SOLON ROBINSON, 1845 455 



heart and search out every kind feeling, and strengthen 

 every emotion that prompts in the labor of doing good, 

 and promoting the happiness of our fellow creatures. 

 What other recompense can be so dear to one devoting 

 time and talents to increase the knowledge, and conse- 

 quently add joy to the mind of his universal brethren, 

 as such interviews as the one I have just described and 

 am now describing. Have patience with me, my north- 

 ern friends, if I appear tedious, but I am anxious to 

 paint you a picture of a Mississippi planter, in which you 

 may see all the little minutiae of his household; so dif- 

 ferent, so wonderfully different from your own. 



Mr. Leigh works about 35 field hands, including black- 

 smiths, carpenters, spinners, and weavers ; the latter only 

 working in the field in "picking time" — that is, when the 

 cotton is ripe and ready to gather, which in the way of 

 hurry, answers to the time of your harvest. He owns 

 about ninety negroes, old and young, all of whom live in 

 families by themselves, in very comfortable log cabins, 

 some of which are neatly furnished and provided with 

 household matters and things, and others that are ex- 

 actly the reverse, and look just like some white folks' 

 houses. These families have a weekly ration of three 

 and a half pounds of bacon, clear of bone, for each 

 member, except small children, who are furnished with 

 food in proportion to size and numbers. About a peck 

 and a half of meal is also given, and more, if they can 

 use it without waste, and sweet potatoes, turneps, 

 squashes, onions, green corn, and various other vegeta- 

 bles, as well as melons and peaches, by untold quantities ; 

 and all show by their looks that they are full fed and 

 well clothed. 



"The quarters," that is the place where the negro 

 cabins stand, are away from the dwelling house, and are 

 so arranged as to be in sight of the overseer's house, so 

 that he can always have an eye to anything going wrong. 

 For negroes, like children, want a deal of careful watch- 

 ing at all times. 



31—50109 



