1829-3 Life and Services of Captain P/tilip Beaver. 35 



effect which the mistaken conduct of the government towards the West- 

 India colonies had pi'oduced there, ought also to be received with con- 

 siderable attention. He is no advocate, be it remembered, for slavery ; 

 but his correct and unsophisticated mind came at once to the conclusion, 

 which must be forced upon every one who will regard, without bigotry 

 or dishonest influences, the real condition of the colonies : — 



" ' Many years have rolled over my head,' remarks tlie Captain, ' since I 

 first visited these regions, and I know not whether the manners of the people 

 have altered, or my own taste has changed, perhaps both may have felt the 

 influence of the interval. I admire the matchless tints of the scenery, and 

 the heavenly splendour of the climate more than formerly ; but I no longer 

 relish the boisterous cheer and lax hospitality, which once did not hicommode 

 me. The chatter of the negro is as vociferous, and the piccaninies gambol as 

 wildly as ever ; while Sunday is still the happy day which they call their own. 

 But the planter is certahily less gay ; and he appears already to suffer under 

 the interference of our legislature. I apprehend the result of our measures 

 will ultimately prove of greater benefit to our enemies, than either to our own 

 subjects or the slaves. It seems to me but reasonable, that those who so 

 warmly discuss this question in the House of Commons should first take the 

 trouble to make a trip across the water, and ascertain the truth; for the 

 inquiry has .hitherto been borne down more by sophistry than by fact. I 

 would rather see the wisdom and philanthropy of England exerted to amelio- 

 rate the condition of the blacks, which she can do, than witness her efforts at 

 what she cannot do. I abhor slavery ; but feeling that, constituted as man- 

 kind are, it ever has existed, and perhaps ever will, I cannot surrender the 

 evidence of my senses to mere speculative morality.' " 



In 1809 he returned liome, and was for some time without employ- 

 ment, in consequence of the Acasta being paid off. Having borne this 

 with some impatience, but without complaining, for several months, he 

 determined to apply at once to Lord INIelville, and wrote a letter, which 

 is an extremely manly, modest, and sensible effusion, and which is, 

 besides, highly characteristic of its author's straight-forward manner of 

 expressing himself: — 



" ' I yesterday came to town for the purpose of renewing, in person, the 

 application which I made in December last, for the command of one of the 

 frigates lately launched at Plymouth. Totally unknown as I am to your lord- 

 ship, it may not be impertinent, nay, I believe it is but .just, to show upon 

 what ground I prefer such a request, as there are, probably, numerous and 

 meritorious applicants for the same command. Yet I hope I am not going to 

 embarrass your lordship with solicitations, which inability to comply with, or 

 previous engagements, render impossible to grant. To be brief, I shall shortly 

 state, that during three-and-thirty years' service, I have never been unemployed 

 in the time of war ; that twenty-seven of those years I have borne a commis- 

 sion, and am now in the tenth year of post rank ; that during that time I 

 have never been tried by a court-martial, never confined, nor have I ever been 

 once agked by any of my superiors, why such or such a thing had not been 

 done. So much for negative merit. I decline dwelling upon the earlier parts 

 of my servitude, that I may the less encroach upon your lordship's leisure. 

 Soon after I was made a commander, I was appointed assistant-captain to the 

 Mediterranean fleet ; in this situation I had charge of the flotilla which six 

 times bombarded Genoa ; I negotiated for the same place on the part of the 

 British, and came home overland with the documents announcing the event. 

 The battle of Marengo had been fought, and on my arrival, though I travelled 

 from the Elbe in less time than the same ground had ever been passed before, 

 all Italy was again in the hands of our enemy ; the despatches of which I was 

 the bearer were therefore never published. Returning to the Mediterranean, 



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