was a town-clerk in one of our country towns. He was a
man of good sense and morals, and had a school education.
If I remember right, one of his parents was black and the
other either a white or mulatto. He is now dead.
The blacks are not enrolled in the militia. In time of
the insurrection, 1786, they offered their service to governor
BOWDOIN, to go against the insurgents, to the number of 700 ;
but the council did not advise to sending them, and indeed
there was no necessity for their services.
Query 9. Is there any perceptible difference between the
general, moral, or social conduct of emancipated persons, or
their descendants, and others ?
Gentlemen who have studied this matter with philosophi-
cal attention, do not scruple to say, that there is no more
difference between them and those whites who have had the
same education, and have lived in the same habits, than
there is among different persons of that class of whites. In
this opinion I am inclined to acquiesce. It is neither birth
nor colour, but education and habit, which form the human
character.
Query 10. Are intermarriages frequent between blacks
and whites ? if so, are such alliances more frequent between
black men and white women, or the contrary ?
Instances of such intermarriages are very rare ; and it is
said, that the old law prohibiting them, is yet in force ; but
where the intercourse does take place, it is much more fre-
quent between black men and white women than the con-
trary. These white women are, I believe, without excep-
tion, of the lowest class in society, both for education and
morals. Blacks of a virtuous character intermarry with
their own colour.
Query 11. Does harmony in general prevail between the
black and white citizens ? do they associate freely together ?
or is a pre-eminence claimed by the one, and either avowed-
ly or tacitly admitted by the other ?
I am not sensible of any want of harmony in general be-
tween persons of different colours, merely on account of
that difference. People of loose and debauched characters,
and ungovernable passions, especially when they meet at bad