n of a sect called _Erika_, or Purists, for the
abolition of piracy and slavery. This pretended African speech was an
excellent parody of one delivered by Mr. Jackson, of Georgia. All the
arguments urged in favor of Negro slavery are applied with equal force
to justify the plundering and enslaving of Europeans. It affords, at
the same time, a demonstration of the futility of the arguments in
defense of the slave-trade, and of the strength of mind and ingenuity
of the author, at his advanced period of life. It furnishes, too, a no
less convincing proof of his power of imitating the style of other
times and nations, than his celebrated _Parable against Persecution_.
And as the latter led many persons to search the Scriptures with a
view to find it, so the former caused many persons to search the
bookstores and libraries for the work from which it was said to be
extracted."--Dr. Stuber.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FEDERAL GAZETTE.[1]

March 23d, 1790.

_Sir_,

Reading last night in your excellent paper the speech of Mr.
Jackson in Congress against their meddling with the affair of
slavery, or attempting to mend the condition of the slaves, it
put me in mind of a similar one made about one hundred years
since by Sidi Mehemet Ibrahim, a member of the Divan of Algiers,
which may be seen in Martin's Account of his Consulship, anno
1687. It was against granting the petition of the sect called
_Erika_, or Purists, who prayed for the abolition of piracy and
slavery as being unjust. Mr. Jackson does not quote it; perhaps
he has not seen it. If, therefore, some of its reasonings are to
be found in his eloquent speech, it may only show that men's
interests and intellects operate and are operated on with
surprising similarity in all countries and climates, whenever
they are under similar circumstances. The African's speech, as
translated, is as follows:

"Allah Bismillah, &c. God is great, and Mahomet is his Prophet.

"Have these _Erika_ considered the consequences of granting their
petition? If we cease our cruises against the Christians, how
shall we be furnished with the commodities their countries
produce, and which are so necessary for us? If we forbear to make
slaves of their people, who in this hot climate are to cultivate
our lands? Who are to perform the common labor