The Cornwall Courier says, “The first of August, the most important day ever witnessed in Jamaica, has passed quietly as far as actual disturbance is concerned.”

The Jamaica Morning Journal, of whose recent course the planters should be the last to complain, gives more particular information of the transition in all parts of the island.  We give copious extracts, for to dwell upon such a scene must soften the heart.  It is good sometimes to behold the joy of mere brute freedom—­the boundings of the noble horse freed from his stable and his halter—­the glad homeward flight of the bird from its cage—­but here was besides the rational joy of a heaven-born nature.  Here were 300,000 souls set free; and on wings of gratitude flying upwards to the throne of God.  There were the gatherings in the public squares, there were the fireworks, the transparencies, the trees of liberty and the shouts of the jubilee, but the churches and the schools were the chief scenes, and hymns and prayer the chief language of this great ovation.  There was no giving up to drunken revelry, but a solemn recognition of God, even by those who had not been wont to worship him.  His temples were never so crowded.  His ministers never so much honored.  We give the picture in all its parts, faithfully, and as completely as our information will enable us to do.

August 2.

“In this city, the day has passed off in the way in which such a day ought to pass off.  With glad hearts and joyful lips, the people have crowded the temples of the living God, and poured out their praises and thanksgivings for the great benefits they had received at the hands of a beneficent Providence.  That they will continue to deport themselves as dutiful subjects, and good men and women, we have no doubt.  From the country we wait with anxious hopes to hear that everything has gone off with the same peace, and quiet, and order, and regularity which have prevailed here, and especially that the people have returned to their labor, and are giving general satisfaction.”

From the same.

Among the various ways of interesting the minds of our newly enfranchised peasantry on the 1st of August, was that of planting a Palm tree emblematical of liberty, and commemorative of its commencement in this island.  Both in Kingston and in Liguanca, we understand, this ceremony was performed by the schools and congregations of the “London Missionary Society.”  The following hymn, composed by Mr. Wooldridge, for the purpose, and committed to memory by many of the children, who were treated with cakes and lemonade.

Appropriate sermons were preached, both morning and evening, by the Rev. Messrs. Woodbridge and Ingraham, and in the evening a Temperance Society was formed for the district of Liguanca, when several signed the pledge.

    The thorny bush we’ll clear away
    The emblem of old slavery—­
    Let every fibre of it die,
    And all its vices cease to be.