FEBRUARY 1. (Sunday.)
During my former visit to Jamaica I had interceded in behalf
of a negro belonging to Greenwich estate, named Aberdeen, who
had run away repeatedly, but who attributed his misconduct to
the decay of his health, which rendered him unable to work as
well as formerly, and to the fear of consequent punishment for
not having performed the tasks assigned to him. The fellow
while be spoke to me had tears running down his abeeks, looked
feeble and ill, and indeed seemed to be quite heart-broken. On
my speaking to the attorney, he readily promised to inquire into
the truth of the man's statement, and to take care that he should
be only allotted such labour as his strength might be fully equal
to. This morning he came over to see me, and so altered that I
could scarcely believe him to be the same man. He was cleanly
dressed, walked with his head erect, and his eyes sparkled, and
his mouth grinned from ear to ear, while he told me that during
my absence everything had gone well with him, nobody had
" put upon him;" he had been tasked no more than suited his
strength ; as much as he was able to do, he had done willingly,
and had never run away. Even his asthma was better in consequence of the
depression being
rdmoved from his spirits. So, he
said, as soon as he heard of my return, be thought it his duty to
come over and show himself to me, and tell me that he was well,
and contented, and behaving properly ; for that " to be sure, if
massa no speak that good word for me to trustee, me no livee
now; me good massa ! " Gratitude made him absolutely eloquent: his
whole manner, and the
strong expression of his countenance, put his sincerity out of all doubt, and
I never saw a
man seem to feel more truly thankful. All negroes, therefore,
are not absolutely without some remembrance of kindness shown
them; and indeed I ought not, in justice to my own people, to
allow myself to forget that, when I sent a reward to those who
had roused themselves to drive the cattle out of the canes the
other night, there was considerable difficulty in persuading them
to accept the money: they sent me word, " that as they were
all well treated on the estate, it was their business to take care
that no mischief was done to it, and that they did not deserve to
be rewarded for having merely done their duty by me."
