Page:Abstract of the evidence for the abolition of the slave-trade 1791.djvu/10

viii Barbadoes—"An Act to prevent distempered, maimed, and worn out negroes, from infesting the towns, streets, and highways of this island." Passed Jan. 18, 1785.

"Whereas it has, for some time past, been the cruel practice of some persons possessing negroes, who, from their old age and infirmities, are incapable of further service to their inhuman owners, to drive them from their plantations to beg, steal, or starve, which said unhappy objects are daily infesting the publick streets of the several towns in this island," &c. The penalty to such owner is 5l. currency, or about 3l. 12s. sterling; and the act ordains that those unhappy objects shall be taken home to their masters.

Grenada, 1788—"Whereas the laws heretofore made for the protection of slaves have been found insufficient; And whereas humanity and the interest of the colony require that salutary and adequate regulations and provisions should be adopted for rendering their servitude as limited and easy as possible, and for promoting the increase of their population, as the most likely means of removing, in the course of time, the necessity of further importations of negroes from Africa; And whereas these desirable ends cannot be so effectually obtained as by prescribing reasonable bounds to the power of masters, and others having