“1.  A very material change for the better has taken place in the sentiments of the community since slavery was abolished.  Religion and education were formerly opposed as subversive of the security of property; now they are in the most direct manner encouraged as its best support.  The value of all kinds of property has risen considerably, and a general sense of security appears to be rapidly pervading the public mind.  I have not heard one man assert that it would be an advantage to return to slavery, even were it practicable; and I believe that the public is beginning to see that slave labor is not the cheapest.”

“2.  The prejudices against color are rapidly vanishing.  I do not think there is a respectable man, I mean one who would be regarded as respectable on account of his good sense and weight of character, who would impugn another’s conduct for associating with persons of color.  So far as my observation goes, those who would formerly have acted on these prejudices, will be ashamed to own that they had entertained them.  The distinction of superior acquirements still belongs to the whites, as a body; but that, and character, will shortly be the only distinguishing mark recognized among us.”

“3.  The apprentices are improving, not, however, in consequence of the apprenticeship, but in spite of it, and in consequence of the great act of abolition!”

“4.  I think the negroes might have been emancipated as safely in 1834, as in 1840; and had the emancipation then taken place, they would be found much further in advance in 1840, than they can be after the expiration of the present period of apprenticeship, through which all, both apprentices and masters, are LABORING HEAVILY.”

“5.  That the negroes will work if moderately compensated, no candid man can doubt.  Their endurance for the sake of a very little gain is quite amazing, and they are most desirous to procure for themselves and families as large a share as possible of the comforts and decencies of life.  They appear peculiarly to reverence and desire intellectual attainments.  They employ, occasionally, children who have been taught in the schools to teach them in their leisure time to read.”

“6.  I think the partial modifications of slavery have been attended by so much improvement in all that constitutes the welfare and respectability of society, that I cannot doubt the increase of the benefit were a total abolition accomplished of every restriction that has arisen out of the former state of things.”

During our stay in Kingston, we called on the American consul, to whom we had a letter from the consul at Antigua.  We found him an elderly gentleman, and a true hearted Virginian, both in his generosity and his prejudices in favor of slavery.  The consul, Colonel Harrison, is a near relation of General W.H.  Harrison, of Ohio.  Things, he said, were going ruinously in Jamaica.  The English government were