Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-02-18
IMPORTANT AND GRATIFYING
NEWS FROM THE WEST-IN-
DIES.


COrrespoadence of the NJ Y. Jour. of Com.
Antigua, 10th Jan, 1896
We arrived at this charming island a |
day or two since. Its harbor, or ST. Johns
harbor, is safe when once in it; but rather |
difficult of access. We could not but re- |
mark how superior this seemed in YER
dure, and in culture, to the other islands
where we have touched. The Legislature
Of this colony, instead of accepting the ap-
premiership system, as was done in the
other dependencies, set the slaves free al
together. OF course we felt much solicit
tude to know how their plan worked
What we saw with our own eyes was
highly favorable. The testimony of the in
habitants accorded with it. BY their &C.
count there was no difficulty in procuring
labor at one shilling sterling per day, and
most persons think this cheaper than slave
labor. One of the criteria is the price Of
property; and was informed that real es-
tate is changing hands bfiskly at an ad-
vance on former rates.
A clergyman connected with the army
remarked TO me that it was pretty gener-
ally conceded that the o co. 600, 600 grant.
ed as compensation to the shareholders
here, was equivalent to free gift; the val
ne Of the property not being diminished
l have met with but one gentleman, and
he was a member of the Council from
Trinidad, who did not admit that property
was rising in value, from some cause or
other. Some attribute it to the abundance
of money, in consequence of loans to the
colonies, and the compensation fund ; 9TH
ers to the high price of colonial produce;
and others to the new system, or all com,
bined. Twill not pretend to theorize on
this subject. / give. the facts as they ap,
pear after eighteen months experience.
have always been opposed to the schemes
| OF the Abolitionists in our country, and
still think the acts of the British govern.
ment gross violations of contracts; vet
trust that wherever truth leads shall be
willing to follow. Certain facts l consid.
er established
1st-That labor can be obtained at rea
sonable rates. infer this from the fact
that the desire ofthe comforts and necessa-
ries of life induces the colored people to
seek employment, and that when task work
is given them, it is performed cheaper un.
der the free than underline slave system.
| 2d.-That in view fthe apprentice sys'
tenn, properties have appreciated. Many
spectators have considered estates here
good aud safe investments.
L h. fhr0r~hA11f 81 o
islands where we have been, is remarka
bly, promising. In the French islands {
desire was expressed that war might TAKE
place with US, with the expectation, l sup
pose, that their ports would see some ricE
prizes. The French Admiral, with on
ship Of war, has arrived at Guadalupe
Barbados Jan. /, 1886.
We have been living on this little gen
Of the ocean about three months. l hav
= nowhere experienced a more delightful
climate, or seen soil more carefully cul
tivated. Although the business of the isl
and is almost entirely agricultural, We
we may say that every rood Certainly ev
cry acre) of ground maintains its man
What is more astonishing, it exports, to b
expended by the owner Of the property il
foreign country, nearl y the value of on
hundred dollars per acre each year. Thi
l think is wholly unexampled, The,
! are not, as is the case with our Mississippi
planters, supplied with provisions from
; without, but raise their own. There i
. but little of the bread ssufs imported
, Their success is owing to the most sedu
2 lous and scientific cultivation. The sol
is not ofitselfrich, for it is mostly ma
drepore or coral rock have seen moth
ing here but clay sand on the shore, an
. coral.
From these ingredients, good so
= r may be produced, and they do it. With
u out manuring the soil is utterly WORTHLESS
but with it the product Of the sugar GRO
$ is at present worth $500 per ann.
, have inquired with much solicitud
: into the operation ofthe apprentice system
J. 1t is not certain that this island would be
1 fair test; and I am credibly informed tn
= it works differently in the other dependel
Z cies; but the result of le months trial hs
q somewhat surprised me. Whatever ma
~ be the cause, the facts are conceded. tn
% q there is, since August 1884. an appreci
~ ton of real estate; that the quantity Of Il
!; crop-is equal, and the cost and trouble
D. working estates IS not increased. AS "
pc are about to sail for St. Thomas, and NAL
r. some stay at the intermediate Islands,
u shall have an opportunity Of making fu
!, n Their inquiries, and will communicate Il
= result
Sc The following extract from a Barb
az does paper seems so judicious, so graft
~ ing, and imbued so strongly with pie
ng and thankfulness, mo common occurren
es in Houses Of Legislature,) that we cam
II avoid directing the attention of the read
a. - H. r,oy,arol nurnort