Christian friends, before strangers to us, we received much kind attention. Dr. Philip introduced us to the Governor, Sir Galbraith Lowry Cole, who received us politely, and permitted us to land some cases of religious books and tracts for gratuitous distribution, free of duty, and without subjecting the vessel to port charges, more than are usual on putting into the bay merely for refreshments. We also received a kind welcome from John Bell, the Colonial Secretary, and from several other persons of influence.
In company with Dr. Philip, we visited several schools and other public institutions for the amelioration of the human race. One of the infant schools contained a set of interesting children of the upper class, who were all of white complexion: the separation between these and the other ranks was effected by a higher rate of payment. In the lower school there was a lively group, of varied shade of skin, including the children of the fair European, the brown Hottentot, and the Black of various nations, torn from his native land, by the ruthless hand of slavery. The animated countenances of all colours, and the prompt and pertinent answers the children gave, shewed intellectual powers, that under such cultivation, promised well for future days.
Slavery, with its train of abominations, was still in existence at this period in Cape Town. I one day saw a young man attempting to sell a coloured child, which I had ground to believe was his own; and the reason he then retained it was, that he could not get his price!—Several times we rode in a carriage driven by a young man of white skin, good person and agreeable countenance, whom benevolence had placed in a situation to earn the price of the cost of his own freedom. This circumstance forcibly reminded me of the question: "Who maketh thee to differ from another, and what hast thou that thou didst not receive?" It was not the young man's fault that he was born a slave: it was not my merit that I was born free. I felt thankful under the conviction that God was increasing the friends of the oppressed, and opening the eyes of men to see the incompatibility of slavery with the Gospel.
At a committee meeting of the Philanthropic Institution,
