avert evil, have, like their first parents, entailed a curse upon all future generations? We know that the rigour of the laws respecting slaves unavoidably must increase with their numbers: What a blood-stained code must that be which is calculated for the restraint of _millions_ held in bondage! Such must our unhappy country exhibit within a century, unless we are both wise and just enough to avert from posterity the calamity and reproach, which are otherwise unavoidable. [Footnote 30: As it may not be unacceptable to some readers to observe the operation of this plan, I shall subjoin the following statement: PRELIMINARY REMARKS. 1. The number of slaves in Virginia by the late census being found to be 292,427, they may now, in round numbers be estimated at 300,000. 2. Let it be supposed that the males and females are nearly or altogether equal in number. 3. According to Dr. Franklin, the people of America double their numbers in about twenty-eight years; and according to Mr. Jefferson, the negroes increase as fast as the whites, they will therefore double, at least every thirty years. 4. Let it be supposed that in thirty years one half of the present race of negroes will be extinct. 5. Let it be supposed that in forty-five years there will not remain more than one-fifth of the present race alive. 6. Let it be likewise supposed, that in sixty years the whole of the present race will be extinct. 7. For conciseness sake, let the present race be called _ante-nati_, those born after the adoption of the plan, _post-nati_. FROM HENCE IT WILL FOLLOW, 1. That the present number of slaves being 300,000. 2. In thirty years their numbers will amount to 600,000. 3. But at that period as one half of them will be extinct, (rem. 4.) their numbers will stand thus: Ante-nati, 150,000 Post-nati, 450,000 ---- 600,000. 4. The mean increase of the post-nati for the next thirty years will therefore be 450000/30, annually, or 15,000. 5. If one half of these be males, who are still to remain slaves, there will in the first sixteen years, be born 120,000. 6. After the first sixteen years, the post-nati females will begin to breed; the proportion of males born to slavery in the next twelve years may be estimated at one-fourth of the whole number born after the commencement of that period. Their number will be 52,000. 7. The number of _slaves_ living in Virginia at the end of _thirty_ years from the adoption of the plan, will be, ante-nati (prop. 3.) 150,000 Post-nati males born in the first 16 years, 120,000 Post-nati males born in the last 12 years, 52,500 ---- 322,500. 8. The number of _negroes_ at the same time will stand thus: Slaves, 322,500 Post-nati free born, 277,500 ---- 600,000.