as not he lick you if he find you reading, or if you wish to teach your children, him always say, “Pooh, teach ’em to read—­teach ’em to work.”  According to dat, we neber paid much attention to it, but now it will be different; it was different in former times.  De old folks of my father and mother’s time could read more than we can, and I expect de people will dare to give some thought to it again now.’  There’s a precious sample of what one man’s influence may do in his own sphere, dear E——!  This man Israel is a remarkably fine fellow in every way, with a frank, open, and most intelligent countenance, which rises before me with its look of quiet sadness whenever I think of those words (and they haunt me), ‘I have no prospect.’

On my arrival at home, I found that a number of the people, not knowing I had gone to church, had come up to the house, hoping that I would read prayers to them, and had not gone back to their homes, but waited to see me.  I could not bear to disappoint them, for many of them had come from the farthest settlements on the estate; and so, though my hot ride had tired me a good deal, and my talk with Israel troubled me profoundly, I took off my habit, and had them all in, and read the afternoon service to them.  When it was over, two of the women—­Venus and Trussa—­asked if they might be permitted to go to the nursery and see the children.  Their account of the former condition of the estate was a corroboration of Israel’s.  They said that the older slaves on the plantation had been far better off than the younger ones of the present day; that Major ——­ was considerate and humane to his people; and that the women were especially carefully treated.  But they said Mr. K——­ had ruined all the young women with working them too soon after their confinements; and as for the elder ones, he would kick them, curse them, turn their clothes over their heads, flog them unmercifully himself, and abuse them shamefully, no matter what condition they were in.  They both ended with fervent thanks to God that he had left the estate, and rejoicing that we had come, and, above all, that we ‘had made young missis for them.’  Venus went down on her knees, exclaiming, ’Oh, missis, I glad now; and when I am dead, I glad in my grave that you come to us and bring us little missis.’

* * * * *

Dear E——.  I still go on exploring, or rather surveying, the estate, the aspect of which is changing every day with the unfolding of the leaves and the wonderful profusion of wild flowers.  The cleared ground all round the new building is one sheet of blooming blue of various tints; it is perfectly exquisite.  But in the midst of my delight at these new blossoms, I am most sorrowfully bidding adieu to that paragon of parasites, the yellow jasmine; I think I must have gathered the very last blossoms of it to-day.  Nothing can be more lovely, nothing so exquisitely fragrant.  I was surprised to recognise