478 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1SI2. 



going a severe correction, previous- 

 ly to liis going to work. On taking 

 a walk on the banks of the Rappa- 

 hannock, the river on which this 

 town (Fredericksburg) is seated, I 

 stepped intooneofthe large tobacco 

 warehouses which are built here, for 

 the reception and inspection of that 

 plant, before it is permitted to be 

 exported. On entering into con- 

 versation with an inspector, as he 

 Was employed in looking over a 

 parcel of tobacco, he lamented the 

 licentiousness which he remarked 

 so generally prevailed in this town. 

 He said, that in his remembrance, 

 the principal part of the inhabi- 

 tants were emigrants from Scot- 

 land, and that it was considered 

 so reproachful to the white inha- 

 bitants, if they were found to have 

 an illicit connection with their 

 female slaves, that their neighbours 

 would shun the company of such, 

 as of persons with whom it was a 

 reproach to be acquainted. The 

 case was now so much altered, that 

 he believed there were but few 

 slave-holders in the place who were 

 free from guilt in this respect ; and 

 that it was now thought but little 

 of. Such was the brutality and 

 hardness of heart which this evil 

 produced, that many amongst 

 them paid no more regard to selling 

 their own children, by their female 

 slaves, or even their brothers and 

 sisters, in the same line, than they 

 would do to the disposal of a cow 

 or a horse, or any other property 

 in the brute creation. To so low 

 a degree of degradation does the 

 system of negro slavery sink the 

 white inhabitants, who are un- 

 happily engaged in it. 



Near Bladensburg we passed a 

 Carolina slave merchant, with a 

 company of slaves, men, women. 



and children ; who all stopped at 

 the door of the inn where we 

 dined. Some of them appeared 

 much dejected ; and, on my ques- 

 tioning them, they told me they 

 were taken from their relatives and 

 friends by force. One of the 

 females being known to a black 

 man in the stage, he asked her 

 how she came there, knowing her 

 to be a free black. She replied, 

 that some time since, her husband 

 had been taken from her, and 

 carried into the Carolinas ; and 

 that she had determined to follow 

 him in his bondage. This appear- 

 ed to be a remarkable proof of 

 conjugal affection, and showed a 

 high degree of sensbility ; but, in 

 thus following her husband, there 

 is great reason to ftar, from the 

 general conduct of these slave 

 merchants, that she herself would 

 be sold as a slave by this man ; 

 who, under pretence of taking her 

 to her husband, would probably 

 betray her. 



The number of black slaves kept 

 in and near Alexandria is very 

 great. On market days many 

 come out of the country with fruit, 

 vegetables, &c. and some, even 

 girls of 10 and 12 years of age, are 

 seen walking the streets with 

 baskets on their heads, without 

 any clothing. Some, both men 

 and women, are nearly with- 

 out clothing; and what little is 

 allowed to many of them is all in 

 rags, Thtir common full dress is 

 a coarse sacking or linsey woolsey 

 shirt and trowsers for the meu ; 

 and, for the women, a long gar- 

 ment or a petticoat, and a short 

 waistcoat of the same materials; 

 both sexes go without shoes or 

 stockings, and mostlj' without 

 hats. I understood from a respect- 

 able 



