BOOK III. CHAP. HI. 44S 



infurrefllons have occurred in every one of the colonies, Britifh as 

 well as foreign, at times. But the calumniator has not been more 

 erroneous in bringing the charge, than in the reafons affigned to 

 fupport it ; becaufe a faulty indulgence has been one leading caufe 

 of the diftarbances that have occurred in Jamaica; which is evi- 

 dently proved by what is fet forth in many of the laws pafled in 

 confequence of them, reftridling feveral fports, and prohibiting cer- 

 tain feltive aflemblies, which the Negroes had freely enjoyed be- 

 fore, but were made fubfervient to the forming and carrying on 

 of dangerous confpiracies. They were formerly allowed to affemble 

 with drums and mufical inftruments ; to dance, drink, and be 

 merry. This was permitted, becaufe it was thought an inoffenfwe 

 mode of recreation for them. But when thefe games were after- 

 wards converted into plots, they were with great juftice fuppreffed, 

 as riotous aflemblies of people are in England, and for the like 

 reafon J that, being perverted from their original intention to wicked 

 and unlawful ends, they became inconfiftent with the peace and 

 fafety of the community. Such prohibitions (of which there are 

 feveral) prove undeniably, the great latitude of indulgence, that has 

 been given to the Negroes of this colony ; and fhew the propriety, 

 and indeed neceflity, there has been of laying them under rellric- 

 tions, when that liberty was abufed. The innocent, it is true, were 

 unavoidably involved with the guilty in thefe reflraintsj but they 

 have ftill fufficient paftimes and amufements to divert them, with- 

 out offending againft the public welfare. In every country under 

 the fun the like commotions muft happen, where licentioufnefs 

 among the moft ignorant and profligate of the people is not reprefled 

 by the difcipline of laws, and the energy of good government ; and 

 where drunkennefs and luft, thofe great incentives to violence among 

 this order of men, are fuffered, as in Jamaica, to reign without 

 controul. 



The heedlefs pradlice formerly of keeping large (lands of fire- 

 arms and cutlafl"es upon the Inland plantations, having only three or 

 four white men upon them, became a ftrong temptation to any 

 difaffedled or enterprizing Africans. It might well be expedled, 

 that throwing fuch magazines and fl:ores of ammunition in their 

 way, was a diredt invitation to them to rebel. The turning Co 



L 1 1 2 many 



