After we were re-seated in the parlor, she related the particulars of that dreadful and fatal disaster, the burning of the Theatre. She named one family that had lost nearly every member. The play was one of unusual attraction. Three lovely daughters, a brother, and the mother, all perished in each others arms; and a young naval officer, who had succeeded in getting out, and was shortly to be married to the eldest, not finding the young lady among the rescued, plunged into the fire, determined to rescue her or die, and poor fellow he perished! The weather now being fine, I took an affectionate leave of the good old lady, returned to my hotel, and spent the evening with a very intelligent gentleman, from the North, who entertained me with an account of a slave sale that took place a few da}rs before, opposite the hotel.
There were two boys, and a young woman, about twenty-four years of age, to be sold. The woman was a bright mulatto, but had rather a sickly appearance. She was very decently dressed with a white handkerchief over her bosom, and a pink one on her head. The auctioneer put her up, and the first offer was two hundred dollars, and after hanging on this bid rather over a minute, a man stepped up, and whispered something into the auctioneer's ear. He drew himself up at full length, and with a very solemn look, says: "Gentlemen, I am informed that this woman, Martha, has religion, and understands the management of children, is a good seamstress, and is acquainted ivith all sorts of housework.
Gentlemen she has religion! How much am I offered for this valuable servant? I am offered two hundred and fifty, three hundred, three hundred and fifty, four hundred! Gentlemen, she has religion! and I am offered only four hundred dollars for this pious servant. Four hundred and fifty " and she was finally knocked off for five hundred dollars. During all this time her eyes were steadily fixed upon the ground, and when an indecent question was asked by a slave dealer, she gently raised her head, and gave the fellow such a look. Her new master sent her off in a wagon, probably in the country.