This then, on the first view of the subject, would show, that whatever might have been the situation of slaves formerly, it had been gradually improved.

But if, in addition to this, we considered the peculiar disadvantages under which they laboured; the small proportion of females to males; and the hurricanes, and famines, which had swept away thousands, we should find it physically impossible, that they could have increased as related, if they had been treated as cruelly as the friends of the abolition had described.
This species of facts would enable him also to draw still more important conclusions; namely, that as the slaves in the West Indies had gradually increased, they would continue to increase; that very few years would pass, not only before the births were equal to the deaths, but before they were more numerous than the deaths; and that if this was likely to happen in the present state of things, how much more would it happen, if by certain regulations the increase of the slaves should be encouraged?
The only question then was, whether it was more advantageous to breed or to import.

He thought he should prove the former; and if so, then this increase was inevitable, and the importations would necessarily cease.
In the first place, the gradual increase of the slaves of late years clearly proved, that such increase had been encouraged.

But their price had been doubled in the last twenty years.

The planter therefore must feel it his interest to desist from purchasing, if possible.