He took us to the building used as the mechanics’ shop.  Several of the apprentices were at work in it, some setting up the casks for sugar, others repairing utensils.  Mr. C. says all the work of the estate is done by the apprentices.  His carts are made, his mill kept in order, his coopering and blacksmithing are all done by them.  “All these buildings,” said he, “even to the dwelling-house, were built after the great storm of 1831, by the slaves.”

As we were passing through the hospital, or sick-house, as it is called by the blacks, Mr. C. told us he had very little use for it now.  There is no skulking to it as there was under the old system.

Just as we were entering the door of the house, on our return, there was an outcry among a small party of the apprentices who were working near by.  Mr. C. went to them and inquired the cause.  It appeared that the overseer had struck one of the lads with a stick.  Mr. C. reproved him severely for the act, and assured him if he did such a thing again he would take him before a magistrate.

During the day we gathered the following information:—­

Mr. C. had been a planter for thirty-six years.  He has had charge of the estate on which he now resides ten years.  He is the attorney for two other large estates a few miles from this, and has under his superintendence, in all, more than a thousand apprenticed laborers.  This estate consists of six hundred and sixty-six acres of land, most of which is under cultivation either in cane or provisions, and has on it three hundred apprentices and ninety-two free children.  The average amount of sugar raised on it is two hundred hogsheads of a ton each, but this year it will amount to at least two hundred and fifty hogsheads—­the largest crop ever taken off since he has been connected with it.  He has planted thirty acres additional this year.  The island has never been under so good cultivation, and is becoming better every year.

During our walk round the works, and during the day, he spoke several times in general terms of the great blessings of emancipation.

Emancipation is as great a blessing to the master as to the slave.  “Why,” exclaimed Mr. C., “it was emancipation to me.  I assure you the first of August brought a great, great relief to me.  I felt myself, for the first time, a freeman on that day.  You cannot imagine the responsibilities and anxieties which were swept away with the extinction of slavery.”

There were many unpleasant and annoying circumstances attending slavery, which had a most pernicious effect on the master.  There was continual jealousy and suspicion between him and those under him.  They looked on each other as sworn enemies, and there was kept up a continual system of plotting and counterplotting.  Then there was the flogging, which was a matter of course through the island.  To strike a slave was as common as to strike a horse—­then the punishments were inflicted so unjustly, in innumerable