54 VISIT OF IWAN ALEXIOWITZ 



of behaviour, and modesty of countenance, as I had never before 

 observed. " By what means," said I, " Mr. Bertram, do you rule 

 your slaves so well, that they seem to do their work with all the 

 cheerfulness of white men ?" " Though our erroneous prejudices 

 and opinions once induced us to look upon them as fit only for 

 slavery, though ancient custom had very unfortunately taught us 

 to keep them in bondage, yet of late, in consequence of the 

 remonstrances of several Friends, and of the good books they have 

 published on that subject, our Society treats them very differently. 

 With us they are now free. I give those whom thee didst see 

 at my table, eighteen pounds a year, with victuals and clothes, 

 and all other privileges which white men enjoy. Our Society 

 treats them, now, as the companions of our labours ; and by this 

 management, as well as by means of the education we have given 

 them, they are in general become a new set of beings. Those 

 whom I admit to my table, I have found to be good, trusty, moral 

 men : when they do not what we think they should do, we dismiss 

 them, which is all the punishment we inflict. Other societies of 

 Christians keep them still as slaves, without teaching them any 

 kind of religious principles. "What motive, beside fear, can they 

 have to behave well ? In the first settlement of this province, we 

 employed them as slaves, I acknowledge ; but when we found that 

 good example, gentle admonition, and religious principles could 

 lead them to subordination and sobriety, we relinquished a method 

 so contrary to the profession of Christianity. We gave them free- 

 dom ; and yet few have quitted their ancient masters. * * * * 

 I taught mine to read and to write : they love God, and fear his 

 judgments. The oldest person among them transacts my business 

 in Philadelphia, with a punctuality from which he has never 

 deviated. They constantly attend our meetings : they participate 

 in health and sickness, in infancy and old age in the advan- 

 tages our Society affords. Such are the means we have made use 

 of, to relieve them from that bondage and ignorance in which they 

 were kept before. Thee, perhaps, hast been surprised to see them 

 at my table ; but, by elevating them to the rank of freemen, they 

 necessarily acquire that emulation, without which Aye ourselves 

 should fall into debasement and profligate ways." 



"Mr. Bertram, this is the most philosophical treatment of 

 negroes that I have heard of. Happy would it be for America, 

 would other denominations of Christians imbibe the same prin- 



