Page:Abstract of the evidence for the abolition of the slave-trade 1791.djvu/145

( 111 ) certainly have destroyed him if he had not stooped or dropped down. At another time also, the carpenter's mate had let his pitch-pot catch fire. He and the cook were accordingly both tied up, stripped, and flogged, but the cook with the greatest severity. After that the cook had salt water and cayenne pepper rubbed upon his back. A man also came on board at Bonny, belonging to a little ship, (Mr. Falconbridge believes the captain's name was Dodson, of Liverpool) which had been overset at New Calabar. This man, when he came on board, was in a convalescent state. He was severely beaten one night, but for what cause Mr. Falconbridge knows not, upon which he came and applied to Mr. Falconbridge for something to rub his back with. Mr. Falconbridge was told by the captain not to give him any thing, and the man was desired to go forward. He went accordingly, and lay under the forecastle. Mr. Falconbridge visited him very often, at which times he complained of his bruises. After this, he had a return of his flux, and died in about three weeks from the time he was beaten. The last words he ever spoke to Mr. Falconbridge were (after shedding tears) "I cannot punish him," (meaning the captain) "but God will." these are the most remarkable instances which Mr. Falconbridge recollects. He says, however, that the ill treatment was so general, that only three in this ship escaped being beaten out of fifty persons.

To these instances, which fell under the eyes of the evidences now cited, we may add the observations of a gentleman, who, though never in the slave-trade, had yet great opportunities of obtaining information upon this subject. Sir George Young remarks, that those seamen, whom he saw in the slave-trade, while on the coast in a man of war, complained of their ill treatment, bad feeding, and cruel usage. They all of them wanted to enter on board his ship. It was likewise the custom for the seamen of every ship he saw at a distance, to come on board him with their boats; most of them quite naked, and threatening to turn pirates, if he did not take them. This they told him openly. He is persuaded, if