In the evening Mr. M. held a religious meeting in the chapel; the weekly meeting for exhortation.  He stated to the people the object of our visit, and requested one of us to say a few words.  Accordingly, a short time was occupied in stating the number of slaves in America, and in explaining their condition, physical, moral, and spiritual; and the congregation were urged to pray for the deliverance of the millions of our bondmen.  They manifested much sympathy, and promised repeatedly to pray that they might be “free like we.”  At the close of the meeting they pressed around us to say “howdy, massa;” and when we left the chapel, they showered a thousand blessings upon us.  Several of them, men and women, gathered about Mr. M.’s door after we went in, and wished to talk with us.  The men were mechanics, foremen, and watchmen; the women were nurses.  During our interview, which lasted nearly an hour, these persons remained standing.

When we asked them how they liked freedom, and whether it was better than slavery, they answered with a significant umph and a shrug of the shoulders, as though they would say, “Why you ask dat question, massa?”

They said, “all the people went to chapel on the first of August, to tank God for make such poor undeserving sinners as we free; we no nebber expect to hab it.  But it please de Lord to gib we free, and we tank him good Lord for it.”

We asked them if they thought the wages they got (a shilling per day, or about eleven cents,) was enough for them.  They said it seemed to be very small, and it was as much as they could do to get along with it; but they could not get any more, and they had to be “satify and conten.”

As it grew late and the good people had far to walk, we shook hands with them, and bade them good bye, telling them we hoped to meet them again in a world where all would be free.  The next morning Mr. M. accompanied us to the residence of the Rev. Mr. Jones, the rector of St. Phillip’s.

Mr. J. informed us that the planters in that part of the island were gratified with the working of the new system.  He alluded to the prejudices of some against having the children educated, lest it should foster indolence.  But, said Mr. J., the planters have always been opposed to improvements, until they were effected, and their good results began to be manifest.  They first insisted that the abolition of the slave-trade would ruin the colonies—­next the abolition of slavery was to be the certain destruction of the islands—­and now the education of children is deprecated as fraught with disastrous consequences.

FREY’S ESTATE—­MR. HATLEY.

Mr. Morrish accompanied us to a neighboring estate called Frey’s, which lies on the road from Newfield to English Harbor.  Mr. Hatley, the manager, showed an enthusiastic admiration of the new system.  Most of his testimony will be found in Chapter III.  He said, that owing to the dry weather he should not make one third of his average crop.  Yet his people had acted their part well.  He had been encouraged by their improved industry and efficiency, to bring into cultivation lands that had never before been tilled.