BOOK ir. CHAP. xrir. 289 



write nor read. Many of thefe menial fervants, who arc retained 

 for the fake of favlng a deficiency, are the very dregs of the three 

 kingdoms. They have commonly more vices, and much fewer 

 good quahties, than the flaves over whom they are fet in authority; 

 the better fort of which heartily defpife them, perceiving little or 

 xio difference from thcmfelves, except in Ikin, and blacker de- 

 pravity. By their bafe f;miiliarity with the worrt-difpofed among 

 the ilaves, thaydoavery great injury to the plantations; caufing 

 difiurbances, by feducing the Negroes wives, and bringing an 

 odJum upon the white people in general, by their drunkennefs and 

 profligate aftions. In fa6t, the better fort of Creole Blacks difdain U^ 

 to aflbciate with them, holding them in too much contempt, or 

 abhorrence. 



Although the gaol- delivery of Newgate is not poured in upon 

 thisifland; yet it is an occafional afylum for many who have de- ^ 

 ferved the gallows. Thefe fellows are no fooner arrived, than they 

 cheat away to the right and left, and off again they flart; carrying- 

 all away with them, except the infamy of their proceedings, 

 which they leave behind, as a memento^ to fhew the impropriety of 

 admitting any other than honefl men to be members of an in- 

 duftrious colony. 



Formerly convi£l-felons were tranfported hither ; but the in- 

 convenience attending the admiflion of luch milcreants obtained the 

 inhabitants a relief from them. While the traffic for Scotch fervants, y^ 

 lafted, the legifiature of the ifland lent their helping hand to give it 

 encouragement; and, in 1703, it was enaded, that a mailer of 

 any fhip, importing thirty white men fervants at one time, fhould 

 be for that voyage exempted from paying all port-charges, if any 

 of the fervants fo brought in fnould happen to remain undifpofed of 

 at the expiration of thirteen days after their arrival, the receiver- 

 general was direfted to take charge of them, upon paying to the 

 importer a certain fum /^r head. He was then to fend them to 

 the ctijios of that pariiTi, where the greateft deficiencies were ; and 

 the treafury was reimburfed by the perlon, or planter, en whom 

 they were quartered. It is curious to remark the prices which at 

 that time v,tre fet upon thefe fervants, and to compare them with 

 what are paid at prefent. , 



Vol. IIo Pp Every 



