EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. 



from a motive of cruelty^ but for the political good of 

 fo fine a fettlement. 



If it appeared that cruelty and ill treatment had driven 

 thefe poor creatures to thefe extremities, policy, not lefs 

 than humanity, ought to have dictated to the colonifts a 

 different condu6l in future; but it may be aiked, V/hether 

 it is pofiible to keep the African negroes in habits of obe- 

 dience and induftry without the ftriiSlefc and often the 

 fevereft difcipline ?— No. But I aflv again, Why is it ne- 

 ceffary to infiidl fuch inhuman tortures, according to the 

 humour and caprice of an unfeeling mafler, or a ftili 

 more unprincipled overfeer? Why Ihould their reafon- 

 able complaints be never heard by a magiftrate v^ho has 

 it in his power to redrefs them ? Is it becaufe this ma- 

 giftrate is a planter, and that he is interefted in the arbi- 

 trary government of this unhappy race ?• — This is too 

 evident. — It would, however, be great injuftice if I were 

 not to bear witnefs that I have not unfrequently feen 

 the plantation Haves treated Vvdth the utmofl: humanity, 

 where the hand of the mafter was feldom lifted, but to 

 carefs them ; and where the eye of the flave fparkled 

 with gratitude and affe6lion. 



Let us now proceed, and fee what were the fruits of 

 making peace with the Seramica rebels. 



In 175O5 which was the year after, the promifed pre-- 

 fents were difpatched to Captain Adoe ; but the detach- 

 ment that carried them were attacked on their march, 

 and the whole of the corps murdered on, the fp.ot by a 



Vol. L I defperate 



