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generally allowed; are superior to the English。 The law; so far

as it gives some weak protection to the slave against the

violence of his master; is likely to be better executed in a

colony where the government is in a great measure arbitrary than

in one where it is altogether free。 In every country where the

unfortunate law of slavery is established; the magistrate; when

he protects the slave; intermeddles in some measure in the

management of the private property of the master; and; in a free

country; where the master is perhaps either a member of the

colony assembly; or an elector of such a member; he dare not do

this but with the greatest caution and circumspection。 The

respect which he is obliged to pay to the master renders it more

difficult for him to protect the slave。 But in a country where

the government is in a great measure arbitrary; where it is usual

for the magistrate to intermeddle even in the management of the

private property of individuals; and to send them; perhaps; a

lettre de cachet if they do not manage it according to his

liking; it is much easier for him to give some protection to the

slave; and common humanity naturally disposes him to do so。 The

protection of the magistrate renders the slave less contemptible

in the eyes of his master; who is thereby induced to consider him

with more regard; and to treat him with more gentleness。 Gentle

usage renders the slave not only more faithful; but more

intelligent; and therefore; upon a double account; more useful。

He approaches more to the condition of a free servant; and may

possess some degree of integrity and attachment to his master's

interest; virtues which frequently belong to free servants; but

which never can belong to a slave who is treated as slaves

commonly are in countries where the master is perfectly free and

secure。

     That the condition of a slave is better under an arbitrary

than under a free government is; I believe; supported by the

history of all ages and nations。 In the Roman history; the first

time we read of the magistrate interposing to protect the slave

from the violence of his master is under the emperors。 When

Vedius Pollio; in the presence of Augustus; ordered one of his

slaves; who had committed a slight fault; to be cut into pieces

and thrown into his fish pond in order to feed his fishes; the

emperor commanded him; with indignation; to emancipate

immediately; not only that slave; but all the others that

belonged to him。 Under the republic no magistrate could have had

authority enough to protect the slave; much less to punish the

master。

     The stock; it is to be observed; which has improved the

sugar colonies of France; particularly the great colony of St。

Domingo; has been raised almost entirely from the gradual

improvement and cultivation of those colonies。 It has been almost

altogether the produce of the soil and of the industry of the

colonies; or; what comes to the same thing; the price of that

produce gradually accumulated by good management; and employed in

raising a still greater produce。 But the stock which has improved

and cultivated the sugar colonies of England has; a great part of

it; been sent out from England; and has by no means been

altogether the produce of the soil and industry of the colonists。

The prosperity of the English sugar colonies has been; in a great

measure; owing to the great riches of England; of which a part

has overflowed; if one may say so; upon those colonies。 But the

prosperity of the sugar colonies of France has been entirely

owing to the good conduct of the colonists; which must therefore

have had some superiority over that of the English; and this

superiority has been remarked in nothing so much as in the good

management of their slaves。

     Such have been the general outlines of the policy of the

different European nations with regard to their colonies。

     The policy of Europe; therefore; has very little to boast

of; either in the original establishment or; so far as concerns

their internal government; in the subsequent prosperity of the

colonies of America。

     Folly and injustice seem to have been the principles which

presided over and directed the first project of establishing

those colonies; the folly of hunting after gold and silver mines;

and the injustice of coveting the possession of a country whose

harmless natives; far from having ever injured the people of

Europe; had received the first adventurers with every mark of

kindness and hospitality。

     The adventurers; indeed; who formed some of the later

establishments; joined to the chimerical project of finding gold

and silver mines other motives more reasonable and more laudable;

but even these motives do very little honour to the policy of

Europe。

     The English Puritans; restrained at home; fled for freedom

to America; and established there the four governments of New

England。 The English Catholics; treated with much greater

injustice; established that of Maryland; the Quakers; that of

Pennsylvania。 The Portuguese Jews; persecuted by the Inquisition;

stripped of their fortunes; and banished to Brazil; introduced by

their example some sort of order and industry among the

transported felons and strumpets by whom that colony was

originally peopled; and taught them the culture of the

sugar…cane。 Upon all these different occasions it was not the

wisdom and policy; but the disorder and injustice of the European

governments which peopled and cultivated America。

     In effectuating some of the most important of these

establishments; the different governments of Europe had as little

merit as in projecting them。 The conquest of Mexico was the

project; not of the council of Spain; but of a governor of Cuba;

and it was effectuated by the spirit of the bold adventurer to

whom it was entrusted; in spite of everything which that

governor; who soon repented of having trusted such a person;

could do to thwart it。 The conquerors of Chili and Peru; and of

almost all the other Spanish settlements upon the continent of

America; carried out with them no other public encouragement; but

a general permission to make settlements and conquests in the

name of the king of Spain。 Those adventures were all at the

private risk and expense of the adventurers。 The government of

Spain contributed scarce anything to any of them。 That of England

contributed as little towards effectuating the establishment of

some of its most important colonies in North America。

     When those establishments were effectuated; and had become

so considerable as to attract the attention of the mother

country; the first regulations which she made with regard to them

had always in view to secure to herself the monopoly of their

commerce; to confine their market; and to enlarge her own at

their expense; and; consequently; rather to damp and discourage

than to quicken and forward the course of their prosperity。 In

the different ways in which this monopoly has been exercised

consists one of the most essential differences in the policy of

the different European nations with regard to their colonies。 The

best of them all; that of England; is only somewhat less

illiberal and oppressive than that of any of the rest。

     In what way; therefore; has the policy of Europe contributed

either to the first establishment; or to the present grandeur of

the colonies of America? In one way; and in one way only; it has

contributed a good deal。 Magna virum Mater! It bred and formed

the men who were capable of achieving such great actions; and of

laying the foundation of so great an empire; and there is no

other quarter of the world of which the policy is capable of

forming; or has ever actually and in fact formed such men。 The

colonies owe to the policy of Europe the education and great

views of their active and enterprising founders; and some of the

greatest and most important of them; so far as concerns their

internal government; owe to it scarce anything else。

                               PART 3

              Of the Advantages which Europe has derived

                    from the Discovery of America;

             and from that of a Passage to the East Indies

                       by the Cape of Good Hope 

     SUCH are the advantages which the colonies of America have

derived from the policy of Europe。

     What are those which Europe has derived from the discovery

and colonization of America?

     Those advantages may be divided; first; into the general

advantages which Europe; considered as one great country; has

derived from those great events; and; secondly; into the

particular advantages which each colonizing country has derived

from the colonies which particularly belong to it; in consequence

of the authority or dominion which it exercises over them。

     The general advantages which Europe; considered as one great

country; has derived from the discovery and colonisation of

America; consist; first; in the increase of its enjoyments; and;

secondly; in the augmentation of its industry。

     The sur

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