394 December 1748. 



fourteen pounds in Penfylvanian currency. 

 Not only the quakers, but likewife feveral 

 chriilians of other denominations fometinies 

 fpt their Negroes at liberty. This is done 

 in the following manner : when a gentle- 

 man has a faithful Negro who has done 

 him great fervices, he fometimes declares 

 him independent at his death. This is 

 however very expeniive ; for they are oblig- 

 ed to make a provifton for the Negro thus 

 fct at liberty, to afford him fubfiftence 

 when he is grown old, that he may not 

 be driven by neceflity to wicked a<ltions, 

 or that he may be at any body's charge, 

 for thefe free Negroes become very lazy and 

 indolent afterwards. But the children which 

 tjle free Negro has begot during his fervi- 

 tude are all flaves, though their father be 

 free. On the other hand thofe Negro chil- 

 dren are free whofe parents are at liberty. 

 The Negroes in the North American colo- 

 nies are treated more mildly, and fed better 

 than thofe in the Wejl Indies, They have 

 as good food as the reft of the fervants, and 

 they poUefs equal advantages in all things, 

 except their being obliged to ferve their 

 whole life time, and get no other wages 

 than what their mafter's goodnefs allows 

 them : they are likewife clad at their 

 mafter's expence. On the contrary, in the 

 JVeJi Indies, and efpecially in the Spanip 



IJlands 



