660 



who, in despair, for such or worse treat- 

 ment, and not seeing an end to their suf- 

 ferings, have committed the most terrible 

 suicides, destroying at the same time them- 

 selves, their wives, and children. Others 

 have run away, been taken, flogged, and 

 worked in chains during the day, and are 

 shut up in chains during the night, as the 

 most culpable of criminals. Famine, be- 

 sides, often forces them to commit petty 

 thefts, and when discovered, to avoid pub- 

 licity and dishonour, or to escape punish- 

 ment, subscribe new bonds of slavery, and, 

 for the value of a dollar, condemn them- 

 selves to hard labour for years. They are 

 universally despised as outcasts of society, 

 having renounced the privileges of British 

 subjects without obtaining the rights of 

 American citizens. A British minister 

 cannot listen to their complaints and re- 

 lieve their misery, regarded by the Ame- 

 rican laws as the consequence-of their vo- 

 luntary renunciation of their freedom.'' 

 This gentleman's observations are cer- 



