have acquired in this school will be carefully transferred as a
legacy to their children. Instances of the happy influence which
the example of virtuous parents has on the remotest lineage in
this humble and naturally dutiful class of society are numerous.
As to such as are to be employed as servants, they will be
intrusted with domestic concerns and the care of young children.
How important, then, it will be that these girls shall have
imbibed religious principles, and have been trained up in habits
of modesty, honesty, and integrity."[61]

The Wells School, established by a Colored man by the name of Nelson
Wells, in 1835, gave instruction to free children of color. It was
managed by a board of trustees who applied the income of $7,000 (the
amount left by Mr. Wells) to the support of the school. It
accomplished much good.

MASSACHUSETTS.

A separate school for Colored children was established in Boston, in
1798, and was held in the house of a reputable Colored man named
Primus Hall. The teacher was one Elisha Sylvester, whose salary was
paid by the parents of the children whom he taught. In 1800 sixty-six
Colored citizens presented a petition to the School Committee of
Boston, praying that a school might be established for their benefit.
A sub-committee, to whom the petition had been referred, reported in
favor of granting the prayer, but it was voted down at the next town
meeting. However, the school taught by Mr. Sylvester did not perish.
Two young gentlemen from Harvard University, Messrs. Brown and
Williams, continued the school until 1806. During this year the
Colored Baptists built a church edifice in Belknap Street, and fitted
up the lower room for a school for Colored children. From the house of
Primus Hall the little school was moved to its new quarters in the
Belknap Street church. Here it was continued until 1835, when a
school-house for Colored children was erected and paid for out of a
fund left for the purpose by Abiel Smith, and was subsequently called
"Smith School-house." The authorities of Boston were induced to give
$200.00 as an annual appropriation, and the parents of the children in
attendance paid 121/2 cents per week. The school-house was dedicated
with appropriate exercises, Hon. William Minot delivering the
dedicatory address.

The African school in Belknap Street was under the control of the
school committee from 1812 to 1821, and from 18