full splendor, and they have an opportunity of making
themselves acquainted with the true doctrine, and thereby saving
their immortal souls. Those who remain at home have not that
happiness. Sending the slaves home then would be sending them out
of light into darkness.[3]

"I repeat the question, What is to be done with them? I have
heard it suggested, that they may be planted in the wilderness,
where there is plenty of land for them to subsist on, and where
they may flourish as a free state; but they are, I doubt, too
little disposed to labor without compulsion, as well as too
ignorant to establish a good government, and the wild Arabs would
soon molest and destroy or again enslave them. While serving us,
we take care to provide them with everything, and they are
treated with humanity. The laborers in their own country are, as
I am well informed, worse fed, lodged, and clothed. The condition
of most of them is therefore already mended, and requires no
further improvement. Here their lives are in safety. They are not
liable to be impressed for soldiers, and forced to cut one
another's Christian throats, as in the wars of their own
countries. If some of the religious mad bigots, who now tease us
with their silly petitions, have in a fit of blind zeal freed
their slaves, it was not generosity, it was not humanity, that
moved them to the action; it was from the conscious burthen of a
load of sins, and a hope, from the supposed merits of so good a
work, to be excused from damnation.[4]

"How grossly are they mistaken to suppose slavery to be
disallowed by the Alcoran! Are not the two precepts, to quote no
more, '_Masters, treat your slaves with kindness; Slaves, serve
your masters with cheerfulness and fidelity_,' clear proofs to
the contrary? Nor can the plundering of infidels be in that
sacred book forbidden, since it is well known from it, that God
has given the world, and all that it contains, to his faithful
Mussulmen, who are to enjoy it of right as fast as they conquer
it. Let us then hear no more of this detestable proposition, the
manumission of Christian slaves, the adoption of which would, by
depreciating our lands, and houses, and thereby depriving so many
good citizens of their properties, create universal discontent,
and provo