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can never give me a bad Character as since I was a Servant of his I always try my endeavour to obey him as a Servant never absent from my work but alway try to obey his Orders."

I had to inform the applicant in this case, that there is no jurisdiction in the colony, in matters of divorce; on which information the negro lawyer of my poor complainant immediately induced him to alter his application, and to demand a restitution of conjugal rights. But here again was a difficulty,—the question of the validity of a marand riage ceremony performed by an overseer; lastly, there was the advantage of the applicant to be considered before proceeding to extremities for the recovery of a worthless woman. He eventually agreed to leave it to the decision of the

rector.

The next epistle is from a negro cook, which savours prodigiously of a lawyer's kitchen the writer appeared before me, in a sort of demi-official culinary costume-a blue frock-coat trimmed with frogs, a white apron rolled up under his arm, and a bundle of papers in his hand, neatly folded up-either cookery receipts, or characters from his various places.

THE COOK'S LETTER.

"TO DR. MADDEN, Special Justice of the City and parish of Kingston.

"Sir,

"Having being informed, that you are appointed to investigate, and to hear, and determine upon the Several matters and things, and all Cases ariseing in this said City and parish of Kingston, I am induced to lay before your Honor, my case, viz. As I was informed, by the individual whose protection I am under, at present That I am at liberty to work for the use of myself, without any molestation, from any person or persons, whomsoever, and as my profession being a Cook, and I may obtain an employment in some part in the Country, I crave much to have a paper of some kind to show that, I am at liberty to go wherever I may thinks fit, unmolested, by which means, I solicits your Kind interference, by giving me an advice, how I am to act,-By so doing, you will be ever esteemed by

"Your most humble,

"and Obedient, Servant,
"EDWARD BROWN."

"Kingston, Aug. 14, 1834."

A female apprentice was brought before me for refusing to put herself under the treatment of a white Doctor, and preferring the assistance of

a black one-a very natural predilection, which the negroes commonly have, for doctors of their own colour. The editor of a paper described the approach of the black doctor, when called on, as a sort of hop-skip-and-a-jump movement, with his arms swinging backwards and forwards, and as styling himself a member of the Jamaica College of Physicians, duly ordained to subscribe for the sick, and to arbitrate limbs, when occasion required it; and that on my expressing some doubt of his qualifications, he made a low bow, and then, making one tremendous stride, quitted the office. There was some truth in the account mixed with a great deal of exaggeration; and in a day or two after its insertion, I saw the following letter in the newspapers from the black doctor, Mr. Wm. Barclay, which is a tolerable specimen of the altered tone to buckra, which may be remarked, since August: the negro no longer speaks" with baited breath, and in a bondsman's key." The black doctor felt himself aggrieved by the report in question, and he remonstrated with the buckra editor, with the spirit of a freeman, and with the propriety of a respectable person,—barring a few hard words, which go for nothing in a Jamaica newspaper:

VOL. II.

G

"To the Editor of the Kingston Chronicle and City Advertiser.

66

SIR, I have been perusing an elaborate, and, in your idea, creditable production of yours, in your paper of the 25th inst., giving an account of a trial which took place before his Honour the Special Magistrate, respecting a Mrs. Forrest and her apprentice, which is completely garbled, and void of facts. It is time you should put aside your childhood, and not tell fibs. You have distorted my expressions; and as to your invidious remarks of my being a black doctor, it tends but little to your credit. I am, Sir, black, 'tis true-my colour shews it; but pray, Sir, what colour are you of? I am not presumptive enough to style myself an M.D. I am known as a druggist, and attended the said female for a chronic affection, found her medicines, and tendered her relief— more was not required of me (without her owner's aid). I never applied to his Honour for the amount of my bill, as you stated. That and the other statements is void of facts.

But

"I never was sent to college: you, probably, may have walked to it, and round about it. I value but little your sarcastic sneers: but the day is fast approaching when it will be seen the blacks will have the same advantage of emulating as you have, and possess equal capacity, and are

made of the same materials. You may designate me a blue man, for all I care; but as long as my conduct claims respect of all my superiors, a fig for your bumbast.

"There is at present a wide field for you to display your abilities, and not to be groveling to injure one who does not, or have any wish to offend. But, Sir, it is out of your power, or your coadjutors, to stamp me with dishonesty, or want of integrity; and, as Pope said, an honest man was the noblest work of God, so I take my leave of you, and remain, Mr. Editor,

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I shall merely give you an outline of two cases of recent occurrence, in which the sable parties were a couple of as accomplished knaves as I have yet met with.

The first was that of a negro boy named Adam, about twelve years of age, a remarkably sharp, intelligent-looking boy. He complained of an iron collar having been kept on his neck for about a twelvemonth by his master, for having repeatedly run away. The fact was admitted; and I made up my mind to turn over the matter to the attorneygeneral, for his jurisdiction. The boy likewise preferred a claim to freedom, on the ground of

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