X 



330 JAMAICA. 



** made me no better than a flave ; on the other hand, my mother 

 « did everything in her power to render me free." On firft arriving 

 here, a civiUzed European may be apt to think it impudent and 

 fhameful, that even bachelors (hould publickly avow their keeping 

 Negroe or Mulatto miftrefies ; but they are ftill more fliocked at 

 leeing a group of" white legitimate, and Mulatto illegitimate, 

 children, all claimed by the fame married father, and all bred up 

 tof^ether under the fame roof [«/']. Habit, however, and the pre- 

 vailing fafhion, reconcile fuch fcenes, and lefl'en the abhorrence 

 excited by their fiifl imprelhon. 



To allure men from thefe illicit connexions, we ought to re- 

 move the principal obftacles which deter them from marriage. 

 fThis will be chiefly etfefted by rendering women of their own 

 1 complexion more agreeable companions, more frugal, trulty, and 

 faithful friends, than can be met with among the African ladies. 

 Of fome probable meafures to cfFeft this delireable purpofe, and 

 make the fair natives of this illand more amiable in the eyes of the 

 men, and more eligible partners in the nuptial flate, I have already 

 ventured my feutiments. A proper education is the firfl: great 

 point. A modeft demeanour, a mind divefied of falfe pride, a 

 very moderate zeal for expenfive pleafures, a Ikill in oeconomy, 

 and a condu»5t which indicates plain tokens of good humour, fide- 

 lity, and dilcretion, can never fail of making converts. Much, 

 indeed, depends on the ladies themfelves to rcfcue this truly ho- 

 nourable union from that f;i(hionable deteflation in which it feems 



[//;] Reafon requires, that the mafter's powci" fliould not extend to wlv.a does not appertain to 

 his fervice. Slavery fhould be calculated for utility, not tor plealure. The laws of chalUty arife 

 from thofe of nature, and ought in all nations to be refpeded. If a law, which preferves the 

 challity of flaves, be good in thofe ilates where an aibitrary power bears down all before it, how 

 much more fo will it be in monarchies ! and how much more llill in republics ! The law of the 

 Lombards has a regulation which ought to be adopted by all governments. " If a mailer debauches 

 ".his flave's wife, the flave and his wife (liall be free;" an admirable expedient, which, without 

 feverity, lays a powerful rellraint on the incontlnency of mafters. The Romans erred on this 

 head : they allowed an unlimited Icope to the mailer's luft ; and, in fome meafure, denied their 

 flaves the privilege of raari-ying. It is true, they were the lowell part of the nation ; yet there 

 fliould have been fome care taken of their morals, efpecially as, in prohibiting their marriage, 

 they corrupted the moralb ot the citizens. 



So thinks the inimitable Montefquieu. And how applicable thefe feutiments are to the llate 

 of things in our ifland, I leave to the difpalfionate judgement of every man there, whether raar- 

 iied or fingle. 



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