What a painful and humbling comparifon,
what mortifying reflexions does this aflFord to
tliofe wretches who are reduced into a ftate of
bondage ! reflections w^hich cannot fail to four
their temper, to infpire them with malevolent
difpofitions, and to produce an untoward and
ftubborn behaviour* A more fevere difcipline
is thus rendered neceflary, in order to con-'
<juer their obftinacy, and oblige them to la*
bour in their em ploy man ts» Befidcs, from die
number of flaves which are ufually maintained
in a wealthy and luxurious nation, they be-
come formidable to the flate ; and it is requi-
fite that they fhould be flriclly watched, and
kept in the utmoft fubjecHon, in order to pre-
vent thofe defperate attempts to which they



• *• Ipfe dominus dives operis, etlabons expers,
*• Quodcunque homini accidit liberc, pofi^e retur:
f* JE<\iiom eS{Q putat : non rep u tat laboris quid fit :
f Nef, ^quom anne iniquom imperet, cogitabit.'*

Plaut. Ainpliitr.
Sir?



RANKS IN SOCIETY. 269

are frequently inftigated in revenge of their
fuiFerings* This is at leaft the pretence for
that fhocking barbarity to which the negroes
in our colonies are fo commonly expofed, and
which is fo often exhibited even by perfons
of the weaker fex, in an age dillinguiihed by
its humanity and politenefs.
