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William Priest - Travels in the United States of America
generally known in England, I send you a few particulars of what is here emphatically called a white
Guinea man. There are vessels in the trade of Belfast, Londonderry, Amsterdam, Hamburgh, &c.,
whose chief cargoes, on their return to America, are passengers; great numbers of whom, on their
arrival, are sold for a term of years to pay their passage; during their servitude, they are liable to
be resold, at the death or caprice of their masters. Such advertisements as the following, are
frequent: -
"To be disposed of, the indentures of a strong, healthy, irish woman; who has two years to serve,
and is fit for all kind of house work. - Enquire of the printer."
"Stop the villain!
Ran away this morning, an irish servant, named Michael Day, by trade a tailor, about five feet eight
inches high, fair complexion, has a down look when spoken to, light bushy hair, speaks much in the irish
dialect, &c.: - Whoever secures the above described, in any gaol, shall receive thirty dollars reward, and
all reasonable charges paid. - N.B.. All masters of vessels are forbid harbouring, or carrying off
the said servant at their peril."
The laws respecting the redemptioners[Footnote: The name given to these persons.] are very
severe; they were formed for the english convicts before the revolution. There are lately hibernian, and
german societies, who do all in their power, to mitigate the severity of these laws, and render their
countrymen, during their servitude, as comfortable as possible. These societies are in all the large towns
south of Connecticut. In New England they are not wanting, as the trade is there prohibited. The
difficulty of hiring a tolerable servant induces many to deal in this way. Our friend S - - lately
bought an irish girl for three years, and in a few days discovered he was likely to have a greater
increase of his family than he bargained for; we had the laugh sadly against him on this occasion; I
sincerely believe the jew regrets his new purchase is not a few shades darker. If he could prove her a
women of colour, and produce a bill of sale, he would make a slave of the child as well as the
mother! The emigration from Ireland has been this year very great; I left a large vessel[Footnote:
These vessels frequently belong to Philadelphia, but land their passengers here, as there is a direct road to
the back parts of Pennsylvania.] full of passengers from thence at Baltimore: I found three at
Newcastle: and there is one in this city. The number of passengers cannot be averaged at less
than two hundred and fifty to each vessel, all of whom have arrived within the last six weeks!
While the yellow fever was raging in this city, in the year 1793, when few vessels would venture nearer
than Fort Miflin; a german captain in this trade arrived in the river, and hearing that such was the
fatal nature of the infection, that a sufficient number of nurses could not be procured to attend the sick for
any sum, conceived the philanthropic idea of supplying this deficiency from his redemption
passengers! actuated by this humane motive, he sailed boldly up to the city, and
advertised[Footnote: I have preserved this advertisement, and several others equally curious.] his
cargo for sale: -
"A few healthy servants, generally between seventeen and twenty-one years of age; their times
will be disposed of, by applying on board the brig."
Generous soul! thus nobly to sacrifice his own countrymen, pro bono publico. I never heard
this honest german was properly rewarded; but virtue is it's own reward, and there is no
doubt but the consciousness of having performed such an action is quite sufficient; at
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