chap, i.] WEST INDIES. 221 
In their deportment towards the white people 
they are humble, submissive, and unassuming. 
Their spirits seem to sink under the conscious¬ 
ness of their condition. They are accused, how¬ 
ever, of proving bad masters when invested with 
power; and their conduct towards their slaves is 
said to be, in a high degree, harsh and imperious. 
I suspect there is some truth in this representa¬ 
tion; for it is the general characteristic of human 
nature, that men whose authority is most liable to 
be disputed, are the most jealous of any infringe- 
ment of it, and the most vigilant in its support. 
The accusation generally brought against the free 
people of colour, is the incontinencv of their wo¬ 
men; of whom, such as are young and have tole¬ 
rable persons, are universally maintained by white 
men of all ranks and conditions, as kept mistresses. 
The fact is too notorious to be concealed or contro¬ 
verted; and I trust, I have too great an esteem for 
my fair readers, and too high a respect for myself, 
to stand forth the advocate of licentiousness and 
debauchery. Undoubtedly, the conduct of rnany 
of the whites in this respect, is a violation of all 
decency and decorum; and an insult and injuiy to 
society. Let it not offend any modest ear, howe¬ 
ver, if I add my opinion, that the unhappy females 
here spoken of, are much less deserving reproach 
and reprehension than their keepers. I say this, 
from considering their education and condition in 
life; for such are the unfortunate circumstances of 
their birth, that not one in fifty of them is taught 
