alarming dispensation, and excite to impartial justice and judgment to black and white, rich and poor.

"Under the calming influences of pure love, we do with great unanimity, give it as our sense and judgment, that quarterly and monthly meetings should speedily unite in a further close labour with all such as are slaveholders, and have any right of membership with us. And where any members continue to reject the advice of their brethren, and refuse to execute proper instruments of writing, for releasing from a state of slavery, such as are in their power, or to whom they have any claim, whether arrived to full age or in their minority, and no hopes of the continuance of Friends' labour being profitable to them, that monthly meetings after having discharged a Christian duty to such, should testify their disunion with them.

"And it appearing from the reports of the several quarters, that there are many difficult and complicated cases, which relate to those oppressed and much injured people, requiring great circumspection and close attention, in order that our religious testimony may be promoted, and that the cause of Truth may not suffer by unprofitable delays, we apprehend all such cases might well be submitted to the quarterly meetings where they subsist, whose advice and judgment should be observed and regarded; so that any member who refuses or declines complying therewith, after being laboured with in the spirit of love and wisdom, should be testified against."

At this Yearly Meeting the following query was adopted in place of the one on the same subject, which had been directed in 1775. "Are Friends clear of importing, purchasing, disposing of, or holding man

kind as slaves? And do they use those well, who are set free, and necessarily under their care, and not in circumstances, through nonage or incapacity, to minister to their own necessities? And are they careful to educate and encourage them in a religious and virtuous life?"

The subordinate meetings upon the receipt of the foregoing minute, appointed committees to carry out the views of the Yearly Meeting. It is apparent from the tenor of their proceedings, that the principal portion of the labour had already been accomplished, and that the greater part of the slaves owned by our members had been set free.

The following extracts will fully justify this remark. In 1776, Philadelphia Monthly Meeting replies to the query, "that a considerable number of the slaves heretofore belonging to members of this meeting have been set at liberty." A committee of that monthly meeting had been labouring since 1774, with those who held slaves, and in 1777, report is made that a few continue to hold negroes in slavery. The minutes of that meeting, from the year 1756 to the year 1783, exhibit an unremitted attention to this subject, in labouring first with those who bought and sold, and next with those who kept, slaves. In 1778, seven members were disowned for the latter offence, and one in the following year. A much greater number emancipated their slaves, so that in 1781 there was but one case under care; and in 1783, the meeting reported that there were no slaves owned by its members.

In the Fourth month, 1777, Haddonfield Quarterly Meeting appointed "a committee to procure manumission papers, and assist the members of the monthly

meetings to manumit their slaves; and also to see to the education of coloured children." This committee continued under appointment for two years, and in the Ninth month, 1779, reported that they had fully complied with their appointment in obtaining manumissions. The names of the few who continued to hold slaves were reported, and directed to be transmitted to the monthly meetings, for them to enforce the discipline. In 1781, the quarterly meeting says: "It appears there has been a general releasement from bondage of the Africans among us, except in a few instances, where the women only are in membership."

Chester Quarterly Meeting, Eighth month, 1777, says, "the committee in the case of slaves reported to this meeting in writing, as follows, viz.: We the committee appointed to visit those that hold slaves, have attended to that service; and have visited all that had any claim over such within the verge of this meeting, that came to our knowledge; a considerable number of which have been manumitted since our appointment; but there are some members in several monthly meetings that still hold them, notwithstanding the many and repeated visits paid them; and we, as a committee, apprehend we have discharged our duty and appointment to such, and desire to be released; and we further think that the several cases may be safely recommended to the monthly meetings."

Burlington Quarterly Meeting of the same date, (Eighth mo., 1777,) states that "Burlington Monthly Meeting further mentioned, that most of those who were in a state of slavery among them, have been manumitted since last year; and that in regard to those

remaining, viz. three of age, and five minors, there is reason to hope a little longer continuance of labour and patience, will have a good effect." Chesterfield adds to a report of a committee of that meeting on the subject of slaves, containing in substance, that they have had the satisfaction to find the hearts of divers Friends tender towards that poor, oppressed people, so that many have been manumitted; and yet a considerable number are continued in bondage; and though some members do not appear in a disposition to comply with the desire of Friends, yet having a tenderness towards them, they have a desire that their cases may be continued under care a further time.

Reports of the progress made in emancipation, appear on minute from time to time, and in the Eighth month, 1781, "Burlington adds to their report from their committee for the manumission of negroes, that they had attended to the service since last year, and had the satisfaction of getting clear of all the cases of this kind then known; but that three young negroes in a state of bondage had lately been discovered in one family, which had been and remain under their care. From the answers to the queries it appears that all the other monthly meetings are clear of slaves, except some remaining within the compass of Chesterfield and verge of one particular meeting."

At the same date, (Eighth mo. 1777,) the Western Quarter, which had been set off in 1758, from the south-western end of Chester, and which stretched far into Maryland, answers the query respecting slavery, in the following manner: "Clear of importing and disposing of mankind as slaves, also of purchasing, in all our meetings, except one, from which a doubt is

hinted in one case. Some within the compass of the meeting yet continue to hold slaves; though many have been manumitted since last year. The case of those who hold them is weightily under care; and a growing concern appears amongst us, that we may more fully attain to clearness respecting this matter." The following report appears on the minutes of Bucks Quarterly Meeting of the same date, (Eighth mo. 1777.) "We of the committee appointed by the quarterly meeting in order to treat with our members who hold their fellow men in bondage, in conjunction with the several monthly meeting committees, now report, that there hath been a considerable time spent in labouring with them, in order to convince them of the evil of the practice, which labours of love have by some been kindly received, and they have complied so far as to give those they had in bondage their liberty, by instruments of writing given under their hands and seals; but there are others who still persist in holding them as slaves, notwithstanding the repeated care and labour of Friends extended towards them.”

Upon turning to the minutes of the monthly meetings composing Bucks Quarter, it appears that at this time there were no slaves held in Buckingham or in Wrightstown monthly meetings; that in Middletown four members persisted in holding slaves, three of whom were afterwards disowned for that offence; and that in the Falls Monthly Meeting, although many had been set free, others were still detained in bondage. These were subsequently emancipated; and it does not appear that more than one member was disowned by that meeting, for refusing to comply with the displine in this particular.