He boldly asserted that the notion entertained by some that the blacks were inferior in their capacities was a vulgar prejudice founded on the pride or ignorance of their lordly masters who had kept their slaves at such a distance as to be unable to form a right judgment of them.[3] [Footnote 1: Smyth, _Works of Franklin_, vol.vi., p.

222.] [Footnote 2: Gregoire, _La Litterature des Negres_.] [Footnote 3: _Special Report of the U.S.Com.

of Ed._, 1871, p.

375.].