“I have known negro boys, partly by persuasion, and partly by force, made to strip off their clothing and fight for the amusement of their masters.  They would fight until both got to crying.

“One of the planters told me that his boat had been used without permission.  A number of his negroes were called up, and put in a building that was lathed and shingled.  The covering could be easily removed from the inside.  He called one out for examination.  While examining this one, he discovered another negro, coming out of the roof.  He ordered him back:  he obeyed.  In a few moments he attempted it again.  The master took deliberate aim at his head, but his gun missed fire.  He told me he should probably have killed him, had his gun gone off.  The negro jumped and run.  The master took aim again, and fired; but he was so far distant, that he received only a few shots in the calf of his leg.  After several days he returned, and received a severe whipping.

“Mr. B——­, planter at Hilton Head, freely confessed, that he kept one of his slaves as a mistress.  She slept in the same room with him.  This, I think, is a very common practice.”

TESTIMONY OF A CLERGYMAN.

The following letter was written to Mr. ARTHUR TAPPAN, of New York, in the summer of 1833.  As the name of the writer cannot be published with safety to himself, it is withheld.

The following testimonials, from Mr. TAPPAN, Professor WRIGHT, and THOMAS RITTER, M.D. of New York, establish the trust-worthiness and high respectability of the writer.

“I received the following letters from the south during the year 1833.  They were written by a gentleman who had then resided some years in the slave states.  Not being at liberty to give the writer’s name, I cheerfully certify that he is a gentleman of established character, a graduate of Yale College, and a respected minister of the gospel.

“ARTHUR TAPPAN.”

“My acquaintance with the writer of the following letter commenced, I believe, in 1823, from which time we were fellow students in Yale College till 1826.  I have occasionally seen him since.  His character, so far as it has come within my knowledge, has been that of an upright and remarkably candid man.  I place great confidence both in his habits of careful and unprejudiced observation and his veracity.

“E.  WRIGHT, jun.  New York, April 13, 1839.”

“I have been acquainted with the writer of the following letter about twelve years, and know him to be a gentleman of high respectability, integrity, and piety.  We were fellow students in Yale College, and my opportunities for judging of his character, both at that time and since our graduation, have been such, that I feel myself fully warranted in making the above unequivocal declaration.

“THOMAS RITTER. 104, Cherry-street, New York.”

“NATCHEZ, 1833.