ANTIGUA. the rural negroes. Many have joined the Temperan x Society, and many act on tee-total principles." The only colored person (cither black or brown) whom we saw drunk during a residence of nine weeks in Antigua, was a carpenter in St. John's, who as he reeled by, stared in our faces and mumbled out his sentence of condemnation against wine bibbers,—" Gemmen—you sees I'se a little bit drunk, but 'pon honor I only took th—th-ree bottles of wine—that's all." It was " Christmas times," and doubtless the poor man thought he would venture for once in the year to copy the example of the whites. In conclusion, on the subject of morals in Antigua, we are Warranted in stating, 1st., That during the continuance of slavery, immoralities were rife. 2d. That the repeated efforts of the home Government and the local Legislature, for several successive years previous to 1834, to ameliorate the system of slavery, seconded by the labors of clergymen and missionaries, teachers and catechists, to improve the character of the slaves, failed to arrest the current of vice and profligacy. What few reformations were effected were very partial, leaving the more enormous immoralities as shameless and defiant as ever, up to the very day of abolition ; demonstrating the utter impotence, of all attempts to purify the streams while the fountain is poison. 3d. That the abolition of slavery gave the death blow to open vice, overgrown and emboldened as it had become. Immediate emancipation, instead of lifting the flood-gates, was the only power strong enough to shut them down ! It restored the proper restraints upon vice, and supplied the. incentives to virtue. Those great controllers of moral action, self-respect,attachment Inlaw, and veneration for God, which slavery annihilated, freedom has resuscitated, and now they stand round about the emancipated with flaming swords deterring from evil, and with cheering voices exhorting to good. It is explicitly affirmed that the grosser forms of immorality, which in every country attend upon slavery, have in Antigua either shrunk into concealment or become extinct.
Years.
1822 23 24 25 27 32 33 34 35 36 To 1837
27 Bibles.
Test's.
94 18 89 57 79 6 Ill 97 227 48 69 25
156 18 204 149 117 12 65 148 487 37 136 67
Total.... 920
1596
Colonies Supplied. Anguilla
Demerara Dominica Montserrat
Nevis Saba St. Bart's St. Eustatius St. Kitts St. Martins Tortola Trinidad
From the last annual report we quote the following cheering account, touching the events of 1834: " The next event of importance in our annals is the magnificent grant of the parent society, on occasion of the emancipation of the slaves, and the perpetual banishment of slavery from the shores of Antigua, on the first of August, 1834; by which a choice portion of the Holy Scriptures was gratuitously circulated to about one third of the inhabitants of this colony. Nine thousand seven hundred copies of the New Testament, bound together with the book of Psalms, were thus placed at the disposal of your committee." * * * " Following hard upon this joyful event, another gratifying circumstance occurred among us. The attention of the people was roused, and their gratitude excited towards the Bible Society, and they who bad freely received, now freely gave, and thus a considerable sum of money was presented to the. parent society in acknowledgment of its beneficent grant." We here add an extract from the annual report for 1826. Its sentiments contrast strongly with the congratulations of the last report upon ' the joyful event' of emancipation. " Another question of considerable delicacy and importance still remains to be discussed. Is it advisable, under all the circumstances of the case, to circulate the Holy Scriptures, without note or comment, among the slave population of these islands'? Your Committee can feel no hesitation BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS. in affirming that such a measure is not merely exWe insert here a brief account of the benevopedient, but one of almost indispensable necessity. lent institutions of A ntigua. Our design in giving The Sacred Volume is in many respects peculiarly it, is to show the effect of freedom in bringing into adapted to the slave. It enjoins upon him preplay those charities of social life, which slavery cepts so plain, that the most ignorant cannot fail uniformly stifles. Antigua abounds in benevoto understand them : ‘ Slaves, obey in all things lent societies, all of which have been materially your masters, not with eye service, as men pleasrevived since emancipation, and some of them ers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.' It have been formed since that event. furnishes him with motives the most impressive and consoling: ‘ Ye serve,' says the Apostle, ‘ the THE BIBLE SOCIETY. Lord Christ.' It promises him rewards sufficient This is the oldest society in the island. It was to stimulate the most indolent to exertion: ‘ Whatorganized in 1815. All denominations in the soever good thing any man doetlh the same shall island cordially unite in this cause. The princi- he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.' design of pal this society is to promote the circu- And it holds forth to him an example so glorious, lation of the Scriptures among the laboring popu- that it would ennoble even angels to imitate it: lation of the island. To secure this object numer- ‘ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ ous branch associations—amounting to nearly Jesus, who made, himself of no reputation, and fifty—have been organized throughout the island took upon him the form of a slave f among the negroes themselves. The society has It may here, he proper to observe, that the prebeen enabled not only to circulate the Scriptures cise import of the word, which in general throughamong the people of Antigua, but to send them out the English Bible is translated servant, is extensively to the neighboring islands. strictly that which has been assigned it in the The following table, drawn up at our request foregoing quotations; (!) and so understood, the by the Secretary of the Society, will show the ex- Sacred Volume will be found to hold out to our tent of foreign operations: slaves, both by precept and example, the most