He had a fair attendance of bright
children, who "by the facility with which they took in instruction
were silently but certainly undermining the prejudice"[4] against
their education. A library of religious and moral publications had
been secured for this institution. In addition to the school in
Wilmington there was a large academy for young colored women,
gratuitously taught by a society of young ladies. The course of
instruction covered reading, writing, and sewing. The work in sewing
proved to be a great advantage to the colored girls, many of whom
through the instrumentality of that society were provided with good
positions.[5]
[Footnote 1: _Ibid._, p. 20.]
[Footnote 2: _Ibid._, 1802, p. 17.]
[Footnote 3: _Proceedings of the American Convention_, etc., 1809, p.
20.]
[Footnote 4: _Ibid_., 1816, p. 20.]
[Footnote 5: _Ibid_., 1821, p. 18.]
In Pennsylvania the interest of the large Quaker element caused the
question of educating Negroes to be a matter of more concern to that
colony than it was to the others. Thanks to the arduous labors of
the antislavery movement, emancipation was provided for in 1780.
The Quakers were then especially anxious to see masters give their
"weighty and solid attention" to qualifying slaves for the liberty
intended.
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