property of their parents, but of their owners; yes, and when these planters and their overseers have children by these poor negroes, instead of having any regard to the offspring of their vicious passions, they will suffer even these their own children to be bred up in slavery like others. I remember hearing a story of this sort which affected me exceedingly.

Wor. If it be not an improper question to ask be fore the company now present, what was the story?

Hen. Why, Sir, one came to the trader for a breeding slave; and he presented him to one who looked very sickly and weak. The trader told him that he could answer for that girl, as she was with child when he bought her; that they were in hopes to have had the husband too, who was a fine young fellow, but he being terribly resolute in resisting as long as he could, while they were breaking up their town, they were obliged to kill him; that about the middle of the passage the girl miscarried, and that it had been a considerable expence to keep her alive; that she was a strong healthy girl, and would do either for breeding or labour, provided she did not die of the sulks.

Loveg. Or, in other words, die of a broken heart, through the barbarous usage of these monsters.

Hen. Yes, Sir, it means all that; for take whatever care you will of them, which a captain will naturally do for his own interest, it is amazing how many of them die one after another. All attempts to air them upon the deck, to make them dance even by the lash of a whip, against their wills, for the sake of giving them exercise, that their health may be preserved, can be of no avail: they are made quite sick at heart, and even when they have been forced to take food against their wills, they have immediately sickened and again cast it up; and it is supposed

principally from this cause, one-third of them actually die on the passage. You may judge how miserable they are, when they are obliged to be watched very closely, lest they should destroy themselves to get rid of their misery with their lives, which many have done by throwing themselves overboard, or by other methods, when they had it in their power; but the case of another poor family affected me still more. Wor. What was that, Mr. Henry?

Mrs. Wor. Really, Mr. Henry, your stories are so affecting about these poor creatures, that I do not know if I shall have sufficient resolution to sit and hear them. My poor daughter seems quite overcome by it already.

Miss. Wor. Yes, Ma'am, but if you please, I should like to hear it, as it makes me thankful to think how happy we are in this country in comparison of others.

Wor. But it is by no means to our credit, while we are so tenacious of liberty in our own land, that we should be allowed to entail the curse of slavery upon others; and for no other reason, as I can find, but because they are of a different complexion to ourselves. All this is sad selfish work. But let us try if we cannot hear your other story.

Hen. Why, Sir, a man and his wife, each of them I suppose between thirty and forty, and two fine looking boys, the one about twelve, the other I should judge two years younger, all one family, were taken captives in one of their horrid sham wars. To keep them from having the sulks, it seems it was promised them that they should all be sold in one lot; but the trader having met with a rich planter who wanted some hearty boy slaves, finding he could make the best bargain of them by seiling them separate, had them all four at a distance from the rest:

soon afterwards a conductor came to drag the pur chased children from their parents! As soon as they perceived this cruel separation was determined, the whole family ran into each other's arms, and embraced one another in such à manner as that they could scarcely be torn asunder. At length the boys were compelled to go to the destined place of their slavery, while the parents appeared like two creatures perfectly distracted with grief; for they had now lost their last miserable consolation through life, that they might only live and die together, though in a state of cruel slavery. But I saw another scene of the like sort that affected me more than either of the former.

Far. Well, well, to be sure it is most dreadfulbad. I wonder that his Majesty docs not put it down, for they say, (God bless him!) he is as good a sort of a gentleman in himself as ever lived, and that he loves to make every one happy that is about him. It comes to my mind, that when your honour goes to London, could you but call on the Lord Cancellor, the good gentleman who gave our minister the living, and he was to go and tell the king the rights of it, he would soon put it down.

Loveg. (smiling) O but the king cannot act without the consent of his parliament, otherwise I dare say, had he his own will in this respect, he would make others as happy as himself.

Far. Aye, so I dare say, for they say he speaks mighty good natur'dly to every body, and that he diverts himself by doing something in our way. Now I like him wonde fully for that.

Wor. And so do I too, for I think it bespeaks a simplicity and goodness of dispos tion, which would be an ornament to the greatest monarch upon the

* The word is desired to notice what soft expressions are invented the dateer from he agen's of this horrid traffic.

earth; and why should not a king divert himself as he likes best? I am sure a little farming is both innocent and instructive. Indeed I know not what his Majesty could better patronize, as the strength and wealth of the nation so much depends on it. Better be fond of the plough than the play-house.

Far. Why, but if our parliament men can put down these bad ways: I wonder they don't see to it. Wor. Alas! as it happens, there is a deal of selfinterestedness stands in the way.

Far. Well, I wish with all my heart your honour would but stand to be one of our parliament men for Mapleton. I am sure you would do all in your power to put it down. I remember there was a main bustle made against these wicked ways some time ago, but that did not wind up so well as it should.

Wor. Indeed if it was in my power to remove these evils, it would soon be done; but as it is a difficult thing to get into parliament with a clear conscience, through the drunkenness and wickedness which in general abound at the time of an election, I had rather spend my days in retirement; and do some little good among my neighbours in the country, than waste half my time in London in attending parliament. (To Henry.) But, Mr. Henry, we must see if we cannot muster up courage to hear your other story.

Hen. Oh, Sir, as I was looking on upon these miserable creatures, I saw a poor girl among the rest sobbing and crying in the deepest distress, and at last she quite fainted away. The captain ordered her to be carried off to a distance. A young man slave, who was standing by, was not less affected than herself; and he, it seems, was brought over from the same country about three years before. Seeing the young woman in that condition, he fell down at the feet of the man who had the care of her, and kissęd

them several times, begging, as for his life, that he might go and speak to her. At length he was permitted. He ran to her with astonishing eagerness, embraced and kissed her several times, crying out, O my sister, Ora! O my dear sister, Ora! I was so affected by this scene, that I had it upon my mind sleeping and waking for several nights and days afterwards.

Mrs. Wor. Indeed, Mr. Henry, the story seems to have been too much for us all. I am sure it has been too much for me; but do you know what became of them afterwards?

Hen. Why, Madam, as soon as the captain's man, who had the care of the young woman, perceived that she and the young man were brother and sister, although insured to these scenes of misery, he could not help dropping a tear or two of compassion with the rest of us. After the girl was somewhat recovered, they were left to converse together. The. farther particulars of this history I could not learn, but I'll warrant it was tragical enough. After this, however, the case was made known to the owner, when, according to the true spirit of the trade, lest the brother and sister should both of them take the sulks, so as to endanger their labour, or perhaps the loss of their lives by their mutual grief for each other, it was determined it should be contrived, if possible, that they might both live together on the same plantation. After some difficulty, it seems this was accomplished, and when they were informed of this event, to see how they leapt for joy, how they embraced and kissed each other, while they went along arm in arm to the plantation which was to be the destined place of their labour, was not a less affecting scene than the former.``

Loveg. But, oh, what must the parents of these two affectionate creatures have felt on the loss of