28 MAY 1831, Page 21

ANTI G UA INSURRECTION.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE SPECTATOR.

Loudon, 24th May 1831.

Sia—Considering the variety of information required by the multi- plicity of topics which your paper discusses, it would be unreasonable to expect an equal degree of accuracy in all ; but with this allowance, I cannot say but that I was surprised to observe that, in your rather full account of the late disturbances in Antigua, you have not pointed out the almost certain source of the negro discontent ; viz, the abolition of the market on Sunday, "without, the appointment of any other day in its room." This compensation was, in principle, prescribed by the Govern- ment at home, in Lord BATUURST'S letter, dated 11th September 1824; in which he argues, that "the master adopting the system of provision- grounds can have no possible claim to the services of his slave on a Sun- day," which was to be a day of repose and religious observance,—which excludes his being under the necessity of making use of-it for the sale of his produce at market, as much as for raising it ; and every friend of the negroes in this country has not only held the same language, but has uniformly denounced the abolition of Sunday markets, " not allowing any other opportunity," as a palpable injustice—an infringement on their privileges and means of comfort, which must render them discontented, and could scarcely fail to excite disorder, and probably tumult. The Legislature of Antigua have committed this injustice, in the face of re- peated warnings, and now affect to be surprised at the often-predicted result ; and to relate their accounts of the disturbances occasioned by their own conduct, suppressing the obvious cause, and leaving the blame to fall on the riotous disposition of the negroes, rising without provoca- tion against their masters, is, by withholding half the truth, to make an impression in this country amounting to absolute falsehood ; which I can- not persuade myself to have been your intention ;* and I trust, there-

fore, that you will correct it. I am, Sir, your humble servant,

A FRIEND TO FREEDOM AND TRUTH.

• Certainly not. Any omission of this kind must have been accidental: we did not write on the subject, and what we inserted was copied from a daily paper.—ED.