$4 THE NEGRO BEGGAR's PETITION. May l8, 



had got a full difcharge from his fcrvice; And the tyrant 

 owner feeing the general indignation rifing high againll 

 him, was glad, at length, to make his efcape from the 

 mob as quickly as poffible, though no public vengeance 

 overtook him- 



If I fliall be told this ftory cannot be true, becaufe 

 it is contrary to the laws provided for the fafety of the 

 negroes, I anfwer, that I difpute not about the law ; 

 but that the faft is literally true, I do maintain, and 

 am ready to prove it upon the moft undeniable evi- 

 dence, fhould it be necefiary, — And this I aver, though 

 I am no friend to the abolition of the flave-trade. 



The negroes themfelves made up a ballad in their 

 own way, which they ufed to fing at their pjiblic mer- 

 ry makings, the chorus of which was, 



MafTa, Maffa, no launch, — 



Mafia, no dead yet,. — or fomethlng to that purpofe, 

 which I am forry I did not then take down. Thefe 

 gave rife to the folloAving lines : M. II. 



Though, Sir, I obferve you avoid faying any thing that 

 might give rife to jangling difputes, yet your having 

 inferted a little piece, exprefTive of the fentiments of an 

 Indian warrior, makes me hope you may alfo admit 

 this ftory of a Weft India Have, which happened lately 

 to fall i;i my way. I do not jiretend to judge of its 

 merit, but leave that to you ; and I am, Sir, refpeclfuUy, 

 your's, 



A CouNTRr Reader. 



