whoſe beginnings we have noticed, continued to flouriſh under the auſpices of Maſſachuſetts merchants down through the entire colonial period, and long after the boaſted Declaration of Rights in 1780 had terminated (?) the legal exiſtence of ſlavery within the limits of that State. Felt's Salem, ii., 230, 261, 265, 288, 292, 296. To gratify thoſe who are curious to ſee what the inſtructions given by reſpectable merchants in Maſſachuſetts to their ſlave captains were in the year 1785, we copy them from Felt's Salem, ii., 289–90; probably the only ſpecimen extant.[1]
"Capt .
"Our brig,[2] of which you have the command, being cleared at the office, and being in every other reſpect complete for ſea; our orders are, that you embrace the firſt fair wind and make the beſt of your way to the coaſt of Africa, and there inveſt your cargo in ſlaves. As ſlaves, like other articles, when brought to market, generally appear to the beſt advantage; therefore, too critical an inſpection cannot be paid to them before purchaſe; to ſee that no dangerous diſtemper is lurking about them, to attend particularly to their age, to their countenance, to the ſtraightneſs of their limbs, and, as far as poſſible to the goodneſs or badneſs of their conſtitution, &c. &c., will be very conſiderable objects.
"Male or female ſlaves whether full grown or not, we cannot particularly inſtruct you about; and on this head ſhall only obſerve, that prime male ſlaves generally ſell beſt in any market. No people require more kind and tender treatment to exhilarate their ſpirits, than the Africans; and, while on the one hand you are attentive to this, remember that on the other hand, too much circumſpection cannot be obſerved by yourſelf and people, to prevent their taking the advantage