2. _Religious Privileges._ Except in large cities, where they are found in sufficient numbers to compose congregations by themselves, they attend public worship with the whites. But the unenviable distinctions which prevail even there, have a powerful influence in discouraging their attendance. In some parts of the country they enjoy the ministrations of preachers of their own color, and large numbers are said to be in communion with various churches. 3. _Moral Condition._ The following is an extract of a letter from a gentleman of extensive information and philanthropy in the state of New York. “The fact, that out of 40,000 blacks in this state in 1825, but nine hundred and thirty-one were taxed, and but two hundred and ninety-eight were qualified to vote; and the further fact, that this population, according to its amount, furnishes ten-fold more of the inmates of our prisons and alms-houses, than our white population does, testify conclusively to the general improvidence, indolence, and abounding viciousness and misery of this unhappy portion of our fellow-men.” The following tabular views, taken from the Report of the Prison Discipline Society, for 1827, exhibit, in regard to several states, the whole population at that time, the colored population, the whole number of convicts, the number of colored convicts, proportion of colored people to the whole population, and proportion of colored convicts. -------------+----------+----------+--------+--------+---------+-------- | | | Whole | No. of | Pro. of |Pro. of | White | Colored | No. of | Col. | Col. | Col. |Population|Population|Convicts|Convicts| People |Convicts +----------+----------+--------+--------+---------+-------- Massachusetts| 523,000| 7,000 | 314 | 50 | 1 to 74 | 1 to 6 Connecticut | 275,000| 8,000 | 117 | 39 | 1 to 34 | 1 to 3 New-York | 1,372,000| 39,000 | 637 | 154 | 1 to 35 | 1 to 4 New-Jersey | 277,000| 20,000 | 74 | 24 | 1 to 13 | 1 to 3 Pennsylvania | 1,049,000| 30,000 | 474 | 165 | 1 to 34 | 1 to 3 -------------+----------+----------+--------+--------+---------+-------- Or, Proportion of the Proportion of the Population Colored Population sent to Prison. sent to Prison. In Massachusetts 1 out of 1665 1 out of 140 In Connecticut 1 out of 2350 1 out of 205 In New York 1 out of 2153 1 out of 253 In New Jersey 1 out of 3743 1 out of 833 In Pennsylvania 1 out of 2191 1 out of 181