34 TlMEHRI. 
" With industry a slave has no acquaintance, nor has he any knowledge 
of the kind of comfort and independence which derive from it. Ambi- 
tion has not taught him that in freedom he might escape from poverty ; 
nor has he any conception that by improving his intellect he might be- 
come of higher importance in the scale of humanity. Thus circum- 
stanced, to remove him from the quiet and contentment of such a 
bondage, and to place him amidst the tumults and vicissitudes of 
freedom, were but to impose upon him the exchange of great com- 
parative happiness for much of positive misery and distress." 
" The cottages and little gardens of the negroes exhibited a degree of 
neatness and of plenty that might be envied by free-born Britons not of 
the poorest class. The huts of Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany, nay 
many even of England itself, bear no comparison with these. In impulsive 
delight, I ran into them, surprising the slaves with an unexpected visit, 
and verily I say, the peasants of Europe might envy these dwellings of 
slavery. They mostly consist of a comfortable sitting room and a neat 
well-furnished bed-room. In one I observed a high bedstead, according 
to the European fashion, with deep matrasses, all neatly made up and 
covered with a clean white counterpane ; the bed-posts, drawers, and 
chairs bearing the high polish of well-worn rubbed mahogany. I felt 
a desire to pillow my head in this hut for the night, it not having fallen 
to my lot since I left England to repose on so inviting a couch. The 
value of the whole was tenfold augmented by the contented slaves being 
able to say, ' all this we feel to be our own.' " 
" Too often in regarding the countenance of a slave, it may be ob- 
served that 
* Dark melancholy sits, and round her throws 
• A death-like silence, and a dread repose.' 
but throughout Mr. Dargan's happy gang the more striking features are 
those of mirth and glee ; for here, the merry dance and jovial song pre- 
vail, and all are votaries to joy and harmony." 
" Before the doors of the huts, and around these graceful dwellings 
were seen great numbers of pigs and poultry, which the slaves are al- 
lowed to raise for their own profit ; and from the stock thus bred in the 
negro-yard the master usually purchases the provisions of his table, 
paying to the negroes the common price for what they would sell at the 
market. Were all masters kind and humane as Mr. Dargan, slavery 
might have few enemies ; and the peasants of Europe, amidst their 
boasted freedom, might sigh in vain for the happiness enjoyed by slaves!" 
