ts greatest misfortunes. I have cherished a hope that we may,
from the example of our sister State, learn what methods are most
likely to succeed in removing the same evils from among ourselves.
With this view, I have taken the liberty to enclose a few queries,
which, if your leisure will permit you to answer, you will confer on
me a favor which I shall always consider as an obligation." He
propounded eleven queries, to which Dr. Belknap replied at length. The
correspondence is printed in the Massachusetts Historical Society's
selections, iv, pp. 191-211. The next year Judge Tucker printed, at
Philadelphia, his "Dissertation on Slavery, with a proposal for the
gradual abolition of it in Virginia." Dr. Belknap's replies to Judge
Tucker's inquiries have much historical interest. To the fifth query,
"The mode by which slavery hath been abolished?" he says: "The general
answer is, that slavery hath been abolished here by _public opinion_,
which began to be established about thirty years ago. At the beginning
of our controversy with Great Britain, several persons, who before had
entertained sentiments opposed to the slavery of the blacks, did then
take occasion publicly to remonstrate against the inconsistency of
contending for their own liberty, and, at the same time, depriving
other people of theirs. Pamphlets and newspaper essays appeared on the
subject; it often entered into the conversation of reflecting people;
and many who had, without remorse, been the purchasers of slaves,
condemned themselves, and retracted their former opinion. The Quakers
were zealous against slavery and the slave-trade; and by their means
the writings of Anthony Benezet of Philadelphia, John Woolman of New
Jersey, and others were spread through the country. Nathaniel Appleton
and James Swan, merchants of Boston, and Dr. Benjamin Rush, of
Philadelphia, distinguished themselves as writers on the side of
liberty. Those on the other side generally concealed their names; but
their arguments were not suffered to rest long without an answer. The
controversy began about the year 1766, and was renewed at various
times till 1773, when it was warmly agitated, and became a subject of
forensic disputation at the public commencement at Harvard College."
p. 201.

[24] Vol. ii, p. 30.

[25] Lectures by Members of the Mass. Historical Society on the Early
History of Massachusetts, p. 216.

[26] Mr. George H. Moore, in his elaborate work, "Notes on the History