Page:Letters on the condition of the African race in the United States.djvu/32

30 of keeping a boarding-house, footed up thirty thousand dollars to the landlord. I was of course astounded beyond belief by hearing such appalling accounts of misery; but I was more astounded, the next week, to receive from a highly respectable gentleman, a pamphlet containing a statistical inquiry into the condition of the people of color in the city and districts of Philadelphia. The pamphlet was designed to give a flattering view of the better classes of negroes; but unfortunately two letters, that I will now quote verbatim, found their way into the latter part of the said pamphlet. But first, let me remark that South Carolina abounds with black mechanics, who can, in their own time, make money enough to enrich themselves with every comfort of life, as you know how rich your blacksmiths are. They are, therefore, on a par with the best classes of black freemen at the North ; but listen now to the description of the degraded classes of colored people in Philadelphia, as detailed in the said letters. , Dec. 18, 1848. "During the fall and winter of 1845 and 1846, I observed much misery and distress among a portion of the colored population of the city and suburbs, which was much increased in the fall and winter of 1846 and 1847 During the period before named, from September, 1837, to April, 1848, it increased to such extent as made it necessary to ask the intervention of the board of health and guardians of the poor. In that time, there came under my notice, seventy-six cases, colored, male and female (mostly within six blocks or squares in the district of Moyamensing), whose deaths, after a full and thorough investigation of each case, were attributable to intemperance, exposure, want of nourishment, &c.; of this number, eighteen were from 18 to 30 years of age; forty-six from 30 to 50 years, and twelve from 50 to 90 years, besides some children who also died from exposure and want of proper nourishment and care.

"Many were found dead in cold and exposed rooms and garrets, board shanties, five and six feet high, and as many feet square, erected and rented for lodging purposes, mostly without any comforts save the bare floor, with the cold penetrating between the boards, and through the holes and crevices on all sides; some in cold, wet, and damp cellars, with naked walls, and in many instances without floors; and others found dead lying in back yards, in alleys, and other exposed situations.