ch it contained, completing the horrors of the day by hanging the
unfortunate mayor.

Conversant as I was with all this strange history, is it wonderful that I
looked with great interest from the wall of Chester in the direction of
Mold?

Once did I make the compass of the city upon the walls, and was beginning
to do the same a second time, when I stumbled against a black, who, with
his arms leaning upon the wall, was spitting over it, in the direction of
the river. I apologised, and contrived to enter into conversation with
him. He was tolerably well dressed, had a hairy cap on his head, was
about forty years of age, and brutishly ugly, his features scarcely
resembling those of a human being. He told me he was a native of
Antigua, a blacksmith by trade, and had been a slave. I asked him if he
could speak any language besides English, and received for answer that
besides English, he could speak Spanish and French. Forthwith I spoke to
him in Spanish, but he did not understand me. I then asked him to speak
to me in Spanish, but he could not. "Surely you can tell me the word for
water in Spanish," said I; he, however, was not able. "How is it," said
I, "that, pretending to be acquainted with Spanish, you do not even know
the word for water?" He said he could not tell, but supposed that he had
forgotten the Spanish language, adding however, that he could speak
French perfectly. I spoke to him in French--he did not understand me: I
told him to speak to me in French, but he did not. I then asked him the
word for bread in French, but he could not tell me. I made no
observations on his ignorance, but inquired how he liked being a slave?
He said not at all; that it was very bad to be a slave, as a slave was
forced to work. I asked him if he did not work now that he was free? He
said very seldom; that he did not like work, and that it did not agree
with him. I asked how he came into England, and he said that wishing to
see England, he had come over with a gentleman as his servant, but that
as soon as he got there, he had left his master, as he did not like work.
I asked him how he contrived to live in England without working? He said
that any black might live in England without working; that all he had to
do was to attend religious meetings, and speak against slavery and the
Americans. I asked him if he had done so. He said he had, and that the
religious people were very kind to him, and gave him money, and tha