Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors][merged small]

and for this reason Sloane, the naturalist,
in his History of Jamaica, has designated
it "malva arborea maritima," and has
summed up its characteristics with great
conciseness in these words :- "Folio
subrotundo, minore accuminato, subtus
candido, cortice in funes ductile."
"A
rounded leaf, having the lesser end
pointed, white on the under side, with a
bark capable of being twisted into twine."
It is of greater expansion than height, a
character very common with the tree
mallows. Its flowers are large, and very
showy; but what is particularly striking
is its threefold change, from yellow to
orange, and then to deep red, on the
three days that it is an expanded blossom.
When blended with the large blue, white,
and pink convolvulus of the tropics, flow-
ers that prevail equally in moist situations
with the maho, and combined with plumy
tufts of bamboo and palmites, I know no
combination finer in the foreground of an
Indian river scene. The crabs devour
the fallen petals with great avidity; the
root is used as an aperient and hepatic
infusion; and the negroes, when they
have macerated a quantity of the flowers
in oil, ascribe great efficacy to them as a
vulnerary medicament.-Notes of a Tra-
veller."

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TOURIST.

I am, Sir, yours, &c.,

C. R. E.

THE hibiscus tiliaceus, or the maho, or mahagua, as it is called in the West India islands, is another cordage plant of great utility. The bark, a strong, fibrous envelope, is twisted into the ropes and halters ordinarily used in the economy of SIR,-I beg to submit to you the fola sugar estate, and, when wound into fine lowing order, which has been sent out twine, is the material with which the from the Colonial Office to the Governor negro constructs his hammock, or swinging of the Bahamas, and will, doubtless, be couch. On account of its easy pliancy, read with pleasure, as indicating the feeland its disposition never to acquire stiff-ings of his Majesty's Ministers with reness, like the leather thong when old, or gard to that great subject which occupies the hempen rope when new, it is adopt- so much of your attention. ed, in preference to all other materials, in the construction of the cattle-whip, or, as it is generally called in England, the cart-whip that terrific instrument with which the slaves are punished. This whip is a thong about eight or ten feet long, plaited to somewhat more than the bulk of a postillion's. It is fixed to a handle of about three feet in length, and terminates in a lash of about eighteen inches, composed of fibres of a species of bromelia, a plant of the class of pine-apples, called penguin. The long, fine, silky thread of this plant is more capable than any other of being twisted into an extremely close cord, and, though quite supple, is as compact as wire; it is, therefore, better adapted to inflict pain, by lacerating the flesh in deep but narrow lines. When used, the whip thus formed is swung round and round the head for one or two succession of times, so as to be trailed out to its full length between each stroke, and is then applied with considerable report and great precision to the sufferer, male or female, old or young, stretched naked on the earth.

This tree delights in the borders of morasses, as well as the banks of rivers;

SIR, I am desired to signify to you the King's commands, that in any future grants of lands made by the Crown, a condition be inserted for the forfeiture of the grant, on proof of the land having been, at any time subsequent to the date of the grant, cultivated by the labour of slaves.

To Governor Sir J. C. Smith,

Christianity; that it is incapable of any such improvement as would justify its continuance; and therefore, that it ought to be abolished by legal means with the least possible delay.

The persecutions in Jamaica, which are as inconsistent with the Gospel of Christ as they are opposed to the spirit of the British constitution, to the design of the Toleration Acts, and to the essential rights of our fellow-subjects in the West Indies, we regard as a decisive proof of the incorrigible nature of the system of Colonial Slavery, and as an additional reason for seeking its utter extermination.

[graphic]

John Anderson, Dorchester

John Hoxley, Sherborne

We, therefore, earnestly entreat the friends of Christianity, liberty, and peace, to employ their influence, in every constitutional way, to obtain the speedy removal of this sinful and injurious such measures as shall effectually secure the full system, and to insist on the prompt adoption of and uninterrupted enjoyment of that religious liberty in our colonies which the laws of the parent country afford to us. William Beal, Weymouth William Bean, Weymouth J. Brown, Broad Winsor Alfred Bishop, Beaminster James Brown, Wareham John Brown, Bridport Samuel Bulgin, Poole James Catts, Shaftesbury Charles Cannon, Portland R. Chamberlaine, Swanage Francis Collier, Portland H. J. Crump, Weymouth R. Davies, Enmore Green S. J. Davies, Weymouth W. Dingley, Sherborne

John W. Cloak, Sherborne
Henry Crook, Chideock

Jolin Dore, Wimborne

Thomas Durant, Poole
T. Evans, Shaftesbury
J. Hargreaves, Morcombe
Lake

Richard Harris, Wareham

P. Hawke, Wimborne

G. Hubbard, Corfe Castle
B. Jeanes, Charmouth
R. Keynes, Blandford
J. M. Mackenzie, Poole
W. Munford, Burton, Brad-
stock

James Oke, Dorchester
John Pryor. Bridport
G. L. Roberts, Bridport
Edmund Russ, Weymouth
John Saltren, Bridport
S. Sincox, Dorchester
J. Smedmare, Swanage
E. Smith, Lyme Regis
Frederic Smith, Bridport
Samuel Spink, Wimborne
Henry Stroud, Bere Regis
James Trowbridge, Cerne
J. H. Walker, Poole
James Wallbridge, Loders
C. Westlake, Sherborne
A. Weyland, Lyme Regis
J. Wheelhouse, Shaftesbury
John Wills, Bridport

Anti-Slavery Meeting at Exeter Hall.

A GENERAL MEETING of the ANTI-SLA

VERY SOCIETY, and of the Friends of that Canse, will be held at EXETER HALL, Strand, on THURS

DAY, the THIRTY-FIRST of JANUARY, 1833, with a

view to petition Parliament for the Immediate and Entire Abolition of Slavery throughout the British Dominions,

taken at Eleven precisely, by the Right Honourable LORD

SUFFIELD.

Doors will be opened at Ten o'Clock, and the Chair THOMAS PRINGLE, Secretary. Tickets of Admission may be had after the 20th of January, of Messrs. Hatchard, 187, Piccadilly; Messrs. Arch, 61, Cornhill; Mr. Seeley, Fleet Street: Mr. Nisbet, Berners Street; Mr. Bagster, Paternoster Row; and at the Office of the Anti-Slavery Society, 18, Aldermanbury. Published at the Office of the Tourist, 27, Ivy-lane, Paternoster Row; sold also by Sherwood, Gilbert, and Piper, and all other Booksellers.

SLAVERY.
In a few days will be published, in one 8vo. volume,
closely printed, price 8s., The Report from the Select Com-
mittee of the House of Commons, on the Extinction of
Slavery throughout the British Dominions; with a Copious
Index. Witnesses examined: W. Taylor, Esq., Rev. John
Burry, Rev. Peter Duncan, Rev. Thomas Cooper, Rev.
John Thorp, Rev. W. Knibb, Hon. C. Fleming, Captain
C. H. Williams, W. Alers Hankey, Esq., J. D. P. Ogden,
Esq., R. Scott, Esq., J. Simpson, Esq., W. Shand, Esq.,
Rev. J. Shipman, Rev. R. Young, Rev. J. T. Barrett, W.
Burge, Esq., M.P., J. B. Wildman, Esq., and others.

GODERICH.
Bahamas.
DECLARATION OF THE INDEPENDENT, sations of the latter gentleman against the Baptist Mission-
BAPTIST, AND METHODIST MINIS-

Also, Full Report of the Discussion in the Assembly Rooms, at Bath, on the 15th of December, between the Rev. W. Knibb, and Mr. Borthwick, in which the accuaries in Jamaica are fully refuted. Price 8d.

Just Published, price 4s., 8vo., boards,

TERS IN THE COUNTY OF DORSET, A LETTER TO HIS GRACE THE DUKE

ON THE SUBJECT OF COLONIAL
SLAVERY.

WE, the undersigned Christian Ministers in
the county of Dorset, think ourselves called on
by present circumstances to lay before the public
our deliberate opinion on two most important
subjects-namely, the evil of British Colonial
Slavery, and the persecution of missionaries, their
congregations, and adherents, in Jamaica, as origi-
nating in that system.

Colonial Slavery is essentially sinful, because at
We are firmly convinced that the system of
variance with the great principles and spirit of

OF RICHMOND, &c. &c. &c., Chairman of the Slavery Committee of the House of Lords; containing an Exposure of the Character of the Evidence on the Colonial side produced before the Committee.

"Nec pes, nec caput uni Reddatur formæ."-HOR.

London: S. Bagster, No. 15, Paternoster Row. ment upon any partial extracts which may appear in the The public are earnestly requested to suspend their judg daily papers, until they have an opportunity of fairly esti mating the whole body of the Colonial Evidence which this Pamphlet will afford them.

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.

.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small]

ment.

wisdom, the power, and the providence while the other continued floating at the of the Almighty, by discovering to us in top. When things had remained for some numerable orders of living beings, en- time in this condition, each of these dowed with numerous capacities, and swarms of animalcules began to grow provided with ample means of enjoy-weary of its situation, and appeared disposed to change it. Both armies, therefore, set out at the same time, the one proceeding upwards, and the other downwards, so that after some hours' journey they met in the middle. A desire of knowing how they would behave on this occasion engaged the observer to watch them carefully, and, to his surprise, he saw the army that was marching upwards open to the right and left to make room for those that were descending. Thus, without confusion or intermixture, each held on its way; the army that was going up marching in two columns to the top, and the other descending in one column to the bottom, as if each had been under the direction of intelligent leaders.

An example which partially illustrates this last remark is supplied in the engraving prefixed to this article, which represents a single drop of water as it appears through a microscope, peopled with various species of minute animals called animalcules, of the habits of some of which we propose to give a brief account. It may be observed in general of the microscopic orders of animals, that the smallest which have ever come under notice have been discovered in water. Not that we may infer from this that there are not creatures of equally diminutive size inhabiting the air, or creeping upon the earth; the reason is simply that, from the transparency of water, and from its confining the creatures in it, we can more easily bring the assistance of the microscope to bear on the examination of them. Of these, indeed of all animated beings, the monas is the most simple. The termo is the most minute creature of this genus, being so extremely delicate and transparent as often to elude the highest magnifying powers, and seeming to blend with the water in which it swims. Another and very minute class of animalcules is that which has been termed by Mr. Baker the hair-like insect, on account of its shape, being extremely slender, and frequently an hundred and fifty times as long as it is broad. These creatures are

the wheels are protruded, they are performed with great regularity, swiftness, and steadiness. It is by these rotatory organs, also, that they are supposed to breathe.

Some very important discoveries have lately been made by Ehrenberg in his observations on these singular beings. By feeding infusoria with very pure coloured substances, as indigo and carmine, he has ascertained the existence of mouths, stomachs, and intestines, and many interesting particulars relating to their structure and functions. But, perhaps, the most astonishing view of these animals, and of the wonders of the microscopic world in general, is presented by a recent improvement in the solar microscope-we refer to Mr. Gould's instrument, constructed under the direction of Mr. Cooper, and Mr. Cary, the optician, and the extraordinary effect of Another very singular animal, whose which is daily exhibited at No. 287, existence and habits have been discovered Strand. It acts on the general principle by the microscope, has been dignified with of the solar microscope, but is supplied the name of the Proteus, from its as- with an artificial and most brilliant light, suming so great a variety of shapes as produced by the mixture of hydrogen scarcely to be recognized as the same and oxygen gases on lime. The writer animal in its different transformations. had recently an opportunity of witnessing Its general shape bears a considerable the effect of this extraordinary instruresemblance to that of the swan, and its ment, and, without describing in detail changes are chiefly effected by its neck, the beauties or the horrors which it which it sometimes extends to a consi-brought to light from the invisible world derable length, and sometimes disposes (in doing which he would be obliged to of it altogether. It also appears to have draw very largely on the faith of his reathe power of increasing its transparency ders), he may give some general idea of or opaqueness at will. There are no eyes, the spectacle by stating that the instrunor any opening in the head like a mouth, ment magnifies three hundred thousand to be discerned; but its actions clearly times, so that a drop of water appears to prove that it possesses the faculty of vision; cover a surface of a hundred square feet! for though multitudes of other animalcules swim about with it in the same water, and its own progressive motion is very swift, yet it never strikes against any of them, but directs its course between them with astonishing dexterity.

so small that millions of millions of them
might be contained in the space of a
square inch. Yet low in the scale of
being as they may appear to stand,
owing both to their extreme minuteness
and the simplicity of their structure, yet
even these, in common with those orders
of inferior animals with which we are Another and a very perfect animal is
more ordinarily conversant, exhibit indi-discovered by the microscope in rain wa-
cations of sagacity, and of the formation ter, which has stood for some days in
of habits. They seem, for example, to leaden gutters, or hollows on the tops of
be fond of society; for, after viewing for houses. This is called the vorticella, or
some time a quantity of them taken up wheel-animal. Its most remarkable dis-
at random, the observer will see them tinction is the apparatus from which it
disposing themselves in a kind of regular derives its name, and which, from all de-
order. If a multitude of them are put scriptions, would appear strongly to re-
into a jar of water, they will form them-semble the paddles of a steam-boat. They
selves into a regular body, and ascend
slowly to the top. When they are weary
of this situation they form themselves into
a kind of rope, which slowly descends as
low as they intend; but, if they happen
to be near the side of the jar, they will
descend upon it. In one experiment, a
small quantity of matter, containing these
animalcules, having been put into a jar
of water, it so happened that one part
went down immediately to the bottom,

C. Gould's improved pocket compound microscope, which magnifies 62. 560 times.

change their shape considerably in dif-
ferent views, but it seems pretty evident
that they are circular wheels, which per-
form entire revolutions, and are provided
with cogs similar to those on the balance-
wheel of a watch. All the actions of this
creature, says an observer, indicate saga-
city and quickness of sensation. At the
least touch or motion in the water they
instantly draw in their wheels; and it is
conjectured that the eyes of this creature
are placed somewhere about this appara-
tus, as while in the maggot state its mo-
tions are slow and blundering, but, after

We cannot but anticipate some important accessions to physical science from this extraordinary instrument, and we confidently recommend it to the notice of our readers as a source of much instruction and amusement.

ON GOOD AND BAD HUMOUR.

THERE is no disposition more comfortable to the person himself, or more agreeable to others, than good humour. It is to the mind what good health is to the body, putting a man in the capacity of enjoying every thing that is agreeable in life, and of using every faculty without clog or impediment. It disposes to contentment with our lot, to benevo fence to all men, to sympathy with the disfavourable light, and disposes us to avoid tressed. It presents every object in the most giving or taking offence. There is a disposi bad humour, of which the tendency is directly tion opposite to good humour, which we call contrary, and therefore its influence is as malignant as that of the other is salutary.

Bad humour alone is sufficient to make a man unhappy; it tinges every object with its galled, is hurt by every thing that touches it. own dismal colour; and, like a part that is It takes offence where none was meant, and disposes to discontent, jealousy, envy, and, in general, to malevolence.-Reid on the Mind.

THE ORLEANS GALLERY OF

PICTURES.

THE late Mr. President West used to remark, that next to the merit of having painted a picture which should do honour to the art, and become an ornament to the state wherein it was produced, was the credit of having brought from foreign countries works of the great masters. The importation of such works tends to enrich the nation which receives them; it holds out a bright example for imitation, and rouses and calls into action the native talents of those who feel the sacred flame of emulation.

The irreparable loss which this country sustained in the dispersion of the magnificent collection which had belonged to King Charles the First, a collection founded upon the soundest principles of good judgment, aided by the elegant and refined taste of the monarch himself-the subsequent diminution of its riches in the transfer of the Houghton collection to a northern Potentate-the meagre state of the collections which remained to us, in works of the Italian school, made us strongly feel, in our own case, the truth of the worthy president's remark, and the public was prepared to avail itself of the first opportunity which should occur, to remedy, in part, these heavy losses.

The period was not far distant which offered such an occasion. The public mind of France had for a long time been in a state of great agitation; those best acquainted with it foresaw a storm approaching, and many, among others Monsieur de Calonne, who had been recently Minister of Finance, took an early opportunity of disposing of their valuable effects, or of transporting them into foreign states.

Others, again, from motives of a different description, also disposed of their moveable property for the express purpose of providing means for corrupting and inflaming the national spirit of the French people. Among those was the Duke of Orleans, generally known by the name of Philip Egalité, whose life afterwards paid the forfeit of his ambition.

Louis XIV. ceded the Palais Royal to Philip, his only brother, afterwards Regent of France, and by him this collection was rendered the finest and the most important private collection at that time existing in Europe. He employed some of the most celebrated artists of the day to select for him, by purchase, the finest works of the great masters which could be procured in the various countries of Europe, while many of the minor states, desiring to pay their court to him, made presents to the Regent of such works as were likely to yield him satisfaction, or to secure his favour and protection. Philip employed twenty years of his life in forming this magnificent gallery.

Among the different pictures which were purchased for the Regent, the prices which he paid for some of these have come down to us. For the celebrated picture of the raising of Lazarus, now in the National Collection, he paid to the chapter of monks at Narbonne the sum of 24,000 francs (£970), a sum certainly much under its value even in those days, when it is considered that for the Seven Sacraments of Poussin, now in the Stafford Gallery, he paid 120,000 francs (about £5000); and it was well known that price never was the bar to the acquisition of whatever was truly excellent; the good fathers, no doubt, had their reasons for ceding this celebrated picture for so small a sum.

For the Saint Roch and Angel, by A. Caracci, which was formerly in the Church de St. Eustache at Paris, he paid 20,000 francs

(£800); and for the Saint John in the Desert, by Raphael, he paid likewise 20,000 francs; but it has been asserted that, had this last picture been indubitable, it must even at that period have cost four times that sum, as the works of Correggio, which cannot be placed above those of Raphael, were paid for in that proportion.

at the end of which time all pictures sold were delivered to the purchasers.

The pictures reserved for the original purchasers, at their estimated valuation, amounted to 39,000 guineas. Those sold during the sale by private contract amounted to 31,000 guineas, while the residue sold afterwards by Mr. Coxe, joined to the receipts of exhibition, which were considerable, amounted to about £10,000 more, thus leaving a valuable collection of pictures to the purchasers, as a bonus and just reward, for securing for this country so splendid a collection, and enriching it with works of the first class.

By the means of these various acquisitions, the gallery of the Duke Regent contained, during his lifetime, 485 pictures of the best choice, and in the finest state of preservation. In 1792 the then Duke of Orleans, for the purpose of procuring money to agitate the national spirit, of which he always hoped ul- On the first morning of opening for the pritimately to profit, sold all the pictures of the vate view to the principal amateurs, the late Palais Royal. A banker of Brussels, named Mr. Angerstein became a purchaser of some Walkuen, bought those of the Italian and of the most important pictures in the collecFrench schools at the price of 750,000 livres tion, in particular of the Resurrection of La(£31,000), who again sold them to Monsieur zarus, by Sebastian del Piombo, which he Laborde de Mereville, a gentleman of fortune, immediately, and without hesitation, secured for 900,000 livres (£37,500). This gentleman, at the price demanded, of 3500 guineas. The either as an amateur, or guided by feelings of late Sir Francis Baring was likewise an early national pride and philanthropy, made this visitor, and named a certain number of those purchase with the sole view of preserving the pictures which were marked for sale, as obcollection for France. For this purpose hejects which would suit his taste. The price gave orders to build a superb gallery, con- demanded was 10,000 guineas; the offer made nected with his own mansion, in the Rue was £10,000. Mr. Bryan had no power to d'Artois. The works were already far ad- diminish. The worthy Baronet would not advanced, when the storm of the revolution vance, and the treaty was not concluded. This burst out in all its force, and obliged Monsieur anecdote, which the author of these sketches Laborde, with thousands of other refugees, to had from Mr. Bryan himself, not only proves seek safety in England, whither he had the the off-handed decision and liberality which good fortune to transport his collection, which always mark the character of a British merproved to him a resource during this period of chant, but the intrinsic value which was athis misfortunes. They did not, however, stop tached to the collection itself, the proprietors here; for, anxious to revisit his native country, not admitting of the principle of naming a for motives at present unknown, he was re- price greater than would actually be taken. --cognised by the reigning faction of the day, W. Buchanan's Memoirs of Painting. and fell a sacrifice to the revolutionary cause.

The pictures of the Flemish, Dutch, and German schools were likewise sold in 1792 by the Duke of Orleans, to Thomas Moore Slade, Esq., who paid for them 350,000 francs (£14,500), and who, by great management, succeeded in having them sent to this country at the moment that matters begun in France to wear the most serious aspect. This purchase was made for the late Lord Kinnaird, Mr. Morland, and Mr. Hammersley, in conjunction with Mr. Slade.

The principal part of this magnificent collection, consisting of the Italian schools, was consigned, on the part of Monsieur Laborde de Mereville, to a house of eminence in the city of London; and it is believed that they were in the hands of that house when a treaty was entered into by the late Mr. Bryan, as authorised by, and on the part of, the late Duke of Bridgewater, the present Earl of Carlisle, and the Earl Gower, now Marquis of Stafford, for the purchase of that part of the collection, including also the French school, which was agreed on at the price of £43,000.

When this important purchase was concluded, which secured for England one of the richest collections, and, at the same time, one of the most valuable acquisitions which had presented itself in modern times, it was determined on by these three noblemen to select a certain proportion of the pictures for their own private collections, and to allow the remainder to be sold by private contract, under an exhibition to be made of the entire collection.

THE COVENANTERS. FAR inland, where the mountain crest O'erlooks the waters of the west, And, 'mid the moorland wilderness, Dark moss-cleughs form a drear recess, Curtained with ceaseless mists, which feed The sources of the Clyde and TweedThere, injured Scotland's patriot band For faith and freedom made their stand; When traitor kings, who basely sold Their country's fame for Gallic gold, Too abject o'er the free to reignWarned by a father's fate in vain, In bigot fury trampled down The race to whom they owed their crown. There, worthy of his masters, came The despots' champion, Bloody Graham,* To stain for aye a warrior's sword, And lead a fierce, though fawning horde, The human bloodhounds of the earth, To hunt the peasant from his hearth! Tyrants could not misfortune teach That man had rights beyond your reach? Thought ye the torture and the stake Could that intrepid spirit break, Which even in woman's breast withstood The terrors of the fire and flood? Yes-though the sceptic's tongue deride Those martyrs who for conscience died; Though modish history blight their fame, And sneering courtiers hoot the name Of men who dared alone be free Amidst a nation's slavery; Yet long for them the poet's lyre Shall breathe its notes of heavenly fire; Their names shall nerve the patriot's hand Upreared to save a sinking land; And piety shall learn to burn With holier transport o'er their urn! Pringle's Ephemerides.

This exhibition commenced on the 26th of December, 1798, in the rooms belonging to Mr. Bryan, in Pall Mall, and at the Lyceum, in the Strand, neither of these places being, individually, sufficiently extensive to contain the collection. It continued for six months, Claverhouse, afterwards Viscount Dundee:

The popular appellation of the celebrated Graham of

THE TOURIST.

MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 1833.

CIPATION. No. III.

ST. DOMINGO.

occupied so ably by those writers. We shall, therefore, quote the abstract of the Reporter so far as answers our purpose.

"When the French Revolution took place, the free people of colour of St. Domingo,

THE SAFETY OF IMMEDIATE EMAN- many of whom were persons of property and education, petitioned the National Assembly that they might enjoy the same political privileges as the whites. In March, 1790, the Assembly adopted a decree on the subject, but worded so ambiguously that, in St. Domingo, the whites and the people of colour interpreted it each in their own favour. This gave rise to animosities between them; disTHE past history and present condition of turbances ensued, and blood was shed. St. Domingo (now termed Hayti) have been "On the 15th of May, 1791, another decree, misrepresented to an almost unprecedented in more explicit terms, declared that the peoextent by the opponents of negro emancipa- ple of colour in all the French islands were tion. The conclusiveness of the evidence entitled to all the rights of citizenship. This which it supplies in proof of the safety and decree, on arriving at the Cape, produced an expediency of immediate abolition has secured indignation almost amounting to frenzy among it no inconsiderable portion of colonial notice, the whites. The two parties armed against and has led to the propagation of reports as each other, and camps began to be formed, opposite to truth as light is to darkness. The and massacres and conflagrations followed. advocates of slavery are fully aware that, if The report of these occurrences led the Asthe facts of this case are once fully appre-sembly to rescind the decree they had passed hended by the British public, they will go far in favour of the free people of colour. to remove those fears with which some contemplate the immediate destruction of colonial Londage.

"The news of this repeal enraged the people of colour as much as the former decree had done the whites, and hostilities were renewed. On this, the National Convention resolved to readopt their former decree of May, 1791; and they appointed Santhonax, Polverel, and another, to repair as commissioners to St. Domingo, with a large body of troops, in order to enforce the decree and to keep the peace.

[ocr errors]

Hence the diligent employment of a perverted ingenuity, and a wide circulation of the basest falsehoods. The public judgment has been thus misled, and the apprehensions of the misinformed and timid have been awakened. Were we to admit the correctness of our opponents' representation, we should be far from acquiescing in the soundness of their During the interval which had elapsed conclusion. The question which we have to from 1790 to the time of their arrival in 1793, determine is not whether a slave population the island had presented a dreadful scene of can, with advantage to themselves, break away carnage, caused by a civil war, not only befrom their bondage by means of a protracted tween the whites and the people of colour, and sanguinary war, but whether a country, but between the different parties of whites. enlightened like our own, cannot, with safety And it was at this time, namely, in 1791 and to the slave, abolish the degrading and cruel 1792, before the emancipation of the slaves system under which he suffers. Though a had been contemplated, that the great masslave population may be incompetent to legis- sacres and conflagrations, which make so late wisely for themselves, it does not follow frightful a picture in the history of this island, that the British nation may not institute such occurred; and all of which were caused, not enactments as may render their translation by giving liberty to the slaves, but by quarrels from servitude to freedom not only innocuous between the white and coloured planters, and but beneficial. But we are by no means dis- between the royalists and revolutionists, who, posed to shrink from an examination of the to wreak their vengeance on each other, called facts of this case. Though not necessary for in, indeed, the aid of their slaves. And even our argument, we are fully prepared to show as to the bodies of armed negroes who then that the abolition of slavery in Hayti, notwith-filled the north, in particular, with terror and standing the unfavourable circumstances under which it took place, has been productive of incalculable good to the whole negro population-that, so far from their condition having deteriorated, it has undergone an almost unprecedented improvement. In the present paper we purpose giving a brief sketch of the history of the abolition of slavery in Domingo "In the year 1793 the same divisions and -the effects which followed, and the present conflicts continued, notwithstanding the arricondition of the community. Mr. Clarkson val of the commissioners; and, on the 20th of has anticipated us in his admirable pamphlet June, a dreadful commotion took place at on The Necessity of Improving the Condition Cape François, the seamen and the white inof the Slaves, &c., so that we have little more habitants being ranged against the people of to do, in the early part of this paper, than to colour, who were afterwards joined by the inabridge his account. This has been done al-surgent blacks. The battle lasted two days; ready in No. 70 of the Anti-Slavery Reporter, the writer of which remarks, "We could not do justice to our cause more effectually than by abstracting a great part of his (Mr. Clarkson's) statement, having first taken the pains to verify it by a reference to the authentic documents from which he has drawn his materials." It would be but an affectation of originality were, we to go over the ground which has been

dismay, Malenfant affirms that they were originally put in motion by the royalists, in order to put down the revolutionists; and that even when Jean François and Biassou commenced their insurrection there were many white royalists with them, and the negroes wore the white cockade.

the arsenal was taken and plundered; some thousands were killed in the streets, and more than half the town was burnt. The commissioners, who were spectators of this horrible scene, and who had tried in vain to prevent it, escaped unhurt, but were left upon a heap of ruins, with little more power than their commission gave them, having only about a thousand troops at their command. They deter

|

mined, therefore, as the only way to restore order, and to maintain their own authority, to call the slaves in the neighbourhood to their aid, promising to give freedom to all who should range themselves under the banners of the Re public. This was the first proclamation by any public authority for emancipating any part of the slaves in St. Domingo. The result of it was, that in the north a very considerable number of them joined the Republican cause and became free.

"Soon after this transaction, Polverel, leav ing Santhonax at the Cape, went in his capacity of commissioner to Port au Prince, in the west. Here he found things quiet, and cultivation flourishing. He also visited the south. He had not, however, been long there before the slaves, having become acquainted with what had taken place in the north, were so excited that he was convinced their emancipation could not be prevented, nor even long retarded; and that it was necessary for the safety of the planters, as well as for the public peace, that it should be extended to the whole of the slaves in the island. Accordingly, in September, 1793, he issued a proclamation to that effect, dated from Les Cayes. He exhorted the planters, if they wished to avoid the most serious calamities, to concur in the measure. He caused a registry to be opened to receive the signatures of those who should approve of it; and it is remarkable that all the proprietors in the south inscribed their names. then caused a similar registry to be opened at Port au Prince for the west, and there the same disposition was found to prevail. All the planters, except one, gave in their signatures. While these measures were in progress, in the month of February, 1794, the French Convention passed a decree abolishing slavery throughout the whole of the French colonies. Thus the Government of the mothercountry confirmed the freedom bestowed by the commissioners, removing all doubts of its validity, and completing and consolidating the emancipation of the whole slave population of St. Domingo."

He

Here it becomes us to pause, and to enquire with all seriousness and impartiality: What were the consequences of this measure? What were the effects of this sudden and entire Emancipation of about 500,000 slaves. These slaves it must be remembered were not spread over twenty colonies, but were located in one. They had not been subjected to any preparatory process, but were at once set loose from the absolute authority of their masters, amidst all the violence and barbarity of a civil war. In such circumstances we should not have been surprised, if much temporary evil both to the master and the slave had resulted. But we have unsuspected testimony to the contrary. Colonel Malenfant, who resided in the island at the time, gives us the following account of the conduct of the negroes.* "After this public act of emancipation," says he, (by Polverel,) "the Negroes remained quiet both in the South and in the West, and they continued to work upon all the plantations. There were estates, indeed, which had neither owners nor managers resident upon them, for some of these had been put into prison by Montbrun; and others, fearing the same fate, had fled to the quarter which had just been given up to the English. Yet upon these estates, though abandoned, the negroes continued their labours, where there were any, even inferior, agents to guide them; and, on those estates where no

* Mémoire Historique, &c. p. 58.

« PreviousContinue »