403 



blacks in the West Indies were suffered to employ 

 slaves, except in plantation labour. 



May 2. 



I gave my negroes a farewell holiday, on which 

 occasion each grown person received a present of 

 half -a- dollar, and every child a maccaroni. In re- 

 turn, they endeavoured to express their sorrow for 

 my departure, by eating and drinking, dancing 

 and singing, with more vehemence and perse- 

 verance than on any former occasion. As in all 

 probability many years will elapse without my 

 making them another visit, if indeed I should ever 

 return at all, I have at least exerted myself while 

 here to do everything which appeared likely to 

 contribute to their welfare and security during 

 my absence. In particular, my attorney has made 

 out a list of all such offences as are most usually 

 committed on plantations, to which proportionate 

 punishments have been affixed by myself. From 

 this code of internal regulations the overseer is not 

 to be allowed to deviate, and the attorney has 

 pledged himself in the most solemn manner to 

 adhere strictly to the system laid down for him. 

 By this scheme, the negroes will no longer be 

 punished according to the momentary caprice of 

 their superintendent, but by known and fixed 

 laws, the one no more than the other, and without 

 respect to partiality or prejudice. Hitherto, in 

 everything which had not been previously deter- 



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