| Show 1 cc philadelphia aug 30 1791 dear sir air I 1 thank you sincerely for your letter of the instant and for the almanac it contained nobody wishes more than I 1 do to see such proofs as you exhibit that nature has given to our black brethren talents equal to those of the other colors of men and nd that the appearance of a want of f them is owing only to the degraded condition of their existence both iu in aar africa I 1 i ca and d america ican I 1 can add with tru truth th that no one wishes more ardently to see a good system commenced for raising the condition both of their body and mind to what it ought to be us as fast as the imbecility of their present existence and other circumstances which cannot be neglected will admit I 1 have taken the liberty of sending your almanac to monsieur de cordoray Cor dorat secretary of the academy of sciences at paris and a bembe of the philanthropic society because I 1 consider it a document to which your whole color had a right tor for their justification against the doubts which have been entertained of them 1 I am with great esteem air sir your most obedient servant 11 THOMAS JEFFERSON mr benjamin bannera Ba nneka near Elli cotts lower mills baltimore co mr bannera was of medium stature black complexioned and of uncommonly soft and gentlemanly manners and of very pleasing address he died in 1804 very greatly mourned by scholars and philosophers of this country and europe it has been asserted on many occasions that he stands out in history as one of those phenomenal characters w whose hose achievements seemed to be nothing short of miraculous |
