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CHAP. IV.] WEST INDIES. 
of slaves, which they must have foreseen that the 
act of the British parliament would necessarily cre¬ 
ate, with the liberality of dignified minds applauded 
the principle of the measure, declaring it to be found¬ 
ed in necessity, justice, and humanity, and expres¬ 
sed their opinion, that the wisdom and authority of 
parliament might be beneficially exerted in further 
regulations of the African commerce, particularly 
in preventing the detention of ships on the coast; 
in prohibiting the purchase of slaves who should 
appear to have been kidnapped; in compelling the 
slave-ships to transport an equal number of both 
sexes, and to provide ventilators, and a sufficient 
quantity of provisions, especially water: such a 
recommendation it might be supposed would en¬ 
gage immediate attention, not only as coming from 
men who are certainly the best judges of its propri¬ 
ety and necessity, but also, because the means of 
enforcing most of the regulations which they re¬ 
commend are practicable and apparent. 
EXaving thus, I presume, sufficiently treated of 
the means by which slaves are procured for sale in 
Africa, and the regulations that have been esta¬ 
blished by the British parliament tor their better 
conveyance to the Sugar islands, I shall proceed, in 
the next chapter, to a detail of their general treat¬ 
ment and situation there, immediately on and after 
their arrival, and distribution among the planters. 
