The planters, merchants, and others, gave it of course all the publicity in their power.

And the consequences were as might easily have been apprehended.

In a little time slaves absconding were advertised in the London papers as runaways, and rewards offered for the apprehension of them, in the same brutal manner as we find them advertised in the land of slavery.

They were advertised also, in the same papers, to be sold by auction, sometimes by themselves, and at others with horses, chaises, and harness.

They were seized also by their masters, or by persons employed by them, in the very streets, and dragged from thence to the ships; and so unprotected now were these poor slaves, that persons in nowise concerned with them began to institute a trade in their persons, making agreements with captains, of ships going to the West Indies to put them on board at a certain price.