that it required all his self-command to listen with anything like patience to my highly incendiary and inflammatory doctrines, he yet did so, and though he was, I have no doubt, perfectly horror-stricken at the discovery, lost nothing of his courtesy or good-humour.  By the by, I must tell you, that at an early period of the conversation, upon my saying, ’I put all other considerations out of the question, and first propose to you the injustice of the system alone,’ ‘Oh!’ replied my friend, the Doctor, ’if you put it upon that ground, you stump the question at once; I have nothing to say to that whatever, but,’ and then followed the usual train of pleadings—­happiness, tenderness, care, indulgence, &c., &c., &c.—­all the substitutes that may or may not be put in the place of justice, and which these slaveholders attempt to persuade others, and perhaps themselves, effectually supply its want.  After church hours the people came back from Darien.  They are only permitted to go to Darien to church once a month.  On the intermediate Sundays they assemble in the house of London, Mr. ——­’s head cooper, an excellent and pious man, who, Heaven alone knows how, has obtained some little knowledge of reading, and who reads prayers and the Bible to his fellow slaves, and addresses them with extemporaneous exhortations.  I have the greatest desire to attend one of these religious meetings, but fear to put the people under any, the slightest restraint.  However, I shall see, by and by, how they feel about it themselves.

You have heard, of course, many and contradictory statements as to the degree of religious instruction afforded to the negroes of the South, and their opportunities of worship, &c.  Until the late abolition movement, the spiritual interests of the slaves were about as little regarded as their physical necessities.  The outcry which has been raised with threefold force within the last few years against the whole system, has induced its upholders and defenders to adopt, as measures of personal extenuation, some appearance of religious instruction (such as it is), and some pretence at physical indulgences (such as they are), bestowed apparently voluntarily upon their dependants.  At Darien, a church is appropriated to the especial use of the slaves, who are almost all of them Baptists here; and a gentleman officiates in it (of course white), who, I understand, is very zealous in the cause of their spiritual well-being.  He, like most Southern men, clergy or others, jump the present life in their charities to the slaves, and go on to furnish them with all requisite conveniences for the next.  There were a short time ago two free black preachers in this neighbourhood, but they have lately been ejected from the place.  I could not clearly learn, but one may possibly imagine, upon what grounds.