I found a book recently entitled: Letters of the Late Ignatius Sancho, an African. Sancho was born about 1729 to captives on a ship carrying kidnapped Africans to the Americas. His father killed himself rather than be a slave. When Sancho was two, he was sent to Greenwich, England as a gift to three single sisters. In 1749, Sancho ran away from the sisters, eventually gaining his freedom.

Ignatius Sancho says: “I am one of those people whom the vulgar call ‘Negurs.’ The first part of my life was rather unlucky, as I was placed in a family who judged ignorance the best and only security for obedience.”

Ignatius Sancho says: “Remember, if you ever should fall into bad company, example is only the fool’s plea and the rogue’s excuse for doing wrong things.”

Ignatius Sancho says: “We humans know good from evil; and we have powers sufficient to withstand vice, if we choose to exert ourselves.”

Ignatius Sancho says: “Vice is a coward — to be truly brave, a man must be truly good.’

Ignatius Sancho says: “Consider slavery — what it is — how bitter a draught, and how many millions are made to drink it.”

Ignatius Sancho says: “Believe me, the more you study the Word of God, your peace and happiness will increase the more with it.’

Ignatius Sancho says: “I am more and more convinced of the futility of all our eagerness after worldly riches.”

Ignatius Sancho says: “There is something so amazingly grand — so stupendously affecting — in contemplating the works of the Divine Architect.”

Ignatius Sancho says: “Improve your mind with good reading, converse with men of sense rather than with fools of fashion and riches.”

Ignatius Sancho says: “Conscience is the high chancellor of the human breast, whose small still voice speaks terror to the guilty.”