The report concluded with a recommendation to his Excellency to take seminary vengeance upon a few of the gang as soon as they could be arrested, since they had set such an example to the surrounding apprentices.

He could not see how order and subordination could be preserved in his district unless such a punishment was inflicted as would be a warning to all evil doers.

He further suggested the propriety of sending the maroons[A] after them, to hunt them out of their hiding places and bring them to justice.
[Footnote A: The maroons are free negroes, inhabiting the mountains of the interior, who were formerly hired by the authorities, or by planters, to hunt up runaway slaves, and return them to their masters.
Unfortunately our own country is not without _its_ maroons.] We chanced to obtain a different version of this affair, which, as it was confirmed by different persons in Bath, both white and colored, who had no connection with each other, we cannot help thinking it the true one.
The apprentices on Thornton, are what is termed a jobbing gang, that is, they are hired out by their master to any planter who may want their services.

Jobbing is universally regarded by the negroes as the worst kind of service, for many reasons--principally because it often takes them many miles from their homes, and they are still required to supply themselves with food from their own provision grounds.

They are allowed to return home every Friday evening or Saturday, and stay till Monday morning.