An Essay on the Treatment and Conversion of African Slaves in the British Sugar Colonies 3999906501

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A

s N T H

TREATMENT

Y

E

and CONVERSION F

AFRICAN SLAVES.



The Incas of Peru conquered to polifh and improve. When came to a brutith people, who could not readily appre-

they

hend

their inftru&ionr,

Let us turn,

from thefe inworthy of being our

faid they,

corrigible animals, and feek out a people

fcholars. The favages of America are fo wholly without the conception of the poiTibility ©f one man's beifig fubmitted to

the

CONVERSION OF AFRICAN SLAVES. But before

I

confider flavery as

has been

it

introduced and eftablifhed by Europeans

weftern world,

fhall

I

3T

in

the

before the reader a

lay

plan of that celebrated friend to liberty, Fletcher,

of Saltoun, for reducing his country back into the ancient ftate of mailer and flave, in order to obviate

fome temporary inconveniences ima-

gined to arife from freedom. this

And

as

he doe>

with an appearance of reafoning, and, in-

deed, fuggefts things that would be exceedingly

proper to be attended

in the flrft

to,

dawnings of

the will of another,

that they

know no medium between

and adopting them into their families.. The Europeans, fettled in the fame country, could traverfe the vail Atlantic to traffic for, enflave, and fell, wretches unknown to them, who never injured them; nay, could keep working in iron chains their own unhappy countrymen fent among them while they boaft of having vindicated for themroafting their prifoners,

:

the natural inheritance

of fieedom, a total independence on all authority not originating from themfelves. Reafon, as found in practice among men, is but a name, when felves,

as

—

feparated from interelt. It is but juftice due to the Weft Indian proprietors to obferve, that the planters of tobacco and rice, in America, in common, not only treated their African (laves

who, to fell

and Englifh convict, but even fober, honeft people pay for their paffage from Europe, had been obliged

to

their fervice for five years,

With

full

as

much

fcVerity

was practiied only on Africans in the fugar iflands « nd ; what was inexcufable, in a country where provifions coft labour only, even pinched them in their food. Indented fervants were tied up, and lafhed cruelly on the moft trifling occafions. They were made to drag iron rings of ten or twelve pounds

as

weight, hammered round their ancles, and fleep as they could with heavy iron chains and crooks round their necks.

ON THE TREATMENT AND

32

of liberty

I {hall at

;

once confider his propofal,

and add fuch obfervations as naturally

arife

from

it.

SECT. Mafier and Slave,

IV.

as propofed for Scotland,

Anno 1698.

SOON

after the revolution, Scotland

was

af-

with four or five fuccefllve unfruitful

flicted

years, that, agriculture,

in

then improvident method of

its

reduced

it

to a

ftate

of famine,

which is (till remembered under the name of Many died of want, and the Dear Tears. over all the country, were reduced to thoufands, beggary

;

the Highlanders,

greatly, and lands

efpecially,

fuffered

came down and overfpread

the low-

and, where

;

they did

not fucceed

by

made no

fcruple to (leal and rob, to

fupply their wants.

In this fituation of things,

begging,

when

the poor

were numerous, few manu-

factures eflabliflied,

and the

fifheries lay

ne-

glected, did Fletcher propofe his plan of flavery,

founding

it

on a

flatute

which empowered any to take the child

him

for his

years, for

own

enacted

Anno 1579,

fubject of fufficient eftate

of any beggar, fervice,

and educate

for a certain

term of

which term was extended Anno 1597

life.

He

CONVERSION OF AFRICAN SLAVES. 33 He

makes no mention

obferves, that hi {lory

of poor or beggars in ancient times, becaufe

all

the poor, being flaves, were maintained by their

own

He

matters.

fays,

no modern

Holland, by the aid of

except

(late,

manufactures, has

its

been able to employ or maintain

its

poor

:

that

new burthen has been brought on fociety by churchmen, who either by miftake or deilgn have confounded things fpiritual and temporal, and all good order, and good government, by recommending it to matters to fave their fouls, by fetting at liberty fuch of their flaves as fhould this

*

embrace the Chrittian faith ; in contradiction to who was far from ufing temporal

our Saviour*

advantages to enforce eternal truths St.

Paul,

who,

1

Cor.

preference to flavery.

vii.

Heaice

we

alms-houfes, and contributions

we

find

fo

;

and to

pofnively gives the

;

date hofpitals,

burdens, which,

heavy on the community, and

fo-

inadequate to the purpofe.

He is

common objections urged men are equal by nature

ttates the

flavery

;

that

;

unjuft to fubmit the feelings

the major part of a

community,

and barbarity of the few

who

profecuting

man

;

enflaves his country, his

againfl

that

it

and happinefs of to the opprefTion

and that the tyrant, has the fame plea for

ambitious views, that a rich

can offer for bringing his fellows into bon-

bage to him.

C

5

Hs

ON THE TREATMENT AND

34

He

anfwers thefe by diftinguilhing between

political

and domeflic flavery, affirming that the

latter has

been difgraced, by having been con-

founded with the other, which alone deferves the name of flavery, as being fubmitted, not to law, which to

may

regulate domeflic flavery, but

a jealous tyrant's caprice

intereft of every matter to

in order that he

their labour

:

may

that

that

:

the

is

it

ufe his flaves well,

reap the

full

advantage of

deviations from

occafional

the fuggeflions of this prudence

may

be pre-

vented by proper laws and regulations, and by the watchful care of a judge appointed for that purpofe.

He

fhews the advantages which would accom-

pany

this

eftablifhment,

the cafe in ancient times.

poor

caft

loofe

by

ftating

The

They

on the public.

without poflefling

much

what was no

ancients had

could,

other wealth, under-

take, with their flaves, great public and private

works

:

and

this

manner of employing

their

and their wealth, preferved among them a fimplicity of manners, and living, not otherflaves

wife

to

be

accounted

Matters

for.

knew

nothing of the vexation of hired fervants, who, after

having been educated

at a great

for a man's fervice, will leave trifling

occafion.

Their

obtaining their liberty, pleafe

j

flaves,

had an

and their being able to

expence

him on the in

mod

hopes of

emulation to

poflefs nothing,

took

CONVERSION OF AFRICAN SLAVES. 35 away monly the

that temptation to pilfer, fo

com-

propenfity of hired fervants,

and,

indeed, fometimes rendered neceflary for

them

took

to fupport their families.

He

propofeth that vagabonds, and fuch poor

as cannot

out to

-

maintain themfelves, be proportioned

men

of a certain eftate, to be employed in

their grounds, that their

up on

be brought

children

to fuch ufeful manufactures as can be carried at

any

home

cafe,

;

may

and that the public

not, in

lofe the benefit of their labour,

and their children

they

be transferable for ever.

(hall

*

He * Vagabond redrefs, itfelf to

beggars are a nuifance which call loudly for and which every well regulated fociety will exerfc Let every vagabond be confidered as the get rid of.

Let a day be

property of the public.

by proclamation., Let their

fixed,

apprehending them throughout the kingdom.

for

fervice be fold for feven years to fuch as have

them.

weak.

Let the money got If, at

perfon,

let

who

fhould not be for

will

fome ufeful

They

all,

anfwer to

them

to

the

work on the

public for thefr*

footing of free

This will excite them to Slavery, except for a crime that forfeits

life,

that

it

may

not perpetuate flavery

Every vagabond child

in their children.

to

they fhew a dif~

them be difcharged.

be honeft and faithful. life,

for

and csn make a private bargain with any

behaviour, and will take labourers,

employment

ftrong be given with the

the expiration of their flaveryj

pofition to fettle,

reponfible

for the

calling,

when

and be free

reftored to

at

rtiould be

thirty

brought uj>

years of age.

freedom, (hould be allowed &

fettlement.

A hear,

particular magistrate (hould fuperintend their treatment,

and decide on their and their mailers complaints.

at the terr$ipa.iion of any period of flavery,

If

they be found un-

worthy

ON THE TREATMENT AND

56

He

thinks the mailer

over the for

if

:

free

fiiouid

He mould

own.

his

him

mutilate

he

of his fervant, but fhould anfwer

life

with

it

mould not have power not torture or

convicted of fuch

his (lave,

and

ill

fix a

treatment^

penfion on

him* If purchafers let them be fold anew. do not offer, let them be divided by lot, and their children Coaife, wholefome food fhould be allotted be apprentices.

worthy of freedom,

them, the kind and minimum being If parifhes

would be firfl

fixed

by law.

were obliged to improve their commons, there employment for them ; and every thief, being

full

marked, fhould be added

to the number..

When

restored,

to freedom, they might have a cottage and garden given in full right,

fervitude,

Such bond,

their

!*

would be

a (late

a wretch,

wallows

them,

which they may prepare during the time of

far

beyond the condition of a vaga-

that regards neither divine nor

human

law?,

Thefe regulations, properly purfued for one generation, would annihilate the evil ; the very dread of being fold, and working at the will of another,, would recover the greateft part of them to But this remedy fbould be ftrittly conlabour and fociety. but.

in

fined to thieves

every impurity and low vice.

and vagabonds, and only while they continued

fuch.

At

prefent our poor laws are calculated to encourage Iazinefs,

by fuppoiting an idle man in as much plenty as him who labours and gets his bread honellly. When fick, the poor fhould be tenderly cared for; but when only idle they fhould have a and clothes made up of patches, to make to them. T'hofe that have large famifhould have every reafonable indulgence, and the burden

feanty coarle fare,

their fituation irkfome lies

of their children fhould be

made

eafy to

ilrollers fhould be ftri&ly dealt with.

of thofe that are fupported by charity

them.

Wherever is

All fingle

the indolence

fufpe&ed,

their pit-

tance fhould not be given in money, but in food, from day to

day

acd

5

and there fhould, third allowance*

as in hofpitals,

be retetof full,

half,.

CONVERSION OF AFRICAN SLAVES. 37 him.

The

fervant's family fhould be provided

for in clothes, diet, and lodging.

His children

fhould be inftru&ed in the principles of morality

and religion, be taught

They

with proper books. Sundays

to read,

and be furnifhed

fhall

not work on

but have liberty to go to church.

;

In

every circumttance, but that of not poflefling property, and their labour being directed at the will of another, they fhall not be under the rule

of their matters, but the protection of the law.

When

grown, they

matters,

by

be

fhall

If their

hofpitals.

age,

received

matter,

to

their

into

public

ufelefs

on any account^

make them free, he fhall either accommodate them with a penfion, or put them in a way of living, that will

denfom^

power

keep them from becoming bur-

To

to the public. in

matter,

the

be appointed

a

check the abufe of magiftrate

fee that juftice be

to

fhould

done them.

Now, however inadmiflible fuch a ftate of fervitude may be, in a country where liberty is the ettablifhed birth-right of the loweft

member

of the community, yet, would heaven, that the flavery in our fugar colonies

here propofed.

We

He

degree of

is

mutt then drop many of

our objections againft againft this

were only what

it.

it

Still

the arguments

are unanfwerable.

fuppofeth that a fenfe of interett will pre-

vent the abufe of

power

in the matter.

There cannot

ON THE TREATMENT AND

38

cannot be a fairer deduction in theory, (which was all that he could have to go upon) nor is there one

more

falfe

afcribe the treatment

Even fhould we

in fa6b.

which Africans meet with

from their matters, not wholly to an abufe of power, but, in fome meafure, alfo to a perfuafion, whether it be true or falfe, that becaufe of their inferiority

them well

we

are not obliged to

how comes

;

it

treat

that fober, indented,

white fervants, are treated with equal, perhaps fuperior cruelty by their North American mailers

than

;

one

in confequence in

five

furvives

flavery of five years, habitation

of which,

not

more

even a temporary

in a condition to fettle a

Revenge an inferior, whe-

and family for himfelf

for contradiction or faults in

?

ther real or imagined, will not allow the cooler affections of the

mind

once, like an eagle on

how

to operate, but drives at its

helplefs prey,

far the avenger himfelf

may

heedlefs

be involved

in the mifchief.

Nor, though

his magiftrate

be an exceeding

proper and neceffary check, would he, or could he, if ever fo impartial and watchful, be able to enfure good ufage to fervants, from the ignorant, the parfimonious, the luxurious, the extra-

vagant, the capricious, the paflionate, thefpiteful matter.

In a

and they daily

thoufand ways are,

may

they be,

tormented, which no law

can provide againfl, no care can poflibly remedy. His

CONVERSION OF AFRICAN SLAVES. 39 His diftinction between political and domeflic flavery, except wherein they refpecl: different objects,

imaginary and inconclufive,

is

applied to individuals there

or whatever difference

will be found to conclude againft the

is,

The

latter.

;

great tyrant has not the opportu-

of oppreflion over

nity of exercifing his luft

except they fland oppofed

individuals,

power

;

and a quiet

country,

pafs

man may, time

his

the mofl

fecure under

tolerably

arbitrary

eafy

every wretch fubmitted to

his

;

and

torment

power, every

They cannot eat or when and how he pleafeth. Every

of their lives.

but

feeling, every indulgence,

fure

his

government.

teafe and

moment

to

an extenfive

in

But the domeflic tyrant can

fleep,

when

is

and too often he feels a

held at his plea-

fpiteful

amufement,

an infernal delight, in unnecefTarily imbittering their

mi ferable cup, even

own

eafe and interefl.

That good

at

the expence of his

the heavenly Preacher of peace

will

have encouraged an unnatural which, in

the

in

its

to

ftate

of fociety,

very inftitution, mufl: counteract

every benevolent inclination

fuperior

from man

and

towards men, fhould be fuppofed to

man

;

and mufl go far to fupprefs

every defire after that intellectual improvement, and heavenly happinefs, to point

in the inferior

out the

way

humiliation

3

to

which was the very defign of his

is

fuch blafphemy againft the divine

goodnefs

ON THE TREATMENT AND

40

goodnefs and condefcenfion of his miflion, and is

fo flatly contradicted

by the whole tenor of

his doctrine,

as to be utterly

anfwer.

Paul again

St.

vice of flavery,

is

unworthy of any

prefled into the fer-

againft the

grammatical

plain

fenfe of the expreffion in the original,

and the

whole fcope of his argument of fo much more weight than truth is the driving of a favourite :

After -generally

point.

remarking, that, not-

withstanding any fuppofed particular

inconve-

niences, political happinefs, by the extenfion of

freedom, has been extended

far

beyond what

the warmeft imagination could conceive

may

allow churchmen

their

Mafter and

his

we

company of

the

in

apcflle,

;

to

reft

fatisfied

with the blame of having been the means of flavery

abolifhing

;

and

may hope that this may {land them

writer's authority, in this cafe, in

fome

ftead againft that

more general reproach

on them of their being. the worfhippers of power in whatever hands it is found.

caft

By

depriving a fervant of property, as he

propofes,

him

we know,

carelefs

that,

and defperate.

in

you make The beft way of fa£t,

fecuring his fidelity and honefty, that he

the

may

lofs of.

tion, the is

to contrive

have property to care for and fear If a

mod

Have has deferted the planta-

eiFe&ual

to give out, that

return,

is

way

to bring

you mean,

by fuch a day,

if

him back

he does not

to pull his houfe

down.

He

CONVERSION OF AFRICAN SLAVES. He remarks that the Highlanders of

his days

41

were

favage thieves and beggars, becaufe fubject to their chieftans

;

and would not his eftablifhment

of the like fubjection in the civilized low-lands, in

time produce the like effects

would refolve the

filence

?

A

concerning the poor in

the heathen world, to their not being of hiflory or

object either

common

Chriflian.

deemed an

philofophy

;

or to

between man and man, which revelation inculcates, not being then acknow-

that

ledged,

to

tie

make

the

relief

of their diftrefs a

matter of duty or merit.

But

if

no poor were then fupported by pri-

vate benevolence, was no mifery therefore

What were

the early feditions at

felt

Rome,

druggies between wealth and poverty,

till

?'

but

war

and diftant cOnquefl had enriched or drawn off ? Indeed, where was there room left for public beggars, when the poor were flaves, and had only their matters to whom to cry for help ? Yet the elder Cato turned out fome beggars on the public, in a manner not greatly to his credit. Among the Jews, the rigours of flavery were foftened by religion ; and there the poor, from the firfl,

the oppreffed ffarving multitude

were an object of law. Their law-givers informed them, that in their mofl flourifhing (late, there fhould be always poor among them,

whom

they were

penfioners,

to

who were

confider in

his

as

name

the Lord's to receive,

from

ON THE TREATMENT AND

42 from

their

wealthy neighbours, that tribute of

grateful thanks which his goodnefs claimed from

And, doubtlefs, had this duty been propofed, from the like motives, in other dates, proper obje&s of it would not have been found

them.

wanting.

A city

better reafon to be given

the

for

of the ancient manner of living

found

fimpli-

may be

the link communication which there

in

was berva^u

different countries for the purpofe

of exchanging modes and fuperfluities.

who

live

now on

Thofe

own

the produce of their

grounds, live as uniformly, and fimply as the ancients did.

But was the Roman mode fimple

after the conqueft of Afia

?

public works of the ancients.

of any

flate that in

He

mentions the

Do we know

grandeur or

thofe

may be

utility

compared to the floating fortrefTes of Britain, which carry the arms and power of the (late around the world

Why

?

mould worn down

the public

receive {laves,

build in

hofpitals

the

to

fervice of

private perfons, he gives not a reafon

;

nor

is

any obvious. If the ancients were not troubled with the reftlefs ingratitude and pilfering habits of hired fervants, did they feel no inconveniency

from the

whom

fullen intractable difpofition of flaves,

they could not get rid of?

defire of

Or,

if

the

freedom excited the emulation of a flave,

CONVERSION OF AFRICAN SLAVES. 43 would

{lave,

not

it

make him

mediate hardfhips of flavery

with defpair,

many

around

look

?

im-

alfo feel the

would he not, him, and view

from one mafter to another ; often from good to bad, without acquiring that liberty which they had endeaflaves

transferred

voured to deferve by their

he not anticipate the defire of exertion ral cafe, at this

?

Is

day,

fidelity

like

?

fate,

and would

and

lofe

all

not this indeed the gene-

in

the fugar colonies

?

Fletcher fuppofes that neceffity will drive his

country into the meafure of flavery.

ftead thereof,

near and in-

It is

a century fince he hazarded this opinion

;

by the abolifhing of jurifdi&ions, and greater privileges have been

more liberty, communicated to it and the confequence has been a more general extenfion of political hap:

Had his plan many towns have arifen,

and private conveniency.

pinefs,

taken place,

would

fo

or been enlarged in various parts of the country

we

Should Paifly

?

endured

?

have heard of the manufactures at

Could Glafgow have been able a lofs

(even fuppofing

it

to

have

only temporary)

of perhaps a million of money, by American almofl without once

independency, ing

?

Would

a

.allowed the Britifh

been

filled

army and navy

up and recruited out of

of flaves, by the

men,

complain-

few overgrown landlords have

many

to

have

their

gangs

ten thoufands of Scotch-

that in every war, fince his

time,

have bled

v

ON THE TREATMENT AND

44

bled fometimes for the rights of the empire,

fometimes to quiet the popular alarms, bugbear, the balance of power

that

foldiers

;

Would

?

have made fuch

opprefTed, half ttarved flaves

hardy

about

or, like them,

endured, with-

out complaint, every various oppofite climate, in carrying

It

on the public fervice

true Scotland

is

The

vantages.

ftill

tenant

is

?

labours under difadnot fufficiently fecured

But what would be gained by reducing a great porportion againft the extortion of the landlord.

of thefe

and their

tenants

condition of flaves live plentifully,

rade

it

at court

gance to be

Would

?

when

Or

?

fatisfied,

eftabliftied

power and within

its

intrigue

circle as

into the

they be allowed to

their lords

wanted to pa-

are luxury and extrava-

while any thing

their reach remains to be

had been

poflerity

devoured

?

If flavery

would not have been ufed, to draw on

many

his

plan,

as poflible,

till

and (lave had abforbed every other rank let

lazinefs

and

within

matter ?

No,

vice be effectually retrained,

even by retraining that liberty and

privileges

which they juftly forfeit. But fet not one man paramount over another. Let their country and

its

laws remain matters of their

fate.

SECT.

CONVERSION OF AFRICAN SLAVES. 45

SECT. Mafler and Slave I

N

in the

V. French

Colonies,

the French colonies, the public pays an

immediate attention

the treatment and in-

to

The intendants are charged with their protection, proper miflionaries are ftru&ion of flaves.

appointed for the purpofe of training them up to a certain degree of religious

ample

knowledge

eftates or funds are allotted for the

The

tenance of thofe eccleliaftics.

;

and

main-

negroes, as

foon as introduced into the colony, are put under the care of thefe

The matter is

laft.

obliged to

acquaint the governor or intendant, within eight days, of every African (lave chafed, that a miffionary flru£t

him.

All

the

may

fails

whom

he has pur-

be afllgned to in-

and

feflivals

of the

Romifh church, which it is. well known are very numerous, are commanded to be ftri&ly obferved, during which the flave is forbidden to labour, that he

Every

may have

leifure to attend mafs.

flave has a claim to a certain allowance

of food and clothing, which

is

not to be dimi-

nifhed by their mafters, under pretence of hav-

him time

ing given

to

power of the matter and chain flave.

;

On

he may ill

work

is

not

for himfelf.

The

retrained to the whip

wound

or mutilate his

treatment received

from his mafter,

ON THE TREATMENT AND

46

matter, or on being deprived of his allowance

of food and raiment, the flave ply to the King's attorney,

is

who

bound

to profecute,

he hears of the abufe. ({

the law,

This we

will to be obferved, to

a

flave

in the matter."

be placed

If

unferviceable, through age,

hurts, or difeafe, be turned adrift is to

is

by any other means This reafon is added in

check the abufe of power

he

officer

if

"

rendered

obliged to

is

This

profecute the matter forthwith. alfo

directed to ap-

by

his matter,

and to

in the public hofpital,

be maintained there

at

the

expence of

his

Thefe are fome of the regulations eftabliftied by the Code Noir, to check the exorbitancy of matters ; an inftance of attention and matter.

benevolence in the French government, that

may

well put Britifh negligence to

The

refpect in

fhame

!

which marriage is held, brings French Haves. The ce-

a farther advantage to

remony

is

folemnized by the

continues for

ment

life.

to their

their intereft,

prieft,

and the

tie

This gives them an attach-

little

families,

and a concern for

and of confequence a care over

them, and their

own

behaviour, that

is

feldom

feen among Englifli flaves ; where the connexion between the fexes is arbitrary, and too frequently cafual ; where a male flave reckons it a piece of ftate to multiply his wives, and change them at pleafure, without looking beyond

the prefent gratification, or confidering

how

his

conduct

CONVERSION OF AFRICAN SLAVES. 47 may

conduct

Care

affect the

French

alfo taken in the

is

them young,

the fame

in

of his offspring.

fate

iflands to

plantation

;

marry and

if

they perceive a particular attachment between

two young people, belonging

to different matters,

common to refign or exchange them, that they may both have the fame owner, and that marriage may have its full effect on their it is

conduct. *

The French

vantage from the

One

reap a confiderable ad-

(laves

caufe of this

prefence is,

of

their

owners.

that, in the colonies,

they

enjoy more liberty, and pay fewer taxes than in

France, f

An

Englifh planter,

if

out of debt, or

* A me,

gentleman of Guadalonpe, Monfieur Seguer, informed fome pains, he had brought it about to have

that, with his flaves

all

making them

married within his

own

plantations

;

and that by

allowing to each his bit of land, with a hog, a goat, and fome poultry, and by all

people of_property,

fome extraordinary pains ufed

them

in

to inftruct

them, he had brought

degree of healthinefs, good fenfe, tra£tability, and

to a

happinefs

uncommon among

remark,

generally,

his

neighbours.

that nothing has a

And

I ftiall

here

happier effect in re-

forming or improving a Have, than the giving him fomething of his

own

f The the

crown

to care for,

and fear the

lofs of.

French governors have liberal appointments from to fet them above the neceffity, and to take away

the temptation of opprefling their people by exacting extraor-

dinary fees from them in the

manner of our Weft Indian go-

vernors, who, to the difgrace of the government that appointed

them, are forced to collect their maintenance in perquifites from thofe who have bufinefs with them. TheBritifh colonies are

ON THE TREATMENT AND

48

mud run away to home, where ge-

or a cafual crop be plentiful,

England, which he

calls his

nerally loft to every ufeful

purpofe in

he

life,

vies with the nobility in entertainments, extra-

vagance, and expence, while his attorney, and

manager, are obliged his

poor

flaves, to

remittances.

It

to

over-work, and pinch,

keep up, or increafe the ufual

would make indignation

herfelf

almoft fmile to hear their piteous complaining letters to their agents read,

when

the neceflities

of the plantation have occafioned a fmall draught to

are

alfo

made

the property of patent officers,

profit of

the

whofe places confifts wholly in perquifites, and is in general farmed from the principals in England by two or three fubftitutes in fuccefllon, till the immediate poffeffor be obliged, in his own defence, to commit acts of oppreflion, to make up his

And

rent.

fuch

is

finecure patentees,

the corrupt influence at our court of thefe as to

have procured a ltanding inftru&ion

to governors to oppofc and render null

every attempt

made

by provincial affemblies to regulate their fees of office, or check their extortion. Thus the government of the mother country is deprived of the afliftance of men of character and fubftance in public offices, to fupport lonies

;

its

in the

influence

co-

while thefe have impofed on them a moft humiliating

and burdenfome badge of flavery, and have all their interefts, and all improvements of their police facrificed to the felfifh

views of late

men whom

they never faw.

It

has alfo been ufual of

years to permit the cuftom-houfe officers to hold their

places by deputies, doubtlefs, to the great

revenue. is

The

by fmall

intercourfe

vefTels carrying

cuftom-houfes force

full

£40

or

one half of

under the name of (not taxes but) ie,

that

when

£50

freight.

this

Aim out

fees.

The

The

of them,

confequence

provifions or ftores are unloaded in one ifland,

they cannot, but in extreme ifland.

improvement of the

between our Weft Indian colonies

tteceflity,

be refliipped for another

CONVERSION OF AFRICAN SLAVES. 49 And

made on them.

to be

whom

often the manager,

the caprice, or felfifh, or family views of

an attorney

can,

without warning, difplace,

looks not forward to

confequences of

the

treatment of flaves, while trying to

ill

recommend

himfelf by a forced exertion of their flrength,

hopes that

in

its

on

lives

volved

he

in debt, the effects

is

owner

too often fo in-

of his predecefibr's,

extravagance, or of injudi-

cious purchafes, that the prefling

poffibly

If the Englifh

his plantation,

own former

or his

may

pernicious effects

not appear in his time.*

he can fpare

demands of

little

creditors,

his

for the eafe, and well-being of flaves,

from

to allot

or indeed

any neceflary improvement of his property. The French, as they generally live each on his

for

own

plantation, fo they are

the credit, or

happy

in not

having

opportunity which the Englifh

have of running

in debt,

All their improve-

f

ments * Hence

a planter always

at the change of

managers

;

knows it

the date of his affairs bell,

generally requiring

many hun-

dreds, lometimes thoiifands of pounds, to fct matters agoing

under the new director ufing a

lefs

an expence that might be faved by ; parcimonious method in the ordinary management

of the plantation.

J-

The whole

debt owing by the

Mar

inico planters

the year 1773 was estimated nearly at 2.00, cool, fterling. Chriftopher's, which, in proportion to

colony, and

extent,

is

St.

our rich eft

may

of Martinico, prietors,

its

about

be in value about one-third of the importance though divided among fewer than 120 pro-

could not

owe

lefs

at that time,

fterling.

D

than 73,0,0001.

ON THE TREATMENT AND

50

mud

merits

They

out of their induftry.

arife

more gradual, and

are therefore

than in our colonies, where,

it

better founded,

has been only ne-

merchant an exag-

ceffary to deliver in to a

pompous account of the richnefs of the plantation on which the money is to be raifed, to procure liberty for drawing on him for thougerated,

fands after thoufands.

Formerly induftry,

in a

courfe of years, raifed immenfe fortunes in the

Weft

Indies

few have been

;

became frequent feldom, one

when

in

in

may

England. Borrowed money,

fay hardly ever, has fucceeded,

any confiderable proportion to the pro-

perty mortgaged for caufe,

I

raifed fince loans

it.

Let others explain the

content myfelf with recording the fact.

Thus French

planters, not having intereft

to provide, nor the ambition of retiring

rope, to ftimulate

them

in

money to Eu-

accumulating money,

are not under the neceffity of forcing their flaves

beyond

their

plantations to

that

ftrength,

in

effected, not fo

thod,

carrying on

their

that exquifite degree of culture,

common

is

in

our colonies, and which

much by

contrivance and

is

me-

or by increasing with proper care and

nourifhment the animal powers of their as by obliging them to extraordinary

flaves, efforts,

wear them out ; and which, inftead of allowing them to increafe in the courfe of

that foon

nature,

make

conftant

tnarket, to enable

them

demands

on. the

flave

to fupport the character

of

CONVERSION OF AFRICAN SLAVES. Far from

of the plantation.

51

we

^--gating, as

do,

every rood of land that they poflefs, in fugar cane, and depending on- foreign futppli'eS-for filed,

the French try to live asTOUch as pofiible within

A

themfelves.

confiderable proportion of land

A

apart for provifions.

is fet

ftri&ed the the

ther,

minimum

Trench

to

late edict has re-

one acre

Far-

in ten.

plantation flaves are attached

and cannot be drawn off to pay to the debts, or be fold feparate from it. This gives foil,

them

a lafting property in their huts, and little

They may

ground.

fpots of

them, and not, as

their being turned out

ferred

thefe

cultivate fear

of pofleffion, or trans-

from one proprietor

regard had

fafely

in the Britifh colonies,

to another, without

to their interefl: or feelings.

from

circumftances, and

their

From manners

being more communicative, the French, in the colonies, live flaves,

more

than our planters

fenfible of their

way among their they become more

in a family ;

wants and

abilities

turally contract a regard and

;

they na-

an affection for

them

the flaves are not hurried in their work, ; and enjoy a greater plenty, and variety of wholefome food, than when their allowance of mufty

weavily maize from 'America, is dealt them from a fcanty, bruifed tin or pewter meafure, by an unfeeling overfeer ; who perhaps recommends himfelf to his abfent em-

flour, or

out to

ployer

D

2

52

/bN THE TREATMENT AND

ployer by the number of {hares into which he has divided the ^ratbhld pittance. * °^.r cSr 'the obfervauon is,

more decently

are

flaves

orderly,

fenfible,

than Englifh

The

French

the

that drefled,

are

more

and ten times more honed

They

flaves.

ufe private prayer.

negroes begin and leave. off work

field

with prayer

the black overfeer officiating as

;

This cuftom of having field prayers lias been found fo encouraging and ufeful, that many of the Engiim planters in Grenada, on their becoming owners of French flaves, kept priefr.

up on their plantations ; yet fome of thefe would have mocked and fneered at the practice, if propofed in their own ifiands. In the French it

colonies even

towns, there

their

in

is

hardly

* Though

the French government has cared thus humanely though the manners and circumltances of the French planters peculiarly favour their good treatment ; yet Since the temper of the matter mall ftill have great influence for

flaves,

«r>n

the 'condition of the fiave, this will not prevent, nor can

we

wonder, when we

eppreffive, and

find,

government, fuch

as

is

among owners

particular

that

the French, particular acts cruel.

But

in

a

vigorous

of France, thefe afts cannot be

men numerous.

mult acknowledge,

that the free principles of our contlitution

many

On

we

frequent, nor thefe

the other hand,

our fcandalous neglect of and that the tyrannical nature of the French government prevents the French from reaping the

lounteratt

of the

effects of

ill

the police of our colonies

;

full effects of this their benevolent attention to the claims of humanity. Had we governors and other officers as difmterefted as the French, and ailing under the like benevolent inltructions, the difference would be highly in our favour ; and had

the French governors the fame principles to guide them as v/e have, the

French

colonilts

would enjoy

a great

acceflion

of political happinefs.

cccafion

CONVERSION Of AFRICAN SLAVES. occafion for a

lock to fecure goods, or flore-

In our colonies, no

houfes.

door, or lock,

a fufficient fecurity for any thing

can carry away.

is

which a Have

In Grenada, they have long

complained,

bitterly

53

that fince Englifh flaves

came among them, they can keep nothing fafe from being purloined, and that even the ho-

own

nefty of their

old flaves has been greatly

debauched.

SECT. Majker and Slave

in

VI. Britijb

the

Colonies,,

TO purfue the preceding obfervations,

which

candour obliged us to make in favour of our rivals, we mud acknowledge, that an Englifh

Have has nothing to check him in ill doing, but the fears of the whip, and that is a weak rellraint

on

French

{lave

hunger

;

a fcarving, is

craving appetite.

The

placed above the folicitations of

and refpecYmg

the dread of pain,

his

behaviour, has, to

fuperadded, as a guide, the

hopes and fears of religion, and the approbabation

French,

and

difpleafure

in the

of

his

The

treatment of their flaves, regard

the fuggeflions of humanity, dictates

prieft.

by their laws.

The

and enforce

its

Englifh have not

paid the lead attention to enforce by a law either

humanity flaves.

or juftice,

Many

as thefe

may

refpeQ: their

are the reftricYions,

and fevere are

ON THE TREATMENT AND

54

are the punifhments,

But

fubje&ed.

it

which our you except a law, to

(laves are

Go-

that

vernor Leake got enacted in Nevis, to diflinguifh petty larceny in flaves from felony ; and a law in

Grenada and Jamaica,

obligeth

that

maflers to allot to their flaves a certain portion

of land for the growth of provifions lafl iiland,

in this

afternoon for the culture of -

r*ncr\e>

u

i»-.-

t)

-

—

r.lanfe

in all

them Saturday

grants

that

I recollect

it ;

_o._

our /»a1«»»

perufed the feveral codes with the view

marking fuch) enacted

humane

leaft trfe

to fecure to

treatment, or to fave

not

1...1 t ^anu A

uv^«.o,

Claim of Dependents

to

of St. 1775, /hewing the

the

Privilege

of the

Sabbath.

SIRS, Within been

thefe lail ten

introduced in carrying

flaves

months, a cuflom has

among

you,

employing

of

on the ordinary plantation

work on Sunday, of ploughing the ground, planting, weeding, and grinding the cane, boil-

ing the fugar, and diftilling the rum.

It

on a particular plantation, and has found to each extremity of the ifland.

not yet become general, and exprefs itfelf

their diilike

many

It is

began

its

way

true,

it is

planters firmly

of a practice, which, in

impolitic and injudicious, bids

fair,

if

en-

couraged, to banifh humanity, and annihilate a religion that barely ftrugg-les for exiftence in our

But bad examples are contagious; and feeming intereft in fomeand emulation in others land.

will

ON THE TREATMENT AMD

114 will

go on,

numbers

as

into a

they already have begun, to draw

cuftom that

flatters induftry,

and

feeds the hopes of extravagance and avarice.

No

account of this fpreading violation of our

laws and religion having yet been taken by the magiftracy, the trefpaflers are induced to believe that law cannot interpofe to

which

it

check

it

:

a miftake

neceflary to correct in men,

is

who

think nothing a crime but a deed for which

As

law ordains a punifhment. to

take

practice,

the 1

notice

firft

of

;

and hence

aflure thefe trefpaflers, In their impunity, that

be,

who

I

unhallowed

pay an

am

atten-

enabled to

profligate his private character will riik his profeflional

human and

lot

not find a lawyer,

undertaking the defence of of

to

my

to

who wrap themfelves up when the cafe is brought

before a court, they will

however

this

have been obliged

tion to the fubjed

it fell

divine laws

fo :

may

reputation

by

notorious a breach

and could they find

fuch a man, no judge or bench of magiftrates could allow him to plead againft the laws and religion of his country.

Their defence

mud be

confined to a Ample denial of the fa£t.

If

we view

the matter in a religious light,

the fabbath is appointed by God for fuch pious, humane, and even wordly-wife purpofes, as to lead us to conclude, that nothing will more readily

draw down judgments on, nor fooner execute

CONVERSION OF AFRICAN SLAVES. ruin of, a finful

cute the

contempt of

I

I

5

community, than a

this benevolent inftitution.

Sab-

bath-breaking makes a conftant capital

figure

among

the crimes that kindled God's wrath

Farther, from God's

againft the Jews.

from

injunction to them,

to punifh,

inftitution,

whom we

ftric"t

derive this

even to deftru£tion, any

mould find guilty of among them, which was an offence

family or city that they idolatry

fimply againft his authority

we may

;

conclude,

community fufTers an infult on this law of the fabbath, which has both his authority

that

if

a

and general benevolence in view, to pafs unpunished, his

it

will,

by fuch

neglect, fubje£r. to

its

wrath not only individuals that are actually

guilty of the crime,

people at large,

who

but

magiftracy and

the

are thus carelefs of vindi-

cating his honour and the claims of humanity. I will

lately rieed

world ,

what you have fuffered in your fins, to determine what you have to give the Governor of the leave

this

be to that

it

to yourfelves, after

new provocation againft you. Woe community which forces the Deity to

refume the vindication of

his

laws from the

hands of the ordinary magiftrate. Undiftinguifhing ruin will involve

the lukewarm profeffor

and hardy trefpafTer together.

May

Providence,

evil

which every

by your reformation, avert the thinking

man

contribute to

dreads on your this

end, and

fet

account.

fuch

To

right as

have

:

ON THE TREATMENT AND

Il6

have been unwittingly drawn into the practice,

who

we

yet have minds open to conviction,

fubmit to them the following confiderations

The good man, his ufual

on the fabbath, interrupts

employments, not only to have

to review his conduct, to futurity,

•

:

improve

to reflect on, and

blefs

his

leifure

mind

God

for

for his

mercies, but alfo for the fake of his dependents

they are indulged with a refpite from labour,

which make fervitude tolerable. This companion is followed by its Continual toil would wear out proper reward.

and a weekly

feftival,

the conftitutions of fervants long before their natural period of decay

of

refl,

;

but, during this day

they renew their ftrength, and the hopes

weekly return make them chearfully unThe ufeful ox dergo their common labour. of

its

repays the indulgence in patient enduring. Indeed, this day of

mands

us to allow all

reft,

whom

which God comhe hath fubmitted

acknowledgment, that he obligeth us to pay for the dominion he hath And, theregranted us over the lower world. to our rule,

is

an

though the promulgation and extent of

fore, this

precept reft on the pofitive

God

expreffed in fcripture, yet

moral

:

it

is

is

command

of

the foundation

laid deep in the principles of

hu-

manity, grows up with obedience to our Creator,

and flourifheth with equity and benevolence to our

:

CONVERSION OF AFRICAN SLAVES. our fellow-creatures.

It

a

is

mark

I I

7

of hoiding

our power from God, a right referved to himfelf,

mew

to

creatures.

plain for

his care of

even the meaneft of his

And it teacheth him that runneth to

us,

read

manner

a

in it,

that

we

had not our prefent rank in the creation bellowed on us, to be the unfeeling tyrants, but the merciful protestors, of the inferior world.

But

as a

contrary practice

is

now

introduced

here, with a parade, indeed, of fuperior induftry,

but a fovereign contempt of decency, opinion, religion, and law point of indulgence

to

;

we mud

common

difcufs this

dependents, and (hew,

(befides contradicting the motives above, I

which

hope have yet fome influence among man-

kind)

that he,

who

falls

into fo inconfiderate a

practice, fins againft prudence, and counteracts that

aim

after

opulencej which can be the only

pretence for fo extraordinary, fo alarming a In doing this,

conduct.

we need

not enter into

any nice phyfical difquifition concerning the animal powers of the labouring part of the creation, nor into any train of reafoning, to

the neceffity of a frequent fucceflion of

labour to preferve the animal

wearing out before the period "we will

appeal to your

ther thofe

men

own

Ihew

reft to

machine from by nature

fet

experience,

whe-

reap not the moft lading advan-

tages from the labour of their oxen, their horfes,

and that

frill

more

ufeful,

though neglected animal,

ON THE TREATMENT AND

Il8

mal, called a negroe flave,

who

confult their

from

feveral feelings, and give the fignal to ceafe

before the languid effort of wearinefs fo-

toil, licits

the

Are they the moft

refpite.

field

fuccefsful

in

of induftry, or do they moft enjoy the

who conftantly put forth all their ftrength, who rife early, and la^e take reft ; or they, who fo temper labour and reft, that each defires the return of the other. Look

evening ot

life,

around among your neighbours, whofe flaves, whole cattle, are the moft healthy, or exert the greateft vigour

;

who

fuffers leaft by: their

mor-

who reaps moft from their labour ? Is it not he who encourages, favours, fpares them, who properly nourilhes them, and never encroaches on the hour of food or reft ? Or can tality

;

any temporary acquifition, wrung from unfeafonable labour, compenfate for an hofpital filled with wretches dead or dying, for a crew of haggard, difeafed fpe&res, whofe ruined conftitutions,

and famiftted looks, reproach the avarice

of the hard-hearted mafter. Is it faid, in

return, that the mafter buys this

extraordinary labour, on Sunday, with an exLet me afk him, who gives traordinary price. this till

he

reafon,

would he pufh

a generous

horfe,

the noble animal himfelf gave out ? And is to care lefs for a creature of his own kind,

becaufe anxious to

recommend himfelf to

vour by a {trained exertion of

his ftrength

his fa?

The

mafter,

CONVERSION OF AFRICAN SLAVES.

I

19

matter, by the very tenure of his authority obliged to confult

labour for him, that he

may

is

who

the conftitution oi thofe

reftrain their efforts

within their ability, and keep their fervice to

him wichia pinefs.

the limits of their

if, as

fome pretend,

own it

perfonal hap-

be meant to in-

creafe the allowance of food, by this

new

tom

why,

of Sunday's wages,

let

now, they have provided as to

flaves,

make

this

drudges the

mould not atfo for a

fix

tell

fo fcantily

addition

them give a good reafon

let

them

why

cuftill

for their

neceffary

;

a wretch

who

or

days for another man's luxury,

eat plentifully, and have the feventh

day of

reft.

he only bribes other mens Sunday's fervice, let him go to his

If the planter fays

flaves into his

neighbour, and alk him for the ufe of his cattle

during the hours allotted for food and

reft,

and

him attempt to take or ; them away, and work them clandeftinely, and

report his anfwer

fee

let

whether they will not be reclaimed.

(hall a confiderate

to their full ability

mafter, \

who works

and who,

fumed, feeds them properly, their

a

it

fuffer

And

his flaves

fhould be pre-

them

to

wear

ftrength out in another man's fervice for

little

paultry hire, that ought not to be necef-

fary for

them in the

them

?

Or,

if

he

to exert themfelves

did,

could he expe£t

with vigour for him

week, when their ftrength has been worn

down

ON THE TREATMENT AND

120

down

in his

neighbour's fervice on Sunday, and

they have not had time to recruit

God who

it?

beft knows the conftitution of his creatures, and formed them exprefsly for labour, hath allotted

for reft not only the nightly fucceflion of dark-

weekly return of the fabbath, but has

nefs and

divided every Tingle day into fhort intervals of

labour and reft, by making a frequent repetition

of food neceflary for recruiting and refrefhing

And

the body.

than he

is,

conftitution

One

or to is

we pretend to be wifer know better what the animal,

(hall

capable of performing

reafon

is

?

given for this cuftom, which

puts the obfervation of

Sunday

as

a day

of

on plantations, wholly in the overfeers if a Have behaves to the fatisfacfcion power reft,

:

of the overfeer throughout the week, he

be indulged with Sunday, there on his mafter's

reafon

is

added,

if

field.

that the

is

to

work humane

not he fhall

And

this

common punifhment

of withholding their ufual allowance of food

is

injudicious, and therefore working on Sunday I am ready to give up the is fubftituted for it.

propriety of ftarving

But

ment.

on Sundays

is

is

private

a3 a

mode of

not the obliging

them

punifli-

to

work

them ; method of feeding them, every

feeing, in the

alfo to ftarve

prefent pinched flave

men

forced to eke out his portion with his

Sundays labour?

And

doth not

this

extraordinary labour on Sunday act as a farther* lelfening

!

CONVERSION OF AFRICAN SLAVES. leffening of their allowance, their ftrength in toiling

I2[

by wearing out

on the day

which

in

they fhould have had leifure to recruit

after

it

the week's labour, while the means of acquiring food by private labour to repair this extra-

ordinary wafte are withheld from them.

But we give Sunday, in obedience

our

flaves,

our

common

fuperior in

to the

red:

to

command

of

a duty,

eonfequences, and immediate in

or an unforefeen opportunity of doing

its call,

an

day of

And nothing but

Father.

its

as a

a& of

benevolence can

Now

fet it afide.

^ duty owing immediately

to

God,

it

as

cannot

be affe&ed by any pretended interefl of our own, or demerit on our fervants part. Are

God's laws

to

be fo

every unthinking boy,

little

fet

efteemed

at pleafure

offence

againfl:

?

that

over a few helplefs

wretches, "with a whip in his hand,

them

of,

may

annul

Shall he, to punifh a trifling

the

plantation discipline, too

frequently exifling only in his

own

mifappre-

henfiori or neglect, be allowed to

make havock

of the laws of religion and his

own duty

God

Unhappy age

?

into

which we are

to

fallen,

when, leaving the plain road of obedience,, we fet up to reform the laws and religion, not of our country only, but of our It

is

fuggefted further,

in particular quarters,

God

that in crop time,

the ripe canes are fo apt

G

to

ON THE TREATMENT AND

122 to

become

tainted, that

them

fity to grind

obfervation of the ultimately

The

benefit of the

of our

ed for an exercife

dence, but can never

the

obedient."

may be

trufl:

intend-

in his

come under

works of

we

this

and his laws are

circumftance here pleaded

tion of thofe

To

feafons enjoined

of

fabbath,

the

for

work of necef-

a

is

off on Sunday.

" The God

anfwer,

it

Provi-

the defcrip-

mercy, that

necefiity or

are not only proper, but commendable on Sunday.

Sagacity

may

prudence

forefee,

vide for fuch accidents

;

may

pro -

method and good ufage

may, and where ufed, actually do, increafe the tale of labour, on common days, far beyond forced out on this day appointed for

what

is

reft.

And were

not this, which

yet

may

be,

God's veracity and

true, yet

every cafe, providence are engaged that his fervants mould But, itot ultimately fuffer by their obedience. in

as

we have remarked, and

the truth

is,

fhall further

continued

this

toil

prove,

over-a? " unfortunate flaves that have become their purchafed pro" perty. Particularly, I have, in the warmeft manner, re** commended their imitation of the Roman Catholics in "bellowing baptifm on their flaves, infoicing my argument. f

.

11

from

this confideration ;V

"-You acknowledge

the Christian

" path, in which you walk, to lead to a happy future Hate ; " how can you then, as men or Chriftians, rerufe that to your "

" " " "

which you helieve will

flaves,

intitle

them

to falvation r"

cannot boaft of the imprelrions that thtfe arguments made in our Weftern Archipelago. But, finding the planters in the colonies adjoining to Spanifli fcttlements, complaining I

that their flaves were daily deferting from them, I thought I u had found an argument to urge intirely in their own way •"

" Your

"

flaves deftrt to the Spaniard?, becaule they grant

greater privileges than you do, and

make

them

Chriftians of them.

Ufe. you the fame methods, and they will not think of " leaving you."

*'

" The negroes along the fca-coaft of Africa (particularly " among the French) are well-informed, eafy, kind, generous, " and have a better fenfe of right and wrong than any other " people I have ever vifited. I was thrown among them in a "

(late of

" men, (,r

with feventy-feven dying

wretchednefs and ficknefs,

being abandoned by our

afllftance

and medicines.

I

own

caft

people,

who

refufed

me

myftlf on the chatity of

"

f*vag£s,

ON THE TREATMENT AND

224*4

favages,

44

goodnefs from them than from

44

known.

and received more inftances of compaflion and

all the Chriftians I have etfer exemplary benignity in this people, are inhabitants about Cape Verd, may be collected the

From

this

*'

who

"

probability of introducing freedom and Chriftianity

44

them." 44

On

the fouthern continent of Africa the natives are well

44

informed, well clad,

44

cattle

44

among them,

*' 44

"

among

and other

dwell

poffeflions.

in

fuperb houfes, -abound

Some Portuguefe

in

are fettled

but, I believe, they draw their knowledge, merchandize, and grandeur from their communication with

Mozambique, Arabia, and Egypt. The places I chiefly are Paulo Loando and St. Philip de Buenfala."

refer to,

CHAP,

CONVERSION OF AFRICAN SLAVES. 22£

CHAP. Plan for

V.

the Improvement

and Converjion

of African Slaves.

X HAVE now

gone through the feveral preliminary articles that refpecl flaves in our fuglar colonies. I have defcribed their condition at prefent. have (hewn that there would be good policy and much profit, both to the {late and the mafter 9 I

in

advancing

hand

it

that this advancement muft

;

hand with

in

go

their inftru&ion in religion

and, again, that inflru&ion

is

neceffary to

;.

make

them good and ufeful fubjefifo, I have vindicated fdr them the natural equality and common origin of mankind.

I

have claimed,

the attention of government.

due,

deavoured

to interefl

ligion

their

in

point out the

in

It

to offer,

but as the fpecl: to

I

mod

to

That which

I

am

propofe not as the bed poflible, practicable

method, having re-

the felfifhnefs and prejudices of the a^e,

Were government ed

only remains to

which thefe mould co-

perate for their advantage.

now

their

Ihaveenr

humanity, policy, and re-

favour.

method

as

their

own

and people once well awaken-

interefl;,

L

5

.

and heartily inclined, fomething

ON THE TREATMENT AND

226

fomething ftruck out.

lowing plan

much more promifing might be The chief advantages of the folis, that it may be fet on foot by go-

vernment, without depending on the caprice of individuals, or afTecYing their intereft will be graduaL

more

accommodate

likely to

human

nary courfe of

that

it

operation, and therefore

its

in.

;

itfelf to

At

affairs.

the ordi-

the worft, it

many Utopian fchemes

adds only one more to the

that volunteer reformers produce for the benefit

Should

of the heedlefs public. as impracticable

me, it may fcheme both

mean time

in

as

itfelf,

it

it

ever be found

is

in refpe£t

fome more happy man

lead

practicable and fuccefsfuL

it

may

fent treatment

a

In the

contribute to foften their pre-

and

;

to

of

will

it

be a teftimony of

the author's affection to the caufe of humanity,, religion, left

and

to Providence.

ftate of a particular

accommodated that the

owner of

mud

be:

colony

to others.

;

but

I (hall

may

eafily

be

only premife,

feveral hints occafionally given in the

gefted in the Ilf.

event

will be adapted to the

It

and what has been fug-

courfe of the work,

chap,

The

his country.

cafe

feet.

V.

of particular is

plantations,

offered to every other

flaves,, as far

as

circumffances will

permit.

SECT.

;

CONVERSION OF AFRICAN SLAVES.

SECT. among

THE

and

\ nisters

;

Slaves.

ifland of St. Chriftopher's, treat,

particularly

rifhes,

is,

the emoluments

of two pariih.es being

the decent fupport of a fa-

for

widow and

on .our

provifion

But,

children.

among

of reformation

plan

which

fupplied by five mi-

mily, without fuppofing any a

of

divided into nine, pa-

is

at prefent,

barely fufficient

for

I.

of Clergy\ and their Duty

Eftablijhment

we

227

to

made carry flaves

due ftspport of an eftanay,, indeed blifhed religion among the white inhabitants^ for, the

it

would be necefTary

have

its

own

incumbent.

that each

parim mould

This would give the

proportion of one minifler to about but

bitants

;

lotted

for

Of

it

their

though, whenever lice,

it

al-

maintenance to be increafed.

provifion

this

3000 inha-

would require the provifion I it

mall not

at prefent treat

;

becomes an object of po-

will be eafy to propofe a fund for their

decent maintenance without any fenfible

new ex-

pence to government or people, and chiefly by

changing the mode of certain prefent impofts, In the proportion here fuggefted, efpecially

vided

>

in

many

pariih.es,

Jamaica, would require to be di-

but the minifters could eafily and profitably

ON THE TREATMENT AND

228

fitably for the colony be provided for there allotments of unappropriated funds. *

would propofe

I

alio

each parifh

blifhed in

;

a fchool. to be efta-

the fchool-mafler to be

under the minifter's direction, and

to aflift in in-

and bringing forward the young chil-

{trucking

dren.

by

A

houfe, the place of parifh clerk, and

fome other fmall appointment, with the benefit of fcholars, would always procure decent men for the office,

t Suppofe

* Barbadbes contains eleven parifhes, each with itsminifter; In Antigua there the town parilh has alto a fixed curate. are fix parities, and

fix minifters.

parHhcs, and two minifters.

appointments

it

;

two

Tortola there

been long

In. Montferrat there are

Nevis

five parifhes,

four

and three

In Grenada there are ufually two minifters without

minifters.

there are

In

is

the fame in Dominica.

minifters,. is

dumb

no

fixed minifter.

for

In St. Vincent's

and very fmall appointments.

want of

In

In Anguilla the minifterhas

a maintenance,

In Jamaica there

fome of them as large as the whole are nineteen and fome of them without church government, Leward Infiand parifhes,

or minifter

4*

Indeed a very fmall proportion of thofe immenfe fums that

thrown away under pretence of educating their children in England, would procure men properly qualified tp fettle in thefe fchools in the iflands, which would not only fave to the parents are

nee die fs expence, but alfo preferve the morals of the youth, and train them up to be ufeful to themfelves and. faA young Weft-IndiaD, configned to a fugar-fadlor to milies.

much

be educated at a diftance from his father, foon begins to know no other relationfhip between him and his parent, than that of banker.

He makes

expenfive connections, acquires habits of diflipation.

g

CONVERSION OF AFRICAN SLAVES. then

Suppofe

fober,

minifters fettled in the colonies, each in

pious

own

his

number of

proper

a

22

cure, and employed in the duties of his

by government,

function, fupported

couraged by

good men.

Let

and en-

the

minifter,

every Sunday, perform the ufual morning fervice to his white parifhioners, and fuch fenfible negroes as can attend fervice

a

;

in the

afternoon

be adapted to the negroes.

common

fermon,

a

chapter

courfe,

let

of

him explain the

New

let

the

Xnftead of

them, in Teftament,

to

making them intimately acquainted with the million and hiftory of our Saviour,

him,

lation to

as the

and our reimmediate Creator, Head,

and Redeemer of the world.

man

frequently

apoftle's creed,

ten

give a fhort in

Let the clergyexpofition

eafy terms,

commandments

in

of the

and explain the

words adapted

to their

capacity.

Let the devotion,

minifters jointly

fome

to be ufed in

groes, others for their field

ing prayers,

diffipation,'

is

compofe forms of private by the ne-

morning and even-

and others, more comprehenfive,

never made to

learns to turn out ufefully in

own weight, and feldom Where parents have not the

feel his life.

vanity or are not in circumftances to fend

them

to

England,

but content themfelves with giving them an ufeful education near them, Well-Indian children fhew that they want neither capacity nor application.

to

ON THE TREATMENT AND

23O

by the whole gang on Sundays, Let them be drawn up plantation.

in the

to be ufed

inftructive,

fimpie, tion to

God,

a

to

expreMive, of Saviour, to

fhorr,

their

fociety,

rela-

and of

the refpe£r. that a candidate for heaven owes to

Indeed

himfelf.

it

in carrying

vantage

were compofed

would be found on

the.

to ferve in

work,

ail

a great ad-

if

the forms

the colonies gene-

Mailers mould be exhorted to fend, at

rally.

convenient times, their motf fenfible flaves to to be

the miniiler, that they

may

inftru&ed in

teach the

reft,

thefe

forms,

and take the lead

in the plantation evening and morning devotions., If the mafter, manager, or ovedeer, were constantly to lead their it

Sunday plantation devotions,

would have an excellent

who

well treated

are

A

work.

few

and

efTecl:.

in

fpirits,

eafy Tingle ftanzas

fongs.

In every

thing

ling a£

might be col-

lected or compofed, to be ufed inflead

common

Negroes*

of their

drawn up

for

them, the exprefiion fhould be (imple, and the

meaning obvious.

Let the miniiler tion,

at

vifit

the plantations in rota-

convenient times, to inquire into the

behaviour and improvement of the

commend, them. all

To

flaves,

reprove, admonith, and pray give

him

to

with

refpe£t and influence, let

be obliged to appear before him decently

clothed.

Let

CONVERSION OF AFRICAN SLAVES. 2$l Let him pay dren

a particular attention to chil-

that while the

;

minds are lender, before

;

.r

their difpofttioris be fourcd

flavery, they

by the impactions of

may make feme

pfogrefs in the

knowledge of their duty. As they may be better, fpared from plantation work than the reft 5 they

may

week days In

attend on the minifter on particular for inftruction.

common

nifhed by

cafes,

no culprit fhould be pu-

who

the mailer,

can find