relatively combined interests, we understand
nothing; even of the casual events and
contingent circumstances which materially affect
the moral and physical condition of its struggling
community only those are informed who
have the misfortune to depend upon Jamaica for
their means of living. It is by no means surprising,
therefore, that a so-called religious agitation
should have existed among the labouring
population of certain parts of this island (so intense
as seriously to affect both its social interests
and its public order), and that nothing of it
reached us, through any recognised channel of
intelligence, until a triumphant announcement
which appeared in the Star and Dial.

The intelligence of the Jamaica revivals quoted
in the paper just named, is the joint contribution
of two apparently Baptist ministers, and
the wife of a third. The lady's stock of fervid
items is not very great. Like the rest of his
reviving fraternity, her husband is at work night
and day, each and every day being one of glory!
And she concludes by gazetting a devotional
volunteer corps, mustering two hundred and
fifty, who have been "enrolled as Enquirers."
The two ministers state that "the movement
assumes many of the characteristics of the Irish
revivals." Similar prostrations take place; the
people utter loud and piercing cries for mercy;
sins are openly confessed (in detail), and prayers
are offered up for mercy. "The sight, the
excitement of which is delightful, is a glorious
privilege to witness, satisfied that it is a genuine
work of grace!" Two Christian heroes are
specially noted—two only—as illustrious instances
of conversion; one, we are somewhat briefly
told, has burnt his drum; while we are
further informed that the other had "broken his
fiddle and come to Christ!" Such are the
sights which the enthusiastic Mr. H. urges his
brother in England to leave wife and family
by the packet, to be in time to witness, and
such are the fruits which he is invited to share
in the blessing of gathering!

We come now to the practical history of
these revivals, and their result so far. Our
materials are in part taken from the County
Union, a journal published in the midst of one
focus of the agitation, but chiefly from private
correspondents.

The revivals in Jamaica had a visible cause.
They were caught, as other contagious diseases
are. The Rev. Mr. Cairgard, a Moravian
missionary, enjoys the reputation of having
diffused the leaven which has caused so violent
a fermentation among the coloured masses. It
chanced that this worthy man paid an unlucky
visit to the Island of Nassau, several days' sail
from Jamaica, with which its military government
is connected. There, he found the revival
in full operation; but when or how it got root
there, how long it lasted, or whether it be over
yet, we are unable to report. This well-meaning
but mistaken man engaged four of the
"convicted" ones (as the negroes express it) to
accompany him back to Jamaica as apostolic teachers of
the new mysterious revelation, and as fuglemen
of the corporeal convulsions which its spiritual
impregnation excited. These sable propagandists
were placed in the reverend gentleman's chapel,
to relate in their own peculiar way to the congregation
what their revived sensations were: at
the same time assisting their incomprehensible
revelation by enlivening illustrations of its
physical effects. In the mean time the preacher was
not idle, and it is no wonder that what between
the strange things they heard and saw, the pulpit
exhortations, imprecatory prayers and hymns,
a shower of scattered tracts, the simple and
susceptible people, always remarkable for an
instinctive tendency to imitation, got into such
a state of hysterical agitation that their senses
and nervous system were completely overthrown.
The infection, as may be supposed, spread like
wildfire, and the reverend gentleman soon found
that he had raised a flame which defied his
influence and power to subdue. He has been since
strenuously preaching against the very sins and
follies which he was indirectly instrumental in
causing, but which, no doubt, he did not foresee.

The mass of the labouring population of the
parishes of St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, and St.
James, and other districts, rapidly went beside
themselves with fanatic fervour. The grotesque
action of the howling dervishes of India was
light in comparison; women were seen destroying
furniture, clothes, throwing away their beads and
trinkets, even money, as the avowed wages of sin,
in order to avert the impending wrath of Heaven.
Male and female, old and young, marched
along the streets and roads in tumultuous processions,
roaring and singing; and then, after a roll
in the mud, got up under the declared happy
conviction of being justified! Some groups
were wailing in loud incoherent lamentation,
and vociferating for grace: while others were
seen apostolically employed in supplicating
their relatives and friends to join them in their
manifestations. Sometimes, they would fix a
board at a certain height, which, whoever could
jump high enough to touch, was sure of the kingdom
of Heaven! Whereas all who were too short
or too stout, or who, from want of agility, were
incapable of performing this gymnastic feat,
were considered doomed to the infernal regions!
One Sunday, in the church of Black River, the
capital of St. Elizabeth's, of which the Rev. Mr.
Stone, who was present, is rector, the service
was suddenly interrupted by a tumult impossible
to describe. The victims of this diabolical
delusion unexpectedly gave vent to cries,
screams, roars, and ejaculations, which at last
mounted up to a perfect din of stamping, singing,
howling, and imprecation. The ladies were
so frightened that they left the church; a
proceeding not effected without difficulty and
risk of personal assault from these maniacs,
who, not content with evincing their own
penitence by tearing off and casting away their
own beads, endeavoured forcibly to snatch off
and break the ornaments they descried on the
persons of others. The united efforts of two
clergymen were totally ineffectual to calm the
storm, and the service could not be renewed.