ANTIGUA INSURRECTION.
TO TILE EDITOR ON THE SPECTATOR.
London, 31st May lsm.
Sin—In your last Number I perused with very considerable pain some severe strictures on the conduct of the Council and House of As- sembly in Antigua ; and my surprise was not a little enhanced on find- ing that Anti-Christian morceau signed " A Friend to Freedom and Truth." That he has taken the unwarrantable freedom of publishing an atrocious libel (so, at least, the late Lord Ellenboroutsh would have termed it), I very readily admit ; and. how far he is entitled to credence for the truth of his uncalled for vituperation, I shall endeavour to show. Whoever this finisher of a half-told tale may be; it is evident he is an over-zealous partisan of the Anti-Slavery Society, that baneful pest to the wellbeing and peace of our West India Colonies. The sapient 1° Friend to Freedom and Truth" states—" Every friend of the Negroes in this country has uniformly denounced the abolition of the Sunday market, not allowing any other opportunity, as a palpable injus- tice—au infringement on their privileges and means of comfort," fec. Sir, you will not find a planter or slave-owner in the island of Antigua who will deny this; one and all have unequivocally made this declara- tion. I think I may here he permitted to inquire of your correspondent how he can justify " the withholding half the truth to make an impres. sion in this country amounting to absolute falsehood ?" because, if he has any local knowledge of these matters, he muit be acquainted with that which is perfectly well known to every other person ; and if he is ignorant re the fact, I hope he will in future be cautious how he sends forth false statements under the specious semblance of " truth."
" A Friend to Freedom's" goes on to state-a" The Legislature of An- tigua have committed this injustice in the face of repeated warnings, and now affect to be surprised at the often predicted result," &c. Really, Sir, it is incomprehensible to my obtuse understanding by what distor- tion of "truth" that assembly have been made subject to so grave a charge ! During the progress of " the Bill" through its different stages, several members consulted with those of the clergy who had been most zealously employed in promoting the abolition of the market, on this very question. Now, Sir, what was the answer ? The clergy declared they did not ask for another day ; and the Members of the House of Assembly, knowing the intention of the planters (being planters themselves), did not, in their legislative wisdom, consider it necessary to pass any specific measure to enforce or legalize that against which no opposition was intended.
The utmost precaution was taken by the planters generally to prevent any disaffection or commotion among the negroes; and the magistrates, police, &c. attended in the market-place, on the four market-days im- mediately preceding black Sunday, and assured the assembled negroes their masters would appoint another day for holding their market ; and how was this intimation received by an enlightened negro population ?- " We will have the Sunday ; there is no day in the week will compensate us for the loss of Sunday." Adding, "Their souls were their own, and they had a right to spend God's day as they chose." I hope, Sir, I have satisfactorily repelled the imputations of "A Friend to Freedom and Truth ;" and I hope, too, the lamentable and -destructive proceedings in the heretofore peaceable island of Antigua will have the effect of removing that prejudice which has been too long cherished against the West India body. When we hear of the negroes going to market with fruit, vegetables, pork, poultry, &c., it will surely no longer be said, they are an ill-used and destitute class of beings ; or that the master who gives up to their sole use a large portion of his es- tate for the purpose of enabling them to enjoy these advantages, can be the heartless, unfeeling brute he has been so often described. Sir, I will not lengthen this communication by offering you any apology for sending it; and I have the fullest reliance in your impartiality to give it a place in your next number of the SPECTATOR.
I am, Sir, your very humble servant, BUCKRA.
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