SW_Sutcliff_Page_098

Alexandria was present in the stage, as the driver gave this account; and being well acquainted with the man, considered him worthy of credit. 8th Month, 18th. I attended Alexandria meet-ing; and, in the afternoon, drank tea with a friend from Birmingham, now well settled here with his wife and children. My home was at P. J.'s where I lodged and was kindly entertained. The member of black slaves kept in and near Alexandria, is very great. On market days many come out of the country with fruit, vegetables, &;c. and some, even girls of 10 or 12 years of age, are seen walking the streets with baskets on their heads, without any clothing. Some, both men and women, are nearly without clothing; and what little is allowed to many of them is all in rags. Their com-mon full dress is a coarse sacking or linsey woolsey shirt and trowsers for the men; and, for the women, a long garment or a petticoat, and a short waist-coat of the same meterials; both sexes go without shoes or stockings, and mostly without hats. I understood from a respectable person that farther to the South he has seen, at the houses of what are called gentlemen, the young blacks waiting at table, quite naked; without discovering any appearance of shame either in master or slave There is a very striking contrast between the ap-pearance of the horses or teams in Pennsylvania,