308 December 1748. 



flefh on them. Thus it is the fame cafe with 

 men here, as with plants which are brought 

 from the fouthern countries, and cannot accuf- 

 tom themfelves to a colder climate. 



THE price of Negroes differs according to their 

 age, health, and abilities. A full-grown Negro 

 colls from forty pounds and upwards to a hun- 

 dred of Penfyfoania currency. A Negro boy, or 

 girl, of two or three years old, can hardly be got 

 for lefs than eight or fourteen pounds in Penjyl- 

 r oanla currency. Not only the Quakers, but 

 likewife feveralChriftians of other denominations, 

 fometimes fet their Negroes at liberty. This is 

 done in the following manner : when a genile- 

 man has a faithful Negro who has done him 

 great fervices, he fometimes declares him inde- 

 pendent at his death. This is however very ex- 

 penfive ; for they are obliged to make a provifion 

 for the Negro thus fet at liberty, to afford him 

 fubfiftence when he is grown old, that he may 

 not be driven by neceffity to wicked aflions, or 

 that he may be at any body's charge, for thefe 

 free Negroes become very lazy and indolent af- 

 terwards. But the children which the free Ne- 

 gro has begot during his fervitude are all Haves, 

 though their father be free. On the other hand 

 thofe Negro children are free whofe parents are 

 at liberty. The Negroes in the North American 

 colonies are treated more mildly, and fed better 

 than thofe in the Weft Indies. They have as good 

 food as the reft of the fervants, and they poffefs 

 equal advantages in all things, except their be- 

 ing obliged to ferve their whole life-time, and 

 get no other wages than what their mailer's 



goodnefs 



