1831.] .Mismanagement of the Colonies Jamaica, fyc. 61 



" that all owners, proprietors,, and possessors, or, in their absence, the ma- 

 nagers or overseers of slaves, shall, as much as in them lies, endeavour to 

 promote the instruction of their slaves in the principles of the Christian 

 religion, thereby to facilitate their conversion, and shall do their utmost 

 endeavours to fit them for baptism, and cause to be baptized all such as 

 they can make sensible of a duty to God and the Christian faith ; which 

 ceremony the clergymen of the respective parishes are to perform when 

 required, without fee or reward." " Any Slave or Slaves, who is or has 

 been baptized, who may be desirous of entering into the holy state of 

 matrimony, to apply to any clergyman of the Established Church to so- 

 emnize such marriage, who is hereby required to perform the same 

 without fee or reward" &c. 



No Sunday markets after 11 o'clock, under a penalty of 51. from free 

 persons, and forfeiture of the goods exposed by Slaves. 



" Slaves to be allowed one day in every fortnight, besides holidays, 

 to cultivate their grounds ;" and whereas it may happen, that on some 

 plantations, &c. there may not be lands proper for the cultivation of 

 provisions, or where, by reason of long continuance of dry weather, the 

 Negro grounds may be rendered unproductive, then, and in that case, 

 the masters, &c. do, by some other ways and means, make good and 

 ample provision for all such slaves as they shall be possessed of * * 

 in order that they may be properly supported and maintained, under a 

 penalty of 50. 



" Every master, &c. shall, once in every year, provide and give to 

 each slave they shall be possessed of, proper and sufficient clothing, to be 

 approved of by the justices, &c. under a heavy penalty ; and shall be 

 obliged upon oath, under forfeiture of 100. to give an account of the 

 clothing so furnished ; and that the Negroes have had sufficient provi- 

 sions, according to the regulation thus established/' 



By another clause, no Slave's property can be taken from him by his 

 master or any other person, and the same clause enumerates " horses, 

 mares, mules, asses, cattle, sheep, hogs, and goats," as a part of such 

 property usually held by Slaves. 



" Any pecuniary bequest or legacy of a chattel to a slave shall be 

 deemed and considered to be a legal and valid bequest or legacy;" and 

 the executor or executors are bound to pay it. 



Females with six children are exempt from hard labour in the field or 

 otherwise. 



Slaves who by reason of age, infirmity, or sickness, are unfit for la- 

 bour, cannot be turned off, but must be properly taken care of by their 

 master ; or, if manumitted, he is bound to allow them ten pounds per 

 annum for their support. 



Every field-slave shall on work-days be allowed half an hour for 

 breakfast, and two hours for dinner. No work to be done before Jive in the 

 morning, or after seven at night, except during time of crop. 



Ample provision is carefully and anxiously made for the protection of 

 slaves against cruel or unjust punishments, the penalties being fine and 

 imprisonment, and in some cases the manumission of the slaves; as well 

 as for the regulation of their various interests, the recovery and care of 

 runaways, the regulation of workhouses, &c. " If any negro or other 

 person taken to the workhouse as a runaway, shall allege himself or her- 

 self to be free, a special sessions shall be held, carefully to investigate 

 the case; and if it shall appear that such person is free, he shall be forth- 

 with discharged." In short, by a variety of clauses the property and 

 person of the slave is Carefully provided for; and in order to prevent any 



