I enclose Copy of agreement entered into by Emigrants going in the Belgian Ship "Frederic" from this Port to Pern as finally revised.
I wish particularly to call attention to the fact that the agreement is made with Meher Taldevallans & Co. and their Assigns - es that there is possibility of the Emigrants being passed from one person to another during the period of the Contract in a manner very resembling that in which slaves could be passed from Master to Master by sale with the difference that certain wages and allowances are secured to the Emigrant by the terms of the Contract whereas such thing is left to depend entirely on the caprice of the Master in the case of a slave.
Care is taken ... 3. I believe a similar word is used in the Contract for labour in the British West Indian Colonies and elsewhere, but its operation in those Colonies is practically limited to passing the labourer with an Estate, when sold or assigned in Bankruptcy. Certainly no planter could, for a valuable Consideration and without regard to the wishes of the laborer transfer him to another employer.