HKB
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Often appears with: equity, mercy, and pardon · contracts, oaths, and obligation · robert king jurisdiction · robert king · rights and liberties · purchase of freedom · public finance and debt · psalm 126 · property, inheritance, and title · manumission deed · manumission · justice as a virtue
Usually: letter or document (1) · narrative (1) · reconciliation (1) · praise (1) · resignation (1) · reverence (1)
“These words of my master were like a voice from heaven to me: in an instant all my trepidation was turned into unutterable bliss;” Olaudah Equiano (also known as Gustavus Vassa), The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equ · vivid
After the trunk’s empty “treasure,” Equiano has about forty-seven pounds, pays toward his manumission, and rejoices when his master Robert King honors the promise.
While we thought we were embracing a substance we grasped an empty nothing. The whole amount that was in the nest of trunks was only one dollar and a half; and all that the man possessed would not pay for his coffin. Our sudden and exquisite joy was now succeeded by a sudden and exquisite pain; and my Captain and I exhibited, for some time, most ridiculous figures--pictures of chagrin and disappointment! We went away…
Equiano receives formal manumission and celebrates becoming free the same day; the narrative quotes his Montserrat deed granting Gustavus Vassa freedom and rights over his property.
and I most reverently bowed myself with gratitude, unable to express my feelings, but by the overflowing of my eyes, while my true and worthy friend, the Captain, congratulated us both with a peculiar degree of heartfelt pleasure. As soon as the first transports of my joy were over, and that I had expressed my thanks to these my worthy friends in the best manner I was able, I rose with a heart full of affection and r…