At a quarterly meeting of the Society for promoting the manumission of Slaves and protecting such of them as have been or may be Liberated, held at the Coffee House the 21st Day of August 1788.

Present.

John Jay Esqr. President, Matthew Clarkson Esqr V. President, John Keese Secretary, Lawrence Embree, Robert Bowne, Nathaniel Lawrence, Thomas Burling C.M., Benjamin Walker, Elijah Cock, John Baldwin, John White, Cornelius Davis, William Backhouse, William Cochran, Andrew Law, Noah Gardner, Joseph Clement, James Hardy, John Bedient, Richard Lawrence The Trustees of the School made a written Report which was read and ordered to be inserted on the minutes Vizt.

The Trustees of the School Report that they have great Reason to be satisfied with the progress of the Scholars in Learning and their decent and Orderly appearance and Behaviour since the last quarterly meeting which have surpassed their Expectations— The promising State of the School and the particular Attention and Care of the Master (the continuance of which they have every Reason to expect) encourages them to Hope that the Institution will be a means of improving the minds and promoting the present and future happiness of a considerable number of the unhappy race of our fellow Creatures who are the immediate Objects of its benevolent Care and of consequence that it will Conduce in some Degree to the good of Society in General—

There have been forty seven Scholars entered on the List, but from various Causes divers have left the School some of whom we are informed with a view to being Bound out to learn Trades so that there are but about thirty nine Pupils who are regular in their Attendance at School and twelve Scholars have been admitted since the last quarterly meeting— The trustees have directed to be published in the News Papers an Advertisement conformably to a resolution of the Society at the last quarterly meeting a Copy whereof is herewith Submitted

By Order and on Behalf of the Trustees John Murray, Junr., Clerk.

The standing Committee having been unavoidably prevented from making a Report at this meeting; Ordered that they have Leave till the next quarterly meeting of the Society for that purpose—

The President produced to the Society a Letter from a Committee of the Society, for promoting the Abolition of the Slave Trade, in London, directed to this Society, Signed by Grenville Sharpe Esquire their Chairman which was read and Ordered to be Referred to the Committee of Correspondence—1

The President also produced a Letter from a Society established at Paris like those of England and America, to promote the Abolition of the Treatment and Slavery of negroes which was read and Referred to the Committee of Correspondence—2

Resolved that the Society accept with great Pleasure the Invitation of the Society at Paris to establish a fraternal Relation and mutual Correspondence between them.—

Resolved that the Society will chearfully do whatever may Depend upon them to promote the Objects of Monsieur De Warveles Voyage to this Country; and to testify their Respect for his personal Character as well as for the Society by whom he is recommended.

Ordered that the Committee of Correspondence and the standing Committee Communicate to Mr. De Warvelle whatever Information on the Subject in Question he may request and they be able to afford.

Resolved that John Jay Matthew Clarkson and Nathaniel Lawrence be a Committee to Report to the next quarterly Meeting what Laws have been passed in this State relative to Slaves. And also what further application, and the form thereof; may in their Opinion be proper for this Society to make on the Subject to the Legislature at their next Session—

The Society proceeded to appoint three Trustees of the School in the place of Matthew Clarkson, John Bleecker and Thomas Burling and Edward Lawrence, Effingham Embree and James Hardy were appointed.

Doctor Mitchell one of the Standing Committee having removed to Albany, the Society proceeded to appoint a member in his Stead and on counting the Ballots John Baldwin was found to be Elected— And the Ballots being taken for the appointment of two members of the Standing Committee in the Stead of James M. Hughes and Francis Childs, Willet Seaman and Benjamin Walker were Elected.—

Then the Society adjourned to Thursday the 28th Day of August Instant at 7 oClock in the Evening.—