but he thinks clerkships in stores much more desirable and beneficial. Any young man who is steady, must, he is sure, do well there. Mr. Beaumont has introduced the English system of agriculture, so far as practicable, with success. The value of one acre of rice is 100 dollars, or 22l. 10s. sterling, and its cost about 30 dollars.
23rd.—Yesterday, as a mark of special favour, I received a present of a female slave from my hostess, Mrs. Calder. Her name is Cassandra. She was to be dressed as a man and pass for my {87} body guard to England, and then to be given to my neighbour George Thompson, Esq. of Somersham, who had requested me to procure a pair of negroes for the use of his establishment. On communicating the news of this transfer to the fair and youthful Cassandra, she wept bitterly, and tore her curly wool; the thought of leaving her old mistress and many young acquaintances, was death to all her hopes. When I heard this, I proceeded with her owner in due form to take possession of my fair property. She looked piteously at me. I told her she was mine and must accompany me to England. She sighed and cried, and said, "What, Massa! Go to dat far off country?" "Yes." "O, Massa! let me go and see, and bid good bye to all my dear children, and grandchildren, and great grandchildren. I do love 'em dearly." When I declined to accept the gift, her tears vanished, like dew before the sun, and joy lighted up her black wrinkled countenance; for she was turned of 80, and her woolly head was white as snow.
24th.— Broadfoot, Esq., a merchant in the city, informed me at dinner, that he was once on a jury, in a cause where a female sued a white man of this state for 60l., the amount of 12 years maintenance of her and his natural child. She gained the cause, but he not being
