81-97; also, _A Letter to an American Planter from his Friend in London_, p.

5.] Seeing that many leading planters had been influenced by those opposed to the enlightenment of Negroes, Bishop Gibson of London issued an appeal in behalf of the bondmen, addressing the clergy and laymen in two letters[1] published in London in 1727.

In one he exhorted masters and mistresses of families to encourage and promote the instruction of their Negroes in the Christian faith.

In the other epistle he directed the missionaries of the colonies to give to this work whatever assistance they could.

Writing to the slaveholders, he took the position that considering the greatness of the profit from the labor of the slaves it might be hoped that all masters, those especially who were possessed of considerable numbers, should be at some expense in providing for the instruction of those poor creatures.