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the pledge newly given to his property of the attachment of the parent to that ſpot upon which her child is born. I think that negroes in general are tender of their children, particularly of thoſe who are in a ſtate of helpleſſneſs; and if they were encouraged as nurſes, I am apt to believe that ſo many would not be loſt within ſo ſhort a period as nine days after their birth. I am aware that there are many planters who do not with their women to breed,[1] as there-
by
- ↑ A negro woman has very little encouragement in general, if ſhe become the mother, to be the ſupport of a numerous offspring, and yet it is aſtoniſhing to ſee, how large a family ſhe will raiſe upon a plantation without any expence to the maſter, or ſeeming diſtreſs to herſelf. It is natural, it may be ſaid, for a parent to provide for its progeny; but nature does not always furniſh ſubſiſtence, eſpecially in latitudes where the concuſſions of the elements will not only render abortive induſtry, but wealth. The proprietor who wiſhes to encourage population, ſhould aſſiſt with tenderneſs thoſe means which from frequent demands begin to fail, ſhould indulge the mother with time appointed to the number of her claims, and ſhould allow, not only leiſure to herſelf, but attendants to her children; for the more moderate the work of a young and healthy negro is, the longer will it endure, and the more likely will ſhe be to continue to raiſe ſupplies for the plantation. To the abſolute liberation of a ſlave who ſhall have
brought
