“And so would every slave not born in the country.  It requires one or two generations to destroy this savage nature,” replied Kingston.  “I believe, idleness, like gout, to be a hereditary disease, either in black or white; I have often observed it in the latter.  Now, until man labours there is no chance of civilisation:  and, improved as the race of Africa have been in these islands, I still think that if manumitted, they would all starve.  In their own country nature is so bountiful that little or no labour is required for the support of life; but in these islands the soil, although luxuriant, must be nurtured.”

“You do then look forward to their ultimate freedom?” inquired Newton.

“Most assuredly.  Already much has been done, and if not persecuted, we should be able and willing to do much more.”

“The public mind in England is certainly much inflamed against you,” said Berecroft.

“It is; or rather, I should say, the more numerous public composed of those persons unable to think for themselves, and in consequence, led by others styling themselves philanthropists, but appearing to have very jesuitical ideas with regard to truth.  This I have no hesitation in asserting, that if philanthropy had not been found to have been so very profitable, it never would have had so many votaries:  true philanthropy, like charity, begins at home.  Observe how the papers teem with the misery of the lower classes in England, yet this affects not the West India philanthropist.  You perceive not their voices raised in behalf of their suffering countrymen.  They pass the beggar in the street; they heed not the cry of starvation at home; but everywhere raise petitions for emancipation; or, in fact, for the destruction of the property of others.  That it is an invidious property, I grant, and I wish I could dispose of mine; but that is not so easy.  My ancestors embarked their capital in these islands upon the faith and promises of the country, when opinions were very different from what they are now, and I cannot help myself.  However, the time will come when England will bitterly rue the having listened to the suggestions and outcries of these interested people.”

“I do not understand you.  How do you mean?”

“I said before, that it was on the faith of the country that we embarked our property in these islands.  You are not perhaps aware, that when, in the reign of Queen Anne, the Assiento treaty was made, by which we obtained the privilege of supplying all the islands with slaves, it was considered as one of the most important acquisitions that could be obtained.  Public opinion has now changed; but if a nation changes her opinion, she must at the same time be just.  Let the country take our estates and negroes at a fair valuation, and we shall be most happy to surrender them.  If she frees the slaves without so doing, she is guilty of robbery and injustice, and infringes on the constitution of the country, which protects all property, and will of course allow us to decide upon our own measures.”