"In this state, I took to my Bible, rejoicing that I could read it for
myself, and I received encouragement. While my mind was thus seriously
impressed, I went several voyages to Spain, and being often led to look
over the occurrences of my past life, I saw there had been the hand of
Providence to guide and protect me, though I knew it not; and when I
considered my obligations to the Lord for His goodness, I wept.
"On our return, the last voyage, we picked up eleven Portuguese. Their
vessel had sunk, with two of the crew, and they were in a small open
boat, without victuals, compass, water, or anything else, and must soon
have perished. As soon as they got on board our vessel, they fell on
their knees and thanked God for their deliverance. Thus I saw verified
what was written in the 107th Psalm.
"From the year 1777 to 1784, I remained more quiet; but about the
latter period I made a trip to New York, and one to Philadelphia. At
the latter place, I was very much pleased to see the worthy Quakers
easing the burdens of my oppressed countrymen. It also rejoiced my
heart when one of these people took me to the free school, and I saw
the children of my color instructed, and their minds cultivated to fit
them for usefulness.
"Not long after my return, I found government was preparing to make
a settlement of free people of color on the coast of Africa, and that
vessels were engaged to carry such as wished to go to Sierra Leone.
I engaged as commissary, and we set sail with 426 persons. But the
time of our arrival there, the rainy season having commenced, proved
unfavorable, and some of us soon returned to England; where, since
that period, I have been doing what I could for the relief of my
much-injured country people.
"Having been early taught to look for the hand of God in minute
circumstances, they have been of consequence to me; and aiming at
simple truth in relating the incidents of my life, I hope some of my
readers will gather instruction from them."
Gregorie, in his Inquiry into the Intellectual and Moral Faculties
of the Negroes, states, that after thirty years of a wandering and
stormy life, Vassa established himself in London, where he married, and
published his memoirs, which have been several times reprinted--the
last edition in 1794; and it is proved by the most respectable
testimony that he was the author. In 1789, he presented a petition to
parliament for the suppression of the slave trade.
He also says, that a son of his, named Sancho, having received a
good education, was an assistant librarian to Sir Joseph Banks, and
secretary to the committee for vaccination. And he concludes with
this remark: "If Vassa still lived, the bill which was lately passed,
prohibiting the slave trade, would be consoling to his heart, and to
his old age."
BILLY AND JENNY.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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