The Church spread its surplice of protection over the institution. Baptism was permitted to the slave, but with the distinct understanding that it was to make no difference in the condition of bondage of these brothers in Christ. One South Carolina clergyman ventured to preach on the duties of masters to their servants, but his congregation said to him: "Sir, we pay you a genteel salary to read to us the prayers of the liturgy and to explain to us such parts of the Gospel as the rule of the Church directs, but we do not want you to teach us what to do with our blacks." The Northern colonies were freed from the curse of slaveholding as much by policy as by principle. They tried slave-owning, but, happily for them, it did not pay. The climate and the conditions of their industries forbade its spread among them. But their hands were not unstained. If they did not buy slaves, they sold them. There still exists, if Bishop Meade may be trusted, a bill of sale of a slave, bearing the signature of Jonathan Edwards. Every year ships were fitted out from Medford, Salem, or New Bedford, which sailed away loaded with rum to be exchanged in Africa for negroes, who in turn were sold for molasses, to be made into rum again. The transactions of one of these slavers are preserved in the History of Medford, and makes interesting reading for those who would hold up the Puritan as innocent of the transgression which stains the character of the Cavalier. The deadly parallel column tells its story, so that he who runs may read: ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. The Natives of Annamboe. | Per Contra. Cr. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1770. Gals|1770 Gals |Apr. 22 Apr. 22. To 1 hh. of rum 110 | By 1 Woman Slave 110 |May 1. May 1. " " " 130 | By 1 Prime Woman Slave. 130 |May 2. May 2. " " " 105 | By 1 Boy Slave 4 ft. 1 in. 105 |May 7. May 7. " " " 130 | By 1 Boy Slave 4 ft. 3 in. 108 |May 5. May 5. Cash in gold 5 oz. 2 | 1 Prime Man Slave 5 oz. 2 |May 5. " 5. " " " 2 oz. } 3 | 1 Old Man for a Lingister 3 oz. " 5. 2 doz. of snuff 1 oz. } | -----------------------------------------------------------------------