to serve such a man, but they would not sell themselves to the best person in the world!  What fine logicians a slave’s experience had made these men!  Without any effort they struck out a distinction, which has puzzled learned men in church and state, the difference between serving a man and being his property.

Being asked how they conducted themselves on the 1st of August they said they had no frolicking, but they all went to church to “tank God for make a we free.”  They said, they were very desirous to have their children learn all they could while they were young.  We asked them if they did not fear that their children would become lazy if they went to school all the time.  One said, shrewdly, “Eh! nebber mind—­dey come to by’m by—­belly ’blige ’em to work.”