290 



NARRATIVE OF AN 



CHAP, of that country to be fo much more rich and produdlive 

 XXVI. than our Weft Indies, fliall we not drive our planters 

 from their worn-out lands, to fettle on the more fertile* 

 fpot, under a government which will allow a free impor- 

 tation of negroes, while our obje6l (if we knew how to 

 compafs it) is to reduce an unlimited infli6tion of punilh- 

 ment, which indeed our planters have by their own laws 

 moft humanely reftrained * ? 



Such is indeed the love and confidence of fome planters 

 for their flaves, that they often entruft their infants to a 

 negro wet-nurfe, in preference to an European, where 

 both may be had ; and fuch the attachment of fome 

 flaves to their mafters, that I have known many refufe 

 to accept of their emancipation, and even fome^ who had 

 their liberty, voluntarily return to dependence. No one 

 is perfeBly free in this w%rld, all mankind is depending- 

 upon one another — while I will beg leave to conclude 

 this laborious chapter, by this general remark, that all 

 fublunary happinefs exifts only in imagination, and may 

 ever be obtained, where health of body and peace of 

 mind are not crulhed by defpotic opprefiion. 



* By a law pafied in the council of have known two hundred inflidled on a 

 Jamaica, the punifliment of a negro is female ; and was once the unfortunate 

 ufually limited to twelve lafhes, but never occafion of feeing it immediately repeat- 

 exceeding thirty-nine. In Surinam I ed. (See Plate XXXV. Vol. I.) 



CHAP, 



