172 



the assertion was a mistake, arising from such a 

 connection being very rarely formed ; the females 

 generally preferring to live with white men, and 

 the brown men having thus no other resource 

 than black women. As to the above girls, the 

 fact is certain ; and the different shades of colour 

 are distinguished by too plain a line to allow any 

 suspicion of infidelity on the part of their parents. 



February 10. 



We passed the day at Mr. Plummer's estate, 

 Anchovy Bottom. 



When Lord Bolingbroke was resident in Ame- 

 rica, large flocks of turkeys used to ravage his 

 corn-fields ; but, from their extreme wildness, he 

 never could make any of them prisoners. He had 

 a barn lighted by a large sash window, and into 

 this he laid a train of corn, hiding some servants 

 with guns behind the large doors, which were folded 

 back. The turkeys picked up the corn, and gra- 

 dually were enticed to enter the barn. But as 

 soon as a dozen had passed in, the servants clapped 

 the doors to with all possible expedition. Now they 

 reckoned themselves secure of their game ; but to 

 their utter consternation, the turkeys in a body 

 darted towards the light, dashed against the glass, 

 forced out the wood- work, and away went turkeys, 

 glass, wood-work, and all. 



