WEST INDIES. 
CHAP. V.] 
357 
tioned, that the evidence of the slave cannot be 
admitted against a white person, even in cases of 
the most atrocious injury. This is an evil to which, 
on several accounts, I fear no direct and efficacious 
remedy can be applied. In some of the islands, 
however, attempts have been made, with an ear¬ 
nestness suited to the importance of the subject, 
to supply the defect; and expedients have been 
adopted for that purpose, which in most cases, it 
may be hoped, will have the good consequence of 
a solid protection. By the new slave act of Grena¬ 
da, the justices are required annually to nominate 
three freeholders to be guardians of the slaves ; who 
are to take an oath to see the law duly executed. 
They are not only to inspect the provision-grounds, 
the cloathing and maintenance, and to inquire into 
the general treatment of the slaves, but also, to in¬ 
terrogate on oath the managers and overseers, con¬ 
cerning the due observance of the law; and in 
case of breaches thereof, to prosecute the offend¬ 
ers. Of this measure, the report of the privy coun¬ 
cil expresses the highest approbation:—“The obli¬ 
ging managers and overseers (it observes) to answer 
upon oath , gives peculiar efficacy to a regulation 
intended for the benefit of persons whose testimo¬ 
ny, by the law of the country, could not be heard 
in a prosecution against a white person.” 
In the same liberal spirit, and co-operating to 
the same generous end, the legislature of Jamaica 
have constituted the justices and vestry of each pa¬ 
rish in that island, a council of protection , express- 
