Page:Remarks upon the Situation of Negroes in Jamaica.pdf/28

 . It is not the quantity of produce that is annually made, but the moderate rate at which it is manfactured, that among planters ſtamps the independent and affluent man.

Excluſive of the firſt coſt of a ſlave, the riſk that is run in ſeaſoning more than one out of two, is ſufficient one would think to diſcourage a prudent man from the purchaſe of ſlaves; but as few planters, I am afraid, are conſidered in this light, and as thoſe in particular who reſide in the country are extremely ſanguine in their purſuits, and will buy ſo long as they have either money or credit to ſupport their ideas; it is not a matter of wonder that the ſales are ſo frequent, ſo advantageous to the merchant, but ſo deſtructive in general to him who buys.

I am ſorry to be obliged to ſay, when treating of the fatal complaints of the negroes, that humanity is ſometimes totally forgotten; and that theſe poor, diſabled creatures, whoſe colour and ſituation ſhould excite compaſſion, are often left in the ſtate of painful helpleſſneſs above deſcribed, to linger out their days, unſeen, unpitied, unprovided. Some law ſhould