A Tribute for the Legro. 123 evidence of this, down to the time of Herodotus, eighteen out of three hundred Egyptian sovereigns were Ethiopians.* If it be not admitted that these nations were black, they were undoubtedly of very dark complexion, having much of the Negro physiognomy, as depicted in Egyptian sculpture and painting, and from them the Negro population, indeed the whole race of Africa, have sprung. Say not then, I repeat it, that Africa is without her heraldry of science and of fame! Its inhabitants are the "off-shoots,— wild and untrained it is true, but still the off-shoots,-of a stem which was once proudly luxuriant in the fruits of learning and taste; whilst that from which the Goths, their calumniators, have sprung, remained hard, and knotted, and barren."+ However, putting this noble ancestry entirely out of view, which all Africans are, nevertheless, fully entitled to claim as their own ;-instances are not unfrequent of undoubted Negroes, who have distinguished themselves in an intellectual point of view; and some who have been more fortunately favoured with opportunities of education and improvement, have arrived at intellectual attainments of no mean order. They are not without their philosophers, linguists, poets, mathematicians, ministers of the Gospel, merchants, lawyers, generals, and physicians, eminent in their several attainments, energetic in enterprise, and honourable in character. That examples of distinguished intellect and ability are not more frequent among the Negro race, is doubtless owing, chiefly, to the want of opportunities of cultivation and means of improvement, added to the other disadvantages under which they have laboured through successive generations. Let us again revert to facts, for I desire not to make any assertion without having the support of undubitable evidence. Among the Turks, Negroes have sometimes arrived at the most eminent offices. Different writers have given the *Herod, Lib. II., cap. 100. + Richard Watson. same account of Kislar Aga, who, in 1730, was ch the Black eunuchs of the Porte, and have describe as possessing great wisdom and profound knowledge In 1765, the English papers cited as a remarkable the ordination of a Negro, by Dr. Keppel, Bish Exeter. Among the Spaniards and Portuguese, it is a mon occurrence. The history of Congo gives an acco a Black Bishop who studied at Rome.‡ Correa de Serra, a learned secretary of the Acade Portugal, informs us that several Negroes have learned lawyers, preachers, and professors; and that of them in the Portuguese possessions, have been sign by their talents. In 1717, the Negro, Don Juan I taught the Latin language at Seville. He lived to th of 117.§ An African Prince, and many young Africans of q sent into Portugal in the time of king Immanuel, distinguished at the Universities, and some of them promoted to the priesthood.|| Near the close of the 17th century, Admiral Du Q saw at the Cape Verd Islands, a catholic Negro with the exception of the Bishop and Curate of St. J In 1734, Anthony William Amo, an African fro coast of Guinea, took the degree of Doctor in Philo at the University of Wittemburg. Two of his dis tions, according to Blumenbach, exhibit much well dig knowledge of the best physiological works of the He was well versed in Astronomy, and spoke the Hebrew, Greek, French, Dutch, and German lang In an account of his life, published by the aca council of the University, his integrity, talents, ind and erudition are highly commended.** Observations sur la religion, &c., des Turcs; p. 98. + Gentleman's Mag., 1765, p. 145. Prevot, General His According to the statements of Leo Africanus, who visited the city of Timbuctoo, on the Niger, in the 16th century, the progress of learning must have been considerable in its locality at that period. "In this city," observes Leo, "there are great numbers of judges, of teachers, of priests, and of very learned men, who are amply supported by the royal bounty. An infinite quantity of M.S. books are brought hither from Barbary; and much more money is derived from the traffic in these than from all the other articles of merchandize." As if to prevent us from referring these things to the Moors, Leo mentions Abubakir, surnamed Bargama, the kings brother, with whom he was well acquainted, as "a man very black in complexion, but most fair in mind and disposition."* Abdallah, a native of Guber, in West Africa, although having the true Negro features and colour, is described as having a very intelligent, prepossessing countenance. "In his mental faculties," says Dr. Steetzen," he appeared to be by no means inferior to Europeans." † The capacity of the Negro for the mathematical and physical sciences, is proved by Hannibal, a Colonel in the Russian artillery, and Lislet of the Isle of France, who was named a corresponding member of the French academy of Sciences, on account of his excellent Meteorological Observations. Fuller, a Slave of Maryland, was an extraordinary example of quickness in mental calculation. Being asked in a company, for the purpose of trying his powers, how many seconds a person had lived who was seventy years and some months old, he gave the answer in a minute and a half. On reckoning it up after him in figures, a different result was obtained; "have you not forgot the leap years?" asked the Negro. This ommission was supplied, and the number then agreed precisely with his answer. Fuller was a native of Africa, and could neither read nor write. *Travels of Leo Africanus. + Annals of Oriental Literature, p. 537. This circumstance is related by Dr. Rush from his own knowledge, a most creditable authority, and is quoted by Dr. Lawrence, Gregoire, Rees, Chambers, &c. Another instance occurred in the United States during the last century, of a Coloured man showing a remarkable skill in Mathematical Science. His name was Richard Banneker, and he belonged also to Maryland. He was altogether self taught, and having directed his attention to the study of astronomy, his calculations were so thorough and exact, as to excite the approbation of Pitt, Fox, Wilberforce, and many other eminent persons. An almanac which he composed, was produced in the British House of Commons, as an argument in favour of the mental cultivation of the Coloured people, and of their liberation from their wretched thraldom.* Boerhaave and De Haen have given the strongest testimony that our Coloured fellow-men possess no mean insight into practical medicine; and several have been known as very dexterous surgeons. A Negress at Yverdun is mentioned by Blumenbach as being celebrated for real knowledge, and a "fine experienced hand."† James Derham, originally a Slave in Philadelphia, became one of the most distinguished physicians in New Orleans.+ J. E. J. Capitein was brought from Africa when about seven years old, and purchased by a Slave-dealer. Of his early history but little is known, or by what means he became instructed in the elements of the Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and Chaldaic languages. He was a painter from taste. He published at the Hague, an elegy in Latin verse, on the death of his instructor. From the Hague he went to the University of Leyden; on entering which, he published a Latin dissertation on the calling of the Gentiles. He also published several sermons and letters at Leyden, one 1 A Tribute for the Legro. 127 of which, went through four editions very quickly. He took his degree at Leyden, and was ordained to the office of a Christian minister in Amsterdam. He went to Elmina on the Gold Coast, where it is probable he was either murdered or sold into Slavery.* The son of the King of Nimbana came to England to study, acquired a proficiency in the sciences, and learnt Hebrew, that he might read the Bible in the original. This young man, of whom great expectations were entertained, died soon after his return to Africa.† Stedman was acquainted with a Negro who knew the Koran by heart. Higiemondo was an able artist. If the painter's business is to impart life to nature, he was master of this, according to the testimony of Sandrart. He resided in India. In 1788, he or Cugoano, a native African, were in the service. of Cosway, first painter of the Prince of Wales.‡ Ignatius Sancho and Gustavus Vassa, the former born in a Slave ship, on its passage to the West Indies, and the latter in Guinea, on the coast of Africa, distinguished themselves in England in modern times. Gustavus Vassa exhibited talents, without much literary cultivation, to which a good education would have been a great advantage. Fortune bringing Ignatius Sancho to England, the interest of the Duke of Montague became excited on his behalf, and he befriended him. Some letters of Sancho's were published in two volumes after his decease. These letters exhibit a considerable display of epistolary talent, of rapid and just conception, of wild patriotism, and of universal philanthropy; and when it is borne in mind that they were written by an untutored African, and never designed for publication, it must be admitted they evince the possession of abilities in the writer, equal to a European. Sancho supported a commerce with the Muses, amidst the + Gregoire. Pennington's Text Book, p. 49. * Lawrence's Lectures. |