938 A P P E N D I X TO Vol. III. 



V^hich upon return of the faid flaves, the colonies may derive advan- 

 tage ; the fald proprietors ihall be obliged to obtain permiffion for that 

 furpofe, from the governor general, or commandants in each ifland 

 refpedively, which permiffion fhall contain the name of the proprietor, 

 and the names of the flaves, together with their age, and defcription. 



anarchy; in the praiSice of every thing that is brutal, vicious, Ihameful, and derogatory to human 

 nature. 



It requires all the vigour of the executive power of the French government to reclaim them, by 

 difcipline, and examples of feverity, from their barbarous habits; but as tins llriftnefs is cautioufly 

 adminiftered towards colonies which are but recently planted, and have fcarcely taken root, fo we 

 may conclude that no fuch checks will be applied, until that ifland is more fully peopled ; and, 

 therefore, that thefe iniferable flaves can have no profpefl of being treated with humanity, until 

 their mailers are firll humanized; which will only happen by bringing them uruler the compuU 

 (ion of wife laws, impartially and rigidly inforced. 



The worft effefts muft follow in thefe diftant members of the empire, when the planters of beft' 

 rnt»k and fortune give bad examples to their inferiors. The writer, before quoted, mentions, that 

 a counfeilor (I fuppofe he means one of the royal council, who, ex officio, is next in dignity to the 

 governor and intcndant) of whom fome of his flaves had made a complaint to the governor, allured 

 him (the writer), " that although they were exempted from punilhment that day, the next he 

 " would have them flead from head to foot." The influence which a declaration of this ftatnp,. 

 coming from a perfon of fo high authority in the colony, muft carry with it over the minds and ' 

 praiStice of the interior planters, is obvious; as well as, that all the wholefome regulations of the 

 royal code -can avail but little, when they are fet at nought by thofe whofe ftations require that they 

 in particular (hould pay the moft implicit obedience to them. In the Britifh iflands, at leaft the 

 more populous of them, fuch examples would have no weight with the other ranks of men; for all 

 here are upon a footing of more equality ; nor could a privy counfeilor either hope to fcreen his tur- 

 pitude under the dignity of his flation, or expeft that his example would incline others to counte- 

 nance it by their own praftice ; every one here being at liberty to judge for hirafelf, and to judge of 

 others, he muft expert to have his conduft publicly arraigned, cenfured, and condemned, in propor- 

 tion as it is found not to confift with the duties and honour ot the place he holds. Upon this head, 

 I cannot but efteem it a happy circumftance in our ifland, that it fupi»rts no lefs than four print- 

 ing-prefles, which are open to the communication of private as well as public wrongs; to the ilric- 

 tures pafl"ed on bafe and wicked aftions, by whatfoever perfon committed, no lefs than to the appro- 

 bation of fuch as are virtuous, and commendable. If thefe engines :irc neceffary to the conferva- 

 tion of liberty, they may alfo tend very eminently to the raitigaiion of flavery ; not merely by bring- 

 ing to light tlie private abufes of it, but by the moral leflbns thty are capable of inculcating; the 

 refmement they may produce on mens way of thinking and beh^ing; the caution and rellraint 

 which they may impofe upon evil difpofitions; the boldnefs of their impeachments; the fling of 

 their latire and ridicule; the force of their perfuafion; the pleafure ariflng from their encomium; 

 the efficacy ot their cailigation, and the dread of their popular appeals: the variety of their means, 

 and the happy efl'eds they are capable of producing, give them nearly the fame degree of power 

 which was tormerly comprehended in the offices of tribune and cenfor among the Romans, and ren» 

 der them fublidiary to religion and the laws, in the reformation ot manners, the difperfioii of 

 knowledge, and the polifli of focicty. 



That they may cHecfl thefe, and many other bcneHclal confc<]ucnces, is my finctre wiili; and that 

 they may be applied here fuccefstuUy, not only to the conettieu ot errors in our political, but in our 

 domeflic goverument likcwifc, (hould be the endeavour of oery honcll aud intelligent planter of 

 Jamaica. 



I 111. The 



