chap, iv.] WEST INDIES. 331 
previous to the sale, from diseases contracted at sea; 
—a destruction of the human species on which it is 
impossible to reflect without indignation and horror! 
To the several arguments, however, which have 
been raised on the ground of these abuses, in sup¬ 
port of the scheme of abolition, a very short an¬ 
swer may be given:—Admit all the miseries and 
destructive wretchedness which have been placed 
to this account to have existed in full force, and it 
will still remain to be inquired, whether measures 
of less powerful operation than a total suppression 
of the trade, will not obviate in future the evils 
complained of; because, if regulations alone are 
sufficient for that purpose, abolition cannot be ne¬ 
cessary. Regulations have accordingly been framed 
and enforced under the authority of the British par¬ 
liament, of which the certain effect ought surely to 
be known, before the evils they are meant to re¬ 
dress are pronounced irremediable. By an act of 
the 28 th year of his present majesty (since renew¬ 
ed and amended) the slave ships are restricted to 
the conveyance of five slaves to every three tons; 
and even this proportion is allowed only as far as 
201 tons. For every additional ton they are limit¬ 
ed to one additional slave.* To these important 
precautions for securing to the negroes a sufficiency 
* It is also provided, that ve-ssels not exceeding 201 tons shall not 
carry of male slaves (exceeding four feet four inches in height) more 
than one for each ton, and vessels of larger size more tnan three 
such males for every five tons. This regulation seems intended as an 
encouragement to the export of a greater proportion of females. 
