orm will
enable the legislature hereafter to supply and correct.

I need not observe to you, that the forms are often neglected, penalties
not provided, &c., &c., &c. But all this is merely mechanical, and what
a couple of days' application would set to rights.

I have seen what has been done by the West Indian Assemblies. It is
arrant trifling. They have done little; and what they have done is good
for nothing,--for it is totally destitute of an _executory_ principle.
This is the point to which I have applied my whole diligence. It is easy
enough to say what shall be done: to cause it to be done,--_hic labor,
hoc opus_.

I ought not to apologize for letting this scheme lie beyond the period
of the Horatian keeping,--I ought much more to entreat an excuse for
producing it now. Its whole value (if it has any) is the coherence and
mutual dependency of parts in the scheme; separately they can be of
little or no use.

I have the honor to be, with very great respect and regard,

Dear Sir,

Your most faithful and obedient humble servant,

EDMUND BURKE.

BEACONSFIELD, Easter-Monday night, 1792.

SKETCH OF A NEGRO CODE.

This constitution consists of four principal members.

I. The rules for qualifying a ship for the African trade.

II. The mode of carrying on the trade upon the coast of Africa, which
includes a plan for introducing civilization in that part of the world.

III. What is to be observed from the time of shipping negroes to the
sale in the West India islands.

IV. The regulations relative to the state and condition of slaves in the
West Indies, their manumission, &c.

[Sidenote: PREAMBLE.]

Whereas it is expedient, and comformable to the principles of true
religion and morality, and to the rules of sound policy, to put an end
to all traffic in the persons of men, and to the detention of their said
persons in a state of slavery, as soon as the same may be effected
without producing great inconveniences in the sudden change of practices
of such long standing, and during the time of the continuance of the
said practices it is desirable and expedient by proper regulations to
lessen the inconveniences and evils attendant on the said traffic and
state of servitude, until both shall be gradually done away:

And whereas the objects of the said trade and consequential servitude,
and the grievances resulting therefrom, come under the principal heads
following, the regulations ought thereto to