James McCune Smith, Reminiscences of the Mulberry Street School

African School, No. 2, was then taught by Mr. Charles C. Andrews, an Englishman by birth, or versatile talents; himself not deeply learned, but thorough so far as he went, a good disciplinarian, and in true sympathy with his scholars in their desire to advance. One special habit of his was find out the bent of his boys, and then, by encouragement, instruction, and, if need were, employing at his own expense additional teachers to develop such talent as far as possible.

In spelling, penmanship, grammar, geography, and astronomy, he rightly boasted that his boys were equal, if not superior, to any like number of scholars in the city, and freely challenged competition at his Annual Examinations. In Natural Philosophy and Navigation, which were then new studies in a free school, he carried on classes as far as he was able, and then hired more competent teachers at his own expense. To stimulate his pupils, and bring out their varied talents, he instituted periodical fairs, at which he exhibited the handiwork of the children, who were rewarded by tickets and those creature comforts which schoolboys and girls so well know how to estimate.

Without being, in the modern sense, an abolitionist, Mr. Andrews held that his pupils had as much capacity to acquire knowledge as any other children, they were the object of his constant labors, and it was thought by some, the he even regarded his black boys as a little smarter than whites. He taught his boys and girls to look upward; to believe themselves capable of accomplishing as much as any others could, and to regard the higher walks of life as within their reach. He instituted among the advanced scholars a “CLASS OF MERIT,” which was a literary and deliberative assembly, which held periodical meetings for the transaction of business, elected officers, and kept minutes, which may still be found among the archives of the Mulberry Street school.

To this school, and under his teacher, was Henry sent, in 1826, when eleven years old. Among his schoolmates were some, not unknown in their day.

GEORGE R. ALLEN, a little boy, perfectly black, so fragile that you might crush him between thumb and finger, was head-boy in Arithmetic, Natural Philosophy, and Astronomy; he was little less than a prodigy of calculation and original thought on the abstruse problems of gravity, cohesion, and the laws of planetary motion. His knowledge of navigation stood him in good stead some years after, when being at sea, as a sailor, the captain and mate of the vessel, a whaler, both died; the men were at a loss what to do, when George, taking up the sextant, told them he could navigate; at first incredulous, they gladly yielded to his proofs of ability, and he brought the ship safely into New Bedford. Thence he afterwards sailed as second officer of the same vessel; but unfortunately, with all hands she was lost at sea.

IRA ALDRIDGE, a histrionic artist of the highest rank who bears the gifts of several European kings, as well as the title of Chevalier.

PATRICK H. REASON, the splendid engraver on steel, also is in the full tide of his successful artist life. It may well be recorded here, that the hand of a colored man (Mr. Reason) engraved the massive coffin plate of Daniel Webster. PROFESSOR CHARLES L. REASON, well known as a most successful teacher, and highly esteemed thinker and writer.

REV. ALEXANDER CRUMMELL, M.A., Oxon., whose resistance to caste in the Church is eloquently recorded by Arch-Deacon Wilberforce in his History of Episcopancy in the United States: who is widely known in these continents for his learning, eloquence, and logical power: and who prefers to devote his great talents, so well fitted to adorn the highest walks of civilization, to the enlightening, the heathen, and illumining with Gospel light despised and down-trodden Africa.

REV. ISAIAH G. DE GRASSE, the fine scholar and eloquent preacher, cut off in his early prime. Mr. De Grasse also came in contact with caste in the Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary. Having been admitted regularly, as a student, the fact was bruited about the building, the Southern and dough-faced students raised a clamor, and the trustees insisted on Mr. De Grasse’s withdrawal. The most remarkable part of this transaction was, that when the students were assembled at meals, no one knew which was the colored student, Mr. D. having no traces of African descent.

THOMAS S. SYDNEY, the wit, the pure patriot, the almost self-taught scholar, cut off, alas! in the very bloom of his most promising youth.

SAMUEL RINGGOLD WARD, second cousin of Garnet, “the ablest thinker on his legs” which ANGLO-AFRICA has produced, whose powerful eloquence, brilliant repartee, and stubborn logic are as well known in England as in the United States.

From: James McCune Smith. “Sketch of the Life of and Labors of Henry Highland Garnet.” In A Memorial Discourse by Henry Highland Garnet. Philadelphia: J. M. Wilson, 1865.