Page:Copley 1844 A History of Slavery and its Abolition 2nd Ed.djvu/186

168 usually been pursued by persons who, being themselves enlightened by liberal principles, and under the influence of piety, were desirous of promoting the instruction of those dependent on them. On such estates the schoolmaster and the christian missionary have been encouraged, the negro has been elevated in the scale of society, he has had something worth living and labouring for, and something that could exalt and compose his mind in the prospect of death. These instances have occurred, and they have reduced slavery, especially in the case of those born on the estate, to little more than a name, and it has generally proved, that slaves thus humanely treated, have not been unworthy of the kindness shown them. But these instances have been "like angel's visits, few and far between." To such slaves as have been expatriated, nothing could do away the bitter recollection of original injury; and even of those who never knew any other lot than that of slavery, the more their minds were enlightened by knowledge, the more keenly would they feel the degradation connected even with the name; nor could either class dismiss the apprehension, that, in case of the death of their humane masters, the property must pass into other hands, and that they had no security that themselves or their families might not be transferred to the possession of some careless master, and to the iron grasp of some relentless slave-driver.   inexpressible pleasure we turn to this more delightful page of the subject, and though we have yet many weary steps to travel before we