late Continental Congress.

"_IV._--_Resolved_, That we will neither import or purchase
any slave imported from Africa or elsewhere after this day,
(July, 6.")

The sincerity with which this agreement was entered into may be seen by
the action of the colonists at Norfolk, Virginia, where, in March, 1775,
a brig arrived from the coast of Guinea, via Jamaica, with a number of
slaves on board consigned to a merchant of that town. To use a modern
phrase the vessel was _boycotted_ by the committee, who published the
following:

"TO THE FREEMEN OF VIRGINIA.
{ COMMITTEE CHAMBER,
{ NORFOLK, March 6th, 1775.

"Trusting to your sure resentment against the enemies of
your country, we, the committee, elected by ballot for the
Borough of Norfolk, hold up for your just indignation Mr.
John Brown, merchant, of this place.

"On Thursday, the 2nd of March, this committee were informed
of the arrival of the brig Fanny, Capt. Watson, with a
number of slaves for Mr. Brown; and, upon inquiry, it
appeared they were shipped from Jamaica as his property, and
on his account; that he had taken great pains to conceal
their arrival from the knowledge of the committee; and that
the shipper of the slaves, Mr. Brown's correspondent, and
the captain of the vessel, were all fully apprised of the
Continental prohibition against the article.

"From the whole of this transaction, therefore, we, the
committee for Norfolk Borough, do give it as our unanimous
opinion, that the said John Brown has wilfully and
perversely violated the Continental Association, to which he
had with his own hand subscribed obedience; and that,
agreeable to the eleventh article, we are bound, forthwith,
to publish the truth of the case, to the end that all such
foes to the rights of British America may be publicly known
and universally contemned as the enemies of American
liberty, and that every person may henceforth break off all
dealings with him."

This was the voice of a majority of the colonists, and those who
dissented were regarded as Tories, and in favor of the crown as against
the independence of the colonies, although there were many at the North
and South who held slaves, and were yet loyal to the cause of the
colonies; but the public sentiment wa