Dalby 1 Dall. If the jury think, from the evidence, that the plaintiff's mother was a slave at the time of his birth, according to the laws of Virginia, where he was born, we will point out the legal consequence that flows from the establishment of this fact.
Slavery is of a very ancient origin.
In England, there was formerly a species of slavery, distinct from that which was termed villenage . It would, perhaps, be difficult to account for this singular deviation in the law of England, from the law of every other country upon the same subject. But it is enough for the present occasion, to know, that as villenage never existed in America, no part of the doctrine founded upon that condition can be applicable here. There is a case in 2 Salk. Verdict for the defendant.