Not a few of them had educated themselves, accumulated wealth, and ranked with white men of refinement and culture.[2] [Footnote 1: Laws of Louisiana.] [Footnote 2: Alliot, _Collections Historiques_, p.

85; and Thwaites, _Early Western Travels_, vol.iv., pp.

320 and 321; vol.xii., p.

69; and vol.xix., p.

126.] Considering the few Negroes found in the West, the interest shown there in their mental uplift was considerable.