WEST INDIES. 
CHAP. V.] 
35* 
with the ordinary circumstances of human nature, 
may be pronounced a happy and a liberal condition. 
To the candid and ingenious, I trust I need not of¬ 
fer any apology for thus having suggested considera¬ 
tions, which may tend to obviate misapprehensions, 
remove prejudices, and mitigate angerbetween those, 
who though divided by local situation, are allied to 
each other by the dearest ties of interest, affection, 
and consanguinity. I have thought this the more ne¬ 
cessary, as it appears, by the bitterness and acrimony 
with which some men speak of the sugar colonies, 
that their aim is to instigate the national resentment, 
and heighten the public animosity towards them. 
Instead of manifesting a disposition, “ fond to spread 
friendships and to cover heats,” these gentlemen 
seem to me to exert their talents in misrepresenta¬ 
tions, which can answer no other end than to set 
the remaining parts of the empire at variance with 
each other. I look not in this place to any of those 
fanatical writings on slavery and the slave trade, 
which, equally disgraceful to humanity and letters, 
propagate the most daring and outrageous falsehoods 
without scruple or shame. I allude to authors of a 
very different stamp ; to persons who, having the 
means of better information, and possessing abilities 
to influence the public opinion, have suffered the 
prejudices of party to bias their judgment. As a 
man personally interested in the welfare of the su¬ 
gar colonies, I have attempted, by displaying their 
importance and value, to point out the wisdom and 
necessity of lenient councils, and a liberal indulgence 
