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WEST I N D I E S .
sionary of proof on a most important matter,— namely, t h e stability of his converts. I t was a subject of constant regret among the S t . Vincent proprietors, t h a t there were no Moravian missionaries on t h a t island.
They
were often mentioned to me by different gentlemen who h a d been in Antigua, and
became
acquainted with their general plans of instruction, as much more likely to be of real service t h a n a n y other sect.
I was told t h a t industry
and cleanliness were not even excluded
from
their admonitions ; b u t they inculcated those virtues upon t h e negroes, both by precept and e x a m p l e ; so t h a t even where a real convert was not m a d e , the cause of civilization was advanced. I cannot Wesleyan
help a d d i n g to this notice of t h e missions, t h a t t h e
discouragement
given to social recreations, and especially to d a n c i n g , is far from favourable to their utility. An affectation of austerity is substituted for religion,—and I m a y state from my own experience, t h a t they were the best behaved
and
most orderly negroes, who were most constant in