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among themselves every month a president, who is called a Doge, the same as at Venice, and appoint one of their number (who has the appellation of Count) to travel occasionally through the country and administer justice in their tribunals.

The universal harmony and good understanding which prevail among the natives, render civil counts of justice almost unnecessary, as most disputes and private grievances are settled by arbitration, but the senate form a high court of judicature, to whom an appeal is final in all cases.

Felonious crimes are scarcely known amongst them; though about two years ago a Venetian, who came to settle in Ragusa, committed a murder, for which he was hanged the same afternocn; but as they have no public executioner in the whole country, he was taken to a Turkish market in the neighbourhood, and a gratuity of about five guineas was given to a Turk to perform the execution.

The only revenue of the government arises from custom-house duties on shipping and merchandize, out of which they pay the clergy the greatest part of their salaries, maintain free-schools all over the nation, and provide physicians to attend the sick and administer medicines without any charge to their patients.

The established religion is the Roman Catholic, and the church is governed by an archbishop, who is chosen by the nobles and confirmed by the Pope.

Divine service is read in Latin in all the churches, and the people are allowed the free use of the

Bible, the inquisition being altoge ther unheard of.

The people pay but a very small conuibution to the clergy, they being (as before observed) principally maintained by government.

Their schools are all free and maintained at the expense of the state; in them are taught reading, writing, mathematics, &c. with the Latin and Italian languages; but the language spoken all over the country is Sclavonian, (or what the captain calls Hilderic.)

The government select some of the most promising youths from among the commonalty, and send them to the Universities of Sienna, Naples, Florence, Bologna, &c. to study physic, atter which they are employed at the sole expense. of the nation, to attend the sick and administer medicines all over their dominions.

The Raguseans appear to be exemplary in their moral deportment, as well as remarkable for peace and friendship: drunkenness is accounted scandalous among them, and not often seen; prostitutes are much discountenanced, and games of hazard are forbidden by the government, though they allow the people in some instances to play for trifles.

They have notwithstanding se veral prisons in which delinquents are occasionally confined, and; some who have notoriously offended, (especially with the tongue in cursing, swearing, and abusive language) are exposed in the public streets in a contrivance something like the pillory.

There is an hospital for the sick, which was used formerly as a poor-house in the town of Ragusa, but,

about

about 15 years ago the latter was burnt down, and has not since been rebuilt: the country in general atfords 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, windbound, &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 peurpera of a crown.

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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.

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Turkish coins form the principal. part of their currency; and they have also some Spanish dollars, which are sold for about 11⁄2 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 athx 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 bap piness that any civil government is capable of affording) the emissaries of the French republic have endeavoured to introduce their favou rite 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, previously 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. 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 be a remarkable proof of conjugal affection, and shewed a high degree of sensibility; 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 togethe, 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 1000 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, i who was his slave, with stealing it. The boy denied the charge. However, as the master was un- & able 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

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on being the occasion of such dreadful cruelties, confessed that it was himself who had stolen the leather, for which the poor little slave had just paid the forfeit of his life. However void of the feelings of humanity, it may well be supposed that this hard-hearted master was not a little mortified at having wantonly put to death a a valuable slave; but such was the protection which that State afforded these oppressed fellow-creatures, that the master escaped punishment, as is commonly the case on occasions of murder committed by the whites on their black slaves.

E. W. gave me an affecting account of a black slave, residing near his house, who is a pattern of integrity and industry. Such is the confidence reposed in him by bis master, that for many years past it has been his practice to send this slave to Baltimore, with his waggon laden with various kinds of produce, the sale of which he intrusts to this black man; also the care of receiving and bringing home the money; by which means it frequently happens that large sums of money pass through his hands. This service he has performed so much to the satisfaction of his master, that he scarcely ever ventures to employ any other person for these purposes.

This faithful slave has a wife and a large family of children, who reside in a but close by his master's house. He is allowed a small portion of time weekly to do something for himself and family; and being frequently employed by the neighbours to do little errands for them in Baltimore, he has, during many years of care, and frequery by hard labour when others were

at rest, scraped togethe ́ ́out 2001. He lately made an r of all this to his master for the freedom of his family; but the master absolutely refused to give him his liberty on any condition, alleging that he could not meet with another in whom he could so confide.

The poor man had greatly flattered himself with hopes, that considering his time of lite, being now about 50 years old, a much smaller sum would have procured his liberty; and it would indeed have purchased that of almost any other slave in the neighbourhood. On finding his master inexorable, his disappointment and distress were extrere, and, in the anguish of his heart, he determined to leave his wife and children, and take the first opportunity of quitting the country for ever. However he concluded first to call on E. W. who had always been his friend and adviser, to inform him of his resolution. E. W. sympathized

h him in his affliction, but

not let that suffice; for be .ent immediately to the master, and used every endeavour to prevail upon him to accept the money offered, and to grant the man and his family their freedom. In order to induce the master's compliance, E. W. represented to him the exceedingly ungenerous return be was making to the poor man for his fidelity and industry; as the only plea urged by this unfeeling master, for his cruel conduct, was the uprightness and integrity of the slave! But, alas! avarice is deaf to all arguments except those of self-interest; it was therefore in vain that E. W. thus pleaded the cause of suffering virtue; for the hardened task-master was in

exorable

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