The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

From a late Publication

The following anecdote which was related by a gentleman who was himself a witness to the truth of the fact, is so remarkable an instance of an heroic and unshaken tenor of friendship, among persons of a class that we have accustomed ourselves to consider, and indeed (often to the infinite disgrace of humanity) to treat as barbarians, that I could not dispense with the communicating it to the public.

At a late public sale of negro slaves at Santa Cruz, among the great numbers that Christian avarice had been either the immediate or secondary means of placing on a level with the cattle daily brought to our markets, were two each of them apparently about the age of thirty, whose deportment seemed superior to the rest.--What their rank had really been. they with a sullen dignity seemed resolved to conceal from every one.--Yet mingled with a haughty manner to all besides, there appeared in every look and action the tenderest affection and heartfelt attachment to each other. --When, the captain of the vessel which had brought them hither, entered on the necessary business of distributing his marketable goods into the proper lots for sale, both of them, in the most submissive manner, and with an earnestness that spoke more than common feelings, clung round his knees, & hung about his garment, intreating him only to favour them so far as to permit them to be appointed to the same lot, by- which means they may serve one master, and at least enjoy the trifling satisfaction of being companions even in slavery --But even this poor request itself, either through the brutality of their salesman,or from apprehensions of their combining in some mutinous design, was denied them.

Yet earnest as they seemed in their desire, the refusal was received with manly resignation by them both ; and when upon the point of being delivered to their respective masters, they only begged the leave of a few words with one another, permitted out of hearing, though not of sight of those they were to serve. This was allowed them ; when after a few minutes conversation, and a close embrace, they parted, and were sent to their respective stations.--Seven days- after the transaction, they both (as it afterwards appeared) were missing at the same hour; nor were they, though the strictest search was made after them, to be found ; till at about a week's distance, a planter riding through a thicket which lay in the midway between the two plantations they had been destined to, saw, to his great surprise, two bodies hanging on one tree, locked fast, and folded in each other's arms, embracing and embraced ; which; on inquiry made, proved to be the faithful, yet desperate friends.--

Such was the attachment, even in death, of mortals, formed like ourselves, with souls informed with every noble and generous sentiment,and capable of cultivation like our own; but whom with the most barbarous oppression we, at our pleasure, deprive of liberty, of life, and even of those advantages which common humanity induces us to bestow upon the more domestic brutes, the horse and ox.--Hear this ye Christians ; hear it and blush !