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APPENDIX to VOL. III. 



SECT. I. 



THE encomiums which are copioufly beflowed upon the 

 French Codc-Noir, and the Httle knowledge the planters 

 of our ifland have of the articles that compofe it, induce me to be- 

 lieve, that a tranflation will be well received ; not merely as 

 matter of curiolity, but an exemplar, which feveral diftinguifhcd 

 writers have pointed out to be worthy their imitation. 



Should it appear to merit the high charader they have given of 

 it, there can be no diflionour in borrowing, and intermingling with 

 our own fyftem, fuch of its inftitutes as the difference of our con- 

 ftitutional principles has not excluded. 



The French, it is faid, cannot perfect their cloth-manufa£ture 

 without fomc proportion of Englifh wool. In refemblance there- 

 fore of their pra6lice, why fhould we not, in our turn, make free 

 with their political ftaple ; and interweave fo much of their jurif- 

 prudence, a may ferve to render our own fabric more -^compleat 

 and valuable ? " Fas ejl et ab hofte doceri.'''' Let us not be deaf to 

 indruclion, even though it comes from our r/W/; for fuch is tlic 

 import that 1 would wiOi to give to the word hoftis. 



The CoDE-XoiR, or Negroe-Code ; publidied, at Verfailles, 



March, 1685 [a\ 



LOUIS, by the Grace of G O D, &c. 

 Art. 1. We will and intend, that the edi^^ of the late king, of 

 glorious memory, our ever-honoured lord and father, of the 23d 

 of April, 16 15, fliould be executed in our iflands. To which end, , 



[a] Dcnifart mentions, that this edict is regillercd with the fovereigii council at Hifpaninla, 

 but has never been regiftered in any of the French parliaments. Tlic realbn of this probably 

 was, that, the provifions being merely local, it was thought fulScient that it (hould be regillercd 

 in the colony onlv where they we:e to take ettcCt. 



Vol. hi. 6 B wc 



