ters; but these cases are no evidence that there could
not be slaves in the Province, for sometimes masters
permitted their slaves to recover, to get clear of
maintaining them as _paupers_ when old and infirm; the
effect, as then generally understood, of a judgment against
the master on this point of slavery; hence, a very feeble
defence was often made by the masters, especially when sued
by the old or infirm slaves, as the masters could not even
manumit their slaves, without indemnifying their towns
against their maintenance, as town paupers."

And Chief-Justice Parsons, in the case of Winchendon _vs._ Hatfield,
in error, says,--

"Several negroes, born in this country of imported slaves
demanded their freedom of their masters by suit at law, and
obtained it by a judgment of court. The defence of the
master was feebly made, for such was the temper of the
times, that a restless discontented slave was worth little;
and when his freedom was obtained in a course of legal
proceedings, the master was not holden for his future
support, if he became poor."

Thus did the slaves of Massachusetts fill their mouths with arguments,
and go before the courts. The majority of them, aged and infirm, were
allowed to gain their cause in order that their masters might be
relieved from supporting their old age. The more intelligent, and,
consequently, the more determined ones, were allowed to have their
freedom from prudential reasons, more keenly felt than frankly
expressed by their masters. In some instances, however, noble,
high-minded Christians, on the bench and on juries, were led to their
conclusions by broad ideas of justice and humanity. But the spirit of
the age was cold and materialistic. With but a very few exceptions,
the most selfish and constrained motives conspired to loose the chains
of the bondmen in the colony.

The slaves were not slow to see that the colonists were in a frame of
mind to be persuaded on the question of emancipation. Their feelings
were at white heat in anticipation of the Revolutionary struggle, and
the slaves thought it time to strike out a few sparks of sympathy.

On the 25th of June, 1773, a petition was presented to the House of
Representatives, and read before that body during the afternoon
session. It was the petition "of Felix Holbrook, and others, Negroes,
praying that they may be liberated from a state o