American literature, political
history, and constitutional law; third, of strong will,
indomitable courage, and patient labor. Guided by the light of
her own understanding, she seeks truth among the mixed materials
of other minds, and having found it, maintains it against all
obstacles; fourth and last, a writer fluent, cogent, and
abounding with evidence of patient investigation and original
thought.

I commend her to your courtesy, less for the delicate attentions
proper for the drawing room than for the higher communion of
congenial students, alike devoted to the good of the
Commonwealth.

With the greatest respect, I remain, sir, your friend and
servant.

EDWARD BATES.

As time went on, Thomas King Carroll, now advanced in years, many of
his children married and scattered, began to find his estate and great
group of dependents a burdensome and unprofitable possession.

Under a humane master, unwilling to sell his slaves, they were apt to
increase beyond the resources of the plantation to sustain them.
Ready-money payment was not the general rule upon plantations.
Abundance of food was produced, but money was not very plentiful when
markets were distant and trade very limited.

It was not unusual for debts to accumulate and even to be handed down
from father to son. The creditors rather favored this state of things,
as the debt drew interest. As long as there were plenty of slaves,
their ultimate payment was secure whenever they chose to press for
it. If the money was not then forthcoming, their redress was
certain--a descent followed of that brutal intermediary, "the nigger
dealer," loathed and dreaded alike by master and servant. A sufficient
amount of the human property was speedily secured and driven off for
sale to satisfy the creditor. To the slave, torn from his home and his
life-long ties, it was despair. To the master's family, often a bitter
grief. They might shut themselves up and weep at the outrage, but they
were powerless in the face of an inexorable system. To the master,
therefore, as the slaves increased, there could often be no
alternative between ruthless sale and financial ruin. Thomas King
Carroll, honorable, humane, unwilling to sell his slaves, immersed
during the best years of his life in political affairs, found in later
years his burdens increasing, and his kindness of heart had invol