322 JAMAICA. 



Theie are the principal ordinances of the laws affetliitg the com- 

 mon freed -perfons ; whence the policy of the country may be eafily 

 meafured. The reilraints, fo far as they are laid upon the loweft 

 order juft emerged from fervitude, and who have no property of 

 any confequence, feem very juftifiable and proper ; but in refpeft to 

 the few who have received a moral and ChrilHan education, and 

 who inherit fortunes confiderable enough to make them independ- 

 ant, they may be thought capable of feme relaxation, without any 

 prejudice to the general welfare of the colony; for it deferves ferious 

 refleftion, that moH: of the fuperior order (for thefe reafons) pre- 

 fer living in England, where they are refpedled, at leaft for their 

 fortunes; and know that their children cao enjoy of right all thofe 

 privileges, which in Jamaica are withheld from their pofleflion. 

 xy The flaves that moll commonly gain a manumifiion here from 

 their owners, are 



I. Domeilicks, in reward for a long and faithful courfe of 

 fexvice. 



I 2. Thofe, who have been permitted to work for themfelves, 

 only paying a certain weekly or monthly fum ; many of them find 

 means to fave. fufficieint from their earnings, to purchafe their 

 freedom. . . .... , .. . ,. 



3. Thofe who have efte^^ed fome efiential fervice to the public,, 

 ii'uch as revealing a confpiracy, or fighting valiantly againfl rebels 

 I and invaders. They have likewife generally been requited with an 

 'annuity, from the publick treafury, for- life. 



I Some regulation feems expedient, to give the firfl mentioned the 

 means of acquiring their freedom, without the temptation of con- 

 verting it into licentiouihefs. 



In Antigua, every white perfon who beftows this boon upon 

 his flave, accompanies it with fome further grants enabling him to 

 enjoy his new ftation v/ith advantage to himfelf and the community,. 

 The law there compels all thefe freed-men, who have not lands 

 wherewith to form a fettlement, to enter themfelves into the fer- 

 vice of fome family. In Jamaica, where land is a. cheap com- 

 modity, this is not the cafe. The Negroe receives his manumifiion, 

 but not always a provifion for his .future fubfiftence ; this, defedt 

 therefore impels many of them to thefts and other illegal practices, 



for 



