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sionally visit his estates himself, it is utterly impos- 

 sible for him to be certain that his deputed authority 

 is not abused, however good may be his intentions, 

 and however vigilant his anxiety. 



My father was one of the most humane and 

 generous persons that ever existed ; there was no 

 indulgence which he ever denied his negroes, and 

 his letters were filled with the most absolute in- 

 junctions for their good treatment. When his 

 estates became mine, the one upon which I am 

 now residing was managed by an attorney, con- 

 siderably advanced in years, who had been long 

 in our employment, and who bore the highest 

 character for probity and humanity. He was 

 both attorney and overseer ; and it was a particular 

 recommendation to me that he lived in my own 

 house, and therefore had my slaves so immedi- 

 ately under his eye, that it was impossible for 

 any subaltern to misuse them without his know- 

 ledge. His letters to me expressed the greatest 

 anxiety and attention respecting the welfare and 

 comfort of the slaves; — so much so, indeed, that 

 when 1 detailed his mode of management to 

 Lord Holland, he observed, " that if he did all 

 that was mentioned in his letters, he did as 

 much as could possibly be expected or wished 

 from an attorney;" and on parting with his own, 

 Lord Holland was induced to take mine to manage 

 his estates, which are in the immediate neighbour- 

 hood of Cornwall. This man died about two 



