Page:Notes on the History of Slavery - Moore - 1866.djvu/75

 whoe beginnings we have noticed, continued to flourih under the aupices of Maachuetts merchants down through the entire colonial period, and long after the boated Declaration of Rights in 1780 had terminated (?) the legal exitence of lavery within the limits of that State. Felt's Salem,, 230, 261, 265, 288, 292, 296. To gratify thoe who are curious to ee what the intructions given by repectable merchants in Maachuetts to their lave captains were in the year 1785, we copy them from Felt's Salem,, 289–90; probably the only pecimen extant.

", Nov. 12, 1785.

"Capt.

"Our brig, of which you have the command, being cleared at the office, and being in every other repect complete for ea; our orders are, that you embrace the firt fair wind and make the bet of your way to the coat of Africa, and there invet your cargo in laves. As laves, like other articles, when brought to market, generally appear to the bet advantage; therefore, too critical an inpection cannot be paid to them before purchae; to ee that no dangerous ditemper is lurking about them, to attend particularly to their age, to their countenance, to the traightnes of their limbs, and, as far as poible to the goodnes or badnes of their contitution, &c. &c., will be very coniderable objects.

"Male or female laves whether full grown or not, we cannot particularly intruct you about; and on this head hall only oberve, that prime male laves generally ell bet in any market. No people require more kind and tender treatment to exhilarate their pirits, than the Africans; and, while on the one hand you are attentive to this, remember that on the other hand, too much circumpection cannot be oberved by yourelf and people, to prevent their taking the advantage