16 MEMOIR OF DR WRIGHT, 



their sufferings, and reflect on their hard fate, without 

 pity for misfortunes which end but with their lives/' 



It appears, however, that, in after life, his senti- 

 ments on the subject of Negro slavery had suffered a 

 material change ; and it is due to his memory to state, 

 that, in common with the great majority of those who 

 have long resided in our West India settlements, Dr 

 Wright retained these altered opinions after his final 

 return to Great Britain, and indeed long after he had 

 ceased to have any personal interest in the affairs of 

 the colonies. 



In the year 1792, he was called upon to give his 

 evidence on the subject of the abolition of the slave 

 trade before a Committee of the House of Commons. 

 Among his papers a memorandum has been found 

 containing an answer to the following question : " How 

 comes it about that slave Negroes are able to labour in 

 the heat of the sun, which you allege so fatal to Eu- 

 ropeans ?" Dr Wright's answer was as follows : — 

 " From many conversations I have had with sensible 

 Guinea Negroes, I think they change their climate and 

 condition for the better. They described their country 

 to be hot, sultry, and in many places unhealthy ; their 

 habitations as temporary and miserable, infested by 

 noxious animals, and surrounded by hostile nations, so 

 that their lives and properties are perpetually in dan- 

 ger. They are brought to a fine healthy island, where, 

 in a little time, they find themselves quite at home, in 

 safety and under protection. The Negro is supplied 

 with every necessary of life, both in food and clothing. 

 He has a good house, and proper utensils. When at 



