"I should suppose kindness would do any thing with them;--my soul melts at kindness."
— Sancho, Charles Ignatius (1729-1780)
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed by J. Nichols
Date
1782
Metaphor
"I should suppose kindness would do any thing with them;--my soul melts at kindness."
Metaphor in Context
I thank you for your kindness to my poor black brethren--I flatter myself you will find them not ungrateful--they act commonly from their feelings:--I have observed a dog will love those who use him kindly--and surely, if so, negroes--in their state of ignorance and bondage will not act less generously, if I may judge them by myself--I should suppose kindness would do any thing with them;--my soul melts at kindness--but the contrary--I own with shame--makes me almost a savage.--If you can with conveniency--when you write again--send me half a dozen cocoa nuts, I shall esteem them for your sake--but do not think of it if there is the least difficulty.--In regard to wages I think you acted quite right--don't seek too hastily to be independent--it is quite time enough yet for one of your age to be your own master.--Read Mr. Garrick's letter night and morning--put it next your heart--impress it on your memory--and may the God of all Mercy give you grace to follow his friendly dictates!--I shall ever truly rejoice to hear from you--and your well-doing will be a comfort to me ever;--it is not in your own power and option to command riches--wisdom and health are immediately the gift of God--but it is in your own breast to be good--therefore, my dear child, make the only right election--be good, and trust the rest to God; and remember he is about your bed, and about your path, and spieth out all your ways.--I am, with pride and delight, [...]
(I.xii, pp. 39-41; pp. 44-5 in Carretta)
(I.xii, pp. 39-41; pp. 44-5 in Carretta)
Categories
Provenance
Reading; text from DocSouth
Citation
Five entries in ESTC (1782, 1783, 1784). [Second edition in 1783, third in 1784.]
See Letters of the Late Ignatius Sancho, An African. In Two Volumes. To Which Are Prefixed, Memoirs of His Life (London: Printed by J. Nichols, 1782). <Link to text from Documenting the American South at UNC>
Reading Letters of the Late Ignatius Sancho, ed. Vincent Carretta (New York: Penguin, 1998).
See Letters of the Late Ignatius Sancho, An African. In Two Volumes. To Which Are Prefixed, Memoirs of His Life (London: Printed by J. Nichols, 1782). <Link to text from Documenting the American South at UNC>
Reading Letters of the Late Ignatius Sancho, ed. Vincent Carretta (New York: Penguin, 1998).
Date of Entry
07/11/2013
