1

master of this black slave died, leaving behind him a widow, and one son, a profligate young man. As the master lay on his death-bed, he called this faithful slave to him, and taking him by the hand, told him that he felt his end was fast approaching, and that his mistress would have little to depend upon for her support, except what she might be able to make of his labour; and therefore he begged that he would continue to be faithful to her, after the master should be laid in the silent grave. In a very short time the master died, and the slave continued his services to his mistress, and much to her satisfaction; enabling her, for several years, to live comfortably, and also to administer to the wants of her profligate son; so that, under a grateful sense of his worth, she determined to make this black man free, and also his family, consisting of a wife and three children A writing was accordingly drawn up, and duly executed, whereby they were all liberated; and the happiness of this family, under these circumstances, may be more easily conceived than described.

Their industry and sobriety, manifested whilst in bondage, now had its full effect; and all went on happily and comfortably, until the profligate son, before mentioned, who had by idleness and drunkenness reduced himself to extreme necessity, conceived the cruel plan of invalidating the indenture which his mother had executed, to

give this worthy Negro family their liberty; and actually sold the father, mother, and the three children, to a company of Georgia slave dealers, who were then in the neighbourhood. They being conscious that the young man had no right thus to sell the family, had determined to take them away in the dead of the night, to preclude the possibility of applying to any magistrate for protection. However, the Negro had got some intimation of what was going forward, and, in consequence, kept loaded fire arms in his house, being determined to shoot any person who should attempt to break into his habitation. These precautions being known to the slave dealers, they, for some time, did not venture to molest him; but he and his wife being soon wearied with living in this state of anxious suspence, consulted a fellow Negro, in whom they placed confidence, as to their best method of proceeding; and it was concluded that the whole family should leave that part of the country, and settle in Pennsylvania, as soon as possible; where they would be out of the reach of the slave dealers.

No sooner was this determination come to, than their perfidious friend, for the sake of a trifling reward, went to the Georgia slave traders, to betray the whole family into their hands; and, in the middle of the night, they were seized, bound, and forcibly taken from their comfortable habitation, in order to be put on board a small sloop which lay in the

river, near at hand. On coming near the river, the poor black man, who had been placed on horseback, behind one of these Georgia men, suddenly broke loose, and leaping from the horse, plunged headlong into the river, which he quickly swam across, and, getting into the woods, escaped from his inhuman pursuers. On this occasion, the agitation of the poor wife and children was beyond expression; and to silence the shrieks and cries of this miserable family, these unprincipled men beat them unmercifully; and the last which the poor Negro man saw of this scene, as he fled into the woods, was their beating his wife upon the head, in the most brutal manner. To a person who hasnot been an eye-witness to such scenes, it may appear incredible that transactions of so attrocious. nature, could occur under a form of government like that of the United States; but the slavery of the Negroes having long since been introduced, the evil consequences resulting from it have not yet been rooted out of the Southern States; where a warm climate seems to have enervated both the bodies and the minds of the white inhabitants. It is, however, to the credit of the people of Pennsylvania, and the States to the eastward and northward of them, that almost every thing in their power has been done, to induce their southern neighbours to relinquish the infamous, and debasing system of personal slavery; and there can be scarcely a doubt, if they persevere in their

honourable endeavours, that they will, in the end, be crowned with success.

In conversation this evening with Samuel Bryant, a son of the Judge of that name, he mentioned that Doctor Franklin was an intimate friend of his father's, and that in consequence there was a frequent intercourse between the two families. Amongst a number of anecdotes relating to the Doctor, he recited one, respecting his religious opinions, which appeared to me worth preserving: It is as follows:-At the time the Doctor lay upon his death-bed, he was visited by a young man who had a great respect for his judgment in all things; and having entertained doubts in his own mind, as to the truth of the scriptures, he thought that this awful period, afforded a suitable opportunity of consulting the Doctor on this important subject. Accordingly he introduced it in a solemn weighty manner, inquiring of the Doctor what were his sentiments as to the truth of the scrip tures. On the question being put, although he was in a very weak state and near his close, he replied, "Young man! my advice to you is, that you cultivate an acquaintance with, and a firm belief in the Holy Scriptures; this is your certain interest."

CHAPTER XIII.

Woodside.-Account of Captain H.-A Substitute for

Soap.Yearly Meeting at Philadelphia. Merion

Meeting-House.

Violent Tempest,

sacre of the Conestoga Indians.

Dreadful Mas

2d of 4th Month, 1806. I spent this evening at O. J's country house, in the vicinity of Merion. It is a large handsome building, beautifully situated, and commanding a fine prospect of the Delaware for many miles below Philadelphia. The farm is under the direction of a free Negro, and appears to be well managed.

6th of 4th Month. I attended Merion meeting, and spent the afternoon at Woodside. This is a beautiful spot, commanding a fine view of Philadelphia and of the country round it, although about 5 or 6 miles distant from that city, This was formerly the residence of Governor Mifflin. It has since been much improved and beautified, › at considerable expense by the present proprietor G. A. Yet one of the greatest ornaments about the house, is his worthy father-in-law, John Parish. Though far advanced in life, and grown old in his services to the Negroes and Indians, whose steady advocate he has been, a long series of years, yet his conversation is still as lively and interesting as that of any young person. In the course of the after