178 



THE FEENCH BLOOD IN AMEETCA 



Slave Trade 



The Jolly 

 Bachelor 



SO fond of a commission as to go a begging for it, or 

 to do any base thing to attain it. I bless God I have 

 fortune enough to support myself without doing any 

 base action." The products of the fisheries, with to- 

 bacco, tar and staves, made up the burden of his out- 

 going cargoes. He built sailing vessels for his own trade 

 and for others, and in addition to his trade with foreign 

 ports he carried on an extensive commerce with New 

 York and Philadelphia. The whole commercial world 

 rated Peter Faneuil as a responsible merchant, and he 

 never wanted for business. 



The slave trade was then not disreputable, and Peter 

 Faneuil, like his contemporaries, was often found en- 

 gaged in it. "The merchants of Boston quoted negroes 

 like any other merchandise demanded by their cor- 

 respondents. ' ' He also did not think it wrong on occa- 

 sion to evade the duties of the custom-house, though he 

 was honest in his declaration, "I value my character 

 more than all the money on earth." He simply shared 

 what may be called a common commercial conscience of 

 the times, which ever counted government as a lawful 

 prey, and accounted smuggling as skillful rather than 

 dishonest. 



Peter Faneuil became known in his circle of intimates 

 as the "Jolly Bachelor," which name he gave to one of 

 his ships. His sister Mary Anne looked out for the care 

 of the household and presided with grace over his estab- 

 lishment. It is certain, however, that he had his love 

 affair, and that if a certain Miss Mary Jekyll had not ac- 

 cepted a Mr. Eichard Saltonstall instead, she might have 

 found a husband in Mr. Peter Faneuil. After this break 

 in his desire for a single life, he had no second, so far as 

 is known, and his sister remained mistress of the fine 

 mansion and generally desirable situation. 



IV 



With all his love of display and good living, Peter 



