“RECRUITS WANTED.—­The free men of Antigua are now called on to show their gratitude and loyalty to King WILLIAM, for the benefits he has conferred on them and their families, by volunteering their services as soldiers in his First West India Regiment; in doing which they will acquire a still higher rank in society, by being placed on a footing of perfect equality with the other troops in his Majesty’s service, and receive the same bounty, pay, clothing, rations and allowances.

    None but young men of good character can be received, and all such
    will meet with every encouragement by applying at St. John’s
    Barracks, to

H. DOWNIE, Capt. 1st W.I.  Regt. September 15th, 1836.” ]

2d.  The uniform declaration of planters and others: 

“Previous to emancipation, many persons apprehended violence and bloodshed as the consequence of turning the slaves all loose.  But when emancipation took place, all these apprehensions vanished.  The sense of personal security is universal.  We know not of a single instance in which the negroes have exhibited a revengeful spirit.”

S.  Bourne, Esq., of Millar’s.—­Watkins, Esq., of Donovan’s.

“It has always appeared to me self-evident, that if a man is peaceable while a slave, he will be so when a free man.”

Dr. Ferguson.

“There is no possible danger of personal violence from the slaves; should a foreign power invade our island, I have no doubt that the negroes would, to a man, fight for the planters.  I have the utmost confidence in all the people who are under my management; they are my friends, and they consider me their friend.”

H.  Armstrong, Esq., of Fitch’s Creek.

The same gentleman informed us that during slavery, he used frequently to lie sleepless on his bed, thinking about his dangerous situation—­a lone white person far away from help, and surrounded by hundreds of savage slaves; and he had spent hours thus, in devising plans of self-defence in case the house should be attacked by the negroes.  “If they come,” he would say to himself, “and break down the door, and fill my bedroom, what shall I do?  It will be useless to fire at them; my only hope is to frighten the superstitious fellows by covering myself with a white sheet, and rushing into the midst of them, crying, ‘ghost, ghost.’”

Now Mr. A. sleeps in peace and safety, without conjuring up a ghost to keep guard at his bedside.  His bodyguard is a battalion of substantial flesh and blood, made up of those who were once the objects of his nightly terror!

“There has been no instance of personal violence since freedom.  Some persons pretended, prior to emancipation, to apprehend disastrous results; but for my part I cannot say that I ever entertained such fears.  I could not see any thing which was to instigate negroes to rebellion, after they had obtained their liberty.  I have not heard of a single case of even meditated revenge.”