Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-04-14

The island of Barbados is one Of the
most populous portions of the earth. The
inha bltants are reckoned to be at least
10000, on an island not more than RI
miles long and l2 broad at the extremity
OF these, it is estimated that $4,000 were
slaves, before the abolition act took effect,
August /, 1884, and 10000 free people
oicOIor. The colonial legislature Of Bar
BADGES did not fully emancipate their
slaves as was done in Bermuda and An
tigua, but adopted the apprenticeship sys-
tenn with all its atsurdities and injustice
to the emancipated slaves This system
of apprenticeship had been In operation
rnearJy year and a half, when our in
/ ftrm6nt left the island. Many Of the
masters are now voluntarily emancipating
their apprentices, and such is the progress
ofthis, that it is probable nearly all will
be made wholly free before the expiration
OF the legal apprenticeship. Intelligent
men now generally admit that it would
have been better for the island ifthe eman-
cipaion had been immediate and uncon-
ditiona at fist
AS to the eft ct Of emancipation upon
! the public safety, they now laugh at the
idea Of !eor They are talking of rcduc-
ing their military force Ask them if
they are not afraid the blacks will rise
and cut their masters threats, and they
reply, "NVhat should they do that for,
when they have got all they wanted -
! The free blacks are organized into militia
Many who opposed the abolition of
slavery, step by step, to the last, are now
in favor of it. They say it has been
good thing for the island All their fears
! in regard to evil consequences have been
disapr ointed.
! The capital, Bridgetown, is very pop
u]ous, the inhabitants from 10 to 10000,
but our informant had never known suffi-
cient disturbance to occasion a person to
walk 40 rods to see it. There is vice
enough, to be sure. but no combination of
the vicious to disturb the public peace
He could lie down to sleep there, out Of
doors, as quietly as in any place in New
England.
There is no general complaint of the
want oflabor The crops are got in as
usual. The blacks will work for pay, on
their own day, and extra hours, as readily
and as much as ignorant and depraved
white people would do when paid for it.
They act just as other people would do in
similar circumstances. 1t is common
remark that negro goes of an errand
tQuicker, and loiters less, now he is paid
than when he was a slave.
AS to the fear that atolishing slavery
will lead to ANAL oamation, our friend
AYERS that it operates >preclseI y the other
way, to separate the two races. Annals ga
NATION has had its full run there, under
the reign Of slavery. You may 90 into q
church now, and see $50 persons at a time
Cf whom you cannot determine conhdently
whether they are white or coIored. 1t has
been a common thing there for white mer
, TO keep colored women. Even married
men did it. Every body says this is be-
coming now far less common, and the
rolored women, who used to be kept &:
: cOnCulincs of white men, are now getting
coIor,d husbands, 1t takes the minister
: in the cathedral at B idgetown quarter
Ct on hour to publish the banns OF mar
t r!aoc
= The aversion between the blacks anC
! whites is dying away, and they meet a
E church and in business, as if there were
s no difference. Our informant attended
/ the anniversary of the Wesleyan Mission
t at Bridgetovn, where one ofthc speakers
y was the attorney general of the island, {
:. most respectable and talented lawyer, ant
t. another a man Of color, as black as coul(
j be. They sat on the platform togcthr
n without disparagement, nor was there any
thought of strangeness about it. Abou
If thrte-fourths Of the congregation prescn
II were blacks.
IS The Bishop of Barbados is a friend c
3 the blacks, and is laboring necessarily T.
o promote their improvement The Meth
e odisls arc also doing much good anon:
e. them. Seven thousand Bibles and Tesla
V mcnts were recently received and distriDu
La ted. Since the abolition act took effect
X all efforts for the advancement OF the col
N cred population, in knowledge and rel
N gicn, are greatly increased, all obstacle
D. are removed, and every body IS in favo
f, Of it, without a dissenting voice. The
2 see their safety in it. They say, wv
20 must make them intelligent and mora
for our own safety" Every teacher an
preacher is allowed to have free access
the people, as free as in the free states {
America. Saw almost dali V school cor
tanning over l4O cojored boys, as vel
. dressed and well behaved as any boys
M The same is true of tn" girls schools
Visited an estate where so children wer
kent at school on the estate. Every bod
- sneaLs of these hOvs rs the future citizens