was so often acted in after-ages both by Jewish, Pagan, and Popish persecutors. I will not stain my book by inserting a copy of this execrable enactment, but proceed to say, that nothing could be more effectual than the provisions of it, for preventing the slaves from hearing the gospel on six days out of every seven: before the sun rises they are compelled to be at their labour, and they are not permitted to quit their work till the sun goes down. The law, therefore, leaves them at liberty to attend preaching during those hours they are confined, that is, when they cannot possibly attend; and prohibits their attendance only when they can attend! Such were the methods which these lying legislators adopted tr for preventing the profanation of religious rites, and false worshipping of God!"

The breach of this law was to be punished in a white person, who should have any share in such worship, by a fine of not more than one hundred pounds, or by imprisonment in the common gaol, not exceeding three months, or both; in a coloured or black person just the same; and if a slave, the breach of this statute was to be punished by confinement and hard labour in the workhouse, for any space not exceeding six months; or by whipping, not exceeding thirtynine stripes; or both, as should in these respective cases be adjudged.

The framers of this law had no jurisdiction beyond the precincts of the town and parish of Kingston, which confined the operation of the letter of it accordingly, but the spirit which produced it reached to other places, to the injury of the missions. It was not a little remarkable, that French and Spanish priests remained unmolested, while free-born natives of the British protestant government were laid under an interdict. 3 C

13.

A still more effectual obstruction to the pro pagation of the gospel was thrown in the way: the assembly, council, and governor of Jamaica, passed a law in November, 1807, which they entitled "An act for the protection, subsisting, clothing, and for the better order and government of the slaves, and for other purposes."

The preamble seems to express a wish for the slaves to be instructed in the principles of the christian religion. This is no sooner intimated than it proceeds to declare, that the instruction of such slaves shall be confined to the doctrines of the church of England, and that no Methodist missionary, or other sectary, or preacher, shall presume to instruct the slaves, or receive them into their houses, chapels, or conventicles, of any sort or description, under the penalty of twenty pounds for every slave proved to have been there, and to be recovered in a summary manner before any three justices of the peace, who were authorised to issue their warrant for the recovery of the same. The evident design of the legislature was to cut off all intercourse between the missionaries and the slaves.

The persecutors in Kingston persevered in their evil exertions, and made the utmost use of their restrictive" ordinance," as appeared by the account which Mr. Gilgrass sent to Dr. Coke, dated the 2nd of February, 1808.

A missionary and his wife having just arrived from England, introduced a new tune into the singing-meeting, which was now held from five to six o'clock in the evening. The meeting being much taken up with this new tune, continued trying to learn it till a quarter after six, when a police-officer and a magistrate, with a night-guard, surrounded and entered the house, and took Mr. Gilgrass, and Mr. Knowlan, another missionary,

into custody, to carry them, at the request of the officer of the police, de wn to the Cage, a place where all vagabonds are confined for misdemeanors, However they were permitted to stay at home, upon promising to be forth-coming in the morning. They were then informed, that the business would be let drop: but in a few days they were summoned to the court-house, before the corporation: and a few days after that again, after standing above two hours before his judges, the mayor pronounced upon Mr. Gilgrass the following sentence:-" William Gilgrass, you are found guilty, by a large majority of this assembly, of a breach of the resolution of the late “ordinance," keeping your house a receptacle for that purpose for which you are to be confined in Kingston common gaol one month." Mr. Gilgrass looked the mayor in the face, saying, “ I thank you, and am very happy under the judg

ment."

Sundry persons visiting him in the prison, he sung and prayed with them, and was requested to preach; but the magistrates prohibited both this and singing and praying. Mrs. Gilgrass accompanied her husband during his imprisonment.

Mr. Knowlan should have been imprisoned next, but as he was ill, they granted him a pardon: and when Mr. Gilgrass had been confined a fortnight they released him; but he found the chapel shut up. He resolved, however, to preach, and did so for a fortnight, of which there was the more need, as many who had run well were now moved from their stedfastness in this day of tribulation and persecution.

The four missionaries, Messrs. Bradnock, Gilgrass, Knowlan, and Wiggins, were summoned before the sitting magistrates. After being interrogated, they were informed, they should

not preach without being licensed by that court. They answered, that they were already licensed by the laws of England. It was replied, "What are the laws of England to us? What have we to do with them?" Mr. Knowlan then moved for a license; but was thus answered-" Indeed you will not get one."

The class-meetings were set aside, and indeed the whole society might be said to be dissolved. The missionaries made every exertion to recover their suspended privileges, but altogether in vain. The only remaining hope, therefore, was in an application to the king and his privy council. But apprehensive of such an application, the framers of the law made a delay of some months before they transmitted the law for the sanction of the king; and when it came, it was accompanied by an agent, who appeared to be delegated to enforce all its clauses.

The committee appointed by the Conference for guarding the privileges of the Methodist Connexion, of whom Dr. Coke was a leading member, had before made application to the king's most honourable privy council; but the answer returned was, that no such act as was alluded to had yet arrived. The committee also presented a petition, ar rather memorial, to the king himself.

The three denominations of dissenters also presented a memorial " to the right honourable the Lords of the committee of privy council for trade and plantations, representing the sufferings of their brethren in Jamaica," and praying the king to withhold his assent to the persecuting law.

Notwithstanding these memorials, the year 1808 passed away, and left the interesting question still undecided. But in the spring of 1809, after the board of trade had duly heard and considered the subject, Dr. Coke received the following letter:

Office for Trade, Whitehall, 26th April, 1809.

"Lord Bathurst presents his compliments to Dr. Coke, and acquaints him, that the late act passed in Jamaica, in November, 1807, "for the protection, subsisting, clothing, and for the better order and government of slaves, and for other purposes," was this day disallowed by his majesty in council." This news was communicated to all the Methodist Societies throughout the United Kingdom and the West Indies, that all might partake of the general joy. But though the arm of persecution was somewhat staid by the tolerant conduct of the king and his council, yet it could not make enemies into friends. A spirit of hostility to the gospel of Jesus Christ still continues to manifest itself in Jamaica, but more especially in Kingston, to which place indeed its greatest fury is confined. In this town, through the influence of a municipal law, preaching has been prevented year after year. Though the acts of the legislature have been disallowed by the king, they have contrived to maintain their point by still enacting something to the same effect. In August, 1812, Mr. Wiggins, a Methodist missionary, ventured to preach, and had large and attentive congregations. But he was summoned before the magistrates, and imprisoned a month in the common gaol. But this procured him many friends. To increase the stir created by his imprisonment, a dreadful hurricane, followed by a tremendous earthquake, had greatly contributed. Many have considered these awful occurrences as judgments on a guilty island. Multitudes have flocked to prayer-meetings, established in various parts of the town, and which, it seems, the magistrates cannot prevent. These have been attended with the most blessed effects to the souls of many; and partly supply the want