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low eyes and famifhed countenances rendered 

 them ghaftly images of horror, their whole 

 appearance {hocked humanity, and appalled the 



fight ! Are thefe, we exclaimed, what ate 



called flaves ? Is this the ftate to which hu- 

 man beings arereduced inbondage t— Affliding 

 and cruel indeed ! Well may flavery be deemed 

 a curfe ! Can it be poffible that thefe fpe&res 

 once were men I Are fuch the objects we are to 

 fee — are thefe the wretched and deplorable 

 beings who are to appear every day, and every 

 hour before our eyes ? Forbid it humanity : 

 forbid it heaven! — Such was the apoftrophe 

 of the moment, and I feel a fincere gratifica- 

 tion in being able to inform you that the me- 

 lancholy fubjeds of this firft impreffion were 

 not correct fpecimens of the general mafs of 

 flaves. Still is it grievous that any fuch ex- 

 amples fhould be feen, but we hope to find 

 them only rare inftances, for we learn that the 

 large gangs of negroes kept by the great 

 merchants, and the planters, are generally 

 treated with kindnefs and humanity, and ap- 

 pear contented and in comfort. 



But it is eafy to diftinguifli the flaves of 

 the opulent and refpe&able inhabitants from 



