ANTIGUA. AND THE ANTIGUAN& THE authoress of these volumes visited

Antigua more than once, and resided there some time in company with her husband, who appears to have filled some public office. Besides the usual obser- vations which any one with eyes and reflection naturally makes in a strange place, she examined the history, picked up the legends, studied the genealogy, and learned something of the statistics of the island. Her friends became acquainted with her pursuits, and urged her to write out and publish her notes,—a request with which the well-known affection of colonists for the genus et proari had probably something to do ; for the history of the island, the account of its magnates, with some topographical sketches, and similar things, are the least interesting parts of the book.

The merit of Antigua and the Antig,uans consists in its feminine character—the nicety of perception, the kindness of feeling, and, on many topics, the just discrimination, which belong to woman. The defects of the work for the most part originate in the same source. They consist in a feebleness of treatment in the bolder and larger topics, with dashes of prejudice in the smaller, together with a diffuseness of style that renders the words .out of all proportion to the matter. This prolixity is more visible in her original than in her compiled passages, and detracts from the effect of her liveliness of observation and smartness of remark. Both spirit and volatility are weakened by the quantum of the con- stiluens in which they are presented.

Subject to the occasional disparity of the mind to the theme, the historical narrative may be perused as a clear account of the annals of Antigua, well interspersed with characteristic anecdotes of the Governors and other persons of mark. The heraldic glories of the tight little island suffer nothing under the aristocratic zeal of our fair writer ; and the legends illustrative of the manners and events of former times are pleasant—quite as good as most of the tales in annuals and periodicals, with the advantage of distinct object. The personal narrative of excursions through the island, and the topo- graphical descriptions which accompany them, are the feeblest portions of the book • the subject-matter being too slight in its in- terest to bear the elaborate verboseness of the writer. The most valuable part is the account of the character and condition of An- tiguan society, especially of the Coloured people. The diffuseness of style, indeed, somewhat mars the effect of the sketches : the original is rather suggested than conveyed, so that readers may fail in realizing the life, unless they have seen something analo- gous to it. But, though feebly delineated, the thing is there. The uncertainty, caprice, dawdling idleness, and impudent familiarity of the Negroes, as well as their total disregard of moral as opposed to legal obligation, are touched off by one evidently familiar with the qualities she is describing, though a slight degree of soreness from having suffered under them may have heightened the colour. Equally good is the picture of their love of finery and disregard of decency ; rags, and scarcely that, on week-days—rag-fair upon their backs on Sundays. But the poorer part of the Coloured race, with more or less of white blood in their veins, is done with yet greater acumen ; partly, we infer, because on public occasions they have come into closer contact than was desirable, and "attempted to put themselves on a level with the gentry" of the island. There they are, with their scanty means, their indifferent English, their stylish wardrobe, their " Brummagem" jewellery, their superfine manners, and a forward impudence and display entirely their own. The West Indies now would seem a rich field for the satirical de- lineator of manners.

What adds to the authority of the writer's descriptions, is her opposition to slavery, and her statement, from the information of planters and other practical men, that abolition has been a boon to the property of Antigua, however injurious to the larger islands where the population is scanty. Her mere facts very often coin- cide with those of the Abolition tourists ; but the theorists only looked at single facts, not seeing and not knowing the accompany- ing truths. Friend GURNEY, for example, described every thing couleur de rose, though not untruly ; but the inferences he drew were about as correct as those of a man who visiting a family on a fête- day should proceed to depict their daily life from what he observed at their annual ball.

The miraculous improvement in morals is a topic on which the Abolitionists expatiate. When one reflects upon what is going on in society among the most correct of the Northern nations, where public opinion, the declarations of law, and the sanctions of religion, have been operating for ages, the sudden change seems extraordi- nary in people of a Southern temperament, unused to any restraint upon their passions, and among whom licentiousness was not only encouraged by the interest of the planters and the practice of society, but marriage was forbidden to the slave by law. Still, the Abolitionist fact is correct. Marriages wonderfully increased, be- cause matrimony, by the Episcopalian form, was their sign of a free man ; but it does not appear that the outward ceremony had much effect in washing the blackamoor white.

NEGRO WEDLOCK IN THE WEST INDIES.

When the light of day began to dawn upon this benighted part of the globe by the introduction of Christianity among the Negroes, they were encouraged by the Moravian. and Methodists to choose a partner from among the other sex, and, in the face of the congregation, vow to each other fidelity and love. Although, of courae, such marriages were not held binding by law, it WAS hoped that it would in somo measure check the increase of immorality; and in some instances it might have done so ; but the greater part violated those vows with- out compunction, or held them only until a fresh object gained their attention. It has been frequently known for a man thus married to maintain his wife and his mistress in the same house : which arrangement occasioned frequent do- mestic broils ; and in such cases, the man, being applied to as umpire, has settled the dispute by remarking to his mistress, " That she must not quarrel with her companion, who was his wife ; and that if she did, he would turn her away " ' • and then, addressing the aggrieved wife, tell her, for her consolation, " That she must not mind, because ahe was his wife already ! " After the Negroes were freed from the thrall of slavery in 1834, and the same privileges open to them as to the rest of the British subjects, it was their pride to be married at the Established Church. In many instances they had been already joined by the Moravian or Methodist preachers ; but, wishing to get rid of thew partners, who had borne with them the brunt of slavery, they privately paid their addresses to some of the young ladies already mentioned, carried them to the altar, and there married in direct opposition to their former vows, which were as binding and sacred in the eyes of God as if his Grace the Arch- bishop of Canterbury had pronounced the nuptial benediction. Among such an immense number of Negroes, it is almost impossible to discover the offenders in this respect against common decency, although the clergymen are generally indefatigable in their exertions to discover the truth. Still, vigilant as they are, they have been deceived; and instances are known where parties have been twice married even in the Episcopal church. • • • When such circum- stances have occurred, and the clergyman refused to remarry them, it has been no unfrequent practice for the parties to embark on board a small vessel, and, proceeding to Monserrat, or some other island, there to procure the completion of their unhallowed purpose. Another evil to be deplored is, that even when parties are lawfully joined in the bands of wedlock, they pay such little regard to the solemnity of the act. The smart dresses, (for which often they commit an unlawful deed,) the plenti- ful breakfast or lunch, the gilded cake, and the driving about in borrowed gigs, is much more thought of by them than the serious, the important promise, of loviug one another in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, cleave only unto them, who by the ordinances of God and man are made one flesh. From this want of regard to the serious part of the ceremony, great mischief ensues. As soon as the novelty has worn off, the husband forgets the wife he ought to cherish, and the wife forgets his honour which she is bound to protect. The old leaven cleaves about them ; and, throwing off all shame, they follow the bad example of their parents, (who indeed are less faulty than themselves, not having had such means of instruction,) and by these rceans give to the country, instead of an honest peasantry, a race of idle illegitimate children.

In point of closeness, the style of the chronicle of Antigua is superior to this ; probably because the writer's authorities had re- trenched minuter circumstances, which she, in drawing from nature, does not discard : but her anecdotical stories are the best part of the chronicle. Here is

A POPULAR GOVERNOR OF THE OLDEN TIME.

About the middle of the year, died the Right Honourable Ralph Lord Lavington, Baron of Lavington, one of his Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Knight Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Cap- tain-General and Commander-in-chief of his Majesty's Leeward Caribbee Islands. His Lordship, it is said, was a very hospitable man, and very fond of splendour • his Christmas balls and routs were upon the highest scale of magni- ficence; but he was a great stickler for etiquette, and a firm upholder of dif- ference of rank and colour. It is asserted, that he would not upon any occa- sion receive a letter or parcel from the fingers of a Black or Coloured man ; and, in order to guard against such horrible defilement, he had a golden instrument wrought something like a pair of sugar-twigs, with which he was accustomed to hold the presented article. In hia household he was also very particular. He had, of course, an immense number of attendants ; but he would not allow any of the Black servants to wear shoes or stockings ; and consequently his ebon footmen used to stand behind his carriage, as it rolled along, with their naked legs shining like pillars of jet, from the butter with which, in accordance with his Excellency's orders, they daily rubbed them.

The following tale of blood relates to a man who eventually perished by his own art ; and it shows that the practised duellist is by nature a ruffian, however he may exhibit an outward polish, or a surface goodnature, when, like the Devil, " he is pleased."

TRAIT OF A DUELLIST.

Lord Camelford commanded the Favourite sloop.of-war, and Commodore Fahie the ship Perdrix, Mr. Peterson holding the rank of First Lieutenant on board the last-named vessel. Commodore Fable had left Antigua a short time before, to take temporary command of the fleet, then anchored before St. Kitt's; and during his absence Lieutenant Peterson was of course left in command of the Perdrix. • • • Lord Camelford and Lieutenant Peterson were unhappily at variance; and, perhaps to mortify his rival, Lord Camelford ordered Mr. Peterson to take the watch upon the very evening that a gay ball was to be given at Blacks Point to the naval officers. Unfortunately, Lieu- tenant Peterson entertained the idea that as he was in command of the ship Perdrix, in the absence of Commodore Fahie, he was superior officer to Lord Camelford, who only commanded a sloop; and, in consequence of this false impression, be positively refused to obey his Lordship's orders.

The disastrous evening approached, and the Lieutenant retired to his quarters above the capstan-house, in order to dress for the festive party. Arming him- self with a pair of loaded pistols, and telling his boat's crew to attend him, Lord Camelford quitted his retirement, and stationed himself directly between the capstan-house and the guard-house, (now called the Commissioner's house,) and there waited the approach of Mr. Peterson, whom he had already sum- moned to attend him.

Upon the unfortunate young officer making his appearance, accompanied by some of his friends, his Lordship again commanded him to take charge of the watch for the evening: the command was again refused; when, taking one of the pistols from his bosom, Lord Camelford immediately fired, and the ball passing through the breast of the brave but inconsiderate Lieutenant, he fell a corpse upon the ground, the deadly stream welling from the wound, and staining, as it flowed, the gay ball-dress which he wore. No sooner did the well-aimed weapon do its work, than, drawing the other from its resting-place, his Lordship turned to the Second Lieutenant of the Perdrix, and pointing it at him, asked if he would obey his orders, or meet the same punishment as Mr. Peterson ? Life is sweet I—the second in command saw his friend stretched at his feet with the red blood gurgling around him; and, fearing the same fate, he obeyed Lord Camelford, and took the watch.

Lord CAMELFORD appears to have been tried by a court-martial, and acquitted. Were such a deed perpetrated now, a similar result must perhaps follow ; but public opinion would expel such a ruffian from society, if not strong enough to expel him from the " services."