119 



However, having been already so grossly deceived, 

 I will never again place implicit confidence in any 

 person whatever in a matter of such importance. 

 Before my departure, I shall take every possible 

 measure that may prevent any misconduct taking 

 place without my being apprised of it as soon as 

 possible ; and I have already exhorted my negroes 

 to apply to the magistrates on the very first in- 

 stance of ill-usage, should any occur during my 

 absence. 



I am indeed assured by every one about me, 

 that to manage a West-Indian estate without the 

 occasional use of the cart- whip, however rarely, 

 is impossible ; and they insist upon it, that it is 

 absurd in me to call my slaves ill-treated, because, 

 when they act grossly wrong, they are treated like 

 English soldiers and sailors. All this may be very 

 true ; but there is something to me so shocking in 

 the idea of this execrable cart-whip, that I have 

 positively forbidden the use of it on Cornwall ; 

 and if the estate must go to rack and ruin without 

 its use, to rack and ruin the estate must go. Pro- 

 bably, I should care less about this punishment, if 

 I had not been living among those on whom it 

 may be inflicted ; but now, when I am accustomed 

 to see every face that looks upon me, grinning 

 from ear to ear with pleasure at my notice, and 

 hear every voice cry " God bless you, massa," as I 

 pass, one must be an absolute brute not to feel un- 

 willing to leave them subject to the lash \ besides, 



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