sired, in
most cases, to buy them. At the Fripp Point auction the
negroes showed their ungracious, not to say ungrateful
spirit, by bidding against W. C. G. and actually buying all
the mules, oxen, and cows away from him. In looking forward
to the auction at Coffin's Point; where the movables alone
had been appraised as worth more than Mr. Philbrick had paid
for the entire place, H. W. writes:

_March 6._ We were doubtful how far the behavior of the Fripp Point
people might affect ours, though C. was quite confident there would be
no trouble--and moreover expected a good many outsiders, as R. said
Beaufort people had been inquiring all through the week when the sale
was to take place here, with the significant remark, "Coffin's Point's
the place!" and we knew if they did come things would be run up very
high. So that it was impossible not to feel a most uncomfortable
anxiety all day.

_March 7._ Monday morning the first thing I heard was Mike in excited
tones calling to C. that the Fripp people were coming over "to buy
everything out de gate"--that they would leave everything on top
Massa Charlie, but that he must not let the stranger black people get
anything.

Fortunately Mike's fears proved to be exaggerated, and Massa
Charlie got practically everything that he wanted.

The next letter, from Mr. Philbrick to W. C. G., is
concerned with several different matters. The last paragraph
will serve to introduce a number of extracts all concerned
with criticisms directed against Mr. Philbrick by
Abolitionists and negroes.

E. S. P. TO W. C. G.

_Boston, March 24._ I hope no cases of merchandise will be opened
without carefully comparing contents with the invoices, and if any
errors are found they should be reported immediately. I am sorry to
see that a considerable deficit was found in some of the stores, which
I can only account for on the supposition of theft. I think sufficient
care has not been taken to guard against theft from carts on road. The
value of the property lost is not a matter of so much consequence as
the demoralization to the thief and to others who are encouraged to
similar practices by his example. I don't think the negroes one bit
worse in this respect than the laboring classes of other countries,
and not nearly so bad as the lower classes in all large cities. But we
ought to be very careful how we expose them to temptations which they
a