should depress their spirits. He by no means wished to say that such
descriptions were wilful misrepresentations. If they were not, it proved
that interest of prejudice was capable of spreading a film over the eyes
thick enough to occasion total blindness.

Others, however, and these men of the greatest veracity, had given a
different account. What would the house think, when by the concurring
testimony of these the true history was laid open? The slaves who had been
described as rejoicing in their captivity, were so wrung with misery at
leaving their country, that it was the constant practice to set sail in the
night, lest they should know the moment of their departure. With respect to
their accommodation, the right ancle of one was fastened to the left ancle
of another by an iron fetter; and if they were turbulent, by another on the
wrists. Instead of the apartments described, they were placed in niches,
and along the decks, in such a manner, that it was impossible for any one
to pass among them, however careful he might be, without treading upon
them. Sir George Yonge had testified, that in a slave-ship, on board of
which he went, and which had not completed her cargo by two hundred and
fifty, instead of the scent of frankincense being perceptible to the
nostrils, the stench was intolerable. The allowance of water was so
deficient, that the slaves were frequently found gasping for life, and
almost suffocated. The pulse with which they had been said to be favoured,
were absolutely English horse-beans. The legislature of Jamaica had stated
the scantiness both of water and provisions, as a subject which called for
the interference of parliament. As Mr. Norris had said, the song and the
dance were promoted, he could not pass over these expressions without
telling the house what they meant. It would have been much more fair if he
himself had explained the word _promoted_. The truth was, that, for the
sake of exercise, these miserable wretches, loaded with chains and
oppressed with disease, were forced to dance by the terror of the lash, and