On the 9th of July, 1823, Lord Bathurst, Secretary of
State of the Colonies, addressed a circular t^ the Gover-
nors, commanding them to submit definite ameliorations to
the legislatures, a sort of preparatory programme of the
measures adapted to bring about freedom, of which the fol-
lowing is a summary : —

* Wilberforce, session of April 2, 1792.
t Abstract of the Abolition of Slavery in the Colonies. Royal Printing House-
1840, Tom. L p. 4.
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HISTOEY OF EMANCIPATION. ol9

1. Before all, to strengthen and diffuse religion, — '' the
source of all true amelioration ^^ ; the government should
make free those whom religion has made men. They should
contribute to the support of a more numerous clergy as soon
as the legislature should have rendered the action of this
clergy possible by the abolition of Sunday markets, and
the concession to the slave of another day instead of Sun-
day, in which to cultivate their own fields.
2. To accord to slaves the right to testify in court, to see
in their word conscientiousness' and reason, as soon as re-
ligion should have taught these regenerated beings to re-
spect the name of God. To admit no slave to testify except
those provided with a certificate of piety from the ecclesi-
astic of his plantation or parish ; in case of doubt, the pre-
sumption to be in favor of freedom.
3. To encourage marriages, especially among slaves of
the same plantation, as soon as religion should have re-
vealed to the slaves the dignity and duty of father, mother,
and spouse ; to establish the Christian family, the true basis
of society, the corner-stone of civilization and crowning
work of Christianity.
