122 TRAVELS THROUGH NORTH AMERICA : 
“ seventeen and eighteen years of age, are just 
<<r arrived in the brig-their times will be 
disposed of by applying on board/* The 
cargo, as you may suppose, did not remain 
long unsold. This anecdote was communi¬ 
cated to me by a gentleman, who has the ori¬ 
ginal advertisement in his possession. 
When I tell you that people are sold in this 
manner, it is not to be understood that they 
are sold for ever, but only for a certain num¬ 
ber of years; for two, three, four, or five years, 
according to their respective merits. A good 
mechanic, that understands a particular kind 
©f trade, for which men are much wanted in 
America, has to serve a shorter time than a 
mere labourer, as more money will be given 
for his time, and the expence of his passage 
does not exceed that of any other man. Du¬ 
ring their servitude, these people are liable to 
be resold at the caprice of their masters ; they 
are as much under dominion as negro slaves, 
and if they attempt to run away, they may be 
imprisoned like felons. The laws respecting 
“ redemptioners,*’ so are the men called that 
are brought over in this manner, were ground¬ 
ed on those formed for the English convicts 
before the revolution, and they are very severe. 
The Germans are a quiet, sober, and indus¬ 
trious set of people, and are most valuable 
citizens. They generally settle a good many 
