The boys constituting the first class, to the number of fifty, were called up.  They read with much fluency and distinctness, equalling white boys of the same age anywhere.  After reading, various questions were put to them by the Archdeacon, which they answered with promptness and accuracy.  Words were promiscuously selected from the chapter they had read, and every one was promptly spelled.  The catechism was the next exercise, and they manifested a thorough acquaintance with its contents.

Our attention was particularly called to the examination in arithmetic.  Many of the children solved questions readily in the compound rules, and several of them in Practice, giving the different parts of the pound, shilling, and penny, used in that rule, and all the whys and wherefores of the thing, with great promptness.  One lad, only ten years of age, whose attendance had been very irregular on account of being employed in learning a trade, performed intricate examples in Practice, with a facility worthy the counting-house desk.  We put several inquiries on different parts of the process, in order to test their real knowledge, to which we always received clear answers.

The girls were then examined in the same studies and exercises, except arithmetic, and displayed the same gratifying proficiency.  They also presented specimens of needlework and strawbraiding, which the ladies, on whose better judgment we depend, pronounced very creditable.  We noticed several girls much older than the others, who had made much less advance in their studies, and on inquiry learned, that they had been members of the school but a short time, having formerly been employed to wield the heavy hoe in the cane field.  The parents are very desirous to give their children education, and make many sacrifices for that purpose.  Many who are field-laborers in the country, receiving their shilling a day, have sent their children to reside with some relations or friends in town, for the purpose of giving them the benefits of this school.  Several such children were pointed out to us.  The increase of female scholars during the first year of emancipation, was in this school alone, about eighty.

For our gratification, the Governor requested that all the children emancipated on the first of August, might be called up and placed on our side of the room.  Nearly one hundred children, of both sexes, who two years ago were slaves, now stood up before us FREE.  We noticed one little girl among the rest, about ten years old, who bore not the least tinge of color.  Her hair was straight and light, and her face had that mingling of vermilion and white, which Americans seem to consider, not only the nonpareil standard of beauty, but the immaculate test of human rights.  At her side was another with the deepest hue of the native African.  There were high emotions on the countenances of those redeemed ones, when we spoke to them of emancipation.  The undying principle of freedom living and burning in the soul of the most degraded slave, like lamps amid the darkness of eastern sepulchres, was kindling up brilliantly within them, young as they were, and flashing in smiles upon their ebon faces.