a long series of years. They had never seen one instance
of ill-treatment in the time; and yet, in the same breath, they talked of
the amended situation of the slaves; and that they were now far better off
than formerly. One of them, to whom his country owed much, stated that a
master had been sentenced to death for the murder of his own slave; but his
recollection must have failed him; for the murder of a slave was not then a
capital crime. A respectable governor also had delivered an opinion to the
same effect; but, had he looked into the statute-book of the island, he
would have found his error.

It had been said that the slaves were in a better state than the peasantry
of this country. But when the question was put to Mr. Ross, did he not
answer, "that he would not insult the latter by a comparison?"

It had been said again, that the Negros were happier as slaves, than they
would be if they were to be made free. But how was this reconcileable with
facts? If a Negro under extraordinary circumstances had saved money enough,
did he not always purchase his release from this situation of superior
happiness by the sacrifice of his last shilling? Was it not also notorious,
that the greatest reward, which a master thought he could bestow upon his
slave for long and faithful services, was his freedom?

It had been said again, that Negros, when made free, never returned to
their own country. But was not the reason obvious? If they could even reach
their own homes in safety, their kindred and connections might be dead. But
would they subject themselves to be kidnapped again; to be hurried once
more on board a slave-ship; and again to endure and survive the horrors of
the passage? Yet the love of their native country had been proved beyond a
doubt. Many of the witnesses had heard them talk of it in terms of the
strongest affection. Acts of suicide too were frequent in the islands,
under the notion that these afforded them the readiest means of getting
home. Conformably with this, Captain Wilson had maintained, that the
funerals, which in Africa were accompanied with lamentations and cries of
sorrow, were attended, in the West Indies, with every mark of joy.

He had now, he said, made good his first proposition, That in the condition
of the slaves there were causes, which should lead us to expect, that there
would be a considerable decrease among them. This decrease in the island of
Jamaica was but trifling, or, rather, it had