of the abolition.  But this was not necessary.  There was another species of facts, which would answer the same end; Previously to the year 1730 the decrease of the slaves in our islands was very considerable.  From 1730 to 1755 the deaths were reduced to only two and a-half per cent, above the births; from 1755 to 1768 to only one and three-fourths; and from 1768 to 1788 to only one per cent.  This then, on the first view of the subject, would show, that whatever might have been the situation of slaves formerly, it had been gradually improved.  But if, in addition to this, we considered the peculiar disadvanges under which they laboured; the small proportion of females to males; and the hurricanes, and famines, which had swept away thousands, we should find it physically impossible, that they could have increased as related, if they had been treated as cruelly as the friends of the abolition had described.

This species of facts would enable him also to draw still more important conclusions; namely, that as the slaves in the West Indies had gradually increased, they would continue to increase; that very few years would pass, not only before the births were equal to the deaths, but before they were more numerous than the deaths; and that if this was likely to happen in the present state of things, how much more would it happen, if by certain regulations the increase of the slaves should be encouraged?

The only question then was, whether it was more advantageous to breed or to import.  He thought he should prove the former; and if so, then this increase was inevitable, and the importations would necessarily cease.

In the first place, the gradual increase of the slaves of late years clearly proved, that such increase had been encouraged.  But their price had been doubled in the last twenty years.  The planter, therefore, must feel it his interest to desist from purchasing, if possible.  But again, the greatest mortality was among the newly imported slaves.  The diseases they contracted on the passage, and their deaths in the seasoning, all made for the same doctrine.  Add to this, that slaves bred in the islands were more expert at colonial labour, more reconciled to their situation, and better disposed towards their masters than those who were brought from Africa.

But it had been said, that the births and deaths in the islands were now equal; and that therefore no further supply was wanted.  He denied the propriety of this inference.  The slaves were subject to peculiar diseases.  They were exposed also to hurricanes and consequent famines.  That the day, however, would come, when the stock there would be sufficient, no person who attended to the former part of his argument could doubt.  That they had gradually increased, were gradually increasing, and would, by certain regulations, increase more and more, must be equally obvious.  But these were all considerations for continuing the traffic a little longer.