They _appear_ to be more frequent, because they are made _more public_.

During slavery, all petty thefts, insubordination, insolence, neglect of work, and so forth, were punished summarily on the estate, by order of the manager, and not even so much as the rumor of them ever reached beyond the confines of the property.
Now all offences, whether great or trifling, are to be taken cognizance of by the magistrate or jury, and hence they become notorious.

Formerly each planter knew only of those crimes which occurred on his own property; now every one knows something about the crimes committed on every other estate, as well as his own." It will be remembered that Mr.H.is a man of thorough and long experience in the condition of the island, having lived in it since the year 1800, and being most of that time engaged directly is the management of estates.
"Aggression on private property, such as breaking into houses, cutting canes, &c., are decidedly fewer than formerly.

It is true that crime is made more _public_ now, than during slavery, when the master was his own magistrate."-- _Dr.Daniell_.
"I am of the opinion that crime in the island has diminished rather than increased since the abolition of slavery.

There is an _apparent_ increase of crime, because every misdemeanor, however petty, floats to the surface."-- _Hon.