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234 



SLAVERY. 



may wish to serve ; owing to having heard a 

 good report of his character towards his slaves, 

 or from any other cause. This is a frequent 

 practice, and at least admits the possibility of 

 escape from a severe state of bondage to one 

 that is less irksome. 



A considerable number of slaves are manu- 

 mitted at the death of their masters, and indeed 

 some persons of large property fail not to set 

 at liberty a few of them during their own life- 

 time. A deed of manumission, however simply 

 it may be drawn out, cannot be set aside ; a 

 register of these papers is preserved at the office 

 of every notary-public, by which any distress 

 which might be occasioned by the loss of the 

 originals is provided against, for the copy of 

 course holds good in law. A slave who has 

 brought into the world, and has reared ten 

 children, ought to be free, for so the law ordains ; 

 but this regulation is generally evaded ; and 

 besides, the number of children is too great for 

 many women to be enabled to be benefited by 

 it. * The price of a new-born child is 51. 



* The following circumstances occurred under my own 

 observation : — A negress had brought into the world ten 

 children, and had reared nine of" them. These remained to 

 work for their owners ; the woman claimed her freedom, for 

 the tenth child did not die until it had arrived at an age 

 when it did not require any farther care from her ; but it 

 was refused. She was hired to a gentleman as a nurse for 

 one of his children. This person did all in his power to 



