ments, however, were at length too swift for them. Before the horses were properly fastened to each other, the monster made a tremendous bound or two, and suddenly pounced upon the hind parts of one of them, which, in its fright, plunged forward, and knocked down the poor man in question, who was holding the reins in his hand. His comrades instantly took flight, and ranjoff with all speed; and he, of course, rose as quickly as possible, in order to follow them. But, no sooner had he regained his feet, than the majestic beast, with a seeming consciousness of his superior might, stretched forth his paw, and, striking him just behind the neck, immediately brought him to the ground again. He then rolled on his back, when the lion set his foot upon his breast, and laid down upon him. The poor man now became almost breathless, partly from fear, but principally from the intolerable pressure of his terrific load. He endeavoured to move a little to one side, in order to breathe; but, feeling this, the creature seized his left arm, close to the elbow; and, after once laying hold with his teeth, he continued to amuse himself with the limb for some time, biting it in sundry different places down to the hand, the thick part of which seemed to have been pierced entirely through. All this time the lion did not appear to be angry, but he merely caught at his prey, like a cat sporting with a mouse that is not quite dead; so that there was not a single bone fractured, as would, in all probability, have been the case had the creature been hungry or irritated. Whilst writhing in agony, gasping for breath, and expecting every moment to be torn limb from limb, the sufferer cried to his companions for assistance, but cried in vain. On raising his head a little, the beast opened his dreadful jaws to receive it, but providentially the hat, which I saw in its rent state, slipped off, so that the points of the teeth only just grazed the surface of the skull. The lion now set his foot upon the arm from which the blood was freely flowing; his fearful paw was soon covered therewith, and he again and again licked it clean! The idea verily makes me shudder while I write. But this was not the worst; for the animal then steadily fixed his flaming eyes upon those of the man, smelt on one side, and then on the other of his face, and, having tasted the blood, he appeared half inclined to devour his helpless victim. At this critical moment,' said the poor man, I recollected having heard that there is a God in the heavens, who is able to deliver at the very last extremity; and I began to pray that he would save me, and not allow the lion to cat my flesh, and drink my blood. While thus engaged in calling upon God, the beast turned himself completely round. On perceiving this, the Hottentot made an effort to get from under him; but no sooner did the creature observe his movement, than he laid terrible hold of his right thigh. This wound was dreadfully deep, and evidently occasioned the sufferer most excruciating pain. He again sent up his cry to God for help; nor were his prayers in vain. The huge animal soon afterwards quietly relinquished his prey, though he had not been in the least interrupted. Having deliberately risen from his seat, he walked majestically off, to the distance of thirty or forty paces, and then laid down in the grass, as if for the purpose of watching the man. The latter, being happily relieved of his load, ventured to sit up, which circumstance immediately attracted the lion's attention; nevertheless, it did not induce another attack, as

TOSH'S ELOQUENCE.

the poor fellow naturally expected; but, as if | all would indulge in that vapid violence against
bereft of power, and unable to do any thing persons, which the spirit of party is rarely want-
more, he again arose, took his departure, and ing to applaud. But as it is, the man of supe--
was seen no more. The man, seeing this, took rior mind, standing upon his own strength,
up his gun, and hasted away to his terrified knows and feels that he is not speaking to the
companions, who had given him up for dead. lolling, lounging, indolently listening indivi-
Being in a state of extreme exhaustion, from duals stretched on the benches around him :
loss of blood, he was immediately set upon his he feels and knows that he is speaking to, and
horse, and brought, as soon as was practicable, will obtain the sympathy of, all the great and
to the place where I found him. Dr. Gaulter, enlightened spirits of Europe; and this bears
who, on hearing of the case, hastened to his and buoys him up amidst any coldness, impa-
relief, and has very humanely rendered him tience, or indifference, in his immediate an-
all necessary attention ever since, informs me dience. When we perused the magnificent
that, on his arrival, the appearance of the orations of Mr. Burke, which transported us in
wounds was truly alarming, and amputation our cabinet, and were told that his rising was
of the arm seemed absolutely necessary. To the dinner bell in the House of Commons;
this, however, the patient was not willing to when we heard that some of Mr. Brougham's
consent, having a number of young children almost gigantic discourses were delivered
whose subsistence depends upon his labour. amidst coughs and impatience; and when,
As the Almighty had delivered me,' said he, returning from our travels, where we had
from that horrid death, I thought surely he heard of nothing but the genius and eloquence
is able to save my arm also.' And, astonish- of Sir James Mackintosh, we encountered him
ing to relate, several of his wounds are al- ourselves in the House of Commons ;-on_all
ready healed, and there is now hope of his these occasions we were sensible, not that Mr.
complete recovery."
Burke's, Mr. Brougham's, Sir James Mackin-
tosh's eloquence was less, but that it was
CHARACTER OF SIR JAMES MACKIN. addressed to another audience than that to
which it was apparently delivered. Intended
for the House of Commons only, the style
SIR James Mackintosh never spoke on a would have been absurdly faulty: intended
subject without displaying, not only all that for the public, it was august and correct
was peculiarly necessary to that subject, but There are two different modes of obtaining a
all that a full mind, long gathering and con- parliamentary reputation; a man may rise in
gesting, has to pour forth upon any subject. the country by what is said of him in the
The language, without being antithetic, was House of Commons, or he may rise in the
artificial and ornate. The action and voice House of Commons by what is thought and
were vehement, but not passionate; the tone said of him in the country. Some debaters
and conception of the argument of too lofty have the faculty, by varying their style and
and philosophic a strain for those to whom, ge- their subjects, of alternately addressing both
nerally speaking, it was directed. It was im- those without and within their walls, with ef-
possible not to feel that the person addressing fect and success. Mr. Fox, Mr. Pitt, Mr. She-
you was a profound thinker, delivering a la- ridan, Mr. Canning were, and Lord Brougham
boured composition. Sir James Mackintosh's is, of this number. Mr. Burke and Sir James
character as a speaker, then, was of that sort Mackintosh spoke to the reason and the ima-
acquired in a thin house, where those who gination, rather than to the passions; and this,
have stayed from their dinner have stayed for together with some faults of voice and manner,
the purpose of hearing what is said, and can, rendered these great orators (for great orators
therefore, deliver up their attention undis- they were) more powerful in the printed re-
tractedly to any knowledge and ability, even if ports, than in the actual delivery of their
somewhat prolixly put forth, which elucidates speeches. We ourselves heard Sir James Mack-
the subject of discussion. We doubt if all intosh's great, almost wonderful, speech upon
great specches of a legislative kind would not Reform. We shall never forget the extensive
require such an audience, if they never tra- range of ideas, the energetic grasp of thought,
velled beyond the walls in which they were the sublime and soaring strain of legislative
spoken. The passion, the action, the move-philosophy, with which he charmed and trans-
ment of oratory which animates and trans- ported us; but it was not so with the House
ports a large assembly, can never lose their in general. His Scotch accent, his unceasing
effect when passion, action, movement are in and laboured vehemence of voice and gesture,
the orator's subject; when Philip is at the the refined and speculative elevation of his
head of his Macedonians, or Catiline at the views, and the vast heaps of hoarded knowledge
gates of Rome. The emotions of fear, revenge, he somewhat prolixly produced, displeased the
horror, are emotions that all classes and de- taste and wearied the attention of men who
scriptions of men, however lofty or low their were far more anxious to be amused and ex-
intellect, may feel:-here, then, is the orator's cited, than to be instructed or convinced. We
proper field. But again; there are subjects, see him now! his bald and singularly formed
such as many, if not most, of those discussed head working to and fro, as if to collect and
in our House of Commons, the higher bearings then shake out his ideas; his arm violently
of which are intelligible only to a certain or- vibrating, and his body thrown forward by
der of understandings. The reasoning proper sudden quirks and starts, which, ungraceful as
for these is not understood, and cannot there- they were, seemed rather premeditated than
fore be sympathised with, by the mass. In inspired. This is not the picture which De-
order not to be insipid to the few, it is almost mosthenes would have drawn of a perfect ora-
necessary to be dull to the many. If our tor; and it contains some defects that we won-
Houses of legislature sat with closed doors, der more care had not been applied to remedy.
they would be the most improper assemblies-New Monthly Magazine.
for the discussion of legislative questions that
we can possibly conceive. They would have
completely the tone of their own clique. No
one would dare or wish to soar above the com-
mon-places which find a ready echoing cheer:

Printed by J. HADDON and Co.; and Published by J. CRISP, at No. 27, Ivy Lane, Paternoster Row, where all Advertisements and Communications for the Editor are to be addressed.

THIS unrivalled edifice was founded by the irresistible interest which it inspires Henry the Sixth, together with the princely is to be traced to the richness of decoraestablishment to which it is attached. By tion for which this style is distinguished. referring to his will we find that his de- " Let it be inquired," says an enthusiassigns in these undertakings have not been tic writer, referring to this edifice, "whereaccomplished by his successors, although, in doth the charm consist that so comwhen we regard the magnificence of the pletely takes possession of our senses in whole mass of buildings, and the pre-gazing from west to east on the whole eminence of the chapel over all other length of the interior? Is it from its Gothic buildings, we can scarcely regret admirable state of repair, neatness of the deviation. With respect to the lat-condition, regularity of decorations, justter, it is of the order of architecture ness of proportion, beauty of design, or which has generally been termed florid from that indescribable something that Gothic; but it is difficult to say whether reminds us of the humble abilities of our

present workmen in masonic power, their utter inability to raise a mighty standard in this way?" Whatever may be the cause, it is impossible for any one to approach it without a feeling of reverence. The architectural skill of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries is here displayed in its utmost perfection. Without, the prodigious stones of which it consists, the vast buttresses by which it is supported, the loftiness and extent of the building, the fine proportions of the towers and pinnacles; and, within, the grand extended view, the admirable

the Sixth, who founded it, the Seventh,
who farthered, and the Eighth, who
finished it."

Saxon word, said to import the time of scorning and triumphing, which must have been observed about this time of the year, might have degenerated into the April fooleries."

arched roof, without the support of any | work of three succeeding kings-Henry | obsolete sports of the ancient Hoc-tide, an old pillars, displaying all the richness of its fine fan-work, and the matchless paintings on its windows, all combine to impress the beholder with emotions which can be better felt than described. The attention, moreover, is not withdrawn from these objects by any busts, statues, or inscriptions; but the whole furniture and decoration is highly calculated to perpetuate the effect of the first coup d'œil.

An exception to this statement is taken by the learned historian of Cambridge. "It must be confessed," says he, "that some littlenesses and human weaknesses are too obvious-I mean those minute devices of the arms of York and Lancaster with roses, portcullises, fleurs de lis, and crowns. These little patches on greatness, these heterogeneous intermixtures, religiously considered, are quite out of place, and, architecturally, are quite opposite to sublimity and grandeur."

ALL FOOLS' DAY.

FIRST OF APRIL.

"THE first of April, some do say,
Is set apart for All Fools' Day;
But why the people call it so,
Nor I, nor they themselves do know.
But on this day are people sent
On purpose for pure merriment;
And though the day is known before,
Yet frequently there is great store
Of these forgetfuls to be found,
Who're sent to dance Moll Dixon's round;
And, having tried each shop and stall,
And disappointed at them all,

At last some tells them of the cheat,
Then they return from the pursuit,
And straightway home with shame they run,
And others laugh at what is done.
But 'tis a thing to be disputed,
Which is the greatest fool reputed,
The man that innocently went
Or he that him design'dly sent."

Poor Robin's Almanack, 1760.

"Yet in the vulgar this weak humour's bred,
They'll sooner be with idle customs led,
Or fond opinions, such as they have store,
Than learn of reason's or of virture's lore."
Withers.

"April the first stands marked by custom's rules,
A day of being, and for making foo s."

Another author "thinks that he clearly demonstrates its origin from the primitive Christians, who, by way of conciliating the Pagans to a better worship, humoured their prejudices by yielding to a conformity of names, and even of customs, where they did not essentially interfere with the fundamentals of the gospel doctrine. Among these, in imitation of the Roman Saturnalia, was the Festum Fatuorum." A contributor to the Gentleman's Magazine, conjectures that "the custom of imposing upon and ridiculing people on the first of April may have an allusion to the mockery of the Saviour of the world by the Jews. Something like this, which we call making April fools, is practised also abroad, in Catholic countries, on Innocents' Day."

Dr. Pegge thinks the custom arose from the rejoicing at the commencement of the new year, "which formerly began, as to some purposes, and in some respects, on the 25th of March, whieh was supposed to be the incarnation of our Lord; and it is certain that the commencement of the new year, at whatever time that was supposed to be, was always esteemed an high festival, and that both among the ancient Romans and with us. Now, great festivals were usually attended with an octave, that is, they were wont to continue eight days, whereof the first and last were the principal; and you will find the first of April is the octave of the 25th of March, and the close, or ending, consequently, of that feast, which was both the festival of the Annunciation, and of the new year."

The greatest curiosity connected with this edifice is the stone roof, a structure which some do not hesitate to say surpasses the ingenuity of modern architects to imitate. There is a tradition that Sir Christopher Wren went once a year to survey this roof, and said that if any man would show him where to place the first stone he would build such another. It was constructed in 1513, in consequence of a grant of £5000 to defray the expences of carrying on the building. It is in the form of a grand Gothic arch, without any pillar to uphold it (though of immense span), the buttresses and towers of the chapel being its only support. In the middle of this roof, and in the flattest part of it, are fixed perpendicularly, at equal distance from one another, stones adorned with roses and portcullises, every one of which is no less than a ton weight. retain, took their rise whilst these kingdoms the time of Romulus, when the Romans carried

A writer in the Gentleman's Magazine, for July, 1783, says, "I have often wished to know the first foundation of several popular customs, appropriated to particular seasons, and been led to think, however widely they may have deviated from their original design and meaning, of which we have now wholly lost sight, observances, or ceremonies; I am convinced they are derived from some religious tenets, that this is the case in Catholic countries, where such like popular usages, as well as religious ceremonies, are more frequent than amongst us; though there can be little doubt but that the customs I refer to, and which we

Each of these is upwards of a yard in tom of fool-making had its origin in some reli-
were wholly Catholic." That the singular cus-
thickness, and projects beyond the other gious observance is most probable, although
part of the carved work. There is a the researches of our antiquarians have estab-
curious passage in its praise in Fuller's lished little else than that the custom is very
History of Cambridge, which, for its en- ancient and very general. Much has been
thusiasm, deserves to be quoted. "The written upon the subject, a good deal of learn-
chapel in this college," says he, "is one ing and diligence has been displayed, many
of the rarest fabrics in Christendom, very recondite theories have been formed; all
which, however, have not led to any very
wherein the stone-work, wood-work, and satisfactory or plausible conclusion. Having
glass-work, contend which most deserve none better to offer of our own, we will give
admiration. Yet the first generally car- the various opinions of others, and leave our
rieth away the credit (as being a Stone-readers to choose the one which may appear to
henge, indeed), so geometrically contrived them the most reasonable.
that voluminous stones mutually support
each other in the arched roof, as if art
had made them to forget nature, and
weaned them from their fondness to de-
scend to their centre. And yet, though
there be so much of Minerva, there is
nothing of Arachne in this building-I
mean, not a spider appearing, or cob-

web to be seen on the Irish wood or cedar beams thereof. No wonder, then, if this chapel, so rare a structure, was the

เ

all here is a corruption of our northern Mr. Brand is inclined to think the word word, auld," for old; because he finds, in an ancient Romish calendar, a Feast of Old Fools:"" he adds, "It must be granted that this feast stands there on the first day of another month, November, but then it mentions, at the same time, that it is by a removalThe Feast of Old Fools is removed to this day;' such removals, indeed, in the very crowded Romish calendar, were often obliged to be made."

In a note, Mr. Brand suggests "that the

Mr. Donce says, "The making of April fools, after all the conjectures touching its origin, is certainly borrowed by us from the French, and may, I think, be deduced from April fish, (Poissons d' Avril) i. e. simpletons this simple analogy. The French call their or, in other words, silly mackarel, who suffered themselves to be caught in this month. But, as with us April is not the season of that fish, we have very properly substituted the word

fools.".

A writer in 1708 derives the custom from

off the Sabine women!

The Jews are said to attribute the origin from the mistake of Noah in sending the dove out of the ark before the waters had abated, on the first day of the month among the Hebrews which answers to our first of April.

The Romans, on the first day of April, abstained from pleading causes; and the Roman ladies performed ablutions under myrtle-trees, crowned themselves with leaves, and offered sacrifices to Venus.

In the north of England, persons imposed upon are called April gowks.

In Scotland, upon April Day, they have a This is done by sending silly people upon fools' custom of "hunting the gowk," as it is termed. errands, from place to place, by means of a letter in which is written :

"On the first day of April
Hunt the gowk another mile."

It will be remarked, from the foregoing extracts, that writers are little agreed as to the prime origin of this almost universal custom, which, from its universality, must have been of a very general nature. The study of the customs, sports, and pastimes of the people is,

by no means, either useless or unprofitable: some useful knowledge of mankind will be acquired, for wisdom may be extracted from the follies and superstitions of our forefathers.

We have been chiefly indebted to Brand's interesting work on the antiquities, customs, habits, &c., of the people of England, in two vols. 4to. for the above remarks; and we cannot avoid recommending the interesting works of Mr. Hone, The Table Book, and Every Day Book, in which much that is novel and interesting will be found regarding our popular antiquities.

SPELL-WORK.

T.

MANY of our readers have heard and read of the SPELL System on sugar plantations, yet few of them probably are aware of its fearfully oppressive character. For the information of such we insert the following description of this murderous system, taken from No. 104 of the Anti-Slavery Reporter. We have lately had an opportunity of obtaining the opinion of a gentleman thoroughly conversant with the economy of a sugar plantation, and he strongly confirms our previous conviction of its accuracy.

"An intelligent person, who kept spell as a book-keeper for four years in Jamaica, is ready to testify, if called upon, to the uniform practice, in his time, to divide into two spells that part of the first and second gangs not occupied as coopers, in making casks, or as waggoners, or mule-drivers.

THE TOURIST.

NOTES ON THE ISLAND OF CUBA.

FROM THE UNPUBLISHED MEMORANDA OF A
naendanang # TRAVELLER.Contour Yog

No. I.

Ir was always my wish, when I should re-
visit Jamaica, to spend some portion of my
earliest leisure in a voyage to the Island of
Cuba. Having arranged my affairs, that I
might have to myself the undisturbed enjoy-
ment of a few months, I engaged, on the 5th
of January, 1821, a passage on board the brig
Emerald, then about to sail for a cargo of
timber. We set out from the harbour of
M** * *, a north-side port, at ten at
night, the usual hour at which vessels quit
that part of the coast. They so settle their
departure as to wait till the land-breeze comes
sweeping from the mountains strong and
steady, in order that they may make a fair
wind of it, and, having the advantage of run-
ning before the breeze under the lea of the
land, slip from one shore, through waters
whose undulations, beneath the lambent pu-
rity and resplendent skies of a West Indian
night, scarcely rise above the gentle ripples of

a summer tide, and arrive at the other coast
just as the trade winds are freshening up with
the increasing brilliancy of the opening day.

There was

No

varied and shadowy, with all its inequalities contrasting their tints with the deep cerulean sky, which stretched now in serene and unclouded beauty over the wide sea we had lately left; it presented a picture more rich and more diversified than what the most splendid imagination could paint or describe. The middle ground of this scene, a wide extent of forest, over which the evening mists were gathering, showed, by occasional breaks, the spots where the gentle hills and valleys undulated, or where luxuriant pastures and extensive savannas stretched a wide undappled surface of grass. Nearer to the eye, the ocean lay, green and bright, flickering as it heaved with the red glare of the setting sun-beam, while the giant trees upon its borders were seen growing within the very margin of the sea. All was as silent as death. neither sand nor ooze between the forest and the ocean. thing was heard but the occasional cry of the sea-gull, or the drowsy wing of the pelican as she lagged over the heaving waters, with her over-loaded gorge stored with provender for her clamorous and expectant young ones, in their home on the earthy sea-cliffs. One cota fisherman's hut and a pinnace among the tage and a few canoes on the main-land, and keys, were all the evidence that man was an inhabitant of these regions. As I gazed upon the quiet yet luxuriant scene, I could not help I loitered on deck till I saw the watch-fires on the Jamaica mountains grow dim and indis- recurring to the fate of the gentle race that The boundless tinct in the shadowy mistiness of the receding once owned these shores. shores. When I looked out again at sun-rise, wastes before me, which formerly saw them the bold and picturesque summit of the pico wandering amid the fragrant and flowery Torquino, one of the loftiest mountains of shades as "thick and numberless as the gay Cuba, was lifting its head before me, with the motes that people the sun-beam," scarce now vapours rolling in deuse masses over the forest retain a vestige that any but the present pos"On Sunday, at 6, P.M., the spell A went to plains. By midday we were safely anchored sessors of the soil had awakened the echoes of the works and put the mill about, remaining there within that range of sunken reefs that stretch the exhaustless forests. Friendly and gentle out from Cape Cruz some miles towards the in their dispositions, simple and artless in their till midnight, when it went to rest as soon as relieved by spell B. At day-dawn, on Monday, straggling line of green islets, bounding the manners, living in the luxury of indolence and They are a part of that ease, they seemed, in their innocence, amid spell A went to the field, and continued cutting Bay of Bayamo. cluster of coral rocks and mangrove shoals to the bountiful land they occupied, to realize canes there for the mill till noon. At noon it resumed its place at the works, and continued there which, from their fresh beauty amid the bright the condition of our first parents and the early till midnight on Monday, when it took rest till and placid waters, Columbus, when he first days of Paradise. They knew no wisdom like day-dawn on Tuesday, and was then again in the saw them, gave the poetical appellation of the knowledge of good and evil, and the curse field cutting canes till noon; and thus it proceeded" the gardens of the king." On account of the of labour and its attendant misery. But avaon each succeeding day of the week, except that multiplicity of these rocks and reefs, it is cus- rice and ambition came among them; and the on Saturday it did not always retire at midnight, but remained sometimes to two or three on Sunday tomary for English vessels, proceeding thither, luxurious repose, that hung like a spell over to take with them a pilot from Jamaica. Ours the thickly-peopled shores and blissful groves morning, till all the cane-juice was boiled off. During the same week, the spell B came on duty was Ramon, a Spanish youth, of mixed Indian of the happy islanders, was reversed, and the at the works at midnight on Sunday night, and con- descent, a native of Maracaibo, a man of un-fragrant bowers, the home of "the swarming tinued there till noon on Monday, when it went commonly mild, handsome features, but with myriads of idle and light-hearted creatures," a temper which blended the contradiction of became the silent woodland wastes that I then home; but, at two, P. M., it was again in the field, cutting canes for the mill from that time until cheerfulness, and a sullen habit of silence and beheld them. dusk, when it went home to rest till called up reserve, a peculiar trait in the Indian character. Under his guidance we were instructed again at midnight to relieve spell A. And so the work proceeded the whole week, only that at midto take advantage of the comparatively high and strong tides which prevail on the extensive bays of this island, to facilitate the naviWe passed through the gation of its waters. ship's channel, avoided the Canal de Bolandras, whose depth, as its name imports, only enables sloops to pass, and anchored for the night, just before sunset, in that wide sweeping curve of the coast called the Media Luna, with Martillo before us.

"The following is a sketch of the working of those two spells, which we will call A and B, a white book-keeper being allowed to each, who had the same length of night-duty as the slaves:

night on Saturday there was no call of spell B, however late might be the boiling.

"The succeeding week, the spells were changed, so that the spell B began work on the Sunday evening at 6 P.M., and so had the very same tale and hours of labour, both at the works and in the field, which the spell A had had the week before, and A the same as B had had. Thus each spell, during every twenty-four hours, was twelve hours at the works, and six hours in the field, the whole of their sleep being taken from the six hours which then alone remained to them. And the same must of absolute necessity be the case still, if the manufacture of sugar be continuously carried on, on estates not having more than from two hundred to two hundred and fifty negroes, embracing a Is not this toil large majority of sugar estates. dreadful, and most wearing and exhausting? And it affects the women still more than the men. Can women, by any possibility, breed under such circumstances? It is altogether impossible."

་་

With the first dawn of day-light we were again under sail, and by sun-set had anchored in Manzanilla Bay. The coast was -a temporary fort, extremely shoal, so that we landed with some difficulty at the Corbel the walls of which were constructed of the husky case which forms the footstalk of the Palmetto (areca oleracea). The fort itself, elevated about eight feet from the water's edge, was composed of the logs of the cedar with ten or a dozen pieces of cannon, of a and hard wood of the country. It was mounted Being now at that part of the shore where calibre sufficiently heavy to carry shot with the Torquino Mountains form the south-effect to a great distance-a necessary provieastern background of the landscape, the beautiful peak, as it rose majestically over the contiguous hills, at the hour of sunset, became an object of peculiar grandeur. The volume of fleecy clouds which all the afternoon had been gathering midway around its summit, illumined by the intense rays of the setting sun, shone like a mantle of burnished gold. Through these arose, glowing in purple radiance, the mountain itself, looking out distinct, but

sion, in consequence of the shallow waters of the bay. This temporary defence has been since removed, and a substantial fortress erected in its place; but, frail as it was at the period of my visit, it was not to be despised as a protection to the coast. A few weeks previous to my arrival, a Columbian brig of war, the Libertador, in company with a felucca, having run up the coast, landed a party of armed seamen in the harbour, under cover of

276

the thickets about the town, and attacked the batteries; but, being bravely repulsed by the inhabitants with considerable loss, they were glad to drop down the keys, profiting by the experience that the courage of a brave people compensates the inadequate defence of nature and of art.

THE TOURIST.

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 1833.

REPORT OF THE SLAVERY COMMIT-
TEE OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS.

WILLIAM TAYLOR, ESQ.

THE following evidence of Mr. Taylor, given on oath before the Lords' Committee, will assist our readers in estimating the value of that testimony which is adduced by Colonial writers in proof of the happy condition of the Negro population. The internal economy of a slave plantation being little understood in this country, it is naturally enough supposed that the same facility of observation exists as amongst ourselves. Every person, therefore, who has paid a visit to the colonies, and more especially military and naval officers, attorney-generals, bishops, and governors,-are supposed to know every thing respecting slavery. How far this is from being the case Mr. Taylor's evidence will show. His long residence in the colony, and his intimate acquaintance with the plantation system, eminently qualified him to give an opinion on the subject.

You have been some years resident in Jamaica, have you not?-Nearly thirteen years.

At what period did your residence commence, and at what period did it conclude?—I went to Jamaica in 1816, and remained there till 1823; I returned in 1824, and remained till the end of 1825; left it in 1825, returned in 1826, and finally left it in 1831; making altogether, 1 think, nearly thirteen years in the island.

In what capacity or capacities did you officiate while resident in Jamaica?- The greater part of the time I was engaged in commercial pursuits; more than two years I was actively occupied in the management of estates.

During that time you had opportunities of observing the slave population, and the management of several estates with which you were connected? -Yes.

Do you think it possible for any man to acquire an accurate knowledge of the system that prevails in the interior of a plantation, unless he has been some time domiciled on an estate?-I think it necessary that he should not only be domiciled, but that he should be actively employed in some branch of the administration of the estate.

You do not think it possible for any man to acquire an accurate knowledge of the system that prevails in the interior of the plantation unless he is so employed?-I should not say it was utterly impossible; for a man may be so constituted that, though living upon an estate, and not actively employed in the management of it, be may resolutely set himself to work to obtain that information; but, looking at the aspect of society in Jamaica, I do not think any man ever has acquired that knowledge; such a man as Mungo Park might acquire it, but it is not at all probable that any man would.

unconnected with the estate, unauthorized to make
enquiries of the negroes, he has no opportunity of
gaining that knowledge-for instance, punishments
he is not a witness to. When a punishment is to
take place, they do not lay down the man or woman
under his window, but take him or her to a retired
part of the estate; and, as in the case of a lady
in barracks, punishments may take place to a
great extent without her knowing anything about
them. An officer's lady may have been in bar-
racks for a considerable period, and yet know
nothing about punishments, though they may have
taken place every week. On the other hand, there
is no physical impossibility, for a man may run
the risk of incurring the displeasure of his host by
speaking to the negroes privately, and probing them;
but I never, intimate as I was with many families
in Jamaica, took that liberty; there is no physical
impossibility in arriving at that knowledge; but
from the state of the country, and the state of
manners in Jamaica, I do not think it at all pro-
bable that an individual ever acquired an accurate
knowledge of the negro, character unless he was
placed in a situation which brought him into con-
stant communication with the negroes and the
inspection of them. In my own case, I was there
several years, and knew little or nothing about them
until I was called upon to administer the system,
though living in the heart of the country, and visit-
ing in almost every parish in the island, and having
journeyed thousands of miles in the island.
with the details and daily labours of the field
Being, as you are to a certain degree, familiar
slaves, do you think any person competent, from
his own knowledge, to give evidence upon oath on
the subject, unless he had filled a situation simi-
lar to your own, or unless his duties as a mission-
ary had brought him into frequent and private
communication with the slaves themselves?
Speaking of the daily labours, I do not think
that any person is qualified to give information
upon that subject, unless he had been actively
employed, and closely and daily employed, in the
management of a plantation. I believe that a
missionary has opportunities of acquiring a great
deal of information from the slaves which no other

class of persons can. I believe that a missionary
actively employed near estates does acquire a
great deal of very intimate knowledge of the negro
character, but of a different nature. I do not
think a missionary can speak as to the work of an
estate a missionary's knowledge of the negro is
derived from his constant intercourse with him,
and I believe the missionary will know much
more of the private feelings of the negro slave
than even a humane manager will; but at the
same time I believe that the manager will know
a great deal more about the labours of an estate.
I think the information to be given by a manager
and a missionary are of a different character for
the most part.

From that it is collected that, to be intimately
acquainted with the detail and daily labour of a
slave, a person must be in a situation similar to
that occupied by you-practically concerned in
the management of an estate?
Yes.

Supposing evidence to be given upon the sub-
ject by persons of another description, without
attributing to them any intentional falsehood,
would it not necessarily be of so vague and inde-
finite a character that you would attach but little
credit to it?

The witness is directed to withdraw.

them any intentional falsehood in the evidence they might give, think that it was likely to be of so vague and indefinite a character as to be entitled to little credit?

I think it would, as compared with evidence given by one practically acquainted with the system.

If a stranger were found in conversation with a gang of field slaves during their work, or entering their huts after the hours of labour, for the purpose of ascertaining from their own lips the particulars of their treatment, would he not expose himself almost to the certainty of personal insult and legal proceedings for a trespass by the attorney or overseer?

The probability is that he would be insulted, and, if he persevered in making such inquiries, that he would be prosecuted.

And again, at page 584, the witness is asked: Do you think that military or naval men, engaged in their professional duties on the station, could have that acquaintance with the subject, so that their testimony in respect to the slaves' treatment or character would be of any real value?

I cannot see how naval men can know any thing about it, for they are at sea; when they are on shore they generally dine with the principal people in the neighbourhood: they are a very short time on shore. A military man, from being stationed in country garrisons, necessarily knows more; but at the the chief body of troops is, they have very little garrisons in the neighbourhood of Kingston, where intercourse with the interior, and they cannot see the internal working of the system; they can see the surface; nor can any one know the internal working unless he is employed on the estate, and sees the whole machinery from morning to night.—And at page 529:

Do you not feel very strongly the difficulty of any stranger's access to the interior of a plantation ?

Yes; I have stated that I think there is a great difficulty in arriving at the truth.

Have you not on some occasions called a plantation a sealed book?

I have; not only a plantation, but I consider the country a sealed country, from the fact that you travel through the length and breadth of England, and are continually in contact with the population of the villages on the highways, and I defy any man to keep me from a knowledge of the peasantry, for it is the right of a British citizen to enter into the house of another if he opens the door; but you may travel hundreds of miles in Jamaica, and never pass through villages. The villages are separated by the width of a field from the road, and you dare not trespass upon that field any more than in any men's houses. They are very accommodating in Jamaica in allowing a man to go through the fields and make by-paths; but, if that were done with the avowed and open intention of having that intercourse with the peasantry of Jamaica which any man has in this country, he would be necessarily unsuccessful, and would be prevented in some districts. We never pass through a negro village; we see them at the distance of a mile or a quarter of a mile; but on the great roads of communication there is no population. I lived in a parish some years, and was grossly ignorant of the condition of the negroes at my very door, because I dare not enter the village. I take the Duke of Buckingham's village, within a quarter of a mile of my own house; I know nothing about them, though there was nothing but a high

The witness is again called in, and the question is way and a fence between them and me. proposed.

A person travelling through the country would have little opportunity of judging of the state and The expression I observe is "of another des- condition of the slaves? cription."

You say you think it necessary that a person should be practically concerned in the manageYou mean that it is highly improbable?-Yes.ment of an estate, in order to enable hint to form Will you have the goodness to state the circumstances which appear to you to make it improbable that persons should acquire that information? — I think it improbable, because when an individual goes upon an estate in Jamaica merely as a visitor

a correct judgment in the point referred to as to
the daily labour of the slave. You are then asked
whether, in respect of persons of another charac-
ter, not practically concerned in the management
of an estate, you would, without attributing to

He would see them in the field working under the driver, and he might see them cross the fields or the road going to their negro villages, but he is never within the precincts of a negro village. I have visited hundreds of families in the country, but I no more thought of leaving my host and going into the negro village than I would in this country leave my host and go into the kitchen.