402 JAMAICA. 



the penal laws of Jamaica, he Is (in general) entitled to equitable 

 modes of juftice, trial, and judgement; from other laws he derives 

 proteftion, immunities, and emoluments. In his habitation, cloath- 

 ing, fubfiftence, and poffeffions, he is far happier and better provided' 

 for than moll of the poor labourers, and meaner clals, in Britain. It 

 is not therefoi'e a mere found, importing flavery, that makes men Haves;; 

 the Negroes here are not the more To for the title; although the com- 

 mon ideas of uninformed perfons lead them to think of their condi- 

 tion in the very worfl: fenfe which that term admits. In truth, on 

 many plantations, and under mild mafters, if they receive not hire in 

 money, they receive an equivalent in the neceflaries and conveniencies 

 of life, and the peaceable enjoyment of their private acquifitions; and,, 

 what is flill better, good ufage, and proteflion from injuries ; which 

 are a more current coin amongft the honefl and free-minded, than, 

 money iifelf. 



It does not follow, becaufe thefe flaves are delivered into the hands 

 of Europeans by the Negroe merchants or potentates, to be dealt with 

 as they think proper, that the Europeans ailert any power of inflift- 

 ing cruelty upon them ; or believe, there is any merit in abftaining from 

 mifufage of thefe poor wretches ; who might poffibly have been put to 

 death, if they had not redeemed them. 



In faft, the mod humane of tlie Europeans, among whom I furely 

 may efteem the Britilh, hold them only in what Grotius and other 

 authors diilinguiOi as a legitimate, equitable fpecies of fervitude; in- 

 cluding a fort of compaft, by which (abftrafted from the right ac- 

 quired hy purchafe J one man owes to another perpetual fervices lor the 

 prefervation of his life, for his fuftenance, and other neceflaries ; and 

 this is founded on the principles of reafon. The maftcr does not ex- 

 tend his power over his flave beyond the bounds of natural equity, but 

 a reciprocal obligation conne<!n:s them; protedVion and maintenance on 

 the one hand, fidelity and fervice on the other ; this obligation has 

 nothing in it oppreffive, but, on the contrary, gives the Have a cer- 

 tainty of for,d and conveniencies;- which others often want, who hire 

 out their labours by the day. To this effeft fays alio Gronovius,- 

 " foraftnuch as the majiler is bound to give food to his flave, fo Is the 

 Have bound to make a return or retribution by his labour; this duty 

 is equally permanent on both fides :" and this is the kind of fervitude 



exifting 



