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Journal of Joshua Evans 1795-1796 (E)

SW_JE1796E_Page_79

as much water, morning, noon and night without any flesh; Boarding at one house, wegenerally sat at one Table. Some at first looked at me with astonishment,and tho' they had never seen the like, said they believed, or did not know,but it was the right way of living, but it would be hard for them to sub-mit to. -- As they had private Rooms, a number of them invitedme (as it was at a tavern we were, &; near 50 boarders all men of Note.) that if atanytime I was weary of noise &; craved to me more retired, I might freelycome into their rooms, &; sit with them; &; that they should be pleased if Iwould make so free. All this seemed to be in my favour to furnishme, when my mind was so engaged, with opportunities to touch on theircruel Laws, the hardships &; inhuman cruelties to which the poor blackswere Subjected in that Government &;c. I queried of them Why Things shouldbe in such a severe Way here, more than in any other Place that I hadheard of: For I had been thro' each of the Governments Eastward, as well as Mary- land and Virginia lately, and had not heard of any Cruelty of the kindsanction'd by any other Legislative Body on the Continent: Some of themspake of other States not having so many Slaves in them, and less occasion forfear of their rising &;c; my answer to that was, Those who so cruelly oppressthe Slaves, have more occasion to fear their rising, &;c: My treating with themon the subject was in a way of plain dealing, and so well received thatmany of them kindly invited me to come and see them, if I should come neartheir dwellings, for that it would give them pleasure (as they said) to entertain me: It was unexpected also to my Companion &; myself, when he cameto Settle for our Tavern Expences whilst there, the Man would takeno pay for my Boarding, he was so well pleased with the visit.