Copy of Patrick Henry letter to Robert Pleasants

              Hanover  January 18th. 1773
Dear Sir,
	I take this opportunity to acknowledge the Recet. of
Anthoy. Benezet's Book against the Slave Trade. I thank you for it.
	It is not a little surprising that Christianity, whose chief
Excellence consists in softening the human Heart, in cherishing
and improving its finer feelings should encourage a practice
so totally repugnant to the first Impressions of Right and
wrong, what adds to the wonder is that this abominable Practice
has been introduced in the most enlightened Ages, Times that 
seem to have Pretensions to boast of high Improvements in Arts,
Sciences and refined Morality, have brought into general Use
and guarded by many Laws a species of Violence and tyranny
which our more rude and barbarous but honest Ancestors
detested. Is it not amazing, that at a time when the rights 
of Humanity are defined and understood with precision,
in a Country above all others fond of Liberty, Tat in such an
Age and such a Country we find Men professing a Religion
the most humane, mild, meek, gentle and generous, adopting
a principle as repugnent to humanity as it is inconsistent
with the Bible and destructive to Liberty. Every thinking
honest man rejects it in Speculation; how few in Practice
from conscientious Motives! The World in general has
deny'd your People a Share of its Honors, but the wise will
ascribe to you a just Tribute of virtuous praise for the practice
of a Train of Virtues, among which your Disagreement to 
Slavery will be principlaly ranked. I cannot but
wish well to a people whose System imitates the Example
of him whose Life was perfect, and believe me I shall
honor the Quakers for their noble Effort to abolish Slavery.
	It is equally calculated to promote moral and political 
good.
	Would any one believe that