island is under the most vigorous and systematic culture.  There is scarcely a foot of productive land that is not brought into requisition.  There is no such thing as a forest of any extent in the island.  It is thus that, notwithstanding the insignificance of its size, Barbadoes ranks among the British islands next to Jamaica in value and importance.  It was on account of its conspicuous standing among the English colonies, that we were induced to visit it, and there investigate the operations of the apprenticeship system.

Our principal object in the following tales is to give an account of the working of the apprenticeship system, and to present it in contrast with that of entire freedom, which has been described minutely in our account of Antigua.  The apprenticeship was designed as a sort of preparation for freedom.  A statement of its results will, therefore, afford no small data for deciding upon the general principle of gradualism!

We shall pursue a plan less labored and prolix than that which it seemed necessary to adopt in treating of Antigua.  As that part of the testimony which respects the abolition of slavery, and the sentiments of the planters is substantially the same with what is recorded in the foregoing pages, we shall be content with presenting it in the sketch of our travels throughout the island, and our interviews with various classes of men.  The testimony respecting the nature and operations of the apprenticeship system, will be embodied in a more regular form.

VISIT TO THE GOVERNOR.

At an early day after our arrival we called on the Governor, in pursuance of the etiquette of the island, and in order to obtain the assistance of his Excellency in our inquiries.  The present Governor is Sir Evan John Murray McGregor, a Scotchman of Irish reputation.  He is the present chieftain of the McGregor clan, which figures so illustriously in the history of Scotland.  Sir Evan has been distinguished for his victory in war, and he now bears the title of Knight, for his achievements in the British service.  He is Governor-General of the windward islands, which include Barbadoes, Grenada, St. Vincent’s, and Tobago.  The government house, at which he resides, is about two miles from town.  The road leading to it is a delightful one, lined with cane fields, and pasture grounds, all verdant with the luxuriance of midsummer.  It passes by the cathedral, the king’s house, the noble residence of the Archdeacon, and many other fine mansions.  The government house is situated in a pleasant eminence, and surrounded with a large garden, park, and entrance yard.  At the large outer gate, which gives admittance to the avenue leading to the house, stood a black sentinel in his military dress, and with a gun on his shoulder, pacing to and fro.  At the door of the house we found another black soldier on guard.  We were ushered into the dining hall, which seems to serve as ante-chamber when not otherwise used.  It is a spacious airy