ABSTRACT
The act of Congress, prohibiting the importation of slaves, took effect at the commencement of the year 1808. I think it was in the, first month of that year, a Frenchman arrived in Philadelphia, from one of the West India islands, and brought with him a slave, whom he took before John Douglass, one of the aldermen of that city, and had him bound to serve him seven years in Virginia. I was informed that this was done under the advice of Dennis Cottineau, a Frenchman, who had resided several years in Philadelphia, and was mostly applied to by his countrymen who needed advice. After the indenture was executed, the slave was committed to prison for safe-keeping. About dusk, one of his keepers called upon me, and informed me of the circumstances; he also said that the master intended to take him to the South early the next morning.
