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PREFACE.
At an early period in the settlement of this
country, while the slave-trade was vigorously
pursued, many of the natives of Africa were
brought to America and sold into perpetual
servitude. While this class of people has
long excited the interest and sympathy of the
benevolent, but little has been done to change,
essentially, their relative position in society.
While a portion remain in servitude, others,
though free, must meet almost insurmountable
obstacles to that improvement and elevation
which, under other circumstances, and in their
own native land, they might probably secure.
Though this numerous class of men, as a
body, have improved but little for many gene¬
rations, there have been occasional exceptions
to their genera, ignorance and degradation.
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