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they are ſhewn a few days after their arrival, and until the day of ſale. It is a ſight, not leſs indelicate than ſhocking, to ſee theſe poor wretches, theſe outcaſts of humanity when firſt expoſed! indelicate as men, women, and children almoſt appear in a ſtate of nature; and ſhocking as the ſight of fellow creatures thus degraded, muſt harrow up the ſoul of every man who is not entirely dead to ſenſibility. If their appearance ſtrike us with a ſomething at which the mind revolts, what muſt their ideas be at the commencement of a ſale? what muſt they think of their precarious exiſtence, when crouds burſt at once upon, and ſurround them; and by a haſty and indiſcriminate choice awaken their fears for the preſent, and confirm their apprehenſions of the miſeries to come? Upon this occaſion of trial and uncertainty, many have plunged themſelves at once into the ſea, more willing to ſecond the anticipations
of food to be of ſo much real ſervice to them when ſick, as a prudent indulgence of reſt; for under inoculation, when the firſt is partially allowed, I have known them fatten in proportion to the extenſion of the laſt, and of this I can ſpeak with confidence, having been a frequent witneſs of the fact.
