The speaker of the assembly was requested to state especially the advantages of freedom both to the master and the slave; and he kindly communicated the following reply: 

“The benefits to the master are conspicuous—­he has got rid of the cark and care, the anxiety and incessant worry of managing slaves; all the trouble and responsibility of rearing them from infancy, of their proper maintenance in health, and sickness, and decrepitude, of coercing them to labor, restraining, correcting, and punishing their faults and crimes—­settling all their grievances and disputes.  He is now entirely free from all apprehension of injury, revenge, or insurrection, however transient and momentary such impression may have formerly been.  He has no longer the reproach of being a slaveholder; his property has lost all the taint of slavery, and is placed on as secure a footing, in a moral and political point of view, as that in any other part of the British dominions.

As regards the other party, it seems almost unnecessary to point out the advantages of being a free man rather than a slave.  He is no longer liable to personal trespass of any sort; he has a right of self-control, and all the immunities enjoyed by other classes of his fellow subjects—­he is enabled to better his condition as he thinks proper—­he can make what arrangements he likes best, as regards his kindred, and all his domestic relations—­he takes to his own use and behoof, all the wages and profits of his own labor; he receives money wages instead of weekly allowances, and can purchase such particular food and necessaries as he prefers—­and so on!  IT WOULD BE ENDLESS TO ATTEMPT TO ENUMERATE ALL THE SUPERIOR ADVANTAGES OF A STATE OF FREEDOM TO ONE OF SLAVERY!”

The writer says, at the close of his invaluable letter, “I was born in Antigua, and have resided here with little interruption since 1809.  Since 1814, I have taken an active concern in plantation affairs.”  He was born heir to a large slave property, and retained it up to the hour of emancipation.  He is now the proprietor of an estate.

We have, another witness to introduce to the reader, Ralph Higinbothom, Esq., the UNITED STATES CONSUL!—­Hear him!—­

“Whatever may have been the dissatisfaction as regards emancipation among the planters at its commencement, there are few, indeed, if any, who are not now well satisfied that under the present system, their properties are better worked, and their laborers more contented and cheerful, than in the time of slavery.”

In order that the reader may see the revolution that has taken place since emancipation in the views of the highest class of society in Antigua, we make a few extracts.