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firſt owes his bread to the latter, it is his duty from principle, as I ſhould hope it would be from inclination, to protect him from cruelty, and preſerve him from want.
The ſituation of a good negro under a kind owner or a benevolent overſeer is not to be pitied, indeed it is very ſuperior in many reſpects, (the idea of inidiſcriminate puniſhment excepted) to thoſe of the generality of labouring poor in England—the firſt indeed are ſlaves to their maſters—the laſt to their wants. Under the ſubjection of ſuch as I have abovementioned, even the condition of a worthleſs one is by no means ſo deplorable as the humanity of Europeans ſeems to ſuſpect; nor are their puniſhments ſuch as to ſtrike with horror, when we reflect upon what people of our own colour and language, our own religion and feelings, ſo often ſuffer in the perſons of ſoldiers and ſailors[1]. Under capricious and inhuman
- ↑ I am far from preſuming to throw the moſt diſtant reflection upon that diſcipline which is neceſſary to be obſerved in our fleets and armies; as among the liberal and enlightened, who are an honour to theſe profeſſions, as much humanity is found as among any claſs of people exiſting; and if puniſh-
