can possibly be prevented by some arrangement for its performance on the other days of the week. 1822. Religious Instruction.-Divine Service is performed on the Sabbath, commencing at half-past eleven o'clock, strictly according to the Rubric of the Church of England; and a familiar lecture is delivered on the faith and duties of the Gospel. The attendance is now regular and full from the adult Estate Negroes; those who are present receiving tickets, which, on being delivered to the Manager, secure to them the enjoyment of the Saturday afternoon next following from one o'clock. Their Children, seventy-one in number, in a neat uniform dress; always attend; seats in a particular part of the Chapel being provided for them. Many of the neighbouring free-coloured. Persons and Slaves are in the habit of frequenting this Chapel; and the communicants amounted latterly to the number of thirtyone. The Chapel is built of stone, and accommodates from two hundred and fifty to three hundred souls. "Education of Children.-The Children, between four and ten years of age, meet together at a neat little School-house, near the Chapel, half way between the two Estates. Their number at present is forty-eight. They are taught to read on the National plan, and remain under the tuition of a highly respectable Governess, from nine till one every day, Saturday excepted. Those who are between the age of ten and fifteen (twenty-three in number at present), are assembled on the Sabbath, and are catechetically instructed by the Chaplain in the body of the Chapel, for two hours previous to worship. The day-school Children are at the same time in the School-room, under the tuition of their Governess. A comfortable apartment appropriated to her use leads out of the School-room: and a stipend, with allowances, is granted by the SOCIETY. Habits of the Slaves.-There is but one instance of marriage among them, legally performed; and the Chaplain ardently looks forward to the influence of religion in putting an end to Polygamy, in promoting a desire and suitable reverence for this hallowed band. Although accompanied with no solemnity, their connexions are by no means to be regarded in the light of promiscuous concubinage. Many instances of connubial fidelity through life are to be met with; yet from the unfortunate habit of living with more than one wife, the union is, in other cases, too frequently violated. Baptism is administered to all the infants, on application made by the parents, and to all adults, after due examination and instruction. Their behaviour at public worship is reverent, and, in many cases, devout. Their desire for instruction is manifest; and they are heard conversing on subjects, which discourses from the pulpit, or the reading of their children, have suggested to their minds." In seasons of illness or distress, they are visited by the Chaplain at the hospital, or at their own houses; and if there be a prisoner under confinement for some great offence, he is attended with reproof and exhortation. They seem to feel great confidence in their Minister, and often seize opportunities of having intercourse with him and the numerous little presents, and sorrow at parting with him, shew their attachment in a most affecting manner." * * * * 1823. The Report of this year represents the negro children in the Society's schools as able to read in the Gospels, and to answer questions in the Church Catechism, as well as to repeat the collects", and that in a very satisfactory manner: and an equally favourable Report is given in the following year, when Barbados and the Leeward Islands were constituted a Bishop's See.-(For a farther account of the College, see Remarks annexed to the Tabular Account of the Church in Barbados.) 2. THE INCORPORATED SOCIETY FOR THE CONVERSION, &c. OF THE NEGROES, sent out missionary clergymen, in 1794, 1795, 1798, and subsequently, to Barbados, St. Christopher's, Antigua, St. Vincent's, and Demerara. Some of these clergymen were supplied with the assistance of schoolmasters and catechists. The Society also engaged several clergymen, already resident in the Colonies, to direct their attention more especially to the instruction of the negroes. (See the Conversion Society's Reports generally, and in particular that for 1823.) In 1823, the public attention in England being strongly directed to the state of the West Indian Colonies, the Conversion Society availed itself of the interest generally excited, to make its objects and proceedings better known, and to enlarge its operations. In the same year, the Clergy of Barbados, several of whom had individually "testified their readiness to co-operate with the masters [of slaves] in the great work of instruction and reformation," published an Address, inviting the planters to form an Association with them for the purpose. In 1824, in the island of Nevis, where were two clergymen engaged as Chaplains of the Conversion Society, considerable efforts were successfully made for the introduction of a general system of instruction by means of Sunday Schools. (See the Remarks annexed to the Tabular Account of the Church in Nevis.) About the same time, bishops were consecrated for the West Indian Colonies. Thus it appears, that the efforts which were made, in connexion with the Established Church, before 1825, for the general diffusion of religious instruction among the slaves, as well as among the free, originated chiefly with the two Societies already mentioned. The CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY had also, of late years, exerted itself with considerable success in introducing schools into Antigua: though these were chiefly among the Wesleyans and Moravians. In Barbados there was a school, partly supported by the same Society, more strictly in connexion with the Church. |