[Footnote A:  A species of whip, well know in the West Indies.]

VISIT TO GRACE BAY.

We made a visit to the Moravian settlement at Grace Bay, which is on the opposite side of the island.  We called, in passing, at Cedar Hall, a Moravian establishment four miles from town.  Mr. Newby, one of the missionaries stationed at this place, is the oldest preacher of the Gospel in the island.  He has been in Antigua for twenty-seven years.  He is quite of the old way of thinking on all subjects, especially the divine right of kings, and the scriptural sanction of slavery.  Nevertheless, he was persuaded that emancipation had been a great blessing to the island and to all parties concerned.  When he first came to Antigua in 1809, he was not suffered to teach the slaves.  After some time he ventured to keep an evening school in a secret way.  Now there is a day school of one hundred and twenty children connected with the station.  It has been formed since emancipation.

From Cedar Hail we proceeded to Grace Bay.  On the way we met some negro men at work on the road, and stopped our chaise to chat with them.  They told us that they lived on Harvey’s estate, which they pointed out to us.  Before emancipation that estate had four hundred slaves on it, but a great number had since left because of ill usage during slavery.  They would not live on the estate, because the same manager remained, and they could not trust him.

They told us they were Moravians, and that on the first of August they all went to the Moravian chapel at Grace Bay, ’to tank and praise de good Savior for make a we free.’  We asked them if they still liked liberty; they said, “Yes, massa, we all quite proud to be free.”  The negroes use the word proud to express a strong feeling of delight.  One man said, “One morning as I was walking along the road all alone, I prayed that the Savior would make me free, for then I could be so happy.  I don’t know what made me pray so, for I wasn’t looking for de free; but please massa, in one month de free come.”

They declared that they worked a great deal better since emancipation, because they were paid for it.  To be sure, said they, we get very little wages, but it is better than none.  They repeated it again and again, that men could not be made to work well by flogging them, “it was no use to try it.”

We asked one of the men, whether he would not be willing to be a slave again provided he was sure of having a kind master.  “Heigh! me massa,” said he, “me neber slave no more.  A good massa a very good ting, but freedom till better.”  They said that it was a great blessing to them to have their children go to school.  After getting them to show us the way to Grace Bay, we bade them good bye.