The History of Mary Prince, a West Indian SlavePrince, Mary
History
The History of Mary Prince, a West Indian Slave
Prince, Mary
Fugitive slaves -- West Indies -- Biography; Prince, Mary; Slavery -- West Indies
"I have already told Molly, and now give it her in writing,
in order that there may be no misunderstanding on her part,
that as I brought her from Antigua at her own request and
entreaty, and that she is consequently now free, she is of
course at liberty to take her baggage and go where she
pleases. And, in consequence of her late conduct, she must
do one of two things--either quit the house, or return to
Antigua by the earliest opportunity, as she does not evince
a disposition to make herself useful. As she is a stranger
in London, I do not wish to turn her out, or would do so,
as two female servants are sufficient for my establishment.
If after this she does remain, it will be only during her
good behaviour: but on no consideration will I allow her
wages or any other remuneration for her services.
"JOHN A. WOOD."
"London, August 18, 1828."
This paper, though not devoid of inconsistencies, which will be apparent
to any attentive reader, is craftily expressed; and was well devised to
serve the purpose which the writer had obviously in view, namely, to
frustrate any appeal which the friendless black woman might make to the
sympathy of strangers, and thus prevent her from obtaining an asylum, if
she left his house, from any respectable family. As she had no one to
refer to for a character in this country except himself, he doubtless
calculated securely on her being speedily driven back, as soon as the
slender fund she had in her possession was expended, to throw herself
unconditionally upon his tender mercies; and his disappointment in this
expectation appears to have exasperated his feelings of resentment towards
the poor woman, to a degree which few persons alive to the claims of
common justice, not to speak of christianity or common humanity, could
easily have anticipated. Such, at least, seems the only intelligible
inference that can be drawn from his subsequent conduct.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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