[ENSLAVEMENT]. A letter describing the practice of buying & selling enslaved persons. 7 August 1831.

I AM A THINKING A MAN THAT BUYS AND SELLS HUMAN FLESH WILL NEVER PROSPER BUT A MAN THAT LIVES IN THIS COUNTRY MUST STIFFEN HIS NECK AND HARDEN HIS HEART AND DO THE BEST HE CAN.

3 1/2 pages, 8 x 10 in., address panel on terminal leaf.

Daniel Prescott, of Searsmont, Maine, is the recipient of this letter from his brother, "NRP," of Memphis, Tennessee. NRP details the goings on in the "Western Country," writing of multiple steam ship disasters, his dislike of doctors in the region, and a business practice he finds immoral.

"J.B. and Wife arrived here last week they will stay here a few weeks. J.B. came up to purchase slaves he is getting deep in that business he has a Check of 3,000 which he will expend for slaves he takes his slaves to Louisiania [sic] and sells [the]m to planters at a good profit [loss to page] Cotton [loss to page] and sells that again at profit but I am a thinking a man that buys and sells human flesh will never prosper but a man that lives in this Country must stiffen his neck and harden his heart and do the best he can."

Property from the James Milgram, M.D., Collection of Ephemeral Americana and Historical Documents

This lot is located in Cincinnati.