17.  The magistrates represented the negroes as naturally confiding and docile, yielding readily to the authority of those who are placed over them.  Maj.  Colthurst presides over a district of 9,000 apprentices; Capt.  Hamilton over a district of 13,000, and Mr. Galloway over the same number.  There are but three days in the week devoted to hearing and settling complaints.  It is very evident that in so short a time it would be utterly impossible for one man to control and keep in order such a number, unless the subjects were of themselves disposed to be peaceable and submissive.  The magistrates informed us that, notwithstanding the extent of their districts, they often did not have more than from a dozen to fifteen complaints in a week.

We were highly gratified with the liberal spirit and the intelligence of the special magistrates.  Major Colthurst is a gentleman of far more than ordinary pretensions to refinement and general information.  He was in early life a justice of the peace in Ireland, he was afterwards a juror in his Majesty’s service, and withal, has been an extensive traveller.  Fifteen years ago he travelled in the United States, and passed through several of the slaveholding states, where he was shocked with the abominations of slavery.  He was persuaded that slavery was worse in our country, than it has been for many years in the West Indies.  Captain Hamilton was formerly an officer in the British navy.  He seems quite devoted to his business, and attached to the interests of the apprentices.  Mr. Galloway is a colored gentleman, highly respected for his talents.  Mr. G. informed us that prejudice against color was rapidly diminishing—­and that the present Governor was doing all in his power to discountenance it.

The company spoke repeatedly of the noble act of abolition, by which Great Britain had immortalized her name more than by all the achievements of her armies and navies.

The warmest wishes were expressed for the abolition of slavery in the United States.  All said they should rejoice when the descendants of Great Britain should adopt the noble example of their mother country.  They hailed the present anti-slavery movements.  Said the Solicitor-General, “We were once strangely opposed to the English anti-slavery party, but now we sympathize with you.  Since slavery is abolished to our own colonies, and we see the good which results from the measure, we go for abolition throughout the world.  Go on, gentlemen, we are with you; we are all sailing in the same vessel.”

Being kindly invited by Captain Hamilton, during our interview with him at the government house, to call on him and attend his court, we availed ourselves of his invitation a few days afterwards.  We left Bridgetown after breakfast, and as it chanced to be Saturday, we had a fine opportunity of seeing the people coming into market.  They were strung all along the road for six miles, so closely, that there