The Emancipated Slaves Of Jamaica

The resulis of Emancipalion, as given by the Rev. Mr. Renshaw and the Rev. Mr. Hovey, missionarie ainong the f reed pcople of Jamaica ure trüly encouraging. The object of their visit lo this country, is to obtain assistance to enable ihem to go on ir. tlieir missionnry labors. The following sketch of some remarks of the Rev. Mr. Renshaw ia one of our city churchesas reported in the Travellor,will be found interesiing. The present coloree! population of Jamaica is nbout 400,000 - ïhe white residents of the island numbering only about : 50,000. The colored population for the most part consisls of the slaves who we re emancipaled by the British act of August. 1838 ; the remainder - the browns, as they are calWd - being the offspi'ing of the concubinage which so universally exsted previous to emancipation. Mr. Renshaw explained flaiisfactorily, one or two facts connected wilh the business of Jamaica, f rom which inferences have been drawn unfavorable to the change which has taken pace in thecondition of the working population. There had been a falling oil', for inslai'ce, of about 25,000 hogsheuds of sugar, in the exports from the island. The inference, drawn from this fact, that tlie negroes had becoine more indolent under a state of freedom, was not founded in Irulh. The , npgroes had now rnany trioio wants ■ ihan when in iheir degraded condition as slaves. They now used sugar theinselves largely. Allowing them fiftegn pounds a head annually, more than lliey formerly used, it would more tban mflke good tlio deficiency in the exports. The decrease in !he valuo of plantation property, loo, had been adduced as an argument against the condition of freedorn in a pecuniary point of view. This decrease, hovvever, was clearly accounted for by the change in the policy of England in reference te the pioo'ucts of its colonies, from that of proteclion which amounted lo a prohibiüon, to free trade which gave the sugar of Jamaica no preference in the Englisli market. Since emadcipation, the legislation of the Colony had entirely changed, as regarda thecolored populafior.. Many of the sainp gentlemen werestill in the governmenl, it was true, but they were now as kind and considérate tovvards tha negroes, as thcy once were necessarily cruel. An improved system of prison discipline had been ndopiep ; a lunatic nsyíum had been established, at an expense of $'100,000 ; abundant provisión had been made for enlightened medical attendance upon the laboring people ; - bublic schools had been established , a general interest, in fine, was mauifesled in the welfare of the laboring population. and all public measures looked to the amelioration of their condition. A great change - and an entirely spontaneous one - had also taken place in the moráis and manners of the white populat'on. Prior to emancipation, marriage was virtually prohibibed by the cuslornes of society, nnd concubinage was universal, lutempcrnnce and other vices generally prevailed. Now public sentiment regarded marriage as honorable ; concubinoge had to a great extent disappeared ; and principies and practicesof temperance were commonly cherished. Tne irejudices agninst color had been almost entirely removed. The brown class, once proscribed, now took a positon in society. They were found in all public stations, both in the legislativo and judicial branches of ihe governmoet. Theie was in fact no distinction as to complexion, and no bar on tr at account to the social reciprocities and amenities or life. The change in the condition of the negroes had been very great - so much so that t had operated asa hinderance to their adveriisement. They had so fapidly progressed from a state of absolute servitudo and degradation, to that of a comfortable peasantry, that they had imbibed some of 'ttie vices of wealth and werebecoming covetous. Although their present condition was only an approximation towards the condition of the free colored people in the United Slates, yet in regard to diot, clothing-, dweüing, all tliè comforts of civilized life, there had been a vast improvpment upon the frightful condition - both moral and physical - in which emancipation found them. At the time of the emancipation, such was the mental degradation of the negroes, that they ser-mfd almost to have lost ihe power of tlionght. They manifestad, however, great enihusiasm of gratitudge towards God, and towards the missionarif-s as instruments of their redemption from slavory. They literally carne and laid down their iirst rarnings at the fest of the missionaris?, with apostolic simplicity ; and a hundred thousand dollars at leat were given in this way for the erection of homes of vvorsliip and schools. There had, hovvever, been a reaction of fpeling, as might have been anticipated. The enthusiasm had jinssed away, or hnd ceased to have an