“ Most of the negro-houses, says Fitzmaurice, are open to the weather, being wattled withoutplaister. They sleep on a board on the ground, near the fire, and after it goes out, they suffer from cold and damp. ”

“ They mostly die convulsed about the eighth day. This want of care is the more lamentable, because, if they survive the eighth day, they mostly do well. What convinces him farther it is for want of care, is, because, where they have warm houses, kind treatment, and the child set to the mother's' breast, he very seldom knew any die. ”

“ Fitzmaurice, as observed in chap. 4, that the forcing the slaves to labour beyond their strength, is the means of bringing many of them to the grave. Mr. Baillie says, that many of their complaints arose from extreme fatigue, and that a little rest generally restored them, without any medicine being necessary. In general, says Forster, the planters have no idea of improvements to ease their slaves. It seemed a general opinion, that, if negroes were not constantly kept at work, they would become unruly. ”

“ If the women are sent for by the overseers, says Cook, for these purposes, they must come or be flogged, and to such a pitch has Dalrymple known this intercourse to proceed, that female slaves are offered by their masters, even to those who visit them, and he has known compulsion used to oblige such to submit to prostitution. ”

“ Malcolm's going among his own negroes, hearing their complaints, and not suffering them to be punished without his knowledge, are reckoned among the causes that contributed to their increase.
Some general practices in the Colonies. Let us now see what is the general practice in the colonies, and what alterations should be made in it, to insure an universal increase. ”

“ It is evident then, if the above be the general practice in the Colonies; if the slaves are over-wrought and hastily and severely punishied; if promiscuous intercourse be allowed; if the women are oppressed durring their pregnancy ”