Many of them had acquired a rudimentary knowledge of arithmetic.

"But," said he, "blazon it to the shame of the South, the knowledge thus acquired has been snatched from the spare records of leisure in spite of their owners' wishes and watchfulness."[2] C.G.Parsons was informed that although poor masters did not venture to teach their slaves, occasionally one with a thirst for knowledge secretly learned the rudiments of education without any instruction.[3] While on a tour through parts of Georgia, E.P.

Burke observed that, notwithstanding the great precaution which was taken to prevent the mental improvement of the slaves, many of them "stole knowledge enough to enable them to read and write with ease."[4] Robert Smalls[5] of South Carolina and Alfred T.Jones[6] of Kentucky began their education in this manner.
[Footnote 1: Mott, _Biographical Sketches_, p.

87.] [Footnote 2: Redpath, _Roving Editor_, etc., p.

161.] [Footnote 3: Parsons, _Inside View_, etc., p.