have received high encomiums from his eloquent lips.

Five Thousand Negroes are said to have fought on the side of the colonies during the Revolution. Most of them were from the northern colonies. There were, possibly, 50,000 Negroes en. listed on the side of Great Britain, and 30,000 of these were from Virginia.

SOME INDIVIDUALS OF REVOLUTIONARY TIMES.

Primus Hall, was body-servant of Colonel Pickering in Massachusetts. General Washington was quite intimate with the Colonel and paid him many visits. On one occasion, Washington continued his visit till a late hour, and being assured by Primus that there were blankets enough to accommodate him, he resolved to spend the night in the Colonel's quarters. Accordingly two beds of straw were made down, and Washington and Colonel Pickering retired, leaving Primus engaged about the tent. Late in the night General Washington awoke, and seeing Primus sitting on a box nodding, rose up in his bed and said: "Primus, what did you mean by saying that you had blankets enough? Have you given up your blanket and straw to me, that I may sleep comfortably while you are obliged to sit through the night?" "It's nothing," said Primus; "don't trouble yourself.

about me, General, but go to sleep again. No matter about me; I sleep very good." "But it is matter; it is matter," replied Washington, earnestly. "I cannot do it, Primus. If either is to sit up, I will. But I think there is no need of either sitting up. The blanket is wide enough for two; come and lie down here with me." "O, no, General," said Primus; "let me sit here; I'll do very well on the box." Washington said, "I say, come and lie down here! There is room for both, and I insist upon it." And, as he spoke, he threw up the blanket and moved to one side of the straw. Primus hesitated, but Washington continuing to insist, Primus finally prepared himself and laid down by Washington, and on the same straw, and under the same blanket, where the General and the Negro servant slept till morning.

Washington is said to have been out walking one day in company with some distinguished gentlemen, and during the walk he met an old colored man, who very politely tipped his hat and spoke to the General. Washington, in turn, took off his hat to the colored man, on seeing which one of the company, in a jesting manner, inquired of the General if he usually took off his hat to Negroes. Whereupon Washington replied: "Politeness is cheap, and I never allow any one to be more polite to me than I to him."

Judge Story gives an account of a colored artilleryman who was in charge of a cannon with a white soldier at Bunker Hill. He had one arm so badly wounded he could not use it. He suggested to the white soldier that he change sides so as to use the other arm. He did this; and while thus laboring under pain and loss of blood, a shot came which killed him. Prince appears in the attempt to capture General Prescott, of the Royal army, stationed at Newport, R. I. General Lee, of the American forces, was held as a prisoner by the British, and it was designed to capture Prescott so as to be able to give him in exchange for Lee. Colonel Barton planned the scheme, and set out to Prescott's sleep

ing apartments in the night. Prince followed the lead of Colonel Barton to the door. There the sentinel was seized with his bayonet at the Colonel's breast, and ordered to be silent on pain of death, when Prince came forward and with two strokes at the door with his head it came open. Prescott was seized by Prince while in bed and made a prisoner. Colonel Barton was presented an elegant sword for this brave exploit which Prince achieved.

Prince Whipple appears, as a body-guard, on the picture entitled "Washington Crossing the Del

aware."

L. LATHAM.

New London, Connecticut, was taken by the British under command of Arnold, the traitor, in 1781. The American troops retreated to Fort Gro ton, where the American commander Ledyard was in command. The British came up and overcame the Americans after a bold resistance. The British officer vainly strode into the ramparts and said, "Who commands this fort?" Ledyard replied, "I once did; you do now," handing the Briton his sword at the same time, which he took and ran through Ledyard up to the hilt. L. Latham, a Negro slave, stood near the American. Scarcely had the British officer's hand left the murderous hilt when Latham run him through with his bayonet. The

enemy rushed on him, and after a most daring fight he fell, not till pierced by thirty-three bayonets. L. Latham had been left at home by his master to care for the stock when the latter left to help defend the fort; but as soon as he could unhitch his team he too made haste to the scene of the fray, and the above bold deed shows how deeply he felt moved to give his life in defence of his country.

John Freeman pinned Major Montgomery to the ground while he was being lifted upon the walls of Fort Griswold.

Samuel Charlton was in the battle of Monmouth and several others. Washington complimented him for his bravery. He returned to his master in New Jersey after the war, and at his master's death Charlton, with the other slaves, was set free and given a pension during his life.

James Armistead acted as scout for LaFayette in the Virginia campaign. He returned to his master after the surrender of Cornwallis and was set free by a special act of the Virginia Legislature.

Negro Soldiers in the North enlisted with the colonies so that they might thus get their freedom from their Northern masters, while Negro soldiers in the South enlisted with the British, who promised freedom to all who would join their ranks.

Did the Negro Soldiers get their freedom after the war of the Revolution was over? We may say