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them as a matter of right, and of which no person 

 should deprive them on any account whatever, 

 every Saturday to cultivate their grounds ; and in 

 addition to their holidays at Christmas, I gave 

 them for play-days Good- Friday, the second Friday 

 in October, and the second Friday in July. By 

 which means, they will in future have the same 

 number of holidays four times a year, which hitherto 

 they have been allowed only once, i.e. at Christ- 

 mas. The first is to be called " the royal play-day," 

 in honour of that excellent Princess, the Duchess 

 of York; and the negroes are directed to give three 

 cheers upon the head driver's announcing " The 

 health of our good lady, H. R. H. the Duchess 

 of York." And I told them, that before my 

 leaving the island, I should hear them drink this 

 health, and should not fail to let Her Royal High- 

 ness know, that the negroes of Cornwall drank her 

 health every year. This evidently touched the 

 right chord of their vanity, and they all bowed 

 and courtesied down to the very ground, and said, 

 that would do them much high honour. The 

 ninth being my own birthday, the July play-day 

 is to be called " the massa's and that in October 

 is to be in honour of the piccaninny-mothers, from 

 whom it is to take its name. 



The poor creatures overflowed with gratitude ; 

 and the prospective indulgences which had just 

 been announced, gave them such an increase of 

 spirits, that on returning to my own residence, they 



