FOR THE GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES.
LETTER. No. IV.
MR. FENNO,
IN my lad I have dated the example of blacks, who mtermar
ried by force of conquest with two European nations happy
was it for the conquered, that their colour only changed on this
account —however as we all admit full blood, three quaiters, and
half blood, in our hounds and horses—it will not appear a para
dox, if 1 lay it down as a general rule, that when m animated na
ture higher orders intermix with lower ones, the original charac
ter is gradually debated, and finally loft ; this leads me to an ex
amination of what would happen if negroes were made freemen,
living among us. ._ c
Different notions have been held on the manumission ot negroes
——let us fcleit one, and suppose that it was granted on all lidcs,
that the childien of the Oaves which will be born the next year,
are to be free. As the law can, I believe, make no difference be- |
tween citizens of the empire, ot what colour they may be, a giadiul
intermarriage of the whites and blacks will happen of course:
Where is, among our citizens, the mother of a family blelkd with
beautiful daughters, who will not ihudder when Ine thinks, that
there might be only a probability, that her great grand daughters
Swill have black muzzles and crooked figures ; moreover this is but
the smallest part of the bitter fruits with which black, citizenlhip
tyould be pregnant—it would be uncloling Pandora s box
Although I believe that the new black citizen would reel grate
ful for his manumission, yet this sentiment will soon subside, and
be fully cxtinguifhed in the next generation; the difference in
corporal and intelle&ual qualities would be ielt by the black, the
consciousness of his inferiority would extinguish gratitude, and
iealoufy would be his prevailing paflion —(houldany invalion hap
pen, the enemy would purchase the blacks on ealy terms, and
without any foreign attack this jealousy would have the molt fa
tal effetts, and cause constant dilturbances in the empire ; tranquil
ity would fly from Columbia, and not be re-eftabhihed until inter
marriage had dyed the nation nearly one and the fame colour .
But then the original chafer of the nation will only stand re
corded in the historic page, when it speaks of the times of their
ancestors becoming renowned in the annals of mankind by repe
ling tyranny, and assuming their independency with spirit; when
by gigantic strides they role into consequence, and outlhonc even
their originals in arms, in fcienccs and arts—when they crowned
the liberty of the citizen by a uniform federal government : then
genius was a native of this happy foil—and ihe foreigner gloried
to be an American freeman. RUST ICUS.
FOR THE GAZETTE Of THE UNITED STATES.
MR. FENNO,
I AM a Jheep-hairy negro, the son of an African
man and woman ; by a train of fortunate
events I was left free, when very young, and by
the interposition of the most generous of mankind,
1 have received a common tnglifti school educa
tion, and have been inftru&ed in the christian
religion—l am master of a trade whereby I get a
comfortable living: Myleifjre time I employ in
reading, it is my delight, and I am encoliraged
by several spirited, noble and generous American
freemen, who are pleased to praise me for employ
ing my time.so much more rationally (as they fay)
than most of the white men who are in the fame
ilation of life that I am : And do not consider
me as the link in the creation by which the mon
key hangs to the gentleman. 1 eftcem it among
thebleffings of my situation, that by my industry
:is a tradesman, I am enabled to purchase your
interesting publication, and by my alfiduity as
a student 1 am enabled to read it with profit : Bnt
I fear alj my application has not made me equal
to the irafk I have undertaken, of penning a let
ter, which (hall appear to you worthy of a place
in your next number ; the arduous talk of appear
ing as an opponent to the philosophic Rufticus.—
Had this philofophcr advanced anything new
1 should not dare to step forward ; but to his
present hackney'd theme, I shall oppose the ar
guments of such as have written against the idea
of ottf inferior nature, particularly Mr. Clarkfon :
The philofoplier'schain is arufty affair ; I fliall
take'little notice of his bulls and wild ducks—l
•would willingly come to the point: Rullicusgoes
■upon the principle which Lord Kaims labored very
hard to establish, that the variety of colour, fea
tures, &c. in the human species, proved them to be
derived from various ftocks,andjnot as the otdfajbi
cr.ed erroneous scriptures aflert, all the descendants
of Adam. His next is the principle of links—
in which if I mistake not his idea—he and his
brethren of European extraction, stand or hang
inferior to none but angels—to them follow the
dther nations of the earth.—As, effeminate Asia
tics—long haired savages of America—fheep
hairy Africans—Africans with ivolfes muzzles—
and next I suppose the various kinds of the mon
key, &c. &c.—Now if I can prove by the aflift
ance aforementioned, that thefirft is a falfe prin
ciple, and that Europeans, Asiatics, Americans
and Africans are all the descendants of Noah—
The second principle will fall of course, at lead
so far, that because I have a black skin (tho by
the by my skin is already whiter than niy father's
\vas) flat nose, thick lips and sheep-hair, I fhalj
not be hook'd on at the lower end of the chain
of human beings
It is really amusing, not to fay laughable,to fee
■vith what eagerness Lord Kaims pursues his fa
vorite difcrim'mating plan : I will instance one of
his proofs that there are different species of men by
nature totally d';flinll Jrom each other. " The Gia
gas" fays this great critic " a fierce and wand
ering nation in the heart of Africa" (only notice
what a fruitful and convenient foil Africa is for
monftcrs) " are in efFedl land pirates at war with
all the world. They indulge in polygamy, but
bury all their children the moment of birth, and
chufe in their stead the most promising children
taken in war. There is no principle among ani
mals more prevalent than afFedtion to their off
spring : Supposing the Giagas to be born without
handsorfeet, would they be more difttngiufhable
from the reft of mankind ?"•—So blindly did the
Author of the elements of criticism pursue his fa
vorite system, that he never considered that 11
the Giagas destroyed all their children, and a
dopted the children of various strange nations,
of course this diftincft species of men were ex
tind: after the firft generation, and all the various
nations that they incorporated with themfelyes,
were precisely of the fame extraordinary, distinct
and monstrous nature. —So idle are the specula
tions of the wisest men when they wander from
the pure light of reason and religion.
I shall now bring forward in as concise a mm-
I ner as pofiible, a few of the arguments made use
of by Mr. Clarkfon, in opposition to the main
principle of Rufticus.
The firft argument by which it is attempted to
be proved " that the Africans are an inferior
link in the chain of nature," is the supposed in
feriority of their capacities—The argument is so
weak it does not deserve notice, neither would it
become me.—The second is drawn*from color and
featutes, nay, " even the hair of their heads is
brought into the account"—My parents born in
Africa, have not the white skin, therofy cheek,
the prominant nose and black teeth of Rufticus,
therefore are not only atliftindt, but an inferior
species of animal : The worthy author before
me (Mr. Clarkfon) fays " It is an universal law,
observable throughout the whole creation that if
two animals of a different species propagate, their off
fpring is unable to continue its own species. By this
admirable law, the different species are preser
ved diftind:. Now if we apply this law to those
of the human kind, who are said to be of a di
ftimft species from each other,it immediately fails.
The mulatto is as capable of continuing his spe
cies as his father ; a clear and irrefragable proof
that the scripture account of the creation is true,
and that " God, who hath made the world,hath
made of one blood all the nations of men that
dwell on all the face of the earth." This law
of nature will not suit Rufticus—who fays, " na
ture gofcs not from one species of animal abruptly
to the next: There are beings who separate one
fort from the other and partake in their form and
habit something of both ; these I call intermedi
ate beings"— Nature knows no such intermediate
beings—the animals Rufticus enumerates (such
of them as we know to exist) are diftin<ft species
of animals, and are divided by the above menti
oned law.
If mankind are from one stock they conse
quently had but one colour, and was that white ?
No—We have every reason to believe that it
was a dark olive.—Then is Ruiticus as far from
the original colour as I am. It will now bealked
what has caused the various appearances of men
atprefent—l answer from my book " a co-ope
ration of certain causes, which have an effed:
upon the human frame, and have the power of
changing it more or lei's from its primitive ap
pearance, as they are more or less numerous or
powerful than those, which a<fted upon the frame
of man in the firll feat of his habitation."—Cli
mate appears to have the principal fliare in the
variety of colour—Anatomical experiments have
established it as fa<ft, that the feat of colour is the
corpus mucofum, which is found to vary with the
climate throughout the world.
I must refer my reader to Mr. Clarkfon's eflay
on the slavery and commerce of the human spe
cies for a ftatementof fadis, and arguments that
will remove every doubt on this fubjetft, and con
vince him that our colour is no proof that we are
an inferior link in the great chain of creation.
I fear I have already made my letter too long—
I hope Mr. Fenno wili correct my inaccuracy (if
he thinks my attempt to vindicate those of my
colour fit for the public eye) and excuse my art
less arrangement of my fubje<st.—l will conclude
by anfv/ering the last queition of Rufticus. No
human law can by intermixing species overthrow
. the fixed order of nature—but the American and
the African are one species—The law of nature
declares it—And I, a flieep-hairy African negro,
being free and in some degree enlightened, feel
myfelf equal to the duties of a spirited, noble, and
generous American freeman. AFRICAN US.
LATE EUROPEAN NEWS.
SPAIN.
ESCURIAL, Nov. 9.
His Catholic Majefly went on Thursday last to
Madrid, to dismiss the Cortes according to the
usual form.
Nov. 16. His Catholic Majesty was pleased to
declare, on the 12th inft. the civil promotions
made on the occasion of his coronation, the pub.
lication of which was deferred till the Cortes had
finilhed their deliberations. Each of the Mem
bers of that Afl'emblv, which consisted of feventy
four persons, lias received a mark of the Catho
lic King's favor, according to his rank. Amonll
other numerous promotions, are, the creation of
eight grandees of' Spain, ninehouorary grandees,
five knights of the golden fleece, one of whom is
M. de Norohna, the Portuguefe-Ambaflador here,
ten knights of the great cross of Charles 111. two
-372-
counfellars and four honorary counsellors of
state, and twenty-two chamberlains.
LONDON, Dec. 31.
Tl)& official account of the capture ofßruflels,
pnblifhed by the Patriots, is as under. It is dated
the 12th of December.
" At length, notwithstanding the ai iniilice,
and every other pretence, 500 brave Patriots of
Bruflels have dared to engage in battle with 6poo
Auftrains. The adtion commenced yellerday af
ternoon, at four o'clock. The firft attenpt was to
make prisoners of all the soldiers who guarded
the Mint, and those who were quartered in the
different converts. General D'Alton did his ut
most from fix o'clock in the morning to negociate
an armistice. About seven o'clock, 800 men of
Benden-D'Aloft entered the city with two pieces
of cannon, which they planted on the Grand Pa
lace. About ten o'clock General D'Alton thought
proper to fend a large detatchment in order to
release, by forcible means, the officers and pri
vates made prisoners in the Baileville. This was
the signal for a new engagement, which will be
ever memorable for itsvic'tory. The Patriots no
longer able to contain thenifelves, routed the
whole detatchnient. To the number of 500, at
the utmost, they invelled the great market, and
after a most obltinatc conflict, they made them r
selves matters of the Coros de Garde, and two
pieces of cannon, and took oboiit 400 Auftrians
prisoners. Aboutthe fame time the engagement
re-commenced in all quarters of the city ; and, in
less than two hours, the Patriots made thenifelves
111 after of the barracks of the military and of the
magazines, in which they found near 2,000 mus
kets, besides cartridges, ammunition, &c. To
wards noon, they attacked the Park and the Pal
ace Royale, where the greatest body of troops
were concentered, with 12 pieces or cannon.
After a very heavy firing 011 both fides, D'Alton
perceiving that the place was no longer tenable
against so much bravery, capitulated for the im
mediate retreat of his whole gerrifon ; and the
requelt having been acceded to, about one o'clock
they departed, with great precipitation, through
the Porte de Nainur. But as all the soldiers are
not equally inclined to follow hint, at the mo
ment this is writing, they are squabbling among
themielves, without the city. Already, we have
got more than 3,000 prisoners ; buta few killed,
and 110 lioufes plundered.
Authenticitatcm tejlor, (Signed)
G. B. A. SCHELLEKENS, GREKFIER."
The llave trade is abolifhedin Bengal. Lord
Cornwallis has just ifliied a proclamation, and
which has been published in the difterentlan
guages of the country, declaring, that all per
sons who may hereafter be found, either dirertly
or indirectly, (concerned therein, lhall be pro
secuted in the Supreme Court. A reward of
ioo Sicca rupees is offered in the proclamation,
and fifty rupees more for every person delivered
from slavery or confinement by the discovery.
WHITEHALL, Dec, 19.
The King has been pleased to constitute and
appoint Thomas M'Donough, Efq, to be his Ma
jesty's Consul in the states of Maflachufett s
Bay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut and New-Hamp
fliire.
The King has also been pleased to constitute
and appoint John Hamilton, Esq. to be his Ma
jetty's Con fill in the state of Virginia.
WHEN the late Doctor Rock, of facetious me
mory, used to publish his medicines in the
mountebank style, and was once extolling their
virtues on Tower-Hill, he obferveda Porter, who
had attracted part of his audience to a separate
circle—This not being very agreeable tothephy
fical orator, he enquired what the fellow was do
ing ? " Why, Dodtor," said one of the croud,
" he tells us he remembers the time when you
" was a porter as well as himfelf."—" It is very
" true," replied Rock, " but you fee he is a
PORTER still !"
Wanted by the Editor of this paper, a Houje that "
commodate a largefamily, and the printing bufmtfs—jrom thefrji oj
May next.
WILLIAM TAYLOR,
Has for Sale, at his EAST-INDIA GOODS STORE,
No. 4, Burling-Slip,
A General Attornment of EAST-INDIA GOOD
Among which are the following Articles:
BOOK.Muslins 8-4 6-4 5-4 || HUMIIUMS,
Jackonet do. j| Long Cloths,
Hankerchiefs,of various kinds,|| Cartas,
Chintzes, || Seersuckers,
Ginghams, || Boglapores.
A Variety of handsome painted MUSLINS.
With many other Articles, which will be fold by the Piece or
Package, low for caih. nnM
And a few pair large handsome Cotton COUN
TERPANES, much warmer than Blankets.
January 9, 1790. - ' " ~
To be L E T, .
And pofTeflion-givcn the lfl of April, for one or more years, v
miles and half from this city, on the Greenwich roac,)
XHAT New TWO STORY HOUSE—four
Rooms on a floor ; with fix fire placcs; a new Bain, an
Well of excellent Water ; a young Orchard of fruit Trees, vv- »
7A acres of Land, themoft part Meadow. For particulars enq
at No. 7, Maiden-Lane. Ktw-Yerk, February 2c.
ANECDOTE.