The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-30
An English Lady's Report of Southern
slaves.

In Lady EMMILINE STUART WoRrLEY's book
Of travels in the UNITED STATES, lately pub
lished in London, there is an account of her
visit to the cotton plantation of General TAY-
LoR, on the Mississippi, which must present a
remarkable contrast for English readers to the
atrocious reports they have been in the habit of
receiving from other British travellers in this
country. Her ladyship called on General TAy-
LoR in Washington, and was invited by him to
visit his cotton plantation when she went South.
She says:
The late Presidents son was there, and re-
ceived US with the kindest hospitality The slaves
were mustered and marshalled for us to see cotton
was picked from the few plants that had survived
the late terrible OVERLOOKING Of the Mississippi, and
the interior of of the slaves houses was exhb-
tied to US. AS to the slaves themselves they were
as well fed. comfortably clothed. and kindly cared
for in every way as possible, and seemed tho
roughly happy and contentod. The dwelling
house we went to look nt was extremely nice; it
was most tastefully decorated and an excellently
furnished one; the walls covered with prints,
and it was scrupulously clean and neat.
"v- expressed great wish to see some of the
small sable fry; and whole regiment Of little
robust, rotund, black babies were forthwith pa
raded for her especial amusement: it was a very
orderly little assemblage, and it cannot be imagine
how nice and clean they all looked. Such con-
gregation OF little smiling, goodnatured, raven
rolypolics never saw collected together before
One perfect duck of child was only about three
weeks old, but it comported itself quito in as or
derby manner as the rest, "a if it had been used
to give parties and assemblies, and receive any
quantity OF company from every nation on earth
all its days, or rather hours. It was as black as
little image carved in polished ebony. and as plump
AZ partridge, Tin mourning.) These pitchy-
colored picannnies differed from white children in
one essential particular, for they were all perfectly
quiet and silent; all wide awake, but all still and
smiling.
CATER the main body had departed, email
straggior was brought in, (whose mother, perhaps,
had avished additional cares upon its state tolette)
and it alone, apparently alarmed at finding itself
thus unsupported and insulated, testified its dis
appreciation at the presence of English visitors by
very mild squall. We an older child after
wards, who was worry nearly white, with lovely
features and fair hair; the mother was mulatto
and the father almost white.
"V- was highly delighted with the whole
company of little inky imps. from first to last,
nursing and fondling them in high glee and il
may be readily conceived that the mothers stood
BY equally enchanted at having their little darkies
30 apPreciated-and not little proud showing
their splendid glittering teeth almost from ear to
ear.
"All the slaves were evidently taken the kindcst
care of on General Taylor's plantation. Men, wo-
men, and children, all appeared to adore Mr. Tay-
lor, who seemed extremely kind to them, and af
fable with them"