They declared, too, that "to avoid disagreeable occurrences no writing was to be done by the teacher for a slave, neither directly nor indirectly to serve the purpose of a slave on any account whatever."[3] This school was continued until 1822 under Mr.Pierpont, of Massachusetts, a relative of the poet.
He was succeeded two years later by John Adams, a shoemaker, who was known as the first Negro to teach in the District of Columbia.[4] [Footnote 1: _Ibid._, 196.] [Footnote 2: _Ibid._, 197.] [Footnote 3: _Daily National Intelligencer_, August 29, 1818.] [Footnote 4: _Special Report of the U.S.Com.

of Ed._, 1871, p.

198.] Of equal importance was the colored seminary established by Henry Smothers, a pupil of Mrs.Billings.Like her, he taught first in Georgetown.

He began his advanced work near the Treasury building, having an attendance of probably one hundred and fifty pupils, generally paying tuition.

The fee, however, was not compulsory.
Smothers taught for about two years, and then was succeeded by John Prout, a colored man of rare talents, who later did much in opposition to the scheme of transporting Negroes to Africa before they had the benefits of education.[1] The school was then called the "Columbian Institute." Prout was later assisted by Mrs.Anne Maria Hall.[2] [Footnote 1: _Ibid._, 1871, p.