X
served, in his History of St. Domingo, " is so
pleasing to the imagination, that every humane
and reflecting mind must wish it may be re¬
alized."
Says Mr. Edwards, " I might here expati¬
ate upon the wonderful dispensations of Divine
Providence in raising up enslaved Africans to
avenge the wrongs of the injured Aborigines 5
I might also indulge the fond but fallacious
idea, that, as the negroes of St. Domingo have
been eye-witnesses of the benefits of civilized
life among the whites ; have seen in what man¬
ner and to what extent social order, sober in¬
dustry, and submission to the laws, contribute
to individual and general prosperity, (advan¬
tages which were denied to them in their na¬
tive country) some superior spirits may hereaf¬
ter rise up among them, by whose encourage¬
ment and example they may be taught, in due
time, to discard the ferocious and sordid man¬
ners and pursuits of savage life; to correct
their vices, and be led progressively on to civi¬
lization and gentleness, to the knowledge of
truth, and the practice of virtue!
" This picture (then continues he) is so plea¬
sing to the imagination, that every humane and
reflecting mind must wish it may be realized ;
but I am afraid it is the mere creation of the
fancy, the fabric pf a vision !"
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