Predictably, Ramsay’s Essay received a hostile reception from British planters and their allies. It became the subject of a number of critical counter-pamphlets, including one by James Tobin, who described himself on the title page of his Cursory Remarks upon the Reverend Mr. Ramsay’s Essay as “a friend to the West India colonies, and their inhabitants.” In this excerpt, Tobin offers a critique of Ramsay’s description of Moravian missionary activity, though he accepted Ramsay’s assertion that the Moravians had enjoyed remarkable success in converting slaves to Christianity. As you read, ask yourself how two eighteenth-century observers could have used the same piece of evidence to support opposite conclusions.

Chapter III, section II, page 161—“The Obstacles That the Moravian Missions Have to Struggle With”—This whole section, notwithstanding its title, proves plainly that the planters do not oppose the conversion of their slaves: that, on the contrary, in the island of Antigua alone, the missionaries have made Christians of above six thousand Negroes. It proves further, that if the regularly appointed pastors of the church were equally sincere, zealous, and persevering in their attempts, there is every reason to presume, that their pious labours in the vineyard of reformation would be crowned with equal success.—These humble, primitive, and apostolic Moravian missionaries find no occasion for expensive chapels, and lucrative stipends, to encourage them to the salutary works; but to use Mrs. Ramsay’s own words—“The great secret of the missionary’s management is to contract an intimacy with them; to enter into their little interests; to hear patiently their doubts and complaints; to condescend to their weakness and ignorance; to lead them on slowly and gently; to exhort them affectionately; to avoid carefully magisterial threatenings and commands.” By these means, says our author, “they have introduced decency among their people, and no mean degree of religious knowledge, a sobriety in their carriage, a sensibility in their manner, a diligence and faithfulness in their stations, etc.”—And by the same means, I may safely repeat, our resident established ministers would be able to do as much; nor would they meet with a single planter absurd enough to obstruct so desirable and valuable an improvement among his slaves.

Source: James Tobin, Cursory Remarks upon the Reverend Mr. Ramsay’sEssay on the Treatment and Conversion of African Slaves in the Sugar Colonies (London: G. and T. Wilkie, 1785), pp. 132–133.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER