MARCH 25.
The negroes certainly are perverse beings. They had been
praying for a sight of their master year after year; they were in
raptures at my arrival ; I have suffered no one to be punished,
and shown them every possible indulgence during my residence
amongst them; and one and all they declare themselves perfectly happy
and well treated. Yet,
previous to my arrival,
they made thirty-three hogsheads a-week; in a fortnight after
my landing, their product dwindled to twenty-three; during this
last week they have managed to make but thirteen. Still they
are not ungrateful; they are only selfish: they love me very
well, but they love themselves a great deal better; and, to do
them justice, I verily believe that every negro on the estate is ex-tremely anxious that all should do their full duty, except himself.
My censure, although accompanied with the certainty of their
not being punished, is by no means a matter of indifference. If
I express myself to be displeased, the whole property is in an
uproar; everybody is finding fault with everybody; there is
nobody that does not represent the shame of neglecting my work,
and the ingratitude of vexing me by their ill-conduct ; and then
each individual-having said so much and said it so strongly, that
he is convinced of its having its full effect in making the others
do their duty-thinks himself quite safe and snug in skulking
away from his own.
