BOOK Iir. CHAP. III. 429 



minds towards their prcfent Ij/ftem ; which lays no penalty or pe- 

 nance on their fcnfual pleafurcs, impofes no reftraint of decorum, 

 and which tolerates their unlimited indulgence in thofe vices and 

 delightful abfurdities which are exprefsly reprobated by the Chri- 

 ftian dodirincs. The laws of Jamaica require the planters to do 

 their utmofl: for converting their Negroes, and caufing them to be 

 baptized, lb foon as they can be put into a fit capacity of fentiment- 

 to admit of it. But their general inappetency to become converts,, 

 together with their barbarous ftupidity, and ignoraiice of the 

 Englifh language, which render them incapable of underflanding 

 o.r realbning upon what is faid to them, would foil the moft zealous 

 endeavours. Befides, the planters are averfe to exert an authority 

 and conftraint over their minds, which might wear the appearance 

 of religious tyranny. They do not think the caufe of Chriftianity 

 at all honoured by adding involuntary profelytes; they hold it 

 rather for a fhameful hypocrify and infult to the true worfhip. But,, 

 when any of their Negroes have made requefi: to be baptized, I never 

 knew, nor heard, of a planter's having refufcd compliance with it. 

 The Creole Negroes are the fitteft fubjeds to work upon ; and, 

 with fome pains (as they have better knowledge of the Englidi 

 tongue), they might probably be brought to retain fome of the ele- 

 ments of Chriflianity. It would certainly be produ6live of good, 

 confequences, if the more fenfible part of them were to be baptized, 

 and occafionally intruded, as far as they can be made to under- 

 ftand, in the morality and fundamental points of our holy faith. In-. 

 order to this, the baptifmal fees payable for Negroes ought to be 

 fixed, by the juftices and veflry in each parifh, at a very low rate ; 

 the prefent ordinary rate of i /. 3J. 9^., paid by the owners, being 

 enormoufly h.igh. A Popifli miflionary would perform the cere- 

 mony gratis^ and be happy at the occafion ; but, in fome other 

 eflabliihments, we too often find, that it is, no fee ^ no holy water \ 

 no pay, noSwifs. Bofman (hrewdly obferves, " that, if it were- 

 " poffible to convert the African Negroes to Chriftianity, the 

 " Roman Catholics would probably fucceed much better than any 

 " other fed; becaufc they agree in fome points, fuch as abftinence 

 *' from particular kinds of food on certain days, &c. and in their 

 *' mutual attaclunent for ceremony and fuperftition." In fad, 



the 



