But the chief source of the diminution lies in the reduced number of people to be supported by the planter.  During slavery, the planter was required by law to maintain all the slaves belonging to the estate; the superannuated, the infirm, the pregnant, the nurses, the young children, and the infants, as well as the working slaves.  Now it is only the latter class, the effective laborers, (with the addition of such as were superannuated or infirm at the period of emancipation,) who are dependent upon the planter.  These are generally not more than one half, frequently less than a third, of the whole number of negroes resident on the estate; consequently a very considerable burthen has been removed from the planter.

The reader may form some estimate of the reduced expense to the planter, resulting from these causes combined, by considering the statement made to us by Hon. N. Nugent, and repeatedly by proprietors and managers, that had slavery been in existence during the present drought, many of the smaller estates must have been inevitably ruined; on account of the high price of imported provisions, (home provisions having fallen short) and the number of slaves to be fed.

EIGHTH PROPOSITION.—­The negroes work more cheerfully, and do their work better than they did during slavery.  Wages are found to be an ample substitute for the lash—­they never fail to secure the amount of labor desired.  This is particularly true where task work is tried, which is done occasionally in cases of a pressing nature, when considerable effort is required.  We heard of no complaints on the score of idleness, but on the contrary, the negroes were highly commended for the punctuality and cheerfulness with which they performed the work assigned them.

The Governor stated, that “he was assured by planters, from every part of the island, that the negroes were very industriously disposed.”

“My people have become much more industrious since they were emancipated.  I have been induced to extend the sugar cultivation over a number of acres more than have ever been cultivated before.”—­Mr. Watkins, of Donovan’s.

“Fearing the consequences of emancipation, I reduced my cultivation in the year ’34; but soon finding that my people would work as well as ever, I brought up the cultivation the next year to the customary extent, and this year (’36) I have added fifteen acres of new land.”—­S.  Bourne, of Millar’s.

“Throughout the island the estates were never in a more advanced state than they now are.  The failure in the crops is not in the slightest degree chargeable to a deficiency of labor.  I have frequently adopted the job system for short periods; the results have always been gratifying—­the negroes accomplished twice as much as when they worked for daily wages, because they made more money.  On some days they would make three shillings—­three times the ordinary wages.”—­Dr. Daniell.