Letter to Selina, Countess of Huntington, 1774-05-20

              Respected Friend 
The Countess of Huntington, 
The frequent mention which I of thy affectionate 
Labour for the growth and prosperity of Truth in the World, (more specifically  from my Friend 
George Whitefield deceased) has for a long time past, begot a desire in me to Salute thee by a few lines; 
but under an humbling force of unworthiness and poverty of mind, and spirit, I have hitherto been 
let; but now a good opportunity offering by means of my Friend William Dillwyn, who is going to your 
parts, and expects to have the pleasure of seeing thee, I find my mind encouraged to write. 
I cannot say much of the prosperity of Truth in these parts, many are the Calls, both immediately and 
instrumentally, but seeing is the drought of the world and the flesh , particualrly un the Day of ease and 
security, yet some, I trust are looking to thee God of all Strength and Comfort, with earnest Supplication, 
that the work may go forward, as well in themselves as in others. [?]  of the many Snares and 
Temptations, which are peculiar to this part of the World, there are none that more Sensibly 
impedes the growth of Truth and has a greater tendency to harden the heart against impressions 
of Grace, than the practice of Slavery; on this most interesting Subject permit me to [crave?] 
the most serious attention, the [lounging?] the unhappy Negroes from their Native Country and 
subjecting them to a state of Slavery; and that generally generally , a cruel very cruel Slavery; besides 
as my Friend George Whitefield well remarks, in his printed Letter the the Inhabitants of 
Maryland and Virginia and the Carolinas "the encouragement which is thereby given 
to the Nations from whom the Negroes are brought to beat perpetual War with eachother," and
it may with Truth be added that as dreadful as the Slavery now carried on, in our colonies, is 
to the miserable subjects thereof, yet greater, far greater, in effect, is its banefull influence on 
their possessors, and their unhappy offspring; these being hereby from their childhod, nurtured 
in such corrupting [Lanes?] and Practices, as naturally begets in them habits of Idleness, Pride, 
Cruelty, and Laciviousness; each a train of other Evils, which bear Sway and predominate 
in the minds, as age comes on, to the introduction of a much worse kind of Barbarity, share 
that  which our Northern Ancestors were under, before they became acquainted with Christianity. 
With the poor Negroes the evil of their suffereings will end with the Life, and the Merciful