about 15 years ago the latter was burnt down, and has not since been rebuilt the country in general affords few examples of distress, and the people are ready to relieve each other.

In Ragusa there is also a theatre, four churches, and some smaller chapels, among which is a Jewish synagogue, and about 200 Jews reside in the city.

The first printing-office was established among them only about 15 years ago, at which books are printed in the Italian and Hilderic (or Sclavonian) languages, but no newspapers are circulated in the country.

There is an office for marine insurances in Ragusa, but their ships are frequently insured in Venice, Leghorn, Constantinople, &c.

The French, Neapolitans, Russians, Germans, and Spaniards, have each a consul settled here; though as the trade of the country is inconsiderable, and their own vessels much more than sufficient to supply it, they are seldom or never visited by ships from other nations (except such as put into their ports in distress, wind bound, &c.) but a few small ones from the popish territories, Naples, and Venetian Dalmatia.

The Raguseans have notaries who make and record transfers of property, of which the parties take copies for their own satisfaction. They have no gold coins, though some Venetian zequins are circulated among them.

Their silver coins are ducats, in value about three shillings sterling, with the figure of a woman on one side, and the word libertas' on the other; crown a ducat, and pearpera of a crown.

They have a copper coin, called in Italian soldi, and in French sous, and some denarii, each containing six sous-twelve of these denarii are equal to one pearpera.

Turkish coins form the principal part of their currency; and they have also some Spanish dollars, which are sold for about 1 ducats and 10 denarii each, sometimes a trifle more or less.

They make use of tobacco, which they procure from the Turks, and smoke in wooden pipes of considerable length, to which they often affix tops of amber very costly.

Wood is their only firing.

The mountainous nature of the country excludes the use of all wheel-carriages, but they have sedan chairs carried by men.

It is not unworthy of remark that even into this tranquil spot (which seems to enjoy all the happiness that any civil government is capable of affording) the emissaries of the French republic have endeavoured to introduce their favourite doctrines of liberty and equality, and have excited some commotions in different parts of the country among a few discontented individuals of the lowest and most profligate classes; but the bulk of the people are too well satisfied with their condition to be inclined at present to "meddle with them that are given to change."

ANECDOTES Respecting Negro SLAVERY.

From Travels in North America by Robert Sutcliffe.

I was waked early by the cries of a poor Negro, who was under

going a severe correction, previous ly to his going to work. On taking a walk on the banks of the Rappahannock, the river on which this town (Fredericksburg) is seated, I stepped into one of the large tobacco warehouses which are built here, for the reception and inspection of that plant, before it is permitted to be exported. On entering into conversation with an inspector, as he was employed in looking over a parcel of tobacco, he lamented the licentiousness which he remarked so generally prevailed in this town. He said, that in his remembrance, the principal part of the inhabitants were emigrants from Scotland, and that it was considered so reproachful to the white inhabitants, if they were found to have an illicit connection with their female slaves, that their neighbours would shun the company of such, as of persons with whom it was a reproach to be acquainted. The case was now so much altered, that he believed there were but few. slave-holders in the place who were free from guilt in this respect; and that it was now thought but little of. Such was the brutality and hardness of heart which this evil produced, that many amongst them paid no more regard to selling their own children, by their female slaves, or even their brothers and sisters, in the same line, than they would do to the disposal of a cow or a horse, or any other property in the brute creation. To so low a degree of degradation does the system of negro slavery sink the white inhabitants, who are unhappily engaged in it..

Near Bladensburg we passed a Carolina slave merchant, with a company of slaves, men, women,

and children; who all stopped at the door of the inn where we dined. Some of them appeared much dejected; and, on my questioning them, they told me they were taken from their relatives and friends by force. One of the females being known to a black man in the stage, he asked her how she came there, knowing her to be a free black. to be a free black. She replied, that some time since, her husband had been taken from her, and carried into the Carolinas; and that she had determined to follow him in his bondage. This appeared to he a remarkable proof of conjugal affection, and showed a high degree of sensbility; but, in thus following her husband, there is great reason to fear, from the general conduct of these slave merchants, that she herself would be sold as a slave by this man; who, under pretence of taking her to her husband, would probably betray her.

The number of black slaves kept in and near Alexandria is very great. On market days many come out of the country with fruit, vegetables, &c. and some, even girls of 10 and 12 years of age, are seen walking the streets with baskets on their heads, without any clothing. Some, both men and women, are nearly without clothing; and what little is allowed to many of them is all in rags, Their common full dress is a coarse sacking or linsey woolsey shirt and trowsers for the men'; and, for the women, a long garment or a petticoat, and a short waistcoat of the same materials: both sexes go without shoes or stockings, and mostly without hats. I understood from a respect

able

able person, that further to the south he has seen, at the houses of what are called gentlemen, the young blacks waiting at table, quite naked; without discovering any appearance of shame either in master or slave.

There is a very striking contrast between the appearance of the horses or teams in Pennsylvania, and those in the Southern States where slaves are kept. In Pennsylvania we meet great numbers of waggons, drawn by four or more fine fat horses; the carriages firm and well made, and covered with stout, good linen, bleached almost white; and it is not uncommon to see 10 or 15 together, travelling cheerfully along the road, the driver riding on one of the horses. Many of these come more than 300 miles to Philadelphia, from the Ohio, Pittsburgh, and other places; and I have been told by a respectable friend, a native of Philadelphia, that more than 1,000 covered carriages frequently come to Philadelphia market. Indeed the appearance of them on marketdays, in Market-street, which is two miles in length, and about 40 yards in width, is such as no stranger can have a just conception of; to say nothing of the adjoining streets, which are crowded with farmers' carts and waggons from every quarter.

The appearance of things in the Slave States is quite the reverse of this. We sometimes meet a ragged: black boy or girl, driving a team consisting of a lean cow and a mule; sometimes a lean bull or an ox, and a mule; and I have seen a mule, a bull, and a cow, each miserable in its appearance, composing one team, with a half

naked black slave or two, riding or driving, as occasion suited. The carriage or waggon, if it may be called such, appeared in as wretched a condition as the team and its driver. Sometimes a couple of horses, mules, or cows, &c. would be dragging a hogshead of tobacco, with a pivot or axle driven into each end of the hogshead, and something like a shaft attached, by which it was drawn or rolled along the road. I have seen two oxen and two slaves pretty fully employed in getting along a single hogshead; and some of these come from a great distance inland.

In conversation with H. B. he related to me an affecting narrative of a black boy, who came under the observation of his brother J. R. and resided near his dwelling at Lewis-Town, in Delaware State. It happened that the master of this poor lad had missed a piece of leather, and he charged the boy, who was his slave, with stealing it. The boy denied the charge. However, as the master was unable to discover what was become of the leather, and looked upon the denial of the charge as a thing of course, he was very much irritated that he was unable to bring any proof against the lad. In order to extort confession, the master tied him up by the hands, a considerable height from the ground, and fixed a heavy piece of wood (a fence rail) to his feet. In this situation he beat the poor boy in so unmerciful a manner, that he died under the torture thus cruelly inflicted by his brutal master. Scarcely had the poor little innocent breathed his last, under these torments, before the master's son, smitten with remorse

on

exorable to all his reasonings; and the poor black man and his family remain in bondage, living wit nesses to what a pitch of obduracy, avarice, and self-interest can harden the heart of man.

I supped and spent the evening at R. B.'s, at Merion, and observed in his yard a negro of an interest ing countenance. On inquiring who he was, H. B. informed me, that a few days ago the poor man came up from Delaware State, and, at the recommendation of his brother, H. B. had taken him into his family for protection. At the same time he related to me the following narrative: Some time since the master of this black slave died, leaving behind him a widow, and one son, a profligate young man. As the master lay on his death-bed, he called this faithful slave to him, and taking him by the hand, told him that he felt his end was fast approaching, and that his mistress would have little to depend upon for her support, except what she might be able to make of his labour; and therefore he begged that he would continue to be faithful to her, after the master should be laid in the silent grave. In a very short time the master died, and the slave continued his services to his mistress, and much to her satisfaction; enabling her, for several years, to live comfortably, and also to administer to the wants of her profligate son; so that, under #grateful sense of his worth, she determined to make this black man free, and also his family, consisting of a wife and three children. A writing was accordingly drawn up, and duly executed, whereby they were all liberated; and the VOL, LIV.

happiness of this family, under these circumstances, may be more easily conceived than described.

Their industry and sobriety, manifested whilst in bondage, now had its full effect; and all went on happily and comfortably; until the profligate son, before mentioned, who had by idleness and drunken ness reduced himself to extreme necessity, conceived the cruel plan of invalidating the indenture which his mother had executed, to give this worthy negro family their liberty; and actually sold the father, mother, and the three children, to a company of Georgia slave dealers, who were then in the neighbourhood. They being conscious that the young man had no right thus to sell the family, had determined to take them away in the dead of the night, to preclude the possibility of applying to any magistrate for protection. How ever, the negro had got some intimation of what was going forward, and, in consequence, kept loaded fire arms in his house, being determined to shoot any person who should attempt to break into his habitation. These precautions being known to the slave dealers, they, for some time, did not venture to molest him; but he and his wife being soon wearied with living in this state of anxious suspense, consulted a fellow negro, in whom they placed confidence, as to their best method of proceeding; and it was concluded that the whole family should leave that part of the country, and settle in Pennsylvania, as soon as possible, where they would be out of the reach of the slave dealers.

No sooner was this determinatron come to, than their perfidious friend,

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