poor unfortunate negroes are free, they mould 

 be relieved by a general tax upon the ifland : 

 if flaves, the law fhould compel every mafter 

 to provide for his own. Should the laws of 

 humanity be infufficient, and thofe of juftice 

 inadequate, a law of coercion fhould conftrain 

 the unfeeling owner to protect and cherifh the 

 being, whofe youth and vigour have been ex- 

 pended for his benefit ; and who, having worn 

 out his days, in the heavy toils of bondage, 

 is grown aged and infirm ! 



What can be fo unworthy ! whatfo culpa- 

 ble or difgraceful, as the cruel inhumanity and 

 fordid inj uftice, w hich render a mafter capable of 

 neglecYing in old age, the flave from whom he 

 has exa&ed all the labour of youth, and all the 

 vigour of manhood ! Perhaps nothing pour- ' 

 trays in more melancholy demonftration, the 

 poflible depravity of the human heart ! No 

 longer able to exert himfelf to his owner's pro- 

 fit, the aged flave enfeebled by years, and ex- 

 haufted by toil, is left to beg \i\syam from door 

 to door ! — abandoned by his cruel mafter he 

 is a penfioner upon promifcuous charity, 

 or is allowed to fall a prey to difeafe, and to 

 want 1 



