VOYAGE TO SÉNEGAt. 
ploy slaves, an(^ to pay their masters for their hire. If, however^ 
the company were to employ them, it would depart from its prn 
mitive regulations, which positively stipulate that there shall never 
be any slaves in the colony. If it were to buy them in order to 
render them free, and employ them in cultivation, I would ask if 
it could then be satisfied with their labour, or could hope to at- 
tach them to the soil ? I should wish that this important question 
were ascertained beyond all doubt ; but I must confess- my doubts 
of its success ; and I fear that the Negroes whom the company 
may render free, will imitiite all other Negroes that are theii^ own 
masters, and who will do nothing, or in other words, that they 
will prefer slavery to labour. This apprehension is founded on 
the knowledge which I posses of their natural and invincible in-' 
dolence. I must, therefore, repeat with freedom my opinion of 
the rigorous conditions which the company has imposed on itself; 
and I really think that there will always be an obstacle to the ac- 
complishment of its views. But to attain its wishes, I would pro- 
pose an opposite mode, which I vv'ill point out in a few words. 
I would make use of the Africans in their present state, that 
is to say, slaves, and would pay their masters the price of their 
labour ; 1 would render them subservient to mild, humane, and 
benevolent laws; and I would incite them to work, and to like 
the place of their residence, by the inducement of property and 
land. Having thus prepared them for the charms of liberty, 
1 should hasten to purchase them and make them free, that they 
might enjoy it. This method would, in my opinion, produce 
many cultivators: for even those who have been of no advantage 
during several years, might be thus dismissed and sent home. 
In short, I would leave off exactly where the company began ; 
and I should thus hope to see my colony composed of in- 
dustrious and experienced men. Hence, like the company, I 
should not only renounce the slave trade, but should deliver the 
Africans from bondage. I should buy them as formerly, only 
under the sacred condition of having them for a certain time to 
cultivate our American colonies, which it is impolitic to aban- 
don; and under a condition equally sacred of making them pro- 
prietors at the expiration of their servitude, provided they would 
reside on the spot. Should they, hov/ever, be disinclmed to 
stay in the colonies, I v»'ould comply with their wishes, and 
convey them back to Africa. Those who might turn out bad, 
or be guilty of crimes, ought to be banished from tlze colonies, 
but scrupulously restored to their own countries. 
With respect to laws, I think that the colonies ought to be 
governed not only by a particular code, but that certain regula- 
tions should be adopted by each of tiiem ; as it appears impos- 
sible to me, that general laws can insure the prosperity of di 
such establishments. 
