Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-06-29
The Condition and Prospects Of Jamaica.


The Tribune has been furnished with the
following interesting letter from Jamaica,
from the pen of G. w. ALEXANDER, a mo-
ted member of the Society of Friends, who
has lately been making tour Of the Island,
as a Missionary Of the British hntiiSlayery
Society:
KrSesroN, Jamaica, Thursday, 5 mo. %.
Mr DEAR FRIEND: write very hastily,
TO informyou that my wife aud SELF with our
companions, J. aud NJ. Gambler, intend to
leave this place for New York by the stean-
or, on the 18th of next month, or thereabout.
We have now been five weeks in Jamaica,
during which we have travelled over n largo
part of the Island, and are truly glad 10 find
the condition of planters, merchants and Ia
borers better than we expected. That of
the latter, especially, is IN general one of
much comforf. This fine Island is not ut
present fastening to ruin, notwithstanding
the severe trial TO which il has been exposed
by the cruel, injurious, and inconsistent Su-
gar Act of 1916. Ii has been delightful TO
us TO sec the large number Of the cmnncipa-
ted pcasantry and their children who nre
brought under a moral and religious influ-
ence, 10y the good men who are scattered
over Jamaica. There can, think, be lit
tie or no doubt that population is increasing,
now that the dead weight Of Slavery is re-
moved, and there arc many indications of
an increase of cultivation, which will, un-
less ] am much mistaken, be very shortly
manifested by large exports, unless checked
by bud legislation, or the operation Of tho
decreasing scale of duties at which foreign
sugar is TO he introduced for consumption
i'm Britain. il remains, however, TO be seen
whether the friends of the slave in England
will yet allow the Sugar Act of 1916 TO be
carried into full effect. ] much doubt IT. At
least this will not he done, i believe, with
out a very serious struggle in Parliament
yesterday went with olIr party to see sia-
yer, brought into Kingston within day or
two, with the slaves on board. She was first
seen by British cruiser near the Isle OF
Pines, on the coast Of Cuba, for which coun-
try the slaves were destined, and secured
after chase of 40 hours. This SLAYER was
a favorable specimen of the mode in which
the horrid traffic in human beings is cur
Tied on, as she had only $50 slaves on board
when she left the coast of Africa, and was
Of the burden of 2S6 tuns. il had, howcv-
er, been intended, us we were informed, TO
ship much larger number. Of the origi-
nal cargo, co had died before the capture
and 30 since, leaving about 250 men, women
and children. OF these, from their appear
ance, there can he little doubt but that some
viii yet be added 10 the last Of death con-
nected with the diabolical enterprise. We
saw the slave captain, whose countenance
Indicated as utter an absence of feeling as
can well be conceived in human being
When shall this abomnable traffic cease P
When your country shall do its duty in tho
abolition of Slavery; and that day is not,
trust, distant. Slavery aud tbs slave trade
will soon be doomed in Brazil and Cuba.--
J. Gambler and propose TO visit, during
stay of about a month in the United Stntes
of America, some of your principal cities,
proceeding rs far South as Washington, and
probably embarIing at Boston for England,
where hope, within less than three months
from this time, once more TO see my beloved
family.
With kind regards, remain, very sim
cerely. G. w. A,