828 



The observations placed against the results- 

 which are now the most probable, contain some 

 historical facts on the increasing progression of 

 the population. These facts, of very unequal 

 precision, are, however, only variantes lectiones, 

 the expression of the opinion formed at particu- 

 lar periods, on the number of the inhabitants. 

 Most frequently, they are not those differences, 

 but the official registers of the last years, which 

 have served for the basis of my calculations. 

 When registers are wanting, we can only be 

 guided by general considerations on the value 

 of statistic results. In opinions which are con- 

 tested with violence, and which affect the great- 

 est interests of humanity, we must distrust the 

 exaggeration of extreme parties, and take the 

 mean between the estimates furnished by the 

 planters, and those of associations formed with 

 the view of diminishing the miseries of slavery. 

 The comparison of the registers of different 

 periods does not always furnish precise ideas of 

 the mortality of the slaves in the colonies of 

 different nations. There are countries in which 

 the names of deceased slaVes are given to those 

 who are clandestinely introduced. When cer- 

 tain results cannot be obtained, much is gained 

 by finding the limit-numbers ; and being able 

 to assert, that in the island of Jamaica, there 

 are at least 342,000 slaves ; at Barbadoes, 

 79,000, and at Guadaloupe, 100,000. The re- 



