light it would be, to trace their
blood through many generations of stupid, sluggish, imbecile
ancestors, with no claim to merit but the name they carry down, will
even submit to be called '_novi homines_,' if a convict stand in the
line of ancestry."

[426] With perhaps the single exception of South Carolina, of which
the reader will learn more farther on.

[427] American Annals.

[428] Dr. Holmes says, "The total number of mulattoes in Maryland
amounted to 3,592," in 1755.

CHAPTER XVII.

THE COLONY OF DELAWARE.

1636-1775.

THE TERRITORY OF DELAWARE SETTLED IN PART BY SWEDES AND
DANES, ANTERIOR TO THE YEAR 1678.--THE DUKE OF YORK
TRANSFERS THE TERRITORY OF DELAWARE TO WILLIAM PENN.--PENN
GRANTS THE COLONY THE PRIVILEGE OF SEPARATE
GOVERNMENT.--SLAVERY INTRODUCED ON THE DELAWARE AS EARLY AS
1636.--COMPLAINT AGAINST PETER ALRICKS FOR USING OXEN AND
NEGROES BELONGING TO THE COMPANY.--THE FIRST LEGISLATION ON
THE SLAVERY QUESTION IN THE COLONY.--AN ENACTMENT OF A LAW
FOR THE BETTER REGULATION OF SERVANTS.--AN ACT RESTRAINING
MANUMISSION.

Anterior to the year 1638, the territory now occupied by the State of
Delaware was settled in part by Swedes and Danes. It has been recorded
of them that they early declared that it was "not lawful to buy and
keep slaves."[429] But the Dutch claimed the territory. When New
Netherlands was ceded to the Duke of York, Delaware was occupied by
his representatives. On the 24th of August, 1682, the Duke transferred
that territory to William Penn.[430] But in 1703 Penn surrendered the
old form of government, and gave the Delaware counties the privilege
of a separate administration under the _Charter of Privileges_.
Delaware inaugurated a legislature, but remained under the Council and
Governor of Pennsylvania. But slavery made its appearance on the
Delaware as early as 1636.[431]

"At this early period there appears to have been slavery on
the Delaware. As one Coinclisse was 'condemned, on the 3d of
February, to serve the company with the blacks on South
River for wounding a soldier at Fort Amsterdam. He was also
to pay a fine to the fiscal, and damages to the wounded
soldier.' On the 22d, a witness testifying in the case of
Governor Van Twiller, (the governor of New Neitherlands
before Kieft,) who was charged with neglect and
mismanagement of the company's affairs, said that '