Page:Abstract of the evidence for the abolition of the slave-trade 1791.djvu/184

( 150 ) with cargoes [sic] of slaves. The planters in general bought: many of the new negroes died in the seasoning, and Guinea shpis [sic] coming down time after time, the planters; bought to supply their places. This continuing, many of them got much into debt, by purchasing slaves on credit, and were obliged to mortgage their estates and slaves to merchants in England. He has never known a planter, who thus mortgaged, pay off the debt. Some in consequence have been obliged to have them sold by auction, much under value, and he has known others, even obliged to become overseers where they were proprietors before. Since he left Tortola, he has been informed, by means of correspondence, or seeing some person from the island, (which is generally the case once a year) of its annual state to the present time. The last information represented the planters to be in very distressed circumstances. Divers [sic] of their estates, mortgaged in England, had been sold at publick vendue upon very low terms, because few were able to pay for them, and the general credit so low with the planters, that but few could obtain the necessaries they wanted from the stores kept there by reason of their debts to the English merchants. It has been his opinion for many years, that the unnecessary purchase of African slaves has been the main cause of their embarrassments, and the accumulation of their debts. He is sure that seven-eights of them would have been in much better circumstances, if they had not bought any negroes during the time of his residence there, but had used those they had with humanity and care.

To the above accounts we may subjoin the following from Mr. Savage. In the year 1739, he observes, a duty was laid in Carolina on the importation of slaves, which amounted to a prohibition, and which continued to 1744. The purchase of new negroes having involved the planters greatly in debt was the reason why the Legislature laid it.

These are some of the circumstances, which are intended to shew, that the reverse of the notion or opinion