ill
and character of an experienced planter, and is therefore entrusted with
the direction of the servants and slaves.

But to complete this account of servants, I shall give you a short
relation of the care their laws take, that they be used as tenderly as
possible:

BY THE LAWS OF THEIR COUNTRY,

1. All servants whatsoever have their complaints heard without fee
or reward; but if the master be found faulty, the charge of the
complaint is cast upon him, otherwise the business is done _ex
officio_.

2. Any justice of the peace may receive the complaint of a
servant, and order everything relating thereto, till the next
county court, where it will be finally determined.

3. All masters are under the correction and censure of the county
courts, to provide for their servants good and wholesome diet,
clothing and lodging.

4. They are always to appear upon the first notice given of the
complaint of their servants, otherwise to forfeit the service of
them until they do appear.

5. All servants' complaints are to be received at any time in
court, without process, and shall not be delayed for want of form;
but the merits of the complaint must be immediately enquired into
by the justices; and if the master cause any delay therein, the
court may remove such servants, if they see cause, until the
master will come to trial.

6. If a master shall at any time disobey an order of court, made
upon any complaint of a servant, the court is empowered to remove
such servant forthwith to another master who will be kinder,
giving to the former master the produce only, (after fees
deducted,) of what such servants shall be sold for by public
outcry.

7. If a master should be so cruel, as to use his servant ill, that
is fallen sick or lame in his service, and thereby rendered unfit
for labor, he must be removed by the church-wardens out of the way
of such cruelty, and boarded in some good planter's house, till
the time of his freedom, the charge of which must be laid before
the next county court, which has power to levy the same, from time
to time, upon the goods and chattels of the master, after which,
the charge of such boarding is to come upon the parish in general.

8. All hired servants are entitled to these privileges.

9. No master of a servant can make a new bargain for service, or
other matter with his servant, without the privity and consent of