upon their hands and feet, in perfect freedom, unrestrained by ligatures, or tight garments.

'Although I have observed the mode of carrying children upon the hip to be the common method of nursing among the slaves, yet, when they have to carry them to a great distance, they neither place them upon the hip, nor the arm, but upon the back; and I have, frequently, been surprized to observe by what slight support they secure them in this situation. A mere pocket handkerchief tied carelessly round the mother, often forms all their seat and all their safety!

A few evenings ago I had the afflicting opportunity of witnessing a scene of cruelty, which strongly exemplified the abject and wretchedly humiliating condition to which human beings are subjected in a life of slavery. I happened to be waiting upon the quay for the Lord Sheffield's boat, in order to return on board, when two men, apparently white creoles, came up, and seized a negro who was standing by me, accusing him of having run away from his master. The poor black assured them that he had no master,that he belonged to Mrs., that he was well known in the town,—and that they must certainly have mistaken his person; and, upon these grounds, urged the impropriety of their taking him to prison. But regardless of his remonstrances and of their own error, they tied him with a heavy cord, fastened his hands, and forced him towards the place of confinement! Curiosity led me to follow them. The poor man still pleaded his innocence, and the mistake they had committed, begging and praying to be allowed to refer them to his mistress, or to another family in the town, to identify his person. Heedless of his protestations and entreaties they still dragged him on, and from his only expressing a reluctance at being thus unjustly hurried to a prison, one of these hardened wretches struck him a violent blow on the head, with a large stick, calling out to the other, in broad Barbadoes accent, "Laa-am him, cut him down.”

• A little before they reached the prison they had to pass a door-way where there happened to be a strong light, by means of which one of these cruel instruments of the law of force instantly recognized the poor ill-treated slave, and finding that

they were actually guilty of the mistake which the negro had stated, he called out to his savage comrade, who had struck the helpless black upon the head, "Daa-am him, I know the fellow, we must let him go," upon which they both with horrid imprecations, ordered him to stand without stirring while they should untie him; and, upon his only moving his arm to expedite the loosening of the cord, they swore that if he dared "to stir, or look savage," they would "cut him down," or put him "directly into prison." Such was the compensation dealt him for the unjust and cruel treatment he had already received. The wretches not only dragged the poor unoffending slave to a prison, in defiance of his solemn assurances of their having mistaken his person, and without allowing him an appeal to any one who knew him, but, because he ventured to say that they were committing an error, had the inhumanity to strike him with a force sufficient to have fractured his skull, and to threaten him with the further severity of death, or a dungeon, should he dare to express only a look of displeasure.

• What must have been the feelings of this injured man, who, after being abused and mal-treated, was further put in fear of his life, should he only permit nature to assume her seat on his brow,--should the cruelty, pain, and injustice he had suffered, only cause a mark of disapprobation to appear upon his countenance? But Nature, however proscribed, was not to be restrained by such command! While the power of memory remains to me I can never-never forget the indignant, but hopeless expression of injury which overspread the features of this poor slave, as he retired!-He felt aggrieved, and .... was conscious that he had no remedy,----no appeal!

...

'Barbadoes, March 15.

'I Now take up my pen to you after making a visit to the senate house, and being present at a sitting of the general assembly of the island. The proceedings were conducted according to the routine of the house of commons, which the assembly regards as its model. The representatives like ours are returned from the provinces, two, not indeed from each

county, but from each parish; and, there being 11 parishes in the island, the assembly consequently consists of 22 members.

As in our house so in theirs, the person who presides is denominated" the speaker"--the hearer had perhaps been more correct, as he happens to be the only person who is precluded from speaking in the debate, and is appointed for the express purpose of hearing all others, who through him address their arguments to the house.

6

Among the members we recognized several of the gentlemen whom we had seen in our excursion into the country. It did not happen to be a sitting of great interest to strangers, there being but little before the house for discussion, and consequently few debates. Reading and passing a militia act, and some other bills, constituted nearly the whole business of the meeting. One part of the proceedings, however, we thought to be strictly in the -- order of the day. It was excessively warm, and we were sadly parching with thirst, when two persons suddenly appeared with a large bowl, and a two quart glass filled with punch and sangaree. These were presented to "Mr. Speaker," who, after dipping deep into the bowl, passed it among the members: nor was the audience forgotten, for we were most gratefully taught that the hospitality, so universal in the island, lies even in the senate. The glass was handed up to us, and we found that it was correctly in order for strangers to join in this part of the debate. It came at a moment peculiarly opportune, and we drank deeply and cordially to our friends, and the house of assembly.

What hurry, confusion, and solicitude! a packet has at length arrived! From the 9th of December to the 16th of March have we been separated from you without hearing one word of our friends, or scarcely of our country. How shall I convey to you any just idea of the scene this day has produced by the impatient multitude crowding in anxious eagerness to obtain letters, to see the papers, and to hear the news!

Early in the morning a signal appeared at the fort, implying that a vessel was in sight. Soon afterwards, this was

lowered down, and the packet signal hoisted in its place; when instead of the pleasing expectation of seeing a vessel of our fleet, and learning news of the convoy, all were on tiptoe in the still more lively hope of hearing news, not only of our unfortunate armada, but of Europe, of England, and..... our friends! Concerning the fleet we had grown quite weary of conjecture, and now saw it probable that we might obtain more accurate intelligence respecting it, by way of England, than by any ship which had been separated from it upon the passage.

On the packet making the harbour it caused a crowd not unlike what you may have seen at a sailing or rowing match of boats upon the Thames. Each wishing to be first, and all being anxious to learn the news, the vessel was beset on every quarter before she could come to anchor, and the whole bay became one animated scene of crowded ships and moving boats. Many who could not go to the packet as she entered the harbour, repaired on shore to be ready there to meet the news. The people of the town also thronged the beach in anxious multitudes. All was busy expectation. Impatience scarcely allowed the bags to reach the office: every avenue to which was so closely blockaded that the house was quite in a state of siege, and the post-master and his mansion in danger of being taken by storm.

It was about 11 o'clock when the inspector-general, Dr. Master, and myself, followed the common impulse, went to inquire for our letters and papers; but we could only advance within sight of the post-office walls,--to approach the door was utterly impossible. Finding the crowd to be still so deep, we rambled about the town, and made calls upon various person's in order to glean the news.

Seeing no prospect of ascertaining whether we had any letters, we returned from the hot and crowded town to take our dinners quietly on board, and to enjoy the high feast of reading the papers, which our obliging and attentive friend, Mr. Hinde, had kindly allowed us to put into our pockets. You will believe that this formed a most exquisite dessert after

our meal, and was of more grateful flavour than all the fruits and sweets of a tropical soil.

From the papers it is ascertained that the great body of the convoy, with our commander-in-chief and the admiral, are returned to St. Helen's, after continuing seven tedious weeks at sea, beating against contrary winds and destructive storms, and that many of the ships which had separated had previously put back to Cork, Kinsale, Plymouth, and various other ports. This is very distressing and vexatious news, for it robs us of the pleasing hope with which we had daily looked out for our comrades, and tell us that all still remains --- to be done again! Twice has this great expedition put to sea, and during many months has it been daily expected to arrive: yet after a long and vivid suspense do we now learn that it is still in an English harbour, only preparing to sail !

'Barbadoes, March 17.

• How eventful are the hours which now pass before us! The sons of St. Patrick have not felt themselves more blessed, nor hailed in more joyous greetings this hallowed day than the anxious multitude at Barbadoes. It was only yesterday that I took up my pen to announce to you a glad arrival, and I have now to mention one still more happy. Before: breakfast this morning a signal appeared at the fort, implying that a ship of war was in sight; and about eight o'clock a proud frigate, with sails swelling to the breeze, cut her liquid path silently into the bay, and dropped her anchor in the midst of the fleet. A general feeling of joy instantly spread throughout the harbour. It was the Arethusa, with sir Ralph Abercromby, and the officers of his staff on board. A signal was made from the agent, and all the ships in the bay immediately manned their yards and rigging to hail and to welcome, in loud salutation, our long expected commander-in-chief. Three heart-felt cheers were rapturously shouted from every vessel, and as cordially echoed by the Arethusa's company.

The scene thus introduced was novel and peculiar. It was also highly interesting. The yards, the tops, the masts