HISTORICAL NEWS JOURNAL

SLAVE BECOMES A DOCTOR
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The Penn. Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery and the
Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully held in Bondage has released
the following communication:

New Orleans, La., Feb. 1793- There is now in the city a black
man of the name of James Derham, a practitioner of medicine. This
man was born a slave into a family which taught him reading, writing
and the principles of Christianity. When a boy he was transferred by
his master to the late Dr. John Kearsly., who employed him
occasionally to compound medicines and to perform other humble acts.
     After passing through several hands, Derham became the property of
Dr. George Weiss, a British surgeon under whom, during the late war in
America, he performed many minor medical duties.
     At the war's end, he was sold to Dr. Robert Dove, of New Orleans,
who employed him as an assistant. His ability gained him so much
confidence and friendship, that Dr. Dove, consented to liberate him
after two or three years.
     Dr. Derham had become so well acquainted with the healing art, as
to commence practice at New Orleans under the patronage of his last master.
He is now 26 years of age, has a wife; but no children, and does business to the
amount of $3,000 a year...
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THE WILL
     Among the Bequests of
George Fox, Who Died Last
Year, are mentioned: 1 Negro
Man, 1 warming Pan, 1 old
looking -glass, & 1 gun.
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              POEMS
         on Comic, Serious
       and Moral Subjects
      by Phillis Wheatley
                       
                   Printed for J. French
                     bookseller (1784)

Ed. Note: We express our deep
sorrow at the death of Miss
Wheatley, who after an
unfortunate marriage to John
Peters (who neglected her and
her child), died a pauper, forced
to work in a boarding house to
provide for herself and her family.


***The preceding were actual newspaper articles.