SLAVERY. 



231 



one that is framed in favour of slaves, is liable 

 to be evaded, and the master sometimes does 

 refuse to manumit a valuable slave ; and no ap- 

 peal is made by the sufferer, owing to the state 

 of law in that country, which renders it almost 

 impossible for the slave to gain a hearing ; and 

 likewise this acquiesence in the injustice of the 

 master proceeds from the dread, that if he was 

 not to succeed he would be punished, and that 

 his life might be rendered more miserable than 

 it was before. * Consequently a great deal 



I give this statement, and should be happy to transcribe 

 any other, with which I might meet in the course of reading, 

 of the same tenour ; but it must be recollected that the 

 " Voyage to the Demerary" is decidedly written in favour 

 of the slave-trade and of slavery. 



* The owner of a sugar-plantation, with whose sons I was 

 \t ell acquainted, possessed a slave, who had the management 

 of the sugar boiling-house during crop time, and who was 

 accounted by all who knew him and understood the business, 

 to be a most excellent workman. — This man accumulated a 

 sum of money, which he offered to his master for his free- 

 dom, but it was not accepted ; and although the slave made 

 great interest with persons of consideration in the country, 

 he could not accomplish his end. His master loaded him 

 with irons, and he was made to work in this state. He did 

 not obtain his liberty till after his master's death, when the 

 widow received his money, and manumitted him. His trade 

 of sugar-boiler renders him large profits yearly, and this in- 

 jured man now lives in case and comfort. This instance of 

 refusal, and some others of which I have heard, would make 

 me doubtful of the foundation upon which the custom of 

 manumitting is placed, if I did not know how easily the laws 

 relating to many other important points are evaded through 



Q, 4 



