University of Virginia Library

August ye 1st.

Capt. Sewall, R. Pike, and the Minister Mr. Richardson
at our house to-day. Capt. Sewall, who lives
mostlie at Boston, says that a small Vessell loaded with
Negroes, taken on the Madagascar coast, came last
week into the Harbor, and that the owner thereof had

offered the Negroes for sale as Slaves, and that they
had all been sold to Magistrates, Ministers, and other
people of distinction, in Boston and thereabouts. He
said the Negroes were principally Women and Children,
and scarcelie alive, by reason of their long
Voyage and hard Fare. He thought it a great scandal
to the Colony, and a reproach to the Church, that they
should be openlie trafficked, like Cattell in the market.
Uncle Rawson said it was not so formerlie; for he did
remember the case of Capt. Smith and one Kesar, who
brought Negroes from Guinea thirty Years ago. The
General Court, urged thereto by Sir Richard Saltonstall
and manie of the Ministers, passed an order that,
for the purpose of “bearing a witness against the heinous
sin of Man-stealing, justlie abhorred of all good and
just Men,” the Negroes should be taken back to their
own Countrie at the charge of the Colony; which was
soon after done. Moreover, the two Men, Smith and
Kesar, were duly punished.

Mr. Richardson said he did make a distinction between
the stealing of Men from a Nation at Peace with
us, and the taking of Captives in Warre. The Scriptures
did plainlie warrant the holding of such, and
especially if they be Heathen.

Capt Sewall said he did, for himself, look upon all
slaveholding as contrarie to the Gospel and the Newe

Dispensation. The Israelites had a special Warrant
for holding the Heathen in servitude; but he had
never heard any one pretend that he had that authoritie
for enslaving Indians and Blackamoors.

Hereupon, Mr. Richardson asked him if he did not
regard Dea. Dole as a godlie Man; and if he had
aught to say against him and other pious Men who
held Slaves. And he cautioned him to be careful, lest
he should be counted an Accuser of the Brethren.

Here Robert Pike said he would tell of a matter
which had fallen under his notice. “Just after the
Warre was over,” said he, “owing to the loss of my
Shallop in the Penobscot Bay, I chanced to be in the
neighborhood of him they call the Baron of Castine,
who hath a strong Castle, with much cleared land and
great Fisheries at Byguyduce. I was preparing to
make a Fire and sleep in the Woods, with my two
Men, when a Messenger came from the Baron, saying
that his master, hearing that strangers were in the
Neighborhood, had sent him to offer us food and shelter,
as the Night was cold and rainy. So without ado
we went with him, and were shown into a comfortable
Room in a wing of the Castle, where we found a great
fire blazing, and a joint of Venison with wheaten loaves
on the Table. After we had refreshed ourselves, the
Baron sent for me, and I was led into a large, faire

room, where he was, with Modockawando, who was
his Father-in-law, and three or four other Chiefs of the
Indians, together with two of his Priests. The Baron,
who was a Man of goodlie appearance, received me
with much Courtesie; and when I told him my misfortune,
he said he was glad it was in his power to afford
us a Shelter. He discoursed about the Warre, which
he said had been a sad thing to the Whites as well as
the Indians, but that he now hoped the peace would be
lasting. Whereupon, Modockawando, a verie grave
and serious Heathen, who had been sitting silent with
his Friends, got up and spoke a loud Speech to me,
which I did not understand, but was told that he did
complain of the Whites for holding as Slaves sundrie
Indian captives, declaring that it did provoke another
Warre. His own Sister's child, he said, was thus held
in captivitie. He entreated me to see the great Chief
of our people, (meaning the Governor,) and tell him
that the cries of the Captives were heard by his young
men, and that they were talking of digging up the
Hatchet which the old men had buried at Casco. I told
the old Savage that I did not justify the holding of Indians
after the Peace, and would do what I could to
have them set at Libertie, at which he seemed greatlie
rejoiced. Since I came back from Castine's countrie,
I have urged the giving up of the Indians, and many
have been released. Slavery is a hard lot, and manie
do account it worse than Death. When in the Barbadoes,
I was told that on one Plantation, in the space of
five years, a score of Slaves had hanged themselves.”

“Mr. Atkinson's Indian,” said Capt. Sewall, “whom
he bought of a Virginia ship-owner, did, straightway
on coming to his house refuse Meat; and although
Persuasions and Whippings were tried to make him
eat, he would not so much as take a sip of Drink. I
saw him, a day or two before he died, sitting wrapped
up in his Blanket, and muttering to himself. It was a
sad Sight, and I pray God I may never see the like
again. From that time I have looked upon the holding
of men as slaves as a great Wickedness. The Scriptures
themselves do testify, that he that leadeth into
captivitie shall go into captivitie.”

After the companie had gone, Rebecca sat silent
and thoughtful for a time, and then bade her young
serving girl, whom her Father had bought, about a
year before, of the Master of a Scotch vessel, and who
had been sold to pay the cost of her Passage, to come
to her. She asked her if she had aught to complain of
in her situation. The poor girl looked surprised, but
said she had not. “Are you content to live as a servant?”
asked Rebecca. “Would you leave me if
you could?” She here fell a weeping, begging her

Mistress not to speak of her leaving. “But if I should
tell you that you are free to go or stay, as you will,
would you be glad or sorry?” queried her Mistress.
The poor girl was silent. “I do not wish you to leave
me Effie,” said Rebecca, “but I wish you to know
that you are from henceforth free, and that if you serve
me hereafter, as I trust you will, it will be in Love and
good will, and for suitable Wages.” The bondswoman
did not at the first comprehend the design of her Mistress,
but, on hearing it explained once more, she
dropped down on her knees, and clasping Rebecca,
poured forth her Thanks after the manner of her People;
whereupon Rebecca, greatly moved, bade her
rise, as she had only done what the Scriptures did
require in giving to her servant that which is just and
equal.

“How easy it is to make others happie, and ourselves
also!” she said, turning to me with the Tears
shining in her Eyes.