king
sugar, visited the sugar and coffee plantations, and inspected
several hospitals, with one of which each estate is supplied, for
the accommodation and cure of sick negroes. In the course of
these rambles, I made it my business to inquire into the
condition and treatment of the slave population; inspecting their
huts, and even examining their provisions; and I frankly confess
that, though I began my researches under the influence of as many
prejudices as, on such a subject, are wont to be entertained by
Englishmen in general, the result of the whole was to convince me
that I had done glaring injustice to the character of the Jamaica
planters, as well as fostered notions of the wretchedness of the
negroes, utterly and iniquitously erroneous. It is no business
of mine, and, if it were, this is no proper place to take part in
what has of late been termed the West-Indian controversy; but, as
an eye-witness, I may venture to speak out on one point, by
affirming, that a countless proportion of the stories with which
the British public is amused, touching the barbarous treatment of
slaves by owners and overseers, are, if not absolute fables, at
all events gross exaggerations. I am aware that my residence in
the island was too brief, and my acquaintance with it too
limited, to entitle my opinions to the weight which a more
protracted sojourn might have obtained for them; but it is but
justice to state, that whilst I was there, I enjoyed
opportunities of seeing the negro at all times, and under all
circumstances, such as few casual visitors can boast of. My host
was not a planter, but a medical practitioner; and one prejudiced
rather against the slave system than in favour of it: there was
therefore no disposition on his part to cast dust into my eyes,
or to present to them only the bright side of the picture. Under
his guidance, I beheld the negro at work in the fields, in the
bosom of his family, in the sick ward, and at market; and I never
saw him other than a contented and light-hearted being. No doubt
there are instances of cruelty on the part of overseers in
Jamaica, exactly as there are instances of tyranny on the part of
parish officers and county magistrates in England; but had these
been as numerous, or as flagrant, as they are represented to be,
I cannot doubt but that something of the kind must have passed
under my eyes, even within the space of one week. No such event,
however, took place; and, as far a