276 JAMAICA, 



and, in grown peiTons, about the eighth or ninth. They were 

 conftantly in a free air in the fhade, and fuffered no confinement; 

 being reflrained only, in diet, from animal food, fait, and fpirituous 



liquors. 



Of fifteen hundred Negroes, of all ages and habits of body, who 

 were inoculated here by o«^/>r^^///o«^r, not one died. Such plain 

 fafts fhould weigh more than argument in fupprefling groundlefs 

 apprehenfions ; and teach every mother, that the wilful confignment 

 of her helplefs little ones to almofi: certain death, when flic might 

 exert the probable means of faving them, is abfokite murder in ef- 

 feft, and little fliort of it in guilt. The infant is incapable of 

 judging for itfelf, or of exercifing a freedom of, choice. But to the 

 parents God has imparted reafon fufficient to condu£l their unin- 

 itrufted charge, and proteft it from impending evils. In ufing their 

 beft endeavours for this purpofe, they manifeft a truly religious 

 obedience to their Maker, a due affedion for their offspring, and a 

 fubmiffion to the rules of good fenfe. And, whatever the event 

 may prove, they are confcious of having afted with the heft 

 intentions, which will furely be moft acceptable to that Being, 

 who 



" Preferreth the upright Heart, and pure." 



Whilfl: I render all due praile to the Creole ladies for their many 

 amiable qualities, impartiality forbids me to fupprefs what is highly 

 to their difcredit; I mean, their difdainingto fuckle their own help- 

 / lefs offspring! they give them up to a Negroe or Mulatto wetnurie, 

 without refleding that her blood may be corrupted, or confidering 

 the influence which the milk may have with refpeft to the difpo-^ 

 fition, as well as health, of their little ones. This (hameful and 

 favage cuftom they borrowed from England ; and, finding it relieve 

 them from a little trouble, it has gained their general fandion. 

 How barbarous the ufage, which, to purchafe a refpite from that 

 endearing employment To agreeable to the humanity of their fex, 

 fo confonant to the laws of nature, at once fo honourable and de- 

 lightful to a real parent, thus facrifices the well-being of a child! 

 Notwithftanding every precaution they take to examine the nurfe 

 of their choice, it is a million to one but fhe harbours in her blood 

 the feeds of many terrible diflempers. There is fcarcely one of 



thefe 



