To John Jay from Richard Lushington, 22 February 1786
From Richard Lushington
Charleston Feby: 22d: 1786
Esteem’d Friend
I take the liberty of addressing thee; understanding that thou art a friend to the distress’d of whatsoever colour, that have been ensnar’d into bondage; A negroe man a few days since was offer’d; by public sale to the highest bidder, accidently passing, I enquired who he belong ^to^ and his qualifications; he says; his name was Geo: Morris, that he was born’d free and that he had left his certificate with Wm James Shuter, Clerk to Wm. Backhouse of NYork, and was ship’d on board the Sloop Maria Captain Tinker1 by one Abrahams, under the direction of said Tinker, he further says he came wth one Griffith a dancing Master of ^to^ NYork—from Philada:—
I am perswaded that many are kidnap’d and brou’t from NYork & sold here, and I cou’d wish, some mode might be adapted to prevent and deter people from persuing so vilainous a practice,2 these poor unhappy people have but
few friends and here, and many who wish to be friendly are much afraid to appear and vindicate their cause publicly, so that much lies on my shoulders & have stood their Frn’ds in the Courts of Law & Equity and hitherto been successful—I remain with Esteem thy real Friend
R Lushington
NB. Excuse beg: incorrect as I am in haste being oblig’d to attend the Legislature
ALS, NNC (EJ: 7299). Lushington, an opponent of slavery, was a Charleston, S.C., Quaker.
1. James Tinker captained a variety of ships during this period, travelling between New York and Charleston. On 16 Jan. 1787, Edward Rutledge sent money to JJ via Tinker for JJ to buy Rutledge some horses. ALS, NNC (EJ: 7091).
2. JJ’s reply of 15 Mar. 1786 (not found) told Lushington that the NYMS had been informed of the matter and were taking “proper measures”. 2: 181–82. Lushington’s letter was then published in Loudon’s New-York Packet, on 13 Mar. 1786, along with a comment that action had been taken against the offenders. The letter was reprinted, in the Vermont Journal of 11 Apr. 1786 and in the Freeman’s Journal (Philadelphia) on 22 Mar. 1786. The latter included a “hint” that Captain Tinker and the sloop Maria were in the harbor with a “considerable number of negroes” waiting to go to Charleston. “It would be well for free negroes to be on their guard, lest they should meet with some kidnappers, and share the fate many have heretofore done.” The publication of the letter also resulted in a response from “A Friend to Mankind” telling of similar incidents. Independent Journal (New York), 15 and 27 Mar. 1786. See also the New-York Manumission Society: Draft Petition to the New York State Legislature, [after 8 Feb. 1786], above; and the editorial note “John Jay, Anti-Slavery, and the New-York Manumission Society,” above.