lavery from
among ourselves. Let the State allow of nothing beyond
servitude for a stipulated number of years, and that only
for seven or eight, when persons are of age, or till they
are of age: and let the descendants of the Africans born
among us, be viewed as free-born; and be wholly at their own
disposal when one-and-twenty, the latter part of which age
will compensate for the expense of infancy, education, and
so on."

No one gave heed. Two months later, Nov. 14, there appeared in "The
Independent Chronicle" of Boston a plan for gradual emancipation; and
on the 28th of the same month, in the same paper there appeared a
communication demanding specific and immediate legislation against
slavery. But all seemed vain: there were few moral giants among the
friends of "liberty for all;" and the comparative silence of the press
and pulpit gave the advocates of human slavery an easy victory.

Boston, the home of Warren, and the city that witnessed the first holy
offering to liberty, busied herself through all the perilous years of
the war in buying and selling human beings. The following are but a
few of the many advertisements that appeared in the papers of the city
of Boston during the war:--[622]

From "The Independent Chronicle," Oct. 3, 1776:--

"_To be_ SOLD A stout, hearty, likely NEGRO GIRL, fit for
either Town or Country. Inquire of Mr. _Andrew Gillespie,
Dorchester, Octo., 1., 1776._"

From the same, Oct. 10:--

"A hearty NEGRO MAN, with a small sum of Money to be given
away."

From the same, Nov. 28:--

"To SELL--A Hearty likely NEGRO WENCH about 12 or 13 Years
of Age, has had the Small Pox, can wash, iron, card, and
spin, etc., for no other Fault but for want of Employ."

From the same, Feb. 27, 1777:--

"WANTED a NEGRO GIRL between 12 and 20 Years of Age, for
which a good Price will be given, if she can be
recommended."

From "The Continental Journal," April 3, 1777:--

"_To be_ SOLD, a likely Negro Man, twenty-two years old, has
had the small-pox, can do any sort of business; sold for
want of employment."

_To be_ SOLD, a large, commodious Dwelling House, Barn, and
Out-houses, with any quantity of land from 1 to 50 acres, as
the Purchaser shall choose within 5 miles of Boston. Also a
smart well-tempered NEGRO BOY of 14 years old, not to go out
of this State