Mi 



g 



212 



MULATTOS. 



colonel, and a degree of nobility has been con- 

 ferred upon him ; likewise the Regent is sponsor 

 to one of his children. Many other instances 

 might be mentioned. Thus has Portugal, of 

 late years from policy, continued that system 

 into which she was led by her peculiar circum- 

 stances in former times. Some of the wealthy 

 planters of Pernambuco, and of the rich inhabi- 

 tants of Recife, are men of colour. The major 

 part of the best mechanics are also of mixed 

 blood. 



It is said that mulattos make bad masters ; 

 and this holds good oftentimes with persons of 

 this description, who have been in a state of 

 slavery, and become possessed of slaves of their 

 own, or are employed as managers upon estates. 

 The change of situation would lead to the same 

 consequences in any race of human beings, and 

 cannot be accounted peculiar to the mixed casts. 

 I have seen mulattos of free birth as kind, as 

 lenient, and as forbearing to their slaves and 

 other dependants as any w r hite man. 



Marriages between white men and women of 



o 



colour are by no means rare, though they are 

 sufficiently so to cause the circumstance to be 

 mentioned when speaking of an individual who 

 has connected himself in this manner ; but this is 

 not said with the intent of lowering him in the 

 estimation of others. Indeed the remark is only 

 made if the person is a planter of any import- 



