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

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Or what avails it, tho' fair freedom rear, Her beauteous throne upon a fertile land, If there ten thousands still the chain must wear, And, unregarded, lift the suppliant hand! 1st Month, 18th. I spent this day at Philadel-phia. In crossing the floating bridge at the upper ferry, I observed the people engaged in a singular kind of harvest, being employed in breaking up and taking away large quantities of ice, to lay up for summer use. Those who have never visited warm climates, can scarcely conceive how pleasant the use of ice is, for various purposes of the table, in the summer season. 1st Month, 25th. In crossing the Schuylkill on the floating bridge, at the upper ferry, I passed a Negro boy apparently about 12 years of age. Round his neck an iron collar was locked, and from each side of it an iron bow passed over his head. His dress was a light linsey jacket and trowsers, without hat, shoes, or stockings. Soon after passing the boy, whom I supposed to be a runaway slave, I met a person of whom I inquired the reason of the boy is having so much iron about him. The man replied that the boy was his, and was so often running away that he had used that method to prevent him. 1st Month, 29th. After having passed several days at Merion, chiefly in writing to my family