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Travels in Some Parts of North America, in the Years 1804, 1805, & 1806, by Robert Sutcliff

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An active clever woman of this place, with a servant and two children, came with me in the stage part of the way to Fredericksburgh. She told me that she was a native of Edinburgh, and that her husband and family had been settled for some time to Richmond, as linen-drapers and mil-liners; had been successful in business, and had the prospect of a continuance of success; but, as a longer residence there, would, in their view, be attended with almost certain ruin to the morals of their children, they had determined to leave the place, and remove to a less exposed situation; where they would not be tried with the con-taminating influence and effects of this unhollowed system of slavery. For an active, industrious couple, with a numerous rising family, thus to come to the resolution of quitting a lucrative bu-siness and situation on these ground, is, I think, a mark of best wisdom and sound judgment, and is worthy the imitation of all those who are alike circumstanced. 8th Month, 16th. I left Richmond in the morning; and reached the Bowling green Tavern to dinner. The owner of the plantation on which this Tavern stands, it was said, had more than 200 slaves in his employment. I reached Fredericks-burg this night. In passing along, I saw some Yams growing, at a little distance, south of Fre-dericksburg. 8th Month, 17th.