Year: 1876

after Its pubilcation, yet chOse 10 senu IL W


you in manuscript previous thereto, that you


might not only have ain earlier inspection, but


that you might also view it in my own hand
writing"


To the letter from which the above is an
tract, and which will be found at length in the
f appendix to this memoir, Mr.. Jefferson made
the following reply: 90, o,
PHILADELPHIA, Aug Both, 1871.
Sir:-I thank you sincerely for your letter of
the 10th inst and for the almanac it contain
ed. Nobody wishes more than do to see such
proofs you exhibit, that nature has given to
our black brethren talents equal to those OF the


other colors of men, and that the appearance


of want ofthem is owing only to the degraded


condition of their existence both in Africa and


America. can add with truth that no one
| wishes more ardently to see good system


commenced for raising the condition both OF


their body and mind to what it ought to be as
fast as the imbeciity of their present existence
and other circumstances which cannot be


neglected will admit. l have taken the liber-


ty OF sending your almanac to Monsieur de
J Condorcel, Secretary OF the Academy of Scien-
, ces at Paris, and member of the Philanthropic
Society, because l consider it q document to
which your whole color had q right for their
Justification against the doubts which have


been entertained of them | am, with great


esteem, sir, your most obedient servant,
THos. JEFFERSON


Mr. Banjanin Bannekel', near Eliicotcs Ja5w-
| er Mills, DaltnOTe county,


The making of the clock was an important


matter, for it was probably owing to the fame


of it that the Ellicott family, who had just


commenced settlement where EllicotPs Mills


now stands, were induced to seek him out


Well educated and having great aptness for


the useful mechanics, they were the men OF


all others able to understand and appreciate


the character and abilities of Bsnneker: and
| they continued during his life his firm and


jealous friends.


| As already stated the basis Of Banneker's
| arithlnetical knowledge was obtained from the


school books into which he had advanced as far


as "doubie position )" but in 1857 Mr. George Ell


licott lent him Mayors Tables, Ferguson's AS


tronomy, and Leadbeater's Luna Tables
Along with these books were some astronomi-


cal instruments. MIR. Ellicott was accidental
| ly prevented from giving Banneker any infor-


nation to the use of either books or instru-


ments at the time he lent them; but before he
| again met him, and the interval a brief


one, Banneker was Independent OF any instruc-


tion and was already absorbed in the contem'
| plation of the new world which was then open
| ed to his view. From this time the study Of


astronomy became the great object of his life,


and for season he almost disappeared from


the sight of his neighbors.


He was unmarried and was the sole occu
| pant of a cabin on the lot OF ground already


mentioned. His parents had died at date
| which is not remem mbered-betore the period,
| however, to which we now particularly refer.


He was still obliged to labor for his bread but


by contracting his wants DE made little serve
| him, and he thus obtained leisure to devote to
| his books. His favorite time for study was
| night, when he could look out upon the planets
whose story he was reading and whose laws he


was gradually but surely mastering. During
| the hours of darkness Banneker was at his Ia


bors, and shutting himself up in his house,


when not obliged to toll out OF doors with his
| hands, he slept during the day. In this way
| he lost the reputation for industry which he


had acquired in early life; and those who saw


but little of him in his fields and who found


him sleeping when they visited his house, set
| him down as lazy fellow who would come to


no good and whose old age would disappeint


the promise of his youth. There was a season
| when this estimate of him by the ignorant


among his neighbors led to attempts to impose


upon him, and at times gave him serious in


convenience. But as people came to under


stand him, his character was restored most


honorably.


Letter referred to in the foregoing memoirs:
| MARYLAND, BALTIMORE COUNTY,


| NEAR ELLICoTT's LOWER MILLS,
August 10Th, 1871.


THOMAS JEFFERSON, Secretary of State:


SRI am fully sensible of the greatness of
| freedom which l take with you on the present
occasion, liberty which seemed to me scarce
| ly allowable, when reflect on that distinguish
ed aad NgniGed station in which yau sta ID
and the almost general prejudice and prepos


session which is so prevalent in the world


against those of nay complexion. 1 suppose it
| is truth too well attested to you to need
| proof here, that we are race of beings who
| have long labored under the abuse and censure
| of the world; that we have long been consid-
| cred rather as british than human, and scarce
| ly capable of mental endowments.


| Sir, l hope l may safely admit, in conse-


quence of that report which hath reached me,
| fl,ok, s. lass HNx-s a Ia in


ments of this nature than many others, that
| you are measurably friendly and well disposed
| towards US, and that you are ready and willing


to lend your aid and assistance to our relief


from those many distressed and numerous ca


lamities to which we reduced.


| Now sir, if this is founded in truth, I appre-


hend you will readily embrace every Opportu-


nifty to eradicate that train of absurd and false


ideas and opinions which generally prevail
| with respect to US, and that your sentiments


are concurrent with mine, which are that one


universal Father hath given being to us all,
| and that He hath not only made US all OF one
| flesh, but that He hath also without partality


afforded us all the same sensations and endow-
| ed US all with the same faculties, and that


however variable we may be in society or re-


lgion, however diversified in situation or color,


we are all of the same family, and stand in the


same relation to Him.


Sir, if these are sentiments of which you are


fully persuaded, I hope you cannot but ac-


knowledge that it is the indispensable duty of


those who maintain for themselves the rights Of


human nature, and who profess the obligations


of christia atty, to extend their power and in


fuence to the relief of every part Of the human


race; and whatever burden or oppression they


may unjustly labor under, and this 1 appre-


hend a full conviction of the truth and obliga-


ton of these principles should lead all to-


Sir have long been convinced, that if your


love for yourselves and for those inestimable


laws which preserve to you the rights of hu


man nature was founded on sincerity, you could


not but be solicitous that every individual Of


whatever rank or distinction, might with you


equally enjoy the blessings thereof; neither


could you rest satisfied, short of the most active


diffusion of your eXertions, in order to their
promotion from any state Of degradation to


which the unjustifable cruelty and barbarism
of men may have reduced them.


Sir, freely and cheerfully acknowledge that


am of the African race, and in that color
which is natural to them, Of the deepest dye,
and it is under a sense of the most profound
} gratitude to the Supreme Ruler of the universe
that now confess to you that I am not under
!. that state of tyrannical thraldon and lnhuman
captivity to which too many of my brethren
are doomed but that have abundantly tasted
of the fruitien of those blessings which proceed
from that free and unequaled liberty with
which you are favored, and which, l hope, you
: will willingly allow, you have received from



proceedeth every good and perfect gift.
! Sir, suffer me to recall to your mind that time
in which the arms and tyranny of the British
,, Crown were exerted with every powerful effort
in order to reduce you to a state of servitude !;
, look back. I entreat you, on the variety of dan
, gers to which you were exposed reflect on that
! time in which every human aid appeared un-
available, and in which even hope and fOrtltude
= wore the aspect of inability to the conflict and
: you cannot but be led to a serious and grateful
! sense of your miraculous and providential pre-
: servation; you cannot but acknowledge that
the present freedom and tranquility which you
! enjoy, you have mercifully received, and that
i it is the peculiar blessing of heavan. This,
Sir, was time in which you clearly saw into
. the injustice OF state of slavery, and in which
you had just apprehension of the horrors of its
: condition it was now, Sir, that your adherence
thereof was so excited, that you publicly held
forth this true and invaluable doctrine, which
. is worthy to be recorded and remembered in all
= | succeeding ages: =" We hold these truths to be
~ self-evdent, that all men created equal, and
: that they are endowed by their Creator with
L certain inalienable rights that among these are
! life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. =
= = Here, Sir, was time in which your tender
Z feelings for yourselves had engaged you thus
!, to declare; you were then impressed with pro
= | per ideas of the great valuation of liberty and
= | the free possession of those blessings to which
y you were entitled by nature; but, Sir, how pitt
r able is it to reflect that although you were sc
y fully convinced of the benevolence of the Faith.
y or Of mankind, and of his equal and impartial