OBJECTIONS 
 
 TO THE 
 
 Abolition of the Slave Trade, 
 
 WITH 
 
 ANSWERS. 
 
 TO WHICH ARE PREFIXED, 
 
 Strictures on a late Publication, intitled, 
 " Confiderations on the Emancipation of 
 " Negroes, and the Abolition of the Slave 
 " Trade, by a Weft India Planter." 
 
 By the Rev. JAMES RAMSEY, A.M. 
 
 THE SECOND EDITION, WITH ADDITIONS. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED AND SOLD BY J. PHILLIPS, GEORGE YARD, 
 LOMBARD-STREET. 
 M D C C LX XX VI I I.
 
 Sfcactt 
 
 Annex 
 
 Pj> i A ** 
 
 Advertilement to the Second Edition." _ 
 
 i coo 
 
 TFilS is an attempt to give a connected view 
 of the queftion refpe&ing the abolition of 
 the flave trade j a queftion which nearly concerns 
 the whole community. If, as the advocates for 
 flavery affirm, the very being of the ftate be 
 bound up with the continuation of it; or if, as 
 the friends of abolition maintain, it be impolitick 
 and unprofitable; if it wounds every human feel 
 ing, and fteels the heart againft every benevolent 
 affedlion ; if it encourages every corrupt principle 
 among the people, and threatens the nation with 
 vengeance from above j then mud it be delibe 
 rately examined, and difpaflionately difcufled. 
 Thofe efpecially whofe voices muft decide, will 
 carefully inquire, and cautioufly fearch into, the 
 merits of the caufe. The friends of abolition 
 folicit only for a full and fair hearing, to gain the 
 objedt of their wifhes. For the good fenfe of 
 Parliament will not find the genuine feelings of 
 humanity, and the found dictates of prudence at 
 variance. 
 
 I fhall only remark one difadvantage under 
 which the caufe of humanity labours. The advo 
 cates for flavery being interefted in the iffue, are 
 induftrious in making good their caufe. They 
 are numerous, united, and powerful. They can 
 refer to calculations, command returns, bring 
 forward evidence of any fort, or rank, in any num 
 ber. Thofe who ftand forth to a<5t as the friends 
 of the (laves, are a few private individuals, them- 
 felves volunteers in the bufmefs, who muft fifh 
 A 3 out 
 
 140486
 
 ( 6 ) 
 
 put proofs of the . things which they want to 
 eftablifh, from dark hints, from cafual informa 
 tion, from timid reluctant witnefles. Even very 
 important information muft continue fupprefied, 
 becaufe they are unwilling to expofe individuals 
 to the powerful refentment of their adverfaries. 
 Thefe circumftances throw a luftre on thofe who, 
 difregarding perfonal confiderations, have come 
 boldly forward, and expofed the foul deeds of 
 avarice and tyranny. And though proofs ought 
 not to be expected, where proofs cannot be had, 
 unlefs they could be forced out of thofe who 
 think it their intereft to withhold them, yet pro 
 videntially every fact neceflary for the Legiflature 
 to found an opinion on, has been eftablilhed by 
 unexceptionable eye-witnefles, to a furprizing 
 degree of accuracy, in a wonderful and unexpect 
 ed manner. But were our proofs found lefs full 
 and convincing, I truft thofe who ferioufly perufe 
 the following pages, will fee enough in this col 
 lection of contradictory objections, on which to 
 form a very decifive conclufion. For example, it 
 is faid, that negroes are miferable in Africa; yet 
 Africa is fo prolific, as to require emigration to 
 make room for its inhabitants. Again, flaves are 
 happy in the fugar colonies , yet require annual 
 fupplies to keep up their numbers. Can all this 
 be reconciled to common fenfe ? Can it be the 
 caufe of truth, which requires fuch contradictory 
 afiertions to eftablifh it ? 
 
 INTRODUCTION.
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 THE following Objections to the Abolition 
 of the Slave Trade, with Anfwers, were in 
 tended to give a fummary view of that fubjedb. 
 'Thefe objections being collected from various per- 
 fons and writings, there will be found in them no 
 fmall degree of contradiction, for which the collec 
 tor is not anfwerable. But whatever they may be, 
 they have all been advanced by different people, 
 in converfation and writings, with a view to pro 
 duce an effed: on perfons who have not ftudied 
 the fubjecft ; and they are therefore neceflarily 
 brought together here, to be feparately examined 
 and weighed. If every anfwer be not found 
 equally conclufive, the candid reader will remem 
 ber that it is a fingle perfon who endeavours to 
 give him a view of a very extenfive fubjeCr., which 
 takes in a variety of confiderations. 
 
 Since this plan was refolved on, a publication 
 has appeared in favour of the (lave trade, which, 
 coming at once fairly to the queftion, claims a 
 particular attention. It is entitled, Confiderations 
 on the Emancipation of the Negroes, and on the 
 Abolition of the Slave Trade, by a Weft Indian 
 Planter; and is affirmed by the Monthly Review- 
 ers to be invincible, on political grounds. * 
 
 * This they have fince candidly retraced. 
 
 A 4 I (hall
 
 ( 8 ) 
 
 I (hall firft obferve, that where this author treats 
 of a general or partial emancipation of flaves, he 
 combats a fhadovv; becaufe the prefent plan aims 
 only at the abolition of the African flave trade. 
 It meddles not with (laves already in the colonies; 
 if it did, that fympathy, which firft incited me to 
 plead their claim to better treatment, would force 
 me to range myfelf on the author's fide, and pro- 
 teft againft the indifcreet meafure. All our flavea 
 are not yet generally in a ftate, wherein full liber 
 ty would be a blefiing. Like children, they muft 
 be reftrained by authority, and led on to their own 
 good. But it would be infidious not to declare, 
 that humanity looks forward to full emancipa 
 tion, whenever they fhall be found capable of 
 making a proper ufe of it. But this may be left 
 to the mailer's discretion, and the effect of future 
 arrangements, which even the planter acknow 
 ledges to be neceflary. He who can procure a 
 freeman to work for him, will never employ a 
 flave : for the firft does twice the work of the 
 other i and when he dies, his place is fupplied 
 in the natural courfe of generation, not at an en 
 ormous expenfe from the flave-market. See my 
 Eflay, p. 1 1 8, &c. In Pennfylvania, where flaves 
 are farther advanced in civilization, the Quakers 
 have tried this experiment with the moft com 
 plete fuccefs. Among many others, one man has 
 freed 100 flaves, and finds his work better done, 
 and his profits greater, for having diverted him- 
 felf of this unnatural property. Indeed, what 
 doth a peafant reap from his labour, which a flave 
 ought not to receive ? food, raiment, and necefia- 
 ries, to enable him to raife up labourers for his 
 employers. But there is a confidence, a charm in 
 
 liberty,
 
 ( 9 ) 
 
 liberty, that doubles his exertion, and foftens its 
 toil. While increafing his employer's wealth, he 
 provides for his family, and when his talk is finifh- 
 ed, his time is his own ; no capricious tyrant in* 
 termeddles with his joy. Farther, the Britifh 
 legiflature fhould be cautious how it meddles with 
 the ftate of flaves in the colonies, left, while at 
 tempting to regulate their treatment, it confirm 
 the bonds of flavery. If regulations be neceffary) 
 the ifland aflemblies fhould enforce them. While 
 Britain gives them a monopoly of her fugar mar- 
 ket> fhe will always preferve a check over them;. 
 But if emancipation be not intended, the claim to 
 the compeniatiort of 60,000,000 connected page 
 5. with it, is cut off. We have only to confider 
 how far the abolition of the flave trade will affect 
 the planter's property, in fuch a manner as lhall 
 intitle him to compenfation. But the argument 
 refts on a foundation, that I truft will not be al 
 lowed : he fays, page 3, " That the planter pof* 
 <e iefTes a political right to his flave, whatever. 
 ec may be his moral right, and muft be paid ac- 
 <f cording to the flave's value, before his right can 
 " be extinguifhed by reftoring the flave to his 
 " natural freedom." This plea is not good. A 
 horfe has been fairly bought in an open marker, 
 eftablifhed by authority : but he had been ftolen, 
 and the right owner difcovers and claims him, 
 and the thief is gone erf. Muft the right owner 
 repay the fair purchafer his price; or will this laft 
 be allowed to keep him ? Still a horfe is an object 
 of property, but when the queftion is fairly agi 
 tated, I deny that a man can ever be an object of 
 property, except in the cafe of an atrocious crime, 
 which applies not to one flave in a thoufand, and 
 
 excludes
 
 o ) 
 
 excludes all children *. The a<5t that reduces a 
 man to flavery, is illegal and unjuft-, for it is im- 
 poffible for a (lave to receive a compenfation fof 
 his liberty. 
 
 A band of robbers may agree, in ftealing horfes, 
 for each man to keep thofe feized by him. This 
 is binding on them, but not on the right owner, 
 whenever he can afiert his claim. In like manner, 
 one flave-holder may prefcribe againft another 
 flave-holder, for the ufe of a flave ; but he can 
 make out no right when humanity lays in her 
 claim ; nor can he demand compenfation. Still, 
 whatever be the claims of humanity here they are 
 not enforced. In whatever manner the planter 
 has acquired his flaves, no perfon intends to difturb 
 him in the quiet poflefiion. We only aim to pre 
 vent his dealing in them, as far as it encourages 
 robbers and murderers to carry on an inhuman 
 traffick in the bodies of our fellow-creatures, 
 which, as we fhall plainly fhew, will ultimately 
 only ruin himfelf, if he perfeveres in it. And can 
 he come in fuch a cafe to government for relief, 
 and fay, Hitherto I have been allowed to buy, 
 from man-ftealers, wretched flaves to toil without 
 recompence, without food, without clothing, 
 for my profit; if you take this privilege from 
 
 * Even in this cafe, a flave muft be confidered and be kept 
 as a flave to the publick. No private perfon can acquire a 
 right over him- For if flavery be adjudged as a punifhment, 
 to be juft, it mud neither be lefs nor more than the crime de- 
 fervcs. If lefs, the fociety, which is offended, is injured, if 
 more the culprit : for no authority can effe&ually interpofe 
 between a mailer and his flave. And this reafoning holds ftill 
 ftronger againft the cultom of felling culprits to foreigners, 
 over whom the authority that condemned them cannot be ex- 
 ercifed, either to inforce or relax the puniihment, that fhould 
 Or may be inflicted. 
 
 me,
 
 ( II ) 
 
 me, on which I have depended, on which I have 
 hazarded my fortune, you muft make good all my 
 lofles as I ihall (late them, even to the amount oi 
 60,000,000 ? 
 
 The cafe is fairly ftated, murder and robbery 
 are not on this fubject exaggerated terms. The 
 nature thereof cannot be explained without them. 
 And can " a political right" be oppofed to this 
 reafoning ? Can the planter's property be preferv- 
 ed to him, only by means that the feeling heart 
 Ihrinks from the difcuffion of? Perifh for me fuch 
 confiderations ! As a moral agent, as a member 
 of a Chriftian community, [ am not afhamed to 
 maintain, and I truft I .am not fmgular in my 
 opinion, that no political right ought to be fuf- 
 tained, which is not founded on morality and 
 juftice. 
 
 The flave has a natural right to freedom. 
 Could we replace him where Oavery found him, 
 he ought to be returned to that iituation. But we 
 cannot reftore his cottage, his family, his relations, 
 his country. If born a flave, we cannot often 
 make him worthy of being a freeman. The only 
 recompence we can make, is to treat him with 
 confideration, and receive in return fuch fervice 
 from him, as leaves him the reafonable enjoyment 
 of himfelf. But becaufe we have already depriv 
 ed his country of millions, which have been facri- 
 ficed to our avarice, are we, for any argument that 
 avarice or politicks can adduce, to go on to murder 
 and to deftroy ? Is moral reafoning, is equal juf 
 tice, of fo little confequence among us, as on this 
 ungenerous ground to be fet wholly afide ? My 
 candid adverfary will blufh, when he views this 
 truly horrid bufmefs in this light; and even if 
 the traffick were as valuable as he eitimates it, 
 
 would
 
 would fpurrt from him wealth, that rhuft be ac 
 quired and kept by fiich methods. To do as we 
 wifh to be done by* is the dictate of natural juf- 
 tice, as well as of Chriftianit^. We cannot lay in 
 a claim to the attributes of humanity, if we deny 
 its influencd 
 
 But, p. ii. This point of political right is 
 given up : for he fays, " if the abolition were ge- 
 " neral, nothing could be more falutafy, becaufe 
 " every nation would be left in its relative fitua- 
 cc tion." But if it be a right general meafure, it 
 is a right meafure in refpeCt of us; We are not 
 accountable for, we are not concerned in, the con- 
 duel of others j if there be any connection, it may 
 be fafely left to the management of adminiilration. 
 Some nation mud begin, and there are very ftrong 
 reafons, why we fhould fet the example. Our 
 planters cannot be interefted in it, while they enjoy 
 the monopoly of the Britifh market, where the 
 price is higher than in any other place, and the 
 demand increafes fafter than they can increafe 
 their produce. And fo much perfuaded am I (as 
 I lhall make appear) of their being able to keep 
 up, or even increafe the prefent produce of fugar 
 from the number of flaves now in the colonies, 
 without any new importation, that did they prove 
 unable to fupply the market, I fhould be induced 
 to charge it to their mifmanagement, rather than 
 allow a compenfation ; and fhould propofe ports 
 to be opened in the Weft-Indies, for the intro 
 duction of as much foreign fugar, as would make 
 good the deficiency. Thus fugar would be kept 
 at a moderate price to the confumer ; our fhipping 
 would continue to be employed, and our revenue 
 need fuffer no injury. We do this in a fcarcity of 
 grain, why not alfo in a fcarcity of fugar ? But 
 
 this
 
 ( '3 ) 
 
 this remedy will only be neceflfary, fhould the 
 planter wear his flaves out (as the author, p. 7, 
 fuppofes) by ill treatment and feverity. 
 
 Farther, p, 33. he lays, " If planters were aU 
 " lowed time to prepare for the event, by ftock- 
 < c ing their eftates to the full extent of their de- 
 " mands, the flave trade might be abolifhed.'* 
 Now while the Have market is open, inconfiderate 
 planters, from their eagernefs to pufh on the cul 
 ture of their eftal^s farther than it will profitably 
 go, will continue to have demands on it. I fo- 
 lemnly affirm, that as often as I have heard the 
 queftion concerning the buying or breeding of 
 flaves difcufled among planters, the preference 
 has always been given to bu\ing. The reader 
 will determine what encouragement to popula-* 
 tion may be expedled where this opinion prevails. 
 And the fact in my time was, that nothing raifed 
 a manager's refentment fooner than to be inform 
 ed that a negrefs was with child. I include not 
 every manager; many are worthy humane men ; 
 I give it only as the prevailing opinion in this 
 cafe. But a pofitive abolition of the flave trade 
 will bring the planter to a fenfe of his intereft. 
 Ufelefs domeflicks will be turned into the field. 
 One third of the number of hired fervants will 
 fully fupply their place. The fmall number of 
 thejfe laft will allow them to be well fed on a part 
 of the prefent expenfe of domeftick flaves, and 
 their wages will be a fmall proportion of the ium 
 which goes annually to purchaie new flaves. 
 
 But, p. 16. It is allowed, that "where the 
 " planter is unencumbered, or has fufficient 
 <c ftrength, there the ftock may be kept up from 
 < c the births." The number in this fituation mufb 
 be confiderable. Every Weft-Indian family re- 
 
 fiding
 
 ( '4 ) 
 
 Tiding in Britain mud be reckoned in it. For 
 cnly the overplus revenue, after providing for 
 the plantation, can be fpent here. Therefore a 
 great part of the 60,000,000, claimed for ruined 
 planters, will be faved in this clafs. Of involved 
 planters, 1 affirm, that not one will be recovered 
 from ruin by any purchafe of new flaves at their 
 prefent advanced price. When Long, near twenty 
 years ago, wrote his Hiftory of Jamaica, vol.2, 
 p. 437. iuch purchafes only involved him farther 
 in debt.* Slaves are now almoft one third dearer j 
 the expcnfe of fupporting them is increafed. 
 Without taking into account the frequent acci 
 dents of hurricanes and bad crops, new flaves do 
 not repay their firft coft, intereft, expenfe, and 
 reduction of number in feafoning. 
 
 Again, p. 26. It is faid, that " generally fpeak- 
 " ing, every Weft-Indian planter will affirm fla- 
 c very to be an evil j it is juft to prevent negroes 
 ts from being enflaved." Then let us do what is 
 juft, and leave the ififue to a watchful Providence. 
 If flavery be an evil, if it be unjuft to enflave ne 
 groes, he is in a dangerous fituation, who by his, 
 demand of them encourages this injuftice, and 
 promotes this evil. That politician, who, p. 27, 
 is fuid to be " unable to fquare his conduct by 
 " moral rectitude," will affuredly come fhort of 
 his purpofe. Suppofe in this enlightened age, it 
 were propofed to fit out a fquadron to go up the 
 Baltic, to land parties to murder thofe who refift, 
 to feize on the helplefs, to bribe the natives to 
 kidnap each other, to be brought over tied neck 
 
 * Sixty years ago, Robertfon, writing in favour of the 
 planter, complains of the unprofitablenefs of African flaves, 
 though they coft then only from zz to 25, See his 
 Trafts. 
 
 ancj
 
 ( >5 ) 
 
 and heels to work ?n our coal mines ; there is 
 not a pretence for the prefent Have trade, for carry 
 ing on the manufacture of fugar, that may not be 
 ufed here. It employs (hipping, it faves our own 
 people from a deftruclive employment ; and if the 
 Germans be warlike and oppofe us, it will exer- 
 cife us in arms. But if we fpurn at this new 
 fcheme, becaufe iniquitous and violent, why is the 
 (lave trade efteemed lefs violent and iniquitous,. 
 for having been the practice of two centuries ? 
 Do we ufe the woman's argument for fkinning eels 
 alive, that the Africans are accuftomed to it ? 
 Whatever may be the cafe of their country or 
 race, individuals are not accuftomed to it. To 
 each unhappy wretch, it is a new, a fatal ftroke, 
 that carries him away for ever from his native fpot, 
 and determines and fixes his mifery. Habit can 
 not contribute to make it tolerable. They fink 
 under the anguifh, and are loft for ever to fociety 
 and themfelves. 
 
 Nor can the good confequences of this horrid 
 trade be pleaded in extenuation of its cruelties. 
 From comparing the numbers imported into the 
 colonies, with the number of Creoles left, it is 
 plain not one African in ten leaves pofterity be 
 hind him. But the value of a Creole flave, whick 
 is the only lading good from importation, will be 
 dearly purchafed at the expenfe of ten new flaves. 
 And if a new flave will neither repay his expenle 
 by his labour, nor leave a profitable pofterity be 
 hind him, why is he purchafed ? Why adds the 
 planter this unproductive bargain to his former 
 incumbrances ? Why is he concerned in a cruel 
 traffick that cannot profit him ; that muft undo 
 Jiim . ? . 
 
 I am
 
 I am forry to obferve, p. 13. the following 
 fentiment in this candid writer : " Negroes are 
 bought, not for population, but for work ; which, 
 if not done, muft ruin their owners.*' The con- 
 clufion is, that as the owner will not willingly 
 ruin himfelf, the negroes muft be worked at all 
 hazards, and as " their condition expofes them 
 to accidents conducing to depopulation, their 
 numbers muft decreafe. >J The meaning is, fu- 
 gar muft be made, at the expenfe of the flave's 
 life. Suppofing this for a moment of thofe al 
 ready flaves, is Britain to be charged with the 
 expenfe of 60,000,000, becaufe it forbids its 
 own citizens any longer to commit robbery and 
 murder, to fupply flaves, who are profeffedly to 
 be worked down unprontably in the making of 
 fugar ? But why muft the culture of the cane be 
 conducted in a way, that admits not of an atten 
 tion to the feelings -of thofe employed in it? Are 
 the claims of nature, and the cravings of civili 
 zation fo irreconcileable as to deftroy one ano 
 ther ? It is acknowledged, p. 7. that " flaves, 
 where not worked beyond their ftrength, are 
 hearty, happy, and breed fafter," P. u. 24. 
 that " the abolition of the flave trade, if gene 
 ral, would leffen the evils of flavery, and make 
 the breeding and prefervation of flaves more an 
 object of attention." If thefe be the genuine 
 effects of fuch a plan, what claim can he have on 
 government, who, from a fliort-fighted love of 
 gain, putties his flaves beyond their ftrength, and 
 deftroys his property and profpefts together ? Let 
 him meet with execration from every feeling heart, 
 and fall unpitied ! 
 
 But from various examples in the different 
 iflands, it is evident that exceffivjs exertions have 
 
 not
 
 r 17 ) 
 
 not in one cafe in an hundred produced immediate 
 profit; and that to keep the work of flaves within 
 their ftrength is the belt rate of employing them, 
 the mod profitable way of cultivating a planta 
 tion. The number of fick, dead, and runaways, 
 the liftleflhefs of thofe who remain, foon reduce 
 the greateft exertions far below what might be 
 got out of the gang with cheerfulnefs and eafe. 
 In every inftance, and they have been numerous, 
 within my obfervation, this pufhing method de 
 feated its own immediate purpofe. Every plan 
 tation that required annual or frequent fupplies, 
 went backward, and involved the owner. The 
 quantity of work performed overpowers not the 
 ilave ; but the time he is kept drawling at it, 
 which leaves him no indulgence, no leifure to reft 
 his wearied limbs. He might do much more in 
 half the time. Therefore, if planters, on the abo 
 lition of the (lave trade, refolve, as is fuppofed, 
 p. 15. " to perfevere in making forced exertions," 
 they will -have themfelves to thank for the con- 
 fequent ruin. Parliament can difpofe better of 
 the publick money, than in making good their 
 lofs. 
 
 I fhall now confidcr the immediate effects of 
 the abolition of the flave trade on the planter's 
 property, the revenue, &c. We will fuppofe, 
 with the Confiderations, p. 4. that the plantation 
 flaves are worth 20 millions, and the planters 
 other property is equal to 46 millions, in all 60 
 millions. We will eftimate the whole annual 
 plantation produce of fugar, cotton, coffee, &c. 
 to be equal to 230,000 hhds. of Mufcovado fugar, 
 worth in the colonies iyl. per hhd.* /their fupe- 
 
 riour 
 
 * A hhd. of fugar, and the turn made from it, may be 
 lUmated in the colonies at zil. This fuppofes the rum 
 
 B worth 
 
 -
 
 ( is ) 
 
 rrour value in Britain feldom exceeding freight; 
 infurance, and other expenfes) or 4,250,000!. 
 Suppofe the current annual expenfes of plantation 
 ftores, managers, overfeers, agents, furgeons fa- 
 laries, taxes, feeding, cloathing of flaves, to be 
 5!. per head on half a million of flaves and white 
 people employed on or about plantations, or 
 2,500,000. We trade with Africa for 40,000 
 flaves annually. The Confiderations, p. 30. fup- 
 pofe one half fold to our planters. Twelve years 
 ago prime flaves fold for 48. They are not 
 become cheaper. But fuppofe them when fold 
 by the lot 43, the annual fupply of 20,000 
 will cod 860,000. Long, vol. 2. p. 482. fays, 
 they are not ufeful till after three years. Three 
 years interefl muft then be added. The interefl: 
 in the colonies varies from 10 to 6 per cent. 
 Little money is lent to planters without a pre 
 mium ; or what is worfe, confignments of fugar. 
 Suppofe the interefl 7 per cent j three years in 
 tereft is 180,600. At the three years end, the 
 20,000 flaves will have colt 1,040,000. This, 
 added to annual expenfes, leaves 710,000 for 
 the returns of a capital of 60 millions; fomething 
 better than one per cent. This is the profit of 
 the manufacture which we are folicited to fup- 
 port. 
 
 The flaves in all our colonies, taking thofe in 
 Jamaica from a late eftimate, and fuppofing the 
 other iQands to have lately decreafed 40,000, may 
 
 worth 4!. The fugar imported into Britain anno 1787, was 
 160,000 hhds. worth by this eftimate without the rum 
 3,720,000!, with the rum, 3,360,000!. This is a very 
 high eftimate, for the cuftom returns make the whole ex 
 portation of this year from the fugar iflands, including coffee, 
 cocoa, cotton, indigo, &c, only 3,613,147 1. 
 
 be.
 
 ( '9 ) 
 
 be reckoned 450,000. Of thefe the Creoles mufr. 
 make 350,000 j and among them the proportion 
 between the fexes follows the tourfe of nature. 
 The African (laves, of which the greater part is 
 male, cannot exceed 100,000. For thefe all die 
 in fifteen years, and one third in the firft three 
 years*. But, about twelve years ago, the war piit 
 almoft an entire Hop to their importation ; fo 
 that four-fifths of all purchafed before that time 
 inuft be dead ; and fmce the return of peace, the 
 trade has been chiefly turned to the fupply of St. 
 Domingo. It is remarkable, that in this iflandj, 
 in the fix years preceding 1774, there had been 
 introduced 103,000 African (laves, and 61,728 
 Had been born, making together 164,728; of 
 which in 1774, there remained in all 40,000. To 
 return, fuppofe thefe 450,000 (laves rented. Their 
 rent and infu ranee would, at the low rate of 10" 
 per head be .4,500,000, which exceeds their whole 
 produce, and leaves nothing for the returns of 
 lands, &c. worth 40 millions more. Such is the 
 property which parliament is called on to make 
 good. We will take it in the mod favourable 
 point of view. If the planter pays his annual 
 current expenfes, and fupports his (lock, all ex 
 cept negroes, out of a fum equal to the rum, 
 coffee, &c. and fuch a part of the fugar as leaves 
 for the return of his capital 12 per hhd. on' the 
 fugar alonej he is tolerably well fatisfied. Art 
 ordinary crop of fugar (as that of 1787 was) 9> is 
 about 160,000 h.hds. at 12, or 1,920,000... 
 Strike off 920,600 for the fupply of (laves,- we ; 
 have one million for the returns of a capital of* 
 
 * Robertfon }n his Detection, p..44- fays, the. lofc in (laves ' 
 is one in fifteen, fometimes one in feven,, 
 
 B 2 60
 
 ( 20 ) 
 
 feo millions, or about i per cent. If any plan 
 tation requires no fupplies, then the returns are 
 about 3 per cent. But not one half of the plan 
 tations fupport themfelves, or make any returns 
 on their capitals, this will allow a certain pro 
 portion to make 4, 5, or fome few 8 per cent, on 
 their capital-, but only if they buy no new flaves. 
 Long tells us, vol. 2. p. 437, 438. that the pro 
 portion of two hhds. of fugar to three flaves, all 
 ages included, is the utmofl: quantity they fhould 
 be made to produce, if the planter wiflies to keep 
 up or increale them from their births. It is in 
 deed a greater proportion than the colonies at 
 prefent fupply , and therefore the flaves ought to 
 increafe from their births*. Suppofe thefe three 
 flaves valued only at 50 each j (though, twelve 
 years ago, I have known gangs,, including all 
 ages, valued at 60) or 150. The lands or 
 property occupied by them are worth double, or 
 /joo. The two hhds. of fugar produced by the 
 three flaves, after providing above for every ex- 
 penfe, except new flaves, are worth 24. But the 
 intereft of the three flaves, and other property occu 
 pied by them at 6 per cent, is 27. The inlurance 
 of the flaves at 5 percent. isj ios. in all, 32 IO.T. 
 the lofs is 8 joj. Suppofe the flaves rented : 
 rent and infurance is now feldom fo low as / 12 per 
 head; take it only at 10, or on three flaves 30. 
 Here is a lofs on them of 6 t and no return on 
 
 Even were we to allow the whole returns of the fugar 
 colonies to be equal to 250,000 hhds. of fugar, to which they 
 feldom amount, at the proportion of three flaves to two hhds. 
 they would require only 375,000 flaves. The truth is, the 
 flaves in our colonies hardly return half a hhd. value 81. ios. 
 per head, to pay the current expenses, and give an intereft on 
 their own value, and the land$ and ftock which they occupy. 
 
 the
 
 the lands, &c. worth 300 ; which, at 6 per cent, 
 are worth 18. In thefe calculations, no allow 
 ance is made for hurricanes or bad crops, or high 
 intereftj and in feveral colonies the proportion 
 of fugar is fet too high. Barbadoes contains 
 64,000 flaves. After allowing for the current 
 expenies, its produce is not 4 for each (lave, 
 without fuppofing any returns for lands, &c. 
 worth 6 millions. Montferrat contains 9000 flaves, 
 and makes 3000 hhds. of fugar, or one hhd. for 
 three (laves. Here alfo can be no returns for 
 lands, &c. worth one million. Dominica returns 
 not one per cent, of the money laid out on- it. 
 
 We have obferved, that 20,000 new flaves coft 
 in three years 1,04000. But, in three years 
 time, according to Long, vol. 2. p. 434. a third 
 part (fometimes one half) is dead. We have then 
 13,700 flaves, worth 1,040,000. To this we 
 mult add three years expenfe of phyfick, feeding, 
 cloathing, &c. This we will make onlyio on 
 the original number of 20,000, or 200,000. We 
 have then 13,700 flaves, which coft the planter 
 1,240,000, or 90 each flave. The reader will 
 obferve, that in the firft eftimate, the expenfe of 
 feeding the flaves, &c. at 5 per head, is' thrown 
 among the current expenies. But here, where 
 we eftimate the value of the flaves, it is an ad 
 dition to their value, till they become ufeful. 
 Thefe calculations are founded on the Planter's 
 own conceffions, or on eftimates which he muft 
 admit. They may be varied, but the conelu- 
 fion will come out nearly the fame. Particularly 
 no juft eftimate can be framed of the expenfe of 
 new flaves, that makes not the furvivors exceed 
 90 in value. Long,, vol. 2. p. 435. fuppofes- 
 that often one half dies. Robertlbn, p* ti^iays 
 
 B 3, two*
 
 ( 22 ) 
 
 two-fifths are loft in feafoning. This would raife 
 each of the furvivors to 124. In many cafes, in 
 pur iflands, it has been two-thirds. In one within, 
 my own knowledge, had the remnant of flaves 
 been fold each for 400, the owner would have 
 been a lofer. In the moft favourable cafe that 
 can be put, the furvivors of African flaves never 
 pay for the coft and expenfe of the whole lot. We 
 nave obferved the unproductive labour of flaves, 
 valued only at 50. When valued at 90 or 
 more, the lofs will be more confiderable. Three 
 flaves at 90 are worth 270. Their rent and in- 
 furance at this high value cannot be fo low as 12 
 each, or in all, 36. But the two hhds of fugar 
 produced by them are worth only 24, after pay 
 ing current expenfes. There are 12 loft on 
 the rent, and jj8 loft on the lands, &c. occupied 
 by them. If thefe calculations be difputed, it is 
 hoped the Planter will correct them, by dating 
 them in his own way. I have gone by the beft 
 information I could procure, and have ftated them 
 from the Planters own advocates. 
 
 We may therefore conclude, that no new im 
 portation of new flaves can turn out profitably tQ 
 the planter; but as Long acknowledges, vol. 2. 
 p. 347. and Robertfon laments, mu.ft form only a 
 hew addition to his debts and difficulties. There 
 fore, the abolition of the flave trade, far from; 
 giving the planner a claim to compenfation, will 
 really fave him. Government will prevent him 
 from continuing to involve himfelf unnecefTarily 
 in bankruptcy and ruin. The only means by 
 which he can improve his condition is, as Long 
 advifes, to ufe prudent regulations in the right 
 husbanding of his flock, and promoting its in- 
 creafe by natural means. 
 
 But
 
 But indeed the annual fupply of new flaves, 
 which in any cafe, with all its confequences, can 
 hardly be fet below a million in value, is fuch a 
 drain as no profit can admit of; nor can any pof- 
 fible reduction in the produce fuppofed to follow 
 the abolition of the flave trade, affect the plan 
 ter's profit equally with this annual drain j fo that 
 it muft be a profitable meafure, which at any 
 hazard cuts it off. The fum paid for new flaves, 
 iffaved, would allow of encouragement to white 
 people for domeftics and artifans, that where 
 there is a want of flaves to keep up the full culti 
 vation of the eftate, domeftic flaves may be turned 
 into the field to make up the deficiency. 
 
 It appears that the Creole flaves, where the 
 fexes are proportioned to each other, according 
 to Long's eftimate of three flaves to two hogf- 
 heads, without taking the Africans into account, 
 may increafe the prefent produce, even in the 
 Jiberal eftimate of 250,000 hhds. at which we have 
 fet it (for the rum is included here in the mak 
 ing of fugar to make up that quantity of produce, 
 and requires hardly any extra number of flaves) 
 and may not only keep up, but increafe their 
 numbers. Therefore, if the planter be not his 
 own enemy, he needs not come to government 
 for relief, or go to the flave-market for recruits - % 
 his crops, his property, will no.t be affected. He 
 will need no compeniation. The pu.blick trea- 
 fury needs not be opened to reimburfe the 60 
 millions Weft-Indian property, with the annihila 
 tion of which we are threatened. 
 
 But it is faid, the revenue will annually lofe 
 two millions j becaufe no fugar will be imported. 
 Suppofe not an ounce of fugar imported, our 
 Ability to pay taxes would not on that account 
 
 B 4 be
 
 be leffened. Allow the revenue, freight, &c. on 
 fugar to be two millions, and the fugar itfelf to 
 be worth four millions. The Britilh confumers 
 then pay fix millions for fugar. If no fugar were 
 ufed, he could then pay government fix millions 
 inftead of two. If any thing be ufed for fugar, a 
 revenue may be raifed on that article. If we have 
 foreign fugar, government may increafe the tax, 
 becaufe it will come one-third cheaper than from 
 our own colonies. The planter is not to fuppofe 
 he contributes one farthing of thefe two millions, 
 any more than the Emperor of China does of the 
 commutation tea-tax-, except for the confumption 
 of fugar in his own family refiding in Britain. The 
 confumer pays the tax. Sugar is only the medium 
 by which it is raifed on the publick. The like 
 ruin to the revenue was predicted, when America 
 threatened to withhold her tobacco; but we have 
 experienced no fuch effect from the meafure. 
 
 Again, the abolition of the flave-trade will 
 ruin the Weft-Indian trade, which will ruin our 
 marine, p. 22. I truft the Weft-Indian trade is 
 in no danger. But fuppofe the one annihilates 
 the other. We lhall, by abandoning the (lave 
 trade, fave more feamen than the other employs. 
 The African flave trade deftroys annually 2000 
 men ; in ten years 20,000.* The fugar colonies 
 may employ 12,000 feamen. The lofs here is 3 
 in 200. Suppofe annually 200, in ten years 2000. 
 The whole number of men employed in the Weft- 
 India trade in ten years, is 14,000. But in this 
 time 20,000 are Icjft in the (lave trade. If both 
 
 See Clarkfon's Impolicy of the Slave Trade ; and 
 ton, Falconbridge, and Stanfield'-s 
 
 were
 
 were annihilated, in ten years we Ihould fave 
 6000 men. 
 
 I truft I have removed effectually the fear of 
 a demand to be made on the treafury for 60 
 millions Weft-India property to be annihilated 
 by the abolition of the flave trade. I have on 
 the contrary proved, that the planter will not be 
 injured, but relieved j or if injured, that he mult 
 blame his own feverity and avarice. I have 
 proved, and fhall farther prove, that commerce 
 will not be hurt, that the revenue or fhipping 
 need not be leiTened, In fhort, that the'mea- 
 fure is agreeable to the demands of humanity 
 and juftice, and alib to the fuggeftions of pru 
 dence and political wifdom. One may blufh 
 to think thefe fhould ever be placed in oppofi- 
 tion. The author of nature never intended to 
 feparate them. They will never be found in op- 
 pofition, when every confequence is taken into 
 account. Whatever is juft or honourable leads 
 to profit and advantage, as well publick as private. 
 Muft a great nation be obliged to fend out rob 
 bers to deftroy and enflave an innocent people in 
 a different quarter of the globe -, or fet thefe on 
 to deftroy and enflave each other for the increafe 
 of its revenue ? Can any advantages, fo procured, 
 turn out well at the laft ? This traffick fteels the 
 heart againft every human feeling ; it corrupts 
 the mind, and, if continued, will prove a canker 
 to eat into our profperity and importance. 
 
 In combating the Weft-India planter's reafon- 
 ing, I preferve the utmoft refpecl: for his candour. 
 I truft I (hall have pleafed him in Ihewing that 
 that juftice and humanity, which hegenerouflyac-t 
 knowledges to be on the fide of the abolition 
 contended for, are not at variance with political 
 
 rights
 
 , ( 26 ) 
 
 j-ights or worldly prudence. He himfelf favours 
 the plan, if the planter's intereft could be fecured. 
 The whole depends on the circumftance of new 
 Haves being a profitable or lofing purchafe. 
 Robertfon fays, planters deem it a misfortune, 
 that England, after the reftoration, refufed to con 
 tinue to fupply them with white fervants. See his 
 Inquiry, p. 54. Long agrees with me in their 
 having bc-en found a lofing bargain near twenty 
 years ago. Since that they have advanced near 
 one-third in value, and every expenfe about them 
 is increafed. What is the fair conclufion which 
 he makes ? that the purchafe muft haften the 
 ruin of every involved planter. 
 
 In dating the following objections, I have col 
 lected from every quarter, whatever 1 have found 
 urged on the fubject, and have given the moft di 
 rect anfwers, each in its refpective place. To 
 preferve brevity, I have been as careful as pofli- 
 ble to give no more on each head, than is necef- 
 fary to obviate the objection in its moft direct 
 fenfe. 
 
 I fhall here remark, that till it can be fairly 
 proved by the planter, in oppofition to the reafon- 
 ing here ufed, and the authority of Robertfon and 
 Long, that African flaves are, generally fpeaking, 
 a profitable purchafe ; no argument for the conti 
 nuance of the flave trade, as far as it may affect 
 our colonies, can have any weight on political 
 confiderations. And though this mould be indif- 
 putably proved, and no anfwer here given fhould 
 be fuftained as valid, yet ought the flave trade to 
 be abolilhed, as long as its advocates allow, 
 " that it is unjuft to enflave negroes," that peo 
 ple, in refpect of us, innocent, are dragged from 
 their homes and families, are murdered in a thou-
 
 fand ways, by chains, confinement, fuffocating 
 air, cruel treatment; that they are forcibly tranf- 
 ported to diftant iflands, where not one in ten 
 takes root, and there made to drawl out a wretch 
 ed exiftence in inceflant labour, without food, 
 without clothes, without reft, under the capricious 
 treatment of any fort of mafter, or any unfeeling 
 boy that may be fet with a whip over them. 
 
 If we allow that power may confer right, may 
 ftifle a brother's groans, and trample on every 
 unalienable privilege of human nature, let us 
 boldly declare it, and fend our fleets and armies, 
 wherever refiftance is not expected, wherever 
 (laves may be feized, and plunder or revenue 
 may be acquired. It is now only that this object 
 has caught the publick attention. Hitherto we 
 have fuffered ourfelves to be perfuaded, by inte- 
 refted men, without inquiry, of the advantage 
 and propriety cf this inhuman traffick. But after 
 this open difcufllon, we cannot pofiibly go back. 
 We will not, furely, permit certain murder to be 
 carried on; and we cannot pretend to regulates, 
 traffick, which is founded on murder, and cannot 
 be feparated from it. Should we permit this 
 traffick to be continued, we declare ourfelves to be 
 the general enemies of mankind ; we are to be 
 confidered as a nation of robbers, and deferve to 
 be fufpected and held in abhorrence, and guarded 
 againft by every furrounding and diftant ftate. 
 
 j. R. 
 
 OBJ EC-
 
 Abolition of the Slave Trade, 
 
 WITH 
 
 ANSWERS. 
 
 Obje&ion i,CT*HE planter will Jhew his refent- 
 went of the meafure, by treating 
 bis Jlaves more cruelly than before. 
 
 Anfwer i. The fudden diminution of his pro 
 perty, in confequence of fuch treatment, will dif- 
 cover to him the prudence of accommodating 
 himfelf to his new fituation, and the neceflity of 
 treating his flaves with humanity. 
 
 Object. 2. 'fhe fugar colonies will throw them- 
 Jehes into the arms of France. 
 
 Anfw. 2. Then will Britain be freed of the 
 cxpenfe of their protection, and be able to procure 
 plenty of fugar at two thirds of the prefent price. 
 Planters complain that they can hardly cultivate 
 their plantations, while enjoying the monopoly of 
 
 the
 
 ( 3 ) 
 
 the Britifli market. How will they bear the re 
 duction of one third of its value in the markets of 
 their new matters, for that is the ordinary propor 
 tion of the price of French fugars ? This is an 
 impotent threat, which for obvious reafons fhould 
 have pafied unnoticed, had it not been induftri- 
 oufly circulated both in converfation and writing 
 with a view to intimidate. I truft Britain has 
 learned wifdom fufficient not to fight to retain 
 them. 
 
 Object. 3. Planters in debt will carry their Jlaves 
 to the Spanijh colonies. 
 
 Anfw. 3. This may be left to the vigilance of 
 their creditors. 
 
 Object. 4. fbe abolition of the Jlave trade is a 
 plan of the new States of America to get fojfejjion &f 
 the fugar colonies. 
 
 Anfw. 4. The reader may be afiured, that 
 this objection, however extraordinary, has been 
 actually darted ; and it is indeed fo truly unan- 
 fwerable, that it muft be left to operate on his 
 fears with all its force. 
 
 Object. 5. Sugar cannot be procured from fo 
 reigners. 
 
 Anfw. 5. While fugar is made., Britifli money 
 will command it. Foreign fugars, near one third 
 cheaper than Britifh, have long found their way 
 into our colonies. The importation may be ex 
 tended, but it will not be neceffary. Indeed fu 
 gar might be brought from the Eaft-Indies, made 
 
 by
 
 ( 3' ) 
 
 by free men, much cheaper than flaves can pofll- 
 bly produce it in the Weft-Indies. Good clayed 
 fugar is fold in Batavia by the cwt. for about 133. 
 Arrack made from it is worth only 8d. per gallon. 
 Thefe prices would allow of the expenfe of freight 
 to Europe, and the fugar to be fold at ^d. per 
 pound in England. In Cochin China it is made 
 even at half this price. 
 
 Object. 6. The planter will -prove the aljurdity 
 of the meafure, by increafing thefeverity of bis manner 
 of treating his flaves. 
 
 Anfw. 6. When he finds his property hurt by 
 fuch a ftep, he will defift from his unfeeling con 
 duct. Even fuppofe the whole deftroyed by fuch 
 a method, the abolition of the (lave trade would 
 foon compenfate it to our common nature on the 
 continent of Africa. 
 
 Object. 7. Involved planters will wafte tbeir 
 flaves by excejfive exertions. 
 
 Anfw. 7. Exceffive exertions have conftantly 
 proved ruinous. Nor can the neceflity of making 
 fuch exertions be avoided by the introduction of 
 new flaves ; becaufe they cannot poflibly be made 
 (fee introduction) to pay their firft coft, expenfe, 
 and lofs in feafoning. Still the involved planter 
 (huts his eyes, and goes on, though every exam 
 ple around him folicits him to abandon the vain 
 attempt. The craving of avarice, and the pref- 
 fure of debt, increafe every year, till ruin and; 
 bankruptcy clofe the fcene of tyranny and wretch 
 ed nefs. 
 
 Object. 8.
 
 Object. 8. tfhe neutral ijlands were fettled^ and 
 their lands bought, in a confidence that government 
 would continue to permit the importation ofjlaves. 
 
 Anfw. 8. The fale of thefe lands has been 
 clofed near twenty years. If any of them be un- 
 fettled, they never can henceforth be profitably 
 fettled by African flavesj for they never repay 
 their own immediate coft, and therefore cannot 
 contribute to clear lands and erect buildings. 
 The truth is, that the lands now remaining un 
 cultivated, have not generally been paid for, or 
 have been abandoned as unprofitable. 
 
 Object. 9. Parliament has given- its fantlian to 
 the trade by regulating it. 
 
 Anfw. 9. If the countenance given by parlia 
 ment to this horrid trade, has conitantly been pro 
 cured by the reprefentations of interefted people, 
 muft government be charged with the confequen- 
 ces arifing from the impofition ? Becaufe we had 
 laws that once fixed a commutation for murder, 
 were we thereby precluded from ever improving 
 our police ? But this {hews how cautions we iliould 
 be, by any regulation, to give a fanction to op- 
 preffion and murder. 
 
 Object. 10. A religious fociety is p offered of a 
 plantation in Barbadoes, and employs Jlaves. 
 
 Anjw. 10. It holds the Codrington eftate for 
 particular purpofes, on condition of keeping up a 
 certain number of (laves. Like other abfent pro 
 prietors, it has fuffered by the mifmanagement of 
 fervants. It is now in a train to anfwer both the 
 
 intentions
 
 ( 33 1 
 
 intentions of the donor, and the wifhes of huma 
 nity. 
 
 Object, n. Dr. Burton, Secretary to thisfociety> 
 wrote a letter to Mr. Benezet, under the direclion of 
 an eminent prelate, which acknowledged the lawful- 
 nefs of Jlavery, as mentioned in the bible. 
 
 Anjw. n. That letter appears plainly to have 
 been written under the imprefiion of an alarm 
 for the confequences of agitating then the quef- 
 tion of liberty, for which the (laves were not pre 
 pared, nor the times ftt. But even in thefe cir- 
 cumftances, the fociety demanded for the flaves 
 all that we contend for in the prefent advanced 
 flate of the queftion : <e That flaves fhould be 
 treated with the utmoft care and kindnefs, both 
 with regard to temporals and fpirituals ; that their 
 labour fhould be made eafy to them in all re- 
 fpccts j that they fhould be provided with conve- 
 niencies and accommodations to render their fitu- 
 ation comfortable ; and efpecially that they fhould 
 be regularly inftructed in the principles of the 
 Chriftian religion." 
 
 The abftract queftion, " is (lavery lawful?" is 
 not now agitated. We may allow its lawfulnefs 
 in any cafe, where it can be proved, that injuftice, 
 murder, oppreffion, and avarice, has not been 
 exercifed. The prefent queftion is, "may Lever- 
 pool merchants fit out Ihips with arms, chains, 
 baubles, and brandy, to bribe the Africans to 
 rife againft their countrymen, to murder fome, to 
 enflave others j to be delivered up to them to be 
 chained, fuffocated, ftarved ; to be tranfported 
 to the fugar colonies to work for planters without 
 food, reft, or raiment j to b.e ill treated without 
 
 C ceffation,
 
 < 34 ) 
 
 cefiation, without remedy. The Doctor, writing 
 on the firft queftion, leaves it as he found the 
 practice to be in the times of the apoftles. The 
 Liverpool flave trade was not before him ; and 
 even could the higheft human fanction be pro 
 duced in its favour, nature would revolt and re- 
 fufe her afient to the decifion. We are not indeed 
 concerned in the defence of Dr. Burton. Thefub- 
 ject had not then been canvafied, and was not un- 
 derftood. Dr. Burton's affirming flavery to be 
 lawful, when he offers only vague or inconclufive 
 reafoning in favour of his opinion, ought not to 
 preclude us at this time from difcuffing the fub- 
 ject, or forming a more juft eftimate of its merits. 
 
 Object. 12. The treatment of borfes Jhould It 
 regulated at home, before we look to Africa. 
 
 Anfw. 12. When we have vindicated the 
 rights of our fellows, it is to be hoped horfcs will 
 be confidered j for doubtlefs they are an object of 
 police. But doth -not this fhew, that a flave is 
 efteemed a mere beaft of burden. 
 
 Object. 13. To imprifon debtors, and imprejs 
 men to ferve in war, are 'violations of moral law y 
 equally with domeftic Jlavery. Confiderations, p. 28. 
 
 Anfw. 13. He who runs in debt knows the 
 confequences ; but all is a force upon the poor 
 negroe. Many men enter into the fea and land fer- 
 vice willingly; and thofe who are imprefied are 
 treated as volunteers are. But we never heard of 
 an African offering himfelf to be received into a 
 flave (hip j nor when he was forced on board, of 
 having been put on a footing with the fhip's crew. 
 But the imprefled failor is among his country 
 men,
 
 ( 35 ) 
 
 merij and ferves his country. What common tie 
 fubfifts between an African, living 1200 miles 
 from the fea-coaft, and a Weft-Indian planter, to 
 induce him to fubmit to be tied neck and heel, to 
 die a thoufand fuffocating deaths on Ihip board; 
 to go and be beaten, half ftarved, and abufed, in 
 the cultivation of a plant, from which he reaps 
 no profit ? 
 
 Object. i4 'The agitation of this qucftion will 
 raife a rebellion among the Jlaves. 
 
 Anfw. 14. Helplefs wretches! Their fpirits are 
 too much broken down to think of rebellion. But 
 if it be fufpected, let the planters, inftead of mov 
 ing heaven and earth to prevent their relief, come 
 nobly forward, and propofe a plan for their protec 
 tion. They will blefs and cheerfully ferve them. 
 
 It feems the Affembly of Jamaica have difcreeN 
 ly taken this precaution j and in the preamble to 
 the bill have fully eftabliihed againft the advo 
 cates for flavery, all the oppreffion and mifery 
 with which this helplete ftate has been charged in 
 our colonies. 
 
 Object. 15. Slaves cannot be trufted with arms. 
 
 Anf-w. 15. They have formed a part of the 
 militia in Barbadoes, and have been found faith 
 ful. This would univerfally be the cafe, were 
 they advanced in fociety. They acquire the emu 
 lation of Britons, and would exert themfelves in 
 their caufe, had they privileges or property to 
 contend for. 
 
 Object. 1 6. Africa is unable to f upper t her in- 
 habitants, without allowing of emigration* 
 
 C 2 Anfw*
 
 ( 36 1 
 
 Anfw. 16. Let then our flave traders waif, 
 till they are invited to carry away the overplus 
 inhabitants. But does this agree with the ac 
 count of the wild or defolated ftate in which every 
 part of Africa appears, whence the wretched in 
 habitants have been carried away. If Africa over 
 flowed, it would not be necefiary to tie the emi 
 grants two and two with yokes, to prevent their 
 cfcape. They would iflue in the fhape of armies, 
 and muft be oppofed not with cart whips, but 
 with arms. 
 
 Object. 17. Negroes are an inferior race of 
 leings. 
 
 Anlw. 17. This is boldly affirmed by Mr. 
 Eftwick ; but every man of candour acquainted 
 with them will deny it. But fuppofe it, v/ill 
 thofe who plead for laws in favour of horfes, 
 maintain that negroes are to be trepanned, mur 
 dered by thoufands, and enflaved for the indul 
 gence of our avarice ? 
 
 Object. 1 8. Slaves of vegroe grandees are as much 
 ihtirjiock as a farmer's implements are his. 
 
 Anfw. 1 8. What is this to a Leverpool trader ? 
 Has he a charter for making a profit of all the 
 villany and injuftice that prevails in the world ? 
 Suppofe the wretched flaves originally the pro 
 perty of tyrants. Is he at liberty to add to their 
 fuffering, and make their lot Hill more mifera- 
 ble ? If their tyrants were not bribed to part with 
 them, they would have ftrong inducements to 
 keep and make them profitable for themfelves. 
 But when we offer fpirits, and every other allur 
 ing bribe in- exchange for them, every trifling 
 
 temporary
 
 ( 37 ) 
 
 temporary difguft in the matter, feals the fate of 
 the flave to new hardfhips, to undefcribable fuf- 
 fcrings. 
 
 Object. 19. Leo Africanus defences the negroes 
 ef his time, anno 1500, as brutijh^ and then fold for 
 Jlaves, before the commencement of the frefent traffic k. 
 
 Anfw. 19. He fays the fhepherds and moun 
 taineers, of all the different African nations, as 
 well as negroes, were brutilh ; but that the people 
 of the plains and cities were polifhed, having arts, 
 fciences, and laws among them. He vifited only 
 the fettlements along the Senegal branch of the 
 Niger, and fays the countries fouthward were pof- 
 fefied by rich induftrious people, great lovers of 
 juftice and equity. He mentions the kings of 
 Tombuto and Burno, two negroe dates, as going 
 to war to take flaves to be fold to merchants, trad 
 ing to jfligypt and the Mediterranean cities. But 
 do we argue for flavery, becaufe at all times the 
 ftrong have enthralled the weak ? Becaufe Jofeph 
 was fold by his brethren, was Pharoah vindicated 
 for enflaving the whole Hebrew nation ? Or are 
 we to continue for ever to encourage negroes to 
 kidnap each other to be fold to us, becaufe 300 
 years ago the king of Tombuto kidnapped and 
 fold his neighbours ? 
 
 Object. 20. No negroe nation makes a figure in 
 igriculture, or ufeful arts. 
 
 a. 
 
 Anfw. 20. We are apt, like the old Greeks, 
 to term every thing barbarous, that differs from 
 our own artificial manners. But let any man read 
 Mr. Mathews's Account of Guinea, profeffedly 
 publifhed to vindicate the flave trade, and fay 
 C 3 whether
 
 ( 3? ) 
 
 whether they have not laws and cuftoms worthy 
 of the imitation of the moft enlightened nations, 
 and poflefs not a knowledge of agriculture and 
 arts, that wants only an extenfion of obfervation 
 to be beforehand with feveral nations in Europe. 
 
 Object. 21. Supplies from Africa are neceffary to 
 keep up theftock, 
 
 Anjw. 21. Becaufe planters prefer the hopes (I 
 deny they ever poflefs the fubftance, fee Introd.) 
 of prefent profit to future advantage , and com 
 mit their affairs to managers, who, being not con 
 cerned in what may happen thirty years hence, pre 
 fer the buying to the breeding of flaves. Hence we 
 may judge how far to believe them, when they fay 
 they favour population. Or how can population 
 be favoured where there is a want of food, clothes, 
 and every conveniency necefiary for its encou 
 ragement ? where, perhaps, the plantation is left 
 to a raw lad, who knows nothing of government 
 but the whip, who has no care but to hurry on 
 the work j who, pinched himfelf in every necef- 
 fary, has nothing to divide with the nurle, or 
 the fick, the faint or hungry flave. But flop the 
 trade, and their opinion and practice will both be 
 changed, That increafe of flaves from the births, 
 which accompanies humane treatment on every 
 plantation, in every ifland where now practifed, 
 will then be general. But wherefore fhould we 
 go to Africa for flaves ? Why not to France, 
 Spain, or Italy ? It would be equally lawful, and 
 the little oppofition we might meet with, would 
 encourage a military fpirit among us, without 
 the expenfe of fleets or armies. 
 
 Object. 22.
 
 (39 ) 
 
 Object. 22. Small plantations in debt, will be 
 abandoned) or united to others* 
 
 Anfw. 22. It is the beft thing that carr happen 
 both to debtor and creditors for fuch never pay 
 intereft money ; nor indeed do they fupport them- 
 felves, except where the planter is out of debt, 
 and lives with his flaves, planting provifions for 
 himfelf and them, and being contented to fend to 
 market as much fugar as an attention to thefe ob 
 jects will permit, to purchafe what his plantation 
 affords not. 
 
 Object. 23. Large plantations will fend lefs 
 fugar to market. 
 
 Anfw. 23. In every plantation much land is 
 put in canes that pays not for the culture. Per 
 haps one fourth part of St. Kitts is in this fitua- 
 tion, and a much greater proportion in fome other 
 colonies. Turn this into provifions for the flaves, 
 and grafs for the cattle ; fewer flaves will do the 
 work, and the reduced quantity of land referved 
 for the canes, getting more manure, will ftand 
 the weather better, and produce more certain and 
 better crops. 
 
 Object. 24. The importation, of fugar, and its, 
 revenue^ will be offered. 
 
 Anfw. 24. The importation of fugar will 
 never be profitably increafed (fee introduction) 
 by the purchafe of African flaves , and we have 
 proved that the revenue depends not on the quan 
 tity of fugar made in our own colonies * for we 
 
 C 4 may
 
 ( 40 ) 
 
 may raife the fame, or higher duties, on foreign 
 fugars. (See Introduction, and Object. 5.) 
 
 Object. 25. The confumption of Britijh commo 
 dities in the iflands will be lejfened. 
 
 Anfw.2$. The confumption of the fugar colonies 
 is hardly half the confumption of half a million of 
 people in a diftant quarter of the globe. But the 
 abolition will greatly increafe it. For the flaves 
 muft be better fupplied than hitherto with necef- 
 fariesj and as they advance in fociety they will 
 increafe in their demands. 
 
 Object. 26. 'The cultivation of the cane will 
 le diminijhed. 
 
 26. So it may, and yet the quantity of 
 fugar, and the profit from it, be increafed, if only 
 what pays for the culture (Object. 23.) be ufed ; 
 lands producing lefs than an hogfhead per acre, 
 hardly pay for the culture. Our iflands contain 
 about four millions of acres. A crop is taken 
 from the fame land every fecond year ; from fome 
 frelh lands every year ; 1 20,000 acres of good 
 land felected for each crop, might give from 
 180,000 to 200,000 hoglheads, which exceeds a 
 medium crop at prefent. According to Long's 
 eftimate, 200,000 hogfheads may be made by 
 300,000 flaves, without lefiening their numbers. 
 A much lefs number properly fed and worked, 
 and afliited with cattle, would be fufficient. 
 
 Object. 27. I'be new iflands require new flaves ? 
 and plantations underhanded may be improved by 
 
 them. 
 
 Anfw. 27.
 
 ( 41 ) 
 
 Anjw. 27. Hardly has one plantation in the 
 new iflands given the lowed ufual intereft on its 
 cod and expenfes. But the price of African flaves 
 is now advanced fo high (Object. 24) that hence 
 forth no purchafe of them can pofiibly turn out 
 profitable. The value of a negroe's labour, argu 
 ing from Long's eftimate, vol. 2. p. 437, 438, of 
 three flaves to two hhds. can be reckoned only at 
 j8. But the ufual rent and infurance of aflave, is 
 from 10 to 1 2, and there is nothing left for the 
 returns of the lands, &c. occupied by them. If 
 ever, from this time, new lands be brought into 
 culture, Ibme other method, than this of working 
 them by African flaves, muft be tried. Let the 
 planter twift the calculation as he pleafes, he will 
 never prove a new flave profitable.* 
 
 Object. 28. The -planter can bear no interruption 
 in the annual Jupply of flaves. 
 
 Anfw. 28. In the late war he bore the inter 
 ruption for about fix years, without any fenfible 
 injury. Since that time he has made but fmall 
 ufe of the trade ; but though in his own power, 
 has turned it over to the French and Spaniards. 
 There is an accommodating difpofition in man, 
 that adapts itfelf to neceffity. This meafure in 
 deed will only keep the planter, even in the opi 
 nion of Long, from running in debt. 
 
 * Robertfon indeed fuppofes a flave to produce a hhd. of 
 fugar ; but whatever it might be ann. 17,0, when he wrote, 
 it is double of what is now produced. Even fuppofing par. 
 ticular inftances of plantations where this proportion takes 
 place, the profit will be found exceeding fmall, when every 
 expenfe is deducted. 
 
 Object. -290
 
 Object. 29. The planter will be ruined. 
 
 Anfw. 29. Not one will be injured (Object. 7. 
 27, 28.) whofe ruin is not already fealed. He who 
 is not in debt, will accommodate himfelf to his 
 fituation. He will throw out, or fallow his poor 
 grounds. He will manure better what remains. 
 He will allot lands for provifions and grafs. He 
 will ufe the afiiftance of cattle. He will work 
 flaves not as hitherto againft time, but a certain 
 talk of work. He will allow them food, reft, and 
 clothing. He will hire white people, or free ne 
 groes and mulattoes (of whom there are great 
 numbers in the colonies, without employment) 
 for domefticks, and turn his (laves into the field. 
 He will buy up around him for the culture of the 
 cane, thofe flaves that are now employed in lefs 
 productive labour, or that belong to poor free 
 people, who are kept poor and idle, depending on 
 their flaves induftry. This plan is alfo the beft 
 that the involved planter can purfue, imlefs he 
 can fell his flaves and other property to a more 
 wealthy neighbour. Thus by being prevented 
 from purchafing new flaves, many may be forced 
 to methods of humanity, and laved from otherwife 
 inevitable ruin. 
 
 Object. 30. A fugar plantation is a profitable- 
 manufactory. 
 
 Anfw, 30. It is, even in the opinion of Ro- 
 bertfon and Long, an expenfive lofing one. It 
 will in no cafe fucceed, but on a large fcale, where 
 it can have within itfelf provifions, recruits of 
 flaves and cattle. Even few of the moft profit 
 able could bear to be brought to calculation, if 
 
 their
 
 ( 43 ) 
 
 their expenfes were carried on from the firft pur- 
 chafe. 
 
 Object. 31. White men cannot work in a Weft- 
 Indian climate. 
 
 Anjw. 31. Nor white nor black can fupport 
 unremitting labour, without food or reft. But 
 white men kept from new rum, may, in the morn 
 ing and evening, perform double the prefent taflc 
 of flaves, without fuffering from the climate. 
 Barbadoes, St. Kitts, and Nevis, were originally 
 fettled by white men. It was only on the intro- 
 dufHon of negroes, that they began to decreaie in 
 numbers.* But the mortality could not pofllbly 
 have been greater among them than has been 
 lately in the new iflands, and in clearing freih 
 lands in Jamaica. 
 
 Object. 32. Nor will they work wttbjlaves. 
 
 Anfw. 32. Poor white men work along with 
 their flaves. The bed fortunes that have been 
 eflablifhed in the Weft-Indies, have been made by 
 thofe, who firft worked to buy, and then fhared 
 labour with a flave. There is, I believe, a baro 
 net now alive, whom his mother tied on her back, 
 
 * Robertfon, p. 45, obferves, that even after the reftora- 
 tion, the whites exceeded the blacks in number; that the 
 flave trade was not extended till after that time. He fays, 
 Inquiry, p. 10, for the firft 30 years, Barbadoes was culti 
 vated by white fervants, and might advantageoufly have been 
 continued, p. gz. He fays, planters would not ufe flaves 
 (Africans) if they could avoid it, p. 54 They deem it a 
 misfortune that England refufed to continue to fupply them 
 with white fervants, p. 15. that the flave trade deilroys mil 
 lions of lives. 
 
 while
 
 ( 44 ) 
 
 while flic fed the mill with canes. The author 
 became acquainted with a Frenchman in St. Vin 
 cent's, who began with his two hands, and fettled 
 and (locked in fucceflion, five coffee plantations* 
 
 Objefr.. 33. Free negroes or mulattoes will not 
 work witkjlaves in the fa id. 
 
 Anfiv. 33. Then hire them as domeftics, and 
 turn domeftic flaves into the field. The colonies 
 at prefent contain twice as many flaves as are ne- 
 ceffary, if properly afififted, treated, and worked, to 
 fend the prefent produce to market ; and any fup- 
 ply of labourers, if really wanted, is preferable to 
 the African Have trade. Nor can an objection to 
 the turning of domeftics and others into the field, 
 be made by him, who propofes to go to Africa to 
 kidnap, or encourage others to kidnap, and force 
 happy free people from their native country, to 
 endure a fucceflion of miferies in their paffage to 
 the Weft-Indies, that perhaps one in ten may 
 work in his field a half ftarved flave. 
 
 Object. 34. Slaves are captives faved from the 
 
 Jword, under a tacit agreement of Jerving the con- 
 
 queror, or him to whom he may allot their Jcrvices, 
 
 under pain, if at any time difobedient y of being put to 
 
 tbejword. 
 
 Anfw. 34. A man contending with a man in 
 a ftate of nature, may put his adverfary to death, 
 to place his own life out of danger. But when 
 his fafety is effected, he loles all power over his 
 adverfary's life. Nor can he recover that power 
 by any circumftance, or any fiction, till he and 
 his adverfary, (in this cafe his flave) be placed in 
 
 the
 
 ( 45 ) 
 
 the fituation, in which the relation of matter and 
 (lave commenced. Suppofe this tacit compact; 
 on the part of the (lave, it was made under the 
 imprefiion of bodily fear, and cannot therefore be 
 equally binding with a free compact. The cir- 
 cumftance that brought him within his adverfa- 
 ry's power, might, in his opinion, be treachery, 
 or violence. He will therefore fnbmit to the 
 confequences only till he can help himfelf. But 
 fuppofe this compact binding in any moral degree, 
 a breach of it in the (lave mufl be judged by the 
 laws of the community, of which he is become a 
 anember. By being admitted into the family or 
 fervice of his conqueror, he is, or (hould be, con- 
 fidered as belonging to the community. The 
 mafter lofes his ablblute power over him, the 
 moment he (heaths his fword , and the conduct 
 of each to the other muft be judged by the laws 
 which obtain in the (late. This appears even in 
 the bloody law of Barbadoes j for in fixing a fcan- 
 dalous fine on the mafter who murders his (lave, 
 it declares that the power of life and death is not 
 in him, but the publick. 
 
 This interpretation is agreeable to the mild 
 doctrine of the fcripiures, which the advocates for 
 flavery are conftantly wre.fting to the moft horrid 
 purpofes. When Eli(ha led the Affyrians blind 
 fold to Samaria, the king of Ifrael fays, " Shall 
 I fmite them." The prophet forbids him (not in 
 the name of the Lord), but refers him to an ac 
 knowledged principle of equity, " Wouldeft thou 
 fmite thofe whom thou haft taken captive with 
 thy fword, and with thy bow." (2 Kings vi. 22.) 
 This plainly admits that the victor lofes all power 
 of life and death, by taking his adverfary prifoner. 
 Therefore the African tyrant conveys no fircfv 
 
 power,
 
 ( 46 ) 
 
 -\ 
 
 power, by transferring his captives over to Lever- 
 pool traders ; nor can they be purchafed from him, 
 under the perfuafion of his having any fuch 
 right. 
 
 Object. 35. Slaves are necejfarj as domeftics t and 
 bandy-craftfmen. 
 
 35, A flave handy-craftfman, performs 
 not one third of the ordinary tafk of a freeman. 
 But white handy-craftfmen may be increafed as 
 wanted. Families entertain from 20 to 60 flaves, 
 who do not the work of 5 or 6 hired fervants. 
 The whole number of tradefmen, domeftics and 
 others, not employed about fugar in the colonies, 
 may be eftimated at 150,000. Thefe being ef 
 fective people, and worked in the field, well fed, 
 properly tafked, and aflifted by cattle, might of 
 themfelves fend more than the prelent quantity of 
 fugar to market. This exchange from the houfe 
 to the field, often takes place from caprice, as a 
 punifhment; and handy-craft flaves are occafion- 
 ally fent in there. In any cafe, the exchange can 
 not encroach fo much on the rights of humanity, 
 as the flave trade to Africa. 
 
 Object. 36. No fupply can le found if the trade 
 fa abolijhed. 
 
 Anjw. 36. This Is anfwered (Object. 27, 28, 
 29.) Pernaps not more than one half of the ef- 
 fe'live flaves in our colonies is actually employed 
 in the culture of the cane. There is then in the 
 colonies a fufficient fupply of field flaves, till the 
 encouragement of population fhall have taken 
 effect. 
 
 Object.
 
 ( 47 ) 
 
 Object. 37. Africa will gain nothing by our 
 abandoning the trade. 
 
 Anjw. 37. Suppofe this true j maywenotufe 
 the fame argument for going to rob and murder 
 travellers on the high- way ; becaufe, were we to 
 ftay at home, they might probably be robbed and 
 murdered by others ? Are we to pay no regard to 
 equity and juftice, becaufe thefe rules may poffibly 
 be infringed by others equally in a particular cafe, 
 whether we meddle or meddle not ? Is it not an 
 infult to the national character, to attempt to im- 
 pofe fuch reafoning on the publick ? Is it not de 
 claring to all Europe, that profit is the idol to 
 which we bow ? 
 
 But while the advocates of flavery are forced 
 to acknowledge, that this trade renders the flate 
 of Africans in their own country infecure and 
 wretched, they muft allow that a change is a 
 thing to be defired. But fome one muft firft be 
 gin j and who more proper than that flate, which 
 has carried on the horrid traffic with peculiar cir~ 
 cumftances of lyftematic Cruelty, farther than any 
 other nation. Suppofe Africa not relieved; yet 
 by our abolition of the (lave trade, we fhall re 
 trieve our reputation, we (hall fave the lives of 
 our feamen, we fhall prevent the mixing of inno 
 cent blood with our riches, with our revenues, to 
 be a canker to eat into our private happinefs and 
 publick profperity. But afluredly the benefit 
 will be extended to Africa, will improve her man 
 ners, will civilize her tribes, and gradually exalt 
 her flate among the nations. 
 
 Object. 38. Slaves are happier than Englijk 
 -peafants* 
 
 Anfui.
 
 ( 48 ) 
 
 Anfw. 38. Have peafants their eyes beat out, 
 their bones broken, their flefh furrowed by the- 
 whip, their wives expofed to a bailiff's luft ? Are 
 they, without remedy, confined to any, the moil 
 tmreafonable opprefiive matter ? Are their wives 
 and children taken from them, and fold to diftant 
 parts? Are they obliged to cultivate barren fpots 
 of ground on Sundays for food ? Is their daily al 
 lowance fix ounces of flour ? Have they no warm 
 clothing; no linen to wrap their new-born babe 
 in ? But it is endlefs to mark the difference. The 
 afiertion infults common fenfe. 
 
 Object. 39. Negroes are happier in the colonies 
 than in Africa. 
 
 Anfw. 30. Pofitively denied. Do they ever 
 offer themlelves to be received into our (lave 
 fhips, to elcape from their wretched country ? Is 
 there not a charm in the place of nativity, that 
 makes, to the natives, Greenland more deferable 
 than the polifhed parts of Europe ? Do they not 
 feize every opportunity of rifing againft, or ef- 
 caping from their opprefibrs ? Do they not in- 
 creafe in their own country, and decreafe in our 
 more defirable colonies ? For one moment fup- 
 pofe this true. For one that lives to fettle in the 
 Weft-Indies, ten are killed, fuffocated, or loft to 
 Africa. To make one man happy, muft ten be 
 deftroyed ? But how can wretched Africa bear 
 an annual lofs of 200,000 people in the prims of 
 life, at which theflave trade and its confequences 
 may be fairly eftimated, while happy Weft-In 
 dians (by the report of the African merchant, a 
 writer on the planter's fide) require an annual fup- 
 ply of 40,000, or nearly one tenth of the whole ? 
 
 This
 
 ( 49 ) 
 
 This objection is advanced for a particular purpofe, 
 and is exaggerated. Butweknowcertainlythatlittle 
 and very eafy labour fupplies them with food and 
 clothing in Africa j unceafing labour ftarves them 
 in the Weft- Indies. Indeed, how can they be faid 
 to be happy in a country, who, in feveral iflands, 
 have not a fcrap of land allotted for their main 
 tenance, that can be turned to any other cul 
 ture? 
 
 Object. 40. Creole negroes degenerate, therefore 
 the breed muft be kept up by African flaws* 
 
 Anfw. 40. Suppofe the fa6t true, I venture to 
 affirm, that few inhabitants of the fugar colonies 
 have ever placed themfelves in circumftances to 
 make the obfervation. It is rather furprifing that it 
 was never brought forward till the month of May, 
 1788. But I in the ftrongeft manner deny the 
 fact from my own obfervation. In every cafe 
 within my knowledge, the farther back the negroe 
 could trace his Creolifm, the more he valued him* 
 felf, the more he was valued. Families degene 
 rate, which, like Egyptian kings* confine their 
 marriages to brothers and fitters. But there is no 
 reafon why a progeny drawn from the cafual inter- 
 courfe of individuals of a hundred nations, differ 
 ing in feature^ language, and cuftoms, fhould de 
 generate, except from hard and opprefllve ufage, 
 which ftifles nature in its origin j and this can de 
 rive fmall honour on the planter, who adduces this 
 argument in favour of his harfh treatment of his 
 fiaves. 
 
 Object. 41. The labour ofjlaves is cheaper than 
 that of free men. 
 
 D
 
 ( So ) 
 
 ^i' Mod pofitively denied*. The plant 
 er affirms, that it requires fix (laves to do the 
 work of one peafant.-f- The molt pinching allow 
 ance that can be given to a Have, and the loweft 
 eftimate his rent and infurance can be laid at, muft 
 amount to a much larger fum, than the price 
 of the bare handy labour of any peafant, with 
 out cattle and inftruments of hufbandry. But 
 it has been proved (fee introduction) that the 
 labour of a Have pays not for his coft and expenfe 
 in feafon'mg. A mafter muft fupply the death of 
 a flave at an enormous expenfe from the flave- 
 market. For a little better food and clothing, 
 in return for a double talk of work, the peafant, 
 without coft, breeds labourers in fuccefiion for his 
 employers. But when it is acknowledged that 
 {laves do lefs work than peafants, (if they do it 
 cheaper, then they earn lefs in the fame time, and 
 have therefore lefs means to buy the comforts of 
 life) how then can they be happier than Englifh 
 peafants, for example, (Objecl:. 38.) who earn fo 
 much more by their labour, and therefore have 
 more the means of indulgence ? 
 
 Objecl. 42. Suppofe a plague among Jlavcs, bow 
 is the lofs to be repaired? 
 
 Anfw. 42. Suppofe a plague in London, muft 
 the citizens form themfelves into bands, to go 
 
 Wherever this aflertion is ufed, the obje&ion has either 
 been already obviated, or the reafon follows on which this 
 anfwer is founded. The Reader, I truft, will find no fimple 
 aflertion of this kind ; except where the Author's experience 
 entitles him to oppofe to unfounded affirmation, what he him- 
 felf has been an eye-witnefs of; and where attempts have 
 been made to impofe on men, who have never been in cir- 
 cumftances to examine the fafts alleged. 
 
 f See St. Kitt's Libd. 
 
 and
 
 5> ) 
 
 and furround and fet fire to the neighbouring 
 towns, and murder, rob, and carry off the inha 
 bitants, to make good the lofs ? Or, will they, 
 for this purpofe, fit out (hips, and commit de 
 predations on the coaft of France ? Would they 
 not rather endeavour to purify their town, encou 
 rage matrimony, arid grant privileges to fuch 
 ufeful people, as could be perfuaded to fettle 
 among them, and wait patiently for the refult ? 
 
 Object. 43. Emancipation ofjlaves will ruin the 
 mafter* 
 
 Anjw. 43. It is not even fuggefted, (See in 
 troduction) till their improvement lhall have made 
 it the matter's intereft freely to beftow it. The 
 fimple abolition of the trade, operating as a kind 
 necefilty on the intereft and difcretion of the 
 planter, and taking away this delufive lure from 
 fhort-fighted avarice, will do every thing at pre* 
 lent for the flave, that humanity requires. If any 
 abufes remain, they may be regulated as difcover- 
 ed, without injury to the mailer's property, or his 
 juft authority over it. 
 
 Object. 44. If freed they will not work* 
 
 Anjw. 44. This conclufion is drawn from the 
 indolence of favages. But it is not propofed to free 
 them, till they (hall have been civilized, and pre* 
 pared for the government of law, and have their 
 mailer's confent. To fuppofe that in fuch circurn- 
 ftances they will not exert themfelves to procure 
 the conveniences and comforts of life, in the fame 
 manner as other civilized people, is to deny them 
 the attributes of human nature, But there are many 
 D 1 particular
 
 inftances in the colonies to contradict the fact? and 
 in North America many planters have emancipated 
 their (laves, and afterwards hired them to work 
 by the day or piece, and found their advantage in 
 it. The colliers in Scotland have been lately 
 freed, to the mutual benefit of mafter and fer- 
 vant. But indeed the objection is a mere con 
 jecture, for very few have ever been freed in the 
 Weft Indies, on which the obfervation could be 
 properly made. 
 
 Object. 45. Free negroes are mijerable. 
 
 'Anfw. 45. Hitherto free negroes have had no 
 proper rank in fociety, nor any fixed employment. 
 Thofe who are freed are generally concubines of 
 favourites, who are not always the fitteft perfons 
 to be made free ; and they generally are opprefled 
 and ill treated, for want of a patron or protector. 
 Therefore, no deduction can be drawn from any 
 obfervation made on them at prefent. But there 
 are accidental inftances of fome, who, having been 
 freed, have done themfelves and their country 
 credit. Nor can this afifertion be maintained, but 
 by thofe who deny them the participation of one 
 common nature, which in every nation, in the 
 fame circumftances, leads to the fame conduct. 
 
 Object. 46. tteft is lightly yunijhed in the co 
 lonies. 
 
 Anfw. 46. Not always. I have myfelf feeh 
 fuch inftances of punifhment on bare fufpicion, as 
 would make humanity fhudder. But what muft 
 be the heart of that man, who can punifh with fe- 
 verity a wretch, breaking a cane, or ftealing to 
 
 fatisfy
 
 ( si ) 
 
 fatisfy that hunger, which his parfimony has occa- 
 fioned. Indeed the breaking of canes in my 
 time, was a kind of high treafbn, to be puniftied 
 with particular feverity. 
 
 Object. 47. Planters are mifreprefented - t there 
 fore probably Guinea captains are Jo ttkewife. 
 
 Anjw. 47. If the planter's own confcience con 
 demns him not, we bring not his character into 
 the queftion. Without quoting names, cruel 
 facts are alleged as connected with (lavery. But 
 the reputations of planters and Guinea captains, 
 are not touched on. There are good men in both 
 lines. It is the oppreflion and murder of friend- 
 lefs Africans, for which the publick attentipn is 
 claimed. 
 
 Object. 48. A profit is drawn from the flaw s fold 
 to foreigners. The French at Martinico have paid as 
 high as 60 for a newjlave. 
 
 Anjw. 48. Here the interests of the (lave mer 
 chant and of the planter difagree. French 
 planters particularly, not having much intereft- 
 fnoney to pay, and managing their own planta 
 tions, can allot more of their produce to the 
 increafe of their (lock, and give higher prices 
 than our planters are willing to fpare from their 
 own perfonal expenfes. The French planter does 
 not, any more than the Englifh, make an ordinarf 
 intcreft of his money by the purchafe of netf 
 flaves ; but he prefers this method of appropriat 
 ing his income to that of fpending it on his own 
 perfonal indulgencies. The high prices at Mar 
 tinico may be accounted for from the encourage- 
 
 D 3 meat
 
 ( 54 ) 
 
 ment given to thofe, who carry flaves to Hifpa- 
 niola, which draws the principal trade thither. 
 But it can only take place in particular cafes, 
 for no new (lave can ever be worth fo high a price, 
 for the cultivation of the fugar cane, and that 
 if]and needs but few fupplies. 
 
 Objet. 49. If profitable for the French to buy, 
 why not for us ? 
 
 Anfw. 49. The French i (lands being more 
 fertile than ours, can bear a more expenfive culti 
 vation ; and their flaves being better fed and 
 clothed, though unproductive, are not fo much fo 
 as our flaves. Of 800,000 flaves imported into 
 $t. Domingo in 96 years preceding 1774, there 
 remained 140,000 Creoles, or one Creole from 
 fix Africans. Our whole number of Creoles would 
 not be perhaps in the proportion of one from jqs 
 Africans imported into our colonies. 
 
 Object. 50. I'he French having no longer a com 
 petition with us, will buy their flaves cheap if we 
 dbandw the. trade* 
 
 Anfw. 50. In all fettled trades the profit foon 
 becomes to be nearly equally diftributed among 
 all thofe who are concerned in it. Every work' 
 man and broker, through whofe hands any article 
 paffes, will each man have a fhare of the advan 
 tage, and proportion his expenfes and rate of liv-* 
 ing accordingly. Hence, when an article has been 
 once fettled at a certain price, it can hardly ever 
 be reduced back to its original coft, even when 
 that circumftance is removed, which firft occa- 
 fioned the rife. The tax on glafs is fajd to have 
 
 been
 
 been doubled on the confumer. Repeal the tax, 
 the price would not be diminifhed in proportion, 
 the workman will not give up his extra day at the 
 ale-houfe, nor the merchant his country feat. 
 Slaves, befides the expenfes of the fhip, which 
 are 8 more, now coll in goods, on the coafb 
 of Africa, at a medium about >i8. Faffing 
 through a variety of hands from the inland coun 
 tries, in each of which a profit muft be left, -any 
 reduction of price on the coaft muft make flaves 
 a loiing bargain, therefore the reduction of the 
 price will counterbalance the want of competition. 
 A manufacturer, who lofes part of his cuftomers, 
 produces goods only fufficient to fupply his leflen- 
 ed demand, and muft try to lay a higher price on 
 them, to make up for the lofs of his former trade. 
 But if we can fhew that the flave trade is at beft 
 precarious, and often a lofing trade, fhould the 
 demand for flaves only change hands from us to 
 the French, then will the French only extend a 
 lofing traffick. If the demand be lefTened, then 
 will the flave-brokers quantum of profit be lefTen- 
 ed, which the prefent ftate of the trade will not 
 bear. This leaves us to conclude, that the French, 
 cannot, draw great advantages from our abandon 
 ing the trade to them. 
 
 Obferv. 51. If we give up the trade, the French 
 wtll extend their Jh are of it. 
 
 Anjw* 51. Suppofe that others fuccefsfully rob 
 and murder on the highway, muft we join the 
 lawlefs band. At prefent, the French buy many 
 flaves on the coaft from our brokers. Our good's 
 pay for them, our factories accommodate rherru 
 Stop thefe channels, and the French cannot at 
 D 4 once
 
 once eafily fupply the goods, or procure the flaves, 
 To us it is (by the acknowledgment of men well 
 acquainted with the trade, when they have not a 
 particular point to carry) a precarious, and on the 
 whole, a lofing trade. Did one company carry it 
 on, that company muft become bankrupt. But 
 their prefent (hare has fo few allurements for their 
 own merchants, that their government offers a 
 bounty to Englifh fliips to be employed in it under 
 French papers for the fettlement of new lands in St. 
 Pomingo. Our merchants are now engaged 
 under falfe papers to carry it on. Still the 
 French planter complains of the hardfhip im- 
 pofed on him by the advanced price of flaves. 
 Therefore, if the French extend their trade, 
 they will extend their lofs, efpecially of feamen, 
 which extraordinary as ours (fee introd.) is, greatly 
 exceeds our proportion.* In the mean time, it is 
 a fubjedt of difcuflion for government, to deter 
 mine how far an eagernefs for lucre may be 
 indulged in our traders, when directed to the 
 improvement of a rival colony, with a view to 
 the eftablifhment of a marine, though at the 
 expenfe of the individual planters who pufh it 
 on. In another point of view, if the fubject be 
 properly propofed, may we not fuppofe the French 
 as capable as we are of being influenced by fen- 
 timents of humanity and juftice? 
 
 Object. 52. France has opened a trade for Jlaves 
 from Mozambique^ injtead of giving up the Guinea. 
 trade, we foould follow them thither > and come in for 
 our jh are. 
 
 * May we not fuppp.fe that thefe allurements are 
 out to^our traders, in order to fave their own meu and ihips 
 frorji the deftruftion 6aufed by this horrid trade. 
 
 Anfta. 5?,
 
 ( J7 ) 
 
 Anfoo. 52. Can no villany be committed on 
 the face of the globe, but we mud long to be a 
 party ? Such is the lofs of lives in this trade, from 
 the change of climates, and the length of the 
 voyage, that though the (laves be purchafed for a 
 mere trifle, they find little encouragement to con 
 tinue in it. But before we engage, it will be wife 
 in us to provide ourfelves with fublimate, as is 
 the practice among the French, quietly to poifon 
 the unhappy wretches, when from the length of 
 the voyage water or provifions begin to fail. This 
 the French avow as a lefs fhocking method of 
 committing necefifary murder, than throwing them 
 overboard alive, as our Collingwood did in the 
 voyage to Jamaica, 
 
 Object. 53. This abolition will ratfe difputes on 
 the coaft of Africa with the French. 
 
 Artfw. 53. The limits of our factories are 
 eftabiifhed. Where the French hitherto have 
 not been permitted to buy flaves, they cannot 
 expect to be indulged to the hindrance of our 
 traffic in wood, gums, ivory, gold, &c. From 
 their want of factories, they cannot extend their 
 flave- trade. If the minds of the natives be once 
 pre-occupied in favour of the barter trade, they 
 will not allow flave-brokers to pafs, but at an 
 expenfe, which the trade cannot bear. Perhaps 
 the Dutch, Danes, and Portuguefe, may be in 
 duced to follow our example. Then the Have 
 trade could not be carried on to any great extent. 
 
 Object. 54. Slaves will be Jmugiled m from other 
 glands to ours, 
 
 Anfw. 54.
 
 '^ Not at prefent, becanfe our plan 
 ters living in England cannot afford to give as 
 high prices as foreigners give. Our planters now 
 do not, or cannot, buy what they think the ne- 
 ceffary fupplies at the prefent advanced price ; 
 and if they did buy them, according to Long, 
 they would find them an unprofitable purchafe. 
 Smuggled negroes cannot coil lefs than 20 per 
 cent, above the prefent rate; how will our plan 
 ters be able to afford this ? But when fmuggling 
 is difcovered, it may eafily be prevented \ it is 
 not now neceflary to fuppofe it. It cannot take 
 place in the prefent relative circumftances of our 
 and foreign colonies. 
 
 Object. 55. The trade ;V an extenfcue market for 
 tur manufactures. 
 
 Anfw. 55. We fhould blufh to think, that in 
 order to make it profitable, we are obliged to 
 cheat the poor Africans with damaged goods, and 
 falfe meafure ; (fee Newton's Thoughts on the 
 Slave-trade). Every man who argues for fuch a 
 trade, argues for the bafeft treachery and fraud that 
 ever were perpetrated. If this trade were flopped, 
 our prefent fair trade in the flaple commodities of 
 Africa, might be indefinitely extended. The 
 whole export is eftimated within 800,000 col 
 lected from a number of adventurers, often as the 
 laft pufh, in hopes of a lucky hit, like a ticket 
 m the lottery, to fave them from bankruptcy. 
 Of this a considerable part is bartered for ftaple 
 articles, as wood, ivory, &c. and full one-third 
 is faid to be Eaft-r India and Venetian goods. This 
 eftimate is checked by the number of (laves pur- 
 chafed by our traders on the coaft. That number 
 
 annually
 
 C 59 ) 
 
 annually is about 40,000, which, at 18 per head, 
 is only ,720,000. The expenfes of the voyage 
 are 8 more, which are charged on thofc fold to 
 the planter. 
 
 Object. 56. Guinea captains,furgeons, and officers, 
 clone gain annually 50,000 in this trade > and one 
 particular dealer in Guinea Jhips made an immtnfe 
 fortune. 
 
 Anfiv. 56. Thefe are almoft all the people 
 who make money in the trade. The captain and 
 officers by their privilege (laves, who never die, 
 and their commiffion on the cargo, mu(t always 
 m-ake money. The dealer in fhips alluded to, 
 had a great number in the trade, and flood his 
 own infurer in a lucky period.* 
 
 Object. 57. Slaves once brought down from the 
 inland farts of Africa muft be exported to prevent 
 them from being murdered. 
 
 Anfw. 57. Could the trade be flopped in a 
 moment, the abolition fliould at once take place. 
 But as numbers for many months muft continue 
 to be brought down to the coafl, it will require 
 fame management to confine their fale to our 
 
 * A (hip, on board which Mr. F ferved, brought off 420 
 flaves from the coaft. They loft about fifty, and the refufe 
 flaves amounted to about thirty more. They fold feme for 
 487. the lots for 43 /. The whole average was 3;/. Here 
 then is apparently a profperous voyage ; the number of deaths 
 moderate, and the average high. Yet, when expenfes and 
 lofs of time were brought to an account, it was found to have 
 turned out a lofing voyage. What may be expe&gd where 
 perhaps a third of the flaves die in the paflage ? 
 
 own
 
 6wn idands, ihould our planters be fo much 
 perfuaded of their utility, as to put themfelvcs to 
 fome inconveniences in order to purchafe them, 
 that they may not be patted to foreigners. 
 
 Object. 58. Our planters have not credit to pur 
 chafe Jlaves. 
 
 Anfw. 58. This muft not be urged by any 
 planter redding in England ; for if he thinks the 
 purchafe profitable, why allots he not hisEuropean 
 expenfes to this purpofe ? 
 
 Object. 59. The trade is a w.rfcry for ftamen. 
 
 Anfw, 59. It is the very grave of feamen, de 
 ftroying more than all our foreign trad^'befides, 
 often lofing by deaths, incurable difeafes, &c. 
 two-thirds of thofe employed in it; and in the 
 proportion of about eight to one of thofe loft in 
 the barter or wood trade on the fame coaft. See 
 Clarkfon's Impolicy of the Slave Trade, and 
 Stanfield's Letters. 
 
 Object . 60. T'hs Weft- Indian trade is moft profitable 
 to this country* 
 
 Anjw. 60. Then why is every fugar factor 
 trying all he can to fhake off his connections 
 with the fugar planters, or to confine them 
 intirely to the fale of his fugarsj and the Shipping 
 of his ftores ? Can any planter now borrow money 
 on his Weft-Indian property, either to improve it, 
 or pay off preffing demands ? Has there not been 
 more bankruptcies among capital houfes con 
 nected with the fugar colonies, than in any other 
 branch of trade \ Nay, it will be found, that 
 
 the
 
 ( 61 ) 
 
 the flave-trader himfelf complains of the tardinefa 
 of the planter's payments. The connection is 
 drawn fo clofe between Great Britain and her fu 
 gar colonies, that a change in their relative fitua- 
 tion muft be left to the latter, when they fhall 
 chufe to put their threats in execution of fubmit- 
 ting to the Americans or French. But their trade 
 will never be generally profitable to Britain while 
 they have a monopoly of her market, and are al 
 lowed a drawback* for a fictitious exportation of 
 fugar to be fmuggled back into the country. The 
 whole ordinary produce of our fugar colonies is 
 not equal to the confumption of Great Britain and 
 Ireland at a moderate price. This may be confi- 
 dered as proved; for though laft year was an or 
 dinary crop, yet is there now hardly any fugar on 
 
 * Anno 1787, though the crop was only about 160,000 
 hhds. and the demand has been fo great, that in the month of 
 April laft there was no fugar left on hand ; yet the drawback 
 on fugar is ftated in the cuftom-houfe returns at 122,957!. 
 Now, as I believe hardly any fugar is originally purchased 
 with a view to exportation, the planter has very little advan 
 tage from this drawback, while it enhances the price to the 
 confumer, already raifed too high by the monopoly granted 
 of our market. It is confined perhaps entirely to thofe who 
 enter the fugar for exportation : and that thefe entries are not 
 always fair, I can only judge from this circumftance, that re 
 fined fugar has been bought near the eoall better, and zd in 
 the pound cheaper, than in London. This furely calls for 
 examination. Our planters, as a valuable part of the com. 
 munity, deferve every poffible confideration, and no change 
 is to be attempted that pays not every reafonable attention to 
 their intereft ; but it muft injure their caufe to mix it with 
 that of fmugglers, as in this of the drawback, or with that of 
 bad citizens, as when they threaten to throw themfelves into 
 the arms of America or France. They Ihould indeed vindi 
 cate themfelves openly from having encouraged this threat, 
 which their affe&ed friends have induftrioufly infinuated, and 
 which muft operate to their difadvantage with every think 
 ing man, 
 
 hands
 
 hand ; and we are now paying a war price for that 
 article. 
 
 Object. 6 1. Slaves mujl carry out dung in baj* 
 kefs, and bring canes home in bundles. 
 
 Anfiu. 61. Allot lands for grafs, and one horfc 
 and cart will do the work of forty flaves. 
 
 Object. 62. In crop time, the whole gang, what 
 ever be its number, muft be employed in making of 
 the Jugar. 
 
 Anfw. 62. Gangs of 220 flaves; others, not 
 amounting to 100, are kept to the fame work, 
 with little difference in the quantity of fugar 
 made, that may not be explained from other circum- 
 ftances, as the fituation of the mill for receiving the 
 wind, &c. Here furely muft be a wafte of labour 
 in the more numerous gang ; becaufe the other 
 plantation work might alfo be carried on fo as to 
 make fewer flaves neceiTary at other times. The 
 fact is, 140 or 160 flaves often cultivate as much 
 land, and fend as much fugar to market as 220 
 flaves. Thefe lad muft therefore be ill managed. 
 
 Object, 63. Slaves muft be kept at work, or under 
 command, from dawn till late at night. 
 
 Anfw. 63. What purpofe this drawling method 
 anfwers,but the indulgenceof the caprice of avarice 
 ill underftood, cannot be difcovered. Give them 
 a tafk. They may reft in the heat of the day, and 
 do twice their prefent work. But they muft be 
 better fed, and not be fent in the hour of reft two 
 miles from home to pick grafs for cattle. 
 
 Object. 64.
 
 .Object. 64. Slaves cannot be aj/ifted by cattle. 
 
 Anjw. 64. The plough might be ufed in a 
 great proportion of cane land. But cattle may 
 at lead aflift always in carrying out dung and 
 bringing home canes, as is now done on particu 
 lar plantations. But fuch is the avarice for fugar, 
 that no grafs lands are allotted for the fupport of 
 cattle. Hence often at the beginning of a crop, 
 the whole flock of cattle mud be renewed at 
 any price. 
 
 / 
 
 Object. 65. The ft ate of Jlaves will not be im 
 proved by the planting of frovifions. 
 
 Anfw. 65. The culture of provifions is eafier 
 than that of canes. Plant them where canes pay 
 not for the culture. Expenfe is faved; the flaves 
 are more plentifully fed, and the remaining cane 
 land is better drefled, and becomes more pro 
 ductive. 
 
 Object. 66. Slaves are fuch as have been con 
 demned for witchcraft. 
 
 Anfw. 66. This is a molt unlucky objection 
 to be produced. This cuftom, as far as we know, 
 prevails only among the nations near the fea coaft. 
 So ftrict is the police, and fo fenfible are the people 
 of their rights, that no flave can be fold by his 
 mafter, nor any free man be enflaved, except to 
 expiate fome crime real or pretended. When 
 therefore a mafter, or head man of a village, longs 
 for powder or brandy, he feigns himfelf bewitch 
 ed, and points out a particular flave, or fome ob 
 noxious free man as the witch. The accufation 
 
 (lands
 
 ( 64 ) 
 
 fhnds for proof. The poor wretch is doomed to 
 be fold to fome Leverpool harpy, who ftands 
 ready, with the price of iniquity in his hand, to 
 feize him, But thefe make a very fmall proper-* 
 tion of the whole, and include not thofe forcibly 
 enflaved and fold by the feveral kings and ty 
 rants. 
 
 Object. 67. Negroes are fold for adultery. 
 
 Anfw. 67. This is another very unlucky ob- 
 jeftion. A tyrant becomes difgufled with one 
 of his wives, or prefers brandy, or fome Eu 
 ropean commodity to her. She has her option to 
 drink the red water, which is made rank poifon, 
 or cdh^nt to be fold. The fear of death gives 
 the latter the preference. Sometimes a grandee 
 gives his wives liberty to folicit thoughtlefs 
 young men. In this cafe the gallant is fold. 
 Thus the flave-trade becomes anfwerable for all 
 the miferies that follow on the coafl of Guinea 
 on imputed crimes. Our traders firft tempt them 
 to accufe, and then take advantage of the accu- 
 fation. 
 
 Object. 68. Proviftons muft be brought from 
 and America to feed thejlaves. 
 
 Anfw. 68. This unnatural ftateanfwers neither 
 the purpofe of profit or humanity. Slaves will 
 never be well fed by grain brought from diftant 
 parts. In bad years, when the planter is lead 
 able to purchafe it, it will be mod wanted. In 
 the bed years, luxury will grudge the coft. In 
 fa<5t, flaves will never be well fed with fuch pur- 
 chafed grain -, nor will they ever increafe, till the 
 lands they cultivate be made to fupport them. 
 
 69.
 
 Object. 69. Slaves have fufficitnt provi/io* 
 ground. 
 
 Anjw\ 69. And, except in Jamaica, 6nly Sun 
 day to work it. But it is not generally true, either 
 that they have fufficient ground, or that it is 
 generally ufeful. A few prime flaves appropriate 
 the beft parts, and weakly flaves are thruft out, 
 or have their provifions ftolen. Hardly ever can. 
 they fpare them to ripen* Provifion ground will 
 be ufeful only, when made, equally with cane land, 
 the work of the whole gang under the overfeer* 
 Yet this moft necefTary part of plantation eco 
 nomy is almoft wholly neglected, the manager 
 thinking much once or twice in a feafon tq 
 examine into the flate of it. 
 
 Object. 70. Mojt excellent orders are fent cut by 
 cibfent planters* 
 
 Anfw. 70. Whatever be their teriour, they are 
 always interpreted by the cuftom of the colonies^ 
 which is for feverity and pinching. They are 
 always fuppofed to mean, Send home as much 
 fugar, and draw as few bills on them as poflible* 
 A gentleman for fourteen years had defired the 
 happinefs of his (laves, not revenue, to be con- 
 fidered. But afking his manager why his flaves 
 did not increafe under fuch orders, he received 
 for anfwer, " they had been too hard worked, 
 " and too ill fed?" 
 
 Object; 71* // is the planter'* interejl to treat 
 
 hisjlaves well. 
 
 Anfa. 71. Then his practice contradicts his 
 opinion. Can it be his intereft to allow his flave 
 
 neither
 
 neither food nor reft ? Arc fix ounces of flour, or 
 five hours reft, fufficient refrefhment for twenty- 
 four hours ? Can it be his intereft to wear them 
 out by inconfiderate fatigue, and in a few years 
 be obliged repeatedly to renew his gang from the 
 ftave-market, rather than by difcreet management 
 to enable them to carry on his work, and raife 
 up, without expenfe, fuccefiive generations of 
 labourers for his profit. Indeed nothing is found 
 more falfe in fact than fuch reafoning. It is the 
 prefiure of the moment that directs arbitrary 
 power, not diftant confequences. 
 
 Object. 72. The treatment of JIaves Jhould be 
 regulated* 
 
 Anfw. 72. Except in a very few points it is 
 almoft impofllble for law to come between a 
 mafter and his flave. A cruel or capricious man 
 can teafe and wafte his Have in a thoufand ways 
 that law cannot check, nor authority reach. The 
 Danes, indeed, have an effectual method in their 
 iflands, which has been enforced in feveral parti 
 cular inftances. The governor diverts a cruel 
 mafter of the management of his property, and 
 fets humane people over it: a cuftom truly 
 worthy of imitation ; and the only effectual me 
 thod to fecure proper treatment to the flaves. 
 
 Object. 73. Plantations cannot be Jupplied from 
 the births. 
 
 Anfw. 73. Nor will they while the flave-mar- 
 ket is confidered as a better mode of recruiting 
 them than that of population. But at prefent 
 many increafe from the births in all the rice, 
 
 tobacco,
 
 tobacco* and fugar colonies, from the cafualty of 
 a humane mailer, an eafy manager, a careful 
 manager's wife, an attentive furgeon. This 
 proves the ftrong biafs in nature to increafe where 
 not checked by oppreffion j and it would univer- 
 fally be the cafe if humane and proper treatment 
 were univerfal. Carlifle's plantation in Antigua 
 has been long overflocked from the births ; and 
 after doing the matter's own work, the flaves are 
 employed in doing tafk-work for the neighbour 
 ing plantations. 
 
 Object. 74. Population is checked iy an over 
 proportion of males 
 
 Anfw. 74. More ftrefs is laid on this objection 
 than it can well bear. The decreafe of flaves is 
 not caufed by the want of women, but the want of 
 encouragement. This over proportion takes place 
 only among African flaves, who are not prolific 
 in the colonies, not from natural caufes, but from 
 chagrin, the want of neceflfaries, and encourage 
 ment. But their proportion cannot at prefent be 
 very confiderable, (fee introduce.) The natural 
 proportion of the fexes takes place among the 
 Creoles, who are in fufficient numbers, if properly 
 indulged and affifted, to overflock all our iflands 
 in a few years, without diminifhing the prefent 
 produce of fugar. 
 
 Object. 75. Slaves are not kidnapped by our 
 traders, but culprits or prifoners. of war. 
 
 Anfw. 75. We do not fay that any great pro 
 portion of them are now kidnapped by our 
 traders j becaufe as far as they can reach with 
 
 E a their
 
 their boats the country is either defolated by- 
 former depredations, or is under fuch police as 
 makes it rather dangerous ; though it fometimes 
 happens that we hear of a captain making what 
 he calls a ftroke, fweeping away as many freemen 
 as he can overpower with his crew. But we fay 
 that the natives kidnap each other, and that 
 criminals make but a very fmall proportion of 
 the whole. That they are kidnapped is almoft 
 the univerfal anfwer from thofe brought into our 
 colonies; nor can the numbers brought down to 
 the coaft be accounted for in any other manner. 
 Eviden.ee has been delivered in on the prefent 
 queftion of kidnapping having been praftifed 
 even in his fight who gave the teftimony. But 
 fuppofe them culprits or prifoners of war, are 
 we then the executioners for African tyrants, or 
 African judges ? Are we to punifh unfortunate 
 wretches by the various deaths endured in our 
 flave (hips ? Offer a Guinea captain, condemned 
 for murdering his crew or his flaves, his life, on 
 condition of being fettered and treated as a flave 
 in the pafiage to the Weft-Indies, he would run 
 for refuge to the gallows. Moore mentions a free 
 riegroe offered to him for fale for Healing a to 
 bacco pipe. If prifoners of war may be enflaved, 
 why fend we not our Have-traders to attend the 
 Turkifh and Ruffian armies, and provide our- 
 felves there? It will be as juft and proper, as to 
 ftir up wars in Africa for the purpofe of making 
 Haves.- - 
 
 Object. 76. Britain produces annually 2000 
 (ulprits. The negro? countries are forty times as 
 large, They therejore may fupply annually 80,000 
 
 Anfw.
 
 Anfw. 76. This fuppofes Africa equally civi 
 lized with Britain; for crimes are the offspring of 
 civilization. Crimes exift not among favages. 
 There mult be laws and police to which they arc 
 to be referred. This, therefore, if true, cuts off 
 another aflertion, that the Africans are brutiflu 
 For among favages there can be no culprits. So 
 ciety muft be well advanced before a man can be 
 confidered as a criminal, and an object of juftice. 
 But how does our mf thod of collecting (laves on 
 the coaft agree with this notion ? Our traders 
 Ihould demand a certificate of the flave's fentence, 
 left he take away an innocent perfon. The fact 
 is, among imported flaves there exifts no appear 
 ance of culprits: fome are young girls not grown 
 upj many boys under 14 years: they general!^ 
 affirm themfelves to have been kidnapped, If 
 criminals, fome of their old practices would now 
 and then break out ; but they are quiet, inoffenfive 
 people, guilty only of brooding over their un 
 happy ftate, or of ftealing from a niggardly mafter 
 to keep themfelves from dying of hunger. 
 
 Object. 77. They are the children of women kept 
 for breeding flaws* 
 
 Anfw. 77. Then they would be fold when 
 children ; but the flave cargoes confift of all ages 
 of both fexes, which have been kidnapped or en- 
 flaved in wars made on purpofe to accommodate 
 the dealers in this horrid traffick.. 
 
 Object. 78. The king ofDahomy murders bispeff- 
 ple for bis amufement^ therefore we may traffick. tit. 
 Jlaws,
 
 ( 7 ) 
 
 Anjw. 78. This monfter, from fuperftition, fa- 
 crifices his own people, and from avarice, enflaves 
 and fells others. But the one paflion intermeddles 
 not with the exertion of the other. Their opera 
 tions are diftinct. His avarice is encouraged by our 
 traders, and renders numbers of his people wretch 
 ed, in addition to thofe lefs unhappy people, who 
 are the victims of his cruelty. By checking this 
 inhuman trade, we fhould annihilate one half of 
 the evil; by profecuting it we are guilty of all 
 the ills produced by it, and encourage his favage 
 difpofition. 
 
 Object. 79. Tbejlai} es arc bought in open market^ 
 and the brokers 'Kill not dijclofe any particulars refpeR- 
 ing their captivity. 
 
 79. Do not our traders wink with their 
 eyes, and avoid any clofe inquiry? But if they be 
 ignorant how they are originally procured in the 
 inland parts, how come they fo well acquainted 
 with the circumftances of their being the chiL 
 dren of flave-breeders, prifoners of war, and cul 
 prits ? 
 
 Object. 80. Slaves are well cared for on board 
 tbeflavejhips, and lofe not above five in an hundred^ 
 in the paffage from Africa to the Wejt-lndies, whicb 
 lafts for fix weeks. 
 
 80. Five in an hundred for fix weeks is 
 at the rate of forty-two in an hundred, or more 
 than a two-fifths in twelve months. But fuppofe 
 the paffage lengthened out to feven, eight, ten, 
 twelve weeks j (there has been an inftance of a 
 paflage being fixteen weeks) will not the mortality 
 
 increafe
 
 ( 7' ) 
 
 increaic in a much more rapid proportion than 
 that of two-fifths in twelve months ? And is not 
 this actually the cafe, fo that a tenth, a fifth, a 
 fourth, nay, a third part, and fometimes half, is 
 loft during the voyage ? But allow in ordinary 
 cafes only five in an hundred to die on the paf- 
 fag ; the flaves are all (hipped in good health j 
 when they come to market, from a tenth part to 
 a third, or perhaps a half, are found to be difeafed, 
 and are fold as refufe, of which not more than 
 one in three ftand the feafoning. The voyage is 
 therefore accountable not only for thofe that die 
 on board fhip, but for two-thirds of the refufe 
 flaves which die in the Weft-Indies within the 
 period of feafoning j therefore the lofs of one- 
 fourth part, or perhaps a third of the whole, may 
 be charged to the voyage. 
 
 But where five men are (lowed in the place of 
 one, which is the difference between a (lave (hip 
 and a tranfport for carrying troops, it is impofii- 
 ble that the wretches can be well cared for. 
 This is proved even to demonftration in the ac 
 counts given of their horrid (late by Mr. Falcon- 
 bridge, Mr. Newton, and Mr. Stanfield. If fo few 
 be loft, how comes it that a (lave trader cannot 
 get insurance in London on his flaves at any 
 rate ; or, that thofe, who in one or two inftances. 
 underwrote (laves at 25 per cent, premium, re- 
 fufed to continue the advantageous bargain. 
 
 But this extraordinary lofs, which often happens 
 in the voyage, is charged not to the infernal 
 ftowage of the flaves, but to other caufes, as a 
 long continuance on the coaft, improper provi- 
 fions, &c. Allow all this ; it muft firft be proved 
 that the Africans forced themfelves on board their 
 ihips, and put themfelves willingly into fuch- a 
 E 4 fituatLan*
 
 (7* ) 
 
 fituation, as was necefiarily followed by this de- 
 ftruction. But if the trader forced them into this 
 fituation of hunger, thirft, difeafe, and death, he 
 is as anfwerable for the fatal confequences, as if 
 he had at once cut their throats. No man is 
 allowed to plead one crime in excufe of another. 
 The deftructive confequences of enflaving them, 
 is but a part of the original guilt connected with 
 the commerce. 
 
 Object. 8 1. fhey are encouraged to rear children* 
 and will nod 
 
 Anfw. 8f. Can they rear them for him, who 
 demands bricks without draw, that they may be 
 opprefifed at his caprice? How few are put in the 
 flate, have food, clothes, or neceflaries, to en 
 courage them, or are indulged when pregnant, 
 or when nurfes ? Can a young fingle lad, or a 
 batchelor manager, as is now the growing cuf- 
 
 tj * o v_? 
 
 torn to employ on plantations, have that fellow- 
 feeling and fympathy with a child-bearing wo 
 man, that may be expected in a tender-hearted 
 matron ? I can recollect but one cafe, where flaves 
 have increafed under a bachelor. There fome 
 peculiarly favourable circumflances take place. 
 Thofe acquainted with the ufual treatment of 
 flaves, may wonder how fo many children are 
 reared, rather than fo few. Indeed, the ordinary 
 caufes of the increafe of flaves on particular plan 
 tations, fhew how eafily population may be pro 
 moted. 
 
 i 
 
 Object. 82. Many Jlaves die in confluence of 
 their following the Juperftitious rites of the Obiak 
 9r John Crow men. 
 
 4nfw. 82,
 
 ( 73 ) 
 
 Anfw. 82. This fuperftition is confined to a 
 few, and may be eafily fupprefled. Perhaps among 
 aooo or 3000 Haves, one may be heard of who has 
 injured his health, by drolling fix or eight miles in 
 the night time to attend one of their dances. But 
 it would, be juft as reaibnable to fend and bring off 
 fome of the natives of France to be made flaves, 
 becaufe a farmer may now and then get drunk at a 
 fair, and break his neck, as it is to drag away 
 Africans from their country, becaufe their matters 
 have refolved to keep thofe whom they have already 
 enflaved in utter ignorance and brutality. 
 
 Object. 83. Negroe women are profligate, and de- 
 flroy their fruit* 
 
 Anjw. 83. This takes place among none but 
 perhaps a few, that are fuffered to work, or hire 
 themfelves out among feamen ; nor are any effects 
 produced by it that deferve to be noticed as a 
 general obfervation. Negreffes have the mater 
 nal character as flrongly impreffed on them as any 
 other women; nor does it fail to act, except 
 where the weight of oppreflion has made them 
 callous to every natural reeling. 
 
 Object. 84. The number of Creoles, where tfo 
 Jexes only are in due proportion, is not equal to the 
 fupport of the prefent flock. 
 
 Anfw. 84. Denied, fee Introduction. Our 
 Creoles exceed two-thirds of our prefent number 
 of flaves; but not more than two-thirds of the- 
 whole are employed in the culture of fugar, and 
 that in a proportion, which Long fays, they may 
 Continue to increafe from the births. Every other 
 
 department
 
 ( 74 ) 
 
 department may eafily be fupplied by white men 
 or free negroes, and mulattoes. It mud not be 
 loll fight of, that few African women breed, and 
 that no new flaves repay their coft, expenfe, and 
 lofs in feafoning. We cannot, therefore, fuppofe 
 any future progeny of thefe capable of repaying 
 the expenfe of fuch a purchafe ; and can expect 
 a profitable recruit only from Creoles, But there 
 are inftances in every colony of humane treatment 
 actually producing an increafe. This will uni- 
 verfally be the cafe, when the practice is uni- 
 verfal. 
 
 Object. 85. Unhealthy fituations require Jupplies. 
 
 j4nfw. 85. Can this be urged by any man pre 
 tending to humanity or difcretion ? Abandon 
 the cultivation of the cane, rather than fport with 
 a brother's life. The unhealthinefs of mines, &c. 
 cannot be pleaded here, becaufe worked by vo 
 lunteers. But no plantation that requires fupplies 
 can repay the expenfe. We may ftill aik, Has 
 every proper meafure been adapted for the parti 
 cular fituation ? Are the huts fixed in a dry 
 airy fpot ? Are the flaves plentifully fed, dif- 
 creetly worked, well defended with clothes againft 
 damps, or wet weather. Few fituations are to 
 be found that may not be corrected, fo as that 
 the human conftitution (hall adapt itfelf to it. 
 But their manner of living muft be that of proper 
 inhabitants, drawing their fuftenance from the 
 lands they occupy, not artificial, as in a garri- 
 fon, or ufed as beads of burden, and pretended 
 to be fed with grain brought from other quar 
 ters of the globe. 
 
 Object. 86.
 
 ( 75 ) 
 
 Object. 86. Slavery is not unlawful ; tie bible 
 allows of it. 
 
 Anjw. 86. The ufe of money is not unlawful. 
 But it is unlawful to rob on the highway to procure 
 it. We meddle not with flavery in the abftract, but 
 with the ordinary means of procuring flaves. We 
 fay men ought not to go to the coaft of Africa to 
 kidnap the natives, or to encourage them to kid 
 nap each other; or to bribe them with baubles 
 to go to war, to fight with and enflave each 
 other; to turn every trefpafs into a caufe for en- 
 flaving $ to fubject the unfortunate wretches to 
 the miferies of a Well-Indian voyage ; to fell 
 them to be half-ftarved, hard worked, and ill 
 treated. Shew us flavery without thefe attendants, 
 and we fhall have little to object againft it. 
 
 Chriftianity obliges us to inftruct and inform 
 the mind. Social liberty is the genuine confe- 
 quence of improvement. Therefore we may fay, 
 that the Chriftian privilege favours liberty ; and, 
 while it avoids making any fudden change in 
 eftablifhed cuftoms, it naturally tends towards it. 
 See my Examination of Harris's Scriptural Re.- 
 fearches. 
 
 Object. 87. The Jews were -permitted io hold 
 Jlaves. 
 
 Anfw. 87. They might keep the children of 
 the heathen, and their pofterity flaves. But 
 they were enjoined to treat them well, inftruct 
 them in their religion, and make them partakers 
 of their religion and laws. The flaves were fup- 
 plied with food and clothing from their fix days 
 labour, without being forced to work for this on 
 
 Sabbath.
 
 Sabbath. If the matter (truck out but a tooth* 
 the Have was to be free. If he took a maid-fer- 
 vant to his bed, or gave her to his fon, Ihe had 
 the privilege of a wife, and could not be fold. 
 We muft imitate the example of the Jews, if we 
 claim their permiffion of holding flaves. But by 
 the coming of our Saviour, all men are become 
 brethren. A Jew could hold a Jew in fervice 
 only for fix years, and only fuch as were too poor 
 to maintain themfelves. Here we are to look for 
 the fpirit of the Jewifh laws refpecting flavery; 
 not in their permiffion to make flaves of the 
 Heathen around them. This indulgence was pro 
 bably allowed, as divorces were, for the hardnefs 
 of their heart* j but was to be reclaimed, as it 
 has been in faiSt, by the introduction of a more 
 perfect law. We make the Africans poor by en- 
 flaving them. But we fhould keep them flaves 
 only for fix years, and then difmifs them well 
 fupplied with neceffaries. Farther, the Jews 
 themfelves were numerous in a fmall country. 
 Their flaves muft, therefore, have been few. 
 Among thofe who returned from their captivity, 
 there was but one flave to fix Jews ; perhaps one 
 fervant to each family. 
 
 Ob j eft. 88. Slavery renders opprejfion neceffary. 
 See Niger in Pub lick Advertifer of March 12. 
 
 Anjw. 88. But what except avarice renders 
 flavery necefiary ; and can oppreffion, if it be the 
 neceffary confequence of a vice, be in any degree 
 or fhape vindicated ? Murder is often the necef 
 fary confequence of pafiion. Is murder therefore 
 to be excufed ? What an opening is here for 
 crimes and villany of every fort. The exiften-ce 
 
 of
 
 77 ) 
 
 of this opprefiion is candidly acknowledged by a 
 Jamaica planter in his obfervations on the (lave 
 trade. 
 
 Object. 89. Free negroes and mulattoes do not 
 increafe from the births. 
 
 Anfw. 89. It is not true: many inftances to 
 the contrary might be produced. But it is alfo 
 true, that no race or rank of men will continue 
 to increafe, except where the means of living are 
 in abundance. Thofe here defcribed, are exceed 
 ingly fetcered between white men on the one 
 fide, and flaves on the other, for the means of 
 fubfiftence. Therefore they cannot expand them- 
 felves. It is fo with the native white people in 
 St. Kitt'sj their marriages are prolific, but from 
 the want of fubfiftence, the old families have in- 
 fenfibly vanifhed, and every year takes from the 
 population of the colony. 
 
 Object. 90. A compenfation muft be made to 
 Planters for 60 millions of property, which the abo 
 lition of thejlave trade will annihilate. 
 
 90. It will be time enough to think of 
 compenfation when the lofs has been fuftained. 
 Even then I fhould proteft againft the claims of 
 fuch Weft-India appraifements, as I have been 
 acquainted with. Yet no planter, not already 
 ruined, will fuffer by the abolition. 
 
 Compenfation would defeat every purpofe 
 aimed at, for procuring good treatment to the 
 flaves. Many planters find their affairs irreco 
 verable. If they hurry not on their fate, from the 
 hopes of compenfation, at leaft they will be care- 
 
 lefs
 
 ( 78 ) 
 
 lefs of the iflfue. Their former inconfiderate con 
 duct will continue, perhaps will be lharpened, to 
 enhance their demand. 
 
 If there be a planter, who has fed his flaves 
 well, and worked them confiderately, has in 
 dulged them with proper reft, has clothed them 
 properly, has furnilhed necefiaries for the encou 
 ragement of population, has lived with them, has 
 treated them as fellow-creatures, has made the 
 fupport of his plantation his prime object, and 
 been contented with that revenue which this at 
 tention would admit of; in the name of juftice 
 let him be liberally compenfated. But fuch a 
 character fo circumftanced, ib unfuccefsful, is not 
 to be found. The need of compenfation is a fun* 
 proof he deferves it not. Again, let it be ob- 
 ferved, that he claims this compenfation becaule 
 he is prevented from buying African flaves } 
 which, even in Long's opinion, would only more 
 involve him. 
 
 But if a man has feparated himfelf from his 
 property, has drawn a revenue to fupport at a 
 diftance an expenfive eftablifhment, from a pro 
 perty not equal to fuch demands, or which per 
 haps itfelf wanted fupplies; if, to force out this 
 revenue, his half-ftarved flaves have been incef- 
 fantly worked j if neceflaries for the encourage 
 ment of population have been withheld, and the 
 afliftance of cattle has been refufed ; let not this 
 man come to government to make up a lofs arif- 
 ing from the cravings of luxury, or the inconfi- 
 d,erate ufe of power. In this clafs will be found 
 every planter who has ruined himfelf by fpecu- 
 lating in fugar plantations. Mere adventurer^ 
 cannot claim compenfation, for they are where 
 
 they
 
 ( 79 ) 
 
 they fet out. Their creditors have no claim ; for 
 they took the chance of their fuccefs. 
 
 Object. 91. ?be trade Jhould be regulated ', not 
 abolified. 
 
 Anjw. 91. Regulate murder as you pleafe, it 
 ftill remains murder. Suppofe a regulation. It 
 muft check the mode of loading the flave-fhips. 
 But at prefent, with every contrivance in the 
 fhipmafter's power, it is on the whole a lofing- 
 trade , it depending on circumftances, whether a 
 particular fliip makes a faving voyage. Regula 
 tions, which (hall make it more expenfive, will 
 make that lofs certain, which is now contingent. 
 Therefore, while holding out indulgence, they 
 will occafion a greater lofs, than the abrupt abo 
 lition of it. Regulations fuppofe the trade honeft 
 and proper, and only abufed in the management 
 of it. But we affirm the very principle to be 
 wrong, and every attempt in it iniquitous and 
 unjuft. To propofe a law for regulating fmug- 
 gling, would not be fo abfurd. We can explain 
 the unreafonablenefs of the propofition, only by 
 fuppofing parliament to enact a rule by which 
 highwaymen fhould be guided, in robbing and 
 murdering in the way of their profeflion. 
 
 But what regulations can be enacted in Britain, 
 that fhall take effect 1200 miles inland in Africa, 
 that (hall flop the murderer's hand, or fave the de 
 voted village j that fhall in the thirfty defart offer 
 the refrefhing draught to the fainting captive, or 
 fave him from the hungry tyger, when abandoned 
 to death in the inhofpitable foreft ? Every poflible 
 regulation will be a mere mockery of the woe we 
 
 affect
 
 < So ) 
 
 affect to commiierate. The friend of humanity 
 muft fpurn the propofition from him, which 
 would only rivet more firmly on Africa this galling 
 chain, while it gave the fanction of law to a com 
 merce that humanity muft deplore, that policy 
 cannot defend. 
 
 But the regulations will be accepted with a 
 defign to evade them. In this cafe, the Legifla- 
 ture becomes anfwerable for the oppreffion and 
 murder connected with this trade. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 IF the fubject be difcufied, the trade will be 
 found fo iniquitous, that ft cannot be left on its 
 prefent footing, or be poflibly regulated. Let the 
 abolition then take place on the broad bafis of 
 humanity, juftice, and found policy. All parti 
 cular circumftances will eafily accommodate them- 
 felves to the new fituation of things. 
 
 P O S T-
 
 ( Si ) 
 
 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 I SHOULD be ungrateful to pafs over the 
 candour of the author of the Confiderations on 
 Emancipation, &c. to rnyfelf. He has laid me 
 under very great obligations, by ftepping forward 
 to vindicate my reputation from the many horrid 
 charges brought againft me by my former adver- 
 faries ; efpecially, for clearing me of the crime of 
 cruelty to my flaves, which has been circulated 
 in every company where flavery has been agitated, 
 and mentioned with as much abhorrence, as if no 
 man befides me had been unfeeling in his treat 
 ment. He will allow me to obferve, that that 
 irritation, which he makes the alloy of my tem 
 per, cannot be intolerable, if it permits me to 
 be affectionate in my family, eafy to my flaves, 
 and charitable to the poor j for to thefe the natu 
 ral temper is leaft under difguife. He indeed 
 takes out the fting, by charging my dilputes to 
 the pique and prejudice of my enemies. I may 
 add, among thofe praifed in my Eflay, are fome, 
 who were then my inveterate foes. He will alfo 
 indulge me in correcting his miftake concerning 
 the M. Reviewers. Far from cenfuring injurious 
 epithets in my writings, they blamed their want 
 of warmth. From their late conduct 1 have only 
 learned, that to utter falfe criminal libels againlt 
 Mr. R. in low vulgar language, is decent mode 
 rate conduct in his adverl'aries ; but it is abuie 
 for him to ufe the moft cautious terms in his 
 
 own vindication.* 
 i 
 
 * Thefe praifes have encouraged Mr. Tobin in purfuit of 
 what he calls " folid pudding," to raife at prefent a third 
 
 F fine
 
 Bpt p. 36. I am charged with mifreprefentation. 
 If he will perufe my Effay, he will fee I prevent 
 the conclusion of indifcnminate ill-treatment of 
 flaves, by obferving, that arbitrary power in the 
 matter has not all thofe ill confequences with 
 which fenfibility is apt to charge it. And if this, 
 and many paffages of like import, be not fufficient 
 to excufe me, I cheerfully embrace this opportu 
 nity of declaring, that the nature of flavery, not 
 the difpofition of the matter, is chargeable with 
 the enormities connected with this debafing ftate. 
 Planters are as capable of, and as often exert the 
 benevolent affections as any other let of men. But 
 during the period which 1 fpent among them, 
 a flave was not confidered as an object of fympa- 
 thy, or intitled to the regards of humanity. His 
 iervices were accepted with the fame indifference 
 that we exprefs towards a clock that keeps time ; 
 his faults were punifhed with the rigour that is 
 exerted towards a dangerous rival, whom chance 
 
 fine on the publick from the abufe of an infignificant indivi 
 dual. And as no new crime could be eafily framed for me, 
 he fets himfelf to feign what I am to think. He and his 
 party are welcome to all the advantage they can draw from 
 this conduft. I have no right to complain. I gave him li 
 berty, if he would not confound the claims of the Africans, 
 iny clients, with my character, to cut and mangle it at his 
 pleafure. This he has moft religioufly obferved ; for not 
 one argument in the planters favour interrupts the torrent of 
 his perlbnal abufe. I take this opportunity to thank him 
 for his truly excellent advice ; and I pray that it may be 
 recommended by his example. 
 
 In return, I propofe that he cheriih in his own conduct a 
 rule of morality a little more comprehenfive than he pre- 
 fcribes for me, when he fuppofes, that after calling me 
 traitor, oppreflbr, an enemy to man, a hypocrite towards 
 God, implacable, revengeful, (fee his feveral libels) he does 
 not charge me >vith the " flightell criminality," or any thing 
 derogating from " a moral or religious character." 
 
 has
 
 has brought within our power, who may poflibly 
 efcape, and if we let flip the prefent occafion, 
 effect our ruin. But he allows that there is occa- 
 iion for cenfure, and that my book contains many 
 truths, which he wifhes, for the honour of human 
 nature, he could deny. Where then is the necef- 
 fity or ufe of mifreprefentation ? Indeed, if it were 
 not an invidious tafk, every circumftance in it 
 might be referred to individuals, probably well 
 known to this gentleman. I hope this is the laft 
 time I (hall have occafion to mention myielf, on a 
 fubject, that ought not to be blended with the 
 reputation of its advocates. But as I am tired of 
 being obliged to carry about with me proofs of 
 the innocency of my character, to vindicate it 
 from the calumny caft upon it by men of rank 
 and confideration, in every company, where my 
 private intereft can be hurt, or the caufe in which 
 I am engaged, injured j and as this work may 
 come into hands, which thefe confiderations may 
 not reach, I truft I mall ftand excufed with the 
 publick for inferting from them here my own 
 eulogium, mixed as it is with irritation of temper, 
 and mifreprefentation of facts. 
 
 EXTRACT
 
 ( 84 ) 
 
 EXTRACT from CONSIDERATIONS on 
 
 the Emancipation of Negroes, and on the Abo 
 lition of the Slave Trade, by a Weft-India 
 Planter, page 34, &c. 
 
 " HAVING introduced the name of this 
 : writer, (Mr. Ramfay) without whofe labours 
 the fubject of flavery would not probably have 
 been fo much agitated at this day, I cannot dif- 
 f mifs him without farther mention, as well as to 
 1 refcue his character from unmerited reproach, as 
 f to caution his readers againft the exaggerations 
 e of his pen. As a hufband and father he was 
 1 affectionate and provident. As a paftor, de- 
 ' cent, pious, temperate, and exemplary. Asa 
 < mailer of flaves, ib far was he from indulging 
 c in the exercife of cruelty, that he was remark^ 
 f ably abflemious in the ufe of difcipline, even on 
 c neceffary occafions. He was charitable to the 
 ' poor, and punctual in his pecuniary tranfactions. 
 : His good qualities were many ; but at the fame 
 c time, his temper was prone to irritation ; and if 
 c not abfolutely vindictive, he was at lead ex- 
 ( tremely liberal in the ufe of injurious epithets, 
 ' as appears from his writings, which have drawn 
 ( on him the correction of the learned Journalift, 
 1 under whofe review they have pafled, though 
 c otherwife fufficiently difpofed to favour his 
 
 <f caufe. 
 
 Unfortunately his book was written during 
 f a (late of warfare with his parifhioners ; a con- 
 
 t( teft unprovoked, it mud be allowed by any act 
 f on his part, inconfiflent \vith the charader of a 
 c good man, but fuggefled by pique, and profe- 
 ' cuted by party, on the other fide. However, he 
 c has combined his own injuries with the inju- 
 
 " ries
 
 " ries of the flaves, and given fcope to his refent- 
 * 6 ment, while he appears an advocate in the caufc 
 " of humanity. This his book contains a great 
 " many truths, I wifh, for the honour of human 
 <f nature, I could deny. Where authority exifts, 
 <c it is too apt to be abufed. Slavery therefore 
 <e necefTarily fuppofes fuch a ftate of oppreflioa 
 <f and confequent abafement, as is unpractifed 
 ff among the free orders of fociety, and for a good 
 *' reafon, becaufe it is untolerated. But to fup- 
 < f pofe thofe opprefiions either fo frequent, or fe- 
 " vere as they arc charged to be, would certainly 
 " be to give too great a degree of credit to his 
 <c mifrep refutations." 
 
 N. B. Page 40, he allows with me that Frencli 
 flaves are better clothed and better fed than Eng- 
 lifti flaves ; a truth, which has been difputed with 
 me. ^ 
 
 FINIS.
 
 . 
 
 BOOKS lately Publifhed by JAMES PHILLIPS; 
 George- Yard, Lombard-Street. 
 
 EXAMINATION of the Rev. Mr. HARRIS'S 
 Scriptural Refearches on the Licitnefs of the 
 Slave Trade. By the Rev. J. RAMSEY, Vicar of 
 Teflon in Kent. 6d. 
 
 ESSAY on the Treatment and Converfion of 
 African Slaves in the Britifh Sugar Colonies. 
 By J. RAMSAY. 45. Boards. 
 
 An INQUIRY into the Effects of putting a Stop 
 to the African Slave Trade, and of granting Li 
 berty to the Slaves in the Britifh Sugar Colonies. 
 By J. RAMSAY. 6d. 
 
 A REPLY to the Perfonal Invectives and Ob 
 jections contained in Two Anfwers, publifhed by 
 certain anonymous Perfons, to an Eflfay on the 
 Treatment and Converfion of African Slaves, in 
 the Britifh Colonies. By JAMES RAMSAY. 2S. 
 
 A LETTER from^apt. J. S. SMITH, to the 
 Rev. Mr. HILL, on t4pktate of the Negroe Slaves. 
 To which are added an Introduction, and Remarks 
 on Free Negroes. By the EDITOR. 6d. 
 
 A CAUTION to Great Britain and her Colonies, 
 in a fhort Reprefentation of the calamitous State 
 of the enflaved Negroes in the Britifh Dominions. 
 By ANTHONY BENEZET. 6d. / 
 
 The CASE of our Fellow-Creatures, the Op- 
 prefied Africans, refpectfully recommended to the 
 ferious Consideration of the Legiflature of Great 
 Britain, by the People called Quakers. 2d. 
 
 A Summary View of the SLAVE TRADE, and 
 of the probable Confequences of its Abolition. 2d. 
 
 An ESSAY on the Slavery and Commerce of 
 the Human Species, particularly the African, 
 tranflated from a Latin DifTertation, which was 
 
 honoured
 
 
 s 
 
 
 University of California 
 
 SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1388 
 
 Return this material to the library 
 
 from which it was borrowed. 
 
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