me upon the
list; he then, diffidently, but very respectfully, requested
her acceptance of one of his Almanacs in manuscript."

Within a few days after this visit Mrs. Mason addressed him in a
poetical letter, which found its way into the papers of the section,
and was generally read. The subjoined portions are sufficient to
exhibit the character of the effusion. The admonitory lines at the end
doubtless refer to his early addiction to strong drink.

"_An Address to_ BENJAMIN BANNEKER, _an African Astronomer,
who presented the Author with a Manuscript Almanac in_
1796."

"Transmitted on the wings of Fame,
Thine _eclat_ sounding with thy name,
Well pleased, I heard, ere 'twas my lot
To see thee in thy humble cot.
That genius smiled upon thy birth,
And application called it forth;
That times and tides thou could'st presage,
And traverse the Celestial stage,
Where shining globes their circles run,
In swift rotation round the sun;
Could'st tell how planets in their way,
From order ne'er were known to stray.
Sun, moon and stars, when they will rise,
When sink below the upper skies,
When an eclipse shall veil their light,
And hide their splendor from our sight.
. . . . . . . . .
Some men whom private walks pursue,
Whom fame ne'er ushered into view,
May run their race, and few observe
To right or left, if they should swerve,
Their blemishes would not appear,
Beyond their lives a single year.--
But thou, a man exalted high,
Conspicuous in the world's keen eye,
On record now, thy name's enrolled,
And future ages will be told,--
There lived a man named BANNEKER,
An African Astronomer!--
Thou need'st to have a special care,
Thy conduct with thy talent square,
That no contaminating vice,
Obscure thy lustre in our eyes."

During the following year Banneker sent the following letter to his
good friend Mrs. Mason:--

"_August 26th, 1797_.

"DEAR FEMALE FRIEND:--

"I have thought of you every day since I saw you last, and
of my promise in respect of composing some verses for your
amusement, but I am very much indisposed, and have been
ever since that time. I have a constant pain in my head, a
palpitatio