334 JAMAICA. 



part of their property ; and that the brhiging up fo many to trades 

 ;uid mechanic arts might difcourage white artificers. 



The firfl: might be obviated, by paying their owners a certain rate 

 pfr head, to be deterniined by the legiflature. The fecond is not 

 ihfurmountable; for few or noiie will be mafter-workmen ; they 

 will ferve as journeymen to white artificers j or do little more than 

 they would have done, if they had continued in flavery ; for it is 

 the cuftom on moft eftates at prefent to make tradefmen of them. 

 But, if they were even to fet up for themfelves, no difadvantage 

 would probably accrue to the publick, but the contrary. They 

 would oblige the white artificers to work at more moderate rates ; 

 which, though not agreeable perhaps to thefe artificers, would ftill 

 leave them an ample gain, and prove very acceptable to the reft of 

 the inhabitants ; for to fuch a pitch of extravagance have they 

 raifed their charges, that they tax their employers juft what they 

 think fit; each man of them fixes a rate according to his own fancy, 

 unregulated by any law ; and, (hould his bill be ever fo enormous 

 or unjuft, he is in no want of brother tradefmen in the jury-box to 

 confirm and allow it. I fhall not hereprefume to di£late any entire 

 plan for carrying this fcheme into efFedl. This muft be left to the 

 wifdom of the legiflature, and be made confiftent with the abilities 

 of the treafury. In general only I may fuppofe, that for every fuch 

 child, on its attaining the age of three years, a reafonable allow- 

 ance be paid to the owner : from that period it becomes the care of 

 the public, and might be provided for, at a cheap rate, until of an 

 age fit for fchool ; then be inftru£led in religion ; and at the age 

 of twelve apprenticed for the term of four years ; after this, be re- 

 gimented in his refpeftive diftrift, perhaps fettled near a town- 

 Ihip ; and, when on militia or other public duty, paid the fame 

 fubfiftence per day, or week, that is now allowed to the Marons. 

 The expediency muft be feen of having (as in the French iflands) 

 fuch a corps of aftive men, ready to fcour the woods upon all oc- 

 cafions ; a fervice, in which the regulars are by no means equal to 

 them. They would likewife form a proper counter-balance to the 

 Maron Negroes ; whofe infolence, during formidable infurreftions, 

 has been moft infufferable. The beft way of fecuring the alle- 

 giance of thefe irregular people muft be by preferving the treaty 



with 



