The Governor made a few remarks, in which he gave some good advice, and expressed himself highly pleased with the appearance and proficiency of the school.

His excellency remarked to us in a tone of pleasantry, “You see, gentlemen, these children have souls.”

During the progress of the examination; he said to us, “You perceive that it is our policy to give these children every chance to make men of themselves.  We look upon them as our future citizens.”  He had no doubt that the rising generation would assume a position in society above the contempt or opposition of the whites.

INFANT SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY.

We had the pleasure of attending one of the infant schools in the vicinity of Parham, on the east side of the island.  Having been invited by a planter, who kindly sent his horse and carriage for our conveyance, to call and take breakfast with him on our way, we drove out early in the morning.

While we were walking about the estate, our attention was arrested by distant singing.  As we cast our eyes up a road crossing the estate, we discovered a party of children!  They were about twenty in number, and were marching hand in hand to the music of their infant voices.  They were children from a neighboring estate, on their way to the examination at Parham, and were singing the hymns which they had learned at school.  All had their Testaments in their hands, and seemed right merry-hearted.

We were received at the gate of the chapel by the Wesleyan missionary located in this distinct, a highly respectable and intelligent colored man, who was ten years since a slave.  He gave us a cordial welcome, and conducted us to the chapel, where we found the children, to the number of four hundred, assembled, and the examination already commenced.  There were six schools present, representing about twenty estates, and arranged under their respective teachers.  The ages of the pupils were from three to ten or twelve.  They were all, with the exception of two or three, the children of emancipated slaves.

They came up by classes to the superintendent’s desk, where they read and were examined.  They read correctly; some of them too, who had been in school only a few mouths, in any portion of the New Testament selected for them.  By request of the superintendent, we put several inquiries to them, which they answered in a way which showed that they thought.  They manifested an acquaintance with the Bible and the use of language which was truly surprising.  It was delightful to see so many tiny beings stand around you, dressed in their tidy gowns and frocks, with their bright morning faces, and read with the self-composure of manhood, any passage chosen for them.  They all, large and small, bore in their hands the charter of their freedom, the book by the influence of which they received all the privileges they were enjoying.  On the cover of each was stamped in large capitals—­“PRESENTED BY THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY, IN COMMEMORATION OF THE FIRST OF AUGUST, 1834.”