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
In the last place, I add my own testimony in behalf of this negro woman.
Independently of the scrutiny, which, as Secretary of the Anti-Slavery
Society, I made into her case when she first applied for assistance, at
18, Aldermanbury, and the watchful eye I kept upon her conduct for the
ensuing twelvemonths, while she was the occasional pensioner of the
Society, I have now had the opportunity of closely observing her conduct
for fourteen months, in the situation of a domestic servant in my own
family; and the following is the deliberate opinion of Mary's character,
formed not only by myself, but also by my wife and sister-in-law, after
this ample period of observation. We have found her perfectly honest and
trustworthy in all respects; so that we have no hesitation in leaving
every thing in the house at her disposal. She had the entire charge of the
house during our absence in Scotland for three months last autumn, and
conducted herself in that charge with the utmost discretion and fidelity.
She is not, it is true, a very expert housemaid, nor capable of much hard
work, (for her constitution appears to be a good deal broken,) but she is
careful, industrious, and anxious to do her duty and to give satisfaction.
She is capable of strong attachments, and feels deep, though unobtrusive,
gratitude for real kindness shown her. She possesses considerable natural
sense, and has much quickness of observation and discrimination of
character. She is remarkable for _decency_ and _propriety_ of conduct--and
her _delicacy_, even in trifling minutiae, has been a trait of special
remark by the females of my family. This trait, which is obviously quite
unaffected, would be a most inexplicable anomaly, if her former habits had
been so indecent and depraved as Mr. Wood alleges. Her chief faults, so
far as we have discovered them, are, a somewhat violent and hasty temper,
and a considerable share of natural pride and self-importance; but these
defects have been but rarely and transiently manifested, and have scarcely
occasioned an hour's uneasiness at any time in our household. Her
religious knowledge, notwithstanding the pious care of her Moravian
instructors in Antigua, is still but very limited, and her views of
christianity indistinct; but her profession, whatever it may have of
imperfection, I am convinced, has nothing of insincerity. In short, we
consider her on the whole as respectable and well-behaved a person in her
station, as any domestic, white or black, (and we have had ample
experience of both colours,) that we have ever had in our service.
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