and in the year 1756 established a Hospital, at the Cape, for poor negroes and mulattoes. 2. More than forty years were devoted by him and his wife to this benevolent institution, and his fortune was subservient to their wants. The only regret they felt, while their time and substance was devoted to these destitute objects, arose from a fear that after they were gone, the Hospital might be abandoned. 3. The Philadelphian Society at the Cape, and the Agricultural Society at Paris, decreed medals to Jasmin, who died near the close of the century. Ignatius Sancho. 1. The parents of Sancho were brought from Africa. in a vessel employed in the slave trade, and he was born on the passage. When they arrived at Carthagena he received the name of Ignatius. The change of climate and other sufferings, soon brought his mother to the grave; and his father being doomed to the horrors of slavery, in a moment of despair put an end to his existence with his own hands. 2. Ignatius was not two years old when he was taken to England by his master, and presented to three young ladies, sisters, at Greenwich. His character was such that they added the name of Sancho; and he some time after attracted the notice of the Duke of Montague. This gentleman admired in him a frankness, which was neither degraded by servitude, nor corrupted by a false education. He often lent him books, and advised his mistresses to instruct him, and improve his genius. 3. But when grown, being subject to like passions with other young men, he was led into difficulty; and the Duke, his friend, being dead, he was at a loss what to do; but the Dutchess, his widow, had compassion on him, and employed him as her butler, where he remained until her death. By his economy, and a legacy left him by this lady, he was possessed of 70 pounds sterling, and thirity of an annuity. 4. After the death of this kind friend, he, wandering about, often fell into bad company, and was reduced to suffering; but he at length engaged at service in a respectable family, and his conduct becoming regular, he soon married an interesting female born in the West Indies. 5. In 1773 he had frequent attacks of the gout, but by the generosity of the before mentioned lady in her annuity, and his own economy, he commenced an honest trade, and by the assistance of his wife's industry and frugality, he reared a numerous family. The public esteem was obtained by his domestic virtues. He died on the 15th of December, 1780. After his death a fine edition of his letters were published; a few extracts from which will close this account. 6. "According to the plan of the Deity, commerce," said he, "ought to render common to all the globe the productions of each country: it ought to unite nations by the sentiments of reciprocal wants, of fraternal amity, and thus facilitate a geueral diffusion of the benefits of the Gospel. But those poor Africans whom Heaven has favoured with a rich and luxuriant soil, are the most unhappy of the human race, by the horrible traffic in slaves; and this, too, is performed by Christians!" 7. In speaking of the Dutchess of K—, tormented by conscience, the great chancellor of the soul : Act, then, always in such a manner as to gain the approbation of your heart-to be truly brave, one must be truly good. We have reason as a rudder, religion for our anchor, truth for our polar star, conscience as a faithful monitor, and perfect happiness as a recompence." 8. In the same letter, endeavouring to drive away recollections which might expose his virtue to a new shipwreck, he exclaims-" Why_bring to mind those combustible matters, whilst rapidly glancing over my past years, I approach the end of my career? Have B not the gout, six children, and a wife ? O heaven where art thou? 9. "You see that it is much easier to speak than to act. But we know how to separate good from evil; let us arm ourselves against vice, and act like a general in his camp, who ascertains the force and position of the enemy, and places advance guards to avoid surprize: let us act so even in the ordinary course of human life; and believe me, my friend, that a victory gained over passion, immorality, and pride, is more deserving of a te deum than that which is obtained in the field of ambition and carnage." Attobah Cugoano, 1. Was born on the coast of Fantin, in the town of Agimaque; says that he was dragged from his country with twenty other children of both sexes, by European robbers, who, brandishing their pistols and sabres, threatened to kill them if they attempted to run away. They confined us, and soon I heard nothing but the clanging of chains, the sound of the whip, and the cries of my fellow prisoners. 2. In this dreadful situation he was carried to Grenada and made a slave. But Lord Hoth, in his generosity, liberated him and carried him to England. He was there in 1788, in the service of Cosway, the first painter to the Prince of Wales. 3: Piatoli, who during a long residence in London was particularly acquainted with Cugoano, then about forty years of age, and whose wife was an English woman, praises this African highly; and speaks in strong terms of his piety, his mildness of character, modesty, integrity, and talents. 4. At Grenada he saw the negroes lacerated by the whip, because, instead of working, they went to church on Sundays. He saw others have their teeth broken, because they dared to suck the sugar cane. Being a witness to these cruelties, he paints the heart-rending spectacle of those poor Africans in a moving manner; describing their being forced to bid a final farewell to their native soil-to fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, brothers, and children, and all that they hold dear: in voking Heaven, bathed in tears, and enclosed in each other's arms, giving the last embrace, and instantly torn asunder! This spectacle, says he, calculated to move the hearts of monsters, does not that of the slave dealer. 5. Cugoano published his reflections on the slave-trade, and the slavery of the negroes, in English; but it has since been translated into French. He raised his voice to spread abroad the spirit of religion, and to prove by the Bible, that the stealing, sale and purchase of men; and their detention in a state of slavery, are crimes of the deepest die. 6. After some remarks on the cause of the difference of color in the human species, such as climate, soil, regimen, &c., he asks whether it is "more criminal to be black or white, than to wear a black or white coat: whether color and bodily form give a right to enslave men. The negroes have never crossed the seas to steal white men. The European complains of barbarism, while their conduct towards negroes is horribly barbarous. To steal men, to rob them of their liberty, is worse than to plunder them of their goods." 7. "On national crimes, heaven sometimes inflicts national punishments. Besides, injustice is sooner or later fatal to its author." This idea is conformable to the great plan of religion; and ought to be indelibly. impressed on every human heart. 8. Cugoana makes a striking comparison between ancient and modern slavery; and proves that the last, which prevails among professing Christians, is worse than that among Pagans; and also worse than that among the Hebrews, who did not steal men to enslave them, nor sell them without their consent; and who put no fine on the head of a fugitive. In Deuteronomy, it is formally said, "Thou shalt not deliver up to thy master a fugitive slave, who, in thy house has sought an asylum." 9. He passes from the Old to the New Testament, and states the inconsistency of slavery with Christ's command to do to others as we would they should.do to us. 10. In him we see talents without much literary cul tivation; and to which a good education would have given great advantage. His writings are not very methodical, but they speak the language of a feeling heart, and are read with interest by those who are averse to slavery. A Short Account of Phillis Wheatley. 1. Although the state of Massachusetts never was so deeply involved in the African slave-trade as most of the other states, yet before the war which separated the United States of America from Great Britain, and gave us the title of a free and independent nation, there were many of the poor Africans brought into their ports and sold for slaves.. 2. In the year 1761, a little girl about 7 or 8 years old was stolen from her parents in Africa, and being put on board a ship was brought to Boston, where she was sold for a slave to John Wheatley, a respectable inhabitant of that town. Her master giving her the name of Phillis, and she assuming that of her master, she was of course called Phillis Wheatley. 3. Being of an active disposition, and very attentive and industrious, she soon learned the English language, and in about sixteen months so perfectly," that she could read any of the most difficult parts of the Scriptures, to the great astonishment of those who heard her. And this she learned without any school instruction except what was taught her in the family.. 4. The art of writing she obtained by her own industry and curiosity, and in so short a time that in the year 1765, when she was not more than twelve years of age, she was capable of writing letters to her friends on various subjects. She also wrote to several persons in high stations. In one of her communications to the Earl of Dartmouth, on the subject of Freedom, she has the following lines:- "Should you, my lord, while you pursue my song, |