I had known what it was to be kindly treated they had known nothing of the kind. I suffered more anxiety than most of my fellow-slaves. We all felt that we might as well be sold at once to the Georgia traders, as to pass into his hands for we knew that that would be our inevitable condition,-a condition held by us all in the utmost horror and dread. He was known to us all as being a most cruel wretch,-a common drunkard, who had, by his reckless mismanagement and profligate dissipation, already wasted a large portion of his father's property.

In addition to the pain of separation, there was the horrid dread of falling into the hands of Master Andrew. A single word from the white men was enough-against all our wishes, prayers, and entreaties-to sunder forever the dearest friends, dearest kindred, and strongest ties known to human beings. we had no more voice in that decision than the brutes among whom we were ranked. I have no language to express the high excitement and deep anxiety which were felt among us poor slaves during this time. After the valuation, then came the division. At this moment, I saw more clearly than ever the brutalizing effects of slavery upon both slave and slaveholder. Silvery-headed age and sprightly youth, maids and matrons, had to undergo the same indelicate inspection. There were horses and men, cattle and women, pigs and children, all holding the same rank in the scale of being, and were all subjected to the same narrow examination. Men and women, old and young, married and single, were ranked with horses, sheep, and swine.

We were all ranked together at the valuation. I was only about five years old when I left it, to go and live with my old master on Colonel Lloyd's plantation so that I was now between ten and eleven years old. I, however, remembered the place very well.

I had now been absent from it almost, if not quite, five years. I took passage with Captain Rowe, in the schooner Wild Cat, and, after a sail of about twenty-four hours, I found myself near the place of my birth. I left Baltimore with a young heart overborne with sadness, and a soul full of apprehension. Prior to this, I had become, if not insensible to my lot, at least partly so. I had now a new conception of my degraded condition. Here again my feelings rose up in detestation of slavery. I was immediately sent for, to be valued with the other property. It was therefore necessary to have a valuation of the property, that it might be equally divided between Mrs. Cut off thus unexpectedly, he left no will as to the disposal of his property. He died while on a visit to see his daughter at Hillsborough.

In a very short time after I went to live at Baltimore, my old master's youngest son Richard died and in about three years and six months after his death, my old master, Captain Anthony, died, leaving only his son, Andrew, and daughter, Lucretia, to share his estate.

Life of an american slave