ke an
immediate and advantageous sale of their lands, and thus gratify
that restless and rambling disposition which is so common with
frontier settlers.

Pardon this long and hasty letter. Give my regards to our mutual
friend Biddle, and be assured that your generous benevolence has
inspired me with great respect and sincere regard for you.

EDWARD COLES.

ROBERTS VAUX,
Philadelphia.

ROBERTS VAUX TO GOVERNOR COLES

BIRWOOD LODGE (NEAR PHIL'A), 7 Mo. 24, 1823.

_Esteemed Friend:_--I cannot delay an immediate acknowledgment of
thy letter of the 27th ultimo, which reached me at my summer
residence today.

It affords me unfeigned satisfaction to learn from it that thee
approves the plan which I submitted for thy consideration.
Anticipating a favorable notice of the suggestion, by a mind so
devoted as thine to the promotion of the great ends of humanity,
of justice, and of National honor, three pamphlets were prepared,
which will be immediately printed, and transmitted to thy address
at St. Louis. One of these tracts is designed to show the
impolicy and unprofitableness of Slave Labor, etc., and some
arguments are drawn from the published opinions of several
distinguished citizens _of the slave-holding States_; among which
Col. Taylor's are not the least authoritative and cogent. Another
essay exhibits a succinct account of the cruelties of the Slave
Trade, derived from authentic sources; and a third pamphlet is
intended to show that the interminable bondage of any portion of
the human race is, on the part of the oppressors, a flagrant
violation of natural and Divine Justice, and utterly inconsistent
with the doctrines of our Holy Redeemer.

Aware of the unpopularity of Philadelphia, and especially of
_Quaker_ sentiments on this particular topic, with all those who
attempt to justify slavery, it was originally determined to avoid
giving any complexion whatever to these publications which might
induce the belief that they proceeded from this State, or that
individuals of the Society of Friends had any agency in the
preparation of them. The coincidence of our judgment in regard to
the manner of treating the subject is worthy of remark.

If the least benefit