involves the wreck of immortal souls, with the lesser evil of confused and disastrous material interests. And surely this melancholy state of affairs cannot
Jamaica, to lay up enough with which to purchase one of these properties," (p. 118.)
3. Political power. "The political power of the island is rapidly passing into the same hands, (the black people's.) The possession of four or live acres of land confers a right to vote on the selection of members of Assembly. The blacks are ambitious to possess and exercise this privilege; it causes them to be courted and respected. It is only a short time since there were no colored people returned to that body. In the last Assembly there were a dozen. No Negro ever had a seat
there till the session before the last, when one was returned. In the last session there were three. It is safe to say, that in a very few years the blacks and browns will be in a clear majority. They already hold the balance of power," (p. 157.)
4. Distinguished Negroes and colored men. "One of the most distinguished barristers on the island is a colored man, who was educated at an English University, and ate his terms at Lincoln's Inn," (p. 23.) Speaking of the Surrey Assize, he says, (p. 25 :) "Two colored lawyers were sitting at the barristers' table, and the jury-box was occupied by twelve men, all but three of whom were colored."
In a statement made by G. W. Alexander, of London, who recently visited the West Indies, I find that there arc between 30 and 40,000 black voters in Jamaica.
The Rev. Mr. Dowding, who has lived many years in the West Indies, thus speaks of the black population in general: "They are now in the fullest career of improvement, and after knowledge of them, as parishioners, both young and old, in the school, in the family, and at the sick bedside, it is impossible not to call them a most promising people; intelligent, orderly, and (for the most part) religious.
"It is not necessary for our purpose that we should make out a case, and I have no wish to hide either their foibles or their faults. It would be strange indeed if they had not both; but let it be remembered that within the last twenty years these people were salable like the brutes that perish; suffered (almost encouraged) to live as the brutes; and it needs, must be considered a most significant fact, that they have risen to the requirements of their condition so rapidly, and taken possession of
