BOOK III. CHAP. III. 4;5 



federacy, which keeps thefe Negroes too clofely aflbclnted with one 

 aiiotl;er. On many eftatcs, they do not mix at all with the oiher 

 flaves, but build their houfes diftindl from the reft ; and, herding 

 together, are left more at liberty to hold their dangerous cabals, 

 without interruption. Their houfes ought to be intermixed with the 

 reft, and kept divided from one another, by interpofing thofc of the 

 other Negroes, who by this means would become continual fpies 

 upon their condud. A particular attention fliould alfo be had to 

 their p/ciys, for thefe have always been their rendezvous for hatching 

 plots, more eipecially wlienever on fuch occafions any unufual refort 

 is obferved of their countrymen from other plantations ; and very- 

 particular fcarch ftiould be made after their obeiah-men, who, 

 whenever detected, fhould be tranfported without mercy. The 

 employers of this deteftable race owe thefe cautions at leaft to the 

 public, who have fuffered fo much in times paft from the total 

 negle6t of them. From the foregoing detail, which I have given 

 upon the moft credible and authentic teftimonies in my power to 

 procure, every candid perfon may judge, with how little regard to 

 truth the infurredlions, that have happened in Jamaica, are afcribed 

 to extraordinary cruelties exercifed over the flaves in that ifland ; I 

 think it will appear from inconteftable proofs, that fo impudent a 

 calumny could have no- other foundation than malevolence, com- 

 plicated with ignorance. 



CHAP. IV. 



FRANCIS WILLIAMS. 



I Have forborne till now to introduce upon the ftage a perfonage, '. 

 who made a confpicuous figure in this ifland, and even attracted 

 the notice of many in England. With the impartiality that be- 

 comes me, I fliall endeavour to do him all pofllblejuftice; and (hall 

 leave it to the reader's opinion, whether what they fliall dilcover of ^ 

 his genius and intelled will be fuHicient to overthrow the argu- 

 ments, 1 have before alledged, to prove an inferiority of the Negroes 

 to the race of white men. It will by this time be dilcovercd, that I 

 allude to Francis JVilliams, a native of this ifland, and (on to John 

 and Dorothy VVilUams, free Negroes. Francis was chcyoungcil of 



P p p 2 three 



