They foolishly endeavored to keep up the coercion of slavery, _and they had the special magistrates incessantly flogging the apprentices_.

The planters also not unfrequently take away the provision grounds from their apprentices, and in every way oppress and harass them.
In the course of the conversation Mr.G.accidentally struck upon a fresh vein of facts, respecting the SLAVERY OF BOOK-KEEPERS,[A] _under the old system_.

The book-keepers, said Mr.G., were the complete slaves of the overseers, who acted like despots on the estates.

They were mostly young men from England, and not unfrequently had considerable refinement; but ignorant of the treatment which book-keepers had to submit to, and allured by the prospect of becoming wealthy by plantership, they came to Jamaica and entered as candidates.

They soon discovered the cruel bondage in which they were involved.