observed that their evidence related to but a partial and not the general body of the Slaves, and that their opportunities of information were exceedingly limited and confined.
When, however, they went into the country, their situation again precluded them from getting the same information as other men. Mr. H. Ross, examined among others, says that as to the information which may have been gotten by those holding high commands in the West Indies, he cannot speak decidedly; but if it be meant to know whether such, on occasional visits to estates, were likely to obtain a thorough knowledge of the treatment of slaves, he thinks they could not. He has often accompanied Governors and Admirals in their tours there. The estates visited, belonging to persons of distinction, might be supposed under the best management, Besides all possible care would be taken to keep every disgusting object from view, and on no account by the exercise of the whip or other punishments, to harrow up the feelings of persons of such distinction.
The above accounts shew that the rank and situation of the Admirals precluded them from seeing as much as others, or in other words, that their opportunities of information were not as great as those of other men. Many other circumstances may be cited to prove the same thing. Among these are the preambles and clauses of certain laws, and extracts from the West Indian publick prints. To begin with the former.
