NEGRO PROCESSION. 



269 



whom wore cocked hats, cockades, epaulets, 

 silk sashes, and top boots : — then followed a 

 party of younger men bearing pikes with tin 

 heads, and a few flags ; several bands of music 

 were placed at intervals in the long array, and 

 the whole was closed by a number of black 

 boys, two and two, in their gayest apparel. On 

 each side of the procession were seen a great 

 number of female negroes, and in this order 

 they went to the church, as is customary with 

 the Benefit Societies in England at their annual 

 meetings, to hear divine service. The men 

 afterwards dined together, elected office-bearers 

 for the year ensuing, and according to custom 

 on such occasions, it was stated that they 

 " spent the evening in the utmost conviviality 

 and good humour." 



It was truly gratifying to witness the happy 

 appearance of these free blacks, and. to think 

 of the event commemorated by their holiday 

 procession. The State laws prohibited their 

 being any longer bought and sold like the 

 inferior animals, or a mass of inanimate matter. 

 As in England they breathed the air of liberty : 

 and the privilege was theirs of hearing the glad 

 tidings of Redemption from an African preacher, 

 which under a divine blessing can liberate 



