Page:Abstract of the evidence for the abolition of the slave-trade 1791.djvu/157

( 123 ) Capt. Hall, of the navy, mentions an estate, belonging to the Marquis de Rouvray, in the island of St. Domingo, where in consequence of good usage the slaves increased so fast as to have rendered any farther purchases unnecessary.

Mr. Bishop told Mr. Town, that in a plantation of his, in Barbadoes, they had not bought a Guinea negro for upwards of forty years, and that by good usage there were a great many more now there than formerly.

The Reverend Mr. Davies says, that on Kendal plantation, in the island of Barbadoes, belonging to Mr. Steel, the stock of slaves was kept up by births. He knew also a few other estates which kept up their numbers without importation.

The Dean of Middleham, while in Barbadoes, understood from Dr. Mapp's son, that the stock on the estate, to which he had just succeeded, had increased so much by birth, that there was a redundance sufficient nearly to stock another estate. The Rev. Mr. Carter's slaves also increased considerably, and these cultivated his glebe and planted canes. The Dean's brother also informed him, that his own negroes had doubled their number by natural increase in twenty years, and they were employed, he believes, in common field business as other negroes. The Dean had heard of several others of his acquaintance, who had kept up their stocks by the natural increase, without purchase.

Other facts to show they would increase by birth if well used.

Having now mentioned those estates, on which it appears that the slaves have increased by birth, it will be proper to mention those other facts in the evidence, by which it will be clear, that the Africans by general good usage will increase so generally as to supersede the necessity of the slave-trade.

1.In the island of Barbadoes the field slaves appear to be better treated than elsewhere. Accordingly we find from Mr. Woodward, that while resident there, in the Q 2