n being so wholly different from any
thing I had ever seen from one of his color, his question
made so deep an impression on my mind I have ever since
retained a perfect recollection of it, except two lines,
which do not alter the sense. I remember that George
Ellicott, was engaged in making out the answer, and cannot
now say that he succeeded, but have no doubt he did. I have
thus, briefly given you my recollections of Benjamin
Banneker. I was young when he died, and doubtless many
incidents respecting him, have, from the time which has
since elapsed, passed from my recollection:

"CHARLES W. DORSEY, _of Elkridge_."

After the death of his mother, Banneker dwelt alone until the day of
his death, having never married, his manners were gentle and engaging,
his benevolence proverbial. His home became a place of great interest
to visitors, whom he always received cordially, and treated hospitably
all who called.

"We found the venerable star-gazer," says the author of the
Memoir of Susanna Mason, "under a wide spreading pear tree,
leaden with delicious fruit; he came forward to meet us, and
bade us welcome to his lowly dwelling. It was built of logs,
one story in height, and was surrounded by an orchard. In
one corner of the room, was suspended a clock of his own
construction, _which_ was a true hearald of departing hours.
He was careful in the little affairs of life as well as in
the great matters. He kept record of all his business
transactions, literary and domestic. The following extracts
from his Account Book exhibit his love for detail.

"'Sold on the 2nd of April, 1795, to Buttler, Edwards &
Kiddy, the right of an Almanac, for the year 1796, for the
sum of 80 dollars, equal to L30.

"'On the 30th of April, 1795, lent John Ford five dollars.
L1 17s. 6d.

"'12th of December, 1797, bought a pound of candles at 1s.
8d.

"'Sold to John Collins 2 qts. of dried peaches 6d. "1 qt.
mead 4d.

"'On the 26th of March, came Joshua Sanks with 3 or 4
bushels of turnips to feed the cows.

"'13th of April, 1803, planted beans and sowed cabbage
seed.'

"He took down from a shelf a little book, wherein he
registered the names of those, by whose visits he felt
particularly honored, and recorded my mother's na