Bell,
Nicholas Franklin, and Moses Liverpool. Not one of this trio of Negro
educators knew a letter of the alphabet; but having lived as slaves in
Virginia, they had learned to appreciate the opinion that learning was
of great price. They secured a white teacher, named Lowe, and put
their school in operation.

At this time the entire population of free persons amounted to 494
souls. After a brief period the school subsided, but was reorganized
again in 1818. The announcement of the opening of the school was
printed in the "National Intelligencer" on the 29th of August, 1818.

"_A School_,

Founded by an association of free people of color, of the city of
Washington, called the 'Resolute Beneficial Society,' situate
near the Eastern Public School and the dwelling of Mrs. Fenwick,
is now open for the reception of children of free people of color
and others, that ladies or gentlemen may think proper to send to
be instructed in reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar,
or other branches of education apposite to their capacities, by a
steady, active, and experienced teacher, whose attention is
wholly devoted to the purposes described. It is presumed that
free colored families will embrace the advantages thus presented
to them, either by subscribing to the funds of the society, or by
sending their children to the school. An improvement of the
intellect and morals of colored youth being the objects of this
institution, the patronage of benevolent ladies, and gentlemen,
by donation or subscription, is humbly solicited in aid of the
fund, the demands thereon being heavy and the means at present
much too limited. For the satisfaction of the public, the
constitution and articles of association are printed and
published. And to avoid disagreeable occurrences, no writings are
to be done by the teacher for a slave, neither directly nor
indirectly, to serve the purpose of a slave on any account
whatever. Further particulars may be known by applying to any of
the undersigned officers.

"WILLIAM COSTIN, _President_.
"GEORGE HICKS, _Vice-President_.
"JAMES HARRIS, _Secretary_.
"GEORGE BELL, _Treasurer_.
"ARCHIBALD JOHNSON, _Marshal_.
"FRE