"-. .-^^ 
 
 '\-~ .^■^- 
 
 ^ -y ^^^iif^ 
 
 %■''' 
 
 
 
 A>' '^f. 
 
 "Si 
 
^^. 
 
 
 xN-^ 
 
 'i^r 
 
 "**^vv>5^ 
 
 %^^- 
 
 
 
 ;C^ -c.- 
 
 -^^c 
 
 ^.,^ 
 
 s* .*^' 
 
 %<■ 
 
 
 ^0 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 J- >>•,■ 
 
 
 
 /- >.. 
 
 • - ^ 
 
 
 \', 
 
 
 
 A"^ 
 
 ' - 
 
 
 .'^- 
 
 * ^^ 
 
 
 
 :l: 
 
 
 ^ ^^^UyU^^ 
 
 
 ^^c. 
 
 "^. ^^^.-^ - ov 
 
 
 -7- 
 
 .0^ 
 
 \^' ^r 
 
 
 
 
 
 <^^ ^>.. 
 
 
 ^A 
 
 
 
 ^^\..,% 
 
 
 c- 
 
 
 .^^ 
 
 ■y.^::^/ 
 
 
 
 -^^> 
 
 
 % i''' 
 
 'r^' 
 
 S^ 
 
 % 
 
 -i. 
 
 4^'- ■% 
 
 A^ 
 
 . V 1 
 
 8 . 
 
 -. ' A-'^ 
 
 
 -' ^ ^,/r?9p^ ^ 
 
 "r^f' 
 
 
 
 ,0 s 
 
 .^.-^ 
 
 
 ^\^r /ii 
 
 
/-^r 
 
ISAAC T. HOPPER: 
 
 A TRUE LIFE. 
 
 BY y) 
 
 Tvvu) l3mARIA^ CHILD. 
 
 Thino was a soul with sympathy imbued, 
 Broad as the earth, and as the heavens niiblime 
 
 Thy godlike object, eteadfa^^tly ]>m-.-iicd. 
 To save thy race from misery and criiuc 
 
 Garr{.<>on. 
 
 A NEW EDITION. 
 
 NEW YORK : 
 DODD, MEA.D & COMPANY, 
 
 PnBI.TSHEUS. 
 
 ^^^'fV 
 
.HiU 
 
 0^2 
 
 Copyright, r88i 
 By DODD, mead & COMPANY. 
 
 By Transfer 
 
 0. C. Public Librtry 
 
 OCT 1 5 1«34 
 
DlSreiCT QF gOLUMBIA raoBSRiv 
 
 V/AC 
 
 TO 
 
 HANNAH ATTMORE HOPPER, 
 
 WIDOW OF THE LATE 
 
 ISAAC T. HOPPER, 
 
 THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY AND AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED, 
 BY HER GRATEFUL AND ATTACHED FRIEND, 
 
 L. MARIA CHILD. 
 
PREFACE TO THE PRESENT EDITION. 
 
 The Life of Isaac T. Hopper, piiblislied in 1852, is a book 
 which has, ever since its appearance in print, hekl a pecnliar 
 place in the literatureof the English-speaking workl. It is, in 
 the main, a satisfactory and Tivid presentation of a unique, if 
 we may not even say, romantic career. In it, the genial, brave 
 old reformer stands boldly out upon the canvas, drawn with 
 so firm a touch as to challenge the interest of one generation 
 after another, and especially to furnish the generous inspira- 
 tion of a great example to the impressible temperament of the 
 young. The book is now out of print, but the demand for it 
 has not ceased among readers of English, on either side of the 
 water. It has been thought well to bring before the public a 
 new edition of this remarkable story. In doing this, the stere- 
 otype plates of the original publication will be used, without 
 attempt to amend those few and mainly unimijortant features 
 of the late Mrs. Child's able portrayal which, it would seem, 
 might be retouched for the better. To the story as told by her 
 will be added a sketch of " Friend Hopper," much prized 
 by his family, which apj^eared in " The Helping Hand," in the 
 year 1853, from the graceful and discriminating pen of Mrs. 
 Caroline M. Kirk] and, of New York. Except for this valued 
 addition, the account of Isaac T. Hopper, as first presented 
 thirty years ago, remains unchanged. 
 
IV PREFACE. 
 
 With a view to assure the thousands who were in sympathy 
 with his work, that no part of it died with him, and to show 
 how well his mantle has been worn by the noble woman on 
 whose shoulders it naturally fell, a word is here added touch- 
 ing the labors of his daughter, Mrs. Abby Hopper Gibbons, in 
 the various fields of jDhilanthropy which have occupied a large 
 part of her life. 
 
 This is not the place for a biography of Mrs. Gibbons, May 
 the day be distant when it shall be possible to speak of her 
 without that sense of friendly constraint which imposes itself 
 upon the eulogist of the living ! Such a narrative, could it be 
 fitly drawn out, would show her, for a third of a century at 
 least, in the front rank of every humane and charitable move- 
 ment — her judgment sought by old and young — her patience 
 and energy untiring — her motherly tenderness unfailing — her 
 courage equal to every demand. 
 
 Early interested in the effort to provide a fit refuge for the 
 City's infant poor, she was a visitor, with Miss Catharine M. 
 Sedg^vick, at the Long Island Farms, when that teira incognita 
 was the place of shelter for the little waifs now congregated in 
 such numbers at Kandall's Island. As though a malign fatality 
 grudged them this last poor semblance of a home, the build- 
 ings occupied on Long Island burned to the ground, and 
 the inmates were transferred for a time to inadequate quarters 
 on Blackwell's Island. Mrs. Gibbons was present, in company 
 with Mrs. Child, on the occasion of this removal, and witnessed 
 that saddest of aU sights, when the long procession mc^ved 
 across the river to their improvised abode — blind, crippled, 
 emaciated, homeless, friendless, wretched little children — out- 
 casts for no fault of theirs, shut out from almost the last ray 
 of that light of human love which makes childhood blessed. 
 
PREFACE V 
 
 But their condition soon began to mend, upon the removal to 
 Eandall's Island, under the kindly eye of the Almshouse Com- 
 missioner, Moses G. Leonard. 
 
 Such a iDicture as one would like to draw would show her 
 ministering to these little ones from that day on, without 
 wearying or ceasing, until, at last, for the children of Eandall's 
 Island, " Christmas does not begin till Mrs. Gibbons comes" 
 —and the distribution of dolls is as regular an event as the 
 recurrence of the day. It would show her enlisted among 
 the first in behalf of Kossuth and the victims of Austrian des- 
 potism ; president for twelve years, from 1854, of a German In- 
 dustrial School, and associated in 1857 with Miss Catharine M. 
 Sedgwick, Mrs. William M. Evarts, and other women of mark, 
 in efforts for the relief of beleaguered Kansas. 
 
 It would show her devoted from week to week, as her father 
 had been, to the needs of the unfortunate, especially of her 
 own sex, who crowd the Tombs, and many other penal resorts, 
 as well as to the care of the inmates of the " Isaac T. Hopper 
 Home," a retreat for convicts cast helplessly adrift by their 
 discharge. And, finally, it would show this worthy daughter 
 of the man of peace, ready for the terrible ordeal of civil war, 
 and leaving a roof, from which the Draft Eiots were to banish 
 her forever, to go forth, that she might make the hospital tent 
 of the dying soldier, at least in something, like the home he 
 had left behind. 
 
 Mrs. Gibbons, accompanied by her daughter, left New York 
 for the army, November 18th, 1861. She was first connected 
 with the Patent OfiSce Hospital, at "Washington ; next, Decem- 
 ber 19th, with a Eegimental Hospital, at Fall's Church, ten 
 miles from Washington, and on the road to Fairfax Court- 
 HousG ; then, after the first battle at Winchester, in 1862, with 
 
VI PREFACE. 
 
 the liospitals of Winchester ; then at Strashnrg, sv.-ept along 
 in the disastrous midnight retreat of the Army of the Shenan- 
 doah ; then, July 19th, attached to the hospital at Point Look- 
 out, a station at the confluence of the Chesapeake and Potomac. 
 
 On January 6th, 1863, the residence of Mrs. Gibbons in La- 
 martine Place, Xew York City, which had just been illuminated 
 in honor of President Lincoln's Proclamation of Emancipa- 
 tion, was marked for attack by parties who, in the reign of 
 terror of the July following, entered the house, and destroyed 
 everything but roof and walls that made it habitable. Hearing, 
 July 17th, of the sacking of the house on the 13th, Mrs. Gib- 
 bons and her daughter returned to New York. 
 
 The following extract, taken substantially from L. P. Brock- 
 ett's " Woman's Work in the Civil War," describes the havoc : 
 
 " It was a sad scene that presented itself on their arrival. 
 There was not an unbroken pane of glass in any of the win- 
 dows. The panels of the doors were many of them beaten in 
 as with an axe. The furniture was destroyed or carried away 
 — bureaus, desks, closets, receptacles of all kinds had been 
 broken open, and their contents stolen or rendered worthless ; 
 the floors were soaked with a trampled conglomerate of mud 
 and water, oil and tilth, and the debris left by the feet of the 
 maddened, howling crowd ; beds and bedding, mirrors, and 
 smaller articles had been carried away ; the piano had had a 
 tire kindled on the keyboard, and indeed the house was set on 
 fire in many places, the flames extinguished none knew how." 
 
 After this disaster, the family were reunited under the roof 
 of Mrs. Gibbons' brother, John Hopper, and she returned for 
 a while to Point Lookout. Mrs. Gibbons' journal having been 
 destroyed by the rioters, there is no record of her ai-my work 
 until the opening of the grand campaign of the Army of the 
 
PREFACE. Vll 
 
 Potomac, in May of the following yeav, when she received a 
 telegram, desiring her to come to the aid of the wounded. She 
 started the following day, in company with her daughter, and 
 they speedily found themselves amid the horrible confusion 
 and suffering of Belle Plain. From Belle Plain they proceeded 
 to Fredericksburg, where they were requested to take charge of 
 a hospital of the Ninth Army Corps, consisting merely of large 
 unfurnished rooms in adjoining buildings. Here they re- 
 mained until the position was evacuated. One day when the 
 town was beautiful and fragrant with early roses, some regi- 
 ments of Northern soldiers landed and marched through on 
 their way to the front. The patriotic women gathered there 
 cheered them as they passed on, and picked roses, which they 
 offered in a fragrant shower, and with which the men dec- 
 orated their caps and button-holes. But two days later, the 
 long train of ambulances crept down the hill, bringing back 
 these heroes to their pitying country-women, the roses withering 
 on their breasts, and crimsoned with their sacred patriot blood. 
 
 Through all the horrors of this terrible campaign, Mrs. Gib- 
 bons and her daughter remained, doing whatever their hands 
 found to do. 
 
 When Fredericksburg was evacuated, they accompanied the 
 soldiers, riding in the open box-cars, and, on the way, minis- 
 tering to them as they could. They were at White House and 
 at City Point, and remained at the latter place until called 
 home by the death of the brother, Mr. Hopper, through whose 
 bount}'' they were enabled to give so much tin^e to the brave 
 men perishing by thousands for their country. 
 
 Their next station was Beverly, New Jersey, where Mrs. 
 Gibbons again took charge of the hospital, this time having 
 the care of nineteen hundred men. 
 
Vlll PREFACE. 
 
 The winter of 1804-5 will long be remembered in New York 
 for the ravages of smallpox in that city. Its visitations were 
 not confined to any class or locality. Mrs. Gibbons was sum- 
 moned home to nurse her youngest daughter through a severe 
 attack of varioloid. This closed the army labors of the mother, 
 although the daughter remained until April of the following 
 year, when the end of the war dismissed them to their well- 
 earned rest. 
 
 It will not be supposed that the charitable hands of such a 
 woman were to remain idle. To her former self-imposed du- 
 ties to the criminal, the needy, and the unfortunate, which she 
 promptly resumed, she now added a motherly interest in the 
 wives and children of soldiers ; and fully convinced that the 
 prevailing methods of relief would tend to make paupers of 
 these families, and that honest work and honest wages were 
 much more helpful than charity, she organized, on a plan of 
 her own, a *' Labor and Aid Association." A laundry was 
 opened, and more than three thousand dollars paid out the 
 first year for the labor of these beneficiaries, and a success 
 was achieved which promised to extend the organization 
 throughout the city. But the health of the projector, seriously 
 affected by her army life, proved unequal to the strain, and the 
 plan was abandoned. 
 
 Enough has been said to justify this allusion to Mrs. Gib- 
 bons. In her survives the spirit of a noble sire. 
 
 August, 1881. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 Allusions to his Parents, from 1 to 3, from 25 to 28, 252. 
 
 Anecdotes of Childhood, from 3 to 25. 
 
 Allusions to Sarah his Wife, 24, 36, 43, 46, 249 to 252, 289 to 293 
 
 377, 382, 466 
 Allusions to Joseph Whitall, 25, 27, 44 to 46, 466. 
 Anecdotes of Apprenticeship, 27 to 35. 
 His Religious Experience, 36 to 46. 
 
 Tales of Oppression and Anecdotes of Colored People, 48 to 212. 
 Anecdotes of Prisoners and of Vicious Characters in Philadelphia, 
 
 from 212 to 243. 
 His Love of Fun, 244 to 248, 364 to 374. 
 Allusions to his Private Life and Domestic Character, 249, 377 to 
 
 380, 458 to 464. 
 Anecdotes connected with Quakers, from 255 to 276. 
 Schism in the Society of Friends, 273 to 286. 
 Anecdotes connected with his Visit to England and Ireland, 296 to 
 
 313. 
 Anti-Slavery Experiences in New- York, 314 to 334, 340 to 303, 
 
 384, 385, 447 to 458. 
 His Attachment to the Principles and Usages of Friends, 255, 380 
 
 to 383, 458. 
 Disowned by the Society of Friends in New- York, 386 to 399, 
 
 465. 
 His Connection with the Prison Association of New- York, 409 to 
 
 444, 470 to 473, 481 to 485. 
 His Illness, Death, and Funeral, 470 to 493. 
 
 ix 
 
PARTICULAR INDEX. 
 
 Kis birth, 1. 
 
 Anecdote of his Grandmother's Courage, 2, 
 His Childish Roguery, 4 to 9. 
 His Contest with British Soldiers, 9. 
 His V^iolent Temper, 10. 
 Conscientiousness in Boyhood, 11. 
 Tricks at School, 6, 7, 10, 11. 
 (Joing to Mill, 12. 
 Going to Market, 13. 
 Anecdote of General Washington, 15. 
 Pelting the Swallows, 16. 
 
 Anecdote of the Squirrel and her young ones. lo. 
 The Pet Squirrel, 20. 
 The Pet Crow, 21 * 
 
 Encounter with a Black Snake, 23. 
 Old Mingo the African, 23. 
 Boyish Love for Sarah Tatum, 24. 
 His Mother's parting advice when he leaves Home. 28. 
 Mischievous Trick at the Cider Barrel, 28. 
 He nearly harpoons his Uncle, 29. 
 He nearly kills a Fellow Apprentice, 29. 
 Adventure with a young Woman, 31 
 His first Slave Case, 33. 
 His Youthful Love for Sarah Tatum, 3G. 
 Nicholas Wain, 37. 
 Mary Ridgeway, 38. 
 William Savery, 38. 
 His early Religious Experience, 43. 
 Letter from Joseph Whitall, 44. 
 He marries Sarah Tatum, 46. 
 X 
 
PARTICULAR INrvEX. Xl 
 
 His interest in Colored People, 47. 
 
 Charles Webster, 48. 
 
 Ben Jackson, 51. 
 
 Thomas Cooper, 5.^. 
 
 A Child Kidnapped, 66. 
 
 Wagelma, 70. 
 
 James Poovey, 73. 
 
 Romaine, 77. 
 
 David Lea, 80. 
 
 The Slave Hunter, 80 
 
 William Bachelor, 83. 
 
 Levin Smith, 88. 
 
 Etienne Lamaire, 91. 
 
 Samuel Johnson, 96. 
 
 Pierce Butler's Ben, 98. 
 
 Daniel Benson, 104. 
 
 The Quick- Witted Slave, 108. 
 
 James Davis, 112. 
 
 Mary Holliday, 116. 
 
 Thomas Harrison, 122. 
 
 James Lawler 123. 
 
 WilUam Anderson,, 126. 
 
 Sarah Roach, 129. 
 
 Zeke, 133. 
 
 Poor Amy, 137. 
 
 Manuel, 139. 
 
 Slaveholders mollified, 145. 
 
 The United States Bond, 149. 
 
 The tender mercies of a Slaveholder. 1 57. 
 
 The Foreign Slave, 160. 
 
 The New-Jersey Slave, 164. 
 
 A Slave Hunter Defeated, 168. 
 
 Mary Morris, 173. 
 
 The Slave Mother, 176. 
 
Ml PARTICULAR INDEX. 
 
 (Joionel Ridgoloy's Slave, 179. 
 
 Stop Thief! 185. 
 
 The Disguised Slaveholder, 189. 
 
 The Slave of Dr. Rich, 192, 
 
 His Knowledge of Lavsr, 202. 
 
 Mutual Confidence between him and the Colored People, 204. 
 
 Mercy to Kidnappers, 206, 
 Vllichard Allen, the Colored Bishop, 208, 
 V^he Colored Guests at his Table, 210. 
 
 Kane the Colored Man fined for Blasphemy, 211. 
 
 John Mc'Grier, 212, 
 
 Levi Butler, 215. 
 
 The Musical Boy, 217. 
 
 Mary Norris, 220. 
 
 The Magdalen, 221. 
 
 The Uncomplimentary Invitation, 222. 
 
 Theft from Necessity, 224. 
 
 Patrick M'Keever, 225. 
 
 The Umbrella Girl, 229. 
 
 The two young GfiTenders, 237. 
 
 His courageous intercourse with violent Prisoners, 242. 
 
 Not thoroughly Baptized, 245. 
 
 The puzzled Dutchman, 245. 
 
 Hint to an Untidy Neighbor, 247. 
 
 Resemblance to Napoleon, 248, 314. 
 
 The Dress, Manners, and Character of Sarah, his wife, 249 to 253; 
 382, 466. 
 
 The Devil's Lane, 2.54. 
 
 Jacob Lindley's Anecdotes, 2!i9. 
 
 Singular Clairvoyance of Arthur Howell, a Quaker Preacher, 258. 
 
 Prophetic Presentiment of his Mother, 262. 
 
 The aged Bondman emancipated, 264. 
 
 A Presentiment of Treachery, 266. 
 
 The Quaker who purchased a Stolen Horse, 270, 
 
PARTICULAR INDEX XIU 
 
 Elias Hicks and the Schism in the Society of Friends, 273 to 286. 
 Pecuniary difficulties, 287 to 291. 
 Death of his Wife, 291. 
 Death of his son Isaac, 292. 
 
 Journey to Maryland, and Testimony against Slavery, 293. 
 His marriage with Hannah Attmore, 294. 
 Removes to New-York, 296. 
 
 Matthew Carey's facetious Letter of Introduction, 296. 
 Anecdotes of his visit to England and Ireland, 296 to 313. 
 Anecdote of the Diseased Horse, 302. 
 Visit to William Penn's Grave, 309. 
 The Storm at Sea. Profane Language rebuked, 313. 
 ^he Clergyman and his Books, 313. 
 His Book- store in New- York, 313. 
 The Mob in Pearl-Street, 315. 
 Judge Chinn's Slave, 316. 
 One of his sons mobbed at the South, 319. 
 His Letter to the Mayor of Savannah, 327. 
 His Phrenological Character, 335. 
 His Unconsciousness of Distinctions in Society, 339. 
 The Darg Case, 340. 
 Letter from Dr. Moore, 356. 
 Mrs. Burke's Slave, 357. 
 
 Becomes Agent in the Anti- Slavery Office, 363. 
 His youthful appearance, 363, 491. 
 Anecdotes showing his love of Fun, 364 to 374. 
 His sense of Justice, 374. 
 His Remarkable Memory, 375. 
 His Costume and Personal Habits, 378 to 380. 
 His Library, 380. 
 His Theology, 381. 
 
 His Adherence to Quaker Usages, 382. 
 Capital Punishment, 383. 
 Rights of Women, 384. 
 
JflV PARTICULAR INDEX. 
 
 \ Exprossioiis of gratitmlc from Colored People, 95, 384, 385, 476. 
 
 His fiimi of Anecdotes and his Public Speaking, 385, 415. 
 
 Kemarks of Judge Edmonds thereon. 412. 
 
 His separation from the Society of Friends in New- York, 386 to 
 399. 
 
 "Visit to his Birth-place, 399. 
 
 Norristown Convention, 400. 
 
 Visit from his Sister Sarah, 401. 
 
 Visit to Boston, 401. 
 
 Visit to Bucks County, 406. 
 
 Prison Association in New- York, 409. 
 
 Correspondence with Governor Young, 413. 
 
 Preaching in Sing Sing Chapel, 415. 
 
 Anecdotes of Dr. William Rogers, 417, 459. 
 
 Interesting Cases of Reformed Convicts, 419 to 443. 
 
 Letter from Dr Walter Channing, 444. 
 
 Anecdotes of William Savery and James Lindley at the South, 446 
 
 Sonnet by William L Garrison, 448. 
 ^ His sympathy with Colored People turned out of the Cars, 448. 
 
 A Methodist Preacher from the South, 452. 
 
 His Disobedience to the Fugitive Slave Law, 455. 
 
 His Domestic Character, 249, 377 to 380, 458 to 464. 
 
 He attracts Children, 460. 
 
 His Garden described in a Letter to L. M. Child, 461. 
 
 likenesses of him, 464. 
 
 Letter concerning Joseph Whitall, 466. 
 
 Letters concerning Sarah his wife, 466, 467. 
 
 Letter to his Daughter on his 80th Birth-day, 469. 
 
 Allusions to Hannah, his wife, 294, 370, 379, 476, 481. 
 
 fiCtter resigning the agency of the Prison Association, 472. 
 
 Plis last Illness, 470. 
 
 liis Death, 481. 
 
 Letter from a Reformed Convict, 481. 
 
 Resolutions passed by the Prison Association, 482. 
 
PAllTICULAll INDE.V. XV 
 
 Resolutions passed by the Anti-Slavery Society, 484. 
 
 His Funeral, 485. 
 
 Lucretia Mott, 486, 487. 
 
 Public Notices and Private Letters of Condolence, 487 to 193. 
 
 liis Epitaph, 493. 
 
I was a father to the poor : and the cause which I knew not I searched out. 
 
 When the ear heard nie, then it blessed me : and when the eye saw me, it 
 gave witness to me : 
 
 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had 
 none to help him. 
 
 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon mo: and I caused 
 the widow's heart to sing for joy. Job xxix. 16, 11, 12, 13. 
 
 XVI 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 Isaac Tatem Hopper was born in Deptford 
 Township, near Woodbury, West New-Jersey, in 
 the year 1771, on the third day of December, which 
 Quakers call the Twelth Month. His grandfather 
 belonged to that denomination of Christians, but for- 
 feited membership in the Society by choosing a wife 
 from another sect.^ His son Levi, the father of Isaac, 
 always attended their meetings, but never became a 
 member. 
 
 A family of rigid Presbyterians, by the name oi 
 Tatem, resided in the neighborhood. While their 
 house was being built, they took shelter for a few 
 days, in a meeting-house that was little used, and 
 dug a pit for a temporary cellar, according to the 
 custom of new settlers in the forest. The country 
 at that time was much infested with marauders ; but 
 Mrs. Tatem was an Amazon in physical strength and 
 courage. One night, when her husband was absent, 
 and she was alone in the depths of the woods with 
 
2 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 ihree small cliildren, she heard a noise, and looking 
 out saw a band of thieves stealing provisions from 
 the celkr. They entered the meeting-house soon af- 
 ter, and she had the presence of mind to call out, 
 " Hallo, Jack ! Call Joe, and Harry, and Jim ! 
 Here's somebody coming." The robbers, supposing 
 she had a nimiber of stout defenders at hand, thought 
 it prudent to escape as quickly as possible. The 
 next day, her husband being still absent, she resolved 
 to move into the unfinished house, for greater securi- 
 ty. The door had neither lock nor latch, but she 
 contrived to fasten it in some fashion. At midnight, 
 three men came and tried to force it open ; but every 
 time they partially succeeded, she struck at them 
 with a broad axe. This mode of defence w^as kept 
 up so vigorously, that at last they were compelled to 
 retreat. 
 
 She had a daughter, who was often at play with 
 neiglibor Hopper's children ; and when Levi was 
 quite a small boy, it used to be said playfully that 
 little Rachel Tatem would be his wife, and they 
 v\-ould live together up by the great white oak ; a 
 remarkable tree at some distance from the homestead. 
 The children grew up much attached to each other, 
 nnd when Levi was twenty-two years old, the pro- 
 j)hocy was fulfilled. 
 
 The young man had only his own strong hands 
 anu five or six hundred acres of wild woodland. 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. H 
 
 He grabbed up the trees and underbrush near the 
 big white oak, removed his father's hen-house to the 
 cleared spot, fitted it up comfortably for a temporary 
 dwelling, and dug a cellar in the declivity of a hill 
 near by. To this humble abode he conducted his 
 young bride, and there his two first children were 
 born. The second was named Isaac Tatem Hopper, 
 and is the subject of this memoir. 
 
 Rachel inherited her mother's energy and courage, 
 and having married a diligent and prudent man, their 
 worldly circumstances gradually improved, though 
 their family rapidly increased, and they had nothing 
 but land and labor to rely upon. When Isaac was 
 one year and a half old, the family removed to a new 
 log-house w^ith three rooms on a floor, neatly white- 
 washed. To these the bridal hen-house was append- 
 ed for a kitchen. 
 
 Isaac was early remarked as a very precocious 
 child. He was always peeping into everything, and 
 inquiring about everything. He was only eighteen 
 months old, when the new log-house was built ; but 
 when he saw them laying the foundation, his busy 
 little mind began to query whether the grass would 
 grow under it ; and straightway he ran to see whether 
 grass grew under the floor of the hen-house where 
 be was born. 
 
 He was put to work on the farm as soon as he 
 could handle a hoe ; but though he labored hard, he 
 
4 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 had plenty of time and strength left for all manner 
 of roguery. While he was a small fellow in petti- 
 coats, he ran into a duck-pond to explore its depth. 
 His mother pulled him out, and said, "Isaac, if you 
 ever go there again, I will make you come out faster 
 than you went in." He thought to himself, " Now 
 I will prove mother to be in the wrong ; for I w^ill go 
 in as fast as I can, and surely I can't come out any 
 faster." So into the pond he went, as soon as the 
 w^ords were out of her mouth. 
 
 A girl by the name of Polly assisted about the 
 housework. She was considered one of the family, 
 and always ate at the same table, according to the 
 kindly custom of those primitive times. She always 
 called her mistress " Mammy," and served her until 
 the day of her death ; a period of forty years. The 
 children were much attached to this faithful domes- 
 tic ; but nevertheless, Isaac could not forbear playing 
 tricks upon her whenever he had opportunity. — 
 When he was five or six years old, he went out one 
 night to see her milk the cow. He had observed 
 that the animal kicked upon slight provocation ; and 
 when the pail was nearly full, he broke a switch from 
 a tree near by, slipped round to the other side of the 
 cow, and tickled her bag. She instantly raised her 
 heels, and over went Polly, milk-pail, stool, and all. 
 Isaac ran into the house, laughing with all his might, 
 to tell how the cow had kicked over Polly and the 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 5 
 
 pail of milk. His mother went out immediately to 
 ascertain whether the girl was seriously injured. — 
 *' Oh, mammy, that little rogue tickled the cow, and 
 made her do it," exclaimed Polly . Whereupon, Isaac 
 had a spanking, and was sent to bed without his sup- 
 per. But so great was his love of fun, that as he lay 
 there, wakeful and hungry, he shouted with laughter 
 all alone by himself, to think how droll Polly looked 
 when she rolled over with the pail of milk after her. 
 When he was seven or eight years old, his uncle's 
 wife came one day to the house on horseback. She 
 was a fat, clumsy w^oman, and got on and off her 
 horse with difficulty. Isaac knew that all the family 
 were absent ; but when he saw her come ambling 
 along the road, he took a freak not to tell her of it. 
 He let down the bars for her ; she rode up to the 
 horse-block with which every farm-house was then 
 furnished, rolled off her horse, and went into the 
 house. She then discovered, for the first time, that 
 there was no one at home. After resting awhile, 
 she mounted to depart. But Isaac, as full of mis- 
 chief as Puck, put the bars up, so that she could not 
 ride out. In vain she coaxed, scolded, and threat- 
 ened. Finding it was all to no purpose, she rode up 
 to the block and rolled off from her horse again. — 
 Isaac, having the fear of her whip before his eyes, 
 ran and hid himself. She let down the bars for her- 
 self, but before she could remount, the mischievous 
 
6 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPFER. 
 
 urchin had put the bars up again and run away — 
 This was repeated several times ; and the exasperat- 
 ed visitor could never succeed in catching her tor- 
 mentor. His parents came home in the midst of the 
 frolic, and he had a sound whipping. He had cal- 
 culated upon this result all the time, and the uneasy 
 feeling had done much to mar his sport ; but on the 
 Avhole, he concluded such rare fun was well Vvorth a 
 flogging. 
 
 The boys at school were 'apt to neglect their les- 
 sons while they were munching apples. In order to 
 break up this disorderly habit, ihe master made it a 
 rule to take away every apple found upon them. — 
 He placed such forfeited articles upon his desk, with 
 the agreement that any boy might have them, who 
 could succeed in abstracting them without being ob- 
 served by him. One day, when a large rosy-cheeked 
 apple stood temptingly on the desk, Isaac stepped 
 up to have his pen mended. He stood very demure- 
 ly at first, but soon began to gaze earnestly out of 
 the window, behind the desk. The master inquired 
 what he was looking at. He replied, " I am watch- 
 ing a flock of ducks trying to swim on the ice. How 
 queerly they waddle and slide about !" " Ducks 
 Bwim on ice !" exclaimed the schoolmaster ; and he 
 turned to observe such an unusual spectacle. It was 
 only for an instant ; but the apple meanwhile was 
 transferred to the pocket of his cuiiiiiiig pupil. He 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 7 
 
 smile<il as he gave him his pen, and said, " Ah, you 
 rogue, you are always full of mischief !" 
 
 The teacher was accustomed to cheer the mono- 
 tony of his labors by a race with the boys during 
 play hours. There was a fine sloping lawn in front 
 of the school -hoise, terminating in a brook fringed 
 with willows. The cleclivily gave an impetus to the 
 runners, and as they came among the trees, their 
 heads swiftly parted the long branches. Isaac tied 
 a brick-bat to one of the pendant boughs, and then 
 invited the master to run with him. He accepted 
 the invitation, and got the start in the race. As he 
 darted through the trees, the brick merely grazed 
 his hair. If it had hit him, it might have cost him 
 his hfe ; though his mischievous pupil had not re- 
 flected upon the possibility of such a result. 
 
 There was a brido^e across the brook consistins: of 
 a single rail. One day, Isaac sawed this nearly in 
 two ; and w^hile the master was at play with the boys, 
 he took the opportunity to say something very im- 
 pertinent, for wdiich he knew he should be chased. 
 He ran toward the brook, crossed the rail in safety, 
 and instantly turned it over, so that his pursuer would 
 step upon it when the cut side was downward. It 
 immediately snapped under his pressure, and pre- 
 cipitated him into the stream, while the young rogue 
 stood by almost killing himself with laughter. But 
 this joke also came very near having a melancholy 
 
8 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER 
 
 termination ; for the master was floated down several 
 rods into deep water, and with difficulty saved him- 
 self from drowning. 
 
 There was a creek not far from his father's house, 
 where it was customary to load sloops with wood. 
 Upon one of these occasions, he persuaded a party 
 of boys to pry up a pile of wood and tip it into a 
 sloop, in a confused heap. Of course, it must all be 
 taken out and reloaded. When he saw how much 
 labor this foohsh trick had caused, he felt some com- 
 punction ; but the next temptation found the spirit 
 of mischief too strong to be resisted. 
 
 Coming home from his uncle's one evening, he 
 stopped to amuse himself with taking a gate off its 
 hinges. When an old Quaker came out to see who 
 was meddling with his gate, Isaac fired a gun over 
 his head, and made him run into the house, as if an 
 evil spirit were after him. 
 
 It was his delight to tie the boughs of trees to- 
 gether in narrow paths, that people travelling in the 
 dark, might hit their heads against them ; and to lay 
 stones in the ruts of the road, when he knew that 
 farmers were going to market with eggs, in the dark- 
 ness of morning twilight. If any mischief was done 
 for miles round, it was sure to be attributed to Isaac 
 Hopper. There was no malice in his fun ; but he 
 had such superabounding life within him, that it 
 would overflow, even when he knew that he must 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 9 
 
 suOer for it. His bo/ish activity, strength, and agili- 
 ty were proverbial. Long after he left his native 
 village, the neighbors used to tell with what aston- 
 ishing rapidity he would descend high trees, head 
 foremost, clinging to the trunk with his feet. 
 
 The fearlessness and firmness of character, which 
 he inherited from both father and mother, manifested 
 itself in many ways. He had a lamb, whose horns 
 were crooked, and had a tendency to turn m. His 
 father had given it to him for his own, on condition 
 that he should keep the horns carefully filed, so that 
 they should not hurt the animal. He had a small 
 file on purpose, and took such excellent care of his 
 pet, that it soon became very much attached to him, 
 and trotted about after him like a dog. When he 
 was about five or six years old, British soldiers came 
 into the neighborhood to seize provisions for the ar- 
 my, according to their custom during our revolution- 
 ary war. They tied the feet of the tame lamb, and 
 threw it into the cart with other sheep and lambs. 
 Isaac came up to them in season to witness this ope- 
 ration, and his heart swelled with indignation. He 
 sprang into the cart, exclaiming, "That's m?/ lamb, 
 and you shan't have it !" The men tried to push 
 iiim aside ; but he pulled out a rusty jack-knife, 
 which he had bought of a pedlar for two-pence, and 
 cut the rope that bound the poor lamb. A British 
 officer rode ud and seeing a little boy struggling so 
 
10 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 resolutely with the soldiers, he inquired what was 
 the niatter. "They've stolen my lamb!" excla.med 
 Isaac ; " and they shan't have it. It's my lamb!" 
 
 "Is it yoar lamb, my brave little fellow?" said the 
 officer. "Well, they shan't have it. You'll make 
 a fine soldier one of these days." 
 
 So Isaac lifted his lamb from the cart, and trudg- 
 ed off victorious. He had always been a whig ; and 
 after this adventure, he became more decided than 
 ever in his politics. He often used to boast that he 
 would rather have a paper continental dollar, than a 
 golden English guinea. The family amused them- 
 selves by exciting his zeal, and Polly made him be- 
 lieve he was such a famous whig, that the British 
 would certainly carry him off to prison. He gene- 
 rally thought he was fully capable of defending him- 
 self ; but when he saw four soldiers approaching the 
 house one day, he concluded the force was rather 
 too strong for him, and hastened to hide himself in 
 the woods. 
 
 His temper partook of the general strength and 
 vehemence of his character. Having put a small 
 quantity of gunpowder on the stove of the school- 
 house, it exploded, and did some injury to the mas- 
 ter. One of the boys, who was afraid of being sus- 
 pected of the mischief, in order to screen himself, 
 cried out, " Isaac Hopper did it !" — and Isaac was 
 punished accordingly. Going home from school, he 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 1 { 
 
 seized the informer as they were passing through a 
 wood, tied him up to a tree, and gave him a tremen- 
 dous thrashing. The boy threatened to tell of it; 
 but he assured him that he would certainly kill him 
 if he did ; so he never ventured to disclose it. 
 
 In general, his conscience reproved him as soon as 
 he had done anything wrong, and he hastened to 
 make atonement. A poor boy, who attended the 
 same school, usually brought a very scanty dinner. 
 One day, the spirit of mischief led Isaac to spoil the 
 poor child's provisions by filling his little pail with 
 sand. When the boy opened it, all eagerness to eat 
 his dinner, the tears came into his eye^ ; for he was 
 very hungry. This touched Isaac's heart instantly. 
 *'0h, never mind, Billy," said he. "I did it for fun; 
 but I'm sorry I did it. Come, you shall have half of 
 my dinner." It proved a lucky joke for Billy ; for 
 from that day henceforth, Isaac always helped him 
 plentifully from his own stock of provisions. 
 
 Isaac and his elder brother were accustomed to set 
 traps in the woods to catch partridges. One day, 
 when he was about six years old, he w^ent to look 
 at the traps early in the morning, and finding his 
 empty, he took a plump partridge from his brother's 
 rap, put it in his own, and carried it home as his. 
 When his brother examined the traps,' he said he 
 was sure he caught the bird, because there were 
 feathers sticking to his trap; but Isaac maintained 
 
J2 LIFE OF ISAAC T. IIOPrER. 
 
 that there were feathers sticking to his also. After 
 he went to bed, his conscience scorched him for 
 what he had done. As soon as he rose in the 
 morning, he went to his mother and said, "What 
 shall I do ? I have told a he, and I feel dreadfully 
 about it. That was Sam's partridge. I said I tcok 
 it from my trap ; and so I did ; but I put it in there 
 lirst." 
 
 "My son, it is a wicked thing to tell a lie," 
 replied his mother. "You must go to Sam and 
 confess, and give him the bird." 
 
 Accordingly, he went to his brother, and said, 
 " Sam, here's your partridge. I did take it out of 
 my trap ; but I put it in there first." His brother 
 gave him a talking, and then forgave him. 
 
 Being a very bright, manly boy, he was intrusted 
 to carry grain several miles to mill, when he was 
 only eight years old. On one of these occasions, 
 he arrived just as another boy, who preceded him, 
 had ahghted to open the gate. "Just let me drive 
 in before you shut it," said Isaac, "and then I shall 
 have no need to get down from my wagon." The 
 boy patiently held the gate for him to pass through ; 
 but, Isaac, without stopping to thank him, whipped 
 up his horse, arrived at the mill post haste, and 
 claimed the right to be first served, because he was 
 the first comer. When the other boy found he was 
 compelled to wait, he looked very much dissatisfied, 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 15 
 
 but said nothing. Isaac chuckled over his victory 
 at first, but his natural sense of justice soon sug- 
 gested better thoughts. He asked himself whether 
 he had done right thus to take advantage of that 
 obliging boy? The longer he reflected upon it, the 
 more uncomfortable he felt. At last, he vrent up to 
 the stranger and said frankly, " I did wrong to drive 
 up to the mill so fast, and get my corn ground, 
 when you were the one who arrived first ; especially 
 as you were so obliging as to hold the gate open 
 for me to pass through. I was thinking of nothing 
 but fun when I did it. Here's sixpence to make up 
 for it.'* The boy was well pleased with the amend 
 thus honorably offered, and they parted right good 
 friends. 
 
 At nine years old, he began to drive a wagon to 
 Philadelphia, to sell vegetables and other articles 
 from his father's farm; which he did very satis- 
 factorily, with the assistance of a neighbor, who 
 occupied the next stall in the market. According to 
 the fashion of the times, he wore a broad-brimmed 
 hat, and small-clothes with long stockings. Being 
 something of a dandy, he prided himself upon having 
 his shoes very clean, and his white dimity small 
 clothes without spot or blemish. He caught rabbits, 
 and sold them, till he obtained money enough 
 to purchase brass buckles for his knees, and for 
 the straps of his shoes. The first time he made 
 
14 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 his appearance in the city with this new finery, lie 
 felt his amhition concerning personal decoration com- 
 pletely satisfied. The neatness of his dress, and his 
 manly way of proceeding, attracted attention, and 
 induced his customers to call him " The Little 
 Governor." For several years, he was universal- 
 ly known in the market by that title. Fortunate- 
 ly, his father had no wish to obtain undue advantage 
 in the cale of his produce ; for had it been otherwise, 
 his straight-forward little son would have proved a 
 poor agent in transacting his aflfairs. One day, 
 when a citizen inquired the price of a pair of chick- 
 ens, he answered, with the utmost simplicity, " My 
 father told me to sell them for fifty cents if I could ; 
 and if not, to take forty." 
 
 "Well done, my honest little fellow!" said the 
 gentleman, smiling, "I will give you whatever is 
 the current price. I shall look out for you in the 
 market ; and whenever I see you, I shall always 
 try to trade with you." And he kept his word. 
 
 When quite a small boy, he was sent some dis- 
 tance of an errand, and arrived just as the family 
 were about to sit down to supper. There were 
 several pies on the table, and they invited him to 
 partake. The long walk had whetted his appe- 
 tite, and the pies looked exceedingly tempting; but 
 the shyness of childhood led him to say, "No, I 
 thank you." When he had delivered his message, 
 
LIFF OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 15 
 
 he lingered, and lingered, hoping they would ask 
 him again. But the family were Quakers, and 
 they understood yea to mean yea, and nay to mean 
 nay. They would have considered it a mere worldly 
 compliment to repeat the invitation ; so they were 
 silent. Isaac started for home, much repenting of 
 his bashfulness, and w^ent nearly half of the way 
 revolving the subject in his mind. He then w^alliied 
 back to the house, marched boldly into the supper- 
 room, and said, "1 told a lie when I was here. 1 
 did want a piece of pie ; but I thought to be sure 
 you would ask me again." This explicit avowal 
 made them all smile, and he was served with as 
 much pie as he wished to eat. 
 
 The steadfastness of his whig principles led him 
 to take a lively interest in anecdotes concerning 
 revolutionary heroes. His mother had a brother in 
 Philadelphia, who lived in a house formerly occupied 
 by William Penn, at the corner of Second Street and 
 Norris Alley. This uncle frequently cut and made 
 garments for General Washington, Benjamin Frank- 
 lin, and other distinguished men. Nothing pleased 
 Isaac better than a visit to this city relative ; and 
 when there, his boyish mind was much occupied 
 with watching for the famous men, of whom he had 
 heard so much talk. Once, when General Wash- 
 ington came there to order some garments, he fol- 
 lowed him a long distance from the shop. The 
 
16 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 General had observed his wonder and veneration, and 
 was amused by it. Coming to a corner of the street, he 
 turned round suddenly, touched his hat, and made a 
 very low bow. This playful condescension so complete- 
 ly confused his juvenile admirer, that he stood blush- 
 ing and bewildered for an instant, then walked hastily 
 away, without remembering to return the salutation. 
 The tenderness of spirit often manifested by him, 
 was very remarkable in such a resolute and mis- 
 chievous boy. There was an old unoccupied 
 barn in the neighborhood, a favorite resort of swal- 
 lows in the Spring-time. When he was about ten 
 years old, he invited a number of boys to meet him 
 the next Sunday morning, to go and pelt the swal- 
 lows. They set off on this expedition with anticipa- 
 tions of a fine frolic ; but before they had gone far, 
 Isaac began to feel a strong conviction that he was 
 doing wrong. He told his companions he thought it 
 was very cruel sport to torment and kill poor little 
 innocent birds ; especially as they might destroy 
 mothers, and then the httle ones would be left to 
 starve. There was a Quaker meeting-house about a 
 mile and a half distant, and he proposed that they 
 should all go there, and leave the swallows in peace. 
 But the boys only laughed at him, and ran off shout- 
 ing, "Come on ! Come on!" He looked after them 
 sorrowfully for some minutes, reproaching himself 
 for the suffering he had caused the poor birds. He 
 
LIFE OF 'ISAAC T. HOPPER. 17 
 
 then walked off to meeting alone ; and his faithful- 
 ness to the liglit within him was followed by a sweet 
 peacefulness and serenity of soul. The impression 
 made by this incident, and the state of mind he en- 
 joyed while in meeting, was one of the earliest influ- 
 ences that drew him into the Society of Friends. — 
 When he returned home, he heard that one of the 
 boys had broken his arm while stoning the swallows, 
 and had been writhing with pain, while he had been 
 enjoying the consolations of an approving conscience. 
 
 At an early age, he was noted for being a sure 
 shot, w4th bow and arrow, or with gun. A pair of 
 king-birds built in his father's orchard, and it was de- 
 sirable to get rid of them, because they destroy ho- 
 ney-bees. Isaac watched for an opportunity, and one 
 day when the birds flew away in quest of food for 
 their young, he transfixed them both at once with his 
 arrow. At first, he was much delighted with this ex- 
 ploit ; but his compassionate heart soon became trou- 
 bled about the orphan little ones, whom he pictured 
 to himself as anxiously expecting the parents that 
 would never return to feed them again. This feeling 
 gained such strength within him^ that he early re- 
 linquished the practice of shooting, though he found 
 keen excitement in the pursuit, and was not a little 
 proud of his skill. 
 
 Once, when he had entrapped a pair of partridges, 
 he put them in a box, intending to keep them there. 
 
18 LIFE OF ISAAC T. 'HOPPER. 
 
 But he soon began to query with himself whether 
 creatures accustomed to fly must not necessarily be 
 very miserable shut up in such a limited space. He 
 accordingly opened the door. One of the partridges 
 immediately walked out, but soon returned to prison 
 to invite his less ventursome mate. The box was 
 removed a few days after, but the birds remained 
 about the garden for months, often coming to the 
 door-step to pick up crumbs that were thrown to 
 them. When the mating-season returned the next 
 year, they retired to the woods. 
 
 From earliest childhood he evinced great fondness 
 for animals, and watched with lively interest all the 
 little creatures of the woods and fields. He was fa- 
 miliar with all their haunts, and they gave names to 
 the localities of his neighborhood. There was Tur- 
 key Causeway, where wild turkies abounded ; and 
 Rabbit Swamp, where troops of timid little rabbits 
 had their hiding places ; and Squirrel Grove, where 
 many squirrels laid in their harvest of acorns for the 
 winter ; and Panther Bridge, where his grandfather 
 had killed a panther. 
 
 Once, when his father and the workmen had been 
 cutting down a quantity of timber, Isaac discovered 
 a squirrel's nest in a hole of one of the trees that had 
 fallen. It contained four new-born little ones, their 
 eyes not yet opened. He was greatly tempted to 
 carry them home, but they were so young that they 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 10 
 
 needed their mother's milk. So after examining 
 them, he put them back in the nest, and with his 
 usual busy helpfulness went to assist in stripping 
 bark from the trees. When he went home from his 
 work, toward evening, he felt curious to see how the 
 mother squirrel would behave when she returned and 
 found her home was gone. He accordingly hid 
 himself in a bush to watch her proceedings. About 
 dusk, she came running along the stone wall with a 
 nut in her mouth, and went with all speed to the old 
 familiar tree. Finding nothing but a stump remain- 
 ing there, she dropped the nut and looked around in 
 evident dismay. She went smelhng all about the 
 ground, then mounted the stump to take a survey of 
 the country. She raised herself on her hind legs and 
 snuffed the air, with an appearance of great perplexi- 
 ty and distress. She ran round the stump several 
 times, occasionally raising herself on her hind legs, 
 and peering about in every direction, to discover 
 what had become of her young family. At last, she 
 jumped on the prostrate trunk of the tree, and ran 
 along till she came to the hole where her babies 
 were concealed. What the manner of their meeting 
 was nobody can tell; but doubtless the mother's 
 heart beat violently when she discovered her lost 
 treasures all safe on the vyarm little bed of moss she 
 had so carefully prepared for then?. After staying a 
 few minutes to give them their supper, slie came out 
 
20 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 and scampered oflT through the bushes. In about fif- 
 teen minutes, she returned and took one of the 
 young ones in her mouth, and carried it quickly to a 
 hole in another tree, three or four hundred yards off, 
 and then came back and took the others, one by one', 
 till she had conveyed them all to their new home. 
 The intelligent instinct manifested by this little quad 
 ruped excited great interest in Isaac's observing mind. 
 When he drove the cows to pasture, he always went 
 by that tree, to see how the young family were get- 
 ting along. In a short time, they were running all 
 over the tree with their careful mother, eating acorns 
 under the shady boughs, entirely unconscious of tlie 
 perils through which they had passed in infancy. 
 
 Some time after, Isaac traded with another boy 
 for a squirrel taken from the nest before its eyes 
 were open. He made a bed of moss for it, and fed it 
 very tenderly. At first, he was afraid it would not 
 live ; but it seemed healthy, though it never grew 
 so large as other squirrels. He did not put it in a 
 cage ; for he said to himself that a creature made to 
 frisk about in the green woods could not be happy 
 shut up in a box. This pretty little animal became 
 so much attached to her kind-hearted protector, that 
 she would run about after him, and come like a kit 
 ten whenever he called her. While he was gone to 
 school, she frequently ran oflf to the woods and play- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 21 
 
 ed with wild squirrels on a tree that grew near his 
 path homeward. Sometimes she took a nap in a 
 large knot-hole, or, if the weather w^as very warm, 
 made a cool bed of leaves across a crotch of the 
 boughs, and slept there. When Isaac passed under 
 the tree, on his way from school, he used to call 
 "Bun! Bun! Bun!" If she was there, she w^ould 
 come to him immediately, run up on his shoulder 
 and so ride home to get her supper. 
 
 It seemed as if animals were in some w^ay aw^are 
 of his kindly feelings, and disposed to return his con- 
 fidence ; for on several occasions they formed singu 
 lar intimacies with him. When he was six or seven 
 years old, he spied a crow's nest in a high tree, and, 
 according to his usual custom, he climbed up to make 
 discoveries. He found that it contained two eggs, 
 and he w^atched the crow's movements until her 
 young ones were hatched and ready to fly. Then 
 he took them home. One was accidentally killed a 
 few days after, but he reared the other, and named 
 it Cupid. The bird became so very tame, that it 
 would feed from his hand, perch on his shoulder, or 
 his hat, and go every where with him. It frequently 
 fodow^ed him for miles, when he went to mill or mar- 
 ket. He was never put into a cage, but flew^ in and 
 out of the house, just as he pleased. If Isaac called 
 " Cu ! Cu !" he would hear him, even if he were up 
 in the highest tree, would cr<"ak a friendly answei 
 
22 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 and come down directly. If Isaac winked one e} e, 
 the crow would do the same. If he winked Ins 
 other eye, the crow also winked with his other eye. 
 Once when Cupid was on his shoulder, he pointed to 
 a snake lying in the road, and said " Cu ! Cu !" — 
 The sagacious bird pounced on the head, of the 
 snake and killed him instantly ; then flew back to 
 his friend's shoulder, cawing with all his might, as if 
 delighted with his exploit. If a stranger tried to 
 take him, he would fly away, screaming with terror. 
 Sometimes Isaac covered him with a handkerchief 
 and placed him on a stranger's shoulder ; but as soon 
 as he discovered where he was, he seemed frighten- 
 ed almost to death. He usually chose to sleep on 
 the roof of a shed, directly under Isaac's bed-room 
 window. One night he heard him cawing very loud, 
 and the next morning he said to his father, " I heard 
 Cupid talking in his sleep last night." His father 
 inquired whether he had seen him since ; and when 
 Isaac answered, "No," he said, "Then I am afraid 
 the owls have taken him." The poor bird did not 
 make his appearance again ; and a few days after, 
 his bones and feathers were found on a stump, not 
 far from the house. This v.^as a great sorrow for 
 Isaac. It tried his young heart almost like the los 
 of a brother. 
 
 His intimacy with animals was of a very pleasant 
 nature, except on one occasion, when he thrust liis 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 23 
 
 arm into a hollow tree, in search of squirrels, and 
 pulled out a large black snake. He was so ter- 
 rified, that he tumbled headlong from the tree, and 
 it was difficult to tell which ran away fastest, he or 
 the snake. This incident inspired the bold boy with 
 fear, which he vainly tried to overcome during the 
 remainder of his life. There was a thicket of under- 
 brush between his father's farm and the village of 
 Woodbury. Once, when he was sent of an errand 
 to the village, he was seized with such a dread ot 
 snakes, that before entering among the bushes, he 
 placed his basket on an old rail, knelt down and 
 prayed earnestly that he might pass through without 
 encountering a snake. When he rose up and at- 
 tempted to take his basket, he perceived a large 
 black snake lying close beside the rcdl. It niay well 
 be believed that he w^ent through the thicket too 
 fast to allow any grass to grow under his feet. 
 
 When he drove the cows to and from pasture, he 
 often met an old colored man named Mingo. His 
 sympathizing heart was attracted toward him, be- 
 cause he had heard the neighbors say he was stolen 
 from Africa w^hen he was a little boy. One day, he 
 asked Mingo what part of the world he came from; 
 and the poor old man told how he w^as playing with 
 other children among the bushes, on the coast oi 
 Africa, when white men pounced upon them suddenly 
 and dragged them off to a ship. He held fast hold 
 
24 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 of the thorny bushes, wiiich tore his hands dreadfully 
 in the struggle. The old man wept like a child, 
 when he told how he was frightened and distressed 
 at being thus hurried away from father, mother, 
 brothers and sisters, and sold into slavery, in a 
 distant land, where he could never see or hear from 
 them again. This painful story made a very deep 
 impression upon Isaac's mind ; and, though he was 
 then only nine years old, he made a solemn vow tc 
 himself that he would be the friend of oppressed 
 Africans during his whole life. 
 
 He was as precocious in love, as in other matters. 
 Not far from his home, lived a prosperous and highly 
 respectable Quaker family, named Tatum. There 
 w^ere several sons, but only one daughter ; a hand- 
 some child, with clear, fair complexion, blue eyes, 
 and a profusion of brown curly hair. She was Isaac's 
 cousin, twice removed ; for their great-grandfathers 
 were half-brothers. When he was only eight years old, 
 and she was not yet five, he made up his mind that 
 little Sarah Tatum was his wife. He used to walk a 
 mile and a half every day, on purpose to escort her to 
 school. When they rambled through the woods, in 
 search of berries, it was his delight to sit beside her 
 on some old stump, and twist her glossy brown 
 ringlets over his fingers. A lovely picture they must 
 have made in the green, leafy frame-work of the 
 woods— that fair, blue-eyed girl, and the handsome, 
 
LIFK OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 25 
 
 vi2:croi7s boy ! When he was fourteen years old, he 
 wrote to her his first love-letter. The village school- 
 master taught for very low wages, and was not re- 
 markably well-qualified for his task ; as was gene- 
 rally the case at that early period. Isaac's labor 
 was needed on the farm all the summer ; conse- 
 quently, he was able to attend school only three 
 months during the winter. He was, therefore, so 
 little acquainted with the forms of letter-writing, 
 that he put Sarah's name inside the letter, and his 
 own on the outside. She, being an only daughter, 
 and a great pet in her family, had better opportuni- 
 ties for education. She told her young lover that 
 was not the correct way to write a letter, and in- 
 structed him how to proceed in future. From that 
 time, they corresponded constantly. 
 
 Isaac likewise formed a very strong friendship 
 with his cousin Joseph Whitall.who was his school- 
 mate, and about his own age. They shared together 
 all their joys and troubles, and were companions in 
 all boyish enterprises. Thus was a happy though 
 laborious childhood passed in the seclusion of the 
 woods, in the midst of home influences and rustic 
 occupations. Ilis parents had no leisure to bestow 
 n intellectual culture ; for they had a numerous 
 family of children, and it required about all their 
 time to feed and clothe them respectably. But they 
 
 were worthy, kind-hearted people, whose moral pre- 
 2 
 
26 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPFEfC. 
 
 cepts were sustained by tlieir upright example. Ills 
 father was a quiet man, but exceedingly firm and 
 energetic. When he had made up his mind to do a 
 thing, no earthly power could turn him from his 
 purpose ; especially if any question of conscience 
 w^ere involved therein. During the revolutionary 
 war, he faithfully maintained his testimony against 
 the shedding of blood, and suffered considerably for 
 refusing to. pay military taxes. Isaac's mother was 
 noted for her fearless character, and blunt directness 
 of speech. She was educated in the Presbyterian 
 faith, and this was a source of some discordant feel- 
 ing between her and her husband. The preaching 
 of her favorite ministers seem.ed to him harsh and 
 rigid, while she regarded Quaker exhortations as 
 insipid and formal. But as time passed on, her 
 religious views assimilated more and more with his ; 
 and about twenty-four years after their marriage, she 
 joined the Society of Friends, and frequently spoke 
 at their meetings. She was a spiritual minded wo- 
 man, always ready to sympathise with the afflicted, 
 and peculiarly kind to animals. They were both ex- 
 tremely hospitable and benevolent to the poor. On 
 Sunday evenings, they convened all the family to 
 listen to the Scriptures and other religious books. — 
 In his journal Isaac alludes to this custom, and says: 
 ** My mind was often solenmized by these opportuni- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 27 
 
 ties, and I resolved to live more consistently with the 
 principles of christian sobriety." 
 
 When he was sixteen years old, it became a ques- 
 tion to what business he should devote himself. — 
 There was a prospect of obtaining a situation for him 
 in a store at Philadelphia ; and for that purpose it 
 was deemed expedient that he should take up his 
 abode for a while w^th his maternal uncle, whose 
 house he had been so fond of visiting in early boy- 
 hood. He did not succeed in obtaining the situation 
 he expected, but remained in the city on the look-out 
 for some suitable employment. Meanwhile, he was 
 very helpful to his uncle, who, finding him diligent 
 and skillful, tried to induce him to learn his trade. — 
 It was an occupation ill-adapted to his vigorous body 
 and active mind; but he was not of a temperament 
 to fold his hands and wait till something " turned 
 up ;" and as his uncle was doing a prosperous busi- 
 ness, he concluded to accept his proposition. About 
 the same time, his beloved cousin, Joseph Whitall, 
 was sent to Trenton to study law. This w^as rather 
 a severe trial to Isaac's feelings. Not that he envied 
 his superior advantages ; but he had sad forebodings 
 that separation would interrupt their friendship, and 
 that such a different career would be very likely to 
 prevent its renewal. They parted with mutual re- 
 gret, and did not meet again for several years. 
 
 When Isaac bade adieu to the paternal roof, his 
 
28 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER, 
 
 mother looked after him thoughtfully, and remarked 
 to one of his sisters, " Isaac is no common boy. — 
 He will do something great, either for good or evd." 
 She called him back and said, "My son, you are 
 now going forth to make your own way in the world. 
 Always remember that you are as good as any other 
 person ; but remember also that you are no better.' 
 With this farewell injunction, he departed for Phila- 
 delphia, where he soon acquired the character of a 
 faithful and industrious apprentice. 
 
 But his boyish love of fun was still strong within 
 him, and he was the torment of all his fellow ap- 
 prentices. One of them, named Wilham Roberts, 
 proposed that they should go together into the cellar 
 to steal a pitcher of cider. Isaac pulled the spile, 
 and while William was drawing the liquor, he took 
 an unobserved opportunity to hide it. When the 
 pitcher was full, he pretended to look all around for 
 it, without being able to find it. At last, he told his 
 unsuspecting comrade that he must thrust his finger 
 into the hole and keep it there, while he went to get 
 another spile. William waited and waited for him 
 to return, but when an hour or more had elapsed, his 
 patience was exhausted, and he began to Halloo ! — 
 The noise, instead of bringing Isaac to his assist- 
 ance, brought the mistress of the house, who caught 
 the culprit at the cider-barrel, and gave him a severe 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 29 
 
 scolding, to the infinite gratification of his mischiev- 
 ous companion. 
 
 Once, when the family were all going away, his 
 uncle left the house in charge of him and another ap- 
 prentice, telling them to defend themselves if any 
 robbers came. Having a mind to try the courage of 
 the lads, he returned soon after, and attempted to 
 force a window in the bcick part of the house, which 
 opened upon a narrow alley inclosed by a high fence. 
 As soon as Isaac heard the noise, he seized an old 
 harpoon that was about the premises, and told his 
 companion to open the window the instant he gave 
 the signal. His orders were obeyed, and he flung 
 the harpoon with such force, that it passed through 
 his uncle's vest and coat, and nailed him tight to the 
 fence. When he told the story, he used to say he 
 never afterward deemed it necessary to advise Isaac 
 to defend himself. 
 
 Among the apprentices was one much older and 
 stouter than the others. He was very proud of his 
 physical strength, and delighted to play the tyrant 
 over those who were younger and weaker than him- 
 self. When Isaac saw him knocking them, about, 
 he felt an almost irresistible temptation to fight ; but 
 his uncle was a severe man, likely to be much in- 
 censed by quarrels among his apprentices. He 
 knew, moreover, that a battle between him and Sam- 
 son would be very unequal ; so he restrained his in- 
 
80 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 dignation as well ns ho could. But op« day, when 
 the big- bully knocked him down, without the slight- 
 est provocation, he exclaimed, in great wrath, "Jf 
 you ever do that again, I'll kill you. Mind what I 
 say. I tell you I'll kill you." 
 
 Samson snapped his fingers and laughed, and the 
 next day he knocked him down again. Isaac armed 
 himself with a heavy window-bar, and when the ap- 
 prentices were summoned to breakfast, he laid wait 
 behind a door, and levelled a blow at the tyrant, as 
 he passed through. He fell, without uttering a sin- 
 gle cry. When the family sat down to breakfast, 
 Mr. Tatem said, " Where is Samson?" 
 
 His nephew coolly rephed, "I've killed him." 
 
 "Killed him!" exclaimed the uncle. "What do 
 you mean?" 
 
 " I told him I would kill him if he ever knocked 
 me down again," rejoined Isaac ; " and I have killed 
 him." 
 
 Tliey rushed out in the utmost consternation, and 
 found the young man entirely senseless. A physi- 
 cian was summoned, and for some time they feared 
 he was really dead. The means employed to restore 
 him were at last successful ; but it was long before 
 he recovered from the effects of tb/.- blow. When 
 Isaac saw him so pale and helpless, a terrible re 
 morse filled his soul. He shuddered to think how 
 nearly he had committed murder, in one rash mom en 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 31 
 
 ot unbridled rage. This awful incident made such a 
 solemn and deep impression on him, that from that 
 time he began to make strong and earnest efforts to 
 control the natural impetuosity of his temper ; and 
 he finally attained to a remarkable degree of self- 
 control. Weary hours of debility brought wiser 
 thoughts to Samson also ; and when he recovered 
 his strength, he never again misused it by abusing 
 his companions. 
 
 In those days, Isaac did not profess to be a Qua 
 ker. He used the customary language of the world, 
 and liked to display his well-proportioned figure in 
 neat and fashionable clothing. The young women 
 of his acquaintance, it is said, looked upon him with 
 rather favorable eyes ; but his thoughts never wan- 
 dered from Sarah Tatum for a single day. Once, 
 when he had a new suit of clothes, and stylish boots, 
 the tops turned down with red, a young man of his 
 acquaintance invited him to go home with him on 
 Saturday evening and spend Sunday. He accepted 
 the invitation, and set out well pleased with the ex- 
 pediUon. The young man had a sister, w^ho took it 
 into her head that the visit was intended as an espe- 
 cial compliment to herself. The brother was called 
 out somewhere in the neighborhood, and as soon as 
 she found herself alone with their guest, she began 
 to specify, in rather significant terms, what she 
 should require of a man who wished to marry her. — 
 
32 LIFE ()¥ ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 Her remarks made Isaac rather ficlgelty ; but he re- 
 yhed, in general terms, that he thought her ideas on 
 the subject were very correct. "I suppose you 
 think my father will give me considerable money," 
 said she ; "but that is a mistake. Whoever takes 
 me must take me for myself alone." 
 
 The young man tried to stammer out that he did 
 not come on any such errand ; but his wits were be- 
 wildered by this unexpected siege, and he could not 
 frame a suitable reply. She mistook his confusion 
 for the natural timidity of love, and went on to ex- 
 press the high opinion she entertained of him. Isaac 
 looked wistfully at the door, in hopes her brother 
 would come to his rescue. But no rehef came from 
 that quarter, and fearing he should find himself en- 
 gaged to be married without his own consent, he 
 caught up his hat and rushed out. It was raining 
 fast, but he splashed through mud and water, with- 
 out stopping to choose his steps. Crossing the yard 
 in this desperate haste, he encountered the brother, 
 who called out, "Where are you going?" 
 
 "I'm going home," he replied. 
 
 " Going home !" exclaimed his astonished friend, 
 "Why it is raining hard; and you came to stay all 
 night. What does possess you, Isaac? Come back! 
 Come back, I say !" 
 
 "I won't come back !" shouted Isaac, from the dis- 
 tance, "Fm going home." And home he went. — 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 33 
 
 Ilis new clothes were well spattered, and his red-top 
 boots loaded with mud; but though he prided him- 
 self on keeping his apparel in neat condition, he 
 thought he had got oiT cheaply on this occasion. 
 
 Soon after he went to reside in Philadelphia, a sea 
 captain by the name of Cox came to his uncle's on a 
 visit. As the captain was one day passing through 
 Norris Alley, he met a young colored man, named 
 Joe, whose master he had known in Bermuda. He 
 at once accused him of being a runaway slave, and 
 ordered him to go to the house with him. Joe called 
 him his old friend, and seemed much pleased at the 
 meeting. He said he had been sent from Bermuda 
 to New- York in a vessel, which he namel; he had 
 obtained permission to go a few miles into the coun- 
 try, to see his sister, andAvhile he was gone, the ves- 
 sel unfortunately sailed ; he called upon the con- 
 signee and asked what he had better do under the 
 circumstances, and he told him that his captain had 
 left directions for him to go to Philadelphia and take 
 passage home by the first vessel. Captain Cox was 
 entirely satisfied with this account. He said there 
 was a vessel then in port, which would sail for Ber- 
 muda in a few days, and told Joe he had better go 
 and stay with him at Mr. Tatem's house, while he 
 made inquiries about it. 
 
 When Isaac entered the kitchen that evennig, he 
 found Joe sitting there, in a very disconsolate atti- 
 
34 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 lude ; and watching him closely he observed tears 
 now and then trickUng down his dark cheeks. He 
 tliought of poor old Mingo, whose pitiful story had 
 so much interested him in boyhood, and caused him 
 to form a resolution to be the friend cf Africans. — 
 The more he pondered on the subject, the more he 
 doubted whether Joe was so much pleased to meet 
 his "old friend," as he had pretended to be. He took 
 him aside and said, "Tell me truly how the case 
 stands with you. I will be your friend; and come 
 what v/ill, you may feel certain that I will never be- 
 tray you." Joe gave him an earnest look of distress 
 and scrutiny, which his young benefactor never for- 
 got. Again he assured him, most solemnly, that he 
 might trust him. Then Joe ventured to acknowl- 
 edge that he was a fugitive slave, and had great 
 dread of being returned into bondage. He said his 
 master let him out to work on board a ship going to 
 New-York. He had a great desire for freedom, and 
 when the vessel arrived at its destined port, he made 
 liis escape, and travelled to Philadelphia, in hopes of 
 finding some one willing to protect him. Unluckily, 
 the very day he entered the City of Brotherly Love 
 lie met his old acquaintance Captain Cox ; and on 
 the spur of the moment he had invented the best sto- 
 ry he could. 
 
 Isaac was then a mere lad, and he had been in 
 Philadelphia too short a time to form many acquam- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 35 
 
 tances ; but he imagined what his own feehngs would 
 be if he were in poor Joe's situation, and he deter- 
 mined to contrive some way or other to assist him. 
 He consulted with a prudent and benevolent neigh- 
 bor, who told him that a Quaker by the name oi 
 John Stapler, in Buck's County, was a good friend 
 to colored people, and the fugitive had better be sent 
 to him. Accordingly, a letter was written to Friend 
 Stapler^ and given to Joe, with instructions how to 
 proceed. Meanwhile, Captain Cox brought tidings 
 that he had secured a pasoage to Bermuda. Joe 
 thanked him, and went on board the vessel, as he 
 was ordered. But a day or two after, he obtained 
 permission to go to Mr. Tatem's house to procure 
 some clothes he had left there. It was nearly sunset 
 when he left the ship and started on the route, which 
 Isaac had very distinctly explained to him. When 
 the sun disappeared, the bright moon came forth. — 
 By her friendly light, he travelled on with a hopeful 
 heart untd the dawn of day, when he arrived at 
 Friend Stapler's house and delivered the letter. He 
 was received with great kindness, and a situation 
 was procured for him in the neighborhood, where he 
 spent the remainder of his life comfortably, with 
 "none to molest or make him afraid." 
 
 This was the first opportunity Isaac had of carry- 
 ing into effect his early resolution to befriend the op- 
 pressed Africans. 
 
3C LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 While the experiences of Ufe were thus deepening 
 and strengthening his character, the fair child, 
 Sarah Tatum, was emerging into womanhood. She 
 was a great belle in her neighborhood, admired by 
 the young men for her comely person, and by the old 
 for her good sense and discreet manners. He had 
 many competitors for her favor. Once, when he 
 went to invite her to ride to Quarterly Meeting, he 
 found three Quaker beaux already there, with horses 
 and sleighs for the same purpose. But though some 
 of her admirers abounded in worldly goods, her mind 
 never swerved from the love of her childhood. The 
 bright affectionate school-boy, who delighted to sit 
 with her under the shady trees, and twist her shin- 
 ing curls over his fingers, retained his hold upon her 
 heart as long as its pulses throbbed. 
 
 Her father at first felt some uneasiness, lest his 
 daughter should marry out of the Society of Friends. 
 But Isaac had been for some time seriously impressed 
 with the principles they professed, and when he as- 
 sured the good old gentleman that he would never take 
 Sarah out of the Society, of which she w^as born a 
 member, he was perfectly satisfied to receive him as 
 a son-in-law. 
 
 At that period, there were several remarkable in- 
 dividuals among Quaker preachers in that part of the 
 country, and their meetings w^ere unusually lively 
 md spirit-stirring. One of them, named Nicholas 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 37 
 
 Wab, was educated in the Society of Fixcnds, but 
 in early life seems to have cared little about their 
 principles. He was then an ambitious, money-loving 
 man, remarkably successful in worldly affairs. But 
 the principles inculcated in childhood probably re- 
 mained latent within him ; for when he was rapidly 
 acquiring wealth and distinction by the practice of 
 law, he suddenly relinquished it, from conscientious 
 motives. This change of feehng is said to have been 
 owing to the following incident. He had charge of 
 an important case, where a large amount of property 
 was at stake. In the progress of the cause, he be- 
 came more and more aware tbat right was not on 
 the side of his client ; but to desert him in the midst 
 was incompatible with his ideas of honor as a law- 
 yer. This produced a conflict within him, which he 
 could not immediately settle to his own'satisfaction. 
 A friend, who met him after the case was decided, 
 inquired what was the result. He rephed, "I did 
 the best I could for my client. I have gained the 
 cause for him, and have thereby defrauded an honest 
 man of his just dues." He seemed sad and thought- 
 ful, and would never after plead a cause at the bar. 
 He dismissed his students, and returned to his clients 
 all the money he had received for unfinished cases. 
 For some time afterward, he appeared to take no in- 
 terest in anything but his own religious state of feel- 
 ing. He eventually became a preacher, very popu- 
 
38 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 lar ;\inoiig Friends, and much admired by others. — 
 His sermons were usually short, and very impressive. 
 A colemporary thus describes the effect of his preach- 
 ing : "The whole assembly seemed to be baptized 
 together, and so covered with solemnitv, that when 
 the meeting broke up, no one wished to enter into 
 conversation with another." He was particularly 
 zealous against a paid ministry, and not unfrequently 
 quoted the text, "Put me in the priest's office, I 
 pray thee, that I may eat a piece of bread." One of 
 his most memorable discourses began with these 
 words: "The lawyers, the priests, and the doctors, 
 these are the deceivers of men." He was so highly 
 esteemed, that when he entered the court-house, as 
 he occasionally did, to aid the poor or the oppressed 
 in some way, it was not uncommon for judges and 
 lawyers to rise spontaneously in token of respect. — 
 Isaac had great veneration for his character, and was 
 much edified by his ministry. 
 
 Mary Ridgeway, a small, plain, uneducated wo- 
 man, was likewise remarkably persuasive and pene- 
 trating in her style of preaching, which appeared to 
 Isaac like pure inspiration. Her exhortations took 
 deep hold of his youthful feelings, and strongly 
 influenced him to a religious life. 
 
 But more powerful than all other agencies w^as the 
 preaching of William Savery. He was a tanner by 
 trade ; lemarked hv all who knew him as a man who 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 39 
 
 "walked humbly with his God." One night, a quan- 
 tity of hides were stolen from his tannery, and he 
 had reason to believe that the thief was a quarrel- 
 som.e, drunken neighbor, whom I will call John 
 Smith. The next week, the following advertisement 
 appeared in the County newspaper : "Whoever stole 
 lot of hides on the fifth of the present month, is 
 Hereby informed that the owner has a sincere wish 
 to be his friend. If poverty tempted him to this 
 false step, the owner will keep the whole transaction 
 secret, and will gladly put him in the way of obtain- 
 ing money by means more likely to bring him peace 
 of mind." This singular advertisement attracted 
 considerable attention ; but the culprit alone knew 
 w^hence the benevolent offer came. When he read 
 it, his heart melted within him, and he was filled 
 w'ith contrition for what he had done. A few nii^hts 
 afterward, as the tanner's family were about retiring 
 to rest, they heard a timid knock, and when the door 
 was opened, there stood John Smith with a load of 
 hides on his shoulder. Without looking up, he said, 
 " I have brought these back, Mr. Savery. W^here 
 shall I put them?" "Wait till I can light a lantern, 
 and I will go to the barn with thee," he replied. — 
 " Then perhaps thou wilt come in and tell me how 
 this happened. We will see w^hat can be done for 
 thee." As soon as they were gone out, his wife pre- 
 pared some hot coffee, and placed pies and meat on 
 
40 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 the table.' When they returned from the lam, she 
 said "Neighbor Smith, I thought some hot supper 
 would be good for thee." He turned his back to- 
 ward her and did not speak. After leaning against 
 the fu-e-place in silence for a moment, he said, in a 
 choked voice, "It is the first time I ever stole any- 
 thing, and I have felt very bad about it. I don't 
 know how it is. I am sure I didn't think once that 
 I should ever come to be what I am. But I took to 
 drinking, and then to quarrelling. Since I began to 
 go down hill, everybody gives me a kick. You are 
 the first man who has ever offered me a helping 
 hand. My wife is sickly, and my children are starv- 
 ing. You have sent them many a meal, God bless 
 you ! and yet I stole the hides from you, meaning to 
 sell them the first chance I could get. But I tell 
 you the truth when I say it is the first time I was 
 ever a thief." 
 
 " Let it be the last, my friend," replied William 
 Savery. "The secret shall remain between our- 
 selves. Thou art still young, and it is in thy power 
 to make up for lost time. Promise me that thou 
 wilt not drink any intoxicating liquor for a year, and 
 I will employ thee to-morrow at good wages. Per- 
 haps we may find some employment for thy family 
 also. The little boy can at least pick up stones. — 
 But eat a bit now, and drink some hot coflfee. Per- 
 haps it will keep thee from craving anything stronger 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 41 
 
 to-night. Doubtless, thou wilt find it hard to abstain 
 at first ; but keep up a brave heart, for the sake of 
 tliy wife and children, and it will soon become easy. 
 When thou hast need of coffee, tell Mary, and she 
 will always give it to thee." 
 
 The poor fellow tried to eat and drink, but the 
 food seemed to choke him. After an ineflfectual ef- 
 fort to compose his excited feehngs, he bowed his 
 head on the table, and wept like a child. After a 
 while, he ate and drank with good appetite ; and his 
 host parted with him for the night with this kindly 
 exhortation; "Try to do well, John; and thou wilt 
 always find a friend in me." 
 
 He entered into his employ the next day, and re- 
 mained with him many years, a sober, honest, and 
 faithful man. The secret of the theft was kept be- 
 tween them ; but after John's death, William Savery 
 sometimes told the story, to prove that evil might be 
 overcome with good. 
 
 This practical preacher of righteousness was like- 
 wise a great preacher orally; if greatness is to be 
 measured by the eflfect produced on the souls of 
 others. Throusih his ministry, the celebrated Mrs. 
 Fry was first excited to a lively interest in religion. 
 When he visited England in 1798, she was Elizabeth 
 Gurney, a lively girl of eighteen, rather fond of dress 
 and company. Her sister, alluding to the first ser- 
 mon they beard from William Savery, writes thus : 
 
42 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 ** His voice and manner were arresting, and we all 
 liked the sound. Elizabeth became a good deal agi, 
 lated, and 1 saw her begin to weep. The next 
 morning, when she took breakfast with him at hei 
 uncle's, he preached to her after breakfast, and pro- 
 phesied of the high and important calling she would 
 be led into." Elizabeth herself made the following 
 record of it in her journal; "In hearing William Sa 
 very preach, he seemed to me to overflow with true 
 religion ; to be humble, and yet a man of great abili- 
 ties. Having been gay and disbelieving, only a few 
 years ago, makes him better acquainted with the 
 heart of one in the same condition. We had much 
 serious conversation. What he said, and what I felt 
 was like a refreshing shower falling upon earth that 
 had been dried up for ages." 
 
 This good and gifted man often preached in Phila- 
 delphia; not only at stated seasons, on the first and 
 fifth day of the week, but at evening meetings also, 
 where the Spirit is said to have descended upon 
 him and liis hearers in such copious measure that 
 they were reminded of the gathering of the apostles 
 on the day of Pentecost. Isaac was at an impressible 
 age, and on tliose occasions his thirsty soul drank 
 eagerly from the fountain of living water. He nevei 
 forgot those refreshing meetings. To the end of his 
 days, whenever anything reminded him of William 
 Savery, he would utter a warm eulogium on his deep 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 43 
 
 spirituality, his tender benevolence, his cheerful, ge- 
 nial temper, and the simple dignity of his deport- 
 ment. 
 
 Isaac was about twenty-two years old, when he 
 was received as a member of the Society of Friends. 
 It was probably the pleasantest period of his exis- 
 tence. Love and religion, the two deepest and 
 brightest experiences of human life, met together, 
 and flowed into his earnest soul in one full stream. 
 He felt perfectly satisfied that he had found the one 
 true religion. The plain mode of worship suited thb 
 simphcity of his character, while the principles incul 
 cated were peculiarly well calculated to curb the vio- 
 lence of his temper, and to place his strong will un- 
 der the restraint of conscience. Duties toward God 
 and his fellow men stood forth plainly revealed to 
 him in the light that shone so clearly in his awaken- 
 ed soul. Late in life, he often used to refer to this 
 early religious experience as a sweet season of peace 
 and joy. He said it seemed as if the very air were 
 fragrant, and the sunlight more glorious than it had 
 ever been before. The plain Quaker meeting-house 
 in the quiet fields of Woodbury was to him indeed a 
 house of prayer, though its silent worship was often 
 undisturbed by a single uttered word. Blended with 
 those spiritual experiences was the fair vision of his 
 beloved Sarah, who always attended meeting, serene 
 in her maiden beauty. The joy of renovated friend- 
 
44 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 ship also awaited him there, in that quaint old gath 
 eriiig place of simple worshippers. When he parted 
 from his dear cousin, Joseph Whitall, they were hoth 
 young men of good moral characters, but not serious- 
 ly thoughtful concerning religion. Years elapsed, 
 and each knew not whither the other was travelling in 
 spiritual experiences. But one day, when Isaac went 
 to meeting as usual, and was tying his horse in the 
 shed, a young man in the plain costume of the 
 Friends came to tie his horse also. A glance showed 
 that it was Joseph Whitall, the companion of his 
 boyhood and youth. For an instant, they stood sur- 
 prised and silent, looking at each other's dress; for 
 until then neither of them was aware that the other 
 had become a Quaker. Tears started to their eyes, 
 and they embraced each other. They had long and 
 precious interviews afterward, in which they talked 
 over the circumstances that had inclined them to re- 
 flect on serious subjects, and the reasons which induc- 
 ed them to consider the Society of Friends as the 
 best existing representative of Christianity. 
 
 The gravity of their characters at this period, 
 may be inferred from the following letter, written 
 in 1794: 
 
 ** Dear Isaac, — 
 
 While I sat in retirement this evening, 
 thou wert brought fresh into my remembrance, with 
 a warm desire for thy welfare and preservationi 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 46 
 
 Wherefore, be encouraged to press forward and 
 persevere in the high and holy way wherein thou 
 hast measurably, through mercy, begun to tread. 
 From our childhood I have had an affectionate re- 
 gard for thee, which hath been abundantly increased ; 
 and, in the covenant of life I have felt thee near. 
 May we, my beloved friend, now in the spring time 
 of life, in the morning of our days, with full purpose 
 of heart cleave unto the Lord. May w^e seek Him 
 for our portion and our inheritance ; that He may 
 be pleased, in his wonderful loving kindness, to be 
 om' counsellor and director ; that, in times of trouble 
 and commotion, we may have a safe hiding-place, 
 an unfaihng refuge. I often feel the want of a 
 greater dependance, a more steadfast leaning, upon 
 that Divine Arm of power, which ever hath been, and 
 still is, the true support of the righteous. Yet, I am 
 sometimes favored to hope that in the Lord's time 
 an advancement will be known, and a more full 
 estabhshment in the most holy faith. "For then 
 shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord, 
 that His going forth is prepared as the morning, and 
 He will come unto us as the rain, as the latter and 
 the former rain upon the earth." May we, from 
 time to time, be favored to feel his animating pre- 
 sence, to comfort and strengthen our enfeebled minds, 
 that so we may patiently abide in our allotments, 
 and look forward with a cheering hope, that, what- 
 
46 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 ever trials and besctmeiits may await us, they may 
 tend to our further refinement, and more close union 
 in the heavenly covenant. And when the end comes, 
 may we be found among those who through many 
 tribulations have washed their garments white in the 
 blood of the Lamb, and be found worthy to stand 
 with him upon Mount Zion. 
 
 So wisheth and prayeth thy affectionate friend, 
 
 Joseph Whitall/' 
 
 The letters which passed between him and his 
 betrothed partake of the same sedate character; but 
 through the unimpassioned Quaker style gleams the 
 steady warmth of sincere affection. There is some- 
 thing pleasant in the simplicity with which he usually 
 closed his epistles to her: "I am, dear Sally, thy 
 real friend, Isaac." 
 
 They were married on the eighteenth of the Ninth 
 Month, [September,] 1795; he being nearly twenty- 
 four years of age, and she about three years young- 
 er. The worldly comforts which a kind Providence 
 bestowed on Isaac and his bride, were freely im- 
 parted to others. The resolution formed after lis- 
 tening to the history of old Mingo's wrongs was 
 pretty severely tested by a residence in Philadelphia. 
 There wero numerous kidnappers prowling about 
 the city, and many outrages were committed, which 
 would not have been tolerated for a moment toward 
 liny ])ut a despised race. Pennsylvania being on 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 47 
 
 the frontier of the slave states, runaways were often 
 passing through; and the laws on that subject were 
 little understood, and less attended to. If a colored 
 man was arrested as a fugitive slave, and discharged 
 for want of proof, the magistrate received no fee ; 
 but if he was adjudged a slave, and surrendered to 
 his claimant, the magistrate received from five to 
 twenty dollars for his trouble ; of course, there was 
 a natural tendency to make the most of evidence in 
 favor of slavery. 
 
 Under these circumstances, the Pennsylvania Abo- 
 lition Society was frequently called upon to protect 
 the rights of colored people. Isaac T. Hopper be- 
 came an active and leading member of this associa- 
 tion. He was likewise one of the overseers of a 
 school for colored children, established by Anthony 
 Bene!z.et ; and it was his constant practice, for seve- 
 ral years, to teach two or three nights every week, 
 in a school for colored adults, established by a socie- 
 ty of young men. In process of time, he became 
 known to everybody in Philadelphia as the friend 
 and legal adviser of colored people upon all emer- 
 gencies. The shrewdness, courage, and zeal, with 
 which he fulfilled this mission will be seen in the 
 course of the following narratives, which I have se- 
 lected from a vast number of similar character, in 
 which he was the principal agent. 
 
48 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 CHARLES WEBSTER. 
 
 In 1797, a wealthy gentleman from Virginia went 
 to spend the winter in Philadelphia, accompanied 
 by his wife and daughter. He had a slave named 
 Charles Webster, whom he took with him as coach- 
 man and waiter. When they had been in the city a 
 few weeks, Charles called upon Isaac T. Hopper, 
 and inquired whether he had become free in con- 
 sequence of his master's bringing him into Pennsyl- 
 vania. It was explained to him, that if he remained 
 there six months, with his master's knowledge and 
 consent, he would then be a free man, according to 
 the laws of Pennsylvania. The slave was quite 
 disheartened by this information ; for he supposed 
 his owner was well acquainted with the law, and 
 would therefore be careful to take him hornc before 
 that term expired. 
 
 "I am resolved never to return to Virginia," said 
 he. "Where can I go to be safe?" 
 
 Friend Hopper told him his master might be igno- 
 rant of the law, or forgetful of it. He advised him 
 to remain with the family until he saw them making 
 preparations to return. If the prescribed six months 
 expired meanwhile, he would be a free man. If not, 
 there would be time enough to consult what had bet- 
 ter be done. "It is desirable to obtain thy liberty 
 in a legal way, if possible," said he ; "for otherwise 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 40 
 
 thou wilt be constantly liable to be arrested, and may 
 never again have such a good opportunity to escape.* 
 from bondage." 
 
 Charles hesitated, but finally concluded to accept 
 this prudent advice. The time seemed very long to 
 the poor fellow ; for he was in a continual panic lest 
 his master should take him back to Virginia ; but he 
 did his appointed tasks faithfully, and none of the 
 family suspected what was passing in his mind. 
 
 The long-counted six months expired at last ; and 
 that very day, his master said, " Charles, grease the 
 carriage-wheels, and have all things in readiness ; for 
 I intend to start for home to-morrow." 
 
 The servant appeared to be well pleased with this 
 }>rospect, and put the carriage and harness in good 
 order. As soon as that job was completed, he w^ent 
 to Friend Hopper and told him the news. When 
 assured that he was now a free man, according to 
 law, he could hardly be made to believe it. He was 
 all of a tremor with anxiety, and it seemed almost 
 impossible to convince him that he was out of dan- 
 ger. He was instructed to return to his master till 
 next morning, and to send word by one of the hotel 
 servants in case he should be arrested meanwhile. 
 
 The next morning, he again called upon Friend 
 Hopper, who accompanied him to the office of Wil- 
 liam Lewis, a highly respectable lawyer, who would 
 never take any fee for his services on such occa- 
 
50 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 sions. When Mr. Lewis heard the particulars of the 
 case, he wrote a pohte note to the Virginian, inform- 
 ing him that his former slave was now free, accord- 
 ing to the laws of Pennsylvania; and cautioning him 
 against any attempt to take him away, contrary to 
 his own inclination. 
 
 The lawyer advised Friend Hopper to call upon 
 the master and have some preparatory conversation 
 with him, before Charles was sent to deliver the 
 note. He was then only twenty-six years of age, 
 and he felt somewhat embarrassed at the idea of call 
 ing upon a vvealthy and distinguished stranger, who 
 was said to be rather imperious and irritable. How 
 ever, after a little reflection, he concluded it was his 
 duty, and accordingly he did it. 
 
 When the Southerner was informed that his ser- 
 vant was free, and that a lawyer had been consulted 
 on the subject, he was extremely angry, and used 
 very contemptuous language concerning people who 
 tampered with gentlemen's servants. The young 
 Quaker replied " If thy son were a slave in Algiers, 
 thou wouldst thank me for tampering with him to 
 procure his liberty. But in the present case, I am 
 not obnoxious to the charge thou hast brought ; for 
 thy servant came of his own accord to consult me, I 
 nicrcly made him acquainted with his legal rights; 
 and I intend to see that he is protected in them." 
 
 AN hen Charles delivered the law^-ers note, and his 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 61 
 
 master saw that he no longer had any legal power 
 over him, he proposed to hire him to drive the car- 
 riage home. But Charles was very well aware that 
 A^irginia would be a very dangerous place for him, 
 and he positively refused. The incensed Southerner 
 then claimed his servant's clothes as his property, 
 and ordered him to strip instantly. Charles did as 
 he was ordered, and proceeded to walk out of the 
 room naked. Astonished to find him willing to leave 
 the house in that condition, he seized him violently, 
 thrust him back into the room, and ordered him to 
 dress himself. When he had assumed his garments, 
 he walked off; and the master and servant never 
 met again. 
 
 Charles was shrewd and intelligent, and conducted 
 himself in such a manner as to gain respect. He 
 married an industrious, economical woman, who serv- 
 ed in the family of Chief Justice Tilghman. In pro- 
 cess of time, he built a neat two-story house, where 
 they brought up reputably a family of fourteen chil- 
 dren, who obtained quite a good education at the 
 school established by Anthony Benezet. 
 
 BEN JACKSON. 
 
 Ben w^as born a slave in Virginia. When he was 
 about sixteen years old, his mind became excited on 
 the subject of slavery. He could not reconcile it 
 with the justice and goodness of the Creator, that 
 
52 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 one iium sliould be bom to toil for another without 
 wages, to be driven about, and treated hke a beast 
 of the field. The older he grew, the more heavily 
 did these considerations press upon him. At last, 
 when he was about twenty-five years old, he resolved 
 to gain his liberty, if possible. He left his master, 
 and after encountering many difficulties, arrived in 
 Philadelphia, where he let himself on board a vessel 
 and went several voyages. When he was thirty 
 years of age, he married, and was employed as a 
 coachman by Dr. Benjamin Rush, one of the signers 
 of the Declaration of Independence. He lived with 
 him two years ; and when he left. Dr. Rush gave 
 him a paper certifying that he was a free man, hon- 
 est, sober, and capable. 
 
 In 1799, his master came to Philadelphia, and ar- 
 rested him as his fugitive slave. Ben had an extraor- 
 dinary degree of intelligence and tact. When his 
 master brought him before a magistrate, and demand- 
 ed the usual certificate to authorize him to take his 
 human chattel back to Virginia, Ben neither admit- 
 ted nor denied that he was a slave. He merely show- 
 ed the certificate of Dr. Rush, and requested that 
 Isaac T. Hopper might be informed of his situation. 
 Joseph Bird, the justice before whom the case was 
 brought, detested slavery, and was a sincere friend 
 to the colored people. He committed Ben to prison 
 until morning, and despatched a note to Isaac T. 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 53 
 
 Hopper informing him of the circumstance, and re- 
 questing him to call upon Dr. Rush. When the doc- 
 tor was questioned, he said he knew nothing about 
 Ben's early history ; he hved with him two years, 
 and was then a free man. 
 
 When Friend Hopper went to the prison, ho found 
 Ben in a state of great anxiety and distress. He ad- 
 mitted that he was the slave of the man who claimed 
 him, and that he saw no way of escape open for him. 
 His friend told him not to be discouraged, and pro- 
 mised to exert himself to the utmost in his behalf. 
 The constable who had arrested him, sympathized 
 with the poor victim of oppression, and promised to 
 do what he could for him. Finding him in such a 
 humane mood, Friend Hopper urged him to bring 
 Ben to the magistrate's office a short time before the 
 hour appointed for the trial. He did so, and found 
 Friend Hopper already there, watching the clock. 
 The moment the hand pointed to nine, he remarked 
 that the hour, of which the claimant had been ap- 
 prized, had already arrived; no evidence had been 
 brought that the man w^as a slave ; on the contrary. 
 Dr. Rush's certificate was strong presumptive evi- 
 dence of his being a freeman ; he therefore demand- 
 ed that the prisoner should be discharged Justice 
 Bird, having no desire to throw^ obstacles iu the way, 
 promptly told Ben he w^as at liberty, and he lost no 
 time in profiting by the information. Just as he 
 
54 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 passed out of the door, he saw his master coming, 
 and ran full speed. He had sufficient preserve of 
 mind to take a zigzag course, and running through a 
 house occupied by colored people, he succeeded in 
 eluding pursuit. 
 
 A\'hen Friend Hopper went home, he found him at 
 his house. He tried to impress upon his mind the 
 peril he would incur by remaining in Philadelphia, 
 and advised him by all means to go to sea. But his 
 wife was strongly attached to him, and so unwilling 
 to consent to this plan, that he concluded to run the 
 risk of staying with her. He remained concealed 
 about a week, and then returned to the house he had 
 previously occupied. They lived in the second sto- 
 ry, and there was a shed under their bed-room win- 
 dow. Ben placed a ladder under the window, to be 
 ready for escape ; but it was so short, that it did not 
 reach the roof of the shed by five or six feet. His 
 wife was an industrious, orderly woman, and kept 
 their rooms as neat as a bee-hive. The only thing 
 which marred their happiness was the continual 
 dread that man-hunters might pounce upon them, in 
 some unguarded hour, and separate them forever. 
 Aljout a fortnight after his arrest, they were sitting 
 together in the dusk of the evening, when the door 
 was suddenly burst open, and his master rushed in 
 with a constable. Ben sprang out of the window, 
 down the ladder, and made his escape. His mastci; 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER 55 
 
 and the constable followed ; but as soon as they were 
 on the ladder, Ben's wife cut the cord that held it, 
 and they tumbled heels over head upon the shed. 
 This bruised them some, and frightened them still 
 more. They scrambled upon their feet, cursing at a 
 round rate. 
 
 Ben arrived safely at the house of Isaac T. Hop- 
 per, who induced him to quit the city immediately, 
 and go to sea. His first voyage was to the East In- 
 dies. While he was gone. Friend Hopper negotiated 
 with the master, who, finding there was little chance 
 of regaining his slave, agreed to manumit him for 
 one hundred and fifty dollars. As soon as Ben re- 
 turned, he repaid from his wages the sum which had 
 been advanced for his ransom. His wife's health 
 was greatly impaired by the fear and anxiety she had 
 endured on his account. She became a prey to me- 
 lancholy, and never recovered her former cheerful- 
 ness. 
 
 THOMAS COOPER. 
 
 The person who assumed this name was called 
 Notly, when he was a slave in Maryland. He was 
 compelled to labor very hard, w^as scantily supplied 
 with food and clothing, and lodged in a little ricketty 
 hut, through which the cold winds of winter whistled 
 freely. He was of a very religious turn of mind, and 
 often, when alone in his little cabin at midnight, he 
 
56 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 prayed earnestly to God to release hiin from his suf- 
 ferings. 
 
 In the year 1800, he found a favorable opportuni- 
 ty to (escape from his unfeeling master, and made his 
 way to Philadelphia, where he procured employment 
 in a lumber-yard, under the name of John Smith. 
 He was so diligent and faithful, that he soon gained 
 the good-will and confidence of his employers. He 
 married a worthy, industrious woman, with whom he 
 lived happily. By their united earnings they were 
 enabled to purchase a small house, where they en- 
 joyed more comfort than many wealthy people, and 
 were much respected by neighbors and acquain- 
 tances. 
 
 Unfortunately, he confided his story to a colored 
 man, who, for the sake of reward, informed his mas- 
 ter where he was to be found. Accordingly, he came 
 t(^ Philadelphia, arrested him, and carried him before 
 a magistrate. Having brought forward satisfactory 
 evidence that he was a slave, an order was granted 
 to carry him back to Maryland. Isaac T. Hopper 
 was present at this decision, and was afflicted by it 
 beyond measure. John's employers pitied his condi- 
 tion, and sympathized with his afflicted wife and 
 children. They offered to pay a large sum for his 
 ransom ; but his savage master refused to release 
 him on any terms. This sober, industrious man, 
 guiltless of any crime, was hand-cuffed and had his 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 57 
 
 arms tied behind him with a rope, to which another 
 rope was appended, for his master to hold. While 
 they were fastening his fetters, he spoke a few affec- 
 tionate words to his w^eeping wife. "Take good 
 care of the children," said he; "and don't let them 
 forget their poor father. If you are industrious and 
 frugal, I hope you will be enabled to keep them at 
 school, till they are old enough to be placed at ser- 
 vice in respectable families. Never allow^ them to 
 be idle ; for that will lead them into bad ways. And 
 now don't forget my advice ; for it is most likely you 
 will never see me again." 
 
 Then addressing his children, he said, "You will 
 have no father to take care of you now. Mind what 
 your mother tells you, and be very careful not to do 
 anything to grieve her. Be industrious and faithful 
 in whatever you are set about ; and never play in the 
 streets with naughty children." 
 
 They all wept bitterly while he thus talked to 
 them ; but he restrained his sobs, though it was evi- 
 dent his heart was well nigh breaking. Isaac T. 
 Hopper was present at this distressing scene, and 
 suffered almost as acutely as the poor slave himself. 
 In the midst of his parting words, his master seized 
 the rope, mounted his horse, snapped his whip, and 
 set off, driving poor John before him. This was 
 done in a Christian country, and there was no law to 
 
 protect the victim. 
 3* 
 
58 Lll'E or ISAAC T HOPPER. 
 
 John was conveyed to Washington and oirered for 
 sale to speculators, who were baying up gangs for 
 the Southern market. The sight of dejected and 
 brutified slaves, chained together in coffles, was too 
 common at the seat of our republican government to 
 attract attention; but the barbarity of John's master 
 was so conspicuous, that even there he was rebuked 
 for his excessive cruelty. These expressions of sym- 
 pathy were quite unexpected to the poor slave, and 
 they kindled a faint hope of escape, which had been 
 smouldering in his breast. Manacled as he was, he 
 contrived to trip up his master, and leaving him pros- 
 trate on the ground, he ran for the woods. lie was 
 soon beyond the reach of his tyrant, and might have 
 escaped easily if a company had not immediately 
 formed to pursue him. They chased him from the 
 shelter of the bushes to a swamp, where he was 
 hunted like a fox, till night with friendly darkness 
 overshadowed him. While his enemies were sleep- 
 ing, he cautiously made his way by the light of the 
 stars, to the house of an old acquaintance, who has- 
 tened to take off his fetters, and give him a good 
 sup})er. 
 
 Thus refreshed, he hastened to bid his colored 
 friend farewell, and with fear and trembling set off 
 for Philadelphia. He had several rivers to cross, and 
 he thought likely men would be stationed on the 
 bridges to arrest him. Therefore, he hid himself in 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. b\) 
 
 the dee])cst recesses of the woods m the day-time, 
 and travelled oidy in the night. He suffered much 
 with hunger and fatigue, but arrived home at last, to 
 the great astonishment and joy of his family. He 
 well knew that these precious moments of affection- 
 ate greeting were highly dangerous ; for his own 
 roof could afford no shelter from pursuers armed with 
 the power of a wicked law. He accordingly hasten- 
 ed to Isaac T. Hopper for advice and assistance. 
 
 The yellow fever was then raging in Philadelphia, 
 and the children had all been carried into the country 
 by their mother. Business made it necessary for 
 Friend Hopper to be in the city during the day-time, 
 and a colored domestic remained w"lth him to take 
 charge of the house. This woman was alone when 
 the fugitive arrived; but she showed him to an upper 
 chamber secured by a strong fastening. He had 
 been there but a short time, when his master came 
 with two constables and proceeded to search the 
 house. When they found a room with the door 
 bolted, they demanded entrance ; and receiving no 
 answer, they began to consult together how to gain 
 admittance. At this crisis, the master of the house 
 came home, and received information of what was 
 going on up-stairs. He hastened thither, and or- 
 dered the intruders to quit his house instantly. One 
 of the constables said, "This gentleman's slave is 
 
60 LIFE OF ISAAC T. IIOrPER. 
 
 here ; and if you don't deliver him up immediately. 
 M e will get a warrant to search the house." 
 
 " Quit my premises," replied Friend Hopper. " The 
 mayor dare not grant a warrant to search my house.'* 
 
 The men withdrew in no very good humor, and a 
 message soon came from the mayor requesting to 
 see Isaac T. Hopper. He obeyed the summons, 
 and the magistrate said to him, "This gentleman 
 informs me that his slave is in your house. Is it 
 so?" 
 
 The wary Friend replied, "Thou hast just told 
 me that this man saijs he is. Dost thou not believe 
 him?" 
 
 " But I wish to know from yourself whether he is 
 in your house or not," rejoined the magistrate. 
 
 "If the mayor reflects a little, I think he will see 
 that he has no right to ask such a question ; and 
 that I am not bound to answer it," replied Friend 
 Hopper. "If he is in my house, and if this man 
 can prove it, I am hable to a heavy penalty; and no 
 man is hound to inform against himself. These 
 people have not behaved so civilly, that I feel my- 
 self under any especial obligations of courtesy to- 
 ward them. Hast thou any further business with 
 me?" 
 
 "Did you say I dared not grant a warrant to search 
 your house?" asked the mayor. 
 
 He answered, "Indeed I did say so; and I now 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 61 
 
 repeat it. I mean no disrespect to anybody in au- 
 thority; but neither thou nor any other magistrate 
 would dare to grant a warrant to search my house. 
 I am a man of established reputation. I am not a 
 suspicious character." 
 
 The mayor smiled, as he replied, " I don't know 
 about that, Mr, Hopper. In the present case, I am 
 inclined to think you are a very suspicious character." 
 And so they parted. 
 
 The master resorted to various stratagems to re- 
 capture his victim:. He dressed himself in Quaker 
 costume and went to his house. The once happy 
 home was desolate now; and the anxious wife sat 
 weeping, with her little ones clinging to her in child- 
 ish sympathy. The visitor professed to be very 
 friendly to her husband, and desirous to ascertain 
 v/here he could be found, in order to render him ad- 
 vice and assistance m eluding the vigilance of his 
 master. The wife prudently declined giving any in- 
 formation, but referred him to Isaac T. Hopper, as 
 the most suitable person to consult in the case. 
 Finding that he could not gain his object by decep- 
 tion, he forgot to sustain the quiet character he had 
 assumed, but gave vent to his anger m a great deal 
 of violent and profane language. He went off, final- 
 ly, swearing that in spite of them all he would have 
 his slave again, if he was to be found on the face of 
 the earth. 
 
62 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 John Smith remained under the protection oi 
 Friend Isaac about a week. Spies were seen lurk- 
 ing round the house for several days; but they dis- 
 appeared at last. Supposing this was only a trick 
 to put them off their guard, a colored man was em- 
 ployed to run out of the house after dark. The ene- 
 mies who were lying in ambush, rushed out and laid 
 violent hands upon him They released him as soon 
 as they discovered their mistake; but the next day 
 Friend Hopper had them arrested, and compelled 
 them to enter into bonds for their good behavior. 
 On the following evening the same man was employ- 
 ed to run out again ; and this time he vras not inter- 
 rupted. The third evening, John Smith himself ven- 
 tured forth from his hiding-place, and arrived safely 
 in New^-Jersey. 
 
 He let himself to a worthy farmer, and soon gain- 
 ed the confidence and good will of all the family. 
 He ate at the same table with them, and sat with 
 them on Sunday afternoons, listening to their read- 
 ing of the Scriptures and other religious books. 
 This system of equality did not diminish th-e modes- 
 ty of his deportment, hut rather tended to increase 
 his habitual humility. 
 
 He remained there several months, during which 
 time he never dared to visit his family, though only 
 eight miles distant from them. This was a great 
 source of unhappiness- for he was naturally affec 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 63 
 
 tionate, and was strongly attached to his wife and 
 children. At length, he ventured to hire a small 
 house in a very secluded situation, not far from the 
 village of Haddonfield : and once . more he gathered 
 his family around him. But his domestic comfort 
 was constantly disturbed by fear cf men-stealers. 
 While at his work in the day-time, he sometimes 
 started at the mere rustling of c. leaf; and in the 
 night time, he often woke up in agony from terrify- 
 ing dreams. 
 
 The fals*? friend, who betrayed him to his cruel 
 master, likewise suffered greatly from fear. When 
 he heard that John had again escaped, he was ex- 
 ceedingly alarmed for his own safety. He dreamed 
 that his abused friend came with a knife in one hand 
 and a torch in the other, threatening to murder him 
 and burn the house. These ideas took such hold of 
 his imagination, that he often started up in bed and 
 screamed aloud. But John was too sincerely reli- 
 gious to cherish a revengeful spirit. The wrong 
 done to him was as great as one mortal could inflict 
 upon another ; but he had learned the divine precept 
 not to render evil for evil. 
 
 The event proved that John's uneasiness was too 
 veil founded. A few months after his family re- 
 ,oined him, Isaac T. Hopper heard that his master 
 had arrived in Philadelphia, and was going to New- 
 Jersey to arrest him. He immediately apprised him 
 
64 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER 
 
 of his dtiuj^er; and the tidings were received with 
 feelings of desperation amounting to phrensy. He 
 loaded his gun and determined to defend himself 
 Very early the next morning, he saw his master with 
 two men coming up the narrow lane that led to his 
 house. He stationed himself in the door-way, level- 
 ed his gun, and called out, "I will shoot the first man 
 that crosses that fence !" They w^ere alarmed, and 
 turned back to procure assistance. John seized that 
 opportunity to quit his retreat. He hastened to 
 Philadelphia, and informed Isaac T. Hopper what 
 had happened. His friend represented to him the 
 unchristian character of such violent measures, and 
 advised him not to bring remorse on his soul by 
 the shedding of blood. The poor hunted fugitive 
 seemed to be convinced, though it was a hard lesson 
 to learn in his circumstances. Again he resolved to 
 fly for safety ; and his friend advised him to go to 
 Boston. A vessel from that place was then lying in 
 the Delaware, and the merchant who had charge of 
 her, pitying his forlorn situation, offered him a pas- 
 sage free of expense. Kindness bestowed on him 
 was always like good seed dropped into a rich soil. 
 He was so obliging and diligent during the voyage, 
 that he more than compensated the captain for his 
 passage. He arrived safely in Boston, where his 
 certificates of good character soon enabled him to 
 procure employment. Not long after, he sent for his 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 65 
 
 Wife, who sold what Uttle property they had in Phil- 
 adelphia, and took her children to their new home. 
 
 "When John left New- Jersey, he assumed the name 
 of Thomas Cooper, by which he was ever afterward 
 known. He had early in life manifested a rehgious 
 turn of mind; and this was probably increased by 
 his continual perils and narrow escapes. He mourn- 
 ed over every indication of dishonesty, profanity, or 
 dissipation, among people of his own color ; and this 
 feeling grew upon him, until he felt as if it were a 
 duty to devote his life to missionary labors. He be- 
 came a popular preacher among the Methodists, and 
 visited some of the West India Islands in that capa- 
 city. His christian example and fervid exhorta- 
 tions, warm from the heart, are said to have produc- 
 ed a powerful effect on his untutored hearers. After 
 his return, he concluded to go to Africa as a mission- 
 ary. For that purpose, he took shipping with his 
 family for London, where he was received with much 
 kindness by many persons to whom he took letters 
 of introduction. His children were placed at a good 
 school by a benevolent member of the Society of 
 Friends ; and from various quarters he received the 
 most gratifying testimonials of respect and sympa- 
 thy. But what was of more value than all else to 
 the poor harassed fugitive, was the fact that he now% 
 for the first time in his life, felt entirely safe from 
 the fangs of the oppressor. 
 
<)0 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 He rerr.ained in London about a year and a half. 
 IXiring- that time he compiled a hymn book which 
 his friends published with his portrait in front. He 
 preached with great acceptance to large congrega- 
 tions : several thousand persons \ssembled to hear 
 his farewell sermon on the eve of his departure fo 
 Africa. He sailed for Sierra Leone, in the latte 
 part of 1818, and was greeted there with much cor- 
 diality; for his fame had preceded him. All classes 
 flocked to hear him preach, and his labors were high- 
 ly useful. After several years spent in the discharge 
 of religious duties, he died of the fever which so of- 
 ten proves fatal to sti angers in Africa. His wife 
 returned with her children to end her days in Phila- 
 delphia. 
 
 A CHILD KIDNAPPED. 
 In the year 1801, a Captain Dana engaged pas- 
 sage in a Philadelphia schooner bound to Charleston, 
 South Carolina. The day he expected to sail, he 
 called at the house of a colored woman, and told her 
 he had a good suit of clothes, too small for his own 
 son, but about the right size for her little boy. He 
 proposed to take the child home to try the garments, 
 and if they fitted him he would make him a present 
 of them. The mother was much gratified by these 
 friendly professions, and dressed the boy up as well 
 ns she could to accompany the captain, who ga^ 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 67 
 
 him a piece of gingerbread, took him by the hand, 
 and led him away. Instead of going to his lodgings, 
 as he had promised, he proceeded directly to the 
 schooner, and left the boy in care of th-e captain : 
 saying that he himself would come on board while 
 the vessel was on the way down the river. As they 
 were about to sail, a sudden storm came on. The 
 wind raged so violently, that the ship dragged her 
 anchor, and they were obliged to haul to at a wharf 
 in the district of Southwark. A respectable man, 
 who lived in the neighborhood, was standing on the 
 wharf at the time, and hearing a child crying very 
 bitterly on board the vessel, he asked the colored 
 cook whose child that was, and w^hy he was in such 
 distress. He replied that a passenger by the name 
 of Dana brought him on board, and that the boy said 
 he stole him from his mother. 
 
 A note was immediately despatched to Isaac T. 
 Hopper, who, being away from home, did not receive 
 it till ten o'clock at night. The moment he read it, 
 he called for a constable, and proceeded directly to 
 the schooner. In answer to his inquiries, the cap- 
 tain declared that all the hands had gone on shore, 
 and that he was entirely alone in the vessel. Friend 
 Hopper called for a light, and asked him to open the 
 forecastle, that they might ascertain whether any 
 person were there. He peremptorily refused ; say- 
 ing that his word ought to be sufficient to satisfy 
 
68 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 tluTii. Friend Hopper took up an axe that was lying 
 on the deck, and declared that he would break the 
 door, unless it was opened immediately. In this 
 dilemma, the captain, with great reluctance, unlock- 
 ed the forecastle ; and there they found the cook and 
 the boy. The constable took them all in custody, 
 and they proceeded to the mayor's. The rain fell in 
 torrents, and tt was extremely dark; for in those 
 days, there were no lamps in that part of the city. 
 They went stumbhng over cellar doors, and wading 
 through gutters, till they arrived in Front street, 
 where Mr. Inskeep, the mayor, lived. It was past 
 midniffht, but when a servant informed him that Isaac 
 T. Hopper had been ringing at the door, and wished 
 to see him, he ordered him to be shown up into his 
 chamber. After apologizing for the unseasonable- 
 ness of the hour, he briefly stated the urgency of the 
 case, and asked for a verbal order to put the captain 
 and cook in prison to await their trial the next morn- 
 ing. The magistrate replied, "It is a matter of too 
 much importance to be disposed of in that way. I 
 will come down and hear the case." A large hicko- 
 ry log, which had been covered with ashes in the 
 parlor fire-pKce, was raked open, and they soon had 
 a bbizing fire to dry their w^et garments, and take 
 o«T the chill of a cold March storm. The magistrate 
 was surprised to find that the captain was an old ac- 
 qd'.iiiitai^co ; and he expressed much regret at meet 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 69 
 
 ing him under such unpleasant circumstances. Af- 
 ter some investigation into the affair, he was required 
 to appear for trial the next morning, under penalty 
 of forfeiting three thousand dollars. The cook was 
 committed to prison, as a witness ; and the colored 
 boy was sent home with Isaac T. Hopper, who 
 agreed to produce him at the time appointed. 
 
 Very early the next morning, he sent a messenger 
 to inform the mother that her child was in safety ; 
 but she was off in search of him, and was not to be 
 found. On the way to the mayor's office, they met 
 her in the street, half distracted. As soon as she 
 perceived her child, she cried out, " My soii ! My 
 son !" threw her arms round him, and sobbed aloud. 
 She kissed him again and again, saying, "Oh my 
 child, 1 thought I had lost you forever." 
 
 When they all arrived at the mayor's office, at the 
 hour appointed for trial, the captain protested that 
 he had no knowledge of anything wrong in the busi- 
 ness, having merely taken care of the boy at the re 
 quest of a passenger. When he was required to ap- 
 pear at the next court to answer to the charge of 
 kidnapping, he became alarmed, and told where Cap- 
 tain Dana could be arrested. His directions were 
 followed, and the delinquent was seized and taken to 
 Isaac T. Hopper's house. He was in a towering 
 passion, protesting his innocence, and threatening 
 vengeance against everybody who should attempt to 
 
70 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPl'ER. 
 
 detain him. Badly as Friend Hopper thought of the 
 man, he ahiiost wished he had escaped, when he dis- 
 covered that he had a wife and children to suffer for 
 his misdoino^s. His tender heart would not allow 
 him to be present at the trial, lest his wife should be 
 there in distress. She did not appear, however, and 
 Captain Dana made a full confession, alleging pov- 
 erty as an excuse. He was an educated man, and 
 had previously sustained a fair reputation. He was 
 liberated on bail for fifteen hundred dollars, which 
 was forfeited ; but the judgments were never enforc- 
 ed affainst his securities. 
 
 •&' 
 
 WAGELMA. 
 
 Wagelma was a lively intelligent colored boy of 
 ten years old, whom his mother had bound as an ap- 
 prentice to a Frenchman in Philadelphia. This man 
 being about to take his family to Baltimore, in the 
 summer of 1801, with the intention of going thence 
 to France, put his apprentice on board a Newcastle 
 packet bound to Baltimore, without having the con- 
 sent of the boy or his mother, cis the laws of Penn- 
 sylvania required. The mother did not even know 
 of his intended departure, till she heard that her 
 child was on board the ship. Fears that he might be 
 sold into slavery, either in Baltimore or the West In 
 dies, seized upon her mind ; and even if that dread 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 71 
 
 ful fate did not await him, there was great probaljih- 
 ty that she would never see him again. 
 
 Tn her distress she called upon Isaac T. Hopper, 
 immediately after sunrise. He hastened to the 
 wharf, where the Newcastle packet generally lay, 
 hut had the mortification to find that she had already 
 started, and that a gentle breeze was wafting her 
 down the stream. He mounted a fleet horse, and in 
 twenty minutes arrived at Gloucester Point, three 
 miles below the city. The ferry at that place was 
 kept by a highly respectable widow, with whom he 
 had been long acquainted. He briefly stated the 
 case to her, and she at once ordered one of her ferry- 
 men to put him on board the Newcastle packet, which 
 was in sight, and near the Jersey shore. They made 
 all speed, for there was not a moment to lose. 
 
 When they came along-side the packet, the cap- 
 tain, supposing him to be a passenger for Baltimore, 
 ordered the sailors to assist him on board. When 
 his business w^as made known, he was told that the 
 Frenchman was in the cabin. He sought him out, 
 and stated that the laws of Pennsylvania did not al- 
 low apprentices to be carried out of the state without 
 certain prehminaries, to which he had not attended. 
 The Frenchman had six or eight friends with him, 
 and as he w^as going out of the country, he put the 
 laws at defiance. Meanwhile, the vessel was gliding 
 down the river, carrying friend Hopper to Newcas- 
 
72 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 tie. He summoned the captain, and requested him 
 to put the colored boy into the ferry-boat, which was 
 alongside ready to receive him. He was not dispos 
 cd to interfere; but when Friend Hopper drew a 
 volume from his pocket and read to him the laws ap 
 plicable to the case, he became alarmed, and said 
 the boy must be given up. Whereupon, Friend 
 Hopper directed the child to go on deck, which he 
 was ready enough to do; and the ferryman soon 
 helped him on board the boat. 
 
 The Frenchman and his friends were very noisy 
 and violent. They attempted to throw Friend Hop- 
 per overboard; and there were so many of them, 
 that they seemed likely to succeed in their efforts. 
 But he seized one of them fast by the coat ; resolved 
 to have company in the water, if he were compelled 
 to take a plunge. They struck his hand with their 
 canes, and pulled the coat from his grasp. Then he 
 seized hold of another ; and so the struggle continu- 
 ed for some minutes. The ferryman, who was watch- 
 ing the conflict, contrived to bring his boat into a fa- 
 vorable position ; and Friend Hopper suddenly let go 
 the Frenchman's coat, and tumbled in. 
 
 When he returned to Philadelphia with the boy, 
 he found the mother waiting at his house, in a state 
 uf intense anxiety. The meeting between mother 
 and son was joyful indeed ; and Wagelma made them 
 all laugh by his animated description of his friend's 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 7 < 
 
 encounter with the Frenchmen, accompanied by a 
 lively imitation of their gesticulations. In witness- 
 ing tne happiness he had imparted, their benefactor 
 found more than sufficient compensation for all the 
 difficulties he had encountered. 
 
 JAMES POOVEY. 
 
 Slavery having been abolished by a gradual pro- 
 cess in Pennsylvania, there were many individuals 
 who still remained in bondage at the period of which 
 I write. Among them was James Poovey, slave to 
 a blacksmith in Pennsylvania. He had learned his 
 master's trade, and being an athletic man, was very 
 valuable. During several winters, he attended an 
 evening school for the free instruction of colored 
 people. He made very slow progress in learning, 
 but by means of unremitting industry and applica- 
 tion, he was at last able to accomplish the desire of 
 his heart, which was to read the New Testament for 
 himself. 
 
 The fact that colored men born a few years later 
 than himself w^ere free, by the act of gradual eman- 
 cipation, while he was compelled to remain in bon- 
 dage, had long been a source of uneasiness ; and in- 
 crease of knowledge by no means increased his con- 
 tentment. Having come to the conclusion that 
 slav^ery was utterly unjust, he resolved not to submit 
 to it any longer. In the year 1802 when he w^as 
 
"4 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 about thirty-three years of age, he took occasion to 
 inform his master that he could read the New Tes- 
 tament. When he observed that he was glad to hear 
 it, James replied, "But in the course of my reading 
 I have discovered that it would be a sin for me to 
 serve you as a slave any longer". 
 
 "Aye?" said his master. "Pray tell me how you 
 made that discovery." 
 
 "Why, the New Testament says we must do as 
 we would be done by," replied James. "Now if I 
 submit to let you do by me^ as you would not be 
 willing I should do by you, I am as bad as you are. 
 If you will give me a paper that will secure my free- 
 dom at the end of seven years, I will serve you 
 faithfully during that time ; but I cannot consent to 
 be a slave any longer." 
 
 His master refused to consent to this proposition. 
 James then asked permission to go to sea till he 
 could earn money enough to buy his freedom ; but 
 this proposal was likewise promptly rejected. 
 
 " You will get nothing by trying to keep me in 
 slavery," said James; "for I am determined to be 
 free. I shall never make you another offer." 
 
 He walked off, and his master applied for a warrant 
 to arrest him, and commit him to prison, as a disobe- 
 dient and refractory slave. When he had been in jail 
 a month, he called to see him, and inquired whether 
 he were ready to return home and go to work. 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 75 
 
 **1 am at home," replied James. *'I expect to 
 end my days here. I never will serve you again as 
 a slave, or pay you one single cent. What do you 
 come here for? There is no use in your coming." 
 
 The master was greatly provoked by this conduct, 
 and requested the inspectors to have him put in the 
 cells and kept on short allowance, till he learned to 
 submit. Isaac T. Hopper was one of the board ; and 
 as the question was concerning a colored man, they 
 referred it to him. Accordingly, the blacksmith 
 sought an interview with him, and said, *'Jim has 
 been a faithful industrious fellow ; but of late he has 
 taken it into his head that he ought to be free. He 
 strolled off and refused to work, and I had him put 
 in prison. When I called to see him he insulted me 
 grossly, and positively refused to return to his busi- 
 ness. I have been referred to you to obtain an order 
 to confine him to the cells on short allowance, till he 
 submits." 
 
 Friend Hopper replied, "I have been long ac- 
 quainted with Jim. I was one of his teachers ; and 
 1 have often admired his punctuality in attending 
 school, and his patient industry in trying to learn." 
 
 " It has done him no good to learn to read," re- 
 joined the master. "On the contrary, it has made 
 him worse." 
 
 "It has made him wiser," rephed Isaac; "but I 
 think it has not made him worse. I have scruples 
 
76 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 about ordering liim to be punished; for he professes 
 to be conscientious about submitting to serve as a 
 slave. I have myself suffered because I could not 
 conscientiously comply with military requisitions. 
 The Society of Friends have suffered much in Eng- 
 land on account of ecclesiastical demands. I have 
 thus some cause to know how hateful are persecu- 
 tors, in the sight of God and of men. 1 cannot 
 therefore be active in persecuting James, or any 
 other man, on account of conscientious scruples." 
 
 "It is your duty to have him punished," rejoined 
 the blacksmith. 
 
 "I am the best judge of that," answered Friend 
 Hopper ; " and I do not feel justified in compelling 
 hhn to submit to slavery." 
 
 The blacksmith was greatly exasperated, and went 
 off, saying, "I hope to mercy your daughter will 
 marry a negro." 
 
 A.t the expiration of the term of imprisonment 
 allowed by law, James still refused to return to ser- 
 vice, and he was committed for another thirty days. 
 His master called to see him again, and told him if 
 he would return home, and behave well, he should 
 have a new suit of clothes and a Methodist hat. "I 
 don't want your new clothes, nor your Methodist 
 hat," replied James. "I tell you I never will serve 
 you nor any other man as a slave. I had rather end 
 my days in jail." 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 77 
 
 His master finding him so intractable, gave up the 
 case as hopeless. When his second term of impri- 
 sonment expired, he was discharged, and no one 
 attempted to molest him. He earned a comfortable 
 living, and looked happy and respectable ; but his 
 lersonal appearance was not improved by leaving his 
 )eard unshaved. One day, when Friend Hopper 
 met him in the street, he said, "Jim, why dost thou 
 wear that long beard ? It looks very ugly." 
 
 "I suppose it does," he repHed, "but I wear it as 
 a memorial of the Lord's goodness in setting me 
 free ; for it was Him that done it." 
 
 ROMAINE. 
 
 A Frenchman by the name of Anthony Salignac 
 removed from St. Domingo to New- Jersey, and 
 brought with him several slaves ; among whom was 
 Romaine. After remaining in New-Jersey several 
 years, he concluded in 1802, to send Romaine and 
 his wife and child back to the West Indies. Findmg 
 him extremely reluctant to go, he put them in prison 
 some days previous, lest they should make an at- 
 tempt to escape. From prison they were put into a 
 carriage to be conveyed to Newcastle, under the 
 custody of a Frenchman and a constable. They 
 started from Trenton late in the evening, and arrived 
 in Philadelphia about four o'clock in the morning. 
 People at the inn where they stopped remarked that 
 
78 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 Roma^iie and liis wife appeared deeply dejected 
 When food was offered they refused to eat. His 
 wife made some excuse to go out, and though sought 
 for immediately after, she was not to be found. Ro- 
 maine was ordered to get into the carriage. The 
 Frenchman was on one side of him and the consta- 
 ble on the other. ''Must I go?" cried he, in accents 
 of despair. They told him he must. "And alone?" 
 said he. ''Yes, you must," was the stern reply. 
 The carriage w-as open to receive him, and they 
 would have pushed him in, but he suddenly took a 
 pruning knife from his pocket, and drew it three 
 times across his throat with such force that it severed 
 the jugular vein instantly, and he fell dead on the 
 pavement. 
 
 As the party had travelled all night, seemed in 
 great haste, and watched their colored companions 
 so closely some persons belonging to the prison 
 where they stopped suspected they might have nefa- 
 rious business on hand ; accordingly, a message was 
 sent to Isaac T. Hopper, as the man most hkely to 
 right all the wrongs of the oppressed. He obeyed 
 the summons immediately; but when he arrived, he 
 found the body of poor Romaine weltering in blood 
 on the pavement. 
 
 Speaking of tliis scene forty years later, he said, 
 " My whole soul was filled with horror, as I stood 
 viewing the corpse. Reflecting on that awful spp« 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 79 
 
 tacle, I exclaimed within myself, How long, Lord, 
 how long shall this abominable system of slavery be 
 permitted to curse the land ! My mind was introdu- 
 ced into sympathy with the sufferer. I thought of 
 the agony he must have endured before he could have 
 resolved upon that desperate deed. He knew what 
 he had to expect, from what he had experienced in 
 tlie West Indies before, and he was determined not 
 to submit to the same misery and degradation again. 
 By his sufferings he was driven to desperation ; and 
 he preferred launching into the unknown regions of 
 eternity to an endurance of slavery. 
 
 An inquest was summoned, and after a brief con- 
 sultation, the coroner brought in the following ver- 
 dict : " Suicide occasioned by the dread of slavery, 
 to which the deceased knew himself devoted." 
 
 Romaine and his wife were very good looking. 
 They gave indications of considerable intelligence, 
 and had the character of having been very faithful 
 servants. His violent death produced a good deal of 
 excitement among the people generally, and much 
 sympathy was manifested for the w^ife and child, who 
 had escaped. 
 
 The master had procured a certificate from the 
 mayor of Trenton authorizing him to remove his 
 slaves to the West Indies; but the jury of inquest, 
 and many others, were of opinion that his proceed- 
 ings were not fully sanctioned by lavr. Accordingly, 
 
80 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HUPPER. 
 
 Friend Hopper, and two other members of the Abo- 
 lition Society, caused him to be arrested and brought 
 before a magistrate ; not so much with the yiew^ of 
 punishing him, as with the hope of procuring manu- 
 mission for the wife and child. In the course of the 
 investigation, the friends of the Frenchman were 
 somewhat violent in his defence. Upon one occa- 
 sion, several of them took Friend Hopper up and put 
 him out of the house by main force ; while at the 
 same time they let their friend out of a back door to 
 avoid him. However, Friend Hopper met him a few 
 minutes after in the street and seized him by the lAit- 
 ton. Alarmed by the popular excitement, and by 
 the perseverance with which he was followed up, he 
 exclaimed in agitated tones, " Mon Dieu ! What is 
 it you do want? I will do anything you do want." 
 
 I want thee to bestow freedom on that unfortunate 
 woman and her child," replied Friend Hopper. 
 
 He promised that he would do so; and he soon 
 after made out papers to that effect, which were 
 duly recorded. 
 
 THE SLAVE HUNTER. 
 
 In July, 1802, a man by the name of David Lea, 
 went to Philadeli)hia to hunt up runaway slaves for 
 tlieir Southern masters. A few days after his arri- 
 val, he arrested a colored man, whom he claimed as 
 the property of Nathan Peacock of Maryland. Th.e 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 81 
 
 man had lived several years in Philadelphia, had 
 taken a lot of ground in the Northern Liberties, and 
 erected a small house on it. 
 
 In the course of the investigation, the poor fellow, 
 seeing no chance of escape, acknowledged that he 
 was Mr. Peacock's slave, and had run away from 
 him because he wanted to be free. His friends, 
 being unwilling to see him torn from his wife and 
 children, made an effort to purchase his freedom. 
 After much intreaty, the master named a very large 
 sum as his ransom ; and the slave was committed to 
 prison until the affair was settled. 
 
 David Lea was a filthy looking man, apparently 
 addicted to intemperance. Friend Plopper asked 
 him if he had any business in Philadelphia. He 
 answ^ered, "No." He inquired whether he had any 
 money, and he answered, "A^o." Friend Hopper 
 then said to the magistrate, "Here is a stranger 
 without money, who admits that he has no regular 
 means of obtaining a livelihood. Judging from his 
 appearance, there is reason to conclude that he 
 may be a dangerous man. I would suggest whether 
 it be proper that he should be permitted to go at 
 large." 
 
 The magistrate interrogated the suspicious look- 
 ing stranger concerning his business in Philadelphia; 
 and he, being ashamed to acknowledge himself a 
 slave-catcher, returned very evasive and unsatis 
 
82 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 factory answers. He was accordingly committed 
 to prison, to answer at the next court of Sessions. 
 It was customary to examine prisoners before they 
 were locked up, and take whatever was in their 
 pockets, to be restored to them whenever they were 
 discharged. David Lea strongly objected to this 
 proceedins: ; and when they searched him they found 
 more than fifty advertisements for runaway slaves; 
 a fact which made the nature of his business suf- 
 ficiently obvious. Friend Hopper, had a serious 
 conversation with him in prison, during which he 
 stated that he was to have received forty-five dollars 
 for restoring the slave to his master. Friend Hop- 
 per told him if he would give an order upon Mr. 
 Peacock for that amount, to go toward buying the 
 slave's freedom, he should be released from con- 
 finement, on condition of leaving the city forthwith. 
 He agreed to do so, and the money w^as paid. But 
 the slave was found to be in debt more than his 
 small house was worth, and the price for his ransom 
 was so exorbitantly high, that it was impossible to 
 raise it. Under these circumstances. Friend Hop- 
 per thought it right to return the forty-five dollars to 
 David Lea ; but he declined receiving it. He would 
 take only three dollars, to defray his expenses home; 
 and gave the following written document concerning 
 the remainder: "I request Isaac T. Hopper to pay 
 tlie money received from the order, which I gave 
 
L.IFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 83 
 
 him upon Nathan Peacock, to the managers of the 
 Pennsylvania Hospital, or to any other charitable 
 institution he may judge proper. His 
 
 David x Lea. 
 
 Mark. 
 
 He was discharged from prison, and the money 
 paid to the Pennsylvania Hospital. Next year, the 
 following item was published in their accounts : 
 " Received of David Lea, a noted negro-catcher, by 
 the hands of Isaac T. Hopper, forty-two dollars; he 
 having received forty-five dollars for taking up a 
 runaway slave, of which he afterward repented, and 
 directed the sum to be paid to the Pennsylvania 
 Hospital, after deducting three dollars to pay his 
 expenses home." 
 
 The slave was carried back to the South, but 
 escaped again. After encountering many difficulties, 
 he was at last bought for a sum. so small, that it was 
 merely nominal ; and he afterward lived in Phila- 
 delphia urmiolested. 
 
 WILLIAM BACHELOR. 
 
 It was a common thing for speculators in slaves 
 to purchase runaways for much less than their origi- 
 nal value, and take the risk of not being able to 
 catch them. In the language of the trade, this was 
 called buying them running. In April, 1802, Joseph 
 Ennells and Captain Frazer, of Maryland, dealers 
 in slaves, purchased a number in this vvay, and came 
 
84 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 to Philadelphia in search of them. There they 
 arrested, and claimed as their property, William 
 Bachelor, a free colored man, about sixty years 
 old. A colored man, whom the slave-dealers brought 
 with them, swore before a magistrate that William 
 Bachelor once belonged to a gang of slaves, of which 
 he was overseer ; that he had changed his name, but 
 he knew him perfectly well. William affirmed in 
 the most earnest manner, that he was a free man ; 
 but Mr. Ennells and Captain Frazer appeared to be 
 such respectable men, and the colored witness swore 
 so positively, that the magistrate granted a certificate 
 authorizing them to take him to Maryland. 
 
 xA-s they left the office, they were met by Dr. Kin- 
 ley, who knew William Bachelor well, and had a 
 great regard for him. Finding that his protestations 
 had no effect with the Marylanders, he ran with all 
 speed to Isaac T. Hopper, and entering his door 
 almost out of breath, exclaimed, "They've got old 
 William Bachelor, and are taking him to the South, 
 as a slave. I know him to be a free man. Many 
 years ago, he was a slave to my father, and he 
 manumitted him. He used to carry me in his arms 
 when I was an infant. He was a most faithful 
 servant." 
 
 Friend Hopper inquired whicli way the party had 
 gone, and was informed that they went toward 
 "Gray's Ferry.'' He immediately started in pursuit, 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 85 
 
 and overtook them half a mile from the Schuyl- 
 kill. He accosted Mr. Ennells pohtely, and told 
 him he had made a mistake in capturing Wilham 
 Bachelor; for he was a free man. Ennells drew a 
 pistol from his pocket, and said, "We have had 
 him before a magistrate, and proved to his satis- 
 faction that the fellow is my slave. I have got his 
 certificate, and that is all that is required to au- 
 thorize me to take him home. I will blow your 
 brains out if you. say another word on the subject, 
 or make any attempt to molest me." 
 
 "If thou wert not a coward, thou wouldst not try 
 to intimidate me with a pistol," replied Isaac. " I 
 do not believe thou hast the least intention of using 
 it in any other w^ay; but thou art much agitated, 
 and mav fire it accidentally ; therefore I request 
 thee not to point it toward me, but to turn it the 
 other way. It is in vain for thee to think of taking 
 this old man to Maryland. If thou wilt not return 
 to the city voluntarily, I will certainly have thee 
 stopped at the bridge, where thou wilt be likely to 
 be handled much more roughly than I am disposed 
 to do." 
 
 While this controversy was going on, poor William 
 Bachelor was in the gr-jatest anxiety of mind. "Oh, 
 Master Hopper," he exclaimed, "Don't let them take 
 me ! I am not a slave. All the people in Philadel- 
 
86 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 phia know T am a free man- I never was in Mary 
 land in my life." 
 
 Ennells, hearing the name, said, "So your name 
 is Hopper, is it ? I have heard of you. It's time 
 the world was rid of you. You have done too much 
 mischief already." 
 
 When Friend Hopper inquired what mischief he 
 had done, he replied, "You have robbed many people 
 of their slaves." 
 
 "Thou art mistaken," rejoined the Quaker. "I 
 only prevent Southern marauders from robbing peo- 
 ple of their liberty." 
 
 After much altercation, it was agreed to return to 
 the city ; and William was again brought before the 
 alderman, who had so hastily surrendered him. Dr. 
 Kinley, and so many other respectai.le citizens, 
 attended as witnesses, that even Ennells himself 
 was convinced that his captive w^as a free man. 
 He was accordingly set at liberty. It w^as, how- 
 ever, generally believed that Mr. Ennells knew he 
 was not a slave w^hen he arrested him. It w^as 
 therefore concluded to prosecute him for attempting 
 to take forcibly a free man out of the state and carry 
 him into slavery. 
 
 When Friend Hopper went to his lodgings with 
 a warrant and two constaldes, for this purpose, he 
 found Iiim writing, with a pistol on each side of him. 
 The moment thoy entered, he seized a pistol and 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. Oi 
 
 ordered them to withdraw, or he would shoot them. 
 Friend Hopper rephed, "These men are officers, and 
 have a warrant to arrest thee for attempting to carry 
 off a free man into slavery. I advise thee to lay 
 down thy pistol and go with us. If not, a sufficient 
 force will soon be brought to compel thee. Remem- 
 ber thou art in the heart of Philadelphia. It is both 
 foolish and imprudent to attempt to resist the law. 
 A pistol is a very unnecessary article here, whatever 
 it may be elsewhere, xiccording to appearances, 
 thou dost not attempt to use it for any other purpose 
 than to frighten people ; and thou hast not succeed- 
 ed in doing that." 
 
 Rage could do nothing in the presence of such 
 imperturbable calmness; and Ennells consented to 
 go with them to the magistrate. On the way, he 
 quarrelled with one of the constables, and gave him 
 a severe blow on the face with his cane. The officer 
 knocked him down, and would have repeated the 
 blow, if Friend Hopper had not interfered. Assisting 
 Ennells to rise, he said, "Thou hadst better take 
 my arm and w^alk with me. I think we can agree 
 better." 
 
 When the transaction had been investigated before 
 a magistrate, Mr. Ennells was bound over to appear 
 at the next mayor's court and answer to the charge 
 against him. The proprietor of the hotel where he 
 lodged became his bail. Meanwhile, numerous let- 
 
88 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 ters came from people of the first respectability in 
 Maryland and Virginia, testifying to his good charac- 
 ter. His lawyer showed these letters to Friend 
 Hopper, and proposed that the prosecution should 
 be abandoned. He replied that he had no authority 
 to act in the matter himself; but he knew the Abo- 
 lition Society had commenced the prosecution from 
 no vindictive feelings, but merely with the view of 
 teaching people to be careful how they infringed on 
 the rights of free men. The committee of that 
 society met the same evening, and agreed to dismiss 
 the suit, Mr. Ennells paying the costs ; to which he 
 readily assented. 
 
 LEVIN SMITH. 
 
 Levin was a slave in Maryland. He married a 
 free woman and had several children. In 1802, his 
 master sold him to a speculator, who was in the 
 habit of buying slaves for the Southern market. 
 His purchaser took him to his farm in Delaware, 
 and kept him at work till he could get a profitable 
 chance to sell him. His new master was a despe- 
 rate fellow, and Levin was uneasy wiih. the constant 
 Iial)ility of being sold to the far South. He opened 
 his heart to a neighbor, who advised him to escape 
 and gave him a letter to Isaac T. Hopper. His wife 
 and children had removed to Philadelphia, and there 
 he rejoined thrm. She took in washing, and he sup 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 89 
 
 ported himself by sawing wood. He had been there 
 little more than a month, when his master heard 
 where he was, and bargained with the captain of a small 
 sloop to catch him and bring him back to Delaware.' 
 
 The plan was to seize Levin in his bed, hm-ry him 
 on board the sloop, and start off immediately, before 
 his family could have time to give the alarm. They 
 would probably have succeeded in this project, if the 
 captain had not drank a little too freely the evening 
 previous, and so forgotten to get some goods on 
 board, as he had promised. Levin was seized and 
 carried off; but the sloop was obliged to wait for the 
 goods, and in the meantime messengers were sent to 
 Isaac T. Hopper, He was in bed, but sprang up 
 the instant he heard a violent knocking at the door 
 In his haste, he thrust on an old rough coat and hat, 
 which he was accustomed to wear to fires; for, in 
 addition to his various other employments, he be- 
 longed to a fire-company. He hurried to the scene 
 of action as quickly as possible, and found that the 
 slave had been conveyed to a small tavern near the 
 wharf where the sloop lay. When the landlord was 
 questioned where the men were who had him m 
 custody, he refused to give any information But 
 there was a crowd of men and boys ; and one of 
 them said, "They are up-stairs in the back room." 
 The landlord stood in the door-way, and tried to pre- 
 vent Friend Hopper from passing in ; hut he pushed 
 
90 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 him aside, and went up to the chamber, where he 
 fomid Levin with his hands tied, and guarded by five 
 or six men. "What are you going to do with this 
 man ?" said he. The words were scarcely out of his 
 mouth, before they seized him violently and pitched 
 him out of the chamber window. He fell upon 
 empty casks, and his mind was so excited, that h 
 was not aware of being hurt. There was no time 
 to be lost ; for unless there was an immediate res- 
 cue, the man would be forced on board the sloop and 
 carried off. As soon as he could get upon his feet, 
 he went round again to the front door and ascended 
 the stairs ; but the door of the chamber was locked. 
 He then returned to the back yard, mounted upon 
 the pent-house, by means of a high board fence, and 
 clambered into the window of a chamber, that open- 
 ed into the room where the slave was. He entered 
 with an open penknife in his hand, exclaiming, " Let 
 us see if you will get me out so soon again !" Speak- 
 ing thus, he instantly cut the cords that bound the 
 slave, and called out, " Follow me !" He rushed 
 down stairs as fast as he could go, and the slave af- 
 ter him. The guard were utterly astonished at see- 
 ing the man return, whom they had just tossed out 
 of an upper window, and the whole thing was done 
 so suddenly, that Friend Hopper and the liberated 
 captive were in the street before they had time to 
 recover their wits. 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 91 
 
 A rowdy looking crowd of men and boys followed 
 the fugitive and his protector, shouting, "Stop thief! 
 Stop thief!" until they came to the office of a justice 
 of the peace, half a mile from where they started. 
 The astonished magistrate exclaimed, "Good hea- 
 vens, Mr. Hopper, what brings you here this time of 
 the morning, in such a trim, and with such a rabble 
 at your heels!" When the circumstances were 
 briefly explained, he laughed heartily, and said, "I 
 don't think they Would have treated you so roughly, 
 if they had knowm who you were." He was inform- 
 ed that Levin was a slave in Maryland, but had been 
 living in Delaware with a man who bought him, and 
 had thus become legally free. Measures were taken 
 to protect him from further aggression, and he was 
 never after molested. 
 
 Friend Hopper w^ent home to a late breakfast ; and 
 when he attempted to rise from the table, he w^as 
 seized with violent pains in the back, in consequence 
 of his fall. He never after entirely recovered from 
 the effects of it. 
 
 ETIENNE LAxMATRE. 
 
 This man was a slave to a Frenchman oi the same 
 name, in the Island of Guadaloupe. In considera- 
 tion of faithful services, his master gave him his free- 
 dom, and he opened a barber's shop on his own ac- 
 count. Some time after, he was appointed an officer 
 
92 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 ill the French army, against Victor Hughes. He 
 had command of a fort, and remained in the army 
 until the close of the war. After that period, there 
 were symptoms of insurrection among the colored 
 people, because the French government revoked the 
 decree abolishing slavery in their West India Islands. 
 Etienne was a man of talent, and had acquired con- 
 siderable influence, particularly among people of his 
 own color. He exerted this influence on the side of 
 mercy, and was the means of saving the lives of 
 several white people who had rendered themselves 
 obnoxious by their efforts to restore slavery. 
 
 Affairs were so unsettled in Guadaloupe, that Eti- 
 enne determined to seek refuge in the United States ; 
 and an old friend of his master procured a passport 
 for him. A man by the name of Anslong, then at 
 Guadaloupe, had two slaves, whom he was about to 
 send to the care of Dennis Cottineau, of Philadel- 
 phia, with directions to place them on a farm he 
 owned, near Princeton, New-Jersey. When it was 
 proposed that Etienne should take passage in the 
 same vessel, Anslong manifested much interest in 
 his behalf. He promised that he should have his 
 passage free, for services that he might render on 
 board; and he took charge of his passport, saying 
 that he would give it to the captain for safe keeping. 
 
 When the vessel arrived at Philadelj^hia, in March, 
 1803, Etienne was astonished to find that Anslong 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 93 
 
 had fdid his passage, and claimed him as his slave. 
 Dr/.nis Cottineau showed the receipts for the pas- 
 f i.ge money, and written directions to forward the 
 h^'ee slaves to New-Jersey. In this dilemma, he 
 'isked counsel of a colored man, whom he had for- 
 merly known in Guadaloupe; and he immediately 
 conducted him to Isaac T. Hopper. He related the 
 particulars of his case very circumstantially, and the 
 two colored men, who were really the slaves of Ans- 
 long, confirmed his statement. When Friend Hop- 
 per had cautiously examined them, and cross-exam- 
 ined them, he became perfectly satisfied that Etienne 
 was free. He advised him not to leave the city, and 
 told him to let him know in case Dennis Cottineau 
 attempted to compel him to do so. He accordingly 
 waited upon that gentleman and toJd him he had re- 
 solved not to submit to his orders to go to New-Jer- 
 sey. Whereupon Cottineau took possession of his 
 trunk, containing his papers and clothing, and caused 
 hirn to be committed to prison. 
 
 A writ of habeas corpus was procured, and the 
 case was brought before Judge Inskeep, of the Court 
 of Common Pleas. It was found to be involved in 
 considerable difficulty. For while several witnesses 
 swore that they knew Etienne in Guadaloupe, as a 
 free man, in business for himself, others testified that 
 they had known him as the slave of Anslong. It 
 was finally referred to the Supreme Court, and Eli- 
 
94 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOFPER. 
 
 eniie was detained in prison several months to await 
 his trial. Eminent counsel were employed on both 
 sides ; Jared Ingersoll for the claimant, and Joseph 
 Hopkinson for the defendant. A certificate was pro- 
 duced from the municipality of Guadaloupe, show- 
 mg that Etienne had been an officer in the French 
 army for several years, and had filled the station in 
 }i manner to command respect. The National De- 
 cree abolishing slavery in that Island was also read ; 
 but Mr. Ingersoll contended that when the decree 
 was revoked, Etienne again became a slave. In his 
 charge, Judge Shippen said that the evidence for and 
 against freedom was about equally balanced ; and in 
 that case, it was always a duty to decide in favor of 
 liberty. The jury accordingly brought in a unani- 
 mous verdict that Etienne was free. The court or- 
 dered him to refund the twenty dollars, which Anslong 
 had paid for his passage; and he was discharged. 
 
 He was a dark mulatto, tall, well-proportioned, 
 and stylish-looking. His handsome countenance had 
 a remarkably bright, frank expression, and there was 
 a degree of courteous dignity in his manner, proba- 
 bly acquired by companionship with military officers. 
 But he belonged to a caste which society has forbid- 
 den to develop the faculties bestowed by nature. 
 Such a man might have performed some higher use 
 than cutting hair, if he had hvcd in a wisely organiz- 
 ed ytate of society. However, he made the best of 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 95 
 
 such advantages as he had. He opened a barber's 
 shop in Philadelphia, and attracted many of the most 
 highly respectable citizens by his perfect politeness 
 and punctuality. The colored people had various 
 benevolent societies in that city, for the relief of the 
 poor, the sick, and the aged, of their own complex- 
 ion. Etienne Lamaire was appointed treasurer oi 
 several of these societies, and discharged his trust 
 with scrupulous integrity. 
 
 Isaac T. Hopper had been very active and vigi- 
 lant in assisting him to regain his freedom ; and af- 
 terward, when he became involved in some difficulty 
 on account of stolen goods left on his premises with- 
 out his knowledge, he readily became bail, for him. 
 His confidence had not been misplaced; for when 
 the affair had been fully investigated, the recorder 
 declared that Mr. Lamaire had acted like an honest 
 and prudent man, throughout the whole transaction. 
 
 His gratitude to Friend Hopper w^as unbounded, 
 and he missed no opportunity to manifest it. To 
 the day of his death, some fourteen or fifteen years 
 ago, he never would charge a cent for shaving, or 
 cutting the hair of any of the family, children, or 
 grand-children ; and on New Year's day, he fre- 
 quently sent a box of figs, or raisins, or bon-bons, in 
 token of grateful remembrance. 
 
lit) LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 SAMUEL JOHNSON. 
 
 Samuel Johnson was a free colored man in the 
 state of Delaware. He married a woman who was 
 slave to George Black. They had several children, 
 and when they became old enough to be of some 
 value as property, their parents were continually 
 anxious lest Mr. Black should sell them to some 
 Georgia speculator, to relieve himself from pecunia- 
 ry embarrassment ; ar; expedient which was very of- 
 ten resorted to undrr such circumstances. When 
 Johnson visited hb. wife, they often talked together 
 on the subject ; and at last they concluded to escape 
 to a free state. They went to Philadelphia and 
 hired a small house. He savv^ed wood, and she took 
 in washing. Being industrious and frugal, they 
 managed to live very comfortably, except the con- 
 tinual dread of beino^ discovered. 
 
 In December, 1804, when they had been thus 
 situated about two years, her master obtained some 
 tidings of them, and immediately went in pursuit. 
 A. friend happened to become aware of the fact, and 
 hastened to inform them that Mr. Black was in the 
 city. Samuel forthwith sent his wife and children 
 to a place of safety ; but he remained at home, not 
 supposing that he could be in any danger. The 
 master arrived shortly after, with tv.'o constables, 
 and was greatly exasperated when he found that his 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. ^H 
 
 property had absconded. They arrested the hus- 
 band, and vowed they would hold him as a hostage, 
 till he informed them where they could find his wife 
 and children. When he refused to accompany them, 
 they beat him severely, and swore they would carry 
 him to the South and sell him. He told them they 
 might carry him into slavery, or murder him, if they 
 pleased, but no torture they could inflict would ever 
 induce him to betray his family. Finding they could 
 not break his resolution, they tied his hands behind 
 his back, and dragged him to a tavern kept by Peter 
 Fritz, in Sassafras-street. There they left him, 
 guarded by the landlord and several men, while they 
 went in search of the fugitives. 
 
 Some of Johnson's colored neighbors informed 
 Isaac T. Hopper of these proceedings ; and he went 
 to the tavern, accompanied by a friend. They at- 
 tempted to enter the room occupied by Samuel and 
 his guard, but found the door fastened, and the land- 
 lord refused to unlock it. When they inquired by 
 what authority he made his tavern a prison, he re- 
 plied that the man was placed in his custody by two 
 constables, and should not be released till they came 
 for him.. 
 
 "Open the door!" said Friend Hopper; "or we 
 
 will soon have it opened in a way that will cost 
 
 something to repair it. Thou hast already made 
 
 . thyself Uable to an action for f «e imprisonment. 
 
 5 
 
98 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 If thou art not very careful, thou wilt find thyself 
 involved in trouble for this business." 
 
 The landlord swore a good deal, but finding them 
 so resolute, he concluded it was best to 0})en the 
 door. After obtaining the particulars of the case 
 from Johnson himself, Friend Hopper cut the cord 
 that bound his hands, and said, "Follow me !" 
 
 The men on guard poured forth a volley of threats 
 and curses. One of them sprang forward in great 
 fury, siezed Johnson by the collar, and swore by his 
 i\Iaker that he should not leave the room till the 
 constables arrived. Friend Hopper stepped up to 
 him, and said, " Release that man immediately! or 
 thou wilt be made to repent of thy conduct." The 
 ruffian quailed under the influence of that calm bold 
 manner, and after some slight altercation let go his 
 grasp. 
 
 Johnson followed his protector in a state of in- 
 tense anxiety concerning his wife and children. But 
 they had been conveyed to a place of safety, and 
 the man-hunters never afterward discovered their 
 retreat. 
 
 PIERCE BUTLER'S BEN. 
 
 In August, 1804, a colored man about thirty-si 
 years old waited upon the committee of the Abo- 
 lition Society, and stated that he was born a slave 
 to Pierce Butler, Esq., of South Carohna, and had 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 99 
 
 always lived in his family. During the last eleven 
 years, he had resided most of the time in Pennsylva- 
 nia. Mr. Butler now proposed taking him to Geor- 
 gia; but he was very unwilhng to leave his wife, she 
 being in delicate health and needing his support. 
 A-fter mature consideration of the case, the commit- 
 ee, believing Ben was legally entitled to freedom, 
 agreed to apply to Judge Inskeep for a writ of Jtaheas 
 corpus ; and Isaac T. Hopper was sent to serve it 
 upon Pierce Butler, Esq., at his house in Chestnut- 
 street. 
 
 Being told that Mr. Butler w^as at dinner, he said 
 he would wait in the hall until it suited his conve- 
 nience to attend to him. Mr. Butler was a tall, lord- 
 ly looking man, somewhat imperious in his manners, 
 as slaveholders are wont to be. When he came into 
 the hall after dinner. Friend Hopper gave him a nod 
 of recognition, and said, "How art thou, Pierce But- 
 ler ? I have here a writ of habeas coiyus for thy 
 Ben." 
 
 Mr. Butler glanced over the paper, and exclaimed, 
 " Get out of my house, you scoundrel !" 
 
 Feigning not to hear him. Friend Hopper looked 
 round at the pictures and rich furniture, and said 
 w^ith a smile, "Why, thou hvest like a nabob here !" 
 
 "Get out of my house, 1 say!" repeated Mr. But- 
 ler, stamping violently. 
 
 "This paper on the walls is the handsomest I ever 
 
100 LIFK OF ISAAC '1'. HuPl'ER. 
 
 saw," continued Isaac. " Is it French, or English 1 
 It surely cannot have been manufactured in this 
 country." Talking thus, and looking leisurely about 
 him as he went, he moved deliberately toward the 
 door; the slaveholder railmg at him furiously all the 
 while. 
 
 " I am a citizen of South Carohna," said he 
 '*The laws of Pennsylvania have nothing to do with 
 me. May the devil take all those w4io come be- 
 tween masters and their slaves; interfering with 
 what is none of their business." Supposing that his 
 troublesome guest was deaf, he put his head close to 
 his ear, and roared out his maledictions in stentorian 
 tones. 
 
 Friend Hopper appeared unconscious of all this. 
 When he reached the threshold, he turned round 
 and said, "Farewell. We shall expect to see thee 
 at Judge Inskeep's." 
 
 This imperturbable manner irritated the hot-blood- 
 ed slave-holder beyond endurance. He repeated 
 more vociferously than ever, " Get out of my house, 
 you scoundrel! If you don't, I'll kick you out." 
 The Quaker walked quietly away, as if he didn't 
 hear a word. 
 
 At the appointed time, Mr. Butler waited upon 
 the Judge, where he found Friend Hopper in atten- 
 dance. The sight of him renewed his wTath. He 
 cursed tliose who intorf(>.red with his properly; and 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 101 
 
 taking up the Bible, said he was Avilling to swear 
 upon that book that he wouM not take fifteen hun- 
 dred dollars for Ben. Friend Hopper charged him 
 with injustice in wishing to deprive the man of his 
 lesral riijht to freedom. Mr. Butler mamtained that 
 he was as benevolent as any other man. 
 
 "Thou benevolent!" exclaimed Friend Hopper. 
 "Why, thou art not even just. Thou hast already 
 sent back into bondage two men, who were legally 
 entitled to freedom by staying m Philadelphia dur- 
 ing the term prescribed by law. If thou hadst a 
 proper sense of justice, thou wouldst bring those 
 men back, and let them take the liberty that right- 
 fully belongs to them." 
 
 "If you were in a different walk of life, I would 
 treat your insult as it deserves," replied the haughty 
 Southerner. 
 
 "What dost thou mean by that? asked Isaac. 
 Wouldst thou shoot me, as Burr did Hamilton ? I 
 assure thee I should consider it no honor to be killed 
 by a member of Congress ; and surely there would 
 be neither honor nor comfort in killing thee ; for in 
 thy present state of mind thou art not fit to die." 
 
 Mr. Butler told the judge he believed that man 
 was either deaf or crazy when he served the writ 
 of habeas corpus ; for he did not take the slightest 
 notice of anything that was said to him. Judge Ins- 
 
102 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 keep smiled as he answered, "You don't know Mr. 
 Ho})per as well as we do." 
 
 A lawyer was procured for Ben ; but Mr. Butler 
 chose to manage his own cause. He maintained 
 that he was only a sojourner in Pennsylvania; that 
 Ben had never resided six months at any one time in 
 that State, except while he was a member of Con- 
 gress ; and in that case, the law allowed him to keep 
 his slave in Pennsylvania as long as he pleased. 
 The case was deemed an important one, and was 
 twice adjourned for further investigation. In the 
 course of the argument, Mr. Butler admitted that he 
 returned from Congress to Philadelphia, with Ben, 
 on the second of January, 1804, and had remained 
 there with him until the writ of habeas corpus was 
 served, on the third of August, the same year. The 
 lawyers gave it as their opinion that Ben's legal 
 right to freedom was too plain to admit of any 
 doubt. They said the law to which Mr. Butler had 
 alluded was made for the convenience of Southern 
 gentlemen, who might need the attendance of their 
 personal slaves, when Congress met in Philadelphia; 
 but since the seat of government was removed, it by 
 no means authorized members to come into Penn- 
 sylvania with their slaves, and keep them there as 
 long as they chose. After much debate, the judge 
 gave an order discharging Ben from all restraint, 
 and he walked off rejoicing. 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 103 
 
 His master was very indignant at the decision, 
 and coraplained. loudly that a Pennsylvania court 
 should presume to discharge a Carolinian slave. 
 
 When Ben was set at liberty, he let himself to 
 Isaac W. Morris, then living at his country seat 
 called Cedar Grove, three miles from Philadelphia. 
 Being sent to the city soon after, on some business 
 for his employer, he was attached by the marshall 
 of the United States, on a writ De homine replegian- 
 do, at the suit of Mr. Butler, and two thousand dol- 
 lars were demanded for bail. The idea was proba- 
 bly entertained that so large an amount could not be 
 procured, and thus Ben would again come into his 
 master's possession. But Isaac T. Hopper and Tho- 
 mas Harrison signed the bail-bond, and Ben was 
 again set at hberty, to await his trial before the Cir- 
 cuit Court of the United States. Bushrod Wash- 
 ington, himself a slaveholder, presided in that court, 
 and Mr. Butler was sanguine that he should succeed 
 in having Judge Inskeep's decision reversed. The 
 case was brought in October, 1806, before Judges 
 Bushrod Washington and Richard Peters. It was 
 ably argued by counsel on both sides. The court 
 discharged Ben, and he enjoyed his liberty thence- 
 forth without interruption. 
 
104 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 DANIEL BENSON. 
 
 Daniel and his mother were slaves to Perry Boc^s, 
 of Delaware. His master w^as in the habit of lettmg 
 him out to neighboring farmers and receiving the 
 wages himself. Daniel had married a free woman, 
 and they had several children, mostly supported by 
 her industry. His mother was old and helpless ; and 
 the master, finding it rather burdensome to support 
 her, told Daniel that if he would take charge of her, 
 and pay him forty dollars a year, he might go where 
 he pleased. 
 
 The offer was gladly accepted; and in 1805 he 
 removed to Philadelphia, with his mother and family. 
 He sawed w^ood for a living, and soon established 
 such a character for industry and honesty, that many 
 of the citizens were in the habit of employing hinj to 
 purchase their wood and prepare it for the winter. 
 Upon one occasion, when he brought in a bill to 
 Alderman Todd, that gentleman asked if he had not 
 charged rather high. Daniel excused himself by 
 saying he had an aged mother to support, in addition 
 to his own family ; and that he punctually paid his 
 master twenty dollars every six months, according 
 to an agreement he had made with him. When the 
 alderman heard the particulars, his sympathy was 
 excited, and he wrote a note to Isaac T. Hopper, 
 requesting him to examine into the case ; stating his 
 own opinion that Daniel had a legal vi<i]it to freedom. 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 105 
 
 The wood-sawyer started off with the note with 
 great alacrity, and dehvered it to Friend Hopper, 
 saying in very animated tones, " Squire Todd thinks 
 I am free !" He was in a state of great agitation 
 between hope and fear. When he had told his story, 
 he was sent home to get receipts for all the money 
 he had paid his master since his arrival in Philadel- 
 phia. It was easy to prove from these that he had 
 been a resident in Pennsylvania, with his owner's 
 consent, a much longer time than the law required 
 to make him a free man. When Friend Hopper 
 gave him this information, he was overjoyed. He 
 could hardly believe it. The tidings seemed too 
 good to be true. When assured that he was cer- 
 tainly free, beyond all dispute, and that he need not 
 pay any more of his hard earnings to a master, the 
 tears came to his eyes, and he started off to bring 
 his wife, that she also might hear the glad news. 
 When Friend Hopper was an old man, he often used 
 to remark how well he remembered their beaming 
 countenances on that occasion, and their warm ex- 
 pressions of gratitude to God. 
 
 Soon after this interview, a letter was addressed 
 to Perry Boots, informing him that his slave was 
 legally free, and that he need not expect to receive 
 any more of his wages. He came to Philadelphia 
 immediately, to answer the letter in person. His 
 5* 
 
106 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 first salutation was, "Where can I find that ungrate- 
 ful villain Dan? I will take him home in irons." 
 
 Friend Hopper replied, "Thou wilt find thyself 
 relieved from such an unpleasant task; for I can 
 easily convince thee that the law sustains thy slave 
 in taking his freedom." 
 
 Reading the law did not satisfy him. He said he 
 would consult a lawyer, and call again. When he 
 returned, he found Daniel waiting to see him; and 
 he immediately began to upbraid him for being so 
 ungrateful. Daniel replied, " Master Perry, it was 
 not justice that made me your slave. It was the 
 law ; and you took advantage of it. Now, the law^ 
 makes me free ; and ought you to blame me for tak- 
 ing the advantage which it offers me ? But suppose 
 I were not free, what would you be walling to take 
 to manumit me?" 
 
 His master, somewhat softened, said, "Why, 
 Dan, I always intended to set you free some time or 
 other." 
 
 "I am nearly forty years old," rejoined his bonds- 
 man, "and if I am ever to be free, I think it is high 
 time now. What would you be willing to take for 
 a deed of manumission"^" 
 
 Mr. Boots answered, "Why I think you ought to 
 give me a hundred dollars." 
 
 "Would that satisfy you, master Perry ? Well, I 
 can pay you a hundred dollars," said Daniel. 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 107 
 
 Here Friend Hopper interfered, and observed there 
 tvas nothing rightfully due to the nriaster; that if 
 justice were done in the case, he ought to pay Daniel 
 for his labor ever since he was twenty-one years old. 
 
 The colored man replied, "I was a slave to mas- 
 ter Perry's father ; and he was kind to me. Master 
 Perry and I are about the same age. We were 
 brought up more like two brothers, than like master 
 and slave. I can better afford to give him a hun- 
 dred dollars, than he can afford to do without it. I 
 will go home and get the money, if you will make 
 out the necessary papers while I am gone." 
 
 Surprised and gratified by the nobility of soul 
 manifested in these words, Friend Hopper said no 
 more to dissuade him from his generous purpose. 
 He brought one hundred silver dollars, and Perry 
 Boots signed a receipt for it, accompanied by a deed 
 of manumission. He wished to have it inserted in 
 the deed that he was not to be responsible for the 
 support of the old woman. But Daniel objected ; 
 saying, "Such an agreement would imply that I 
 would not voluntarily support my poor old mother." 
 
 When the business was concluded, he invited liis 
 former master and Friend Hopper to dine with him ; 
 saying, "We are going to have a pretty good din- 
 ner, in honor of the day." Mr. Boots accepted the 
 invitation ; but Friend Hopper excused himself, on 
 account of an en^ao^ement that would detain him till 
 
108 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 after dinner. Wiien lie called, he found they had 
 not yet risen from the table, on which were the re- 
 mains of a rousted turkey, a variety of vegetables, 
 and a decanter of wine. Friend Hopper smiled when 
 Daniel remarked, "I know^ master Perry loves a lit- 
 tle brandy ; but I did not like to get brandy ; so I 
 bought a quart of Mr. Morris' best wine, and thought 
 perhaps that w^ould do instead. I never drink any- 
 thing but water myself." 
 
 Soon after Daniel Benson became a free man, he 
 gave up sawing wood, and opened a shop for the sale 
 of second-hand clothing. He was successful in bu- 
 siness, brought up his family very reputably, and 
 supported his mother comfortably to the end of her 
 days. For mfiny years, he was class-leader in a 
 Methodist church for colored people, and his correct 
 deportment gained the respect of all who knew him. 
 
 If slavery were ever justifiable, under any circum- 
 stances, which of these two characters ought to have 
 been the master, and which the slave ? 
 
 THE QUICK-WITTED SLAVE. 
 
 About the year 1805, a colored man, who belonged 
 to Colonel Hopper, of Maryland, escaped with his 
 wife and children, who were also slaves. He went 
 to Pliiladclphia and hired a small house in Green's 
 Court, where he lived several months before his 
 master discovered his retreat. As soon as he ob- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 109 
 
 tained tidings of him, he went to Philadelphia, and 
 apphed to Richard Hunt, a constable who was much 
 employed as a slave hunter. Having procured a 
 warrant, they went together, in search of the fugi- 
 tives. It was about dusk, and the poor man just re- 
 turned from daily toil, was sitting peacefully with 
 his wife and children, when in rushed his old master, 
 accompanied by the constable. 
 
 With extraordinary presence of mind, the colored 
 man sprang up, and throwing his arms round his 
 master's neck, exclaimed, " 0, my dear master, how- 
 glad I am to see you ! I thought I should like to be 
 free ; but I had a great deal rather be a slave. I 
 can't get work, and we have almost starved. I 
 w^ould have returned home, but I was afraid yon 
 would sell me to the Georgia men. I beg your par- 
 don a thousand times. If you will only forgive me, 
 I will go back with you, and never leave you again " 
 
 The master was very agreeably surprised by this 
 reception, and readily promised forgiveness. He 
 was about to dismiss the constable, but the slave 
 urged him to stay a few minutes. "I have earned a 
 little money to-day, for a rarity," said he; "and I 
 want to go out and buy something to drink ; for I 
 suppose old master must be tired." He stepped out, 
 and soon returned with a quantity of gin, with which 
 he liberally supplied his guests. He knew full well 
 that they were both men of intemperate habits , so 
 
110 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 be talked gaily about affairs in Maryland, making 
 various inquiries concerning wliat had happened since 
 he left; and ever and anon he replenished their glass- 
 es with gill. It was not long before they were com- 
 pletely insensible to all that was going on around 
 them". The colored man and his family then made 
 speedy preparations for departure. While Colonel 
 Hopper and the constable lay in the profound stupor 
 of intoxication, they were on the way to New Jersey, 
 with all their household goods, where they found a 
 safe place of refuge before the rising of the sun. 
 
 When consciousness returned to the sleepers, they 
 were astonished to find themselves alone in the 
 house ; and as soon as they could vally their wits, 
 they set off in search of the fugitives. After spend- 
 ing several days without finding any track of them, 
 the master called upon Isaac T. Hopper. He com- 
 plained bitterly of his servant's ingratitude in ab- 
 sconding from him, and of the trick he had played 
 to deceive him. He said he and his family had al- 
 ways been extremely comfortable in Maryland, and 
 it was a great piece of folly in them to have quitted 
 such a happy condition. He concluded by asking 
 for assistance in tracing them ; promising to treat 
 them as kindly as if they were his own children, if 
 they would return to him. 
 
 Friend Hopper rephed, " If the man were as happy 
 with thee as thou hast represented, he will doubtless 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. Ill 
 
 return voluntarily, and my assistance will be quite 
 unnecessary. I do not justify falsehood and decep- 
 tion ; but I am by no means surprised at them in one 
 who has always been a slave, and had before him 
 the example of slaveholders. • Why thou shouldst ac- 
 cuse him of ingratitude, is more than I can compre- 
 hend. It seems to me that he owes thee nothing. 
 On the contrary, I should suppose that thou wert 
 indebted to him ; for I understand that he has served 
 thee more than thirty years without wages. So far 
 from helping thee to hunt the poor fugitives, I w-ill, 
 with al] my heart, do my utmost to keep them out 
 of thy grasp." 
 
 "Have you seen my man?" inquired the slave- 
 holder. 
 
 *'He came to me when he left his own house in 
 Green's Court," replied Friend Hopper ; " and I gave 
 him such advice on that occasion, as I thought pro- 
 per. Thou art the first slaveholder I ever met with 
 bearing my name. Perhaps thou hast assumed it, as 
 a means of gaining the confidence of colored people, 
 to aid thee in recapturing the objects of thy avarice." 
 
 The Colonel replied that it was really his name, 
 and departed without having gained much satisfac- 
 tion from the interview. He remained in Philadel- 
 phia a week or ten days, where he was seized with 
 mania a potu. He w^as carried home in a straight 
 jacket, where he soon after died. 
 
112 LIFE OK ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 A few months after these transactions, the slave 
 called to see Friend Hopper. He laughed till he 
 could hardly stand, while he described the method 
 he had taken to elude his old master, and the comi- 
 cal scene that followed with him and the constable. 
 "I knew his weak side," said he. "I knew where 
 to touch him." 
 
 Friend Hopper inquired whether he was not aware 
 that it w^as wrong to tell falsehoods, and to get men 
 drunk. 
 
 ''I suppose it was wrong," he replied. ''But lib- 
 erty is sweet ; and none of us know what we would 
 do to secure it, till we are tried." 
 
 He afterward returned to Philadelphia, where he 
 supported his family comfortably, and remained un- 
 molested. 
 
 JAMES DAVIS. 
 In 1795, James escaped from bondage in Mary- 
 land, and went to Philadelphia, where he soon after 
 married. He remained undisturbed for ten years, 
 during which time he supported himself and family 
 comfortably by sawing wood. But one day, in the 
 year 1805, his master called to see him, accompanied 
 by two other men, who were city constables. He 
 appeared to be very friendly, asked James how he 
 was getting along, and said he was glad to see him 
 doing so well. At last, he remarked, "As you left 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER 113 
 
 my service without leave, I think you ought to make 
 me some compensation for your time. Autumn is 
 now coming on, and as that is always a busy season 
 for wood-sawyers, perhaps you can make me a small 
 payment at that time." 
 
 This insidious conversation threw James com- 
 pletely off his guard, and he promised to make an 
 effort to raise some money for his master. As 
 soon as he had said enough to prove that he was his 
 bondsman, the slaveholder threw off the mask of 
 kindness, and ordered the constables to seize and 
 hand-cuff him. His wife and children shrieked aloud, 
 and Isaac T. Hopper, who happened to be walking 
 through the street at the time, hastened to ascertain 
 the cause of such alarming sounds. Entering the 
 house, he found the colored man hand-cuffed, and 
 his wife and children making the loud lamentations, 
 which had arrested his attention. The poor woman 
 told how her husband had been duped by friendly 
 words, and now he was to be torn from his family 
 and carried off into slavery. Friend Hopper's feel- 
 ings were deeply affected at witnessing such a heart- 
 rending scene, and he exerted his utmost eloquence 
 to turn the master from his cruel purpose. The wiffe 
 and children wept and entreated also ; but it was all 
 in vain. He replied to their expostulations by ridi- 
 cule, and proceeded to hurry his victim off to prison. 
 The children clung round Friend Hopper's knees, 
 
114 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 crying and sobbing, and begging that he would not 
 let those men take away their father. But the fact 
 that the poor fellow had acknowledged himself a 
 slave rendered resistance hopeless. He was taken, 
 before a magistrate, and thence to prison. 
 
 Friend Hopper was with him when his master 
 came the next day to carry him away. With a 
 countenance expressive of deepest anguish, the un- 
 happy creature begged to speak a word in private, 
 before his master entered. When Friend Hopper 
 took him into an adjoining room, he exclaimed in an 
 imploring tone, " Can't you give me some advice ?" 
 Agitated by most painful sympathy, the Friend knew 
 not what to answer. After a moment's hesitation, 
 he said, "Don't try to run away till thou art sure 
 thou hast a good chance." This was all he could do 
 for the poor fellow. He was obliged to submit to 
 seeing him bound with cords, put into a carriage, and 
 driven off like a sheep to the slaughter-house. 
 
 He was conveyed to Maryland and lodged in jail. 
 Several weeks after, he was taken thence and sold 
 to a speculator, who was making up a coffle of slaves 
 for the far South. After crossing the Susqueharina, 
 they stopped at a miserable tavern, where the specu- 
 lator and his companions drank pretty freely, and 
 then began to amuse themselves by shooting at a 
 mark. They placed the slave by the tavern door, 
 where they could see him. While he sat there, 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 115 
 
 thinking of his wife and children, feeling sad and for- 
 lorn beyond description, he noticed that a fisherman 
 drew near the shore with a small boat, to which 
 was fastened a rope and a heavy stone, to supply the 
 place of an anchor. When he saw the man step out 
 of the boat and throw the stone on the ground, 
 Friend Hopper's parting advice instantly flashed 
 through his mind. Hardship, scanty food, and above 
 all, continual distress of mind, had considerably re- 
 duced his flesh. He looked at his emaciated hands, 
 and thought it might be possible to slip them through 
 his iron cufls. He proceeded cautiously, and when 
 he saw that his guard were too busy loading their 
 pistols to watch him, he released himself from his 
 irons by a violent effort, ran to the river, threw the 
 stone anchor into the boat, jumped in, and pushed 
 for the opposite shore. The noise attracted the at- 
 tention of his guard, who threatened him with instant 
 death if he did not return. They loaded their pis- 
 tols as quickly as possible, and fired after him, but 
 luckily missed their aim. James succeeded in reach- 
 ing the opposite side of the river, where he set the 
 boat adrift, lest some one should take it back and 
 enable them to pursue him. He bent his course to- 
 ward Philadelphia, and on arriving there, went di- 
 rectly to Friend Hopper's house. He had become 
 so haggard and emaciated, that his friend could 
 hardly believe it was James Davis who stood before 
 
116 LIFE OF ISAAC T HOPPER. 
 
 him. He said he dared not go near his old home, 
 and begged that some place might be provided where 
 he could meet his wife and children in safety. This 
 was accomplished, and Friend Hopper was present 
 w^hen the poor harassed fugitive w^as restored to his 
 family. He described the scene as afTecting beyond 
 description. The children, some of whom were very 
 small, twined their little arms round him, eagerly in- 
 quiring, '' Where have you been ? How did you get 
 away ?" and his wife sobbed aloud, while she hugged 
 the lost one to her heart. 
 
 The next morning he was sent to Bucks County 
 in a market wagon. Some friends there procured a 
 small house for him, and his family soon joined him. 
 He was enabled to earn a comfortable living, and his 
 place of retreat was never afterward discovered by 
 enemies of the human family. 
 
 MARY HOLLIDAY. 
 
 A very light mulatto girl, named Fanny, was slave 
 to the widow of John Sears, in Maryland. When 
 about twenty-four years old, she escaped to Phila- 
 delphia, and lived in the family of Isaac W. Morris, 
 where she was known by the assumed name of Mary 
 Holliday. She was honest, prudent, and industrious, 
 and the family became much attached to her. She 
 had not been there many months when her mistress 
 obtained tidings of her, and went to Philadelphia, 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 117 
 
 accompanied by a man named Datton. She was 
 arrested on the seventh of June, 1805, and taken be- 
 fore l\latthew Lawler, who was then mayor. Isaac 
 W. Morris immediately waited on:' Isaac T. Hopper 
 to inform him of the circumstance, and they pro- 
 ceeded together to the mayor's office. 
 
 Button, being examined as a witness, testified that 
 he knew a mulatto named Fanny, who belonged to 
 Mrs. Sears, and he believed the woman present, 
 called Mary Holliday, was that person. Mary de 
 nied that she was the slave of the claimant, or that 
 her name was Fanny ; but her agitation was very 
 evident, though she tried hard to conceal it. 
 
 Friend Hopper remarked to the mayor, "This 
 case requires testimony as strong as if the woman 
 were on trial for her life, which is of less value than 
 liberty. I object to the testimony as insufficient ; 
 for the witness cannot say positively that he knows 
 she is the same person, but only that he believes so. 
 Wouldst thou consider such evidence satisfactory in 
 the case of a white person ?" 
 
 The mayor who was not friendly to colored peo- 
 ple, repUed, "I should not; but I consider it suffi- 
 cient in such cases as these." 
 
 "How dark must the complexion be, to justify 
 thee in receiving such uncertain evidence ?" inquired 
 Friend Hopper. 
 
118 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOrPER. 
 
 The mayor pointed to the prisoner and said, "As 
 dark as that woman." 
 
 "What wouldst thou think of such testimony in 
 case of thy own daughter ?" rejoined Friend Hopper. 
 "There is very httle difference between her com- 
 plexion and that of the woman now standing before 
 thee." 
 
 He made no reply, but over-ruled the objection to 
 the evidence. He consented, however, to postpone 
 the case three days, to give time to procure testimo- 
 ny in her favor. 
 
 Isaac W. Morris soon after called upon Friend 
 Hopper and said, " Mary has acknowledged to us 
 that her name is Fanny, and that she belongs to Mrs. 
 Sears. My family are all very much attached to 
 her, and they cannot bear the thought of her being 
 carried away into slavery. J will advance three 
 hundred dollars, if thou wilt obtain her freedom." 
 
 Friend Hopper accordingly called upon Mrs. Sears, 
 and after stipulating that nothing said on either side 
 should be made use of in the trial, he offered two 
 hundred dollars for a deed of manumission. The 
 offer was promptly rejected. After considerable dis- 
 cussion, three hundred and fifty dollars were offered ; 
 for it was very desirable to have the case settled 
 without being obliged to resort to an expensive and 
 uncertain process of law. Mrs. Sears rephed, "Tt is 
 in vain to treat with me on the subject ; for I am 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 119 
 
 determined not to sell the woman on any terms. I 
 will take her back to Maryland, and make an exam- 
 ple of her." 
 
 "I hope thou wilt find thyself disappointed," re- 
 joined Friend Hopper. The slaveholder merely an- 
 sw^ered with a malicious smile, as if perfectly sure of 
 her triumph. 
 
 Finding himself disappointed in his attempts to 
 purchase the woman, Friend Hopper resolved to 
 carry the case to a higher court, and accumulate 
 as many legal obstructions as possible. For that 
 purpose, he obtained a writ De homine replegiando, 
 and when the suitable occasion arrived, he accompa- 
 nied Mary Holliday to the mayor's office, with a 
 deputy sheriff to serve the writ. When the trial 
 came on, he again urged the insufficiency of proof 
 brought by the claimant. The mayor replied, in a 
 tone somewhat peremptory, "I have already decid- 
 ed that matter. I shall deliver the slave to her 
 mistress." 
 
 Friend Hopper gave the sheriflT a signal to serve 
 the writ. He was a novice in the business, but in 
 obedience to the instructions given him, he laid his 
 hand on Mary's shoulder, and said, "By virtue of 
 this writ, I replevin this woman, and deliver her to 
 Mr. Hopper." 
 
 Her protector immediately said to her, "Thou 
 canst now go home with me." But her mistress 
 
120 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 seized her by the arm, and said she should not go. 
 The mayor was little acquainted with legal forms, 
 beyond the usual routine of city business. He seem- 
 ed much surprised, and inquired what the writ was. 
 
 "It is a homine replegiando" replied Friend Hop- 
 per. 
 
 " I don't understand what that means," said the 
 mayor. 
 
 "It is none the less powerful on that account," 
 rejoined Friend Hopper. " It has taken the woman 
 out of thy power, and delivered her to another tribu- 
 nal." 
 
 During this conversation, the mistress kept her 
 grasp upon Mary. Friend Hopper appealed to the 
 mayor, again repeating that the girl was now to 
 await the decision of another court. He accordingly 
 told Mrs. Sears it was necessary to let her go. She 
 asked what was to be done in such a case. The 
 mayor, completely puzzled, and somewhat vexed, 
 replied impatiently, "I don't know. You must ask 
 Mr. Hopper. His laws are above mine. I thought 
 I knew something about the business ; but it seems 
 I don't." 
 
 Mary went home with her protector, and Mrs. 
 Sears employed Alexander J. Dallas as counsel. 
 The case was kept pending in the Supreme Court a 
 long time ; for no man understood better than Friend 
 Hopper how to multiply difficulties. Mrs. Sears fre- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOFPER. 121 
 
 quently attended, bringing witnesses with her fron-i 
 Maryland ; which of course involved much trouble 
 and expense. After several years, the trial came on; 
 but it was found she had left some of her principal 
 witnesses at home. Most of the forenoon was spent 
 in disputes about points of law, and the admissibility 
 of certain evidence. The court then adjourned to 
 three in the afternoon. 
 
 Mrs. Sears was informed that even if the court 
 adjudged i\Iary to be her slave, Friend Hopper would 
 doubtless fail to produce her, and they would be 
 compelled to go through another process to recover 
 from him the penalty of the bond. She had become 
 exceedingly weary of the law, the trouble and ex- 
 pense of which had far exceeded her expectations. 
 She therefore instructed her lawyer to try to effect a 
 compromise. Friend Hopper, being consulted for 
 this purpose, offered to pay two hundred and fifty 
 dollars for Mary, if the claimant would pay the costs. 
 She accepted the terms, woll pleased to escape from 
 further litigation. 
 
 When the court met in the afternoon, they w^ere 
 informed that the matter was settled ; and the jury 
 with consent of parties, rendered a verdict that Mary 
 was free. By her own earnings, and donations from 
 sympathizing friends, she gradually repaid Isaac W. 
 Morris three hundred dollars toward the sum he had 
 
 advanced for the expenses of her trial. 
 6 
 
122 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 In his efforts to protect the rights and redress the 
 wrongs of colored people, Friend Hopper had a zeal- 
 ous and faithful ally in Thomas Harrison, also a 
 member of the Society of Friends. When recount- 
 ing the adventures they had together, he used to say, 
 "That name excites pleasant emotions whenever it 
 occurs to me. I shall always reverence his memory. 
 He was my precursor in Philadelphia, as the friend 
 of the slave, and my coadjutor in scores of cases for 
 their relief. His soul was always ahve to the suf- 
 ferings of his fellow creatures, and dipped into sym- 
 pathy with the oppressed ; not that idle sympathy 
 that can be satisfied with lamenting their condition, 
 and make no exertions for their relief; but sympa- 
 thy, like the apostle's faith, manifesting itself in 
 works, and extending its influence to all within its 
 reach." 
 
 Thomas Harrison was a lively, bustling man, with 
 a roguish twinkle in his eye, and a humorous style 
 of talking. Some Friends, of more quiet tempera- 
 ments than himself, thought he had more activity 
 than was consistent with dignity. They reminded 
 him that Mary sat still at the feet of Jesus, while 
 Martha w^as "troubled about many things." 
 
 "All that is very wtII," rephed Thomas; "but 
 Mary would have had a late breakfast, after all, if it 
 had not been for Martha." 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 123 
 
 From among various anecdotes in which Friend 
 Harrison's name occurs, I select the following : 
 
 JAMES LAWLER. 
 
 James was a slave to Mr. Mc Calmont of Dela- 
 ware. In 1805, when he was about thirty years old, 
 he escaped to New-Jersey and let himself out to a 
 farmer. After he had been there a few months, 
 several runaway slaves in his neighborhood were ar- 
 rested and carried back to the. South. This alarmed 
 him, and he became very anxious that some person 
 should advance a sum of money sufficient to redeem 
 him from bondage, which he would bind himself to 
 repay by labor. Finding that his employer abhorred 
 slavery, and was very friendly to colored people, he 
 ventured to open his heart to him ; and Isaac T. 
 Hopper was consulted on the subject. 
 
 The first step was to write to Mr. Mc Calmont to 
 ascertain what were the lowest terms on which he 
 would manumit his slave. The master soon came 
 in person, accompanied by a Philadelphia merchant, 
 who testified that his friend Mc Calmont was a high- 
 ly respectable man, and treated his slaves with great 
 kindness. He said James would be much happier 
 with his master than he could be in any other situa- 
 tion, and strongly urged Friend Hopper to tell where 
 he might be found. 
 
 He replied, "It does not appear that James thought 
 
134 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 himself so happy, or he would not have left his ser- 
 vice. Even if I had no objection to slavery, I should 
 still be bound by every principle of honor not to be- 
 tray the confidence reposed in me. But feeling as 
 it is well known I do on that subject, I am surprised 
 thou shouldst make such a proposition to me." 
 
 They then called upon Thomas Harrison, and 
 tried to enlist him in their favor by repeating how 
 well James had been treated, and how happv he 
 was in slavery. Friend Harrison replied, in his 
 ironical way, "O, I know very well that slaves sleep 
 on feather beds, while their master's children sleep 
 on straw ; that they eat white bread, and their 
 master's children eat brown. But enclose ten acres 
 with a high wall, plant it with Lombardy poplars 
 and the most beautiful shrubbery, build a magnifi- 
 cent castle in the midst of it, give thee pen, ink, and 
 paper, to write about the political elections in w^hich 
 thou art so much interested, load thee with the best 
 of everything thy heart could desire, still I think 
 thou would st want to get out beyond the wall." 
 
 The master, being unable to ascertain where his 
 slave coidd be found, finally informed Friend Hop- 
 per that he would manumit him on the receipt of 
 one hundred and fifty dollars. Mr. John Hart, a drug- 
 gist, generously advanced the sum, and James was 
 indentured to him for the term of five years. Before 
 the contract was concluded, somebody remarked 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 125 
 
 that perhaps he would repeat his old trick of run- 
 ning away. "I am not afraid of that," replied Mr. 
 Hart. ''I will tie him by the teeth;" meaning he 
 would feed him well. 
 
 In fact, James now appeared quite satisfied. His 
 new master and mistress were kind to him, and he 
 was faithful and diligent in their service. When a 
 year or two had elapsed, he asked permission to 
 visit his old master and fellow^ servants. Mr. Hart 
 kept a carriage, which he seldom used in the w^intoT, 
 and he told James he might take one of the horses. 
 This suited his tdste exactly. He mounted a noble 
 looking animal, with handsome saddle and bridle, 
 and trotted off to Delaware. When he arrived, 
 he tied the horse and went into the kitchen. Mr. 
 Mc Calmont coming home soon after, and observing 
 a very fine horse in his yard, supposed he must have 
 some distinguished visitor. Upon inquiry, he was 
 informed that Jim rode the horse there, and was 
 then in the kitchen. He went out and spoke very 
 pleasantly to his former slave, and said he was glad 
 to see him. Being informed that the horse belonged 
 to his new master, Mr. Hart, who had kindly per- 
 mitted him to use it, he ordered the animal to be 
 taken to the stable and supplied with hay and oats. 
 James was treated kindly by all the family, and 
 spent two days very agreeably. When about to 
 take leave, Mr. Mc Calmont said to him, 'Well, 
 
126 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 Jim, I am glad to find that you have a good master, 
 and are happy. But I had rather you would not 
 come here again in the style you now have ; for it 
 will make my people dissatisfied." 
 
 James returned much pleased with his excursion, 
 and soon went to give Friend Hopper an account of 
 it. He served out his time faithfully, and remained 
 afterward in the same family, as a hired servant. 
 
 WILLIAM ANDERSON. 
 
 William was a slave in Virginia. When about 
 twenty-five years old, he left his master and went 
 to Philadelphia with two of his fellow slaves; giving 
 as a reason that he wanted to try whether he could n't 
 do something for himself. When they had been 
 absent a few months, their master "sold them run- 
 ning" to Mr. Joseph Ennells, a speculator in slaves, 
 who procured a warrant and constable, and repaired 
 to Philadelphia in search of his newly acquired pro- 
 perty. They arrived on Saturday, a day when many 
 people congregated at the horse-market. Ennells 
 soon espied the three fugitives among the crowd, 
 and made an attempt to pounce upon them. Lucki- 
 ly, they saw the movement, and dodging quickly 
 among the multitude, they escaped. 
 
 After spending some days in search of them, En- 
 nells called upon Isaac T. Hopper and Thomas 
 Harrison, and offered to sell them very cheap if 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 127 
 
 they would hunt them up. Friend Hoi)per immedi- 
 ately recognized him as the man who had threat- 
 ened to blow out his brains, when lie went to the 
 rescue of old William Bachelor ; and he thus ad- 
 dressed him : "I would advise thee to go home and 
 obtain thy living in some more honorable way ; for 
 the trade in which thou art engaged is a most odious 
 one. On a former occasion tliou wert treated with 
 leniency ; and I recommend a similar course to thee 
 with regard to these poor fugitives." 
 
 The speculator finally agreed to sell the three 
 men for two hundred and fifty dollars. The money 
 was paid, and he returned home. In the course of 
 a few days William Anderson called upon Isaac T. 
 Hopper for advice. He informed him that Thomas 
 Harrison had bought him and his companions, and 
 told him he had better find the other two, and go 
 and make a bargain with Friend Harrison concerning 
 the payment. He called accordingly, and offered to 
 bind himself as a servant until he had earned enough 
 to repay the money that had been advanced ; but he 
 said he had searched in vain for the two companions 
 *of his flight. They had left the city abruptly, and 
 he could not ascertain where they had gone. Tho-. 
 mas Harrison said to him, "Perhaps thou art not 
 aware that thou hast a legal claim to thy freedom 
 already ; for I am a citizen of Pennsylvania, and 
 the laws here do not allow any man to hold a slave." 
 
128 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 William replied, "I am too grateful for the kind- 
 ness you have shown me, to feel any disposition 
 to take advantage of that circumstance. If I live, 
 you shall never lose a single cent on my account.'' 
 
 He was soon after indentured to Mr. Jacob Down- 
 ing a respectable merchant of Philadelphia, who 
 agreed to pay one hundred and twenty-five dollars 
 for his services. This was half of the money ad- 
 vanced for all of them. William served the stipu- 
 lated time faithfully. His master said he never had 
 a more honest and useful servant ; and he on his 
 part always spoke of the family with great respect 
 and affection. 
 
 When the time of his indenture had expired, he 
 called upon his old benefactor, Thomas Harrison. 
 After renewing his grateful acknowledgments for 
 the service rendered to him in extremity, he inquired 
 whether anything had ever been heard from the two 
 other fugitives. Being answered in the negative, he 
 rephed, "Well, Mr. Harrison, you paid two hundred 
 and fifty dollars for us, and you have not been able 
 to find my companions. You have received only 
 one hundred and twenty-five dollars. It is not right 
 that you should lose by your kindness to us. I am 
 willing you should bind me again to make up the 
 balance." 
 
 " Honest fellow ! Honest fellow ! " exclaimed Tho 
 mas Harrison. " Go about thy business. Thou hast 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 129 
 
 paid thy share, and I have no further cairn upon 
 thee. Conduct as well as thou hast done since 1 
 have known thee, and thou wilt surely prosper." 
 
 Friend Hopper happened to be present at this in- 
 terview^; and he used to say, many years afterward, 
 that he should never forget how it made his heart 
 glow to witness such honorable and disinterested 
 conduct. The two other fugitives were never heard 
 of, and Friend Harrison of course lost one hundred 
 and twenty-five dollars. William frequently called 
 upon his benefactors, and always conducted in the 
 most exemplary manner. 
 
 SARAH ROACH. 
 
 Sarah Roach, a light mulatto, was sold by her 
 master in Maryland to a man residing in Delaware. 
 The laW'S of Delaware prohibit the introduction of 
 slaves, unless brought into the state by persons in- 
 tending to reside there permanently. If brought 
 under other circumstances they become free. Sarah 
 remained w-ith her new master several years before 
 she w*as made aware of this fact. Meanwhile, she 
 gave birth to a daughter, who was of course free, if 
 the mother was free at the time she was born At 
 last, some one informed the bondwoman that her 
 master had no legal claim to her services. She then 
 left him and went to Philadelphia. But she re- 
 mained ignorant of the fact that her daughter was 
 
130 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 free, in consequence of the universal maxim ot slave 
 law, that "the child follows the condition of the 
 mother." 
 
 When the girl was about sixteen years old, she 
 absconded from Delaware, and w^nt to her mother, 
 who inquired of Isaac T. Hopper what was the best 
 method of eluding the vigilance of her master. After 
 ascertaining the circumstances, he told her that her 
 daughter was legally free, and instructed her to 
 inform him in case any person attempted to arrest 
 her. 
 
 Her claimant soon discovered her place of abode, 
 and in the summer of 1806 went in pursuit of her. 
 Being- aware that his claim had no foundation in law, 
 he did not attempt to establish it before any magis- 
 trate, but seized the girl and hurried her on board a 
 sloop, that lay near Spruce-street wharf, unloading 
 staves. Fearing she would be wrested from him by 
 the city authorities, he removed the vessel from the 
 w^harf and anchored near an island between Phila- 
 delphia and New- Jersey. A boat was placed along- 
 side the sloop, into which the cargo was unloaded 
 and carried to the wharf they had left. 
 
 The mother went to Isaac T. Hopper in great 
 distress, and informed him of the transaction. He 
 immediately made application to an alderman, who 
 issued a process to have the girl brought before him. 
 Guided by two colored men. who had followed her 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 131 
 
 when she was carried off, he immediately proceeded 
 to the sloop, accompanied by an officer. When the 
 claimant saw them appoaching, he went into the 
 cabin for his gun, and threatened them with instant 
 death if they came near his vessel. Friend Hopper 
 quietly told the men to go ahead and pay no atten- 
 tion to his threats. When they moored their boat 
 alongside of the one into which they were unloading 
 staves, he became very vociferous, and pointing his 
 gun at Friend Hopper's breast, swore he should not 
 enter the vessel. 
 
 He replied, "I have an officer with me, and I have 
 authority from a magistrate to bring before him a 
 girl now in thy vessel. I think we are prepared to 
 show that she is free." 
 
 The man still kept his gun pointed, and told them 
 to beware how they attempted to come on board. 
 
 " If thou shouldst injure any person, it w^ould be 
 impossible for thee to escape," rephed Friend Hop- 
 per; "for thou art a hundred and twenty miles from 
 the Capes, with hundreds of people on the wharf to 
 witness thy deed." 
 
 W^hile speaking thus, he advanced toward him 
 until he came near enoutrh to sieze hold of the ffun 
 and turn it aside. The man made a violent jerk to 
 wrest the weapon from him, and still clinging fast 
 hold of it he w^as pulled on board. In the scuffle to 
 regain possession of his gun, the man trod upon a 
 
132 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 roller on the deck, lost his balance, and fell sprawling 
 on his back. Friend Hopper seized that opport jnity 
 to throw the gun overboard. Whereupon, a sailer 
 near by siezed an axe and came toward him in a 
 great rage. Even if the courageous Quaker had 
 wished to escape, there was no chance to do so. 
 He advanced to meet the sailor, and looking him 
 full in the face said, "Thou foolish fellow, dost thou 
 think to frighten me with that axe, when thy com- 
 panion could not do it with his gun? Put the axe 
 down. Thou art resisting legal authority, and liable 
 to suffer severely for thy conduct." 
 
 In a short time they became more moderate, but 
 denied that the girl was on board. The vessel was 
 nearly emptied of her cargo, and Friend Hopper 
 peeping into the hold found her stowed away in a 
 remote part of it. He brought her on deck and 
 took her with him into the boat, of which his com- 
 panions, including the constable, had retained pos- 
 session. 
 
 The girl was uncommonly handsome, with straight 
 hair and regular European features. No one could 
 have guessed from her countenance that any of her 
 remote ancestors were Africans. 
 
 The claimant did not make his appearance at the 
 alderman's office. A warrant was obtained cliarging 
 him and the sailor with having resisted an officer in 
 the discharge of his duty. Isaac T. Hopper returned 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 133 
 
 to the sloop with a constable and brought the two 
 men before a magistrate to answer to this charge. 
 They did not attempt to deny the truth of it, but 
 tried to excuse themselves on the plea that they re- 
 sisted an attempt to take away their property. Of 
 course, this was of no avail, and they were obhged 
 to enter into bonds for their appearance at court. 
 Being strangers in the city, it was difficult to obtain 
 bail, and there seemed to be no alternative but a 
 prison. However, as there must unavoidably be 
 considerable trouble and delay in procuring all the 
 necessary evidence concerning the birth of the al- 
 leged slave, her friends agreed to dismiss them, if 
 they would pay all expenses, give each of the officers 
 five dollars, and manumit the girl. Under existing 
 circumstances, they were glad to avail themselves of 
 the offer; and so the affair was settled. 
 
 ZEKE. 
 
 A man by the name of Daniel Godwin, in the 
 lower part of Delaware, made a business of buying 
 slaves running ; taking the risk of losing the small 
 sums paid for them under such circumstances. In 
 the year 1806, he purchased in this way a slave 
 amed Ezekiel, familiarly called Zeke. He went to 
 Philadelphia, and called on Isaac T. Hopper ; think- 
 ing if he knew where the man was, he would be 
 glad to have his freedom secured on moderate terms. 
 
134 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 While they were talking together, a black man hap 
 pened to walk in, and leaning on the counter looked 
 up in Mr. Godwin's face all the time he was telling 
 the story of his bargain. When he had done speak- 
 ing, he said, "How do you do, Mr. Godwin? Don't 
 you know me ?" 
 
 The speculator answered that he did not. 
 
 "Then you don't remember a man that lived with 
 your neighbor, Mr. ?" continued he. 
 
 Mr. Godwin was at first puzzled to recollect whom 
 he meant ; but when he had specified the time, and 
 various other particulars, he said he did remember 
 such a person. 
 
 "Well," answered the black man, "I am he ; and 
 I am Zeke's brother." 
 
 The speculator inquired whether he knew where 
 he was. 
 
 He replied, "0 yes, Mr. Godwin, I know where 
 he is, w^ell enough. But I'm sorry you've bought 
 Zeke. You'll never make anything out of him. A 
 bad speculation, Mr. Godwin." 
 
 "Why, what's the matter with Zeke?" asked the 
 trader. 
 
 " O, these blacks come to Philadelphia and they 
 get into bad company," replied he. "They are 
 afraid to be seen in the day-time, and so they go 
 prowling about in the night. I'm very sorry you've 
 
LJFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 135 
 
 bought Zeke. He'll neA'er do you one cent's worth 
 of good. A bad speculation, Mr. Godwin." 
 
 The prospect seemed rather discouraging, and the 
 trader said, " Come now, suppose you buy Zeke 
 yourself? I'll sell him low." 
 
 "If I bought him, I should only have to maintain 
 him into the bargain," replied the black man. "He's 
 my brother, to be sure ; but then he'll never be good 
 for anything." 
 
 "Perhaps he would behave better if he was free," 
 urged Mr. Godwin. 
 
 "That's the only chance there is of his ever doing 
 any better," responded the colored man. "But I'm 
 very doubtful about it. If I should make up my 
 mind to give him a chance, what would you be will- 
 ing to sell him for ?" 
 
 The speculator named one hundred and fifty dol- 
 lars. 
 
 "Poh! Poh!" exclaimed the other. *'I tell you 
 Zeke will never be worth a cent to you or anybody 
 else. A hundred and fifty dollars, indeed !" 
 
 The parley continued some time longer, and the 
 case seemed such a hopeless one, that Mr. Godwin 
 finally agreed to take sixty dollars. The colored 
 nan went oflT, and soon returned with the required 
 sum. Isaac T. Hopper drew up a deed of manu- 
 mission, in which the purchaser requested him to in- 
 sert that Zeke was now commonlv called Samuel 
 
136 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 Johnson. The money was paid, and the deed signed 
 with all necessary formalities. When the business 
 was entirely completed, the colored man said, " Zeke 
 is now free, is he ?" When Mr. Godwin answered, 
 "Yes," he turned to Friend Hopper and repeated the 
 question : "Zeke is free, and nobody can take him; 
 can they, Mr. Hopper ? If he was here, he w^ould 
 be in no danger ; would he ?" 
 
 Friend Hopper repUed, "Wherever Zeke may 
 now be, I assure thee he is free." 
 
 Being thus assured, the black man made a low 
 bow, and with a droll expression of countenance said, 
 "I hope you are very well, Mr. Godwin. I am hap- 
 py to see you, sir. I am Zeke !" 
 
 The speculator, finding himself thus outwitted, 
 flew into a violent rage. He seized Zeke by the 
 collar, and began to threaten and abuse him. But 
 the colored man shook his fist at him, and said, "If 
 you don't let me go, Mr. Godwin, I'll knock you 
 down. I'm a free citizen of these United States ; 
 and I won't be insulted in this way by anybody." 
 
 Friend Hopper interfered between them, and Mr. 
 Godwin agreed to go before a magistrate to have the 
 case examined. When the particulars had bieen re- 
 counted, the magistrate answered, "You have been 
 outwitted, sir. Zeke is now as free as any man in 
 this room." 
 
 There was something so exhilarating in the con- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 137 
 
 sciousness of being his own man, that Zeke began 
 to "feel his oats," as the saying is. He said to the 
 magistrate, "May it please your honor to grant me 
 a warrant against Mr. Godwin ? He violently seized 
 me by the collar ; thus committing assault and bat- 
 tery on a free citizen of these United States." 
 
 Friend Hopper told him he had better be satisfied 
 with that day's work, and let Mr. Godwin go home 
 He yielded to this expostulation, though he might 
 have made considerable trouble by insisting upon 
 retaliation. 
 
 POOR AMY. 
 
 A Frenchman named M. Bouilla resided in Spring 
 Garden, Philadelphia, in the year 1806. He and a 
 woman, who had lived with him some time, had in 
 their employ a mulatto girl of nine years old, called 
 Amy. Dreadful stories were in circulation concern- 
 ing their cruel treatment to this child ; and compas- 
 sionate neighbors had frequently solicited Friend 
 Hopper's interference. After a while, he heard they 
 w^ere about to send her into the country ; and fear- 
 ing she might be sold into slavery, he called upon 
 M. Bouilla to inquire whither she was going. As 
 soon as he made known his business, the door wa 
 unceremoniously slammed in his face and locked. 
 A note was then sent to the Frenchman, asking for 
 a friendly interview ; but he returned a verbal an- 
 swer. " Tell Mr. Hopper to mind his own business." 
 
138 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 Considering it his business to protect an abused 
 child, he applied to a magistrate for a warrant, and 
 proceeded to the house, accompanied by his friend 
 Thomas Hairison and a constable. As soon as they 
 entered the door. M. Bouilla ran up-stairs, and arm- 
 ing himself with a gun, threatened to shoot whoever 
 advanced toward him. Being blind, however, he could 
 only point the gun at random in the direction of their 
 /oices, or of any noise which might reach his ear. 
 The officer refused to attempt his arrest under such 
 peril ; saying, he was under no obligation to risk his 
 life. Friend Hopper expostulated with the French- 
 man, explained the nature of their errand, and urged 
 him to come down and have the matter inquired into 
 in an amicable way. But he would not listen, and 
 persisted in sw^earing he would shoot the first person 
 who attempted to come near him. At last. Friend 
 Hopper took off his shoes, stepped up-stah's very 
 softly and quickly, and just as the Frenchman be- 
 came aware of his near approach, he seized the gun 
 and held it over his shoulder. It discharged instant- 
 ly, and shattered the plastering of the stairway, mak- 
 ing it fly in all directions. There arose a loud cry, 
 *'Mr. Hopper's killed ! xAIr. Hopper's killed !" 
 
 The gun being thus rendered harmless, the French- 
 man was soon arrested, and they all proceeded to the 
 the magistrate's office, accompanied by several of the 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 139 
 
 neighbors. There was abundant evider ce that the 
 child had been half starved, unmercifully beaten, and 
 tortured in various ways. Indeed, she w^as such a 
 poor, emaciated, miserable looking object, that her 
 appearance was of itself enough to prove the cruel 
 treatment she had received. When the case had 
 been fully investigated, the magistrate ordered her 
 to be consigned to the care of Isaac T. Hopper, who 
 hastened home with her, being anxious lest his wife 
 should accidentally hear the rumor that he had been 
 shot. 
 
 He afterwards ascertained that Amy was daughter 
 of the white woman who had aided in thus shame- 
 fully abusing her. He kept her in his family till she 
 became well and strong, and then bound her to one 
 of his friends in the country to serve till she w^as 
 eighteen. She grew up a very pretty girl, and de- 
 ported herself to the entire satisfaction of the family. 
 When her period of service had expired, she returned 
 to Philadelphia, where her conduct continued very 
 exemplary. She frequently called to see Friend 
 Hopper, and often expressed gratitude to him for 
 having rescued her from such a miserable condition. 
 
 MANUEL. 
 
 Manuel was an active, intelligent slave in North 
 Carolina. His master, Mr. Joseph Spear, a tar 
 manufacturer, employed him to transport tar, and 
 
140 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 other produce of the place, down Tar river to Tar- 
 borough. After laboring several years for another's 
 benefit, Manuel began to feel anxious to derive some 
 advantage from his own earnings. He had children, 
 and it troubled him to think that they must live and 
 die in slavery. He was acquainted with a colored 
 man in the neighborhood, named Samuel Curtis, who 
 had a certificate of freedom drawn up by the clerk 
 of the county, and duly authenticated, with the 
 county seal attached to it. Manuel thought he could 
 easily pass for Samuel Curtis, and make his way tc 
 Philadelphia, if he could only obtain possession ol 
 this valuable paper. He accordingly made him a 
 confidant of his plans, and he bought the certificate 
 for two dollars. 
 
 The next time Manuel was sent to Tarborouffh, 
 he delivered the cargo as usual, then left the boat 
 and started for the North. He arrived safely in 
 Philadelphia, where he assumed the name of Samuel 
 Curtis, and earned a living by sw^eeping chimneys. 
 In a short time, he had several boys in his employ, 
 and laid by money. When he had been going on 
 thus for about two years, he was suddenly met in the 
 street bv one of the neisrhbors of his old master, who 
 immediately arrested him as a fugitive from slavery. 
 He was taken before Robert Wharton, then mayor. 
 The stranger declared that the colored man he had 
 seized was a slave, belonging to one of his near 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 141 
 
 neighbors in North Carolina. Samuel denied that 
 be was a slave, and showed his certificate of free- 
 dom. The stranger admitted that the document was 
 authentic, but he insisted that the real name of the 
 person who had possession of the paper was Manuel. 
 He said he knew him perfectly well, and also knew 
 Samuel Curtis, who was a free colored man in his 
 neighborhood. The mayor decided that he could 
 not receive parole evidence in contradiction to a pub- 
 lic record ; and Samuel Curtis was set at liberty. 
 
 To the honor of this worthy magistrate be it re- 
 corded that during forty years whilst he was alder- 
 man in Philadelphia, and tw^enty years that he 
 w^as mayor, he never once surrendered a fugitive 
 slave to his claimant, though frequently called upon 
 to do so. He used to tell Friend Hopper that he 
 could not conscientiously do it ; that he would rather 
 resign his office. He often remarked that the De- 
 claration, "All men are created equal ; they are en- 
 dowed by their Creator with certain inalienable 
 rights ; among these are Hfe, liberty, and the pursuit 
 of happiness ;" appeared to him based on a sacred 
 principle, paramount to all law. 
 
 When Samuel Curtis was discharged, he deemed 
 it expedient to go to Boston ; thinking he might be 
 safer there than in Philadelphia. But he had not 
 been there many days, before he met the same man 
 who had previously arrested him ; and he by no 
 
142 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 means felt sure that the mayor of that city would 
 prove as friendly to the colored people as was Robert 
 Wharton. To add to his troubles, some villain broke 
 open his trunk while he was absent from his lodg- 
 ings, and stole a hundred and fifty dollars of his hard 
 earnings. The poor fugitive began to think there 
 was no safe resting-place for him on the face of the 
 earth. He returned to Philadelphia disconsolate 
 and anxious. He was extremely diligent and frugal, 
 and every year he contrived to save some money, 
 which he put out at interest in safe hands. At last, 
 he w^as able to purchase a small lot in Powell-street, 
 on which he built a good three-story brick house, 
 where he lived, with his apprentices, and. let some of 
 the rooms at a good profit, 
 
 In 1S07, he called upon Friend Hopper and told 
 him that his eagerness to make money had chiefly 
 arisen from a strong desu'e to redeem his children 
 from bondage. But being a slave himself, he said it 
 was impossible for him to go in search of them, un- 
 less his own manumission could be obtained. It 
 happened that a friend of Isaac T. Hopper was go- 
 ing to North Carolina. He agreed to see the master 
 and ascertain what could be done. Mr. Spear never 
 expected to hear from his slave again, and the propo- 
 sition to buy him after so many years had elapsed, 
 seemed hke finding a sum of money. He readily 
 
LIFE OP ISAAC T. HOPPER. 143 
 
 agreed to make out a bill of sale for one hundred 
 dollars, which was immediately paid. 
 
 The tirst use Samuel Curtis made of the freedom 
 he had purchased was to set off for the South in 
 search of his children. To protect himself as much 
 as possible from the perils of such an undertaking, 
 he obtained a certificate of good character, signed by 
 the mayor of Philadelphia, and several of the most 
 respectable citizens. They also gave him "a pass" 
 stating the object of his journey, and commending 
 him to the protecting kindness of those among whom 
 he might find it necessary to travel. With these he 
 carefully packed his deed of manumission, and set 
 forth on his errand of paternal love. When he went 
 to take leave of Friend Hopper, he w^as much agitat- 
 ed. He clasped his hand fervently, and the tears 
 flowed fast down his weather-beaten cheeks. "I 
 know I am going into the midst of danger," said he. 
 "Perhaps I may be seized and sold into slavery. 
 But I am w^iUing to hazard everything, even my own 
 liberty, if I can only secure the freedom of my chil- 
 dren. I have been a slave myself, and I know what 
 slaves suffer. Farewell ! Farewell, my good friend. 
 May God bless you, and may he restore to me my 
 children. Then I shall be a happy man." 
 
 He started on his journey, and went directly to 
 his former master to obtain information. He did not 
 at first recognize his old servant. But when he be 
 
144 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 came convinced that the person before him was the 
 identical Manuel, who had formerly been his slave, 
 he seemed pleased to see him, entertained him kind- 
 ly, and inquired how he had managed to get money 
 enough to buy his children. 
 
 The real Samuel Curtis, who sold him the certifi- 
 cate of freedom, was dead ; and since he could no 
 longer be endangered by a statement of particulars, 
 the spurious Samuel related the whole story of his 
 escape, and of his subsequent struggles ; concluding 
 the whole by expressing an earnest wish to find his 
 children. 
 
 Mr. Spear had sold them, some years before, to a 
 man in South Carolina ; and thither the father went 
 in search of them. On arriving at the designated 
 place, he found they had been sold into Georgia. 
 He went to Georgia, and was told they had been 
 sold to a man in Tennessee. He followed them into 
 Tennessee, but there he lost all track of them. Af- 
 tar the most patient and diligent search, he was 
 compelled to return home without further tidings of 
 them. 
 
 As soon as he arrived in Philadelphia, he went to 
 Isaac T. Hopper to tell how the cherished plan of his 
 life had been frustrated. He seemed greatly deject- 
 ed, and wept bitterly. "I have deprived myself of 
 almost every comfort," said he; "that I might save 
 money to buy my poor children. But now they are 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 145 
 
 not 10 be found, and my money gives me no satis- 
 faction. The only consolation I have is the hope 
 that they are all dead." 
 
 The bereaved old man never afterward seemed to 
 take comfort in anything. He sunk, into a settled 
 melancholy, and did not long survive his disappoint- 
 ment. 
 
 SLAVEHOLDERS MOLLIFIED. 
 
 In the winter of 1808, several Virginia planters 
 went to Philadelphia to search for eleven slaves, who 
 had absconded. ]\Iost of these colored people had 
 been there several years, and some of them had ac- 
 quired a little property. Their masters had ascer- 
 tained where they Uved, and one evening, when they 
 returned from their acustomed labors, unconscious 
 >f danger impending over them, they were pounced 
 upon suddenly and conveyed to prison. It was late 
 at night when this took place, and Friend Hopper 
 did not hear of it till the next morning. 
 
 He had risen very early, according to his usual 
 custom, and upon opening his front door he found a 
 letter slipped under it, addressed to him. This 
 anonymous epistle informed him that eleven slaves 
 had been arrested, and were to be tried before Al- 
 derman Douglass that morning ; that the owners 
 were gentlemen of wealth and high standing, and 
 could produce the most satisfactory evidence that 
 
146 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 the persons arrested were their slaves ; consequently 
 Friend Hopper's attendance could be of no possible 
 benefit to them. It went on to say that the magis- 
 trate understood his business, and could do justice 
 without his assistance ; but if, notwithstanding this 
 warning, he did attend at the magistrate's office, for 
 the purpose of wresting from these gentlemen their 
 property, his house would be burned while himself 
 and family were asleep in it, and his life would cer- 
 tainly be taken. The writer invoked the most aw- 
 ful imprecations upon himself if he did not carry 
 these threats into execution. 
 
 Friend Hopper was too much accustomed to such 
 epistles to be disturbed by them. He put it in his 
 pocket, and said nothing about it, lest his wife should 
 be alarmed. A few minutes afterward, he received 
 a message from some colored people begging him to 
 go to the assistance of the fugitives ; and when the 
 trial came on, he was at the alderman's office, of 
 course. Richard Rush was counsel for the claim- 
 ants. The colored prisoners had no lawyer. This 
 examination was carried on with much earnestness 
 and excitement. One of the Virginians failed in 
 proof as to the identity of the person he claimed. In 
 the case of several others, the power of attorney was 
 pronounced informal by the magistrate. After a 
 long protracted controversy, during which Friend 
 Hopper threw as many difficulties in the way as 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 147 
 
 possible, it was decided that four of the persons in 
 custody were proved to be slaves, and the other 
 seven were discharged. This decision greatly exas 
 perated the Southerners, and they vented their anger 
 in very violent expressions. The constables em- 
 ployed were unprincipled men, ready for any low 
 business, provided it were profitable. The man-hun- 
 ters had engaged to give them fifty dollars for each 
 slave they were enabled to take back to Virginia ; 
 but they were to receive nothing for those who were 
 discharged. Hence, their extreme anxiety to avoid 
 Friend Hopper's interference. When they found 
 that more than half of their destined prey had slip- 
 ped through their fingers, they were furious. One 
 of them especially raved like a madman. He had 
 written the anonymous letter, and was truly "a lewd 
 fellow of the baser sort." 
 
 Friend Hopper's feelings were too much interested 
 for those who had been decreed slaves, to think any- 
 thing of the abuse bestowed on himself. xA.ll ol 
 them, three men and one woman, were married to 
 free persons ; and it was heart-breaking to hear their 
 lamentations at the prospect of being separated for- 
 ever. There was a general manifestation of sympa- 
 thy, and even the slaveholders were moved to com- 
 passion. Friend Hopper opened a negotiation with 
 them in behalf of the Abolition Society, and they 
 finally consented to manumit them all for seven hun- 
 
148 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 dred dollars. The money was advanced by a Friend 
 named Thomas Phipps, and the poor slaves returned 
 to their humble homes rejoicing. They repaid every 
 farthing of the money, and ever after manifested the 
 liveliest gratitude to their benefactors. 
 
 When the anger of the Southerners had somewhat 
 cooled, Friend Hopper invited them to come and see 
 him. They called, and spent the evening in discuss- 
 ing the subject of slavery. When they parted from 
 the veteran abolitionist, it was with mutual courtesy 
 and kindliness. They said they respected him for 
 acting so consistently with his own principles ; and 
 if they held the same opinions, they should doubtless 
 pursue the same course. 
 
 This, was a polite concession, but it was based on 
 a false foundation ; for it assumed that it was a 
 mere matter of opinion whether slavery were right 
 or wrong; whereas it is a palpable violation of im- 
 mutable principles of justice. They might as well 
 have made the same remark about murder or rob- 
 bery, if they had lived where a selfish majority were 
 strong enough to get those crimes sanctioned by law 
 and custom. The Bedouin considers himself no rob- 
 ber becaiise he forcibly takes as much toll as he 
 pleases from all who pass through the desert. His 
 ancestors established the custom, and he is not one 
 whit the less an Arab gentleman, because he perpe- 
 tuates their peculiar institution. Perhaps he also 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 149 
 
 would say that if he held the same opinions as more 
 honest Mahometans, he would do as they do. In 
 former days, custom made it honorable to steal a 
 neighbor's cattle, on the Scottish border ; as many 
 Americans now deem it respectable to take children 
 from poor defenceless neighbors, and sell them like 
 sheep in the market. Sir Walter Scott says play- 
 fully, "I have my quarters and emblazonments free 
 of all stain but Border Theft and High Treason, 
 which I hope are gentlemanlike crimes T Yet the 
 stealing of cattle does not now seem a very noble 
 achievement in the eyes of honorable Scotchmen 
 How will the stealing of children, within bounds 
 prescribed by law and custom, appear to future gene- 
 rations of Americans ? 
 
 THE UNITED STATES BOND. 
 
 A planter in Virginia, being pressed for money, 
 sold one of his bondwomen, of sixteen )'ears old, to 
 a speculator who was buying up slaves for the mar- 
 kets of the South and South-west. The girl was 
 uncommonly handsome, with smooth hair, and a 
 complexion as light as most white people. Her new 
 owner, allured by her beauty, treated her with great 
 kindness, and made many flattering promises. She 
 understood his motives, and wished to escape from 
 the degradation of such a destiny as he had in store 
 for her. In order to conciliate her good will, he im- 
 
150 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 posed few restraints upon her. The liberty thus al 
 lowed gave her a favorable opportunity to abscond, 
 which she did not fail to improve. She travelled to 
 Philadelphia without encountering any difficulties on 
 the road ; for her features and complexion excited 
 no suspicion of her being a fugitive slave. She main- 
 tained herself very comfortably by her own industry, 
 and after a time married a light mulatto, who was a 
 very sober industrious man. He was for many years 
 employed by Joshua Humphreys, a ship-carpenter of 
 great respectability in the District of Southwark. 
 By united industry and frugality they w^ere enabled 
 to build a small house on a lot they had taken on 
 ground rent. The furniture was simple, but ex- 
 tremely neat, and all the floors were carpeted. Eve- 
 ry thing indicated good management and domestic 
 comfort. 
 
 She had been in Philadelphia thirteen years, and 
 was the mother ot a promising family,when in 1808 she 
 was arrested by her last master, as a fugitive slave. 
 The Virginian who sold her, and two other persons 
 from the South, attended as witnesses. Isaac T. 
 Hopper also attended, with his trusty friend Thomas 
 Harrison. When the witnesses were examined, her 
 case apy^eared utterly hopeless ; and in private con- 
 versation with Friend Hopper she admitted that she 
 was a slave to the man who claimed her. Mr Hum- 
 phreys, pitying the distress of his honest, mdustrious 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 151 
 
 workman, offered to advance one hundred dollars 
 toward purchasing her freedom. But when Isaac 
 T. Hopper and Thomas Harrison attempted to nego 
 tiate with the claimant for that purpose, he treated 
 all their offers with the rudest contempt. They tried 
 to work upon his feelings, by representing the misery 
 he would inflict on her worthy husband and innocent 
 children ; but he turned a deaf ear to all their entrea- 
 ties. They finally offered to pay him four hundred 
 dollars for a deed of manumission, which at that 
 time was considered a very high price ; but he stop- 
 ped all further discussion by declaring, with a vio- 
 lent oath, that he would not sell her on any terms. 
 Of course, there was nothing to be done, but to 
 await the issue of the trial. 
 
 When the magistrate asked the woman whether 
 she were a slave. Friend Hopper promptly objected 
 to her answering that question, unless he would agree 
 to receive as evidence all she might say. He dcr 
 clined doing that. Friend Hopper then made some 
 remarks, in the course of which he said, "The most 
 honest witnesses are often mistaken as to the identi- 
 ty of persons. It surprises me that the witnesses in. 
 this case should be so very positive, when the wo- 
 man was but sixteen years old at the time they say 
 she eloped, and such a long period has since elapsed. 
 
 The question at stake is as important as life itself 
 to this woman, to her honest husband, and to hev 
 
152 LIFE OF ISAAC T. IIOPFER . 
 
 poor little innocent children. For my own part, 1 
 conscientiously believe she has a just claim to hei 
 j'reedom." 
 
 All this time, the woman stood holding her little 
 girl and boy by the hand. She w^as deeply dejected, 
 but her manners were as calm and dignified, as if 
 she had been one of the best educated ladies in the 
 land. The children were too young to understand 
 the terrible doom that threatened their mother, but 
 they perceived that their parents were in some great 
 trouble, and the little creatures wept in sympathy. 
 
 When Friend Hopper described this scene forty 
 years afterward, he used to say, "I shall never for- 
 get the anguish expressed in her handsome counte- 
 nance, as she looked down upon her children. I see 
 it as plainly as if it all happened yesterday." 
 
 At the time, it was almost too much for his sym- 
 pathizing heart to endure. He felt hke moving hea 
 ven and earth to rescue her. The trial came on in 
 the afternoon, and it happened that the presiding 
 magistrate was accustomed to drink rather freely of 
 wine after dinner. Friend Hopper perceived that 
 his mental faculties were slightly confused, and that 
 the claimant was a heavy, stupid-looking fellow. 
 With these thoughts there suddenly flashed through 
 his brain the plan of eluding an iniquitous law, in 
 order to sustain a higher law of justice and humani- 
 ty. He asked to have the case adjourned till the 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 153 
 
 next day, that there might be farther opportunity to 
 inquire into it ; adding, "Thomas Harrison and my- 
 self will be responsible to the United States for this 
 woman's appearance to-morrow. In case of forfei- 
 ture, we will agree to pay any sum that may be 
 deemed reasonable." 
 
 The claimant felt perfectly sure of his prey, and 
 made no objection to the proposed arrangement. It 
 was accordingly entered on the docket that Thomas 
 Harrison and Isaac T. Hopper w^ere bound to the 
 United States, in the sum of one thousand dollars, to 
 produce the w-oman for further trial at nine o'clock 
 the next morning. 
 
 When Friend Hopper had obtained a copy of the 
 recognizance, signed by the magistrate, he chuckled 
 inwardly and marched out of the office. If there 
 was a flaw in anything, Thomas Harrison had a jo- 
 cose way of saying, "There is a hole in the ballad." 
 As they went into the street together, his friend said, 
 "Thomas, there's a hole in the ballad. The recog- 
 nizance we have just signed is good for nothing. 
 The United States have not the slightest claim upon 
 that woman." 
 
 The next morning, at nine o'clock all parties, ex- 
 cept the woman, were at the mayor's office. After 
 waiting for her about an hour, the magistrate said, 
 "Well gentlemen, the woman does not make her 
 
154 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 appearance, and I shall be obliged to forfeit your 
 recognizance." 
 
 "A thousand dollars is a large sum to lose," re- 
 joined Friend Hopper. "But if it comes to the 
 worst, I suppose we must make up our minds to pay 
 the United States all the claim they have upon us." 
 
 "The United States! The United States!" ex 
 claimed the magistrate quickly. He turned to look 
 at his docket, and after a slight pause he said to the 
 claimant, "There is difficulty here. You had better 
 employ counsel." 
 
 Thomas Eoss, a respectable lawyer, who lived a 
 few doors above, was summoned, and soon made his 
 appearance. Having heard the particulars of the 
 case briefly stated, he also examined the dt»cket ; 
 then turning to Isaac T. Hopper, with a comical ges- 
 ture and tone, he exclaimed, "Eh !" To the claim- 
 ant he said, " You must catch your slave again if 
 you can ; for you can do nothing with these- securi- 
 ties." 
 
 Of course, the master was very angry, and so was 
 the magistrate, who had inadvertently v^Titten the 
 recognizance just as it was dictated to him. They 
 charged Friend Hopper with playing a trick upon 
 them, and threatened to prosecute him. He told 
 Ihem he had no fears concerning a prosecution ; and 
 if he had played a trick, he thought it was better 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 155 
 
 than to see a helpless woman torn from husband and 
 children and sent into slavery. 
 
 The magistrate asked, "How could you say you 
 beheved the woman had a right to her freedom? 
 You have brought forward no evidence whatever to 
 prove your assertion." 
 
 He replied, " I did not say I believed she had a 
 legal right to her freedom. That she had a just 
 right to it, I did beheve ; for I think every human 
 being has a just claim to freedom, unless guilty of 
 some crime. The system of slavery is founded on 
 the grossest and most manifest injustice." 
 
 "It is sanctioned by the law of the land, answered 
 the claimant ; " and you have no right to fly in the 
 face of the laws." 
 
 Friend Hopper contented himself with saying, "If 
 I have broken any law, I stand ready to meet the 
 consequences. But no law can make wrong right." 
 
 The speculator spent several days in fruitless 
 search after the fugitive. When he had relinquished 
 all hopes of finding her, he called on Isaac T. Hop- 
 per and offered to manumit her for four hundred dol- 
 lars. He replied, "At one time, we would gladly 
 have given that sum ; but now the circumstances of 
 the case are greatly changed, and we cannot consent 
 to give half that amount." After considerable con- 
 troversy he finally agreed to take one hundred and 
 fifty dollars. The money was paid, and the deed of 
 
156 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 manumission made out in due form. At parting, the 
 claimant said, with a very bitter smile, "I hope I 
 may live to see you south of the Potomac some 
 day." 
 
 Friend Hopper replied, "Thou hadst better go 
 horne and repent of sins already committed, instead 
 of meditating the commission of more." 
 
 When telling this story in after years, he vv^as 
 wont to say, "I am aware that some will disapprove 
 of the part I acted in that case ; because they will 
 regard it as inconsistent with the candor which men 
 ought always to practice toward each other. I can 
 only say that my ow^n conscience has never con- 
 demned me for it. I could devise no other means to 
 save the poor victim." 
 
 Before we decide to blame Friend Hopper more 
 than he blamed himself in this matter, it would be 
 well to imagine how w^e ourselves should have felt, if 
 we had been witnesses of the painful scene, instead 
 of reading it in cool blood, after a lapse of years. If 
 a handsome and modest woman stood before us with 
 her weeping little ones, asking permission to lead a 
 quiet and virtuous life, and a pitiless law was about 
 to tear her from husband and children and consig 
 her to the licentious tyrant from whom she had es 
 caped, should we not be strongly tempted to evade 
 such a law by any means that offered at the mo- 
 ment ? 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 157 
 
 It would be wiser to expend our moral indignation 
 on statesmen who sanction and sustain laws so wick- 
 ed, that just and kind-hearted citizens are compelled 
 either to elude them, or to violate their own honest 
 convictions and the best emotions of their hearts. 
 
 THE TENDER MERCIES OF A SLAVE- 
 HOLDER. 
 
 In the year of 1808 a Southerner arrested a fugi- 
 tive slave in Philadelphia and committed him to pri- 
 son. When he called for him, with authority to 
 take him back to the South, the poor fellow seemed 
 dreadfully distressed. He told the keeper that his 
 master was very severe, and he knew that terrible 
 sufferings awaited him if he was again placed in his 
 powder. He hesitated long before he followed the 
 keeper to the iron gate, through which he was to 
 pass out of prison. When he saw his oppressor 
 standing there with fetters in his hand, ready to take 
 him away, he stopped and pleaded in the most pite- 
 ous tones for permission to find a purchaser in Phila- 
 delphia. His owner took not the slightest notice ot 
 these humble entreaties, but in a peremptory manner 
 ordered him to come out. The slave trembled all 
 over, and said in the fainting accents of despair, 
 "Master, I can't go with you !" 
 
 " Come out, you black rascal !" exclaimed the in 
 exorable tyrant. " Come out immediately !" 
 
153 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 The poor wretch advanced timidly a few steps, 
 then turned back suddenly, as if overcome with mor- 
 tal fear. The master became very impatient, and in 
 angry vociferous tones commanded the keeper to 
 bring him out by force. 
 
 All this time, the keeper had stood with his hand 
 on the key of the iron door, very reluctant to open 
 it. But at last he unlocked it, and told the poor ter- 
 rified creature that he must go. He rushed to the 
 door in the frenzy of desperation, gazed in his mas- 
 ter's face for an instant, then flew back, took a sharp 
 knife, which he had concealed about him, and drew 
 it across his throat with such force, that he fell 
 senseless near his master's feet, spattering his gar- 
 ments with blood. All those who witnessed this 
 awful sccme, supposed the man was dead. Dr. 
 Church, physician of the prison, examined the wound, 
 and said there was scarcely a possibility that he 
 could survive, though the wind-pipe was not entirely 
 separated. But even the terrible admonition of that 
 ghastly spectacle produced no relenting feelings in 
 the hard heart of the slaveholder. He still demand- 
 ed to have his victim delivered up to him. When 
 tne keeper declined doing it, and urged the reason 
 that the physician said he could not be moved with- 
 out imminent danger to his life, the brutal tyrant ex- 
 claimed, "Damn him! He's my property; and f 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 159 
 
 will have him, dead or ahve. If he dies, it's no- 
 body's loss but mine." 
 
 As he had the mayor's warrant for taking him, 
 the keeper dared not incur the responsibihty of diso- 
 beying his requisitions. He convened the inspectors 
 for consultation ; and they all agreed that any at- 
 tempt to remove the wounded man w^ould render 
 them accessory to his death. They laid the case 
 before the mayor, who ordered that the prisoner 
 should remain undisturbed till the physician pro- 
 nounced him out of danger. When the master was 
 informed of this, he swore that nobody had any right 
 to interfere between him and his property. He curs- 
 ed the mayor, threatened to prosecute the keeper, 
 and was in a furious rage with every body. 
 
 Meanwhile, the sympathy of Isaac T. Hopper was 
 strongly excited in the case, and he obtained a pro- 
 mise from the physician that he would let him know 
 if there was any chance that the slave would recov- 
 er. Contrary to all expectation, he lingered along 
 day after day ; and in about a week, the humane 
 physician signified to Friend Hopper, and Joseph 
 Price, one of the inspectors, that a favorable result 
 might now be anticipated. Of course, none of them 
 considered it a duty to inform the master of their 
 hopes. They undertook to negotiate for the pur- 
 chase of the prisoner, and obtained him for a mode- 
 rate price. The owner was fully impressed with the 
 
160 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 belief that he would die before long, and therefore 
 regarded the purchase of him as a mere freak of hu- 
 manity, by which he was willing enough to profit. 
 When he heard soon afterward that the doctor pro- 
 nounced him out of danger, he was greatly enraged. 
 But his suffering victim was beyond the reach of his 
 fury, which vented itself in harmless execrations. 
 
 The colored man lived many years, to enjoy the 
 liberty for which he had been willing to sacrifice his 
 life. He was a sober, honest, simple-hearted person, 
 and always conducted in a manner entirely satis- 
 factory to those who had befriended him in his hour 
 of utmost need. 
 
 THE FOREIGN SLAVE. 
 
 Early in the year of 1808, a Frenchman arrived 
 in Philadelphia from one of the West India Islands, 
 bringing with him a slave, whom he took before one 
 of the aldermen, and had him bound to serve him 
 seven years in Virginia. When the indenture was 
 executed, he committed his bondman to prison, for 
 safe-keeping, until he was ready to leave the city. 
 One of the keepers informed Isaac T. Hopper of the 
 circumstance, and told him the slave was to be car- 
 ried South the next morning. 
 
 Congress had passed an Act prohibiting the im- 
 portation of slaves, which was to begin to take effect 
 at the commencement of the year 1808. It imme- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. " 161 
 
 diately occurred to Friend Hopper that the present 
 case came within the act ; and if so, the colored 
 man was of course legally entitled to freedom. In 
 order to detain him till he could examine the law% 
 and take advice on the subject, he procured a war- 
 rant for debt and lodged it at the prison, telling the 
 keeper not to let the colored man go till he had paid 
 his demand of a hundred dollars. 
 
 When the Frenchman called for his slave next 
 morning, they refused to discharge him ; and he ob- 
 tained a writ of habeas corpus, to bring the case be- 
 fore the mayor's court. Friend Hopper w^as informed 
 that the slave was on trial, that the Recorder did not 
 think it necessary to notify him, and had made very 
 severe remarks concerning the fictitious debt assum- 
 ed for the occasion. He proceeded directly to the 
 court, which was thronged with people, who watched 
 him with lively curiosity, and made a lane for him to 
 pass through. Mahlon Dickinson, the Recorder, was 
 in the act of giving his decision on the case, and he 
 closed his remarks by saying, "The conduct of Mr. 
 Hopper has been highly reprehensible. The man is 
 not his debtor ; and the pretence that he was so 
 could have been made for no other reason but to 
 cause unnecessary delay, vexation, and expense." 
 The lawyers smiled at each other, and seemed not a 
 little pleased at hearing him so roughly rebuked ; for 
 manv of them had been more or less annoved bv his 
 
162 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 skill and ready wit in tangling their skein, in cases 
 where questions of freedom were involved. Friend 
 Hopper stood before the Recorder, looking him 
 steadfastly in the face, while he was making animad- 
 versions on his conduct ; and w^hen he had finished, 
 he respectfully asked leave to address the court for 
 a few minutes, 
 
 "Well, Mr. Hopper," said the Recorder, "what 
 have you to say in justification of your very extra- 
 ordinary proceedings ?" 
 
 He replied, "It is true the man is not my debtor, 
 but the court has greatly erred in supposing that the 
 step I have taken was merely intended to produce 
 unnecessary delay and expense. The Recorder will 
 doubtless recollect that Congress has passed an act 
 prohibiting the introduction of foreign slaves into 
 this country. It is my belief that the case now be- 
 fore the court is embraced within the provisions of 
 that act. But I needed time to ascertain the point ; 
 and 1 assumed that the man was my debtor merely 
 to detain him until the Act of Congress could be 
 examined." 
 
 Jared Ingersoll, an old and highly respectable law- 
 yer, rose to say, "May it please your honors, I be- 
 lieve Mr. Hopper is correct in his opinion. A Na- 
 tional Intelligencer containing the Act of Congress 
 is at my office, and I will send for it if you wish." 
 The paper was soon brought, and Friend Hopper 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOFPER. 163 
 
 read aloud the section which Mr. Ingersoll pointed 
 out ; placing strong emphasis on such portions as 
 bore upon the case then pending. When he had 
 concluded, he observed, ''I presume the court must 
 now be convinced that the censures so liberally be- 
 stowed on my conduct are altogether unmerited." 
 
 The counsel for the claimant said a newspaper 
 was not legal evidence of the existence of a law. 
 Friend Hopper replied, " The court is well aware 
 that I am no lawyer. But I have heard lawyers 
 talk about prima facie evidence ; and I should sup- 
 pose the National Intelligencer amounted at least to 
 that sort of evidence, for it is the acknowledged or- 
 gan of government, in which the laws are published 
 for the information of citizens. But if that is not 
 satisfactory, I presume the court will detain the man 
 until an authenticated copy of the law can be obtain- 
 ed." 
 
 After some discussion, the court ordered a copy of 
 the law to be procured ; but the attorney abandoned 
 the case, and the slave was set at liberty. 
 
 As soon as this decision was announced, the throng 
 of spectators, w^hite and colored, began to shout, 
 "Hurra for Mr. Hopper!" The populace were so 
 accustomed to see him come off victorious from such 
 contests, that they began to consider his judgment 
 infallible. 
 
 Many years afterward, when Friend Hopper met 
 
164 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 Mahlon Dickinson on board a steam-boat, he inquired 
 whether he recollected the scoldini^: he ffave him on 
 a certain occasion. He replied pleasantly, "Indeed 
 I do. I thought I had you that time, and I intended 
 to give it to you ; but you slipped through my fin- 
 gers, as usual." 
 
 THE NEW-JERSEY SLAVE. 
 
 In the year 1809, a gentleman from East New- 
 Jersey visited Philadelphia, and brought a young slave 
 to wait upon him. When they had been in that city 
 four or five months, the lad called upon Isaac T. 
 Hopper to inquire whether his residence in Philadel- 
 phia had made him free. He was informed that he 
 would not have a legal claim to freedom till he had 
 been there six months. Just as the term expired, 
 somebody told the master that the laws of Pennsyl- 
 vania conferred freedom on slaves under such cir- 
 cumstances. He had been ignorant of the fact, or 
 had forgotten it, and as soon as he received the in- 
 formation he became alarmed lest he should lose his 
 locomotive property. He sent for a constable, who 
 came to his door with a carriage. The lad had just 
 come up from the cellar with an armful of wood. 
 When he entered the parlor, the constable ordered 
 him to put it down and go with him. He threw the 
 wood directly at the legs of the officer, and ran down 
 cellar full speed, slamming the door after him. As 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOFPER. 165 
 
 soon as the constable could recover from the blow 
 he had received, he followed the lad mto the cellar ; 
 but he had escaped by another door, and gone to 
 Isaac T. Hopper. 
 
 It w-as snowing fast, and when he arrived there in 
 his shirt sleeves, his black wool plentifully powdered 
 with snow, he was a laughable object to look upon. 
 But his countenance showed that he was too tho- 
 roughly frightened and distressed to be a subject of 
 mirth to any compassionate heart. Friend Hopper 
 tried to comfort him by promising that he would pro- 
 tect him, and assuring him that he was now legally 
 free. His agitation subsided in a short time, and he 
 began to laugh heartily to think how he had upset 
 the constable. The master soon came to Friend 
 Hopper's house, described the lad's dress and appear- 
 ance, and inquired whether he had seen him. He 
 admitted that he had, but declined telling where he 
 was. The master made some severe remarks about 
 the meanness of tampering with gentlemen's ser- 
 vants, and went away. In about half an hour he re- 
 turned with the constable and said Alderman Kepler 
 desired his respects to Isaac T. Hopper, and wished 
 to see him at his office. He replied, "I think it 
 likely that Alderman Kepler has not much more re- 
 spect for me than I have for him. If he has more 
 business with me than I have with him, I am at 
 home, and can be spoken with." 
 
166 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 The master went away, l)ut soon returned with 
 two constables and a lawyer, who was very clamor- 
 ous in his threats of what would be the consequences 
 if the slave was not at once surrendered to the gen- 
 tleman. One of the officers said he had a warrant 
 to search the house. "Very well," replied Frijnd 
 Hopper, "execute it." 
 
 " I have great respect for you," rejoined the offi- 
 cer. "I should be sorry to search your house by 
 virtue of the warrant. I hope you will consent to 
 my doing so without." 
 
 "There is no need of delicacy on this occasion," 
 replied Friend Hopper. "Thou hadst better pro- 
 ceed to the extent of thy authority." 
 
 "You give your consent, do you?" inquired the 
 officer. 
 
 He answered, "No, I do not. If thou hast a war- 
 rant, of course my consent is not necessary. Pro- 
 ceed to the full extent of thy authority. But if thou 
 goest one inch beyond, thou wilt have reason to re- 
 pent of it." 
 
 The party left the house utterly discomfited. He 
 afterward learned that they had applied for a search- 
 Avarrant, but could not procure one. 
 
 The first step in the process of securing the lad's 
 freedom was to obtain proof that he had been in 
 Philadelphia six monllis. The landlord of the hotel 
 wiiere the master lodged, refused to say anything on 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 1G7 
 
 the subject, being unwilling to offend his lodger. 
 But the servants were under no such prudential re- 
 straint ; and from them Friend Hopper obtained tes^ 
 timony sufficient for his purpose. He then wrote a 
 note to the alderman that he would be at his office 
 with the lad at nine o'clock next morning, and re- 
 uesting him to inform the claimant. In the mean 
 time, he procured a writ of habeas corpus, to have it 
 in readiness in case circumstances required it. The 
 claimant made his appearance at the appointed hour, 
 and stated how he had come to Philadelphia on a 
 visit, and brought a slave to attend upon him. He 
 descanted quite largely upon the courtesy due from 
 citizens of one state to those of another state. 
 
 Friend Hopper was about to reply, when the 
 magistrate interrupted him by saying, "I shall not 
 interfere with the citizens of other states. I shall 
 surrender the boy to his master. If he thinks he has 
 a legal claim to his freedom, let him prosecute it in 
 New-Jersey." 
 
 Friend Hopper said nothing, but gave a signal to 
 have the writ served. The magistrate w^as highly 
 offended, and asked in an angry tone, "What was 
 your object in procuring a writ of habeas corpus?''^ 
 
 Friend Hopper replied, "From my knowledge of 
 thee, I anticipated ihe result that has just occurred ; 
 and I determined to remove the case to a tribunal 
 
16S LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 where I hcid confidence that justice would be done 
 in the premises." 
 
 The Court of Common Pleas was then in session. 
 The case was brought before it the next day, and 
 after the examination of two or three witnesses, the 
 lad was declared free. 
 
 A SLAVE HUNTER DEFEATED. 
 
 In 1810, a slave escape-d from Virginia to Phila- 
 delphia. In a few" months, his master heard where 
 he was, and caused him to be arrested. He was a 
 fine looking young man, apparently about thirty 
 years old. When he was brought before Alderman 
 Shoemaker, that magistrate's sympathy was so much 
 excited, that he refused to try the case unless some 
 one was present to defend the slave. Isaac T. Hop- 
 per was accordingly sent for. When he had heard 
 a statement of the case, he asked the agent of the 
 slaveholder to let him examine the Power of Attor- 
 ney by which he had been authorized to arrest a 
 "fugitive from labor," and carry him to Virginia. 
 The agent denied his right to interfere, but Alder- 
 man Shoemaker informed him that Mr. Hopper was 
 a member of the Emancipation Society, and had a 
 right to be satisfied. 
 
 The Power of Attorney was correctly drawn, and 
 had been acknowledged in Washington, before Bush- 
 rod Washington, one of the judges of the Supreme 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 169 
 
 Court of the United States. Friend Hopper's keen 
 eye could detect no available flaw in it. When the 
 agent had been sworn to answer truly all questions 
 relating to the case, he inquired whether the fugitive 
 he was in search of had been advertised; if so, he 
 wished to see the advertisement. It was handed to 
 him, and he instantly noticed that it was headed 
 "Sixty Dollars Reward." 
 
 "Art thou to receive sixty dollars for apprehend- 
 ing the man mentioned in this advertisement?" said 
 
 o 
 
 he. 
 
 The agent replied, " I am to receive that sum pro- 
 vided I take him home to Virginia." 
 
 "How canst thou prove that the man thou hast 
 arrested is the one here advertised ? " inquired he. 
 
 The agent answered that he could swear to the 
 fact. 
 
 "That may be," rejoined Friend Hopper; "but in 
 Philadelphia we do not allow any person, especially 
 a stranger, to swear sixty dollars into his own 
 pocket. Unless there is better evidence than thy 
 oath, the man must be set at liberty." 
 
 The agent became extremely irritated, and said 
 indignantly, "Do you think I w^ould swear to a 
 lie?" 
 
 "Thou art a stranger to me," replied Friend Hop- 
 per. "I don't know whether thou wouldst swear 
 
170 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 falsely or not. But there is one thing I do know, 
 and that is, I am not willing to trust thee." 
 
 The agent reiterated, '' I know the man standing 
 there as well as I know any man living. I am per- 
 fectly sure he is the slave described in the adver- 
 tisement. I was overseer for the gentleman who 
 owns him. If you examine his back, you will find 
 scars of the whip." 
 
 "And perhaps thou art the man who made the 
 scars, if he has any," rejoined the Friend, 
 
 Without replying to this suggestion, the slave- 
 hunter ordered the colored man to strip, that his 
 back might be examined by the court. Friend 
 Hopper objected to such a proceeding. "Thou hast 
 produced no evidence that the man thou hast arrested 
 is a slave," said he. "Thou and he are on the same 
 footing before this court. We have as good a right 
 to examine thy back, as we have to examine his." 
 He added, with a very significant tone, "In some 
 places, they whip for kidnapping." 
 
 This remark put the slave-hunter in a violent 
 rage. The magistrate decided that his evidence 
 was not admissible, on the ground that he was in- 
 terested. He then proposed to summon two wit- 
 nesses from a Virginian vessel lying at one of the 
 wharves. 
 
 "Of course thou art at liberty to go for witnesses," 
 replied Friend Hopper. "But I appeal to the ma- 
 
r 
 
 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 171 
 
 gistrate to discharge this man. Under present cir- 
 cumstances, he ous^ht not to be detained a sins^le 
 moment." The alderman needed no urging on that 
 point. He very promptly discharged the prisoner. 
 As soon as he loft the office, the slave-hunter siezed 
 hold of him, and swore he would keep him till wit- 
 nesses were brought. But Friend Hopper walked 
 up to him, and said in his resolute way, "Let go thy 
 hold ! or I will take such measures as will make 
 thee repent of thy rashness. How darest thou lay a 
 finger upon the man after the magistrate has dis- 
 charged him ?" 
 
 Thus admonished, he reluctlantly relinquished his 
 grasp, and went off swearing vengeance against "the 
 meddlesome Quaker." 
 
 Friend Hopper hastened home with the colored 
 man, and wrote a brief letter to his friend William 
 Reeve, in New- Jersey, concluding wdth these w^ords : 
 "Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done 
 it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done 
 it unto me." This letter was given to the fugitive 
 w^ith directions how to proceed. His friend accom- 
 panied him to the ferry, saw him safely across the 
 river, and then returned home. 
 
 In an hour or two the slave-hunter came to the 
 house, accompanied by a constable and two wit- 
 nesses from Virginia. "The slave I arrested was 
 
172 T.IFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 seen to come here," said he. "Where is he? Pro- 
 duce him." 
 
 Friend Hopper rephed very quietly, "The man 
 has been here ; but he is gone now." 
 
 This answer made the agent perfectly furious. 
 After discharging a volley of oaths, he said he had a 
 search warrant, and swore he would have the house 
 searched from garret to cellar. "Very well," re- 
 plied Friend Hopper, "thou art at liberty to proceed 
 according to law; but be careful not to overstep 
 that boundary. If thou dost, it will be at thy peril." 
 
 After the slave-hunter had vented his rage in a 
 torrent of abuse, the constable proposed to speak a 
 few words in private. With many friendly profes- 
 sions, he acknowledged that they had no search- 
 warrant. "The gentleman was about to obtain one 
 from the mayor," said he; "but I wished to save 
 your feelings. I told him you were well acquainted 
 with me, and I had no doubt you would permit 
 me to search your house without any legal pro- 
 cess." 
 
 Friend Hopper listened patiently, perfectly well 
 aware that the whole statement was a sham. When 
 the constable paused for a reply, he opened the door, 
 and said very concisely, "Thou art at liberty to go 
 about thy business." 
 
 They spent several days searching for the fugitive, 
 i)ut their efforts were nnavailiii«-. 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 173 
 
 MAEY MORRIS. 
 
 A WOMAN, who was born too early to derive benefit 
 from the gradual emancipation law of Pennsylvania, 
 escaped from bondage in Lancaster County to Phila- 
 delphia. There she married a free colored man by 
 the name of Abraham Morris. They lived together 
 very comfortably for several years, and seemed to 
 enjoy life as much as many of their more wealthy 
 neighbors. But in the year 1810, it unfortunately 
 happened that Mary's master ascertained where she 
 lived, and sent a man to arrest her, with directions 
 either to sell her, or bring her back to him. 
 
 Abraham Morris was a very intelligent, industrious 
 man, and had laid up some money. He offered one 
 hundred and fifty dollars of his earnings to purchase 
 the freedom of his wife. The sum was accepted, 
 and the parties applied to Daniel Bussier, a magis- 
 trate in the District of Southwark, to draw up a deed 
 of manumission. The money was paid, and the deed 
 given ; but the agent employed to sell the woman 
 absconded with the money. The master, after wait- 
 ing several months and not hearing from him, sent 
 to Philadelphia and caused IMary Morris to be ar- 
 rested again. She was taken to the office of Daniel 
 Bussier, and notwithstanding he had witnessed her 
 deed of manumission a few months before, he com- 
 mitted her to prison as a fugitive slave. When her 
 
174 UFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 husband c&Hed upon Isaac T. Hopper and related ali 
 the circumstances, he thought there must be some 
 mistake; for he could not believe that any magis- 
 trate would be so unjust and arbitrary, as to commit 
 a woman to prison as a fugitive, when he had seen 
 the money paid for her ransom, and the deed of 
 manumission given. He went to Mr. Bussier imme- 
 diately, and very civilly told him that he had called 
 to make inquiry concerning a colored woman com- 
 mitted to prison as a fugitive slave on the evening 
 previous. 
 
 "Go out of my office !" said the undignified magis- 
 trate. "I want nothing to do with you." 
 
 He replied, "I come here as the friend and advi- 
 ser of the woman's husband. My request is rea- 
 sonable, and I trust thou wilt not refuse it." 
 
 In answer to this appeal, Mr. Bussier merely re- 
 peated, " Go out of my office !" 
 
 PViend Hopper offered hmi half a dollar, saying, 
 "I want an extract from thy docket. Here is the 
 lawful fee." 
 
 All ttiis time, Mr. Bussier had been under the 
 hands of a barber, who was cutting his hair. He 
 became extremely irritated, and said, " If you won't 
 leave this office, I will put you out, as soon as I have 
 taken the seat of justice." 
 
 "I wish thou wouldst take the seat of ju.stice," 
 leplied Friend Hopper; "far then I should obtain 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 175 
 
 what I want ; but if thou dost, I apprehend it will be 
 for the first time." 
 
 Mr. Bussier sprang hastily from his chair, and 
 'seated himself at the magisterial desk, which was 
 raised about a foot from the floor, and surrounded by 
 a railing. Conceiving himself now armed with the 
 thunders of the law, he called out, in tones of autho- 
 rity, "Mr. Hopper, I command you to quit this of- 
 fice !" 
 
 The impassive Quaker stood perfectly still, and 
 pointing to Abraham Morris, he again tendered the 
 half dollar, saying, "I want an extract from thy 
 docket, in the case of this man's wife. Here is the 
 lawful fee for it. Please gi^-e it to me." 
 
 This quiet perseverance deprived the excited magis- 
 trate of what little patience he had left. He took 
 the importunate petitioner by the shoulders, pushed 
 him into the street, and shut the door. 
 
 Friend Hopper then applied to Jacob Rush, Presi- 
 dent of the Court of Common Pleas for a writ of ha- 
 beas corpus. The woman was brought before him, 
 and when he had heard the particulars of the case, 
 and examined her deed of manumission, he immedi- 
 ately discharged her, to the great jo)^ oi herself and 
 husband. 
 
 Friend Hopper thought it might be a useful lesson 
 for Mr. Bussier to learn that his "little Drief authori- 
 ty" had boundaries which could not be passed with 
 
176 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 impunity. He accordingly had him indicted for as 
 sault and battery. He and his political friends were 
 a good deal ashamed of his conduct, and finally, af- 
 ter many delays in bringing on the trial, and various 
 attempts to hush up the matter, Mr. Bussier called 
 upon Friend Hopper to say that he deeply regretted 
 the course he had pursued. His apology was readily 
 accepted, and the case dismissed ; he agreeing to 
 pay the costs. 
 
 THE SLAVE MOTHER. 
 
 Cassy was slave to a merchant in Baltimore, by 
 the name of Claggett. She had reason to believe 
 that her master was about to sell her to a speculator, 
 who w^as making up a coffle for the markets of the 
 far South. The terror felt in view of such a pros- 
 pect can be understood by slaves only. She resolved 
 to escape ; and watching a favorable opportunity, she 
 succeeded in reaching the neighborhood of Haddon- 
 field, New-Jersey. There she obtained service in a 
 very respectable family. She was honest, steady, 
 and industrious, and made many friends by her 
 cheerful, obliging manners. But her heart was never 
 at rest ; for she had left in Baltimore a babe little 
 more than a year old. She had not belonged to an 
 unusually severe master; but she had experienced 
 quite enough of the sufferings of slavery to dread it 
 for her child. Her thoughts dwelt so much on this 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 177 
 
 painful subject, that her naturally cheerful character 
 became extremely saddened. She at last determined 
 to make a bold effort to save her little one from the 
 liability of being sold, like a calf or pig in the sham- 
 ])les. She went to see Isaac T. Hopper and com- 
 mimicated to him her plan. He tried to dissuade 
 her ; for he considered the project extremely danger 
 ous, and well nigh hopeless. But the mother's heart 
 yearned for her babe, and the incessant longing 
 stimulated her courage to incur all hazards. To 
 Baltimore she went ; her pulses throbbing hard and 
 fast, with the double excitement of hope and fear. 
 She arrived safely, and went directly to the house of 
 a colored family, old friends of hers, in whom she 
 could confide with perfect safety. To her great joy, 
 she found that they approved her plan, and were 
 ready to assist her. Arrangements were soon made 
 to convey the child to a place about twenty miles 
 from Baltimore, vrhere it would be well taken care 
 of, till the mother could find a safe opportunity to 
 remove it to New-Jersey. 
 
 Before she had time to take all the steps necessa- 
 ry to insure success in this undertaking, her master 
 was informed of her being in the city, and sent con- 
 stables in pursuit of her. Luckily, her friends were 
 apprized of this in season to give her warning; and 
 her own courage and ingenuity proved adequate to 
 the emergency. She disguised herself in sailor's 
 8* 
 
178 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 clothes, and walked boldly to the Philadelphia boat. 
 There she walked up and down the deck, with her 
 arms folded, smoking a cigar, and occasionally pass- 
 ing and repassing the constables who had been sent 
 on board in search of her. These men, having 
 watched till the last moment for the arrival of a co- 
 lored woman answering to her description, took their 
 departure. The boat started, and brought the courax 
 geous mother safely to Philadelphia, where Friend 
 Hopper and others rejoiced over the history of her 
 hair-breadth escape. 
 
 A few weeks after, she went to the place where 
 her child had been left, and succeeded in bringing it 
 safely away. For a short time, her happiness seem- 
 ed to be complete ; but when the first flush of joy 
 and thankfulness had subsided, she began to be 
 harassed with continual fears lest she and her child 
 should be arrested in some evil hour, and carried 
 back into slavery. By unremitting industry, and 
 very strict economy, she strove to lay by money 
 enough to purchase their freedom. She had made 
 friends l)y her good conduct and obliging ways, while 
 her maternal affection and enterprising character ex- 
 cited a good deal of interest among those acquainted 
 with herliistory. Donations were occasionally added 
 to her earnings, and a sum was soon raised sufficient 
 to accomplish her favorite project. Isaac T. Hop- 
 per (Altered into negotiation with her master, and sue- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 179 
 
 ceeded in obtaining manumission for her and her 
 child. 
 
 COLONEL RIDGELEY'S SLAVE. 
 
 A slave escaped from Colonel Ridgeley, who resid- 
 ed in the southern part of Virginia. He went to 
 Philadelphia, and remained there undiscovered for 
 several years. But he was never quite free from 
 anxiety, lest in some unhicky hour, he should be ar- 
 rested and carried back lo bondage. When he had 
 laid up some money, he called upon Isaac T. Hop- 
 per to assist him in buying the free use of his own 
 hmbs. A negotiation was opened with Col. Ridge- 
 ley, who agreed to take two hundred dollars for the 
 fugitive, and appointed a time to come to Philadel- 
 phia to arrange the business. But instead of keep- 
 ing his agreement honorably, he went to that city 
 several weeks before the specified time, watched for 
 his bondman, seized him, and conveyed him to 
 Friend Hopper's office. When the promised two 
 hundred dollars were offered, he refused to accept 
 them. 
 
 "Why, that is the sum thou hast agreed upon," 
 said Friend Hopper. 
 
 "I know that," replied the Colonel ; "but I won't 
 take it now. He was the best servant I ever had. 
 I can sell him for one thousand dollars in Virginia. 
 
ISO LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 L'nder present circumstances, I will take five hun 
 dred dollars for him, and not one cent less." 
 
 After considerable discussion, Friend Hopper urged 
 hmi to allow his bondman until ten o'clock next 
 morning, to see what could be done among his 
 friends ; and he himself gave a written obligation 
 that the man should be delivered up to him at that 
 hour, in case he could not procure five hundred dol- 
 lars to purchase his freedom. 
 
 When the master was gone. Friend Hopper said 
 to the alarmed fugitive, "There now remains but 
 one way for thee to obtain thy freedom. As torais- 
 ii?g five hundred dollars, that is out of the question. 
 But if thou wilt be prompt and resolute, and do pre- 
 cisely as I tell thee. I think thou canst get oflf safe- 
 ly." " 
 
 "I will do anything for freedom," replied the 
 bondman ; "for 1 have made up my mind, come what 
 may, that I never will go back into slavery." 
 
 "Very well then," rejoined his friend. "Don't get 
 frightened wiien the right moment .comes to act ; but 
 keep thy wits about thee, and do as I tell thee. Thy 
 master will come here to-morrow at ten o'clock, ac 
 cording to appointment. I must deliver thee up to 
 him, and receive back the obligation for one thou 
 sand dollars, which I have given him. Do thou 
 stand with thy back against the door, which opens 
 from this room into the parlor. When he has re- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 181 
 
 tamed the paper to me, open the door quickly, lock 
 it on the mside, and run through the parlor into the 
 back-yard. There is a wall there eight feet high, 
 with spikes at the top. Thou wilt find a clothes- 
 horse leaning against it, to help thee up. When 
 thou hast mounted, kick the clothes-horse down be- 
 hind thee, drop on the other side of the wall, and be 
 off." The premises were then shown to him, and he 
 received minute directions through what alleys and 
 streets he had better pass, and at what house he 
 could find a temporary refuge. 
 
 Col. Ridgeley came the next morning, at the ap- 
 pointed hour, and brought a friend to stand sentinel 
 at the street door, lest the slave should attempt to 
 rush out. It did not occur to him that there was 
 any danger of his runnmg in. 
 
 *' We have not been able to raise the five hundred 
 dollars," said Friend Hopper ; " and here is thy man, 
 according to agreement." . 
 
 The Colonel gave back his obligation for one 
 thousand dollars ; and the instant it left his hand, 
 the fugitive passed into the parlor. The master 
 sprang over the counter after him, but found the 
 door locked. Before he could get to the back yard 
 by another door, the wall was scaled, the clothes- 
 horse thrown down, and the fugitive was beyond his 
 reach. Of course, he returned very much disap- 
 pointed and enraged ; declaring his firm belief that a 
 
182 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 trick had been played upon him purposely. After 
 he had given vent to his anger some little time, 
 Friend Hopper asked for a private interview with 
 him. When they were alone together in the parlor, 
 he said, " I admit this was an intentional trick ; but 
 I had w^hat seemed to me trood reasons for resortino- 
 to it. In the first place, thou didst not keep the 
 agreement made with me, but sought to gain an un- 
 fair advantage. In the next place, I knew that man 
 w^as thy own son ; and I think any person who is so 
 unfeeling as to make traffic of his own flesh and 
 blood, deserves to be tricked out of the chance to do 
 it." 
 
 "What if he is my son?" rejoined the Virginian. 
 " I've as good a right to sell my own flesh and blood 
 as that of any other person. If I choose to do it, it 
 is none of your business." He opened the dooi, and 
 beckoning to his friend, who was in waiting, he said, 
 *' Plopper admits this was all a trick to set the slave 
 free." Then turning to Friend Hopper, he added, 
 ** You admit it was a trick, don't you ?" 
 
 "Thou and I will talk that matter over by our- 
 selves," he replied. "The presence of a third person 
 is not always convenient." 
 
 The Colonel went off in a violent passion, and 
 forgetting that he was not in Virginia, he rushed into 
 the houses of several colored people, knocked them 
 about, overturned their beds, and broke their furni- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 183 
 
 ture, in search of the fugitive. Being unable to ob- 
 tain any information concerning him, he cooled down 
 considerably, and went to inform Friend Hopper thai 
 he would give a deed of manumission for two hun- 
 dred dollars ; but his offer was rejected. 
 
 "Why that was your own proposal!" vociferated 
 the Colonel. 
 
 "Very true," he replied ; "and I offered thee the> 
 money ; but thou refused to take it." 
 
 After storming awhile, the master went off to ob- 
 tain legal advice from the Hon. John Sergeant. 
 Meanwhile, several of the colored people had entered 
 a complaint against him for personal abuse, and dam- 
 age done to their furniture. He was obliged to give 
 bonds for his appearance at the next court, to answer 
 their accusations. This was a grievous humihation 
 for a proud Virginian, who had been educated to 
 think that colored people had no civil rights. In 
 this unpleasant dilemma, his lawyer advised him to 
 give a deed of manumission for one hundred and fifty 
 dollars ; promising to exert his influence to have the 
 mortifying suits w^ithdrawn. 
 
 The proposed terms were accepted, and the money 
 promptly paid by the slave from his own earnings. 
 But when Mr. Sergeant proposed that the suits for 
 assault and battery should be withdrawn, Friend 
 Hopper replied, "I have no authority to dismiss 
 them." 
 
184 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 ''They will be dismissed if you advise it," rejoined 
 the lawyer; "and if you will promise to do it, I 
 shall be perfectly satisfied." 
 
 *' These colored people have been very badly treat- 
 ed," answered Friend Hopper. "If the aggressor 
 wants to settle the affair, he had better go to them 
 and offer some equivolent for the trouble he has 
 given." 
 
 The lawyer replied, "When he agreed to manu- 
 mit the man for one hundred and fifty dollars, he ex- 
 pected these suits would be dismissed, of course, as 
 a part of the bargain. What sum do you think these 
 people will take to withdraw^ them ?" 
 
 Friend Hopper said he thought they would do it 
 for one hundred and fifty dollars. 
 
 "I will pay it," rephed Mr. Sergeant ; "for Colonel 
 Ridgeley is very anxious to return home." 
 
 Thus the money paid for the deed of manumission 
 was returned. Forty dollars w^ere distributed among 
 the colored people, to repay the damage done to 
 their property. After some trifling incidental expen- 
 ses had been deducted, the remainder was returned 
 to the emancipated slave ; who thus obtained his 
 freedom for about fifty dollars, instead of the sum 
 originally offered. 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 185 
 
 STOP THIEF! 
 
 About the year 1826, a Marylander, by the name 
 of Solomon Low, arrested a fugitive slave in Phila- 
 delphia, and took him to the office of an alderman to 
 obtain the necessary authority for carrying him back 
 into bondage. Finding the magistrate gone to din- 
 ner, they placed the colored man in the entry, while 
 Mr. Low and his companions guarded the door. 
 Some of the colored people soon informed Isaac T. 
 Hopper of these circumstances, and he hastened to 
 the office. Observing the state of things there, he 
 concluded it w^ould be no difficult matter to give the 
 colored man a chance to escape. He stepped up to 
 the men at the door, and demanded in a peremptory 
 manner by what authority they were holding that 
 man in duress. Mr. Low replied, "He is my slave." 
 
 " This is strange conduct," rejoined Friend Hop- 
 per. "Who can tell whether he is thy slave or not ? 
 What proof is there that you are not a band of kid- 
 nappers ? Dost thou suppose the laws of Pennsyl- 
 vania tolerate such proceedings ?" 
 
 These charges arrested the attention of Mr. Low 
 and his companions, who turned round to answer the 
 speaker. The slave, seeing their backs toward him 
 for an instant, seized that opportunity to rush out ; 
 and he had run two or three rods before they missed 
 him. Thev immediately raised the cry of "Stop 
 
1B6 LIFE OF ISAAC T HOPPER. 
 
 Thief! Stop Thief!" An Irishman, who joined in 
 the pursuit, arrested the fugitive and brought him 
 back to his master. 
 
 Friend Hopper remonstrated with him ; saymg, 
 "The man is not a thief. They claim him for a 
 slave, and he was running for liberty. How wouldst 
 thou like to be made a slave ?'' 
 
 The kind-hearted Hibernian replied, "Then they 
 lied ; for they said he was a thief. If he is a slave, 
 I'm sorry I stopped him. However, I will put him 
 in as good a condition as I found him." So saying, 
 he went near the man who had the fugitive in custo- 
 dy, and seized him by the collar with a sudden jerk, 
 that threw him on the pavem.ent. The slave instant- 
 ly started, and ran at his utmost speed, again follow- 
 ed by the cry of "Stop Thief!" Having run some 
 distance, and being nearly out of breath, he darted 
 into the shop of a watch-maker, named Samuel Ma- 
 son, who immediately closed and fastened his door, 
 so that the crowd could not follow him. The fugi- 
 tive passed out of the back door, and was never af- 
 terward recaptured. 
 
 The disappointed master brought an action against 
 Samuel Mason for rescuing his slave. Charles J. 
 Ingersoll and his brother Joseph, two accomplished 
 lawyers of Philadelphia, conducted the trial for him, 
 with zeal and ingenuity worthy of a better cause. 
 Isaac T. Hopper was summoned as a witness, and in 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 187 
 
 the course of examination he was asked what course 
 members of the Society of Friends adopted when a 
 fugitive slave came to them. He rephed, "I am not 
 wilhng to answer for any one but myself." 
 
 "Well," said Mr. Ingersoll, "what would you do 
 m such a case ? Would you deliver him to his mas- 
 ter?" 
 
 " Indeed I would not !" answered the Friend 
 " My conscience would not permit me to do it. It 
 would be a great crime ; because it would be diso- 
 bedience to my own dearest convictions of right. I 
 should never expect to enjoy an hour of peace after- 
 w^ard. I would do for a fugitive slave whatever I 
 should like to have done for myself, under similar 
 circumstances. If he asked my protection, I would 
 extend it to him to the utmost of my power. If he 
 was hungry, I w^ould feed him. If he was naked, I 
 would clothe him. If he needed advice, I would 
 give such as I thought would be most beneficial to 
 him." 
 
 The cause was tried before Judge Bushrod W^ash- 
 ington, nephew of General Washington. Though a 
 slaveholder himself, he manifested no partiaUty dur- 
 ing the trial, which continued several days, with able 
 arguments on both sides. The counsel for the claim- 
 ant maintained that Samuel Mason prevented the 
 master from regaining his slave, by shutting his door, 
 and refusing to open it. The counsel for the defen- 
 
188 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 dant replied that there was much valuable and brit- 
 tle property in the watchmaker's shop, which would 
 have been hable to robbery and destruction, if a pro- 
 miscuous mob had been allowed to rush in. Judge 
 Washington summed up the evidence very clearly 
 to the jury, who after retiring for deliberation a 
 considerable time, returned into court, declaring that 
 they could not agree upon a verdict, and probably 
 never should agree. They were ordered out again, 
 and kept together till the court adjourned, when 
 they were dismissed. 
 
 At the succeeding term, the case was tried again, 
 with renewed energy and zeal. But the jury, after 
 being kept together ten days, were discharged with- 
 out being able to agree upon a verdict. Some, who 
 were originally in favor of the defendant, became 
 w^eary of their long confinement, and consented to 
 go over to the slaveholder's side ; but one of them, 
 named Benjamin Thaw, declared that he would eat 
 his Christmas dinner in the jury-room, before he 
 would consent to such a flagrant act of injustice. 
 
 His patience held out till the court adjourned. 
 Consequently a third trial became necessary ; and 
 the third jury brought in a verdict in favor of the 
 watchmaker. 
 
 The expenses of these suits were estimated at 
 seventeen hundred dollars. Solomon Low^ was in 
 limited circumstances ; and this expenditure in prose- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 189 
 
 cutirig an innocent man was said to have caused his 
 failure soon after. 
 
 THE DISGUISED SLAVEHOLDER. 
 
 A colored woman and her son were slaves to a 
 man in East-Jersey. She had two sons in Philadel 
 phia, who had been free several years, and her pre 
 sent master was unacquainted with them. In 1827, 
 she and her younger son escaped, and went to hve 
 in Philadelphia. Her owner, knowing she had free 
 sons in that city, concluded as a matter of course 
 that she had sought their protection. A few weeks 
 after her flight, he followed her, and having assumed 
 Quaker costume, went to the house of one of her 
 sons. He expressed great interest for the woman, 
 and said he wished to obtain an interview with her 
 for her benefit. His friendly garb and kind language 
 completely deceived her son, and he told him that 
 his mother was then staying at his brother's house, 
 which was not far off. Having obtained this infor- 
 mation, the slaveholder procured a constable and im- 
 mediately went to the place described. Fortunately, 
 the son was at home, and it being warm weather he 
 sat near the open door. The mother was seated at 
 a chamber window, and saw a constable approaching 
 the house, with a gentleman in Quaker costume, 
 whom she at once recognized as her master. She 
 gave the alarm to her son, who instantly shut the 
 
190 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 door and fastened it. The master, being refused ad- 
 mittance, placed a guard there, while he went to pro- 
 cure a search-warrant. These proceedings attracted 
 the attention of colored neighbors, and a crowd soon 
 gathered about the house. They seized the man 
 who guarded the door, and held him fast, while the 
 woman and her fugitive son rushed out. It was 
 dusk, and the uncertain light favored their escape. 
 They ran about a mile, and took refuge with a co- 
 lored family in Locust-street. The watchman soon 
 got released from the colored people w^ho held him, 
 and succeeded in tracing the woman to her new re- 
 treat, W'here he again mounted guard. The master 
 returned meanwhile, and having learned the circum- 
 stances, went to the magistrate to obtain another 
 warrant to search the house in Locu^st-street. 
 
 At this stage of the affair. Friend Hopper was 
 summoned, and immediately went to the rescue, ac- 
 companied by one of his sons, about sixteen years 
 old. He found the woman and her son stowed away 
 in a closet, exceedingly terrified. He assured them 
 they would be quite as safe on the mantel-piece, as 
 they would be in that closet ; that their being found 
 concealed would be regarded as the best evidence 
 that they were the persons sought for. Knowing it 
 was dangerous for them to remain in that house, he 
 told them of a plan he had formed, on the spur of 
 the moment. After giving them careful instructions 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 191 
 
 how to proceed, he left them and requested that the 
 street door might be opened for him. A crowd im- 
 mediately rushed in, as he had foreseen would be the 
 case. He affected to be greatly displeased, and or- 
 dered the men of the house to turn all the intruders 
 out. They obeyed him ; and among the number 
 turned out were the two fugitives. It was dark, and 
 in the confusion, the watchman on guard could not 
 distingush them among the multitude. 
 
 Friend Hopper. had hastily consigned them to his 
 son, with instructions to take them to his house ; and 
 the watchman, seeing that he himself remained about 
 the premises, took it for granted that the fugitives 
 had not escaped. 
 
 As soon as it was practicable. Friend Hopper re- 
 turned home, where he found the woman and her 
 son in a state of great agitation. He immediately 
 sent her to a place of greater safety, and gave the 
 son a letter to a farmer thirty miles up in the coun- 
 try. He went directly to the river Schuylkill, but 
 was afraid to cross the bridge, lest some person 
 should be stationed there to arrest him. He accord- 
 ingly walked along the margin of the river till he 
 found a small boat, in which he crossed the stream. 
 Following the directions he had received, he arrived 
 at the farmer's house, where he had a kindly wel- 
 come, and obtained employment. 
 
 The master being unable to recapture his slaves, 
 
192 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 called upon Isaac T. Hopper to inquire if he knew 
 anything ahout them. He coolly replied, "I believe 
 they are doing very well. From what I hear, [ 
 judge it will not be necessary to give thyself any 
 further trouble on their account." 
 
 "There is no use in trying to capture a runaway 
 slave in Philadelphia," rejoined the master. "I be- 
 lieve the devil himself could not catch them when 
 they once get here." 
 
 "That is very likely," answ^ered Friend Hopper. 
 "But I think he would have less difficulty in catch- 
 ing the masters ; being so much more familiar with 
 them." 
 
 Sixty dollars had already been expended in vain ; 
 and the slave-holder, having rehnquished all hope of 
 tracing the fugitives, finally agreed to manumit the 
 woman for fifty dollars, and her son for seventy-five 
 dollars. These sums w^ere advanced by two citizens 
 friendly to the colored people, and the emancipated 
 slaves repaid them by faithful service. 
 
 THE SLAVE OF DR. RICH. 
 
 In the autumn of 1828, Dr. Rich of Maryland 
 came to Philadelphia with his wife, who was the 
 daughter of an Episcopal clergyman in that city, by 
 the name of Willbank. She brought a slave to wait 
 upon her, intending to remain at her father's until 
 after the birth of her child, which was soon expected 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 193 
 
 to take place. When they had been there a few 
 months, the slave was informed by some colored 
 acquaintance that she was free in consequence of be- 
 ing brought to Philadelphia. She called to consult 
 with Isaac T. Hopper, and seemed very much disap- 
 pointed to hear that a residence of six months was 
 lecessary to entitle her to freedom ; that her master 
 was doubtless aware of that circumstance, and would 
 probably guard against it. 
 
 After some minutes of anxious reflection, she said, 
 " Then there is nothing left for me to do but to run 
 away ; for I am determined never to go back to Ma- 
 ryland." 
 
 Friend Hopper inquired whether she thought it 
 would be right to leave her mistress without any one 
 to attend upon her, in the situation she then was. 
 She replied that she felt no scruples on that point, 
 for her master was wealthy, and could hire as many 
 servants as he pleased. Finding her mind entirely 
 made up on the subject, he gave her such instruc- 
 tions as seemed suited to the occasion. 
 
 The next morning she was not to be found ; and 
 Dr. Rich went in search of her, with his father-in- 
 law, Mr. Wiltbank. Having frightened some igno- 
 rant colored people where she visited, by threats of 
 prosecuting them for harboring a runaway, they con- 
 fessed that she had gone from their house to Isaac 
 T. Hopper. Mr. Wiltbank accordingly waited upon 
 
104 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 him, and after relating the circumstances of the case, 
 inquired whether he had seen the fugitive. In reply, 
 he made a frank statement of the interview he had 
 with her, and of her fixed determination to obtain 
 her freedom. The clergyman reproached her with 
 ingratitude, and said she had always been treated 
 with great kindness. 
 
 ''The woman herself gives a very different ac- 
 count of her treatment," replied Friend Hopper; 
 "but be that as it may, I cannot blame her for 
 wishing to obtain her liberty." 
 
 He asked if Friend Hopper knew where she then 
 was ; and he answered that he did not. " Could you 
 find her, if you tried?" inquired he. 
 
 *'I presume I could do it very easily," rejoined the 
 Quaker. "The colored people never wish to secrete 
 themselves from me ; for they know I am their true 
 friend." 
 
 Mr. Wiltbank then said, " If you will cause her to 
 be brought to your house. Dr. Rich and myself will 
 come here at eight o'clock this evening. You will 
 then hear her ask her master's pardon, acknowledge 
 the kindness with which she has always been treated, 
 and express her readiness to go home with him." 
 
 Friend Hopper indignantly replied, "I have no 
 doubt that fear might induce her to profess all thou 
 hast said. But what trait hast thou discovered in 
 my character, that leads thee to suppose I would 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 195 
 
 be such a hypocrite as to betray the confidence this 
 poor woman has reposed m me, by placing her in 
 the power of her master, in the way thou hast pro- 
 posed ? " 
 
 Mr. Wiltbank then requested that a message 
 might be conveyed to the w^oman, exhorting her 
 to return, and promising that no notice whatever 
 would be taken of her offence. 
 
 *' She shall be informed of thy message, if that 
 wdll be any satisfaction to thee," replied Friend 
 Hopper; "but I am pe-rfectly sure she will never 
 voluntarily return into slavery." 
 
 Dr. Rich and Mr. Wiltbank called in the evening, 
 and were told the message had been delivered to 
 the woman, but she refused to return. " She is in 
 your house now," exclaimed Dr. Rich. "I can 
 prove it ; and if you don't let me see her, I will 
 commence a suit against you to-morrow, for har- 
 boring my slave." 
 
 " I believe Solomon Low resides in thy neighbor- 
 hood," said Friend Hopper. "Art thou acquainted 
 with him ? " 
 
 Being answered in the affirmative, he said, " Solo- 
 mon Low brought three such suits as thou hast 
 threatened. They cost him seventeen hundred dol- 
 lars, w^hich I heard he was unable to pay. But 
 perhaps thou hast seventeen hundred dollars to 
 spare ? " 
 
196 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 Dr. Rich answered that he could well afford to 
 lose that snm. 
 
 "Very well," rejoined his opponent. "There are 
 lawyers enough who need it, and still more who 
 would be glad to have it." 
 
 Finding it alike impossible to coax or intimidate 
 the resolute Quaker, they withdrew. About eleven 
 o'clock at night, some of the family informed Friend 
 Hopper that there was a man continually walking 
 back and forth in front of the house. He went out 
 and accosted him thus : " Friend, art thou watching 
 my house?" When the stranger replied that he 
 was, he said, " It is very kind in thee ; but I really 
 do not think there is any occasion for thy services. 
 I am quite satisfied with the watchmen employed by 
 the pubhc." 
 
 The man answered gruffly, "I have taken my. 
 stand, and I intend to keep it." 
 
 Friend Hopper told him he had no objection ; and 
 he was about to re-enter the house, when he ob- 
 served Dr. Rich, who was so wrapped up in a large 
 cloak, that at first he did not recognize him. He 
 exclaimed, "Why doctor, art thou here ! Is it pos- 
 sible thou art parading the streets so late in th 
 night, at this cold season of the year? Now, from 
 motives of kindness, I do assure thee thy slave is not 
 in my house. To save thee from exposing thy health 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 197 
 
 by watching at this inclement season, I will give thee 
 leave to search the house." 
 
 The doctor replied, "I shall obtain a warrant in 
 the morning, and search it with the proper officer." 
 
 "There appear to be several on the watch," said 
 Friend Hopper ; "and it surely is not necessary for all 
 of them to be out in the cold at the same time. If 
 thou wilt be responsible that nothing shall be stolen, 
 thou art welcome to use my parlor as a watch- 
 house." This offer was declined with freezing civili- 
 ty, and Friend Hopper returned to his dwelling. 
 Passing through the kitchen, he observed two co- 
 lored domestics talking together in an under tone, 
 apparently planning something which made them 
 very merry. Judging from some words he over- 
 heard, that they had a mischievous scheme on 
 foot, he resolved to watch their movements without 
 lettins^ them know that he noticed them. One of 
 them put on an old cloak and bonnet, opened the 
 front door cautiously, looked up the street and down 
 the street, but saw nobody. The watchers had seen 
 the dark face the moment it peeped out, and they 
 were lying in ambush to observe her closely. After 
 a minute of apparent hesitation, she rushed into the 
 street and ran with all speed. They joined in hot 
 pursuit, and soon overtook her. She pretended to 
 be greatly alarmed, and called aloud for a watch- 
 man. The offenders were arrested and brought back 
 
198 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 to the house with the gh'l. Friend Hopper explained 
 that these men had heen watching his house, suppos- 
 ing a fugitive skive to be secreted there ; and that 
 they had mistaken one of his domestics for the per- 
 son they were in search of. After laughing a little 
 at the joke practised upon them, he proposed that 
 they should be set at liberty ; and they were accord- 
 ingly released. 
 
 The next morning, a soon as it was light, he in- 
 vited the watchers to come in and warm themselves ; 
 but they declined. After sunrise, they all dispersed, 
 except two. When breakfast w^as ready, he urged 
 them to come in and partake ; telling them that one 
 could keep guard while the other was eating. But 
 they replied that Dr. Rich had ordered them to hold 
 no communication with him. 
 
 Being firmly persuaded that the slave was in the 
 house, they kept sentry several days and nights. 
 For fear she might escape by the back way, a mes- 
 senger was sent to Mr. Warrence, who occupied a 
 building in the rear, offering to pay him for his trou- 
 ble if he would watch the premises in that direction. 
 His wife happened to overhear the conversation ; and 
 having a pitcher of scalding water in her 'hand, she 
 ran out saying, "Do you ])ropose to hire my hus- 
 band to watch neighbor Hopper's premises for a run- 
 away slave ? Go about your business ! or 1 will 
 throw this in vour face." 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 199 
 
 When Dr. Rich called again, he was received po- 
 litely, and the first inquiry was how he had succeed- 
 ed in his efforts to procure a search- w^arrant. He 
 replied, "The magistrate refused to grant one." 
 
 "Perhaps Joseph Reed, the Recorder, .would 
 obhge thee in that matter," said Friend Hopper. 
 
 The answ^er was, "I have been to him, and he 
 declines to interfere." 
 
 It was then suggested that it might be well to re- 
 tain a lawyer with a portion of the seventeen hun- 
 dred dollars he said he had to spare. 
 
 "I have been to Mr. Broome," rejoined the doc- 
 tor. "He tells me that you understand the law in 
 such cases as well as he does ; and he advises me to 
 let the matter alone." 
 
 "I will give thee permission to search my house," 
 said Friend Hopper; "and I have more authority in 
 that matter than any magistrate, judge, or lawyer, 
 in the city." 
 
 "That is very gentlemanly," replied the doctor; 
 "but I infer from it that the woman is not in your 
 house." 
 
 He was again assured that she was not ; and they 
 
 ell into some general discourse on the subject of 
 
 lavery. "Suppose you came to Maryland and lost 
 
 your horse," said the Doctor. "If you called upon 
 
 me, and I told you that I knew where he was, but 
 
 would not inform you, would you consider yourself 
 
200 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 treated kindly?" '4ii siicli a case, I should not con- 
 sider myself well treated," replied Friend Hopper. 
 " But in this part of the country, we make a distinc- 
 tion between horses and men. We believe that hu- 
 man l)eings haA'e souls." 
 
 "That makes no difference," rejoined the Doctor. 
 'You confess that you could find my skive if you 
 were so disposed ; and I consider it your duty to tell 
 me where she is." "I will do it when I am of the 
 same opinion," replied Friend Hopper; "but till 
 then thou must excuse me." 
 
 The fugitive was protected by a colored man nam- 
 ed Hill, who soon obtained a situation for her as ser- 
 vant in a respectable country family, w^here she was 
 kindly treated. In the course of a year or tw^o, she 
 returned to Philadelphia, married a steady industri- 
 ous man, and lived very comfortably. 
 
 Mr. Hill had a very revengeful temper. One of 
 his colored neighbors brought suits against him for 
 criminal conduct, and recovered heavy damages. 
 From that time he seemed to hate people of his own 
 complexion, and omitted no opportunity to injure 
 them. The woman he befriended, when he was in a 
 belter state of mind, had l)een married nine or ten 
 years, and had long ceased to think of danger, when 
 lie formed the wicked project of making a little 
 money by betraying her to her master. Accordingly 
 lie sought her resirlence accompanied by one of those 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 201 
 
 wretches who make a husiness of capturing slaves. 
 When he entered her humble abode, he found her 
 busy at the wash-tub. Rejoiced to see the man who 
 had rendered her such essential service in time of 
 need, she threw her arms about his neck, exclaiming, 
 ''O, uncle Hill, how glad I am to see you !" She 
 hastily set aside her tub, wiped up the floor, and 
 thinking there was nothing in the house good enough 
 for her benefacter, she went out to purchase some 
 little luxuries. Hill recommended a particular shop, 
 and proposed to accompany her. The slave-hunter, 
 who had been left in the street, received a private 
 signal, and the moment she entered the shop, he 
 pounced upon her. Before her situation could be 
 made known to Isaac T. Hopper, she was removed 
 to Baltimore. The last he ever heard of her she 
 was in prison there, awaiting her day of sale, when 
 she was to be transported to New-Orleans. 
 
 He used to say he did not know which was the 
 most dificult for his mind to conceive of, the cruel 
 depravity manifested by the ignorant colored man, 
 or the unscrupulous selfishness of the slaveholder, a 
 man of education, a husband and a father, who 
 could consent to use such a tool for such a purpose. 
 
 Many more naratives of similar character might 
 
 be added ; for I think he estimated at more than one 
 
 thousand the number of cases in which he had been 
 
 employed for fugitives, in one way or another, during 
 9* 
 
202 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 his forty years' residence in Philadelphia. But 
 enouffh have been told to illustrate the active benevo- 
 lence, uncompromising boldness, and ready wit, 
 which characterized this friend of humanity. His 
 accurate knowledn^e of all laws connected with slave- 
 ry was so proverbial, that magistrates and lawyers 
 were generally averse to any collision with hiin on 
 such subjects. 
 
 In 1810, Benjamin Donahue of Delaware apphed 
 to Mr. Barker, mayor of Philadelphia, to assist him 
 in recovering a fugitive, with whose place of resi- 
 dence he was perfectly sure Isaac T. Hopper was ac- 
 quainted. After a brief correspondence w^ith Friend 
 Hopper, the mayor said to Mr. Donahue, "We had 
 better drop this business, hke a hot potato ; for Mr. 
 Hopper knows more law in such cases as this, than 
 you and I put together." 
 
 He would often resort to the most miexpected ex- 
 pedients. Upon one occasion, a slave case was 
 brought before Judge Rush, brother of Dr. Benjamin 
 Rush. It seemed likely to terminate in favor of the 
 slaveholder ; but Friend PI opper thought he observed 
 that the judge wavered a little. He seized that mo- 
 ment to inquire, "Hast thou not recently pubhshed 
 a legal opinion, in which it is distinctly stated that 
 thou wouldst never seek to sustain a human law, if 
 thou wert convinced that it conflicted with any law 
 in the Bible ?" 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 203 
 
 " I did publish such a statement," rephed Judge 
 Rush; "audi am ready to abide by it ; for in all 
 cases, I consider the divine law above the human." 
 
 Friend Hopper drew from his pocket a small Bi- 
 ble, which he had brought into court for the express 
 purpose, and read in loud distinct tones the follow- 
 ing verses : "Thou shalt not deliver unto his master 
 the servant which is escaped from his master unto 
 thee : He shall dwell with thee, even among you, in 
 that place which he shall choose, in one of thy gates, 
 where it liketh him best : thou shalt not oppress 
 him." Deut. 23: 15, 16. 
 
 The slaveholder smiled ; supposing this appeal to 
 old Hebrew law would be considered as little appli- 
 cable to modern times, as the command to stone a 
 man to death for picking up sticks on the Sabbath. 
 But when the judge asked for the book, read the 
 sentence for himself, seemed impressed by it, and ad- 
 journed the decision of the case, he walked out of 
 the court-house muttering, "I believe in my soul 
 the old fool will let him off on that ground." And 
 sure enough, the slave was discharged. 
 
 Friend Hopper's quickness in slipping through 
 loop-holes, and dodging round corners, rendered him 
 exceedingly troublesome and provoking to slave- 
 holders. He often kept cases pending in court three 
 or four years, till the claimants were completely- 
 wearied out, and ready to settle on any terms. His 
 
204 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 acute perception of the slightest flaw in a document, 
 or imperfection in evidence, always attracted notice 
 in the courts he attended. Judges and lawyers of- 
 ten remarked to him, "Mr. Hopper, it is a great 
 pity you were not educated for the legal profession. 
 You have such a judicial mind." Mr. William 
 Lewis, an eminent lawyer, offered him every facility 
 for studying the profession. " Come to my office 
 and use my library whenever you please," said he ; 
 "or I will obtain a clerkship in the courts for you, 
 if you prefer that. Your mind is peculiarly adapted 
 to legal investigation, and if you would devote your- 
 self to it, you might become a judge before long." 
 
 But Friend Hopper could never overcome his 
 scruples about entering on a career of worldly am- 
 bition. He thought he had better keep humble, and 
 resist temptations that might lead him out of the 
 plainness and simplicity of the religious Society to 
 which he belonged. 
 
 As for the colored people of Philadelphia, they 
 beheved in his infallibility, as devout Catholics be- 
 lieve in the Pope. They trusted him, and he trusted 
 them ; and it is remarkable in how few instances he 
 found his confidence misplaced. The following anec 
 dote will illustrate the nature of the relation ex 
 isting between him and that much abused race. 
 Prince Hopkins, a wood-sawyer of Philadelphia, 
 was claimed as a fugitive slave by John Kinsmore 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 205 
 
 of Baltimore. When Friend Hopper went to the 
 magistrate's office to inquire into the affair, he found 
 the poor fellow in tears. He asked for a private in- 
 terview, a.nd the alderman gave his consent. When 
 they were alone, Prince confessed that he was the 
 slave in question. In the course of his narrative, it 
 appeared that he had been sent into Pennsylvania 
 by his mistress, and had resided there with a relative 
 of hers two years. Friend Hopper told him to dry 
 up his tears, for it was in his power to protect him. 
 When he returned to the office, he informed the 
 magistrate that Prince Hopkins was a free man ; 
 having resided in Pennsylvania, with the consent of 
 his mistress, a much longer time than the law re- 
 quired. i\Ir. Kinsmore was irritated, and demanded 
 that the colored man should be imprisoned till he 
 could obtain legal advice. 
 
 "Let him go and finish the wood he was sawing," 
 said Friend Hopper, "I will be responsible for his 
 appearance whenever he is wanted. If the magis- 
 trate will give me a commitment. Prince will call 
 at my house after he has finished sawing his wood, 
 and I will send him to jail with it. He can re- 
 *nain there, until the facts I have stated are clearly 
 )roved." 
 
 The slave-holder and his lawyer seemed to re2:ard 
 this proposition as an insult. They railed at Friend 
 Hopper for his "imperlinent interference," and for 
 
206 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 the absurd idea of trnstin<r 'Uhat ni^-o^er" under such 
 circumstances. 
 
 He replied, "I would rather trust 'that nigger,' as 
 you call him, than either of you." So saying, he 
 marched off with the magistrate's mittimus in his 
 pocket. 
 
 When Prince Hopkins had finished his job of 
 sawing, he called for the commitment, and carried 
 it to the jailor, who locked him up. Satisfactory 
 evidence of his freedom was soon obtained, and he 
 was discharged. 
 
 The colored people appeared to better advantage 
 with their undoubted friend, than they possibly could 
 have done where a barrier of prejudice existed. They 
 were not afraid to tell him their experiences in their 
 own way, with natural pathos, here and there dashed 
 with fun. A fine-looking, athletic fugitive, telling 
 him his story one day, said, "When I first run away, 
 I met some people who were dreadful afraid 1 could 
 n't take care of myself. But thinks I to myself I 
 took care of master and myself too for a long spell ; 
 and I guess I can make out." With a roguish ex- 
 pression laughing all over his face, he added, "I 
 don't look as if I was suffering for a master ; do I, 
 Mr. Hopper?" 
 
 Though slaveholders had abundant reason to dread 
 Isaac T. Hopper, as they would a blistcu' of Spanish 
 Hies, yet he liad no hardness of feeling toward them, 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 207 
 
 or even toward kidnappers ; hateful as be deemed 
 the system, which produced them both. 
 
 In 1801, a sober industrious family of free colored 
 people, living in Pennsylvania on the borders of 
 Maryland, were attacked in the night by a band of 
 kidnappers. The parents were aged, and needed 
 the services of their children for support. Knowing 
 that the object of the marauders was to carry them 
 off and sell them to slave speculators, the old father 
 defended them to. the utmost of his power. In the 
 struggle, he w^as womided by a pistol, and one of his 
 daughters received a shot, which caused her death. 
 One of the sons, who was very ill in bed, was beaten 
 and bruised till he was covered with blood. But 
 mangled and crippled as he was, he contrived to 
 drag himself to a neighboring barn, and hide him- 
 self under the straw. 
 
 If such lawless violence had been practised upon 
 any white citizens, the Executive of Pennsylvania 
 would have immediately offered a high reward for 
 the apprehension of the aggressors ; but the victims 
 belonged to a despised caste, and nothing w^as done 
 to repair their wrongs. Friend Hopper felt the 
 blood boil in his veins when he heard of this cruel 
 :)utrage, and his first w^ish was to have the offenders 
 punished ; but as soon as he had time to reflect, 
 he saicl, "I cannot find it in my heart to urge this 
 subject upon the notice of the Executive ; for death 
 
208 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 would be the penally if those wretches were con 
 victed." 
 
 There were many highly respectable individuals 
 among the colored people of Philadelphia. Richard 
 Allen, who had been a slave, purchased freedom 
 with the proceeds of his own industry. He married 
 and established himself as a shoemaker in that city 
 where he acquired considerable property, and built a 
 three-story brick house. He was the principal agent 
 in organizing the first congregation of colored people 
 in Philadelphia, and was their pastor to the day of 
 his death, without asking or receiving any compen- 
 sation. During the latter part of his life, he was 
 Bishop of their Methodist Episcopal Church. Ab- 
 salom Jones, a much respected colored man, was 
 his colleague. In 1793, when the yellow fever was 
 raging, it was extremely difficult to procure at- 
 tendants for the sick on any terms ; and the few 
 who would consent to render service, demanded ex- 
 orbitant prices. But Bishop Allen and Rev. Mr. 
 Jones never hesitated to go wherever they could be 
 useful ; and with them the compensation was always 
 a secondary consideration. When the pestilence had 
 abated, the mayor sent them a certificate expressing 
 his approbation of their conduct. But even these 
 men, whose worth commanded respect, were not safe 
 from the legalized curse that rests upon their hunted 
 race. A Southern speculator arrested Bishop Allen, 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 209 
 
 and claimed him as a fugitive slave, whom he had 
 bought miming. The constable employed to serve 
 the warrant was ashamed to drag the good man 
 through the streets ; and he merely said, in a re- 
 spectful tone, ''Mr. Allen, you will soon come down 
 to Alderman Todd's office, will you ? " 
 
 The fugitive, whom they were seeking, had ab- 
 sconded only four years previous ; and everybody in 
 Philadelphia knew that Richard Allen had been 
 living there more than twenty years. Yet the specu- 
 lator and his sons swore unblu shingly that he was 
 the identical slave they had purchased. Mr. Allen 
 thous^ht he ouo-ht to have some redress for this out- 
 rage; "For," said he, "if it had not been for the 
 kindness of the officer, I might have been dragged 
 through the streets like a felon." 
 
 Isaac T. Hopper was consulted, and a civil suit 
 commenced. Eight hundred dollars bail was de- 
 manded, and the speculator, being unable to procure 
 it, w^as lodged in the debtor's prison. When he had 
 been there three months, Mr. Allen caused him to be 
 discharged ; saying he did not wish to persecute the 
 man, but merely to teach him not to take up free 
 people again, for the purpose of carrying them into 
 slavery. 
 
 The numerous instances of respectability among 
 the colored people w^ere doubtless to be attributed in 
 part to the protecting influence extended over them 
 
210 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 by the Quakers. But even in those days, the Socie- 
 ty of Friends were by no means all free from preju- 
 dice against color ; and in later times, I think they 
 have not proved tli^mselves at all superior to other 
 sects in their feelings and practice on this subject. 
 Friend Hopper, Joseph Carpenter, and the few wh 
 resemble them in this respect, are exceptions to th 
 general character of modern Quakers, not the rule. 
 The following very characteristic anecdote shows 
 how completely Isaac was free from prejudice on ac- 
 count of complexion. It is an unusual thing to see 
 a colored Quaker ; for the African temperament is 
 fervid and impressible, and requires more exciting 
 forms of religion. David Maps and his wife, a very 
 w^orthy couple, were the only colored members of 
 the Yearly Meeting to which Isaac T. Hopper be- 
 longed. On the occasion of the annual gathering in 
 Philadelphia, they came with other members of the 
 Society to share the hospitality of his house. A 
 question arose in the family whether Friends ol 
 white complexion would object to eating with them. 
 "Leave that to me," said the master of the house- 
 hold. Accordingly when the time arrived, he an- 
 nounced it thus: "Friends, dinner is now ready 
 David Maps and his wife will come with me ; and a 
 I like to have all accommodated, those who object to 
 (lining with them can wait till they have done." The 
 guests smiled, and all seated themselves at the table. 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 211 
 
 The conscientiousness so observable in several 
 anecdotes of Isaac's boyhood was strikingly mani 
 fested in his treatment of a colored printer, named 
 Kane. This man was noted' for his profane swearing. 
 Friend Hopper had expostulated with him concerni-ng 
 this bad habit, without producing the least effect. 
 One day, he encountered him in the street, pouring 
 forth a volley of terrible oaths, enough to make one 
 shudder. Believing him incurable by gentler means, 
 he took him before a magistrate, who fined him for 
 blasphemy. 
 
 He did not see the man again for a long time ; but 
 twenty years afterward, when he was standing at 
 his door, Kane passed by. The Friend's heart was 
 touched by his appearance ; for he looked old, 
 feeble, and poor. He stepped out, shook hands 
 with him, and said in kindly tones, "Dost thou 
 remember me, and how I caused thee to be fined 
 for swearing ? " 
 
 "Yes, indeed I do," he replied. "I remember 
 how many dollars I paid, as well as if it were but 
 yesterday." 
 
 " Did it do thee any good ; " inquired Friend Hop- 
 per. 
 
 "Never a bit," answered he. "It only made me 
 mad to have my money taken from me." 
 
 The poor man was invited to walk into the house. 
 Tbe interest was calculated on the fine, and every 
 
212 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 cent repaid to him. . "I .meant it for thy good," said 
 the benevolent Quaker ; " and T am sorry that I only 
 provoked thee." Kane's countenance changed at 
 once, and tears began to flow. He took the money 
 with many thanks, and was never again • heard to 
 swear. 
 
 Friend Hopper's benevolence was by no means 
 confined to colored people. Wherever there was 
 good to be done, his heart and hand were ready. 
 From various anecdotes in proof of this, I select the 
 following. 
 
 JOHN Mc GRIER. 
 
 John w^as an Irish orphan, whose parents died of 
 yellow fever, when he was very young. He obtain- 
 ed a scanty living by doing errands for cartmen. In 
 the year l&OO, when he was about fourteen years 
 old, there was a long period during which he could 
 obtain scarcely any employment. Being without 
 friends, and in a state of extreme destitution, he was 
 tempted to enter a shop and steal two dollars from 
 the drawer. He w^as pursued and taken. Isaac T. 
 Hopper, who was one of the inspectors of the prison 
 at that time, saw a crowd gathered, and went to in- 
 quire the cause. The poor boy's history was soon 
 told. Friend Hopper liked the expression of his 
 countenance, and pitied his forlorn condition. When 
 he was brought up for 1rial, he accompanied him, 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 213 
 
 and pleaded with the judge m his favor. He urged 
 that the poor child's education had been entirely 
 neglected, and consequently he was more to be pitied 
 than blamed. If sent to prison, he would m all pro- 
 bability become hardened, if not utterly ruined. He 
 said if the judge would allow him to take charge of 
 the lad, he would promise to place him in good 
 hands, where he would be out of the way of tempta- 
 tion. The judge granted his request, and John was 
 placed in prison merely for a few^ days, till Friend 
 Hopper could provide for him. He proposed to his 
 father to have the boy bound to him. The old gen- 
 tleman hesitated at first, on account of his neglected 
 education and wild way of living ; but pity for the 
 orphan overcame his scruples, and he agreed to take 
 him. John hved with him till he was twenty-one 
 years of age, and was remarkably faithful and in- 
 dustrious. But about two years after, a neighbor 
 came one night to arrest him for stealing a horse. 
 Old Mr. Hopper assured him it was not possible 
 John had done such a thing ; that during all the time 
 he had lived in his family he had proved himself en- 
 tirely honest and trustworthy. The neighbor replied 
 that his horse had been taken to Philadelphia and 
 sold ; and the ferryman from Woodbury was ready 
 to swear that the animal was brought over by Hop- 
 per's John, as he was generally called. John was in 
 bed, but was called up to answer the accusation 
 
214 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 He (lid not attempt to deny it, but gave up the money 
 at once, and kept repeating that he did^nbw what 
 made him do it. He was dreadfully ashamed and 
 distressed. He beora'ed that Friend Isaac would not 
 come to see him in prison, for he could not look him 
 the face. His anguish of mind was so great, that 
 when the trial came on, he was emaciated almost to 
 a skeleton. Old Mr. Hopper went into court and 
 stated the adverse circumstances of his early life, 
 and his exemplary conduct during nine years that he 
 had lived in his family. He begged that he might 
 be fined instead of imprisoned, and offered to pay 
 the fine himself. The proposition was accepted, and 
 the kind old man took the culprit home. 
 
 This lenient treatment completely subdued the 
 last vestige of evil habits acquired in childhood. He 
 was humble and grateful in the extreme, and always 
 steady and industrious. He conducted with great 
 propriety ever afterward, and established such a 
 character for honesty, that the neighbors far and 
 wide trusted him to carry their produce to market, 
 receiving a small commission for his trouble. Even- 
 tually, he came to own a small house and farm, 
 where he lived in much comfort and respectability. 
 He always looked up to Isaac as the friend wlio had 
 early raised him from a downward and slippery path ; 
 and he was never weary of manifesting gratitude by 
 every little attention ho could devise. 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 215 
 
 LEVI BUTLER. 
 
 Some one having told Fri(uid Hopper of an ap- 
 prentice who was cruelly treated, he caused investi- 
 gation to be made, and took the lad under his own 
 protection. As he was much bent upon going to 
 sea, he was placed in a respectable boarding-house 
 for sailors, till a fitting opportunity could be found 
 to gratify his inclination. One day, a man in the 
 employ of this boarding-house brought a bill to be 
 paid for the lad. He was very ragged, but his man- 
 ners wT-re those of a gentleman, and his conversation 
 showed that he had been well educated. His ap- 
 pearance excited interest in Friend Hopper's mind, 
 and he inquired into his history. He said his name 
 was Levi Butler ; that he was of German extrac- 
 tion, and had been a wealthy merchant in Baltimore, 
 of the firm of Butler and Magruder. He married a 
 wddow, who had considerable property, and several 
 children. After her death, he failed in business, and 
 gave up all his own property, but took the precau- 
 tion to secure ail her property to her children. His 
 creditors were angry, and tried various ways to com- 
 pel him to pay them with his wife's money. He was 
 
 mprisoned a long time. He petitioned the Legis- 
 lature for release, and the committee before whom 
 the case was brought made a report in his favi)r, 
 
 highlv applauding his integrity in not involving his 
 
2H} LIFE or ISAAC T. IIOPPER. 
 
 own affairs with the property belonging to his wife's 
 children, who had been intrusted to his care. Po- 
 verty and persecution had broken down his spirits, 
 and when he was discharged from prison he left Bal- 
 timore and tried to obtain a situation as clerk in 
 Philadelphia. He did not succeed in procuring em- 
 ployment. His clothes became thread-bare, and he 
 had no money to purchase a new suit. In this situa- 
 tion, some people to whom he applied for employ- 
 ment treated him as if he were an impostor. In a 
 state of despair he went one day to drown himself. 
 But when he had put some heavy stones in his pocket 
 to make him sink rapidly, he seemed to hear a voice 
 calling to him to forbear ; and looking up, he saw a 
 man watching him. He hurried away to avoid ques- 
 tions, and passing by a sailor's boarding-house, he 
 went in and offered to wait upon the boarders for his 
 food. They took him upon those terms ; and the 
 gentleman who had been accustomed to ride in his 
 own carriage, and be waited upon by servants, now 
 roasted oysters and went of errands for common sea- 
 men. He w^as in this forlorn situation, when acci- 
 dent introduced him to Friend Hopper's notice. He 
 immediately furnished him with a suit of warm 
 clothes ; for the weather was cold, and his garments 
 thin. He employed him to post up his account- 
 books, and finding that he did it in a very perfect 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER 217 
 
 manner, he indaced several of his friends to employ 
 him in a similar way. 
 
 A brighter day was dawning for the unfortunate 
 man, and perhaps he might have attained to comfor- 
 table independence, if his health had not failed. 
 But he had taken severe colds by thin clothing und 
 exposure to inclement weather. A rapid consump- 
 tion came on, and he w^as soon entirely unable to 
 work. Under these circumstances, the best Friend 
 Hopper could do for him was to secure pecuhar pri- 
 vileges at the alms-house, and surround him with all 
 the little comforts that help to alleviate illness. He 
 visited him very often, until the day of his death, 
 and his sympathy and kind attentions were always 
 received with heartfelt gratitude. 
 
 THE MUSICAL BOY. 
 
 One day when Friend Hopper visited the prison, 
 he found a dark-eyed lad with a very bright expres- 
 sive countenance His right side w^as palsied, so 
 that the arm hung down useless. Attracted by his 
 intellisrent face, he entered into conversation with 
 him, and found that he had been palsied from infyi- 
 cy. He had been sent forth friendless into the world 
 rom an alms-house in Maryland. In Philadelphia, 
 he had been committed to prison as a vagrant, be- 
 cause he drew crowds about him in the street by his 
 
 wonderful talent of imitating a hand-organ, merely 
 10 
 
218 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 by whistling tunes through his fingers. Friend Hop- 
 per, wlio had imbibed the Quaker idea that music 
 was a useless and frivolous pursuit, said to the boy, 
 "Didst thou not know it was wrong to spend thy 
 time in that idle manner?" 
 
 With ready frankness the young prisoner replied, 
 "No, I did not; and I should like to hear how you 
 can prove it to be wrong. God has given you sound 
 limbs. Half of my body is paralyzed, an-d it is im- 
 possible for me to work as others do. It has pleas- 
 ed God to give me a talent for music. I do no 
 harm with it. It gives pleasure to myself and oth- 
 ers, and enables me to gain a few coppers to buy 
 my bread. I should like to have you show me 
 wherein it is wrong." 
 
 Without attempting to do so. Friend Hopper sug- 
 gested that perhaps he had been committed to prison 
 on account of producing noise and confusion in the 
 streets. 
 
 "I make no riot," rejoined the youth. "I try to 
 please people by my tunes ; and if the crowd around 
 me begin to be noisy, I quietly walk off." 
 
 Struck with the good sense and sincerity of these 
 answers. Friend Hopper said to the jailor, " Thou 
 mayest set this lad at liberty. I will be responsible 
 for it." 
 
 The jailer relying on his well-known character, 
 and his intimacy with Robert Wharton, the mayor. 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC" T. HOPPER. 219 
 
 did not hesitate to comply with his request. At that 
 moment, the mayor himself came in sight, and 
 Friend Hopper said to the lad, " Step into the next 
 room, and play some of thy hest tunes till I come." 
 
 ^'What's this?" said Mr. Wharton. "Have you 
 trot a hand-organ here !" 
 
 "Yes," replied Friend Hopper; " and I will show 
 it to thee. It is quite curious.". 
 
 At first, the mayor could not believe that the 
 sounds he had heard were produced by a lad merely 
 whistling through his fingers. He thought them 
 highly agreeable, and asked to have the tunes re- 
 peated. 
 
 "The lad w^as committed to prison for no other 
 ofTence than making that noise, which seems to thee 
 so pleasant," said Friend Hopper. "I dare say thou 
 wouldst like to make it thyself, if thou could st. I 
 have taken the liberty to discharge him." 
 
 "Very well," rejoined the mayor, w^ith a smile. 
 "You have done quite right, Friend Isaac. You 
 may go, my lad. I shall not trouble you. But try 
 rot to collect crowds about the streets." 
 
 "That I cannot help," replied the youth. "The 
 crowds will come, when I whistle for them ; and I 
 get coppers by collecting crowds. But I promise 
 you I w^ill try to avoid their making any riot or con- 
 fusion." 
 
220 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 MARY NORRIS. 
 
 A stout healthy woman, named Mary Norris was 
 continually tciken up as a vagrant, or committed for 
 petty larceny. As soon as she was discharged from 
 the penalty of one misdemeanor, she was committed 
 for another. One day, Friend Hopper, who was 
 then inspector, said to her, "Well, Mary, thy time 
 is out next week. Dost thou think thou shalt come 
 back again ? " 
 
 "Yes," she replied sullenly. 
 
 "Dost thou like to come back?" inquired he. 
 
 "No, to be sure I don't," rejoined the prisoner. 
 "But I've no doubt I sliall come back before the 
 month is out." 
 
 "Why dost thou not make a resolution to behave 
 better?" said the kindly inspector. 
 
 "What use would it be?" she replied. "You 
 would n't take me into your family. The doctor 
 would n't take me into his family. No respectable 
 person would have anything to do with me. My 
 associates must be such acquaintances as I make 
 here. If they steal, I am taken up for it ; no matter 
 whether I am guilty or not. I am an old convict, 
 and nobody believes what I say. O, yes, I shall 
 come back again. To be sure I shall come back," 
 she repeated bitterly. 
 
 Her voice and manner excited Friend Hopper's 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 221 
 
 compassion, and he thus addressed her: "If I will 
 get a place for thee in some respectable family 
 where they will be kind to thee, wilt thou give me 
 thy word that thou wilt be honest and steady, and 
 try to do thy duty." 
 
 Her countenance brightened, and she eagerly an- 
 wered, "Yes I loill! And thank God and you too, 
 the longest day I ha^-e to hve." 
 
 He exerted his influence in her behalf, and pro- 
 cured a situation, for her as head-nurse at the alms- 
 house. She was well contented there, and behaved 
 with great propriety. Seventeen years afterward, 
 when Friend Hopper had not seen her for a long 
 time, he called to inquire about her, and was in- 
 formed that during all those years, she had been an 
 honest, sober, and useful woman. She was rejoiced 
 to see him again, and expressed lively gratitude, 
 for the quiet and comfortable life she enjoyed through 
 his agency. 
 
 THE MAGDALEN. 
 
 Upon one occasion, Friend Hopper entered a com- 
 plaint against an old woman, who had presided over 
 an infamous house for many years. She was tried, 
 and sentenced to several months imprisonment. He 
 went to see her several times, and talked very se- 
 riously with her concerning the errors of lier life. 
 Finding that his expostulations made some impres- 
 
222 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 sion, he asked if she felt wilhng to amend her ways. 
 "Oh, I should be thankful to do it !" she exclaimed. 
 "But who would trust me ? What can I do to earn 
 an honest living ? Everybody curses me, or makes 
 game of me. How can I be a better woman, if I try 
 ever so hard?" 
 
 "I will give thee a chance to amend thy life," he 
 replied; "and if thou dost not, it shall be thy own 
 fault." 
 
 He went round among the wealthy Quakers, and 
 by dint of great persuasion he induced one to let her 
 a small tenement at very low rent. A few others 
 agreed to purchase some humble furniture, and a 
 quantity of thread, needles, tape, and buttons, to 
 furnish a small shop. The poor old creature's heart 
 overflowed with gratitude, and it was her pride to 
 keep everything very neat and orderly. There she 
 lived contented and comfortable the remainder of her 
 days, and became much respected in the neighbor- 
 hood. The tears often came lo her eyes when she 
 saw Friend Hopper. "God bless that good man!" 
 she would say. "He has been the salvation of 
 
 THE UNCOMPLLMENTARY INVITATION. 
 
 A preacher of the Society of Friends felt im- 
 pressed witli the duty of calling a meeting for vicious 
 people ; and Isaac T. Hopper was appointed to col- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 223 
 
 lect an audience. In the course of this mission, he 
 knocked at the door of a very infamous house. A 
 gentleman who was acquainted with him was passing- 
 by, and he stopped to say, "Friend Hopper, you 
 .have mistaken the house." 
 
 "No, I have not," he rephed. 
 
 "But that is a house of notorious ill fame." said 
 the gentleman. 
 
 "I know it," rejoined he; "but nevertheless I 
 have business here." 
 
 His acquaintance looked surprised, but passed on 
 without further query. A colored girl came to the 
 door. To the inquiry whether her mistress was 
 within, she answered in the affirmative. "Tell her 
 I wish to see her," said Friend Hopper. The girl 
 was evidently astonished at a visitor in Quaker cos- 
 tume, and of such grave demeanor ; but she went 
 and did the errand. A message was returned that 
 her mistress was engaged and could not see any one. 
 "Where is she ?" he inquired. The girl rephed that 
 she was up-stairs. "I will go to her," said the im- 
 portunate messenger. 
 
 The mistress of the house heard him, and leaning 
 over the balustrade of the stairs, she screamed out, 
 ' "-^^hat do you want with me, sir?" 
 
 In very loud tones he answered, "James Simpson, 
 .' minister of the Society of Friends, has appointed 
 a meeting to be held this afternoon, in Penrose store, 
 
224 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 Almond-street. It is intended for publicans, sinners, 
 and harlots. I want thee to be there, and bring thy 
 ^hole household with thee. Wilt thou come ?" 
 
 She promised that she would ; and he afterward 
 saw her at the meeting melted into tears by the di 
 rect and affectionate preaching. 
 
 THEFT FROM NECESSITY. 
 
 One day, when the family were in the midst of 
 washing, a man called at Isaac T. Hopper's house to 
 buy soap fat, and was informed they had none to 
 sell. A minute after he had passed out, the domes- 
 tic came running in to say that he had stolen some 
 of the children's clothes from the line. Friend Hop- 
 per followed him quickly, and called out, "Dost thou 
 want to buy some soap-fat ? Come back if thou 
 dost." 
 
 When the man had returned to the kitchen, he 
 said, "Now give up the clothes thou hast stolen." 
 
 The culprit was extremely confused, but denied 
 that he had stolen anything. 
 
 "Give them up at once, without any more words. 
 It will be much better for thee," said Friend Hopper, 
 in his firm way. 
 
 Thus urged, the stranger drew from his boi» n 
 some small shirts and flannel petticoats. "My wife 
 is very sick," said he. "She has a babe two week? 
 old, wrapped up in an old rag ; and when I saw this 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 225 
 
 comfortable clothing on the line, I was tempted tj 
 take it for the poor little creature. We have no fuel 
 except a little tan. A herring is the last mouthful of 
 food we have in the house ; and when I came away, 
 It was broiling on the not tan." 
 
 His story excited pity ; but fearing it might be 
 made up for the occasion, Friend Hopper took him 
 to a magistrate and said, "Please give me a com- 
 mitment for this man. If he tells a true story, I 
 will tear it up. I will go and see for myself." 
 
 When he arrived at the WTetched abode, he found 
 a scene of misery that pained him to the heart. 
 The room was cold, and the wife was in bed, pale 
 and suffering. Her babe had no clothing, except a 
 coarse rag torn from the skirt of an old coat. Of 
 course he destroyed the commitment immediately. 
 His next step was to call upon the rich Quakers of 
 his acquaintance, and obtain from them contributions 
 of wood, flour, rice, bread, and warm garments. Em- 
 ployment was soon after procured for the man, and 
 he w^as enabled to support his family comfortably. 
 He never passed Friend Hopper in the street without 
 making a low bow, and often took occasion to ex- 
 press his grateful acknowledgments. 
 
 PATRICK Mc KEEYER. 
 Patrick was a poor Irishman in Philadelphia. He 
 
 and another man were arrested on a charge of burgla- 
 10* 
 
226 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. " 
 
 ry, convicted and sentenced to be hung. I am igno- 
 rant of the details of his crime, or why the sentence 
 was not carried into execution. There were probably 
 some palliating circumstances in his case ; for though 
 he was carried to the gallows, seated on his coffin, 
 he was spared for some reason, and his companion 
 was hung. He was afterward sentenced to ten 
 years imprisonment, and this was eventually short- 
 ened one year. During the last three years of his 
 term, Friend Hopper was one of the inspectors, and 
 frequently talked with him in a gentle, fatherly man- 
 ner. The convict was a man of few words, and 
 hope seemed almost dead within him ; but though he 
 made no large promises, his heart was evidently 
 touched by the voice of kindness. As soon as he 
 was released, he went immediately to work at his 
 trade of tanning leather, and conducted himself in 
 the most exemplary manner. Being remarkable for 
 c'apability, and the amount of work he could accom- 
 plish, he soon had plenty of employment. He pass- 
 ed Friend Hopper's house every day, as he went to 
 nis work, and often received from him words of 
 friendly encouragement. 
 
 Things were going on thus satisfactorily, when 
 his friend heard that constables were in pursuit of 
 him, on account of a robbery committed the night 
 jelore. He went straight to the mayor, and inquired 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 227 
 
 why orders had been given to arrest Patrick Mc- 
 Keever. 
 
 "Because there has been a robbery committed in 
 his neighborhood," replied the magistrate. 
 
 He inquired what proof there was that Patrick 
 had been concerned in it. 
 
 "None at all," rejoined the mayor. "But he is 
 an old convict, and that is enough to condemn him." 
 
 •'It is not enough, by any means," answered Friend 
 Hopper. "Thou hast no right to arrest any citizen 
 without a shadow of proof against him. In this 
 case, I advise thee by all means to proceed with hu- 
 mane caution. This man has severely atoned for 
 the crime he did commit ; and since he washes to re- 
 form, his past history ought never to be mentioned 
 against him. He has been perfectly honest, sober, 
 and industrious, since he came out of prison. I 
 think I know his state of mind ; and I am willing to 
 take the responsibility of saying that he is guiltless 
 in this matter." 
 
 The mayor commended Friend Hopper's bene- 
 volence, but remained unconvinced. To all argu- 
 ments he replied, "He is an old convict, and that is 
 enough." 
 
 Patrick's kind friend watched for him as he passed 
 to his daily labors, and told him that he would pro- 
 bably be arrested for the robbery that had been com- 
 mitted in his neighborhood. The poor fellow bowed 
 
228 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 ck)wn his head, the Hght vanished from his counte- 
 nance, and hope seemed to have forsaken him utter- 
 ly. "Well," said he, with a deep sigh, "I suppose 
 I must make up my mind to spend the remainder of 
 my days in prison." 
 
 "Thou wert not concerned in this robhery, werl 
 thou ?" inquired Friend Hopper, looking earnestly in 
 his face. 
 
 " No, indeed I vi^as not," he replied. " God be my 
 witness, I want to lead an honest life, and be at 
 peace with all men. ' But what good will that do 
 me ? Everybody will say, he has been in the State 
 Prison, and that is enough." 
 
 His friend did not ask him twice ; for he felt as- 
 sured that he had spoken truly. He advised him to 
 go directly to the mayor, deliver himself up, and de- 
 clare his innocence. This wholesome advice was 
 received with deep dejection. He had lost faith in 
 his fellow-men ; for they had been to him as ene- 
 mies. "I know what will come of it," said he. 
 " They will put me in prison whether there is any 
 proof against me, or not. They won't let me out 
 without somebody will be security for me ; and who 
 will be security for an old convict ?" 
 
 "Keep up a good heart," replied Friend Hopper 
 "Go to the mayor and speak as I have advised thee. 
 If they talk of putting thee in prison, send for me." 
 
 Patrick acted in obedience to this advicfc, and was 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 229 
 
 treated just as he had expected. Though there was 
 not a shadow of proof agamst him, his being an old 
 convict was deemed sufficient reason for sending him 
 to jaiL 
 
 Friend Hopper appeared in his behalf. "I am 
 ready to affirm that I beheve this man to be inno 
 cent," said he. " It will be a very serious injury foi 
 him to be taken from his business and detained in 
 prison until this can be proved. Moreover, the effect 
 upon his mind may be completely discouraging. I 
 will be security for his appearance when called for ; 
 and I know very well that he will not think of giv- 
 ing me the slip." 
 
 The gratitude of the poor fellow was overwhelm- 
 i)j^-. He sobbed till his strong frame shook like a 
 leaf in the wind. The real culprits were soon after 
 discovered. For thirty years after and to the day of 
 his death, Patrick continued to lead a virtuous and 
 useful life ; for which he always thanked Friend 
 Hopper, as the instrument of Divine Providence. 
 
 THE UMBRELLA GIRL. 
 
 A young girl, the only daughter of a poor widow, 
 removed from the country to Philadelphia to earn 
 her living by covering umbrellas. She was very 
 handsome ; w^ith glossy black hair, large beaming 
 eyes, and "lips like wet coral." She was just at 
 that susceptible age when youth is ripening into wo- 
 
230 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 inaiiiiood, when the soul begins to be pervaded by 
 "that restless principle, which impels poor humans 
 to seek perfection in union." 
 
 At a hotel near the store for which she worked an 
 English traveller, called Lord Henry Stuart, had tak- 
 en lodgings. He was a strikingly handsome man, 
 and of princely carriage. As this distinguished stran- 
 ger passed to and from his hotel, he encountered the 
 umbrella girl, and was attracted by her uncommon 
 beauty. He easily traced her to the store, where he 
 soon after went lo purchase an umbrella. This was 
 followed up by presents of flowers, chats by the way- 
 side, and invitations to walk or ride ; all of which 
 were gratefully accepted by the unsuspecting ru.^tic ; 
 for she was as ignorant of the dangers of a citY ^'^^ 
 were the squirrels of her native fields. He vv^s 
 merely playing a game for temporary excitement. 
 She, with a head full of romance, and a heart melt- 
 ing under the influence of love, was unconsciously 
 endangering the happiness of her whole life. 
 
 Lord Henry invited her to visit the public gardens 
 on the Fourth of July. In the simplicity of her 
 heart, she believed all his flattering professions, and 
 considered herself his bride elect ; she therefore ac- 
 cepted the invitation with innocent frankness. But 
 she had no dress fit to appear in on such a public oc- 
 casion, w^ith a gentleman of high rank, \^hom she 
 verily supposed to be her destined husband. While 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 231 
 
 these thoughts revolved in her mind, her eye was un- 
 fortunately attracted by a beautiful piece of silk, be- 
 longing to her employer. Could she not take it, 
 without being seen, and pay for it secretly, when she 
 had earned money enough ? The temptation con- 
 quered her in a moment of weakness. She conceal- 
 ed the silk, and conveyed it to her lodgings. It was 
 the first thing she had ever stolen, and her remorse 
 was painful. She would have carried it back, but 
 she dreaded discovery. She was not sure that her 
 repentance would be met in a spirit of forgiveness. 
 
 On the eventful Fourth of July, she came out in 
 her new dress. Lord Henry complimented her upon 
 her elegant appearance, but she was not happy. On 
 their way to the gardens, he talked to her in a man- 
 ner which she did not comprehend. Perceiving this, 
 he spoke more explicitly. The guileless young crea- 
 ture stopped, looked in his face with mournful re- 
 proach, and burst into tears. The nobleman took 
 her hand kindly, and said, "My dear, are you an in- 
 nocent girl ?" 
 
 "I am, I am," she replied, with convulsive sobs. 
 "Oh, what have I ever done, or said, that you should 
 isk me such a question ?" 
 
 The evident sincerity of her words stirred the 
 deep fountains of his better nature. "If you are 
 innocent," said he, "God forbid that I should make 
 you otherwise. But you accepted my invitations 
 
232 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 and presents so readily, that I supposed you under- 
 stood me." 
 
 "What could I understand," said she, ''except 
 that you intended to make me your wife ?" 
 
 Though reared amid the proudest distinctions of 
 rank, he felt no inclination to smile. He blushed 
 and was silent. The heartless conventionalities of 
 the world stood rebuked in the presence of affection- 
 ate simplicity. He conveyed her to her humble 
 home, and bade her farewell, with a thankful con- 
 sciousness that he had done no irretrievable injury to 
 her future prospects. The remembrance of her 
 would soon be to him as the recollection of last 
 year's butterflies. With her, the wound was deep. 
 In the solitude of her chamber she wept in bitter- 
 ness of heart over her ruined air-castles. And that 
 dress, which she had stolen to make an appearance 
 befitting his bride ! Oh, what if she should be dis- 
 covered ? And would not the heart of her poor wi- 
 dowed mother break, if she should ever know that 
 her child was a thief? 
 
 Alas, her wretched forebodings proved too true. 
 The silk was traced to her ; she was arrested on her 
 way to the store and dragged to prison. There she 
 refused all nourishment, and wept incessantly. On 
 the fourth day, the keeper called upon Isaac T. 
 Hopper, and informed him that there was a young 
 girl in prison, who appeared to be utterly friendless, 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 233 
 
 and determined to die by starvation. The kind- 
 hearted Friend immediately went to her assistance. 
 He found her lying on the floor of her cell, with her 
 face buried in her hands, sobbing as if her heart 
 would break. He tried to comfort her, but could 
 obtain no answer. 
 
 "Leave us alone," said he to the keeper. "Per- 
 haps she will speak to me, if there is no one to hear." 
 When they were alone together, he put back the 
 hair from her temples, laid his hand kindly on her 
 beautiful head, and said in soothing tones, "My 
 child, consider me as thy father. Tell me all thou 
 hast done. If thou hast taken this silk, let me know 
 all about it. I will do for thee as I would for my 
 own daughter ; and I doubt not that I can help thee 
 out of this difficulty." 
 
 After a long time spent in affectionate entreaty, 
 she leaned her young head on his friendly shoulder, 
 and sobbed out, "Oh, I wish I was dead. What 
 wall my poor mother say when she knows of my dis- 
 grace ?" 
 
 "Perhaps we can manage that she never shall 
 know it," rephed he. Alluring her by this hope, he 
 gradually obtained from her the whole story of her 
 acquaintance with the nobleman. He bade her be 
 comforted, and take nourishment ; for he would see 
 that the silk was paid for, and the prosecution with- 
 drawn. 
 
234 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 He went immediately to her employer, and told 
 him the story. "This is her first offence," said he. 
 "The girl is young, and she is the only child of a 
 poor widow. Give her a chance to retrieve this one 
 false step, and she may be restored to society, a use- 
 ful and honored woman. I will see that thou art 
 paid for the silk." The man readily agreed to with- 
 draw the prosecution, and said he would have dealt 
 otherwise by the girl, if he had known all the cir- 
 cumstances. "Thou shouldst have inquired into the 
 merits of the case," replied Friend Hopper. "By 
 this kind of thoughtlessness, many a young creature 
 is driven into the downward path, who might easily 
 have been saved." 
 
 The kind-hearted man next proceeded to the ho- 
 tel, and with Quaker simplicity of speech inquired 
 for Henry Stuart. The servant said his lordship 
 had not yet risen. "Tell him my business is of im- 
 portance," said Friend Hopper. The servant soon 
 returned and conducted him to the chamber. The 
 nobleman appeared surprised that a stranger, in the 
 plain Quaker costume, should thus intrude upon his 
 luxurious privacy. When he heard his errand, he 
 blushed deeply, and frankly admitted the truth of the 
 girl's statement. His benevolent visitor took the op- 
 portunity to "bear a testimony" against the selfish- 
 ness and sin of profligacy. He did it in such a kind 
 and fatherly manner, that the young man's heart was 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 235 
 
 touched. He excused himself, by saying that he 
 would not have tampered with the girl, if he had 
 known her to be virtuous. "I have done many 
 wrong things," said he, ''but thank God, no betrayal 
 of confiding innocence weighs on my conscience. I 
 have always esteemed it the basest act of which man 
 is capable." The imprisonment of the poor girl, and 
 the forlorn situation in which she had been found, 
 distressed him greatly. When Friend Hopper re- 
 presented that the silk had been stolen for his sake, 
 that the girl had thereby lost profitable employment, 
 and was obliged to return to her distant home, to 
 avoid the danger of exposure, he took out a fifty dol- 
 lar note, and offered it to pay her expenses. 
 
 "Nay," said Isaac. "Thou art a very rich man, 
 I presume. I see in thy hand a large roll of such 
 notes. She is the daughter of a poor widow, anl 
 thou hast been the means of doing her great mjury. 
 Give me another." 
 
 Lord Henry handed him another fifty dollar note, 
 and smiled as he said, "You understand your busi- 
 ness well. But you have acted nobly, and I reve- 
 rence you for it. If you ever visit England, come to 
 see me. I will give you a cordial welcome, and 
 treat you like a nobleman." 
 
 "Farewell, friend," replied the Quaker. "Though 
 much to blame in this affair, thou too hast behaved 
 nobly. Mayst thou be blessed in domestic life, and 
 
236 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 trifle no more with the feehiigs of poor girls ; not 
 even with those whom others have betrayed and de- 
 serted." 
 
 When the girl was arrested, she had sufficient pre- 
 sence of mind to assume a false name, and by that 
 means, her true name had been kept out of the news- 
 papers. "I did this," said she, "for my poor mo- 
 ther's sake." With the money given by Lord Stuart, 
 the silk was paid for, and she was sent home to her 
 mother well provided with clothing. Her name and 
 place of residence forever remained a secret in the 
 breast of her benefactor. 
 
 Years after these events transpired, a lady called 
 at Friend Hopper's house, and asked to see him. 
 When he entered the room, he found a handsomely 
 dressed young matron, with a blooming boy of five 
 or six years old. She rose quickly to meet him, and 
 her voice choked as she said, "Friend Hopper, do 
 you know me ?" He replied that he did not. She 
 fixed her tearful eyes earnestly upon him, and said, 
 "You once helped me when in great distress." But 
 the good missionary of humanity had helped too 
 many in distress, to be able to recollect her without 
 more precise information. With a tremulous voice, 
 she bade her son go into the next room for a few mi- 
 nutes ; then dropping on her knees, she hid her face 
 in his lap, and sobbed out, "I am the girl who stole 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 237 
 
 the silk. Oh, where should I now be, if it had not 
 been for you !" 
 
 When her emotion was somewhat calmed, she 
 told him that she had married a highly respectable 
 man, a senator of his native state. Being on a visit 
 in Friend Hopper's vicinity, she had again and again 
 passed his dwelling, looking wistfully at the windows 
 to catch a sight of him ; but when siie attempted to 
 enter her courage failed. 
 
 "But I must return home to-morrow," said she, 
 *'and I could not go aw^ay without once more seeing 
 and thanking him who saved me from ruin." She 
 recalled her little boy, and said to him, " Look at 
 that gentleman, and remember him well ; for he was 
 the best friend your mother ever had." With an 
 earnest invitation to visit her happy home, and a fer- 
 vent " God bless you !" she bade her benefactor fare- 
 well. 
 
 THE TWO YOUNG OFFENDERS. 
 
 In the neighborhood of Carhsle, Pennsylvania, 
 there lived a man whose temper was vindictive and 
 badly governed. Having become deeply offended 
 w^ith one of his neighbors, he induced his two sons 
 to swear falsely that he had committed an infamous 
 crime. One of the lads was about fifteen years old, 
 and the other about seventeen. The alleged of- 
 fence was of so gross a nature, and was so at vari- 
 
238 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 ance with the fair character of the person accused 
 that the witnesses were siil)jectecl to a very curefu] 
 and shrewd examination. They became embarrass- 
 ed, and the flaws in their evidence were very obvi- 
 ous. They were indicted for conspiracy against an 
 innocent man ; and being taken by surprise, they 
 were thrown into confusion, acknowledged, thei.. 
 guilt, and declined the offer of a trial. They were 
 sentenced to two years' imprisonment at hard labor 
 in the Penitentiary of Philadelphia. 
 
 Isaac T. Hopper, who was at that time one of the 
 inspectors, happened to be at the prison when they 
 arrived at dusk, hand-cuffed and chained together, in 
 custody of the sheriff. Their youth and desolate 
 appearance excited his compassion. "Keep up a 
 good heart, my poor lads," said he. "You can re- 
 trieve this one false step, if you will but make the 
 effort. It is still in your power to become respecta- 
 ble and useful men. I will help you all I can." 
 
 He gave particular directions that they should be 
 placed in a room by themselves, apart from the con- 
 tagion of more hardened offenders. To prevent un- 
 profitable conversation, they were constantly em- 
 ployed in the noisy occupation of heading nails. 
 From time to time, the humane inspector spoke 
 soothing and encouraging words to them, and com- 
 mended tlieir good behavior. When the Board of 
 Inspectors met, he proposed that the lads should be 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 239 
 
 recommended to the governor for pardon. Not suc- 
 ceeding in this effort, he wrote an article on the im- 
 propriety of confining juvenile offenders with old 
 hardened convicts. He published this in the daily 
 papers, and it produced considerable effect. When 
 the Board again met, Isaac T. Hopper and Thomas 
 Dobson were appointed to wait on the governor, t 
 obtain a pardon for the lads if possible. After con- 
 siderable hesitation, the request was granted on con 
 dition that worthy men could be found, who would 
 take them as apprentices. Friend Hopper agreed to 
 find such persons ; and he kept his word. One of 
 them was bound to a tanner, the other to a carpen- 
 ter. But their excellent friend did not lose sight of 
 them. He reminded them that they were now going 
 among strangers, and their success and happiness 
 would mainly depend on their own conduct. He 
 begged of them, if they should ever get entangled 
 with unprofitable company, or become involved in 
 difficulty of any kind, to come to him, as they would 
 to a considerate father. He invited them to spend 
 all their leisure evenings at his house. For a long 
 time, it was their constant practice to take tea with 
 him every Sunday, and join the family in reading 
 the Bible and other serious books. - 
 
 At the end of a year, they expressed a strong de- 
 sire to visit their father. Some fears were enter- 
 tained lest his influence over them should prove in- 
 
240 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 jurious ; and lliat Ijeing- once freed from restraint, 
 they would not willingly return to constant industry 
 and regular ha})its. They, however, promised faith- 
 fully that they would, and Friend Hopper thought it 
 might have a good effect upon them to know that 
 they were trusted. He accordingly entered into 
 bonds for them ; thinking this additional claim on 
 their gratitude would strengthen his influence over 
 them, and help to confirm their good resolutions. 
 
 They returned punctually at the day and hour 
 they had promised, and their exemplary conduct 
 continued to give entire satisfaction to their employ- 
 ers. A short time after the oldest had fulfilled the 
 term of his indenture, the tanner with whom he 
 worked bought a farm, and sold his stock and tools 
 to his former apprentice. Friend Flopper took him 
 to the governor's house, dressed in his new suit of 
 freedom clothes, and introduced him as one of the 
 lads whom he had pardoned several years before ; 
 testifying that he had been a faithful apprentice, and 
 much respected by his master. The governor was 
 well pleased to see him, shook hands with him very 
 cordially, and told him that he who was resolute 
 enough to turn back from vicious ways, into the 
 paths of virtue and usefulness, deserved even more 
 respect than one who had never been tempted. 
 
 He afterward married a worthy young woman 
 w'ith a small property, which enabled him to build r. 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 241 
 
 neat two-story brick house. He always remained 
 sober and industrious, and they lived in orreat com- 
 fort and respectability. 
 
 The younger brother likewise passed through his 
 apprenticeship in a manner very satisfactory to his 
 friends ; and at twenty-one years of age, he also was 
 introduced to the governor with testimonials of his 
 good conduct. He w^as united to a very respectable 
 young woman, but died a few years after his mar- 
 riage. 
 
 Both these young men always cherished warm 
 gratitude and strong attachment for Isaac T. Hop- 
 per. They both regularly attended the meetings of 
 the Society of Friends, w^hich had become pleasantly 
 associated in their minds with the good influences 
 they had received from their benefactor. 
 
 Friend Hopper was a strict disciplinarian while he 
 was inspector, and it was extremely difficult for the 
 prisoners to deceive him by any artful devices, or hy- 
 pocritical pretences. But he was always in the habit 
 of talking with them in friendly style, inquiring into 
 their history and plans, sympathizing with their 
 troubles and temptations, encouraging them to re- 
 form, and promising to assist them if they would try 
 to help themselves. It was his custom to take a 
 1 imble in the country with his children every Satur- 
 day afternoon. All w^ho were old enough to walk 
 joined the troop. They always stopped at the prison, 
 11 
 
242 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 and were well pleased to deliver to the poor inmate 3, 
 with their own small hands, such little comforts as 
 their father had provided for the purpose. He was 
 accustomed to say that there was not one among the 
 convicts, however desperate they might be, with 
 whom he should be afraid to trust himself alone at 
 midnight with large sums of money in his pocket. 
 An acquaintance once cautioned him against a pri- 
 soner, w^hose temper was extremely violent and re- 
 vengeful, and who had been heard to swear that he 
 would take the life of some of the keepers. Soon 
 after this warning, Friend Hopper summoned the 
 desperate fellow, and told him he was wanted to pile 
 a quantity of lumber in the cellar. He went down 
 with him to hold the light, and they remained more 
 than an hour alone together, out of hearing of every- 
 body. When he told this to the man who had cau- 
 tioned him, he rephed, "Well, I confess you have 
 good courage. I would n't have done it for the 
 price of the prison and all the ground it stands 
 upon ; for I do assure you he is a terrible fellow." 
 
 "I don't doubt he is," rejoined the courageous 
 inspector; "but I knew he would n't kill me. 1 
 have always been a friend to him, and he is aware 
 of it. What motive could he have for harming 
 me?" 
 
 One of the prisoners, who liad been convicted of 
 man-slaughterj became furious, in consequence of 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 243 
 
 being threatened with a whipping. When they at- 
 tempted to bring him out of his dungeon to receive 
 punishment, he seized a knife and a club, rushed 
 back again, and swore he would kill the first person 
 who came near him. Being a very strong man, and 
 in a state of madness, no one dared to approach him. 
 They tried to starve him into submission ; but finding 
 he was not to be subdued in that way, they sent for 
 Friend Hopper, as they were accustomed to do in 
 all such difficult emergencies. He went boldly into 
 the cell, looked the desperado calmly in the face, 
 and said, '' It is foohsh for thee to contend with the 
 authorities. Thou wilt be compelled to yield at last. 
 I will inquire into-thy case. If thou hast been tm- 
 justly dealt by, I promise thee it shall be remedied." 
 This kind and sensible remonstrance had the desn-ed 
 effect. From that time forward, he had great in- 
 fluence over the ferocious fellow, who was always 
 w^iUing to be guided by his advice, and finally became 
 one of the most reasonable and orderly inmates of 
 the prison. 
 
 I have heard Friend Hopper say that while he 
 was inspector he aided and encouraged about fifty 
 young convicts, as nearly as he could recollect ; and 
 all, except two, conducted in such a manner as to 
 satisfy the respectable citizens whom he had induced 
 to employ them. He was a shrewd observer of the 
 countenances and manners of men, and doubtless 
 
244 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 that was one reason why he was not often disap 
 pointed in those he trusted. 
 
 The humor which characterized his boyhood, 
 remuined with him in maturer years, and often ef- 
 fervesced on the surface of his acquired gravity ; as 
 will appear in the following anecdotes. 
 
 Upon a certain occasion, a man called on him with 
 a due bill for twenty dollars against an estate he had 
 been employed to settle. Friend Hopper put it away, 
 saying he would examine it and attend to it as soon 
 as he had leisure. The man called again a short 
 time after, and stated that he had need of six dol- 
 lars, and was willing to give a receipt for the whole 
 if that sum were advanced. This proposition excited 
 suspicion, and the administrator decided in his own 
 mind that he would pay nothing till he had examined 
 the papers of the deceased. Searching carefully 
 among these, he found a receipt for the money, men- 
 tioning the identical items, date, and circumstances 
 of the transaction ; stating that a due-bill had been 
 given and lost, and was to be restored by the credi- 
 tor when found. When the man called again for 
 payment, Isaac said to him, in a quiet way, "Friend 
 Jones, I understand thou hast become pious lately." 
 
 He replied in a solemn tone, "Yes, thanks to 
 the Lord Jesus, I have found out the way of sal- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPrER. 245 
 
 ''And thou hast hoen clipped I hear," continued 
 the Quaker. "Dost thou know James Hunter?" 
 
 Mr. Jones answered in the affirmative. 
 
 "Wei], he also was dipped some time ago," re- 
 joined Friend Hopper ; " but his neighbors say they 
 did n't get the crown of his head under water. The 
 devil crept into the unbaptized part, and has been 
 busy within him ever since. I am afraid they did n't 
 get thee quite under water. I think thou hadst bet- 
 ter be dipped again." 
 
 As he spoke, he held up the receipt for twenty 
 dollars. The countenance of the professedly pious 
 man became scarlet, and he disappeared instantly. 
 
 A Dutchman once called upon Friend Hopper, and 
 said, "A tief have stole mine goots. They tell me 
 you can help me, may be." Upon inquiring the 
 when and the where. Friend Hopper concluded that 
 the articles had been stolen by a man whom he hap- 
 pened to know the pohce had taken up a few hours 
 previous. But being disposed to amuse himself, he 
 inquired very seriously, "What time of the moon 
 was it, when thy goods were stolen ? Having re- 
 ceived information concerning that particular, he 
 took a slate and began to cipher diligently. After a 
 while, he looked up, and pronounced in a very ora- 
 cular manner, "Thou wilt find thy goods." 
 
 "Shall I find mine goots?" exclaimed the delight- 
 ed Dutchman ; "and where is de tief?" 
 
2i() LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 "Art IboLi quite sure about the'age of the moon?" 
 inquired the pretended magician. Being assured 
 there was no mistake on that point, he ciphered 
 again for a few minutes, and then answered, "Thou 
 wilt find the thief in the hands of the police." 
 
 The Dutchman went away, evidently inspired with 
 profound reverence. Having found his goods and 
 the thief, according to prediction, he returned and 
 asked for a private interview. "Tell me dat secret," 
 said he, " and I will pay you a heap of money." 
 
 "What secret?" inquired Friend Hopper. 
 
 "Tell me how you know I will find mine goots, 
 and where I will find de tief ?" rejoined he. 
 
 "The plain truth is, I guessed it," was the reply; 
 " because I had heard there was a thief at the police 
 office, with such goods as thou described." 
 
 "But what for you ask about de moon ?" inquired 
 the Dutchman. " You make figures, and den you 
 say, you will find your goots. You make figures 
 again, den you tell me where is de tief. I go, and 
 find mine goots and de tief, just as you say. Tell 
 me how you do dat, and I will pay you a heap of 
 money." 
 
 Though repeatedly assured that it was done only 
 for a joke, he went away unsatisfied : and to the day 
 of his death, he fully believed that the facetious 
 Quaker was a conjuror. 
 
 When Friend Hopper hired one of two houses 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 247 
 
 where the back yards were not separated, he found 
 himself considerably mcommoded by the disorderly 
 habits of his next neighbor. The dust and dirt daily 
 swept into the yard were allowed to accumulate there 
 in a heap, which the wind often scattered over the 
 neater premises adjoining. The mistress of the 
 house was said to be of an irritable temper, likely to 
 take offence if asked to adopt a different system. 
 He accordingly resolved upon a course, w^hich he 
 thought might cure the evil without provoking a dis- 
 pute. One day, when he saw his neighbor in her 
 kitchen, he called his own domestic to come out into 
 the yard. Pointing to the heap of dirt, he exclaimed, 
 loud enough to be heard in the next house, "Betsy, 
 art thou not ashamed to sweep dust and litter into 
 such a heap. See how it is blowing about our 
 neighbor's yard ! Art thou not ashamed of thy- 
 self?" 
 
 "I didn't sweep any dirt there," replied the girl. 
 "They did it themselves." 
 
 "Pshaw ! Pshaw^ ! don't tell me that," rejoined he. 
 "Our neighbor wouldn't do such an untidy thing. I 
 w^onder she hasn't complained of thee before now. 
 Be more careful in future ; for I should be very sor- 
 ry to give her any occasion to say she couldn't keep 
 the yard clean on our account." 
 
 The domestic read his meaning in the roguish ex- 
 pression of his eye, and she remained silent. The 
 
248 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 lesson took effect. The heap of dirt was soon re- 
 moved, and never appeared afterward. 
 
 Such a character as Isaac T. Hopper was of 
 course well know^n throughout the city where he 
 lived. Every school-boy had heard something of his 
 doings, and as he w^alked the street, everybody re- 
 cognized him, from the chief justice to the chim- 
 ney-sweep. His personal appearance w^as calculated 
 to attract attention, independent of other circumstan- 
 ces. Joseph Bonaparte, who then resided at Borden- 
 town, w^as attracted toward him the first moment he 
 saw him, on account of a strong resemblance to his 
 brother Napoleon. They often met in the steam- 
 boat going down the Delaware, and on such occa- 
 sions, the ex-ldng frequently pointed him out as the 
 most remarkable likeness of the emperor, that he 
 had ever met in Europe or America. He expressed 
 the opinion that with Napoleon's uniform on, he 
 might be mistaken for him, even by his own house- 
 hold ; and if he w^ere to appear thus in Paris, noth- 
 ing couid be easier than for him to excite a revolu- 
 tion. 
 
 But the imperial throne, even if it had been di- 
 rectly offered to him, would have proved no tempta- 
 tion to a soul like his. In some respects, his charac- 
 ter, as well as his person, strcngly resembled Napo- 
 leon. But his powerful will was remarkably under 
 the control of conscience, and his energy was tem- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 249 
 
 pen.'d by an unusual share of benevolence. If the 
 other elements of his character had not been balan- 
 ced by these two qualities, he also might have been a 
 skilful diplomatist, and a successful leader of armies. 
 Fortunately for himself and others, he had a nobler 
 ambition than that of making widows and orphans 
 by wholesale slaughter. The preceding anecdotes 
 show how warmly he sympathized with the poor, the 
 oppressed, and the erring, without limitation of 
 couiitry, creed, or complexion ; and how diligently 
 he labored in their behalf. But from the great 
 amount of public service that he rendered, it must 
 not be inferred that he neglected private duties. 
 Perhaps no man wa4 ever more devotedly attached 
 to wife and children than he was. His Sarah, as he 
 was wont to call her, was endowed with qualities 
 Wv^ll calculated to retain a strong hold on the affec- 
 tions of a sensible and conscientious man. Her 
 kindly disposition, and the regular, simple habits ot 
 her life, were favorable to the preservation of that 
 beauty, which had won his boyish admiration. Her 
 wavy brown hair was softly shaded by the delicate 
 transparent muslin of her Quaker cap ; her face had 
 a tender and benign expression ; and her complexion 
 was so clear, that an old gentleman, who belonged 
 to the Society of Friends, and who was of course 
 not much addicted to poetic comparisons, used to say 
 he could never look at her without thinking of the 
 11* 
 
250 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 clear pink and white of a beautiful conch-shell. She 
 was scrupulously neat, and had something of that 
 cliastened coquetry in dress, which is apt to charac- 
 terize the handsome w^omen of her orderly sect. 
 Her drab-colored gown, not high in the neck, was 
 bordered by a plain narrow tucker of fine muslin, vi- 
 sible under her snow-white neckerchief. A white 
 under-sleeve came just below the elbow^, where it 
 terminated in a very narrow band, nicely stitched, 
 and fastened with two small silver buttons, connected 
 by a chain. She was a very industrious woman, and 
 remarkably systematic in her household affairs ; 
 thus she contrived to find time for everything, though 
 burdened with the care of a ^large and increasing 
 family. The apprentices always sat at table w^ith 
 them, and she maintained a perfect equality between 
 them and her own children. She said it w^as her 
 wish to treat them precisely as she w^ould like to 
 have her boys treated, if they should become appren- 
 tices. On Sunday evenings, which they called First 
 Day evenings, the whole family assembled to hear 
 Friend Hopper read portions of scripture, or writings 
 of the early Friends. On such occasions, the mother 
 often gave religious exhortations to the children and 
 apprentices, suited to the occurrences of the week, 
 and the temptations to which they were peculiarly 
 subject. During the last eight years of her life, she 
 was a recommended minister of the Society of 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 251 
 
 Friends, and often preached at their meetings. Her 
 manners were affable, and her conversation peculiar- 
 ly agreeable to young people. But she knew when 
 silence was seemly, and always restrained her dis- 
 course within the limits of discretion. When any of 
 her children talked more than was useful, she was 
 accustomed to administer this concise caution : "My 
 dear, it is a nice thing to say nothing, when thou 
 hast nothing to say.'*' Her husband was proud of 
 her, and always manifested great deference for her 
 opinion. She suffered much anxiety on account of 
 the perils to which he was often exposed in his con- 
 tests with slaveholders and kidnappers ; and for 
 many years, the thought was familiar to her mind 
 that she might one day see him brought home a 
 corpse. While the yellow fever raged in Philadel- 
 phia, she had the same anxiety concerning his fear- 
 less devotion to the victims of that terrible disease, 
 who were dying by hundreds around them. But she 
 had a large and sympathizing heart, and she never 
 sought to dissuade him from what he considered the 
 path of duty. When one of his brothers was strick- 
 en with the fever, and the family with whom he re- 
 sided were afraid to shelter him, she proposed to 
 have him brought under their own roof, where he 
 was carefully nursed till he died. She was more re- 
 luctant to listen to his urgent entreaties that she 
 would retire into the country with the children, and 
 
252 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 remain with them beyond the reach of contagion ; 
 for her heart was divided between the iiusband of 
 her youth and the nurslings of her bosom. But his 
 anxiety concerning their children was so great, that 
 she finally consented to pursue the course most con- 
 ducive to his peace of mind ; and he was left in the 
 city with a colored domestic to superintend his house- 
 hold aflfairs. Through this terrible ordeal of pesti- 
 lence he passed unscathed, though his ever ready 
 sympathy brought him into frequent contact with 
 the dying and the dead. 
 
 Besides this public calamity, which darkened the 
 whole city for a time, Friend Hopper shared the 
 common lot of humanity in the sad experiences of 
 private hfe. Several of his children died at that at- 
 tractive age, when the bud of infancy is blooming 
 into childhood. Relatives and friends crossed the 
 dark river to the unknown shore. On New Year's 
 day, 1797, his mother departed from this world at fif- 
 ty-six years old. In 1818, his father died at seventy- 
 five years of age. His physical vigor was remarka- 
 ble. When he had weathered seventy winters, he 
 went to visit his eldest son, and being disappointed 
 in meeting the stage to return, as he expected, he 
 walked home, a distance of twenty-eight miles. At 
 that advanced age, he could rest one hand on his 
 cane and the other on a fence, and leap over as easi- 
 ly as a boy. He had long flowing black hair, which 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. . *iO^ 
 
 tell in ringlets on his shoulders ; and when he died, 
 it was merely sprinkled with gray. When his pri- 
 vate accounts were examined after his decease, they 
 revealed the fact that he had secretly expended hun- 
 dreds of dollars in paying the debts of poor people, 
 or redeeming their furniture when it was attached. 
 
 But though many dear ones dropped away from 
 his side, as Friend Isaac moved onward in his pil- 
 grimage, many remained to sustain and cheer him 
 Among his wife's brothers, his especial friend was 
 John Tatum, who lived in the vicinity of his native 
 village. This worthy man had great sympathy with 
 the colored people, and often sheltered the fugitives 
 whom his brother-in-law had rescued. He was re- 
 markable for his love of peace ; always preferring to 
 suffer wrong rather than dispute. The influence of 
 this pacific disposition upon others was strikingly il- 
 lustrated in the case of two of his neighbors. They 
 were respectable people, in easy circumstances, and 
 the families found much pleasure in frequent inter- 
 course with each other. But after a few years, one 
 of the men deemed that an intentional affront had 
 been offered him by the other. Instead of good-na- 
 tured frankness on the occasion, he behaved in a sul- 
 len manner, which provoked the other, and the result 
 was that eventually neither of them would speak 
 when they met. Their fields joined, and when they 
 were on friendly terms, the boundary was marked 
 
254 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 by a fence, which they alternately repaired. But 
 when there was feud between them, neither of them 
 was willing to mend the other's fence. So each one 
 built a fence for himself, leaving a very narrow strip 
 of land between, which in process of time came to 
 be generally known by the name of Devil's Lane, in 
 allusion to the bad temper that produced it. A 
 brook formed another portion of the boundary be- 
 tween their farms, and was useful to both of them. 
 But after they became enemies, if a freshet occurred, 
 each watched an opportunity to turn the water on 
 the other's land, by which much damage w^as mutu- 
 ally done. They were so much occupied with injur- 
 ing each other in every possible way, that they neg- 
 lected their farms and grew poorer and poorer. One 
 of them became intemperate ; and everything about 
 their premises began to wear an aspect of desolation 
 and decay. At last, one of the farms was sold to 
 pay a mortgage, and John Tatum, who was then 
 about to be married, concluded to purchase it. Many 
 people warned him of the trouble he would have 
 with a quarrelsome and intemperate neighbor. But, 
 after mature reflection, he concluded to trust to the 
 influence of a peaceful and kind example, and ac- 
 cordingly purchased the farm. 
 
 Soon after he removed thither, he proposed to do 
 away the Devil's Lane by building a new fence on 
 the boundary, entirely at his own expense. His 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC I. HOPPER. 255 
 
 neighbor acceded to the proposition in a very surly 
 manner, and for a considerable time seemed deter- 
 mined to find, 'or make some occasion for quarrel. 
 But the young Quaker met all his provocations with 
 forbearance, and never missed an opportunity to 
 oblige him. Good finally overcame evil. The tur- 
 bulent spirit, having nothing to excite it, gradually 
 subsided into calmness. In process of time, he 
 evinced a disposition to be kind and obliging also. 
 Habits of temperance and industry returned, and 
 during the last years of his life he was considered a 
 remarkably good neighbor. 
 
 Friend Hopper's attachment to the religious socie- 
 ty he had joined in early life was quite as strong, 
 perhaps even stronger, than his love of kindred. 
 The Yearly Meeting of Friends at Philadelphia w as 
 a season of great satisfaction, and he delighted to 
 have his house full of guests, even to overflowing. 
 On these occasions, he obeyed the impulses of his 
 generous nature by seeking out the least wealthy 
 and distinguished, who would be less likely than 
 others to receive many invitations. In addition to 
 these, who were often personal strangers to him, he had 
 his own familiar and cherished friends. A day sel- 
 dom passed without a visit from Nicholas Wain, who 
 had great respect and affection for him and his wife, 
 and delighted in their society. He cordially approv- 
 ed of their consistency in carrying out their consci- 
 
256 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 entious convictions into the practices of daily life. 
 Some of Isaac's relatives aiid friends thought he de- 
 voted rather too much time and attention to philan- 
 thropic missions, but Nicholas Wain always stood by 
 him, a w^arm and faithful friend to the last. He v^'as 
 a true gentleman, of courtly, pleasing manners, and 
 amusing conversation. Notwithstanding his weight 
 of character, he was so playful with the children, 
 that his visits w^ere always hailed by them, as de- 
 lightful opportunities for fun and frolic. He looked 
 beneath the surface of society, and had learned to 
 estimate men and things according to their real value, 
 not by a conventional standard. His wife did not 
 regard the pomps and vanities of the world with pre- 
 cisely the same degree of indifference that he did. 
 She thought it would be suitable to their wealth and 
 station to have a footman behind her carriage. This 
 wish being frequently expressed, her husband at last 
 promised to comply with it. Accordingly, the next 
 time the carriage was ordered, for the purpose oi 
 making a styhsh call, she was gratified to see a foot- 
 man mounted. When she arrived at her place of 
 destination, the door of her carriage was opened, and 
 the steps let down in a very obsequious manner, by 
 the new servant ; and great was her surprise and 
 confusion, to recognize in him her ow^n husband ! 
 
 Jacob Lindley, of Chester county, was another 
 frequent visitor at Friend Hopper's house ; and many 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 257 
 
 were the lively conversations they had together. He 
 was a preacher in the Society of Friends, and missed 
 no opportunity, either in pubhc or private, to protest 
 earnestly against the sin of slavery. He often cau- 
 tioned Friends against laying too much stress on their 
 own peculiar forms, while they professed to abjure 
 forms. He said he himself had once received a les- 
 son on this subject, which did him much good. Once, 
 when he was seated in meeting, an influential Friend 
 walked in, dressed in a coat with large metal buttons, 
 which he had borrowed in consequence of a drench- 
 ing rain ! He seated himself opposite to Jacob 
 Lindley, who was so much disturbed by the glitter- 
 ing buttons, that "his meeting did him no good." 
 When the congregation rose to depart, he felt con- 
 strained to go up to the Friend who had so much 
 troubled him, and inquire why he had so grievously 
 departed from the simplicity enjoined upon members 
 of their Society. The good man looked down upon 
 his garments, and quietly replied, "I borrowed the 
 coat because my own was wet ; and indeed, Jacob, 
 I did not notice wliat buttons were on it." Jacob 
 shook his hand warmly, and said, "Thou art a bet- 
 ter Christian than I am, and I will learn of thee." 
 
 He often used to inculcate the same moral by re- 
 lating another incident, which happened in old times, 
 when Quakers were accustomed to wear cocked hats 
 turned up at the sides. A Friend bought a hat of 
 
258 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 this description, without observing that it was looped 
 up with a button. As he sat in meeting with his hat 
 on, as usual, he observed many eyes directed toward 
 him, and some with a very sorrowful expression. 
 He could not conjecture a reason for this, till he 
 happened to take off his hat and lay it beside him. 
 As soon as he noticed the button, he rose and said, 
 "Friends, if religion consists in a button, I wouldn't 
 give a button for it." Having delivered this short 
 and pithy sermon, he seated himself, and resumed 
 the offending hat with the utmost composure. 
 
 Once, when Jacob Lindley was dining with Friend 
 Hopper, the conversation turned upon his religious 
 experiences, and he related a circumstance to which 
 he said he very seldom alluded, and never without 
 feelings of solemnity and awe. Being seized with 
 sudden and severe illness, his soul left the body for 
 several hours, during which time he saw visions of 
 heavenly glory, not to be described. When con- 
 sciousness began to return, he felt grieved that he 
 was obliged to come back to this state of being, and 
 he was never after able to feel the same interest in 
 terrestrial things, that he had felt before he obtained 
 this glimpse of the spiritual world. 
 
 Arthur Howell was another intimate acquaintance 
 of Friend Hopper. He was a currier in Philadel- 
 phia, a preacher in the Society of Friends, charac- 
 terized by kindly feelings, and a very tender con- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 259 
 
 science. Upon one occasion, he purchased from the 
 captain of a vessel a quantity of oil, which he after- 
 ward sold at an advanced price. Under these cir- 
 cumstances, he thought the captain had not received 
 so much as he ought to have ; and he gave him an 
 additional dollar on every barrel. This man was re- 
 maikable for spiritual-mindedness and the gift oi 
 prophecy. It was no uncommon thing for him to 
 relate occurrences which were happening at the mo- 
 ment many miles distant, and to foretell the arrival 
 of people, or events, when there appeared to be no 
 external reasons on which to ground such expecta- 
 tions. 
 
 One Sunday morning, he was suddenly impelled 
 to proceed to Germantown in haste. As he ap- 
 proached the village, he met a funeral procession. 
 He had no knowledge whatever of the deceased ; 
 but it was suddenly revealed to him that the occu- 
 pant of the coffin before him was a woman whose 
 hfe had been saddened by the suspicion of a crime, 
 which she never committed. The impression be- 
 came very strong on his mind that she wished him 
 to make certain statements at her funeral. Accord- 
 ingly, he followed the procession, and when they 
 arrived at the meeting-house, he entered and listened 
 to the prayer delivered by her pastor. When the 
 customary services were finished, Arthur Howell 
 rose, and asked permission to speak. "I did not 
 
1260 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 know the deceased, even by name," said he. "But 
 it is given me to say, that she suffered much and 
 unjustly. Her neighbors generally suspected her 
 of a crime, which she did not commit ; and in a few 
 weeks from this time, it will be made clearly mani- 
 fest to the world that she w^as innocent. A few 
 hours before her death, she talked on this subjec 
 with the clergyman who attended upon her, and 
 who is now present ; and it is given me to declare 
 the communication she made to him upon that oc- 
 casion." 
 
 He then proceeded to relate the particulars of the 
 interview ; to which the clergyman listened with 
 evident astonishment. When the communication 
 was finished, he said, "I don't know who this man 
 is, or how he has obtained information on this sub- 
 ject ; but certain it is, he has repeat'ed, word for 
 word, a conversation which I supposed was know^n 
 only to myself and the deceased." 
 
 The woman in question had gone out in the fields 
 one day, with her infant in her arms, and she re- 
 turned without it. She said she hctd laid it down 
 on a heap of dry leaves, while she went to pick a 
 few flowers ; and w^hen she returned, the baby was 
 gone. The fields and woods were searched in vain 
 and neigbbors began to whisper that she had com- 
 mitted infanticide. Then rumors arose that she was 
 dissatisfied with her marriage ; that her heart re- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 261 
 
 mained with a young man to whom she was pre- 
 viously engaged ; and that her brain was affected by 
 this secret unhappiness. She was never pubhcly ac- 
 cused ; partly because there. was no evidence against 
 her, and partly because it w^as supposed that if she 
 did commit the crime, it must have been owing to 
 aberation of mind. But she became aAvare of the 
 whisperings against her, and the consciousness of 
 being an object of suspicion, combined with the 
 mysterious disappearance of her child, cast a heavy 
 cloud over her life, and made her appear more and 
 more unlike her former self. This she confided to 
 her clergyman, in the interview shortly preceding 
 her death ; and she likewise told him that the young 
 man, to whom she had been engaged, had never for- 
 given her for not marrying him. 
 
 A few weeks after her decease, this young man 
 confessed that he had stolen the babe. He had fol- 
 lowed the mother, unobserved by her, and had seen 
 her lay the sleeping infant on its bed of leaves. As 
 he gazed upon it, a mingled feehng of jealousy and 
 revenge took possession of his soul. In obedience 
 to a sudden impulse, he seized the babe, and carried 
 H off hastily. He subsequently conveyed it to a dis- 
 ant village, and placed it out to nurse, under an 
 assumed name and history. The child was found 
 alive and well, at the place he indicated. Thus the 
 mother's innocence was made clearly manifest to the 
 
262 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER 
 
 world, as the Quaker preacher had predicted at her 
 funeral. 
 
 I often heard Friend Hopper relate this anecdote, 
 and he always said that he could vouch for the 
 iruth of it ; and for several other similar things in 
 connection with the ministry of his friend Arthur. 
 
 A singular case of inward perception likewise oc- 
 curred in the experience of his own mother. In her 
 Diary, which is still preserved in the family, she 
 describes a visit to some of her children in Phila- 
 delphia, and adds : " Soon after this, the Lord showed 
 me that I should lose a son. It was often told me, 
 though without sound of words. Nothing could ba 
 more intelligible than this still, small voice. It 
 said. Thou wilt lose a son; and he is a pleasant 
 child." 
 
 Her son James resided with relatives in Philadel- 
 phia, and often w^ent to bathe in the Delaw'are. On 
 one of these occasions, soon after his mother's visit, 
 a' friend who went with him sank in the water, and 
 James lost his own life by efforts to save him. A 
 messenger was sent to inform his parents, who lived 
 at the distance of eight miles. While he staid in 
 the house, reluctant to do his mournful errand, the 
 mother was siezed with sudden dread, and heard 
 the inward voice saying, "James is drowned." She 
 said abruptly to the messenger, "Thou hast come 
 to tell me that my son James is drowned. Oh, how 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 263 
 
 (lid it happen ? " He was much surprised, and asked 
 \Yhy she thought so. She could give no explanation 
 of it, except that it had been suddenly revealed to 
 her mind. 
 
 I have heard and read many such stories of Qua 
 kers, which seem too well authenticated to admit of 
 doubt. They themselves refer all such cases to " the 
 inward hght;" and that phrase, as they understand 
 it, conveys a satisfactory explanation to their minds. 
 1 leave psychologists to settle the question as they 
 can. 
 
 Those who are well acquainted with Quaker views, 
 are aware that by "the inward light," they signify 
 something higher and more comprehensive than con- 
 science. They regard it as the voice of God in the 
 soul, w-hich w^ill always guard man from evil, trnd 
 guide him into truth, if reverently hstened to, ii?. 
 stillness of the passions, and obedience of the will. 
 These strong impressions on individual minds con- 
 stitute their only call and consecration to the minis- 
 try, and have directed them in the apphcation of 
 moral principles to a variety of subjects, such as in- 
 temperance, war, and slavery. Men and women 
 were impelled by the interior monitor to go about 
 preaching on these topics, until their- individual views 
 became what are called "leading testimonies" in the 
 Society. The abjuration of slavery was one of their 
 earliest "testimonies." There was much preaching 
 
2(i4 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 against it in their public meetings, and many com- 
 mittees were appointed to expostulate in private with 
 those who held slaves. At an early period, it be- 
 came an estabhshed rule of discipline for the Society 
 to disown any member, who refused to manumit his 
 bondmen. 
 
 Friend Hopper used to tell an interesting anecdote 
 in connection with these committees. In the course 
 of their visits, they concluded to pass by one of 
 their members, who held only one slave, and he was 
 very old. He was too infirm to earn his own living, 
 and as he was very kindly treated, they supposed he 
 would have no wish for freedom. But Isaac Jack- 
 son, one of the committee, a very benevolent and 
 conscientious man, had a strong impression on his 
 mind that duty required him not to omit this case. 
 He accordingly went alone to the master, and stated 
 how the subject appeared to him, in the inward light 
 of his own soul. The Friend was not easily con- 
 vinced. He brought forward many reasons for not 
 emancipating his slave ; and one of the strongest 
 was that the man was too feeble to labor for his own 
 support, and therefore freedom would be of no value 
 to him. Isaac Jackson rephed, "He labored for 
 thee without wages, while he had strength, and it is 
 thy duty to support liim now. Whether he would 
 value freedom or not, is a question he alone is com- 
 petent to decide." 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 265 
 
 These friendly remonstrances produced such effect, 
 tliat the master agreed to manumit his bondman, 
 and orive a written obh«^ation that he should be com- 
 fortably supported during the remainder of Kis ]ife, 
 by him or his heirs. When the papers were prepar- 
 ed the slave was called into the parlor, and Isaac 
 Jackson inquired, "Would'st thou like to be free?" 
 He promptly an: wered that he should. The Friend 
 suggested that he was now too feeble to labor much, 
 and inquired how he would manage to obtain a liv- 
 ing. The old man meekly replied, '^Providence has 
 been kind to me thus far ; and I am willing to trust 
 him the rest of my life." 
 
 Isaac Jackson then held up the papers and said, 
 *'Thou art a free man. Thy master has manumitted 
 thee, and promised to maintain thee as long as thou 
 may est live." 
 
 This was so unexpected, that the aged bondman 
 was completely overcome. For a few nioments, he 
 remained in profound silence ; then, with a sudden 
 impulse, he fell on his knees, and poured forth a 
 short and fervent prayer of thanksgiving to his 
 Heavenly Father, for prolonging his life till he had 
 the happiness to feel himself a free man. 
 
 The master and his . adviser were both surprised 
 and affected by this eloquent outburst of grateful 
 feeling. The poor old servant had seemed so com- 
 fortable and contented, that no one supposed freedorx 
 12 
 
266 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 was of great importance to him. But, as honest 
 Isaac Jackson observed, he alone was competent to 
 decide that question. 
 
 Quakers consider "the inward hght" as a guide 
 not merely m cases involving moral principles, but 
 also in the regulation of external affairs ; and in the 
 annals of their Society, are some remarkable instan- 
 ces of dangers avoided by the help of tliis internal 
 monitor. 
 
 Friend Hopper used to mention a case where a 
 strong impression had been made on his ow^n mind, 
 without his being able to assign any adequate reason 
 for it. A young man, descended from a highly re- 
 spectable Quaker family in New-Jersey, went to 
 South Carolina and entered into business. He mar- 
 ried there, and as his wife did not belong to the So- 
 ciety of Friends, he was of course disow^ned. After 
 some years of commercial success, he failed, and 
 went to Philadelphia, where Friend Hopper became 
 acquainted with him, and formed an opinion not un- 
 favorable. When he had been in that city some 
 time, he mentioned that his wife ov/nedland in Caro- 
 lina, which he was very desirous to cultivate, but 
 was prevented by conscientious scr'.rples concerning 
 slave-labor. He said if he could i:^duce some colored 
 people from Philadelphia to go there and work for 
 him as free laborers, it would be an advantage to 
 >'m, and a benefit to them. He urged Friend Hop- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 267 
 
 per to exert his influence over them to convince 
 Ihcm that such precautions could be taken, as would 
 prevent any danger of their being reduced to slave- 
 ry ; saying that if he would consent to do so, he 
 doubtless could obtain as many laborers as he want- 
 ed. The plan appeared feasible, and Friend Hopper 
 was inclined to assist him in carrying it into execu- 
 tion. Soon after, two colored men called upon him, 
 and said they were ready to go, provided he thought 
 well of the project. Nothing had occurred to change 
 his opinion of the man, or to excite distrust concern- 
 ing his agricultural scheme. But an impression came 
 upon his mind that the laborers had better not go ; 
 an impression so strong, that he thought it right to 
 be influenced by it. He accordingly told them he 
 had thought well of the plan, but his views had 
 changed, and he adAdsed them to remain where they 
 were. This greatly surprised the man who wished 
 to employ them, and he called to expostulate on the 
 subject ; repeating his statement concerning the 
 great advantage they wo i<d derive from entering in- 
 to his service. 
 
 "There is no use in arguing the matter," replied 
 Friend Hopper. "I have no cause whatever to sus- 
 pect thee of any dishonest or dishonorable inten- 
 tions ; but there is on my mind an impression of dan- 
 ger, so powerful that I cannot conscientiously have 
 
268 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 any agency in inducing colored laborers to go with 
 thee." 
 
 Not succeeding in his project, the bankrupt mer- 
 chant went to New-Jersey for a time, to reside with 
 his father, who was a worthy and influential member 
 of the Society of Friends. An innocent, good na- 
 tured old colored man, a fugitive from Virginia, had 
 for some time been employed to work on the farm, 
 and the family had become much attached to him. 
 The son who had returned from Carolina was very 
 friendly with this simple-hearted old servant, and 
 easily gained his confidence. When he had learned 
 his story, he offered to write to his master, and ena- 
 ble him to purchase his freedom for a sum which he 
 could gradually repay by labor. The fugitive was 
 exceedingly grateful, and put himself completely in 
 his power by a full statement of all particulars. 
 The false-hearted man did indeed write to the mas- 
 ter ; and the poor old slave was soon after arrested 
 and carried to Philadelphia in irons. Friend Hop- 
 per was sent for, and went to see him in prison. 
 With groans and sobs, the captive told how wickedly 
 he had been deceived. ''I thought he was a Quaker, 
 and so I trusted him," said he. "But I saw my 
 master's agent pay him fifty dollars for betraying me." 
 
 Friend Hopper assured him that the deceiver was 
 not a Quaker ; and that he did not believe any Qua- 
 ker on the face of the earth would do such an unjust 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 269 
 
 and cruel deed. He could devise no means to rescue 
 die sufferer ; and with an aching heart he was com- 
 pelled to see him carried off into slavery, without 
 being able to offer any other solace than an affec- 
 tionate farewell. 
 
 The conduct of this base hypocrite proved that 
 cl warning presentiment against him had not been 
 without foundation. Grieved and indignant at the 
 vrrong he had done to a helpless and uioffending fel- 
 low-creature, Friend Hopper wrote to him as fol- 
 lows : "Yesterday, I visited the poor old man in 
 prison, whom, thou hast so perfidiously betrayed. 
 Gloomy and hopeless as his case is, I would prefer it 
 to thine. Thou hast received fifty dollars as the re- 
 ward of thy treachery ; but what good can it do 
 thee ? Canst thou lay down thy head at night, with- 
 out feeling the sharp goadings of a guilty conscience '^ 
 Canst thou ask forgiveness of thy sins of our Heav- 
 enly Father, whom thou hast so grievously insulted 
 by thy hypocrisy ? Judas betrayed his master for 
 thirty pieces of silver, and afterward hung himself. 
 Thou hast betrayed thy brother for fifty ; and if thy 
 conscience is not seared, as wdth hot iron, thy com- 
 punction must be great. I feel no disposition to up- 
 oraid thee. I have no doubt thy own heart does that 
 sufficiently ; for our beneficent Creator will not suffer 
 any to be at ease in their sins. Thy friend, I. T. H." 
 The worthy old Quaker in New-Jersey was not 
 
270 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER 
 
 aware of his son's villainous conduct until somr 
 time after. When the circumstances were made 
 known to the family they were exceedingly morti- 
 fied and afflicted. 
 
 Friend Hopper used to tell another story, which 
 forms a beautiful contrast to the foregoing painful 
 narrative. I repeat it, because it illustrates the tea- 
 derness of spirit, w^hich has so peculiarly character- 
 ized the Society of Friends, and because I hope it 
 may fall hke dew on hearts parched by vindictive 
 feelings. Charles Carey hved near Philadelphia, in 
 a comfortable house wdth a few acres of pasture ad- 
 joining. A young horse, apparently healthy, though 
 lean, was one day offered him in the market for fifty 
 dollars. The cheapness tempted him to purciiase ; 
 for he thought the clover of his pastures would soon 
 put the animal in good condition, and enable him to 
 sell him at an advanced price. He was too poor to 
 command the required sum himself, but he borrowed 
 it of a friend. The horse, being well fed and lightly 
 worked, soon became a noble looking animal, and 
 was taken to the city for sale. But scarcely had he 
 entered the market, when a stranger stepped up and 
 claimed him as his property, recently stolen. Chark\< 
 Carey's son, who had charge of the animal, wa.- 
 taken before a magistrate. Isaac T. Hopper was 
 sent for, and easily proved that the character of the 
 young man and his father was above all suspicion. 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPE.R. 271 
 
 Gut the stranger produced satisfactory evidence that 
 he was the rightful owner of the horse, which was 
 accordingly delivered up to him. When Charles 
 Carey heard the unwelcome news, he quietly re- 
 marked, "It is hard for me to lose the money; but 
 I am glad the man has recovered his property." 
 
 About a year afterward, having occasion to go to 
 a tavern in Philadelphia, he saw a man in the bar- 
 room, whom he at once recognized as the person 
 who had sold him the horse. He walked up to him 
 and inquired whether he remembered the transac 
 oion. Being answered in the affirmative, he said 
 "I am the man who bought that horse. Didst thou 
 Know he was stolen ?" With a stupified manner and 
 a faltering voice, the stranger answered, "Yes." 
 
 " Come along with me, then," said Charles ; "and 
 I will ])ut thee where thou wilt not steal another 
 horse very soon." 
 
 The thief resigned himself to his fate with a sort 
 of hopeless indifference. But before they reached 
 the magistrate's office, the voice within began to 
 plead gently with the Quaker, and turned him from 
 the sternness of his purpose. "I am a poor man," 
 said he, "and thou hast greatly injured me. I can- 
 not afford to lose fifty dollars ; but to prosecute thee 
 .'■ill not compensate me for the loss. Go thy way, 
 ind conduct thyself honestly in future." 
 
 The man seemed amazed. He stood for a mo- 
 
272 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 ment, hesitating and confused ; then walked slowl)- 
 away. But after taking a few steps, he turned back 
 and said, "Where can I find you, if I should ever 
 be able to make restitution for the wrong I have 
 done ?" 
 
 Charles replied, "I trust thou dost not intend to 
 jest with me, after all the trouble thou hast causer? 
 me?" 
 
 "No, indeed I do not," answered the stranger. 
 "I hope to repay you, some time or other." 
 
 "Yeryweliy rejoined the Friend, "if thou ever 
 hast anything for me, thou canst leave it with Isaac 
 T. Hopper, at the corner of Walnut and Dock- 
 streets." Thus they parted, and never met again. 
 
 About a year after, Friend Hopper found a letter 
 on his desk, addressed to Charles Carey. When it 
 was delivered to him, he w-as surprised to find that it 
 came from the man who had stolen the horse, and 
 contained twenty dollars. A few months later, an- 
 other letter containing the same sum, was left in the 
 same way. Not long after, a third letter arrived, 
 enclosing twenty dollars ; the whole forming a sum 
 sufficient to repay both principal and interest of the 
 money which the kind-hearted Quaker had lost by 
 his dishonesty. 
 
 This last letter stated that the w^riter had r.- 
 thoughts of stealing the horse ten minutes before he 
 did it. After he had sold him, he was so haunted by 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 273 
 
 remorse and fear of detection, that life became a 
 burthen to him, and he cared not what became of 
 him. But when he was arrested, and so unexpect- 
 edly set at liberty, the crushing weight was taken 
 from him. He felt inspired by fresh courage, and 
 sustained by the hope of making some atonement for 
 what he had done. He made strenuous efforts to 
 miprove his condition, and succeeded. He was then 
 teaching school, was assessor of the township where 
 he resided, and no one suspected that he had ever 
 committed a dishonest action. 
 
 The good man, to whom tliis epistle was address- 
 ed, read it with moistened eyes, and felt that the re- 
 ward of righteousness is peace. 
 
 For many years after Isaac T. Hopper joined the 
 Society of Friends, a spirit of peace and of kindly 
 communion prevailed among them. No sect has 
 ever arisen which so nearly approached the charac- 
 ter of primitive Christianity, in all relations with 
 each other and with their fellow in en. But as soon 
 as the early christians were reheved from persecu- 
 tion, they began to persecute each other ; and so it 
 was with the Quakers. Having become estabhshed 
 and respected by the world, the humble and self-de- 
 nying spirit which at the outset renounced and con- 
 tended with the world gradually departed. IMany 
 
 '. them were rich, and not unfrequently their for- 
 tunes were acquired by trading with slave-holders. 
 12* 
 
274 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 Such men were well satisfied to have the testimonies 
 of their spiritiuil forefather's against slavery read 
 over among themselves, at stated seasons ; but they 
 felt little sympathy with those of their cotemporaries, 
 who -considered it a duty to remonstrate publicly and 
 freely with all who were connected with the iniqui 
 tous system. 
 
 A strong and earnest preacher, by the name of 
 Elias Hicks, made himself more offensive than others 
 in this respect. He appears to have been a very 
 just and conscientious man, with great reverence for 
 God, and exceedingly little for human authority. 
 Everywhere, in public and in private, he lifted up his 
 voice against the sin of slavery. He would eat no 
 sugar that was made by slaves, and wear no gar- 
 ment which he supposed to have been produced by 
 unpaid labor. In a remarkable manner, he showed 
 this "ruling passion strong in death." A few hours 
 before he departed from this world, his friends, see- 
 ing him shiver, placed a comfortable over him. He 
 felt of it with his feeble hands, and made a strong 
 effort to push it away. When they again drew it up 
 over his shoulders, he manifested the same symp- 
 toms of abhorrence. One of them, who began to 
 conjecture the cause, inquired, "Dost thou dislike 
 it because it is made of cotton ?" He was too far 
 gone to speak, but he moved his head in token of a 
 sent. When they removed the article of slave pro- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 275 
 
 duce, and substituted a woolen blanket, he remained 
 quiet, and passed away in peace. 
 
 He was accustomed to say, "It takes live fish to 
 swim up stream ;" and unquestionably he and his 
 friend Isaac T. Hopper w^ere both very much alive. 
 The quiet boldness of this man was altogether unman- 
 ageable. In Virginia or Carolina, he preached more 
 earnestly and directly against slavery, than he did m 
 New- York or Pennsylvania , for the simple reason 
 that it seemed to be more needed there. Upon one 
 of these occasions, a slaveholder who went to hear 
 him from curiosity, left the meeting in great wrath, 
 swearing he would blow out that fellow's brains if he 
 ventured near his plantation. When the preacher 
 heard of this threat, he put on his hat and proceeded 
 straightway to the forbidden place. In answer to his 
 inquiries, a slave informed him that his master was 
 then at dinner, but w^ould see him in a short time. 
 He seated himself and waited patiently until the 
 planter entered the room. With a calm and digni- 
 fied manner, he thus addressed him : "I understand 
 thou hast threatened to blow out the brains of Elias 
 Hicks, if he comes upon thy plantation. I am Elias 
 Hicks." 
 
 The Virginian acknowledged that he did make 
 such a threat, and said he considered it perfectly jus- 
 tifiable to do such a deed, when a man came to 
 vrcach rebellion to his slaves. 
 
«:/b LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 "I came to preach the Gospel, which inculcates 
 forgiveness of injuries upon slaves as well as upon 
 other men," replied the Quaker. " But tell me, if 
 thou canst, how this Gospel can be tndy preached, 
 without showing the slaves that they are injured, 
 and thus making a man of thy sentiments feel as if 
 they were encouraged in rebelhon." 
 
 This led to a long argument, maintained in the 
 most friendly spirit. At parting, the slaveholder 
 shook hands with the preacher, and invited him to 
 come again. His visits were renewed, and six 
 months after, the Virginian emancipated all his slaves. 
 
 When preaching in the free states, he earnestly 
 called upon all to abstain from slave-produce, and 
 thus in a measure wash their own hands from parti- 
 cipation in a system of abominable wickedness and 
 cruelty. His zeal on this subject annoyed some of 
 his brethren, but they could not make him amena 
 ble to discipline for it ; for these views were in ac- 
 cordance with the earliest and strongest testimonies 
 of the Society of Friends ; moreover, it would have 
 been discreditable to acknowledge such a ground of 
 offence. But the secret dissatisfaction showed itself 
 in a disposition to find fault with him. Charges 
 were brought against his doctrines. He was accused 
 of denying the authority of Scripture, and the di- 
 vinity of Christ. 
 
 Tt was a departure from the original basis of the 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 277 
 
 Society to assume any standard whatsoever con- 
 cerning creeds. It is true that the early Quakers 
 wrote volumes of controversy against many of the 
 prevailing opinions of their day ; such as the doctrine 
 of predestination, and of salvation depending upon 
 faith, rather than upon works. All the customary 
 external observances, such as holy days, baptism, 
 and the Lord's Supper, they considered as belonging 
 to a less spiritual age, and that the time had come 
 for them to be done away. Concerning the Trinity, 
 there appears to have been difference of opinion 
 among them from the earliest time. When George 
 Fox expressed a fear that William Penn had gone 
 too far in defending "the true unity of God," Penn 
 replied that he had never heard any one speak more 
 plainly concerning the manhood of Christ, than 
 George Fox himself. Penn was imprisoned in the 
 Tower for "rejecting the mystery of the Trinity," in 
 a book called " Tiie Sandy Foundation Shaken." 
 He afterward wrote "Innocency with her Open 
 Face," regarded by some as a compromise, which 
 procured his release. But though various popular 
 doctrines naturally came in their way, and chal- 
 lenged discussion, while they were endeavoring to 
 introduce a new order of things, the characteristic 
 feature of their movement v/as attention to practical 
 righteousness rather than theological tenets. They 
 did not require their members to profess faith in any 
 
278 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 creed. They had but one single bond of union ; 
 and that was the behef that every man ought to be 
 guided in his actions, and in the interpretation of 
 Scripture, by the hght within his own soul. Their 
 history shows that they mainly used this light to 
 guide them in the application of moral principles. 
 Upon the priesthood, in every form, they made un- 
 sparing warfare ; believing that the gifts of the Spirit 
 ought never to be paid with money. They appointed 
 committees to visit the sick, the afflicted, and the 
 destitute, and to superintend marriages and funerals. 
 The farmer, the shoemaker, the physician, or the 
 merchant, followed his vocation diligently, and when- 
 ever the Spirit moved him to exhort his brethren, he 
 did so. The "First, and Fifth Day" of the week, 
 called by other denominations Sunday and Thurs- 
 day, were set apart by them for religious meetings. 
 Women were placed on an equality with men, by 
 being admitted to this free Gospel ministry, and ap- 
 pointed on committees with men, to regulate the 
 affairs of the Society. They abjured war under all 
 circumstances, and suffered great persecution rather 
 than pay military taxes. They early discouraged 
 the distillation or use of spirituous liquors, and dis- 
 owned any of their members who distilled them from 
 grain. Protests against slavery were among their 
 most earnest testimonies, and it was early made a 
 rule of disciplin(^ ihat no member of the Society 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 279 
 
 should hold slaves. When the Quakers first arose, 
 it was a custom in England, as it still is on the con- 
 tinent of Europe, to say thou to an inferior, or equal, 
 and you to a superior. 7'hey saw in this custom an 
 ijifringement of the great law of human brotherhood; 
 and because they would "call no man master," they 
 said thou to every person, without distinction oi 
 rank. To the conservatives of their day, this spirit- 
 ual democracy seemed like deliberate contempt of 
 authority ; and as such, deserving of severe punish- 
 ment. More strenuously than all other things, they 
 denied the right of any set of men to prescribe a 
 creed for others. The only authority they recog- 
 nized was "the light within ;" and for freedom to 
 follow this, they were always ready to suffer or to 
 die. 
 
 On all these subjects, there could be no doubt 
 that Elias Hicks was a Quaker of the old genuine 
 stamp. But he differed from many others in some 
 of his theological views. He considered Christ as 
 "the only Son of the most high God;" but he de- 
 nied that "the outward person,'''' which suffered on 
 Calvary was properly the Son of God. He attached 
 less importance to miracles, than did many of his 
 brethren. He said he had learned more of his own 
 soul, and had clearer revelations of God and duty, 
 while following his plough, than from all the books 
 he had ever read. He reverenced the Bible as a 
 
280 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 record of divine power and goodness, but did not 
 consider a knowledge of it essential to salvation ; 
 for he supposed that a Hindoo or an African, who 
 never heard of the Scriptures, or of Christ, might 
 become truly a child of God, if he humbly and sin- 
 cerely followed the divine light within, given to 
 every human soul, according to the measure of its 
 faithfulness. 
 
 Many of his brethren, whose views assimilated 
 more with orthodox opinions, accused him of having 
 departed from the principles of early Friends. But 
 his predecessors had been oruided only by the light 
 wqthin ; and he followed the same guide, without de- 
 ciding beforehand precisely how far it might lead 
 him. This principle, if sincerely adopted and con- 
 sistently applied, would obviously lead to large and 
 liberal results, sufficient for the progressive growth 
 of all coming ages. It was so generally admitted to 
 be the one definite bond of union among early 
 Friends, that the right of Elias Hicks to utter his 
 own convictions, whether they were in accordance 
 with others or not, would probably never have been 
 questioned, if some influential members of the Socie- 
 ty had not assumed more power than was delegated 
 to them ; thereby constituting themselves a kind of 
 ecclesiastical tribunal. It is the nature of such au- 
 thority to seek enlargement of its boundaries, by en- 
 croaching more and more on individual freedom. 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 281 
 
 The friends of Elias Hicks did not adopt his views 
 or the -dews of any other man as a standard of opin- 
 ion. On the subject of the Trinity, for instance, 
 there were various shadings of opinion among them. 
 7^he piobabihty seems to be that the influence of 
 [:^nitarian sects, and of Orthodox sects had, in the 
 courses of years, gradually glided in among the Qua- 
 kers, and more or less fashioned their theological 
 opinions, though themselves were unconscious of it ; 
 as we all are of the surrounding air we are constant- 
 ly inhaling. 
 
 But it was not the Unitarianism of Ehas Hicks 
 that his adherents fought for, or considered it neces- 
 sary to a;dopt. They simply contended for his right 
 to express his own convictions, and denied the autho- 
 rity of any man, or body of men, to judge his preach- 
 ing by the assumed standard of any creed. There- 
 fore, the real ground of the struggle seems to have 
 been resistance to ecclesiastical power ; though theo- 
 logical opinions unavoidably became intertwisted 
 with it. It was a new form of the old battle, per- 
 petually renewed ever since the world began, be- 
 tween authority and individual freedom. 
 
 The agitation, which had for some time been 
 heavincr under the surface, is said to have been 
 brought into open manifestation by a sermon which 
 Ehas Hicks preached against the use of slave pro- 
 duce, in 1819. A bitter warfare followed. Those 
 
282 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 who refused to denounce his opinions were accused 
 of being infidels and separatists ; and they called 
 their accusers bigoted and intolerant. With regard 
 to disputed doctrines, both claimed to find sufficient 
 authority in the writings of early Friends ; and each 
 side charged the other with mutilating and misrepre- 
 senting those writings. As usual in theological con- 
 troversies, the skein became more and more entan- 
 gled, till there was no way left but to cut it in two. 
 In 1827 and 1828, a separation took place in the 
 Yearly Meetings of Philadelphia, New-York, and 
 several other places. Thenceforth, the members 
 were divided into two distinct sects. In some places 
 the friends of Elias Hicks were far the more nu- 
 merous. In others, his opponents had a majority. 
 Each party claimed to be the genuine Society of 
 Friends, and denied the other's right to retain the 
 title. The opponents of Elias Hicks called them- 
 selves "Orthodox Friends," and named his adherents 
 "Hicksites." The latter repudiated the title, be- 
 cause they did not acknowledge him as their stan- 
 dard of belief, though they loved and reverenced his 
 character, and stood by him as the representative 
 of liberty of conscience. They called themselves 
 "Friends," and the others "the Orthodox." 
 
 The question which was the genuine Society ot 
 Friends was more important than it would seem to a 
 mere looker on ; for large pecuniary interests were 
 
' LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 283 
 
 involved therein. It is well known that Quakers 
 form a sort of commonwealth by themselves, within 
 the civil commonwealth by which they are governed. 
 They pay the public school-tax, and in addition build 
 their own school-houses, and employ teachers of 
 their own Society. They support their own poor, 
 while they pay the same pauper tax as other citi 
 zens. They have burying grounds apart from others, 
 because they have conscientious scruples concerning 
 monuments and epitaphs. Of course, the question 
 w^hich of the two contending parties was the true 
 Society of Friends involved the question w^ho owned 
 the meeting-houses, the burying grounds, and the 
 school funds. The friends of Elias Hicks offered to 
 divide the property, according to the relative num- 
 bers of each party ; but those called Orthodox refused 
 to accept the proposition. Lawsuits were brought 
 in various parts of the country. What a bitter state 
 of animosity existed may be conjectured from the 
 fact that the " Orthodox" in Philadelphia refused to 
 allow "Hicksites" to bury their dead in the ground 
 belonging to the undivided Society of Friends. On 
 the occasion of funerals, they refused to deliver up 
 the key ; and after their opponents had remonstrated 
 in vain, they forced the lock. 
 
 ^ I believe in almost every instance, where the 
 *'Hicksites" were a, majority, and thus had a claim 
 to the larger share of property, they offered to di- 
 
284 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 vide in proportion to the relative numbers of the two 
 parties. After the separation in New-York, they re- 
 newed this offer, which had once been rejected ; and 
 the " Orthodox" finally agreed to accept a stipulated 
 sum for their interest in the property. The Friends 
 called "Hicksites" numbered in the whole more than 
 seventy thousand. 
 
 Quakers in England generally took part against 
 Elias Hicks and his friends. Some, who were styled 
 "The Evangehcal Party," went much beyond their 
 brethren in conformi+y with the prevailing denomi- 
 nations of Christians called Orthodox. Many of 
 them considered a knowledge of the letter of Scrip- 
 ture essential to salvation ; and some even approved 
 of baptism by water ; a singular departure from the 
 total abrogation of external rites, which characterized 
 Quakerism from the beginning. William and Mary 
 Howitt, the well known and highly popular Enghsh 
 writers, were born members of this religious Society. 
 In an article concerning the Hicksite controversy, 
 written for the London Christian Advocate, the for- 
 mer says : " My opinion is, that Friends will see 
 cause to repent the excision of that great portion of 
 their own body, on the plea of heretical opinions 
 By sanctioning it, they are bound, if they act im- 
 partially and consistently, to expel others also for 
 heterodox opinions. This conies of violating the sa- 
 cred liberty of conscience ; of allowing ourselves to 
 
LIFE OF Iv«?AAC T. HOPPER. 285 
 
 De infected with the leaven of a blind zeal, instead 
 of the broad philanthropy of Christ. Is there no 
 better alternative ? Yes. To adopt the principle of 
 William Penn ; to allow freedom of opinion ; and 
 while wg permit the Evangelical party to hold their 
 favorite notions, so long as they consent to conform 
 to our system of public worship, to confess that we 
 have acted harshly to the Hicksites, and open our 
 arms to all who are sincere in their faith, and orderly 
 in their conduct." 
 
 As the adherents of Elias Hicks at that time 
 represented freedom of conscience, of course Isaac 
 T. Hopper belonged to that party, and advocated it 
 with characteristic zeal. In fact, he seems to have 
 been the Napoleon of the battle. It w^as not in his 
 nature intentionally to misrepresent any man ; and 
 even when the controversy was raging most furious- 
 ly, I believe there never was a time when he would 
 not willingly have acknowledged a mistake the mo- 
 ment he perceived it. But his temperament was 
 such, that w^herever he deemed a principle of truth, 
 justice, or freedom was at stake, he could never quit 
 an adversary till he had demolished him completely, 
 and convinced him that he was demolished ; though 
 he often felt great personal kindness toward the indi- 
 vidual thus prostrated, and was always willing to 
 render him any friendly service. He used to say 
 that his resistance in this controversy wa? principal] v 
 
286 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 roused by the disposition which he saw manifested 
 *'to crush worthy, innocent Friends, for mere differ- 
 ence of opinion ;" and no one, who knew^ him well, 
 could doubt that on this subject, as on others, he was 
 impelled by a sincere love of truth and just: : -.. But 
 neither he nor any other person ever entered the 
 Jists of theological controversy without paying dearly 
 for the encounter. Perpetual strife grieved and dis- 
 tuibed his own spirit, while his energy, perseverance, 
 and bluntness of speech, gained him many enemies. 
 Wherever this unfortunate sectarian schism w^as in- 
 troduced, it divided families, and burst asunder the 
 bonds of friendship. For a long time, they seemed 
 to be a Society of Enemies, instead of a Society of 
 Friends. In this respect, no one suffered more acute- 
 ly than Isaac T. Hopper. It was his nature to form 
 very strong friendships ; and at this painful junc- 
 ture, many whom he had long loved and trusted, 
 parted from him. Among them was his cousin Jo- 
 seph Whitall, who had embraced Quakerism at the 
 same period of life, who had been the friend of his 
 boy hoed, and the cherished companion of later years. 
 They had no personal alte'rcation, but their intimacy 
 gradually cooled off, and they became as strangers. 
 
 He had encountered other difficulties also, at a 
 former period of his life, the shadows of which still 
 lay across his path. About twelve or fifteen years 
 aft(;r his marriage, his health began to fail. His 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 287 
 
 vigorous frame pined away to a mere shadow, and 
 he was supposed to be in a consumption. At the 
 same time, he found himself involved in pecuniary 
 difficulties, the burden of which weighed very heavi- 
 ly upon him, for many^'easons. His strong sense of 
 justice made it painful for him to owe debts he could 
 not pay. He had an exceeding love of imparting to 
 others, and these pecuniary impediments tied down 
 his large soul with a thousand lilliputian cords. He 
 had an honest pride of independence, which chafed 
 under any obligation that could be avoided. His 
 strong attachment to the Society of Friends rendered 
 him sensitive to their opinion ; and at that period 
 their rules were exceedingly strict concerning any of 
 their members, who contracted debts they were una- 
 ble to pay. People are always ready to censure a 
 man who is unprosperous in worldly affairs ; and if 
 his character is such as to render him prominent, he 
 is all the more likely to be handled harshly. Of 
 these trials Friend Hopper had a large share, and 
 they disturbed him exceedingly; but the conscious- 
 ness of upright intentions kept him from sinking un- 
 der the weight that pressed upon him. 
 
 He was always a very industrious man, and what- 
 ever he did w^as well done. But the fact was, the 
 claims upon his time and attention were too numer- 
 ous to be met by any one mortal man. He had a 
 large family to support, and during many years his 
 
J^8 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 house was a home for poor Quakers, and others, 
 from far and near. Me had much husniess to trans- 
 act in the Society of Friends, of which he was then 
 an intluential and highly respected member. He 
 was one of the founders and secretary of a society 
 for the employment of the poor ; overseer of the 
 Benezet school for colored children ; teacher, with- 
 out recompense, in a free school for colored adults ; 
 inspector of the prison, without a salary ; member 
 of a fire-company ; guardian of abused apprentices ; 
 the lawyer and protector of slaves and colored peo- 
 ple, upon all occasions. When pestilence was rag- 
 ing, he was devoted to the sick. The poor w^ere 
 continually calling upon him to plead with importu- 
 nate landlords and creditors. He was not unfre- 
 quently employed to settle estates involved in diffi- 
 culties, wdiich others were afraid to undertake. He 
 had occasional applications to exert influence over 
 the insane, for which he had peculiar tact. When 
 he heard of a man beginning to form habits likely to 
 prove injurious to himself or his family, he would go 
 to him, whether his rank were high or low, and have 
 private conversations with him. He would tell him 
 some story, or suppose some case, and finally make 
 him feel, "Thou art the man." He had a great gift 
 in that way, and the exertion of it sometimes sea- 
 sonably recalled those who were sliding into danger 
 ous paths. 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 280 
 
 When one reflects upon the tune that must have 
 been bestowed on all these avocations, do his pecu- 
 niary embarrassments require any further explana- 
 tion 1 A member of his own Society summed up 
 the case very justly in few^ words. Hearing him 
 censured by certain individuals, she replied, "The 
 whole amount of it is this :— the Bible requires us 
 to love our neighbor as well as ourselves ; and Friend 
 Isaac has loved them better." 
 
 These straitened circumstances continued during 
 the remainder of his residence in Philadelphia ; and 
 his family stood by him nobly through the trial. 
 Household expenses were reduced wdthin the small- 
 est possible limits. His wife opened a tea-store, as 
 an available means of increasing their income. The 
 simple dignity of her manners, and her pleasing way 
 of talking, attracted many ladies, even among the 
 fashionable, who liked to chat with the handsome 
 Quaker matron, while they were purchasing house- 
 hold stores. The elder daughters taught school, and 
 took upon themselves double duty in the charge of a 
 large family of younger children. How much they 
 loved and honored their father, was indicated by their 
 zealous efforts to assist and sustain him. I have 
 neard him tell, with much emotion, how one of them 
 slipped some of her earnings into his pocket, while 
 he slept in his arm-chair. She was anxious to save 
 him from the pai^i of being unable to meet necessary 
 13 
 
290 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 expenses, and at the same time to keep him ignorant 
 of the source whence rehef came. 
 
 His spirit of independence nev^er bent under the 
 pressure of misfortune. He was willing to deprive 
 himself of everything, except the simplest necessaries 
 of life ; but he struggled manfully against incurring 
 obligations. There was a Quaker fund for the gra- 
 tuitous education of children ; but when he was 
 urged to avail himself of it, he declined, because 
 he thought such funds ought to be reserved for 
 those whose necessities were greater than his own. 
 
 The government added its exactions to other pe- 
 cuniary annoyances ; but it had no power to w^arp 
 the inflexibility of his principles. He had always 
 refused to pay the militia tax, because, in common 
 with all conscientious Quakers, he considered it 
 wrong to do anything for the support of war. It 
 seems no more than just that a sect, who pay a 
 double school-tax, and a double pauper-tax, and w^ho 
 almost never occasion the state any expense by their 
 crimes, should be excused for believing themsehes 
 bound to obey the injunction of Jesus, to return good 
 for evil ; but politicians have decided that practical 
 Christianity is not always consistent with the duty 
 of citizens. Accordingly, when Friend Hopper re- 
 fused to pay for guns and swords, to shoot and stab 
 his fellow men, they seized his goods to pay the tax. 
 The articles chosen were often of much greater value 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 291 
 
 than their demand, and were sacrificed b} a hurried 
 and careless sale. His wife had received a handsome 
 outfit from her father, at the time of her marriage ; 
 )>ut she was destined to see one article of furniture 
 after another seized to pay the military fines, which 
 were alike abhorrent to her heart and her conscience. 
 Among these articles, w^as a looking glass, of an 
 unusually large and clear plate, which was valuable 
 as property, and dear to her as a bridal gift from her 
 parents. She could not see it carried off by the 
 officer, to meet the expenses of military reviews, 
 without a sigh — perhaps a tear. But she was not 
 a woman ever to imply a wish to have her husband 
 compromise his principles. 
 
 Thus bearing up bravely against the pelting storms 
 of life, he went on, hand in hand witli his beloved 
 8arah. But at last, he was called to part with the 
 steady friend and pleasant companion of his brightest 
 and his darkest hours. She passed from him into 
 the spiritual world on the eighteenth of the Sixth 
 Month, (June,) 1822, in the forty-seventh year of her 
 age. She suffered much from the wasting pains of 
 severe dyspepsia ; but religious hope and faith ena- 
 bled her to endure all her trials with resignation, and 
 to view the approach of death with cheerful serenity 
 of soul. Toward the close of her life, the freshness 
 of her complexion was injured by continual suffer- 
 ing ; but though pale, she remained a handsome 
 
292 LIFE UF ISAAC T. HUFPER. 
 
 wonum to the last. During lier long illness, she re- 
 ceived innumerable marks of respect and alFection 
 from friends and neighbors ; for she was beloved by 
 all who knew her. A short time before her death, 
 she offered the following prayer for the dear ones she 
 was so soon to leave; "O Lord, permit me to ask 
 thy blessing for this family. Thy favor is better 
 than all the w^orld can give. For want of keeping 
 close to thy counsel, my soul has often been pierced 
 with sorrow. Pity my weakness. Look thou from 
 heaven, and forgive. Enable me, I beseech thee, to 
 renew my covenant, and so to hve under the in- 
 fluence of thy Holy Spirit, as to keep it. Preserve 
 me in the hour of temptation. Thou alone knowest 
 how prone I am to err on the right side and on the 
 left. Bless the children ! Lord, visit and re-visit 
 their tender minds. Lead them in the paths of up- 
 rightness, for thy name's sake. I ask not riches nor 
 honor for them; but an inheritance in thy ever- 
 blessed truth." She left nine children, the youngest 
 but six years old, to mourn the loss of a most tender 
 careful and self-sacrificing mother. 
 
 While her bereaved husband was still under the 
 shadow of this great grief, he was called to part with 
 his son Isaac, who in little more than a year, fol- 
 lowed his mother, at the early age of fifteen. He 
 was a sedate gentle lad, and had always been a very 
 pleasant child to his parents. His father cherished 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 293 
 
 his memory with great tenderness, and seldom spoke 
 of him without expressing his conviction that if he 
 had hved he would, have become a highly acceptable 
 minister in the Society of Friends ; a destiny which 
 would have been more agreeable to his parental 
 feelings, than having a son President of the United 
 States. 
 
 Soon after this melancholy event, Friend Hopper 
 went to Maryland, to visit two sisters who resided 
 there. He was accompanied in this journey by his 
 wife's brother, David Tatum. At an inn where they 
 stopped for refreshment, the following characteristic 
 incident occurred : A colored girl brought in a pitcher 
 of water. "Art thou a slave ?" said Friend Hopper. 
 When she answered in the affirmative, he started up 
 and exclaimed, "It is against my principles to be 
 w^aited upon by a slave." His more timid brother- 
 in-law inquired, in a low tone of voice, whether he 
 were aware that the mistress was within hearing. 
 '•To be sm-e I am," answered Isaac aloud. "WT:iat 
 would be the use of saying it, if she were not wathin 
 hearing ?" He then emptied the pitcher of water, and 
 went out to the well to re-fill it for himself. Seeing 
 the landlady stare at these proceedings, he explained 
 to her that he thouoht it wrong^ to avail himself of 
 unpaid labor. In reply, she complained of the in- 
 gratitude of slaves, and the hard condition of their 
 masters. "It is very inconvenient to live so near a 
 
294 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPFEll. 
 
 free state," said she. "I bad sixteen slaves; but 
 ten of them bave run away, and I expect the rest 
 will soon go." 
 
 "I hope they will," said Isaac. "I am sure I 
 would run away, if I were a slave." 
 
 At first, she was disposed to be offended ; but he 
 reasoned the matter with her, in a quiet and friendly 
 manner, and they parted on very civil terms. David 
 Tatum often used to tell this anecdote, aft-er they 
 returned home; and he generally added, "I never 
 again will travel in a Southern state with brother 
 Isaac ; for I am sure it would be at the risk of my 
 life." 
 
 Time soothes all afflictions ; and those who have 
 dearly loved their first companion are sometimes 
 more likely than others to form a second connexion ; 
 for the simple reason that they cannot learn to do 
 without the happiness to which they have been ac- 
 customed. There was an intimate fiiend of the fami- 
 ly, a member of the same religious Society, named 
 Hannah Attmore. She was a gentle and quiet per- 
 son, of an innocent and very pleasing countenance. 
 Her father, a worthy and tender spirited man, had 
 been an intimate friend of Isaac T. Hopper, and al- 
 ways sympathized with his efforts for ihe oppressed. 
 A strong attachment had likewise existed between 
 her and Friend Hopper's wife ; and during her fre 
 quent visits to the house, it was her pleasure to vol 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 295 
 
 uiiteer assistance in the numerous household cares. 
 The fact that his Sarah had great esteem for her, was 
 doubtless a strong attraction to the widower. His 
 suit was favorably received, and they were married 
 on the fourth of the second month, (February) 1824. 
 IShe was considerably younger than her bridegroom ; 
 but vigorous health and elastic spirits had preserved 
 his youthful appearance, while her sober dress and 
 grave deportment, made her seem older than she 
 really was. She became the mother of four children, 
 two of whom died in early childhood. Little Tho 
 mas, who ended his brief career in three years and a 
 half, was always remembered by his parents, and 
 other members of the family, as a remarkably bright, 
 precocious child, beautiful as an infant angel. 
 
 It has been already stated that the schism in the 
 Society of Friends introduced much controversy con- 
 cerning the theological opinions of its founders. 
 There was consequently an increased demand for 
 their writings, and the branch called "Hicksites" 
 felt the need of a bookstore. Friend Hopper's busi- 
 ness had never been congenial to his character, 
 and of late years it had become less profitable. 
 A. larofe number of his wealthiest customers were 
 ''Orthodox;" and when he took part with Elias 
 Hicks, they ceased lo patronize him. He was per- 
 fectly aware that such would be the result ; but 
 whenever it was necessarv to choose between his 
 
♦296 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 piinciples and prosperity, he invariably followed what 
 he beheved to be the truth. He was considered a 
 suitable person to superintend the proposed book- 
 store, and as the state of his financial affairs render- 
 ed a change desirable, he concluded to accede to the 
 proposition of his friends. For that purpose, he re- 
 moved to the city of New- York in 1829. 
 
 In the autumn of the following year, some disput- 
 ed claims, which his wife had on the estate of her 
 maternal grandfather in Ireland, made it necessary 
 for him to visit that country. Experience h-ad pain- 
 fully convinced him that theological controversy 
 sometimes leads to personal animosity ; and that few 
 people were so open and direct in their mode of ex- 
 pressing hostility, as he himself was. Therefore, 
 before going abroad, he took the precaution to ask 
 letters from citizens of various classes and sects in 
 Philadelphia; and he found no difficulty in obtaining 
 them from the most respectable and distinguished. 
 Matthew Carey, the well known philanthropist 
 wrote as follows : "As you are about to visit my 
 native country, and have applied to me for a testi- 
 monial concerning your character, I cheerfully com- 
 ply with your request. I have been well acquainted 
 with you for about thirty-five years, and I can testify 
 that, durino: the whole of that time, you have been a 
 perfect pest to our Southern neighbors. A Southern 
 gentleman could scarcely visit this city, without 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 297 
 
 having his slaA'e taken from him by your instrumen- 
 tality ; so that they dread you, as they do the devil." 
 After enjoying a mutual laugh over this epistle, an- 
 other was written for the public, certifying that he 
 had known Isaac T. Hopper for many years as "a 
 useful and respectable citizen of the fairest charac- 
 ter." 
 
 When Friend Hopper arrived in Ireland, he found 
 many of the Quakers prejudiced against him, and 
 many untrue stories in circulation, as he had expect- 
 ed. Sometunes, when he visited public places, he 
 would overhear people saying to each other, in a low 
 voice, "That's Isaac T. Hopper, who has given 
 Friends so much trouble in America." A private 
 letter from an " Orthodox" Quaker in Philadelphia 
 was copied and circulated in all directions, greatly to 
 his disadvantage. It represented him as a man ol 
 sanctified appearance, but wholly unworthy of ere 
 dit ; that business of a pecuniary nature was a mere 
 pretence to cover artful designs ; his real object be 
 ing to spread heretical doctrines in Ireland, and thus 
 sow dissension among Friends. In his journal of 
 this visit to a foreign land, Friend Hopper says : "It 
 is astonishing what strange ideas some of them have 
 concerning me. They have been informed that I 
 can find stolen goods, and am often applied to on 
 such occasions. I think it would be no hard matter 
 
 to make them believe me a wizard " This was pro- 
 13* 
 
298 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 bably a serious version of his pleasantry with the 
 Dutchman about finding his goods by calculating the 
 dge of the moon. 
 
 Many of the Irish Friends had formed from hear- 
 say the most extravagant misconceptions concerning 
 the Friends called "Hicksites." They supposed 
 them to be outright infidels, and that the grossest 
 immoralities v\'ere tolerated among them ; that they 
 pointed loaded pistols at the "Orthodox" brethren, 
 and drove them out of their own meeting-houses by 
 mam force. One of them expressed great surprise 
 when Friend Hopper informed him that they were in 
 the constant habit of reading the Scriptures in their 
 families, and maintained among themselves the same 
 discipline that had always been used in the Society. 
 Sometimes when he attended Quaker meetings du- 
 ring the early portion of his visit, the ministers 
 preached at him, l)y cautioning young people to be- 
 ware of the adversary, who was now going about 
 like a cunning serpent, in which form he was far 
 more dangerous, than when he assumed the appear- 
 ance of a roaring lion. But after a while, this ten- 
 dency was rebuked by other preachers, who inculcat- 
 ed forbearance in judging others; reminding their 
 hearers that the spirit of the Gospel always breathed 
 peace and good will toward men. As for Isaac him- 
 self, he behaved with characteristic openness. When 
 d stranger, in Quaker costume, introduced himself, 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 299 
 
 and invited him to go home and dine with him, he 
 replied, "I am represented by some people as a very 
 bad man ; and I do not wish to impose myself upon 
 the hospitality of strangers, without letting them 
 know w^ho I am." 
 
 The stranger assured him that he knew very well 
 who he was, and cared not a straw what opinions 
 they accused him of; that he was going to have a 
 company of Friends at dinner, who wished to con- 
 verse w^ith him. He went accordingly, and was re- 
 ceived with true Irish hospitality and kindness. 
 
 Upon another occasion, a Quaker lady, who did 
 not know he was a"Hicksite," observed to him, "I 
 suppose the Society of Friends are very much thin- 
 .ned in America, since so many have gone off from 
 them." He replied, "It is always best to be can- 
 did. I belong to the party called Hicksites, deists, 
 and schismatics ; and I suppose they are the ones to 
 whom thou hast alluded as having gone off from the 
 Society. I should like to talk with thee concerning 
 the separation in America ; for we have been greatly 
 misrepresented. But I came to this country solely 
 on business, and I have no wish to say or do any- 
 thing that can unsettle the mind, or wound the feel- 
 ings of any Friend. She seemed very much surpris- 
 ed, and for a minute or two covered her face with 
 her hands. But when the company broke up, some 
 hours after, she followed him into the entry, and cor- 
 
300 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 dially invited him to visit her. "What ! canst thou 
 tolerate the company of a heretic ?" he exclaimed. 
 She replied with a smile, "Yes, such a one as thou 
 art." 
 
 In fact, wherever he had a chance to make him- 
 self known, prejudices melted away under the influ- 
 ence of his frank and kindly manners. Some people 
 of other sects, as wt.11 of his own, took an interest in 
 him for the very reasons that caused distrust and 
 dislike in others ; viz : because they had heard of 
 him as the champion of perfect liberty of conscience, 
 who considered it unnecessary to bind men by any 
 creed whatsoever. Among these, he mentions in his 
 journal. Professor Stokes of Dublin, who rehnquish- 
 ed a salary of tw^o thousand eight hundred pounds a 
 year, because he could not conscientiously subscribe 
 to the doctrine of the Trinity. It w^as proposed to 
 dismiss him from the college altogether ; but he de- 
 manded a hearing before the trustees and students. 
 This privilege could not be denied, without infring- 
 ing the laws of the institution ; and deeming that 
 such a discussion might prove injurious, they con- 
 cluded to retain him, on a salary of eight hundred 
 pounds. Friend Hopper describes him thus: "He 
 is an intelligent and liberal-minded man, and has a 
 faculty of exposing the errors and absurdities of the 
 Athanasian Creed to much purpose. He was of a 
 good spirit, and I was much gratified with his com- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 301 
 
 pany. He insistecl upon accompanying me home in 
 the evening, and though I remonstrated against it, 
 on account of his advanced age, he attended me to 
 the door of my lodgings." 
 
 During this visit to Ireland, Friend Hopper was 
 treated with great hospitality and respect by many 
 who were wealthy, and many who were not weal- 
 thy ,' by members of the Society of Friends, and of 
 various other religious sects. He formed a high 
 estimate of the Irish character, and to the day of his 
 death, always spoke with warm affection of the 
 friends he found there. In his journal, ho often 
 alludes with pleasure to the children he met with, in 
 families where he visited ; for he was always ex- 
 tremely partial to the young. Speaking of a visit to 
 a gentleman in the environs of Dublin, by the name 
 of Wilson, he says: "I rose early in the morning, 
 and the eldest daughter, about ten or eleven years 
 old, very politely invited me to walk with her. We 
 rambled about in the pastures, and through beautiful 
 groves of oak, beech and holly. The Ihtle creature 
 tried her very best to amuse me. She told me about 
 the birds and the hares, and other inhabitants of the 
 woods. She inquired whether I did not want very 
 much to see my wife and children ; and exclaimed, 
 *'How I should like to see you meet them ! It would 
 give you so much pleasure ! " He speaks of a little 
 girl in another family, who seemed very much at- 
 
302 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 traded toward him, and finally whispered to her 
 father, "I want to go and speak to that Friend." She 
 was nUroduced accordingly, and they had much 
 pleasant chat together. 
 
 In one of the families where he visited, they told 
 him an instructive story concerning a Quaker who 
 resided in Dublin, by the name of Joseph Torrey. 
 One day when he w^as passing through the streets, 
 he saw a man leading a horse, v^-hich was evidently 
 much diseased. His compassionate heart w^as pained 
 by the sight, and he asked the man wl;ere he was 
 going. He replied, "The horse has the staggers, 
 and I am going to sell him to the carrion-butchers." 
 
 "Wilt thou sell him to me for a crown !" inquired 
 Joseph. The man readily assented, and the poor 
 animal was led to the stable of his new friend, where 
 he was most kindly tended. Suitable remedies and 
 careful treatment soon restored him to health and 
 beauty. One day, when Friend Torrey w^as riding 
 him in Phoenix Park, a gentleman looked very ear- 
 nestly at the horse, and at last inquired whether his 
 owner would be willing to sell him. "Perhaps I 
 w^ould," replied Joseph, "if I could get a very good 
 master for liim." 
 
 "He so strongly resembles a favorite horse I once 
 had, that I should thiidv he was the same, if I didn't 
 know he was dead,'' rejoined the stranger. 
 
 " Did he die in thy stable ?" inquired Joseph. 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER 803 
 
 The gentleman replied, "No. He had the stag- 
 gers very badly, and I sent him to the carrion-butch- 
 ers." 
 
 "I should be sorry to sell an animal to any man, 
 who would send him to the carrion-butchers because 
 he was diseased," answered Joseph. " If thou wert 
 ill, how wouldst thou like to have thy throat cut, in 
 stead of being kindly nursed ?" 
 
 With some surprise, the gentleman inquired whe- 
 ther he intended to compare him to a horse. "No," 
 replied Joseph; "but animals have feelings, as well 
 as human beings ; and when they are afflicted with 
 disease, they ought to be carefully attended. If I 
 consent to sell thee this horse, I shall exact a pro- 
 mise that thou wilt have him kindly nursed when he 
 is sick, and not send him to have his throat cut." 
 
 The gentleman readily promised all that was re- 
 quired, and said he should consider himself very for- 
 tunate to obtain a horse that so much resembled his 
 old favorite. When he called the next day, to com- 
 plete the bargain, he inquired whether forty gufneas 
 would be a satisfactory price. The conscientious 
 Quaker answered, "I have good reason to believe 
 the horse was once thine ; and I am willing to re- 
 store him to thee on the conditions I have mentioned. 
 I have saved him from the carrion-butchers, but ] 
 will charge thee merely what I have expended for 
 his food and medicine. Let it be a lesson to thee to 
 
304 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 treat animals kindly, when they are diseased. Never 
 again send to the butchers a faithful servant, that 
 cannot plead for himself, and may, with proper at- 
 tention, again become useful to thee." 
 
 How little Friend Hopper was inclined to minister 
 to aristocratic prejudices, may be inferred from the 
 following anecdote. One day, while he was visiting 
 a wealthy family in Dubhn, a note was handed to 
 him, inviting him to dine the next day. When he 
 read it aloud, his host remarked, "Those people are 
 very respectable, but not of the first circles. They 
 belong to our church, but not exactly to our set. 
 Their father was a mechanic." 
 
 "Well I am a mechanic myself," said Isaac. 
 "Perhaps if thou hadst known that fact, thou 
 wouldst not have invited me ?" 
 
 "Is it possible," exclaimed his host, " that a man 
 of your information and appearance can be a mecha- 
 nic !" 
 
 "I followed the business of a tailor for many 
 years," rejoined his guest. "Look at my hands! 
 Dost thou not see marks of the shears ? Some of 
 the mayors of Philadelphia have been tailors. When 
 I lived there, I often walked the streets with the 
 Chief Justice. It never occurred to me that it was 
 any honor, and I don't think it did to him." 
 
 Upon one occasion. Friend Hopper went into the 
 Court of Chancery m Dublin, and kept his hat on, 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 305 
 
 according to Quaker custom. While he was hsten- 
 ing to the pleading, he noticed that a person who sat 
 near the Chancellor fixed his eyes upon him with a 
 very stern expression. This attracted the attention 
 of lawyers and spectators, who also began to look at 
 him. Presently an officer tapped him on the shoul- 
 der, and said, " Your hat, sir !" 
 
 *' What's the matter with my hat?" he inquired. 
 
 "Take it off?" rejoined the officer. "You are in 
 his Majesty Court of Chancery." 
 
 "That is an honor I reserve for his Majesty's Mas- 
 ter," he replied. "Perhaps it is my shoes thou 
 meanest ?" 
 
 The officer seemed embarrassed, but said no 
 more ; and when the Friend had stayed as long as he 
 felt inclined, he quietly withdrew\ 
 
 One day, when he was walking with a lawyer in 
 Dublin, they passed the Lord Lieutenant's castle. 
 He expressed a wish to see the Council Chamber, 
 but was informed that it was not open to strangers. 
 "I have a mind to go and try," said he to his com- 
 panion. "Wilt thou go with me?" 
 
 "No indeed," he replied; "and I would advise 
 you not to go." 
 
 He marched in, however, with his broad beaver 
 on, and found the Lord Lieutenant surrounded by a 
 number of gentleman. "I am an American," said 
 he. "I have heard a great deal about the Lord 
 
306 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 Lieutenant's castle, and if it will give no offence, I 
 should like very much to see it." 
 
 His lordship seemed surprised l)y this unceremoni- 
 ous introduction, but he smiled, and said to a ser- 
 vant, " Show this American whatever he wishes to 
 see." 
 
 He W'as conducted into various apartments, where 
 he saw pictures, statues, ancient armor, antique 
 coins, and many other curious articles. At parting, 
 the master of the mansion was extremely polite, and 
 gave him much interesting information on a variety 
 of topics. When he rejoined his companion, who 
 had agreed to wait for him at some appointed place, 
 he w^as met with the inquiry, "Well, what luck?" 
 
 " 0, the best luck in the world," he replied, " I 
 w^as treated with great politeness." 
 
 "Well certainly, Mr. Hopper, you are an extraor- 
 dinary man," responded the lawyer. "I wouldn't 
 have ventured to try such an experiment." 
 
 At the expiration of four months, having complet- 
 ed the business which rendered his presence in Ire- 
 land necessary, he made a short visit to England, on 
 his way home. There also his hat was objected to 
 on several occasions. While in Bristol, he asked 
 permission to look at the interior of the Cathedral. 
 He had been walking about some little time, when a 
 rough-looking man said to him, in a very surly tone, 
 "Take off vour hat, sir '" 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 307 
 
 Ho replied very courteously, "I have asked per- 
 mission to enter here to gratify my curiosity as a 
 stranger. I hope it is no offence." 
 
 " Take off your hat !" rejoined the rude man. " If 
 you don't, I'll take it off for you." 
 
 Friend Hopper leaned on his cane, looked him full 
 in the face, and answered very coolly, "If thou dost, 
 I hope thou wilt send it to my lodgings ; for I shall 
 have need of it this afternoon. I lodge at No. 35, 
 Lower Crescent, Clifton." The place designated 
 was ahout a mile from the Cathedral. The man 
 stared at him, as if puzzled to decide whether he 
 were talking to an insane person, or not. When the 
 imperturbable Quaker had seen all he cared to see, he 
 deliberately walked away. 
 
 At Westminster Abbey he paid the customary fee 
 of two shillings sixpence for admission. The door- 
 keeper followed him, saying, "You must uncover 
 yourself, sir." 
 
 " Uncover myself !" exclaimed the Friend, with 
 an affectation of ignorant simplicity. "What dost 
 thou mean ? Must I take off my coat ?" 
 
 "Your coat!" responded the man, smiling. "No 
 indeed. I mean your hat." 
 
 " And what should I take off my hat for ?" he in- 
 quired. 
 
 "Because you are in a church, sir," answered the 
 door-keeper. 
 
308 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 "I see no church here," rejoined the Quaker. 
 "Perhaps thou meanest the house where the church 
 assembles. I suppose thou art aware that it is the 
 people^ not the building, that constitutes a church ?" 
 
 The idea seemed new to the man, but he merely 
 repeated, "You must take off your hat, sir." 
 
 But the Friend again inquired, "What for? Or 
 account of these images ? Thou knowest Scripture 
 commands us not to worship graven images." 
 
 The man persisted in saying that no person could 
 be permitted to pass through the church without un- 
 covering his head. "Well friend," rejoined Isaac, 
 "I have some conscientious scruples on that subject ; 
 so give me back my money, and I will go out." 
 
 The reverential habits of the door-keeper were 
 not quite strong enough to compel him to that sacri- 
 fice ; and he walked away, without saying anything 
 more on the subject. 
 
 When Friend Hopper visited the House of Lords, 
 he asked the sergeant-at-arms if he might sit upon 
 the throne. He replied, "No, sir. No one but his 
 majesty sits there." 
 
 "Wherein does his majesty differ from other 
 men?" inquired he. "If his head were cut off, 
 w^ouldn't he die ?" 
 
 " Certainly he would," replied the officer. 
 
 "So would an American," rejoined Friend Hop- 
 per. As he spoke, he stepped up to the gilded rail- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 309 
 
 ing that surrounded the throne, and tried to open 
 the irate. The officer told hmi it was locked. 
 "AVell won't the same key that locked it unlock it V 
 inquired he. "Is this the key hanging here ?" 
 
 Being informed that it was, he took it down and 
 unlocked the gate. He removed the satin covering 
 from the throne, carefully dusted the railing with his 
 handkerchief, before he hung the satin over it, and 
 then seated himself in the royal chair. "Well," 
 said he, "do I look anything like his majesty?" 
 
 The man seemed embarrassed, but smiled as he 
 answ^ered, "Why, sir, you certainly fill the throne 
 very respectably." 
 
 There were several noblemen in the room, who 
 seemed to be extremely amused by these unusual 
 proceedings. 
 
 At a place called Jordans, about twenty-two miles 
 from London, he visited the grave of W^illiam Penn. 
 
 In his journal, he says : "The ground is surround- 
 ed by a neat hedge, and is kept in good order. I 
 picked some grass and moss from the graves of Wil- 
 liam Penn, Thomas Ell wood, and Isaac Pennington ; 
 and some ivy and holly from the hedge ; which I in- 
 tend to take with me to America, as a memorial of 
 my visit. I entered the meeting-house, and sat on 
 the benches which had been occupied by George 
 Fox, William Penn, and George Whitehead, in years 
 long since passed away. It brought those old 
 
310 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 Friends so distinctly before the view of my mind, 
 that my heart was ready to exclaim, ' Surely this is 
 no other than the house of God, and this is the gate 
 of heaven.' I cannot describe my feelings. The 
 manly and majestic features of George Fox, and the 
 mournful yet benevolent countenance of Isaac Pen- 
 nington, seemed to rise before me. But this is hu- 
 man weakness. Those men bore the burthen and 
 heat of their own day ; they faithfully used the 
 talents committed to their trust ; and I doubt not they 
 are now reaping the reward given to faithful ser- 
 vants. It is permitted us to love their memories, 
 but not to idolize them. They could deliver neither 
 son or daughter by their righteousness ; but only 
 their own souls." 
 
 "In the great city of London everything tended 
 to satisfy me that the state of our religious Society 
 is generally very low. A light w^as once kindled 
 there, that illuminated distant lands. As I walked 
 the streets, I remembered the labors, the sufferings, 
 and the final triumph of those illustrious sons of the 
 morning, George Fox, George Whitehead, William 
 Penn, and a host of others ; men who loved not their 
 lives in comparison with the holy cause of truth and 
 righteousness, in which they were called to labor. 
 These worthies have been succeeded by a genera- 
 tion, who seem disposed to garnish the sepulchres of 
 their fathers, and live upon the fruit of their labors, 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 311 
 
 v\-ithout submitting to the power of that Cross, which 
 made them what they were. There appears to me 
 to be much formahty and dryness among them ; 
 though there are a few who mourn, ahiiost without 
 hope, over the desolation that has been made by the 
 world, the flesh, and the devil." 
 
 There were many poor emigrants on board the 
 merchant ship, in which Friend Hopper returned 
 home. He soon established friendly communication 
 with them, and entered with sympathy into all their 
 troubles. He made frequent visits to the steerage 
 during the long voyage, and always had something 
 comforting and cheering to say to the poor souls. 
 There was a clergyman on board, who also wished 
 to benefit them, but he approached them in an ofli- 
 cial way, to which they did not so readily respond. 
 One day, when he invited the emigrants to join him 
 in prayer, an old Irishwoman replied, "I'd rather 
 play a game o'cards, than hear you prache and 
 pray." She pointed to Friend Hopper, and added, 
 " He comes and stays among us, and always spakes 
 a word o' comfort, and does us some good. But you 
 come and prache and pray, and then you are gone. 
 One look from that Quaker gintleman is worth all 
 the praching and praying that be in you." 
 
 The vessel encountered a dense fog, and ran on a 
 sand bank as they approached the Jersey shore. A 
 tremendous sea was rollino^, and dashed aerainst the 
 
312 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 ship with such force, that she seemed every moment 
 in danger of being shattered into fragments. If 
 there had been a violent gale of wind, all mnst have 
 been inevitably lost. The passengers were generally 
 in a state of extreme terror. Screams and groans 
 were heard in every direction. But Friend Hop 
 per's mind w^as preserved in a state of great equa- 
 nimity. He entreated the people to be quiet, and try 
 to keep possession of their faculties, that they might 
 be ready to do w^hatever was best, in case of emer- 
 gency. Seeing him so calm, they gathered closely 
 round him, as if they thought he had some power to 
 save them. There was a naval officer on board, 
 whose frenzied state of feehng vented itself in blas- 
 phemous language. Friend Hopper, who was al- 
 ways disturbed by irreverent use of the name of 
 Deity, was peculiarly shocked by it under these 
 solemn circumstances. He walked up to the officer, 
 put his hand on his shoulder, and looking him in the 
 face, said, "From what I have heard of thy military 
 exploits, I supposed thou wcsrt a brave man ; but 
 here thou art pouring forth blasphemies, to keep up 
 the appearance of courage, while thy pale face and 
 quivering li])s show that thou art in mortal fear. I 
 am ashamed of thee. If thou hast no reverence for 
 Deity thyself, thou shouldst show some regard for 
 the feelings of those w'ho have." The officer ceased 
 swearing, and treated his adviser with marked res 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 313 
 
 pect. A friendship was formed between them, which 
 continued as long as the captain lived. 
 
 The clergyman on board afterward said to Friend 
 Hopper, " If any other person had talked to him ir. 
 that manner., he would have knocked him down." 
 
 In about two hours, the vessel floated oflTthe sand- 
 bar and went safely into the harbor of New- York. 
 At the custom-house, the clergyman was in some 
 perplexity about a large quantity of books he had 
 brought with him, on which it was proposed to charge 
 high duties. "Perhaps I can get them through for 
 thee," said Friend Hopper. "I will try." He went 
 up to the officer, and said, *' Isn't it a rule of the 
 custom-house not to charge a man for the tools of 
 his trade?" He replied that it was. "Then thou 
 art bound to let this priest's books pass free," rejoin- 
 ed the Friend. "Preaching is the trade he gets his 
 living by ; and these books are the tools he must 
 use." The clergyman being aware of Quaker views 
 with regard to a paid ministry, seemed doubtful 
 whether to be pleased or not, with such a mode of 
 helping him out of difficulty. However, he took the 
 joke as good naturedly as it was offered, and the 
 books passed free, on the assurance that the-y were 
 all for his own library. 
 
 Friend Hopper's bookstore in New- York was a 
 
 place of great resort for members of his own sect 
 
 His animated style of conversation, his thousand 
 14 
 
314 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 and one anecdotes of runaway slaves, nis descrip- 
 tions of keen encounters with the "Orthodox," in the 
 process of separation, attracted many listeners. His 
 intelhgence and well-known conscientiousness com- 
 manded respect, and he was held in high estimation 
 by his own branch of the Society, though the oppo- 
 site party naturally entertained a less favorable opin 
 ion of the "Hicksite" champion. Such a character 
 as he was must necessarily always be a man ol 
 mark, with warm friends and bitter enemies. 
 
 His resemblance to Bonaparte attracted attention 
 in New-York, as it had done in Philadelphia. Not 
 long after he removed to that city, there was a dra- 
 matic representation at the Park Theatre, in which 
 Placide personated the French Emperor. While 
 this play was attracting public attention, the mana- 
 ger happened to meet Friend Hopper in the street. 
 As soon as he saw him, he exclaimed, "Here is Na- 
 poleon himself come back again !" He remarked to 
 some of his acquaintance that he would gladly give 
 that Quaker gentleman one hundred dollars a night, 
 if he would consent to appear on the stage in the 
 costume of Bonaparte. 
 
 About this period northern hostility to slavery 
 took a new form, more bold and uncompromising 
 than the old Abolition Societies. It demanded the 
 immediate and unconditional emancipation of every 
 slave, in a voice which has not yet been silenced, 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 315 
 
 and never will be, while the oppressive system con- 
 tinues to disgrace our country. Of course, Friend 
 Hopper could not otherwise than sympathize with 
 any movement for the abolition of slavery, based on 
 pacific principles. Pictures and pamphlets, published 
 by the Anti-Slavery Society were offered for sale in 
 nis book-store. Dviring the popular excitement on this 
 subject, in 1834, he was told that his store was about 
 to be attacked by an infuriated rabble, and he had 
 better remove all such pubhcations from the win- 
 dow. "Dost thou think I am such a coward as to 
 forsake my principles, or conceal them, at the bid- 
 ding of a mob ?" said he. Presently, another mes- 
 senger came to announce that the mob were already 
 in progress, at the distance of a few streets. He 
 was earnestly advised at least to put up the shut- 
 ters, that their attention might not be attracted by 
 the pictures. "I shall do no such thing," he replied. 
 The excited throng soon came pouring down the 
 street, w-ith loud and discordant yells. Friend Hop- 
 per walked out and stood on the steps. The mob 
 stopped in front of his store. He looked calmly and 
 firmly at them, and they looked irresolutely at him, 
 like a wild animal spell-bound by the fixed gaze of a 
 human eye. After a brief pause, they renewed their 
 yells, and some of their leaders called out, "Go on, 
 to Rose-street !" They obeyed these orders, and in 
 the absence of Lewis Tappan, a well-known aboli- 
 
316 LIFE OF ISAAC 1. HUPl'EH. 
 
 tionist, they burst open his house and destroyed his 
 furniture. 
 
 In 18:i5, Judge Chinn, of Mississippi, visited New- 
 York, and brought with him a slave, said to have 
 cost the large sum of fifteen hundred dollars. A few 
 days after their arrival in the city, the slave eloped, 
 and a reward of five hundred dollars was offered for 
 his apprehension. Friend Hopper knew nothing 
 about him ; but some mischievous person wrote a 
 note to Judge Chinn, stating that the fugitive was 
 concealed at his store, in Pearl-street. A warrant 
 was procured and put into the hands of a constable 
 frequently employed in that base business. At that 
 season of the year, many Southerners were in the 
 city to purchase goods. A number of them accom- 
 panied the judge to Pearl-street, and distributed 
 thernselves at short distances, in order to arrest the 
 slave, in case he attempted to escape. They pre- 
 ferred to search the store in the absence of Friend 
 Hopper, and watched nearly an hour for a favorable 
 opportunity. Meanwhile, he was entirely uncon- 
 scious of their proceedings ; and having occasion to 
 call at a house a few doors below, he left the store 
 for a short time in charge of one of his sons. As 
 soon as he was srone, four or five men rushed 
 
 m. 
 
 Not finding the object of their pursuit, they jumped 
 out of a back window, and began to search some 
 buildings in the rear. When people complained of 
 
LIFE OF IS\AC T. HOPPER. 31 7 
 
 such unceremonious intrusion upon their premises, 
 the constable excused himself by saying they were 
 trying to apprehend a felon. Friend Hopper's son 
 called out that it was a slave, not a felon, they were 
 in search of ; for he heard them say so. This made 
 the constable very angry ; for, like most slave-catch- 
 ers, he was eager for the reward, but rather ashamed 
 of the services by which he sought to obtain it. He 
 swore roundly, and one of his party gave the young 
 man a blow on his face. 
 
 Friend Hopper, being sent for, returned immedi- 
 ately ; and for some time after, he observed a re- 
 spectable looking person occasionally peeping into 
 the store, and skulking out of sight as soon as he 
 thought himself observed. At last, he went to the 
 door, and said, "My friend, if thou hast business 
 with me, come in and let me know what it is ; but 
 don't be prying about my premises in that way," 
 He walked off, and joined a group of people, who 
 seemed to be much excited. Friend Hopper fol- 
 lowed, and found they were the men who had been 
 recently searching his store. He said to their lead- 
 er, "Art thou the impertinent fellow who has been 
 intruding upon my premises, in my absence?" The 
 constable replied that he had a warrant, and was 
 determined to execute it. . Though a stranger to his 
 countenance, Friend Hopper was well aware that he 
 was noted for hunting slaves, and being unable to 
 
318 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 disguise his abhorrence of the odious business, he 
 said, "Judas betrayed his master for thirty pieces of 
 silver ; and for a hke sum, I suppose thou wouldst 
 seize thy brother by the throat, and send him into 
 interminable bondage. If thy conscience were as 
 susceptible of conviction as his was, thou wouldst do 
 as he did ; and thus rid the community of an intolera- 
 .ble nuisance." 
 
 One of the Southerners repeated the word "Bro- 
 ther ! " in a very sneering tone. 
 
 "Yes," rejoined Friend Hopper, "I said brother." 
 
 He returned to his store, but was soon summoned 
 into the street again, by a complaint that the con- 
 stable and his troop of slaveholders were very rough- 
 ly handling a colored man, saying he had no business 
 to keep in their vicinity. When Friend Hopper in- 
 terfered, to prevent further abuse, several of the 
 Southerners pointed bowie-knives and pistols at him. 
 He told the constable it was his duty, as a police-of- 
 ficer, to arrest those men for carrying deadly wea- 
 pons and making such a turmoil in the street ; and he 
 threatened to complain of him if he did not do it. 
 He complied very reluctantly, and of course the cul- 
 prits escaped before they reached the police-office. 
 
 A few days after, as young Mr. Hopper was walk- 
 ing up Chatham-street, on his way home in the eve- 
 ning, some unknown person came behind him, knock- 
 ed him down, and beat him in a most savage man- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 319 
 
 ner, so that he was unable to leave his room for 
 many days. No doubt was entertamed that this 
 brutal attack was by one of the company who were 
 on the search for Judge Chinn's slave. 
 
 It was afterward rumored that the fugitive had ar- 
 rived safely in Canada. I never heard that he re- 
 turned to the happy condition of slavery ; though his 
 master predicted that he would do so, and said he 
 never would have been so foolish as to leave it, if it 
 had not been for the false representations of aboli- 
 tionists. 
 
 In 1836, the hatred which Southerners bore to 
 Friend Hopper's name was manifested in a cruel and 
 altogether unprovoked outrage on his son, which 
 caused the young man a great deal of suffering, and 
 well nigh cost him his life. John Hopper, Esq., now 
 a lawyer in the city of New- York, had occasion to 
 go to the South on business. He remained in 
 Charleston about two months, during which time he 
 was treated w4th courtesy in his business relations, 
 and received many kind attentions in the intercourse 
 of social life. One little incident that occurred dur- 
 ing his visit illustrates the tenacious attachment of 
 Friends to their own mode of worship. When he 
 left home, his father had exhorted him to attend 
 Friends' meeting while he was in Charleston. He 
 told him that a meeting had been established there 
 many years ago, but he supposed there were not 
 
020 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 half a dozen members remainin<^, and probably they 
 had no ministry ; for the original settlers had died, 
 or loft Carolina on account of their testimony against 
 slavery. But as Quakers believe that silent worship 
 is often more blessed to the soul, than the most 
 eloquent preaching, he had a strong desire that his 
 son should attend the meeting constantly, even if he 
 found but two or three to unite with him. The 
 young man promised that he would do so. Ac- 
 cordingly, when he arrived in Charleston, he in- 
 quired for the meeting-house, and was informed that 
 it was well nia^h deserted. On the first day of the 
 week, he went to the place designated, and found a 
 venerable, kind-looking Friend seated under the 
 preachers' gallery. In obedience to a signal from 
 him, he took a seat by his side, and they remained 
 there in silence nearly two hours. Then the old man 
 turned and shook hands with him, as an indication 
 that the meeting was concluded, according to the 
 custom of the Society of Friends. When he found 
 that he was talking to the son of Isaac T. Hopper, 
 and that he had promised to attend meeting there, 
 during his stay in Charleston, he was so much af- 
 fected, that his eyes filled with tears. ''Oh, I shall 
 be glad of thy company," said he ; "for most of the 
 time, this winter, I am here all alone. My old 
 friends and companions have all died, or moved 
 away. I come here twice on First days, and once 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 321 
 
 on Fifth day, and sit all, all alone, till I feel it right 
 to leave the house and go home." 
 
 This lonely old worshipper once had an intimate 
 friend, who for a long time was his only companion 
 in the silent meeting. At the close, they shook 
 hands and walked off together, enjoying a kindly 
 chat on their way home. Unfortunately, some diffi 
 culty afterward occurred between them, which com 
 pletely estranged them from each other. Both still 
 clung to their old place of worship. They took 
 their accustomed seats, and remained silent for a 
 couple of hours ; but they parted without shaking 
 hands, or speaking a single word. This alienation 
 almost broke the old man's heart. After awhile, he 
 lost even this shadow of companionship, and there 
 remained only "the voice within," and echoes of 
 memory from the empty benches. 
 
 While Mr. Hopper remained in Charleston, he 
 went to the Quaker meeting-house every Sunday, 
 and rarely found any one there except the perse- 
 vering old Friend, who often invited him to go home 
 with him. He seemed to take great satisfaction in 
 talking with him about his father, and listening to 
 what he had heard him say concerning the Society 
 of Friends. When the farewell hour came, he was 
 much affected ; for he felt it not likely they would 
 ever meet again ; and the conversation of the young 
 stranger had formed a link between him and the 
 14* 
 
322 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 Quakerism he loved so well. The old man con- 
 tin aed to sit alone under the preacher's gallery till 
 the house took fire and was burned to the ground. 
 He died soon after that event, at a very advanced 
 age. 
 
 Another incident, which occurred during Mr. 
 Hopper's stay in Charleston, seemed exceedmgly 
 trivial at the time, but came very near producing fa- 
 tal consequences. One day, when a clergyman 
 whom he visited w^as showing him his library, he 
 mentioned that his father had quite an antiquarian 
 taste for old documents connected with the Society 
 of Friends. At parting, the clergyman gave him 
 several pamphlets for his father, and among them 
 happened to be a tract published by Friends in Phila- 
 delphia, describing the colony at Sierra Leone, and 
 giving an account of the slave trade on the coast of 
 Africa. He put the pamphlets in his trunk, and 
 started for Savannah, where he arrived on the twen- 
 ty-eighth of January. At the City Hotel, he unfor- 
 tunately encountered a marshal of the city of New- 
 York, who was much employed in catching runaway 
 slaves, and of course sympathized with slaveholders. 
 He pointed the young stranger out, as a son of Isaac 
 T. Hopper, the notorious abolitionist. This infor- 
 mation kindled a flame immediately, and they began 
 to discuss plans of vengeance. The traveller, not 
 dreaming of danger, retired to his room soon after 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 323 
 
 supper. In a few minutes, his door was forced open 
 by a gang of intoxicated men, escorted by the New- 
 York marshal. They assailed him with a volley of 
 blasphemous language, struck him, kicked him, and 
 spit in his face. They broke open and rifled his 
 trunk, and searched his pockets for abolition docu- 
 ments. When they found the harmless little Quaker 
 tract about the colony at Sierra Leone, they scream- 
 ed with exultation. They shouted, "Here is what 
 we wanted ! Here is proof of abolitionism !" Some 
 of them rushed out and told the mob, who crowxled 
 the bar-room and entries, that they had found a trunk 
 full of abohtion tracts. Others seized Mr. Hopper 
 violently, telling him to say his last prayers, and go 
 with them. The proprietor of the City Hotel was 
 very naturally alarmed for the safety of the building 
 He was in a great passion, and conjured them to 
 carry their victim down forthwith ; saying he could 
 do nothing with the mob below^, who were getting 
 very impatient waiting for him. Turning to Mr. 
 Hopper, he said, "Young man, you are in a very 
 unfortunate situation. You ought never to have left 
 your home. But it is your own doing ; and you de- 
 serve your fate." When appealed to for protection, 
 he exclaimed, "Good God! you must not appeal to 
 me. This is a damned dehcate business. I shall 
 not be able to protect my own property. But T will 
 go for the mayor." 
 
324 LIFE OF ISAAC T HOPPER. 
 
 One of the bar-keeper's confidential friends sent 
 him a slip of paper, on which was written, "His 
 only mode of escape is by the window ;" and the 
 bar-keeper, who had previously shown himself de- 
 cidedly unfriendly, urged him again and again to 
 profit by this advice. He occupied the third story, 
 and the street below his window was thronged with 
 an infuriated mob, thirsting and clamoring for his 
 blood. In view of these facts, it seems not very un- 
 charitable to suppose that the advice was given to 
 make sure of his death, apparently by his own act, 
 and thus save the city of Savannah from the dis- 
 grace of the deed. Of the two terrible alternatives, 
 he preferred going down-stairs into the midst of the 
 angry mob, who w^ere getting more and more mad- 
 dened by liquor, having taken forcible possession of 
 the bar. He considered his fate inevitable, and had 
 made up his mind to die. But at the foot of the 
 stairs, he was met by the mayor and several alder- 
 men, whose timely arrival saved his life. After ask- 
 ing some questions, and receiving the assurance that 
 he came to Savannah solely on commercial business, 
 the magistrates accompanied Mr. Hopper to his 
 room, and briefly examined his books and papers. 
 The mayor then went down and addressed the mob, 
 assuring them that he should be kept in custody dur- 
 ing the night ; that strict investigation should be 
 made, and if there was the slightest evidence of his 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 325 
 
 being an abolitionist, he shoald not be suffered to go 
 at large. The mayor and a large body of civil offi- 
 cers accompanied the prisoner to the guard-house, 
 and a number of citizens volunteered their services, 
 to strengthen the escort ; but all their efforts scarce- 
 ly sufficed to keep him from the grasp of the infuriat- 
 ed multitude. He was placed in a noisome cell, to 
 await his trial, and the customary guard was increas- 
 ed for his protection. Portions of the mob continued 
 howling round the. prison all night, and the mayor 
 was sent for several times to prevent their bursting 
 in. A gallows was erected, with a barrel of feathers 
 and a tub of tar in readiness under it, that they might 
 amuse themselves with their victim before they mur- 
 dered him. 
 
 Next morning, at five o'clock, the prisoner w^as 
 brought before the mayor for further examination. 
 Many of the mob followed him to the door of the 
 office to await the issue. The evidence was satis- 
 factory that he belonged to no anti-slavery society, 
 and that his business in Savannah had no connection 
 whatever with that subject. As for the pamphlet 
 about Sierra Leone, the mayor said he considered 
 that evidence in his favor ; because it was written in 
 support of colonization. Before the examination 
 closed, there came a driving rain, which dispersed 
 the mob lying in wait round the building, xiided by 
 this lucky storm their destined victim passed out 
 
326 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 without being observed. At parting, the xnayor 
 said to him, "Young man, you may consider it a 
 miracle that you have escaped with your hfe." 
 
 He took refuge on board the ship Angehque, 
 bound for New- York, and was received with much 
 kindness and sympathy by Captain Nichols, the 
 commander. There was likewise a sailor on board, 
 who happened to be one of the many that owed a 
 debt of gratitude to Friend Hopper ; and he swore 
 he would shoot anybody that attempted to harm his 
 son. In a short time, a messenger came from the 
 mayor to announce that the populace had discovered 
 where Mr. Hopper was secreted, and would probably 
 attack the vessel. In this emergency, the captain 
 behaved nobly tow^ard his hunted fellow-citizen. He 
 requested him to lie down flat in the bottom of a 
 boat, which he himself entered and conducted to a 
 brig bound for Providence. The captain was a 
 New-England man, but having been long engaged in 
 Southern trade, his principles on the subject of 
 slavery were adapted to his interest. He gave the 
 persecuted young traveller a most ungracious recep- 
 tion, and said if he thought he was an abolitionist he 
 would send him directly back to Savannah. How- 
 ever, the representations of Captain Nichols induced 
 him to consent that he should be put on board. 
 They had a tedious passage of thirty-five days, 
 during which there was a long and violent storm, 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 327 
 
 that seemed likely to wreck the vessel. The mob 
 had robbed Mr. Hopper of hfe money and clothing. 
 He had no comfortable garments to shield him froTi 
 the severe cold, and his hands and feet were frozen. 
 At last, he arrived at Providence, and went on board 
 the steamer Benjamin Franklin, bound for New- 
 York. There he had the good fortune to meet with 
 a colored waiter, whose father had been redeemed 
 from slavery by Friend Hopper's exertions. He was 
 assiduously devoted to the son of his benefactor, and 
 did everything in his power to alleviate his distressed 
 condition. 
 
 When the traveller arrived at his home, he w^as so 
 haggard and worn down with danger and fatigue, 
 that his family scarcely recognized him. His father 
 was much excited and deeply affected, when he 
 heard what perils he had gone through merely on 
 account of his name. He soon after addressed the 
 following letter to the mayor of Savannah : 
 
 New- York, 4th month, 18th, 1836. 
 "Friend, 
 
 My object in addressing thee is to express 
 my heartfelt gratitude for thy exertions in saving 
 the life of my son, which I have cause to believe 
 was in imminent peril, from the violence of unreason- 
 able men, while in your city a few weeks ago. I urn 
 informed that very soon after his arrival in Savan- 
 
328 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 nah, the fact became known to a marshal of this 
 city, who was then there, and who, by his misre- 
 presentations, excited the rabble to a determination to 
 perpetrate the most inhuman outrage upon him, and 
 in all probability to take his life ; and that prepara- 
 tions were made, which, if carried into effect, would 
 doubtless have produced that result. 
 
 Tar and feathers, as a mode of punishment, I am 
 inclined to think is rather of modern invention ; and 
 I am doubtful whether they will be more efficient 
 than whipping, cutting off ears, the rack, the halter 
 and the stake. Superstition and intolerance have 
 long ago called in all these to their aid, in suppress- 
 ing reformation in religion ; but they were unable to 
 accomphsh the end designed ; and if I am not greatly 
 mistaken, they would prove entirely insufficient to 
 stop the progress of emancipation. 
 
 If it is the determination of the people of Savan- 
 nah to deliver up to a lawless and blood-thirsty mob 
 every person coming among them whose sentiments 
 are opposed to slavery, I apprehend there are very 
 few at the North who would not be obnoxious to 
 their hostility. For I believe they all view slavery 
 as an evil that must be abolished at no very distant 
 day. Would it not be well for the people of the 
 South to reflect upon the tendency of their conduct? 
 Where such aggressions upon humanity are com- 
 mitted, the slaves will naturally inquire into the 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 329 
 
 cause ; and when they are informed that it is in con- 
 sequence of their oppressed and degraded condition, 
 and that the persons thus persecuted are charged 
 with being their friends, they cannot feel indifferent. 
 One such scene as was witnessed in the case of my 
 son would tend more to excite a spirit of insurrec- 
 tion and insubordination among them, than ten thou- 
 sand 'incendiary pamphlets,' not one word of which 
 any of them could read. My son went to Savannah 
 solely on his own private business, without any in- 
 tention of interfering with the slaves, or with the 
 subject of slavery in any w^ay. But even supposing 
 the charge to have been true, do not your laws 
 award sufficient punishment ? How could you stand 
 silently by, and witness proceedings that would put 
 to blush the Arab, or the untutored inhabitant of the 
 wilderness in our own country ? The negroes, whom 
 you affect to despise so much^ would set an example 
 of benevolence and humanity, when on their own 
 soil, if a stranger came among them, which you can- 
 not be prepared to imitate, till you have made great 
 improvements in civilization. 
 
 The people of Savannah profess Christianity ; 
 but what avails profession, where latitude is given to 
 the vilest and most depraved passions of the human 
 heart ? Suppose the mob had murdered my son ; a 
 young man who went among you m the ordinary 
 course of his business, and who, even according to 
 
330 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 your understanding of the term, had done no evil ; a 
 young man of fair reputation, wnth numerous near 
 relatives and friends to mourn over the barbarous 
 deed ; would you have been guiltless ? I think the 
 just witness in your consciences would answer 
 No. 
 
 I have long deplored the evils of slavery, and 
 my sympathy has often been much excited for the 
 master, as well as the slave. I am aware of the 
 difficulties attending the system, and I should rejoice 
 if I could aid in devising some mode of relief, that 
 would satisfy the claims of justice and humanity, 
 and at the same time be acceptable to the inhabi- 
 tants of the South. 
 
 It is certainly cause of deep regret that the 
 Southern people suffer their angry passions to be- 
 come so highly excite-d on this subject, which, of all 
 others, ought to be calmly considered. For it re- 
 mains a truth that 'the wrath of man worketh not 
 the righteousness of God,' neither can it open his 
 eyes to see in what his best interest consists. O, 
 that your ears may be open to the voice of wisdom 
 before it is too late ! The language of an eminent 
 statesman, who was a slaveholder, often occurs to 
 me : ' I tremble for my country when I reflect that 
 God is just, and that his justice will not sleep for- 
 ever.' Surely we have high authority for believing 
 that ' For the crying of the poor, and the sighing of 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. /?^i I 
 
 the needy, God will arise.' I hope I shall not be 
 suspected of entertaining hostile or unkind feelings 
 toward the people of the South, when I say that I 
 believe slavery must and will be abolished. As sure 
 as God is merciful and good, it is an evil that can- 
 not endure forever. 
 
 An inspired apostle says, that our gracious Crea- 
 tor 'hath made of one blood all nations of men ;' and 
 our Saviour gave this commandment : ' As ye Vvould 
 that men should do to you, do ye also to them like- 
 wise.* If w^e believe these declarations, and I hope 
 none doubt their authority, I should think reasoning 
 unnecessary to convince us that to oppress and en- 
 slave our fellow men cannot be pleasing to Him, who 
 is just and equal in all his ways. 
 
 My concern for the w^elfare of my fellow men is 
 not confined to color, or circumscribed by geographi- 
 cal lines. I can never see human suffering without 
 feeling compassion, and I would always gladly alle- 
 viate it, if I had it in my power. I remember that 
 we are all, without distinction of color or locality, 
 children of the same Universal Parent, who dehghts 
 to see the human family dwell together in peace and 
 harmony.* I am strongly inclined to the opinion that 
 the proceedings of that portion of the inhabitants of 
 the North who are called abolitionists, would not 
 produce so much agitation and excitement at the 
 South, if the people there felt entirely satisfied that 
 
332 LIFE OF ISAAC T HOPPER. 
 
 slavery was justifiable in the si^ht of infinite purity 
 and justice. An eminent minister of the Gospel, 
 about the middle of the seventeenth century, often 
 urged upon the attention of people this emphatic in- 
 junction : 'Mind the hght !' 'All things that are re- 
 proved are made manifest by the light ; for w^hatso- 
 ever dath make manifest is light.' Now^, if this light, 
 or spirit of truth, ' a manifestation of which is given 
 to every man to profit withal,' should be found testi- 
 fying in your consciences against injustice and op- 
 pression, regard its admonitions ! It will let none 
 remain at ease in their sins. It w^ill justify for well 
 doing ; but to those who rebel against it, and disre- 
 gard its reproofs, it vi'ill become the 'worm that di- 
 eth not, and the fire that is not quenched.' 
 
 I am aware that complaints are often made, be- 
 cause obstacles are thrown in the way of Southern- 
 ers reclaiming their fugitive slaves. But bring the 
 matter home to yourselves. Suppose a white man 
 resided among you, who, for a series of years, had 
 conducted with sobriety, industry, and probity, and 
 had given frequent evidence of the kindness of his 
 heart, by a disposition to oblige whenever opportuni- 
 ty oflTered ; suppose he had a wife and children de- 
 pendent upon him, and supported them comfortably 
 and respectably ; could you see that man dragged 
 from his bed, and from the bosom of his family, in 
 the dead time of night, manachd, and hurried away 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 333 
 
 into a distant part of the country, where his family 
 could never see him again, and where they knew he 
 must linger out a miserable existence, more intolera- 
 ble than death, amid the horrors of slavery ? I ask 
 whether you could witness all this, without the most 
 poignant grief? This is no picture of the fancy. 
 Tt is a sober reality. The only difference is, the 
 men thus treated are black. But in my view, this 
 does not diminish the horrors of such cruel deeds. 
 Can it be expected then, that the citizens of this 
 state, or indeed of any other, would witness all this, 
 without instituting the severest scrutiny into the le- 
 gality of the proceedings ? More especially, when 
 it is known that the persons employed in this nefari- 
 ous business of hunting up fugitive slaves are men 
 destitute of principle, whose hearts are callous as 
 flint, and who would send a free man into bondage 
 with as httle compunction as they would a slave, if 
 they could do it with impunity. 
 
 Of latter time, we hear much said about a dis- 
 solution of the Union. Far better, in my view, that 
 this should take place, if it can be effected without 
 violence, than to remain as we are ; when a peacea- 
 ble citizen cannot enter your territory on his own 
 lawful business, without the risk of being murdered 
 by a ruthless mob. 
 
 With reverent thankfulness to Him, who num- 
 bers the hairs of our heads, without whose notice not 
 
334 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 even a sparrow falls to the ground, and to whose 
 providence I consider myself indebted for the re- 
 demntion of my beloved son from the hands of bar- 
 barians, permit me again to say that I feel sincerely 
 grateful to thee and others, who kindly lent aid, 
 though late, in rescuing him from the violence of un- 
 reasonable and wicked men, who sought his life 
 without a cause. I may never have it in my power 
 to do either of you personally a kindness ; but some 
 other member of the great family of mankind may 
 need assistance in a way that I can relieve him. If 
 this should be the case, I hope I shall not fail to em- 
 brace the opportunity. 
 
 With fervent desires that the beneficent Creator 
 and Father of the Universe may open the eyes of all 
 to see that 'the fast which he hath chosen is to loose 
 the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens 
 and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break 
 every yoke.' 
 
 1 am thy sincere friend, 
 
 Isaac T. Hopper." 
 
 Soon after the circumstances above related, the 
 mayor of New- York revoked the warrant of the 
 marshal, who had been so conspicuous in the out- 
 rage. This step was taken in consequence of his 
 own admissions concerning his conduct. 
 
 In 1837, a little incident occurred, which may be 
 interesting to those who are curious concerning phre- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 335 
 
 nology. At a small social party in New- York, a dis- 
 cussion arose on that subject ; and, as usual, some 
 were disposed to believe and others to ridicule. At 
 last the disputants proposed to test the question by 
 careful experiment. Friend Hopper was one of the 
 party, and they asked him to have his head examined 
 by the well-known 0. S. Fowler. Having a good 
 natured willingness to gratify their curiosity, he con- 
 sented. It was agreed that he should not speak dur- 
 ing the operation,, lest the tones of his voice might 
 serve as an index of his character. It was further 
 s1?ipulated that no person in the room should give 
 any indication by which the phrenologist might be 
 enabled to judge whether he was supposed to be 
 speaking correctly or not. The next day, 3Ir. Fow- 
 ler was introduced blindfolded into a room, where 
 Isaac T. Hopper was seated with the party of the 
 preceding evening. Having passed his hands over 
 the strongly developed head, he made the following 
 statement, which was taken down by a rapid writer, 
 as the words fell from his lips. 
 
 ''The first and strongest manifestation of this 
 character is efficiency. Not one man in a thousand 
 is capable of accomplishing so much. The strong 
 points are very strong ; the weak points are weak ; 
 so that he is an eccentric and peculiar character. 
 
 The pole-star of his character is moral cour- 
 age. 
 
336 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 He has very little reverence, and stands in no 
 awe of the powers that be. He pays no regard to 
 forms or ceremonies, or established customs, in 
 church or state. He renders no homage to great 
 names, such as D.D. ; L.L.D. ; or Excellency. He 
 treats his fellow men with kindness and affection, 
 but not with sufficient respect and courtesy. 
 
 He is emphatically republican in feeling and 
 character. He makes himself free and famihar with 
 every one. He often lets himself down too much. 
 This constitutes a radical defect in his character. 
 
 He will assert and maintain human rights and 
 liberty at every hazard. In this cause, he will stake 
 anything, or suffer anything. This constitutes the 
 leading feature of his character. Every other ele- 
 ment is blended into this. 
 
 I should consider him a very cautious man in 
 fact, though in appearance he is very imprudent ; 
 especially in remarks on moral subjects. 
 
 He is too apt to denounce those whom he con- 
 siders in error ; to apply opprobrious epithets and 
 censure in the strongest terms, and the boldest man- 
 ner. 
 
 I have seldom, if ever, met with a larger organ 
 of conscientiousness. 
 
 Nothing so much delights him as to advocate 
 and propagate moral principles ; no matter how un- 
 popular the principles may be. 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 337 
 
 He has very little credulity. 
 
 He is one of the closest observers of men and 
 things anywhere to be found. He sees, as it were 
 by intuition everything that passes around him, and 
 understands just when and where to take men and 
 things ; just how and where to say things with 
 effect ; and in all he says, he speaks directly to the 
 point. 
 
 He says and does a great many severe and cut- 
 ting things. If anybody else said and did such 
 things, they would at once get into hot water ; but 
 he says and does them in such a manner, that even 
 his enemies, and those against w^hom his censures 
 are aimed, cannot be offended with him. He is al- 
 ways on the verge of difficulty, but never in diffi- 
 culty. 
 
 He is hated mainly by those not personally ac- 
 quainted with him. A personal interview, even with 
 his greatest enemies, generally removes enmity ; be- 
 cause of the smoothness and easiness of his man- 
 ners. 
 
 He has at command a great amount of well-di- 
 gested information on almost every subject, and 
 makes admirable use of his knowledge. He has a 
 great many facts, and always brings them in their 
 right place. His general memory of particulars, 
 incidents, places, and w^ords, is really wonderful. 
 
 But he has a weak memory concerning names, dates, 
 \5 
 
3.^8 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 numbers, and colors. He never recognizes persons 
 by their dress, or by the color of anything pertaining 
 to them. 
 
 He tells a story admirably, and acts it out to the 
 life. He makes a great deal of fun, and keeps 
 others in a roar of laughter, while he is sober him- 
 self. For his fun, he is as much indebted to the 
 manner as to the matter. He makes his jokes 
 mainly by happy comparisons, striking illustrations, 
 and the imitative power with which he expresses 
 them. 
 
 He possesses a great amount of native talent, 
 but it is so admirably distributed, that he appears to 
 have more than he actually possesses. 
 
 His attachment to his friends is remarkably 
 strong and ardent. But he will associate wuth none 
 except those whose moral characters are unimpeach- 
 able. 
 
 He expects and anticipates a great deal ; enters 
 largely into things ; takes hold of every measure 
 with spirit ; and is always overwhelmed with busi- 
 ness. Move where he will, he cannot be otherwise 
 than a distinguished man." 
 
 That this description was remarkably accurate in 
 most particulars will be obvious to those who have 
 read the preceding anecdotes. It is not true, how- 
 ever, that he was enthusiastic in character, or that 
 be had the appearance of being so. tie was far too 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 339 
 
 practical and self-possessed, to have the reputation 
 of being "half crazy," even among those who are 
 prone to regard everything as insane that is out ol 
 the common course. Neither do I think he was 
 accustomed to "let himself down too much;" for ac- 
 cording to my radical ideas, a man cannot "let him- 
 self down," who " associates only with those whose 
 moral characters are unimpeachable." It is true 
 that he was pleasant and playful in conversation 
 with all classes of people ; but he was remarkably 
 free from any tinge of vulgarity. It is true, also, 
 that he was totally and entirely unconscious of any 
 such thing as distinctions of rank. I have been 
 acquainted wdth many theoretical democrats, and 
 with Aot a few^ who tried to be democratic, from 
 kind feelings and principles of justice ; but Friend 
 Hopper and Francis Jackson of Boston are the only 
 two men I ever met, who were born democrats ; who 
 could not help it, if they tried; and who would not 
 know^ lioio to try ; so completely did they, by nature, 
 ignore all artificial distinctions. Of course, I do not 
 use the word democrat in its limited party sense, 
 but to express their perfect unconsciousness that any 
 man was considered to be above them, or any man 
 beneath them. If Friend Hopper encountered his 
 wood-sawyer, after a considerable absence, he would 
 shake hands warmly, and give him a cordial wel- 
 come. If the Enghsh Prince had called upon him. 
 
340 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER 
 
 he would have met with the same friendly reception 
 and would probably have been accosted something 
 after this fashion: "How art thou, friend Albert? 
 They tel) me thou art amiable and kindly disposed 
 toward the people ; and I am glad to see thee." 
 Those who observe the parting advice given by 
 Isaac's mother, when he went to serve his appren- 
 ticeship in Philadelphia, will easily infer that this 
 peculiarity was hereditary. Some men, who rise 
 above their original position, either in character or 
 fortune, endeavor to conceal their early history. 
 Others obtrude it upon all occasions, in order to 
 magnify themselves by a contrast between what 
 they have been and what they are. But he did 
 neither the one nor the other. The subject (lU not 
 occupy his thoughts. He spoke of having been a 
 tailor, whenever it came naturally in his way, but 
 never for the Scike of doing so. His having been 
 born in a hen-house was a mere external accident in 
 his eyes ; and in the same light he regarded the fact 
 that Victoria was born in a palace. What was the 
 spiritual condition of the two at any given age, 
 was the only thing that seemed to him of real im- 
 portance. 
 
 His steadfastness in maintaining moral principles, 
 "however unpopular those principles might be," was 
 severely tried in tho autumn of 1838. At a late 
 hour in the nignt, two colored men came to nis nouse, 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 341 
 
 and one introduced the other as a stranger in the 
 city, who had need of a lodging. Friend Hopper of 
 course conjectured that he might be a fugitive slave ; 
 and this conjecture was confirmed the next morning. 
 The stranger was a mulatto, about twenty-two years 
 old, and called himself Thomas Hughes. According 
 to his own account, he was the son of a vealthy 
 planter in Virginia, who sold his mother with him- 
 self and his twin sister when they were eleven 
 months old. His mother and sister were subse- 
 quently sold, but he could never ascertain where 
 they were sent. When he was about thirteen, he 
 was purchased by the son of his first master. Being 
 hardly dealt with by this relative, he one day re- 
 monstrated with him for treating his own brothei 
 with so much severity. This was, of course, deemed 
 a great piece of insolence in a bondman, and he was 
 punished by being sold to a speculator, carried off 
 hand-cuffed, with his feet tied under the horse's 
 belly, and finally shipped for Louisiana with a coffle 
 of five hundred slaves. He was boughi by a gam- 
 bler, who took him to Louisville, Kentucky. When 
 he had Hved there three years, his master, having 
 lost large sums of money, told him he should be 
 obliged to sell him. Thomas had meanwhile ascer- 
 tained that his father had removed to Kentucky, and 
 was still a very wealthy man. He obtained per- 
 mission to go and see him, with the hope that he 
 
342 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 would purchase him and set him free. Accordingly, 
 he called upon him, and told him that he was Tho- 
 mas, the son of his slave Rachel, who had always 
 assured him that he was his father. The rich 
 planter did not deny poor Rachel's assertion, but in 
 answer to her son's inquiries, he plainly manifested 
 that he neither knew nor cared who had bought her, 
 or to what part of the country she had been sent. 
 Thomas represented his own miserable condition, in 
 being sold from one to another, and subject to the 
 will of whoever happened to be his owner. He in- 
 treated his father to purchase him, with a view to 
 manumission ; but himself and his })roposition were 
 both treated with supreme contempt. Thus rejected 
 by his father, and unable to discover any traces of 
 his mother, he returned disheartened to Louisville, 
 and was soon after sent to New-Orleans to be sold. 
 Mr. John P. Darg, a speculator in slaves, bought 
 him; and he soon after married a girl named Mary, 
 who belonged to his new master. Mr. Darg went to 
 New- York, to visit some relatives, and took Thomas 
 .with him. It was only a few days after their arrival 
 in the city, that the slave left him, and went to IsMac 
 T. Hopper to ask a lodging. When he acknow- 
 ledged that he was a fugitive, intending to take 
 refuge in Canada, it was deemed imprudent for him 
 to remain ui der the roof of a person so widely 
 known as an abolitionist ; but a very benevolent and 
 
I.TFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 343 
 
 i.itelligent Quaker lady, near eighty years old, named 
 Margaret Shoemaker, gladly gave him shelter. 
 
 When Friend Hopper went to his place of busi- 
 ness, after parting with the colored stranger, he saw 
 an advertisement in a newspaper called the Sun, of- 
 fering one thousand dollars reward for the apprehen- 
 sion and return of a mulatto man, Avho had stolen 
 seven or eight thousand dollars from a house in Va- 
 rick-street. A proportionate reward was offered for 
 the recovery of any part of the money. Though no 
 names were mentioned, he had reason to conjecture 
 that Thomas Hughes might be the mulatto in ques- 
 tion. He accordingly sought him out, read the ad- 
 vertisement to him, and inquired whether he had sto- 
 len anything from his master. He denied having 
 committed any theft, and said the pretence that he 
 had done so was a mere trick, often resorted to by 
 slaveholders, when they wanted to catch a runaway 
 slave. That this remark was true. Friend Hopper 
 knew very well by his own experience ; he therefore 
 concluded it was likely that Thomas was not guilty. 
 He expressed this conviction in conversation on the 
 subject with Barney Corse, a benevolent member 
 of the Society of Friends, who was kindly disposed 
 toward the colored people. In compliance with 
 Friend Hopper's request, that gentleman waited up- 
 on the editor of the Sun, accompanied by a lavryer 
 and was assured that a laro-e amount jf mone> :-eal 
 
344 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HorPEIl. 
 
 ly had been stolen fron) Mr. Darg, and that if be 
 could recover it, he was willing to give a pledge ior 
 the manumission of the slave, beside paying the pro- 
 mised reward to whoever would enable him to get 
 possession of the money. Barney Corse called up- 
 on Mr. Darg, who promptly confirmed the state- 
 ment made by the editor in his name. The Friend 
 then promised that he, and others who were inter- 
 ested for the slave, would do their utmost to obtain 
 tidings of the money, and see it safely restored, on 
 those conditions ; but he expressly stipulated that 
 he could not do it otherwise, because he had consci- 
 entious scruples, which would prevent him, in all 
 cases, from helping to return a fugitive slave to his 
 master. 
 
 It is to be observed that the promise of manumis- 
 sion was given as the highest bribe that could be 
 ofTered to induce the slave to refund the money he 
 had taken ; for though in argument slaveholders 
 generally maintain that their slaves have no desire 
 for freedom, they are never known to act upon that 
 supposition. In this case, the offer served a double 
 purpose ; for it stimulated the benevolent zeal of 
 Friend Hopper and Barney Corse, and induced the 
 fugitive to confess what he had done. He still denied 
 thyt he had an> intention of stealing, but declared 
 that he took the money merely to obtain power over 
 his master, hoping that the promise to restore it 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 345 
 
 would secure his manumission. It is impossible to 
 tell whether he sj3oke truth or not ; for poor Thomas 
 had been educated in a bad school of morals. Sold 
 by his father, abused by his brother, and for years 
 compelled to do the bidding of gamblers and slave- 
 speculators, how could he be expected to have very 
 clear perceptions of right and wrong ? The circum- 
 stances of the case, however, seem to render it ra- 
 ther probable that he really was impelled by the mo- 
 tive which he assigned for his conduct. Mr. Darg 
 declared that he had previously considered him an 
 honest and faithful servant ; that he was in the habit 
 of trusting him with the key of his trunk, and fre- 
 quently sent him to it for money. • The bank-bills 
 he had purloined were placed in the hands of two 
 colored men in New- York, because, as he said, he 
 could not return them himself, but must necessarily 
 employ somebody to do it for him, in the intended 
 process of negotiating for his freedom. 
 
 Friend Hopper, his son-in-law^ James S. Gibbons, 
 and Barney Corse, were very earnest to recover the 
 money, for the best of reasons. In the first place, 
 they greatly desired to secure the manumission of 
 the slave. In the second place, the honesty of their 
 characters led them to wish that the master should 
 recover what was his own. In both instances, they 
 wished to restore stolen propertv to the rightful 
 
 owner ; to Thomas Hughes the free use of his own 
 15* 
 
346 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 faculties and limbs, which had been stolen from him, 
 and to Mr. Darg the money that had been purloined 
 from him. It is not likely that the Southerner would 
 have ever regained any portion of the amount sto- 
 len, had it not been for their exertions. But, by 
 careful and judicious management, they soon re- 
 covered nearly six thousand dollars, which was im- 
 mediately placed in one of the principal banks of the 
 city, with a full statement of the circumstances of 
 the case to the cashier. Over one thousand more 
 w^as heard of as having been deposited with a colored 
 man in Albany. Friend Hopper proposed that Bar- 
 ney Corse should go in pursuit of it, accompanied 
 by the colored man who sent it there. He agreed to 
 do so ; but he deemed it prudent to have a previous 
 interview with Mr. Darg, to obtain his written pro- 
 mise to manumit Thomas, to pay the necessary ex- 
 penses of the journey, and to exonerate from crimi- 
 nal prosecution any person or persons connected 
 with the robbery, provided that assurance proved 
 necessary in order to get possession of the money. 
 All this being satisfactorily accomplished, he went to 
 Albany and brought back the sum said to have been 
 deposited there. Ten or fourteen hundred dollars 
 were still wanting to complete the amoiuit, which 
 Mr. Darg said he had lost; but they had hopes of 
 obtaining that also, by confronting various individu- 
 als, who ^^ad b(^come involved with this complicdted 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 347 
 
 affair. Meanwhile, Barney Corse and James S. 
 Gibbons called upon Mr. Darg to inform him of the 
 amount recovered and safely deposited in the bank, 
 and to pay him the sum brought from Albany. In- 
 stead of giving the deed of manumission, which had 
 been his own voluntary offer at the outset, and which 
 he knew had been the impelling motive to exertion, 
 Mr. Darg had two police-officers in an adjoining 
 room to arrest Barney Corse for having stolen money 
 in his possession. He was of course astonished at 
 such an ungrateful return for his services, but at 
 once expressed his readiness to go before any magis- 
 trate that might be named. 
 
 It would not be easy to give an adequate idea of 
 the storm of persecution that followed. Popular 
 prejudice against abolitionists was then raging with 
 uncommon fury ; and police-officers and editors 
 availed themselves of it to the utmost to excite hos- 
 tility against individuals, w^ho had been actuated by 
 a kind motive, and who had proceeded with perfect 
 openness throughout the whole affair. The newspa- 
 pers of the city were pro-slavery, almost without ex- 
 ception. The idea of sending abolitionists to the 
 State Prison was a glorious prospect, over which 
 they exulted mightily. They represented that Tho- 
 mas had been enticed from his master by these pre- 
 tended philanthropists, who had advised him to steal 
 the monev, as a cunning mode of obtaining manu- 
 
y4W LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 mission. As for the accused, all they asked was a 
 spoedy and thorough investigalion of their condiu-t. 
 The case was however postponed from week to 
 week, and offers were made meanwhile to compro- 
 mise the matter, if Barney Corse would pay the bal- 
 ance of the lost money. He had wealthy connex- 
 ions, and perhaps the prosecutors hoped to extort 
 money from them, to avoid the disgrace of a trial. 
 But Barney^ Corse was far from wishing to avoid a 
 trial. 
 
 At this juncture of affairs, Friend Hopper took a 
 step, which raised a great clamor among his ene- 
 mies, and puzzled some of his friends at the time, 
 because they did not understand his motives. He 
 sued Mr. Darg for the promised reward of one thou- 
 sand dollars. He had several reasons for this pro- 
 ceeding. In the first place, the newspapers continu- 
 ally pointed him out as a man over whose head a cri- 
 minal prosecution was pending ; while he had at the 
 same time had good reason to believe that his accusers 
 would never venture to meet him before a court of 
 justice ; and a proper regard for his own character 
 made him resolved to obtain a legal investigation of 
 his conduct by some process. In the second place 
 Mr. Darg had subjected Barney Corse to a grea 
 deal of trouble and expense ; and Friend Hopper 
 thought it no more than fair that expenses caused by 
 his own treachery should be paid from his own pock- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 349 
 
 et. In the third place, David Ruggles, a worthy 
 colored man, no way imphcated in the transaction, 
 had been arreste4, and was hkely to be involved in 
 expense. In the fourth place, the police officers, 
 who advised the arrest of Barney Corse, made them- 
 selves very conspicuous in the persecution. He be- 
 lieved they had been actuated by a desire to obtain 
 the reward for themselves ; and as they had no just 
 claim to it, he determined to defeat them in this at- 
 tempt. He therefore sued for the reward himself, 
 thouo-h he never intended to use a dollar of it. This 
 was manifested at the time, by a declaration in the 
 newspapers, that if he recovered the reward, he 
 would give all over the expenses to some benevolent 
 society. It was frequently intimated to him that 
 there should be no further proceedings against him, 
 if he would withdraw this suit ; but he constantly 
 replied that a trial was w^hat he wanted. Finding 
 all overtures rejected, a complaint was laid before 
 the Grand Jury ; and such was the state of popular 
 prejudice, that twelve out of nineteen of that body 
 concurred in finding a bill against men of excellent 
 moral character, without any real evidence to sus- 
 tain the charge. Barney Corse had never taken 
 measures to- prevent the arrest of Thomas Hughes. 
 He simply declined to render any assistance. He 
 believed that he was under no legal obligation to do 
 otherwise : and he knew for a certaintv tliat he was 
 
350 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 under no moral obligation ; because conscience would 
 not allow him to aid in returning a runaway slave to 
 his master. Nevertheless, he and Jsaac T. Hopper, 
 and James S. Gibbons, were indicted for "felonious- 
 ly receiving, harboring, aiding and maintaining said 
 Thomas, in order that he might escape from arrest, 
 and avoid conviction and punishment." Friend 
 Hopper was advised that he might avail himself of 
 some technical defects in the indictment ; but he de- 
 chned doing it ; always insisting that a public inves- 
 tigation was what he wanted. 
 
 The trial was carried on in the same spirit that 
 characterized the previous proceedings. A colored 
 man, known to have had dishonest possession of a 
 portion of the lost money, was admitted to testify, 
 on two successive trials, against Barney Corse, who 
 had always sustained a fair character. The District 
 Attorney talked to the jury of "the necessity of ap- 
 peasing the South." As if convicting an honest and 
 kind-hearted Quaker of being accomplice in a felony 
 could do anything toward settling the questions that 
 divided North and South on the subject of slavery ! 
 One of the jury declared that he never would acquit 
 an abolitionist. Mr. Darg testified of himself dur- 
 mg the trial, that he never intended to manumit 
 Thomas, and had made the promise merely as a 
 means of obtaining his money. The newspapers 
 spoke as if the guilt of tlie accused was not to be 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 351 
 
 doubted, and informed the jury that the public ex- 
 pected them to convict these men. 
 
 In fact, the storm lowered so darkly, that some 
 friends of the persecuted individuals began to feel 
 uneasy. But Friend Hopper's mind was perfectly 
 undisturbed. Highly i;espectable lawyers offered to 
 conduct the cause for him ; but he gratefully declin- 
 ed, saying he preferred to manage it for himself. 
 He informed the court that he presumed they under- 
 stood the law, and he was quite sure that he under- 
 stood the facts ; therefore, he saw no need of a law- 
 yer betw^een them. The Court of Sessions was held 
 every month, and he appeared before it at almost 
 every term, to demand a trial. At last, in January 
 1840, when the hearing had been delayed fifteen 
 months, he gave notice that unless he was tried dur- 
 ing that term, he should appear on the last day of it, 
 and request that a nolle prosequi should be ordered. 
 The trial not coming on, he appeared accordingly, 
 and made a very animated speech, in which he dwelt 
 with deserved severity on the evils of the police 
 system, and on the efforts of a corrupt press to per- 
 vert the pubhc mind. He said he did not make 
 these remarks to excite sympathy. He was not 
 there to ask for mercy, but to demand justice 
 " And I would have you all to understand distinct 
 ly," continued the brave old man, "that I have no 
 wish to evade the charge against me for being an 
 
352 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 abolitionist. T am an abolitionist. In that, I am 
 charged truly. I have been an abolitionist from my 
 early years, and I always expect to remain so. For 
 this, I am prosecuted and persecuted. I most sin- 
 cerely believe that slavery is the greatest sin the 
 Lord Almighty ever suffered to exist upon this earth. 
 As sure as God is good and just, he w^ill put an end 
 to it ; and all opposition will be in vain. As regards 
 myself, I can only say, that having lived three-score 
 and nearly ten years, with a character that placed 
 me above suspicion in such matters as have been 
 urged against me, I cannot now forego the principles 
 which have always influenced my conduct in relation 
 to slavery. Neither force on the one hand, nor per- 
 suasion on the other, will ever alter my course of 
 action." 
 
 One of the New- York papers, commenting on 
 this speech, at the time, stcites that "the old gentle- 
 man was hsteiied to very attentively. ' He was com- 
 posed, dignified, and clear in his manner, and evi- 
 dently had much effect on the coAjrt and a large 
 number of spectators. He certainly need-ed no coun- 
 sel to eiid him." 
 
 The court ordered a nolle pi'oseqiii to be entered, 
 and the defendants were all discharged. The suit 
 for the reward proceeded no further. Davi-d Ruggles 
 had been early discharged, and the whole case had 
 been coni])letely ])cfore llie public in pamphlet form; 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 353 
 
 therefore the prmcipal objects for urgmg it no longer 
 existed. 
 
 Though the friends of human freedom made rea- 
 sonable allowance for a man brought up under such 
 demoralizing influences as Thomas Hughes had been, 
 they of course felt less confidence in him, than they 
 would have done had he sought to obtain liberty by 
 some more commendable process. Being aware ol 
 this, he returned to his master, not long after he 
 acknowledged the theft. At one time, it was pro- 
 posed to send him back to the South ; but he swore 
 that he would cut his throat rather than return into 
 slavery. The best lawyers declared their opinion 
 that he was legally entitled to freedom, in conse- 
 quence of his master's written promise to manumit 
 him if the money were restored ; consequently some 
 difficulties would have attended any attempt to 
 coerce him. He was tried on an indictment for 
 grand larceny, convicted, and sentenced to the State 
 Prison for two years ; the shortest term allowed for 
 the offence charged against him. Through the 
 whole course of the affair, he proved himself to be a 
 very irresolute and unreliable character. At one 
 time, he said that his master was a notorious gam- 
 bler ; then he denied that he ever said so ; then he 
 affirmed that his first statement was true, though he 
 had been frightened into contradicting it. When his 
 time was out at Sing Sing, he expressed to Friend 
 
354 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 Hopper and others his determination to remain at 
 the North ; but after an interA^iew with Mr. Darg, he 
 consented to return to the South with him. Al- 
 though he was thus wavering in character, he could 
 never be persuaded to say that any abolitionist ad- 
 vised him to take his master's money. He always 
 declared that no white man knew anything about 
 it, until after he had placed it out of his own hands ; 
 and that the friends who were wilHng to aid him in 
 procuring his manumission had always expressed 
 their regret that he had committed such a wrong 
 action. He deserved praise for his consistency on 
 this point ; for he had the offer of being exempted 
 from prosecution himself, and used as a witness, 
 if he would say they advised him to steal the mo- 
 ney. 
 
 "When Thomas Hughes consented to return to the 
 South with Mr. Darg, it was with the full under- 
 standing that he went as a free man, consenting to 
 be his servant. This he expressed during his last 
 interview with Friend Hopper, in Mr. Darg's pre- 
 sence. But the newspapers represented that he had 
 voluntarily gone back into slavery ; and such was 
 their exultation over his supposed choice, that a per- 
 son unacquainted vvitli the history of our republic 
 might have inferred that the heroes of the revolution 
 fought and died mainly for the purpose of convincing 
 their posterity of the superior advantages of slavery 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 355 
 
 over freedom. However, it was not long before 
 Thomas returned to New-York, and told the follow- 
 ing story : " A short time before my release from 
 prison, Mr. Darg brought my wife to see me, and 
 told me we should both be free and enjoy each other's 
 society as long as we lived, if I would go with him. 
 He said I should suffer here at the North ; for the 
 abolitionists would do nothing for me. I went with 
 him solely with the hope of living with Mary. 1 
 thought if he attempted to hold me as a slave, we 
 would both run away, the first opportunity. He told 
 me we should meet Mary in Washington ; but when 
 we arrived in Baltimore, he shut me up in jail, and 
 told me Mary was sold, and carried off South. I 
 cannot describe how I felt. I never expect to see 
 her again. He asked me if I consented to come 
 with him on Mary's account, or on his own account. 
 I thought it would make it better for me to say on 
 his account ; and I said so. I hope the Lord will 
 forgive me for telhng a falsehood. When I had 
 been in jail some time, he called to see me, and said 
 that as I did not come with him on account of my 
 wife, he would not sell me ; that I should be free, 
 and he would try to buy Mary for me." 
 
 Thomas said he was informed that certain people 
 in New- York wrote to Mr. Darg, advising him not to 
 sell him, because the abolitionists predicted that he 
 would do so ; and he thought that was the reason 
 
356 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 why he was not sold. If this supposition was correct, 
 it is a great pity that his master was not induced by 
 some better motive to avoid an evil action. Thomas 
 uniformly spoke of Mrs. Darg with respect and 
 gratitude. He said, " She was always very kind to 
 me and Mary. 1 know she did not want to have 
 me sold, or to have Mary sold ; for I believe she 
 loved her. I feel very sorry that I could not live 
 with her and be free ; but I had rather live in the 
 State Prison all my life than to be a slave." 
 
 I never heard what became of Thomas. Friend 
 Shoemxaker used to tell me, years afterward, how she 
 secreted him, and rejoiced in the deed. I heard the 
 good lady, when more than ninety years old, just before 
 her death, talk the matter over ; and her kindly, in- 
 telligent countenance smiled all over, as she recount- 
 ed how she had contrived to dodge the police, and 
 avoid being a w^itness in the case. The Fugitive 
 Slave Law would be of no avail to tyrants, if all the 
 women at the North had as much moral courage, and 
 were as benevolent and quick-witted as she was. 
 
 Those who were most active in persecuting Friend 
 Hopper and Barney Corse convinced the public, by 
 their subsequent disreputable career, that they were 
 not men whose word could be relied upon. 
 
 Dr. R. W. Moore, of Philadelphia, in a letter to 
 Friend Hopper concerning this troublesome case, 
 says- "I am aware tlinu hast pi'ssod through many 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 357 
 
 trials in the prosecution of this matter. Condemned 
 by the world, censured by some of thy friends, and 
 discouraged by the weak, thou hast had much to 
 bear. But thou hast been able to foil thy enemies, 
 and to pass through the flames without the smell of 
 fire on thy garments. Thy christian firmness is an 
 example to us all. It reminds one of those ancient 
 Quakers, who, knowing themselves in the right, suf- 
 fered wrongs rather than compromise their princi- 
 ples. For the sake of mankind, I am sorry there 
 are not more such characters among us. They 
 would do more to exalt our principles, than a host of 
 the professors of the present day." 
 
 A year or two later, another incident occurred, 
 which excited similar exultation among New-York 
 editors, that a human being had been so wise as to 
 prefer slavery to freedom ; and there was about as 
 much cause for such exultation as there had been m 
 the case of Thomas Hughes. 
 
 Mrs. Burke of New-Orleans went to New-York to 
 visit a relati.ve by the name of Morgan. She brought 
 a slave to attend upon her, and took great care to 
 prevent her becoming acquainted with the colored 
 people. I don't know how city editors would ac- 
 count for this extreme caution, consistently with 
 their ideas of the blesse-dness of slavery. They 
 might ar"ue that there was danger free colored peo- 
 ple would be so attracted by her charming pictures 
 
358 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 of bondage, that they would emigrate to the South 
 in larger numbers than would supply the slave-mar- 
 kets, and thus occasion some depression in an honor- 
 able branch of trade in this republic. However 
 they might please to explain it, the simple fact was, 
 Mrs. Burke did not allow her slave to go into the 
 street. Of course, she must have had some other 
 motive than the idea that freedom could be attrac- 
 tive to her. The colored people became aware of the 
 careful constraint imposed upon the woman, and 
 they informed the abolitionists. Thinking it right 
 that slaves should be made aware of their legal 
 claim to freedom, when brought or sent into the free 
 states, with knowledge and consent of their mas- 
 ters, they applied to Judge Oakley for a writ of ha- 
 heas corpus, by virtue of which the ;2:irl was brought 
 before him. While she was in waiting. Friend Hop- 
 per heard of the circumstance, and immediately pro- 
 ceeded to the court-room. There he found Mr. 
 Morgan and one of his southern friends talking busi- 
 ly with the slave. The woman appeared frightened 
 and undecided, as is often the case, under such cir- 
 cumstances. Those who wished her to return to the 
 South plied her with fair promises. They represent- 
 ed abolitionists as a set of kidnappers, who seized 
 colored strangers under friendly pretences, and no- 
 body could tell what became of them afterward. It 
 was urged that her condition would be most misera- 
 
I 
 
 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 359 
 
 ble with the "free niggers" of the North, even if the 
 abohtionists did not sell her, or spirit her away to 
 some unknown region. 
 
 On the other hand, the colored people, who had 
 assembled about the court-room, were very eager to 
 cscue her from slavery. She did not understand 
 heir motives, or those of the abolitionists ; for they 
 had been diligently misrepresented to her. "What 
 do they want to do it forV she asked, with a per- 
 plexed air. "What will they do with me?" She 
 was afraid there was some selfish motive concealed. 
 She dared not trust the professions of strangers, 
 whose characters had been so unfavorably represent- 
 ed. Friend Hopper found her in this confused state 
 of mind. The Southerner was very willing to speak 
 for her. He gave assurance that she did not want 
 her freedom ; that she desired to return to the 
 South ; and that she had been in no respect distrain- 
 ed of her liberty in the city of New-York. 
 
 "Thou art a very respectable looking man," said 
 Friend Hopper; "but I have known slaveholders, of 
 even more genteel appearance than thou art, tell 
 gross falsehoods where a slave was in question. I 
 tell thee plainly, that I have no confidence in slave- 
 holders, in any such case. I have had too much 
 acquaintance with them. I know their game too 
 well." 
 
 The Southerner said something about its bemg 
 
3b0 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 both mean and wrong to come between master and 
 servant. 
 
 "Such may be thy opinion," replied Friend Hop- 
 per ; "but my views of duty differ from thine in this 
 matter." Then turning to the womaii, he said, "By 
 the laws here, thou art free. No man has a right to 
 make thee a slave again. Thou mayest stay at the 
 North, or go back to New-Orleans, just as thou 
 choosest." 
 
 The Southerner here interposed to say, "Mind 
 what that old oentleman says. You can otq back to 
 New-Orleans, to your husband, if you prefer to go." 
 
 "But let me tell thee," said Friend Hopper to the 
 woman, "that if thou stayest here, thou wilt be 
 free ; but if they carry thee back, they may sell 
 thee away frcm thy husband Dost thou wish to be 
 free ?" 
 
 The tears gushed from her eyes in full flood, and 
 she replied earnestly, " I do want to be free. To be 
 sure I do want to be free ; but then I want to go to 
 my husband." 
 
 Mr. Morgan and his Southern friend grew excited. 
 With an angry glance at the old gentleman, the lat- 
 ter exclaimed, "I only wish we had you in New-Or- 
 leans ! We'd hang you up in twenty-four hours." 
 
 "Then you are a set of savages," replied Friend 
 Hopper. 
 
 " You are a set of tliieves," retorted he. 
 
LIFE Of ISAAC T. HOPPER. 3G1 
 
 *'Well, savages may be thieves also," rejoined the 
 abohtionist, with a significant smile. 
 
 'You are no gentleman," responded the other, in 
 an irritated tone., 
 
 "I don't profess to be a gentleman," answered the 
 impassive Quaker. "But I am an honest old man ; 
 and perhaps that will do as well." 
 
 This remark occasioned a general smile. Indeed 
 it was pleasant to observe, throughout this scene in 
 the court-room, that popular sympathy was altogeth- 
 er on the side of freedom. It was a strange bhnd 
 instinct on the part of the people, considering how 
 diligently they had been instructed otherwise by pul- 
 pit and press ; but so it was. 
 
 When the slave was summoned into the judge's 
 room, Friend Hopper foil-owed ; being extremely de- 
 sirous to have her understand her position clearly. 
 He found Mr. Morgan and his Southern friend in 
 close and earnest conversation with her. When he 
 attempted to approach her, he was unceremoniously 
 shoved aside, with the remark, "Don't push me 
 away !" 
 
 "I did not push thee," said Friend Hopper ; " and 
 
 see that thou dost not push me !" He then inquired 
 
 of the woman if he had rightly understood that hei 
 
 husband was free. She replied in the affirmative. 
 
 "Then let me tell thee," said the kind-hearted old 
 
 gentleman, "that we will send for him, and obtain 
 IG 
 
*^02 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 employment for him here, if it is thy choice to re- 
 main." 
 
 Again she wept, and repeated, "I do want to be 
 free." But she was evidently bewildered and dis- 
 trustful, and did not know^ how to understand the op- 
 posite professions that were made to her. 
 
 On representation of the claimant's friends, Judge 
 Oakley adjourned the case till the next morning ; 
 telling the woman she was at hberty to go with 
 whom she pleased. The colored people had assem- 
 bled in considerable numbers, and were a good deal 
 excited. Experience led them to suppose that she 
 would either be cajoled into consenting to return to 
 slavery, or else secretly packed off to New-Orleans, 
 if she were left in Southern hands. They accord- 
 ingly made haste to hustle her away. But their 
 well-intended zeal terrified the poor bewildered crea- 
 ture, and she escaped from them, and went back to 
 her mistress. 
 
 The pro-slavery papers chuckled, as they always 
 do, when some poor ignorant victim is deceived by 
 false representation, alarmed by an excitement that 
 she does not comprehend, afraid that strangers are 
 not telling her the truth, or that they have not the 
 power to protect her ; and in continual terror of fu- 
 ture punishment, if she should attempt to take hei 
 freedom, and yet be unable to maintain it. Great is 
 the triumph of republicans, when, under such trying 
 
 I 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 363 
 
 circumstances, one poor bewildered wretcli goes back 
 to slavery ; but of the hundreds, who every month 
 take their freedom, through fire and flood, and all 
 manner of deadly perils, they are as silent as the 
 grave. 
 
 In the spring of 1841, I went to New-York to 
 edit the Anti-Slavery Standard, and took up my 
 abode with the family of Isaac T. Hopper. The 
 zealous theological controversy among Friends natu- 
 rally subsided after the separation between the op- 
 posing parties had become an old and settled fact. 
 Consequently the demand for Quaker books dimin- 
 ished more and more. The Anti-Slavery Society, at 
 that time, needed a Treasurer and Book-Agent ; and 
 Friend Hopper was proposed as a suitable person for 
 that office. As only a small portion of his time was 
 occupied with the sale of books he had on hand, he 
 concluded to accept the proposition. He was then 
 nearly seventy years old ; but he appeared at least 
 twenty years younger, in person and manners. His 
 firm, elastic step seemed like a vigorous man of fifty. 
 He would spring from the Bowery cars, while they 
 were in motion, with as much agility as a lad of 
 fourteen. His hair was not even sprinkled with 
 gray. It looked so black and glossy, that a young 
 lady, who was introduced to him, said she thought 
 he wore a wig unnaturally dark for his age. It was 
 a favorite Joke of his to make strangers believe he 
 
364 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 wore a wig ; and they were not easily satisfied that 
 he spoke in jest, until they examined his head. 
 
 The roguery of his boyhood had subsided into a 
 love of little mischievous tricks ; and the playful 
 tone of humor, that rippled through his conversation, 
 frequently reminded me of the Cheeryble Brothers 
 so admirably described by Dickens. If some on 
 rang at the door, and inquired for Mr. Hopper, he 
 always answered, "There is no such person lives 
 here." If the stranger urged that he had been di- 
 rected by a man who said he knew Mr. Hopper, he 
 would persevere in saying, "There must be some 
 mistake. No such person lives here." At last, when 
 the disappointed visitor turned to go away, he would 
 call out, "Perhaps thou means Isaac T. Hopper? 
 That is 7ny name." 
 
 Being called upon to give a receipt to a Catholic 
 priest for some money deposited in his hands, he 
 simply wrote "Received of John Smith." When 
 the priest had read it, he handed it back and said, 
 "I am disbursing other people's money, and shall be 
 obliged to show this receipt ; therefore, I should like 
 to have you write my name, the Reverend John 
 Smith." "I have conscientious scruples about using 
 titles," replied Friend Hopper. "However, I will 
 try to oblige thee." He took another slip of paper, 
 and wrote, "Received of John Smith, who calls 
 himself ihe Reverond." The priest smil(>d, and ac 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 365 
 
 cepted the compromise ; being well aware that the 
 pleasantly originated in no personal or sectarian pre- 
 judice. 
 
 He always had something facetious to say to the 
 people with whom he traded. The oyster-men, the 
 coal-men, and the women at the fruit-stalls in his 
 neighborhood, all knew him as a pleasant old gentle- 
 man, always ready for a joke. One day, when he 
 Avas buying some peaches, he said to the woman, 
 '' A serious accident happened at our house last 
 night. I killed two robbers." ''Dear me !" she ex- 
 claimed. "Were they young men, or old convicts? 
 Had they ever been in Sing Sing?" "I don't know 
 about that," replied he. "I should think they might 
 have been by the noise they made. But I despatch- 
 ed them before they had stolen much. The walls 
 are quite bloody." 'Has a Coroner's inquest been 
 called ?" inquired the woman. When he answered, 
 "No," she lifted her hands in astonishment, and ex- 
 claimed, "Well now, I do declare ! If anybody else 
 had done it, there would have been a great fuss 
 made about it ; but you are a privileged man, Mr. 
 Hopper." When he was about to walk away, he 
 turned round and said, "I did not mention to thee 
 that the robbers I killed were two mosquitof s." Tlie 
 woman had a good laugh, and he came home as 
 pleased as a boy, to think how completely his seri- 
 ous manner had deceived her. 
 
366 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 One day he went to a hosiery store, and said to 
 the man, "I bought a pair of stockings here yester- 
 day. They looked very nice ; but when T got home, 
 I found two large holes in them ; and I have come 
 for another pair. The man summoned his wife, and 
 informed her of what the gentleman had said. 
 
 "Bless me ! Is it possible, sir ?" she exclaimed. 
 
 "Yes," replied Friend Hopper, I found they had 
 holes as large as my hand." 
 
 "It is very strange," rejoined she; "for I am 
 sure they were new. But if you have brought them 
 back, of course we will change them." 
 
 "0," said he, "upon examination, I concluded 
 that the big holes were made to put the feet in ; and 
 I liked the stockings so well, that I have come to 
 buy another pair." 
 
 At another time, he entered a crockery shop, 
 where a young girl was tending. He made up a 
 very sorrowful face, and in whining tones, tokl her 
 that he was in trouble and needed help. She asked 
 him to wait till the gentleman came ; but he contin- 
 ued to beseech that she would take compassion on 
 him. The girl began to be frightened by his impor- 
 tunity, and looked anxiously toward the door. At 
 last, the man of the shop came in ; and Friend Hop- 
 per said, "This young woman thinks she cannot 
 help me out of my trouble ; but I think she can. 
 The fact is, we are going to have company , and so 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 367 
 
 many of our tumblers are broken, that I came to ask 
 if she would sell me a few." 
 
 One day, when he was walking quickly up the 
 Bowerv, his foot slipped on a piece of orange-peel, 
 and he fell prostrate on the sidewalk. He started up 
 instantly, and turning to a young man behind him, 
 he said, " Couldst thou have done that any better?" 
 
 He very often mingled with affairs in the street, 
 as he passed along. One day, when he saw a man 
 beating his horse brutally, he stepped up to him and 
 said, very seriously, "Dost thou know that some 
 people tnmk men change into animals when they 
 die ?" 
 
 The stranger's attention was arrested by such an 
 unexpected question, and he answered that he never 
 was acquainted with anybody who had that belief. 
 
 "But some people do believe it," rejoined Friend 
 Hopper; "and they also believe that animals may 
 become men. Now I am thinking if thou shouldst 
 ever be a horse, and that horse should ever be a 
 man, with such a temper as thine, the chance is thou 
 wilt get some cruel beatings." Having thus changed 
 the current of his angry mood, he proceeded to ex- 
 postulate with him in a friendly way ; and the poor 
 beast was reprieved, for that time, at least. 
 
 He could imitate the Irish brogue very perfectly ; 
 and it was a standing jest with him to make every 
 Trish stranger believe he was a countryman. During 
 
368 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 his visit to Ireland, he had become so well acquaint 
 ed with various localities, that I believe he never in 
 any instance failed to deceive them, when he said, 
 *'Och ! and sure I came from old Ireland meself." 
 After amusing himself in this way for a while, he 
 would tell them, "It is true I did come from Ireland; 
 but, to confess the truth, I went there first." 
 
 Once, when he saw two Irishmen fighting, he 
 seized one of them by the arm, and said, " I'm from 
 ould Ireland. If thou must fight, I'm the man for 
 thee. Thou hadst better let that poor fellow alone. 
 I'm a dale stouter than he is ; and sure it vrould be 
 braver to fight me." The man thus accosted looked 
 at him with surprise, for an instant, then burst out 
 laughing, threw his coat across his arm, and walked 
 oflf. 
 
 Another time, when he found tw^o Irishmen quar- 
 relling, he stepped up and inquired what was the 
 matter. "He's got my prayer-book," exclaimed one 
 of them ; "and I'll give him a bating for it ; by St. 
 Patrick, I will." "Let me give thee a piece of ad- 
 vice," said Friend Hopper. "It's a very hot day, 
 and bating is warm work. I'm thinking thou had'st 
 better put it off till the cool o' the morning." The 
 men, of course, became cooler before they had done 
 listening to this playful remonstrance. 
 
 Once, when he was travelling in the stage, they 
 passed a number of Irishmen with cart-loads of 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 3(59 
 
 stones, to mend the road. Friend Hopper suggested 
 to the driver that he had better ask them to remove 
 a very large stone, which lay directly in the way 
 and seemed dangerous. "It will be of no use if I 
 do," replied the driver. "They'll only curse me, 
 and tell me to go round the old road, over the hill ; 
 for the fact is, this road is not fairly opened to the 
 public yet." Friend Hopper jumped out, and asked 
 if they would turn that big stone aside. "And sure 
 ye've no business here at all," they rephed. "Ye 
 mav jist go round by the ould road." "Och !" said 
 Friend Hopper, "and is this the way Fm trated by 
 my coontryman ? Fm from Ireland meself; and 
 sure I did'nt expect to be trated so by my coontry 
 men in a strange coontry." 
 
 "And are ye from ould Ireland?" inquired they. 
 
 "Indade I am," he replied. 
 
 "And what part may ye be from ?" said they. 
 
 "From Mount Mellick, Queen's County," rejoined 
 he ; and he began to talk familiarly about the priest 
 and the doctor there, till he got the laborers into a 
 real good humor, and they removed the stone with 
 the utmost alacrity. The passengers in the stage 
 listened to this conversation, and supposed that he 
 was in reality an Irish Quaker. When he retiu-ned 
 to them and explained the joke, they had a hearty 
 laugh over his powers of mimicry. 
 
 His tricks with children were innumerable. They 
 
870 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 would often be lying in wait for him in the street ; 
 and if he passed without noticing- them, they would 
 sometimes pull at the skirts of his coat, to obtain the 
 customary attention. Occasionally, he would ob- 
 serve a little troop staring at him, attracted by the 
 singularity of his costume. Then, he would stop, 
 face about, stretch out his leg, and say, " Come now, 
 boys ! Come, and take a good look ! " It was his 
 delight to steal up behind them, and tickle their 
 necks, while he made a loud squealing noise. The 
 children, supposing some animal had set upon them, 
 would jump as if they had been shot. And how he 
 would laugh ! When he met a boy with dirty face 
 or hands, he would stop him, and inquire if he ever 
 studied chemistry. The boy, with a wondering 
 stare, would answer, "No." "Well then, I will 
 teach thee how to perform a curious chemical ex- 
 periment," said Friend Hopper. "Go home, take a 
 piece of soap, put it in water, and rub it briskly on 
 thy hands and face. Thou hast no idea what a 
 beautiful froth it will make, and how much whiter 
 thy skin will be. That's a chemical experiment. I 
 advise thee to try it." 
 
 The character of his wife was extremely modest 
 and reserved ; and he took mischievous pleasure in 
 telling strangers the story of their courtship in a way 
 that made her blush. "Dost thou know what Han- 
 nah answerer], when I asked if she would marry 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 371 
 
 me?" said he. "I will tell thee how it was. 1 
 was walking home with her one evening, soon after 
 the death of her mother, and I mentioned to her that 
 as she was alone now, I supposed she intended to 
 make some change in her mode of living. When 
 she said yes, I told her I had been thinking it would 
 be very pleasant to have her come and live with me. 
 'That would suit me exactly,' said she. This 
 prompt reply made me suppose she might not have 
 understood my meaning ; and I explained that I 
 wanted to have her become a member of my family ; 
 but she rephed again, * There is nothing I should 
 like better.'" 
 
 The real fact was, the quiet and timid Hannah 
 Attmore was not dreaming of such a thing as a pro- 
 posal of marriage. She supposed he spoke of re- 
 ceiving her as a boarder in his family. When she 
 at last perceived his meaning, she slipped her arm 
 out of his very quickly, and was too much confused 
 to utter a word. But it amused him to represent 
 that she seized the opportunity the moment it was 
 offered. 
 
 There was one of the anti-slavery agents who did 
 everything in a dashing, wholesale style, and was 
 very apt to give peremptory orders. One day he 
 wrote a letter on business, to which the following 
 postscript was appended : "Give the hands at your 
 office a tremendous blowdng up. They need it.'* 
 
372 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 Friend Hopper briefly replied : "According to tny 
 orders, I have given the hands at our office a tre- 
 mendous blov^dng up. They want to know what it 
 is for. Please inform me by return of mail." 
 
 When the Prison Association of New- York pe- 
 titioned to be incorporated, he went to Albany on 
 business therewith connected. He was then a stran- 
 ger at the seat of government, though they after- 
 ward came to know him well. When he was seated 
 in the senate-chamber, a man came to him and told 
 him to take off his hat. He replied, "I had rather 
 not. I am accustomed to keep it on." 
 
 "But it is contrary to the rules," rejoined the offi- 
 cer. "I am ordered to turn out any man who refu- 
 ses to uncover his head." 
 
 The Quaker quietly responded, "Very well, friend, 
 obey thy orders." 
 
 "Then, will you please to walk out, sir?" said the 
 officer. 
 
 "No," replied Friend Hopper. "Didst thou not 
 tell me thou wert ordered to turn me out?" Dost 
 thou suppose I am going to do thy duty for thee ?" 
 
 The officer looked embarrassed, and said, half 
 smiling, "But how am I to get you out ?" 
 
 "Carry me out, to be sure," rejoined Friend Hop- 
 per. " I see no other way." 
 
 The officer went and whispered to the Speaker, 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 373 
 
 who glanced at the noble-looking old gentleman, 
 and advised that he should be let alone. 
 
 Sometimes his jests conveyed cutting sarcasms. 
 One day, when he was riding in an omnibus, he 
 opened a port-monnaie lined with red. A man witli 
 very flaming visage, who was somewhat intoxicated, 
 and therefore very much inclined to be talkative, 
 said, "Ah, that i^ a very gay pocket-book for a Qua- 
 ker to carry." 
 
 "Yes, it is very red," replied Friend Hopper; 
 "but is not so red as thy nose." The passengers all 
 smiled, and the man seized the first opportunity to 
 make his escape. 
 
 A poor woman once entered an omnibus, which 
 was nearly full, and stood waiting for some one to 
 make room. A proud-looking lady sat near Friend 
 Hopper, and he asked her to move a little, to ac- 
 commodate the new^ comer. But she looked very 
 glum, and remained motionless. After examining 
 her countenance for an instant, he said, "If thy face 
 often looks so, I should n't like to have thee for a 
 neighbor." The passengers exchanged smiles at this 
 rebuke, and the lady frowned still more deeply. 
 
 One of the jury in the Darg case was "a son of 
 Abraham," rather conspicuous for his prejudice 
 against colored people. Some time after the pro- 
 ceedings were dropped, Friend Hopper happened to 
 meet him, and entered into conversation on the sub- 
 
374 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 ject. The Jew was very bitter against "that ras- 
 cally thief, Tom Hughes." " It does not become 
 thee to be so very severe," said Friend Hopper ; "for 
 thy ancestors were slaves in Egypt, and went of}' 
 with the gold and silver jewels they borrowed of 
 their masters." 
 
 One day he met several of the Society of Friends, 
 whom he had not seen for some time. Among them 
 was an Orthodox Friend, who was rather stiff in his 
 manners. The others shook hands with Isaac ; but 
 when he approached "the Orthodox," he merely 
 held out his finger. 
 
 "Why dost thou offer me thy finger?" said he. 
 
 "I don't allow people of certain principles to get 
 very deep hold of Twe," was the cold reply. 
 
 "Thou needest have no uneasiness on that score," 
 rejoined Friend Hopper; "for there never was any- 
 thing deep in thee to get hold of.' 
 
 The sense of justice, so conspicuoirs in boyhood, 
 always remained a distinguishing trait in his charac- 
 ter. Once, after riding half a mile, he perceived 
 that he had got into the wrong omnibus. When he 
 jumped out, the driver called for pay ; but he an- 
 swered, "I don't owe thee anything. I've been car- 
 ried the wrong way." This troubled him afterward, 
 when he considered that he had used the carriage 
 and horses, and that the mistake was his own fault. 
 He kept on the look-out for the driver, but did not 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 375 
 
 happen to see him again, until several weeks after- 
 ward. He called to him to stop, and paid the six- 
 pence. 
 
 "Why, you refused to pay me, when I asked 
 you," said the driver. 
 
 "I know I did," he replied; "but I repented of it 
 afterward. I was in a hurry then, and I did not re- 
 flect that the mistake was my fault, not thine ; and 
 that I ought to pay for riding half a mile with thy 
 horses, though they did carry me the wrong way." 
 The man laughed, and said he didn't often meet 
 with such conscientious passengers. 
 
 The tenacity of the old gentleman's memory was 
 truly remarkable. He often repeated letters, which 
 he had written or received twenty years before on 
 some memorable occasion ; and if opportunity oc- 
 curred to compare them with the originals, it would 
 be found that he had scarcely varied a word. He 
 always maintained that he could distinctly remember 
 some things, which happened before he was two 
 years old. One day, when his parents were absent, 
 and Polly was busy about her work, he sat bolstered 
 up in his cradle, when a sudden gust of wind blew a 
 large piece of paper through the entry. To his un- 
 ducated senses, it seemed to be a living creature, 
 and he screamed violently. It was several hours 
 befo-re he recovered from his extreme terror. When 
 his parents returned, he tried to make them under- 
 
376 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 stand how a strange thing had come into the house, 
 and run, and jumped, and made a noise. But his 
 lisping language was so very imperfect, that they 
 were unable to conjecture what had so frightened 
 him. For a long time after, he would break out into 
 sudden screams, whenever the remembrance came 
 over him. At seventy-five years old, he told me he 
 remembered exactly how the paper then appeared to 
 him, and what sensations of terror it excited in his 
 infant breast. 
 
 He had a large old-fashioned cow-bell, which was 
 always rung to summon the family to their meals. 
 He resisted havino^ one of more modern construction, 
 because he said that pleasantly reminded him of the 
 time when he was a boy, and used to drive the cows 
 to pasture. Sometimes, he rang it much longer 
 than was necessary to summon the household. On 
 such occasions, I often observed him smiling while 
 he stood shaking the bell ; and he would say, "I am 
 thinking how Polly looked, when the cow kicked 
 her over; milk-pail and all. I can see it just as 
 if it happened yesterday. O, what fun it was !" 
 
 He often spoke of the first slave whose escape he 
 managed, in the days of his apprenticeship. He 
 was wont to exclaim, "How well I remember the 
 anxious, imploring look that poor fellow gave me, 
 when J told him I would be his friend ! It rises up 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 377 
 
 before me now. If I were a painter, I could show it 
 to thee." 
 
 But clearly above all other things, did he remem- 
 ber every look and tone of ?iis beloved Sarah ; even 
 m the days when they trudged to school together, 
 hand in hand. The recollection of this first love, 
 closely intertwined with his first religious impres- 
 sions, was the only flowery spot of romance in the 
 old gentleman's very practical character. When he 
 was seventy years of age, he showed me a piece of 
 writing she had copied for him, when she was a girl 
 of fourteen. It was preserved in the self-same en- 
 velope, in which she sent it, and pinned with the 
 same pin, long since blackened by age. I said, " Be 
 careful not to lose that pin." 
 
 "Lose it!" he exclaimed. ''No money could 
 tempt me to part with it. I loved the very ground 
 she trod upon." 
 
 He was never weary of eulogizing her comely 
 looks, beautiful manners, sound principles, and sen 
 sible conversation. The worthy companion of his 
 later life never seemed troubled by such remarks. 
 She not only "listened to a sister's praises with un- 
 wounded ear," but often added a heartfelt tribute to 
 the virtues of her departed friend. 
 
 It is very common for old people to grow careless 
 about their personal appearance, and their style of 
 
378 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 conversation ; but Friend Hopper was remarkably 
 free from such faults. He was exceedingly pure in 
 his mind, and in his personal habits. He never allud- 
 ed to any subject that w^as unclean, never made 
 any indelicate remark, or used any unseemly expres- 
 sion. There was never the slightest occasion for 
 young people to feel uneasy concerning what he 
 might say. However lively his mood might be, his 
 fun was always sure to be restrained by the nicest 
 sense of natural propriety. He shaved, and took a 
 cold plunge-bath every day. Not a particle of mud 
 or dust was allowed to remain upon his garments. 
 He always insisted on blacking his own shoes ; for 
 it was one of his principles not to be waited upon, 
 while he w^as w^ell enough to wait upon himself. 
 They were always as polished as japan ; and every 
 Saturday night, his silver buckles were made as 
 bright as a new dollar, in readiness to go to me(^ting 
 the next day. His dress was precisely like that worn 
 by William Penn. At the time I knew him, I be- 
 lieve he w^as the only Quaker in the country, who 
 had not departed from that model in the slightest 
 degree. It was in fact the dress of all English gen- 
 tlemen, in King Charles's time ; and the only pecu- 
 liarity of William Penn was, that he wore it without 
 embroidery or ornament of any kind, for the purpose 
 of protesting against the extravagance of the fash- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 379 
 
 ionable world. Therefore, the spirit of his intention 
 and that of other early Friends, would be preserved 
 by wearing dress cut according to the prevailing 
 mode, but of plain materials, and entirely unorna- 
 mented. However, Friend Hopper was attached to 
 the ancient costume from early association, and he 
 could not quite banish the idea that any change in it 
 would be a degree of conformity to the fashions oi 
 the world. The long stockings, and small clothes 
 buckled at the knee, were well adapted to his finely 
 formed limbs ; and certainly he and his lady- like 
 Hannah, in their quaint garb of the olden time, 
 formed a very agreeable picture. 
 
 He had no peculiarities with regard to eating or 
 drinking. He always followed the old-fashioned 
 substantial mode of living, to which he had been ac- 
 customed in youth, and of which moderation in all 
 thino-s was the rule. For luxuries he had no taste. 
 
 o 
 
 He thought very little about his food ; but when it 
 was before him, he ate with the vigorous appetite 
 natural to strong health and very active habits. 
 When his health failed for a time in Philadelphia, 
 and he seemed wasting away to a shadow, his physi- 
 cian recommended tobacco. He found great benefit 
 from it, and in consequence of the habit then formed 
 he became an inveterate smoker, and continued so 
 till he was past seventy years old. 
 
380 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 Being out of health for a short time, at that pe- 
 riod, the doctor told him he thought smoking was not 
 good for his complaint. He accordingly discontinued 
 the practice, and formed a resolution not to renew 
 it. When he recovered, it cost him a good deal of 
 physical annoyance to conquer the long-settled habit; 
 but he had sufficient strength of mind to persevere 
 in the diffjcult task, and he never again used tobacco 
 in any form. Speaking of this to his son Edward, 
 he said, "The fact is, w^hoever cures himself of any 
 selfish indulgence, becomes a better man. It may 
 seem strange that I should set out to improve at my 
 age ; but better late than never." 
 
 He w^as eminently domestic in his character. 
 Perhaps no man ever lived, who better enjoyed 
 staying at home. He loved to invite his grand- 
 children, and write them pleasant little notes about 
 the squirrel-pie, or some other rarity, which he had 
 in preparation for them. He seldom went out of his 
 own family circle, except on urgent ])usiness, or to 
 attend to some call of humanity. He was always 
 very attentive in waiting upon his wife to meeting, 
 or elsewhere, and spent a large portion of his even- 
 ings in reading to her from the newspapers, or some 
 book of Travels, or the writings of early Friends. 
 No man in the country had such a complete Quaker 
 library. He contrived to pick up every rare old 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 381 
 
 volume connected with the history of his sect. He 
 had a wonderful fondness and reverence for many oi 
 those books. They seemed to stand to him in the 
 place of old religious friends, who had parted from 
 his side in the journey of hfe. There, at least, he 
 iound Quakerism that had not degenerated ; that 
 breathed the same spirit as of yore. 
 
 I presume that his rehgious opinions resembled 
 those of Ehas Hicks. But I judged so mainly from 
 incidental remarks ; for he regarded doctrines as of 
 small importance, and considered theology an un- 
 profitable topic of conversation. Practical righteous- 
 ness, manifested in the daily affairs of life, was in 
 his view the sum and substance of religion. The 
 doctrine of the Atonement never commended itseli 
 to his reason, and his sense of justice was disturbed 
 by the idea of the innocent suffering for the guilty. 
 He moreover thought it had a pernicious tendency 
 for men to rely on an abstract article of faith, to 
 save them from their sins. AVith the stern and 
 gloomy sects, who are peculiarly attracted by the 
 character of Deity as delineated in the Old Testa- 
 ment, he had no sympathy. The Infinite One was 
 ever present to his mind, as a loving Father to all 
 his children, whether they happened to call him 
 by the nams of Brama, Jehovah, God, or Allah. 
 
 He was strongly attached to the forms of Qua- 
 
3S2 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 kerism, as well as to the principles. It troubled 
 him, when some of his children changed their mode 
 of dress, and ceased to say thee and thou. He 
 groaned when one of his daughters appeared before 
 him with a l)lack velvet bonnet, though it was ex- 
 ceedingly simple in construction, and unornamented 
 by feather or ribbon. She was prepared for this 
 reception, and tried to reconcile him to the innova- 
 tion by representing that a white or drab-colored 
 silk bonnet showed every stain, and was therefore 
 very uneconomical for a person of active habits. 
 "Thy good mother was a very energetic woman," 
 he replied ; "but she found no difficulty in keeping 
 her white bonnet as nice as a new pin." His daugh- 
 ter urged that it required a great deal of trouble to 
 keep it so ; and that she did not think dress was 
 worth so much trouble. But his groan was only 
 softened into a sigh. The fashion of the bonnet his 
 Sarah had worn, in that beloved old meeting-house 
 at Woodbury, was consecrated in his memory ; and 
 to his mind, the outward type also stood for an in- 
 ward principle. I used to tell him that I found 
 something truly grand in the original motive for 
 saying thee and thou ; but it seemed to me that it 
 had degenerated into a mere hereditary habit, since 
 the custom of applying yoji exclusively to superiors 
 had vanished from the English language. He ad- 
 mitted the force of this argument; but he deprecated 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 383 
 
 a departure from their old forms, because he con- 
 sidered it useful, especially to the young, to carry 
 the cross of being marked and set apart from the 
 world. But though he was thus strict in what he 
 required of those who had been educated as Qua- 
 kers, he placed no barrier between himself and 
 people of other sects. He loved a righteous man, 
 and sympathized with an unfortunate one, without 
 reference to his denomination. In fact, many of his 
 warmest and dearest friends were not members of his 
 own religious society. 
 
 Early in life he formed an unfavorable opinion ol 
 the effect of capital punishment. His uncle Tatum 
 considered it a useful miOral lesson to take all his 
 apprentices to hear the tragedy of George Barnwell, 
 and to witness public executions. On one of these 
 occasions, he saw five men hung at once. His 
 habits of shrewd observation soon led him to con- 
 clude that such spectacles generally had a very har- 
 dening and bad influence on those who witnessed 
 them, or heard them much talked about. In riper 
 years, his mind was deeply interested in the subject, 
 and he read and reflected upon it a great deal. The 
 result of his investigations was a settled conviction 
 that executions did not tend to diminish crime, but 
 rather to increase it, by their demoralizing effect on 
 the community. He regarded them with abhor- 
 
384 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 rence, as a barbarous custo-^n, entirely out of place 
 in a civilized country and a * -hristian age. 
 
 Concerning- the rights of women, he scarcely 
 needed any new light from modern theories ; for, as 
 a Quaker, he had been early accustomed to practical 
 equality between men and women in all the affairs 
 of the Society. He had always been in the habit of 
 listening to them as preachers, and of meeting them 
 on committees with men, for education, for the care 
 of the poor, for missions to the Indians, and for 
 financial regulations. Therefore, it never occurred to 
 him that there was anything unseemly in a woman's 
 using any gift with which God had endowed her, or 
 transacting any business, which she had the ability 
 to do well. 
 
 After his removal to New- York, incidents now 
 and then occurred, which formed pleasant links with 
 his previous life in Philadelphia. Sometimes slaves, 
 whom he had rescued many years before, or convicts, 
 whom he had encouraged to lead a better life, called 
 to see him and express their gratitude. Sometimes 
 their children came to bless him. There was one 
 old colored woman, who never could meet him with- 
 out embracing him. Although these demonstrations 
 were not always convenient, and did not partake of 
 the quiet character of Quaker discipline, he would 
 never say anything to repress the overflowings of 
 her warm old heart. As one of his sons passed 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 385 
 
 through Bond-street, he saw an old colored man 
 rubbing his knees, and making the most lively ges- 
 ticulations of delight. Being asked what was the 
 matter, he pointed across the street, and exclaimed, 
 "0, if I w\is only sure that was Friend Hopper of 
 Philadelphia ! If I was only sure /" When told 
 that he was not mistaken, he rushed up to the old 
 gentleman, threw his arms about his neck, and 
 hugged him. 
 
 When I told him of Julia Pell, a colored Metho- 
 dist preacher, whose fervid untutored eloquence had 
 produced an exciting effect on my mind, he invited 
 her to come and take tea with him. In the course 
 of conversation, he discovered that she was the 
 daughter of Zeke, the slave who outwitted his pur- 
 chaser ; as described in the preceding narratives. It 
 was quite an interesting event in her life to meet 
 with the man who had written her father's manumis- 
 sion papers, while she was in her infancy. When 
 the parting hour came, she said she felt moved to 
 pray ; and dropping on her knees, she poured forth 
 a brief but very earnest prayer, at the close of 
 which she said : " Lord, I beseech thee to shower 
 down blessings on that good old man, whom thou 
 hast raised up to do such a blessed work for my 
 down-trodden people." 
 
 Friend Hopper's fund of anecdotes, especially with 
 regard to colored people, was almost inexhaustible. 
 
386 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 He related them with so much animation, that he 
 was constantly called upon to repeat them, both at 
 public meetings and in private conversation ; and 
 they never failed to excite lively interest. Every 
 stranger, who was introduced to him, tried to draw 
 him out ; and it was an easy matter ; for he loved to 
 oblige people, and it is always pleasant for an old 
 soldier to fioht his battles over ao^ain. In this readi- 
 ness to recount his own exploits, there was nothing 
 that seemed like silly or obtrusive vanity. It often 
 reminded me of the following just remark in the 
 Westminster Review, applied to Jeremy Bentham 
 "The very egotism in which he occasionally indulged 
 was a manifestation of a want of self-thought. This 
 unpopular failing is, after all, one of the characteris- 
 tics of a natural and simple mind. It requires much 
 thought about one's self to avoid speaking of one's 
 self." 
 
 It has been already mentioned that Friend Hop- 
 per passed through a fiery trial in his own religious 
 society, during the progress of the schism produced 
 by the preaching of Elias Hicks. Fourteen years 
 had elapsed since the separation. The "Hicksite" 
 branch had become an established and respectable 
 sect. In cities, many of them were largely engaged 
 in Southern trade. I have heard it stated that mil- 
 lions of money were thus invested. They retained 
 sympathy with the theological opinions of Elias 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. SS"* 
 
 Hicks, but his rousing remonstrances against slavery 
 would have been generally very unwelcome to their 
 ears. They cherished the names of Anthony Bene- 
 zet, John Woolman, and a host of other departed 
 worthies, whose labors in behalf of the colored peo- 
 ple reflected honor on their Society. But where was 
 the need of being so active in the cause, as Isaac T. 
 Hopper was, and always had been? ''The way did 
 not open" for them to be so active ; and why should 
 his zeal rebuke their listlessness ? Was it friendly, 
 was it respectful in him, to do more than his reli- 
 gious Societv thousrht it necessary to do ? It is as- 
 tonishing how troublesome a living soul proves to be, 
 when they try to shut it up within the narrow limits 
 of a drowsy sect ! 
 
 I had a friend in Boston, whose wealthy and aris- 
 tocratic parents brought him up according to the 
 most approved model of genteel religion. He learn- 
 ed the story of the Good Samaritan, and was early 
 accustomed to hear eulogies pronounced on the holy 
 Jesus, who loved the poor, and associated with the 
 despised. When the boy became a man he joined 
 the Anti-Slavery Society, and openly avowed that 
 he regarded Africans as brethren of the 2:reat human 
 family. His relatives were grieved to see him pur- 
 suing such an injudicious and disrespectable course. 
 Whereupon, a witty reformer remarked, "They took 
 most commendable pains to present Jesus and the 
 
388 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 Good Samaritan as models of character, but they 
 were surprised to find that he had taken them at 
 their word." 
 
 The case was somewhat similar with Isaac T. 
 Hopper. He had imbibed anti-slavery principles in 
 full flood at the fountain of Quakerism. Their best 
 and greatest men were conspicuous as advocates of 
 those principles. Children were taught .to revere 
 those men, and their testimonies were laid up in 
 honorable preservation, to be quoted with solemn 
 formality on safe occasions. Friend Hopper acted 
 as if these professions were in good earnest ; and 
 thereby he disturbed his sect, as my Boston friend 
 troubled his family, when he made practical use ot 
 their religious teaching. 
 
 That many of the modern Quakers should be 
 blinded by bales of cotton, heaped up between their 
 souls and the divine light, is not remarkable ; for cot- 
 ton is an impervious material. Put it is a strange 
 anomaly in their history that any one among them 
 should have considered himself guided by the Spirit 
 to undertake the especial mission of discouraging 
 sympathy with the enslaved. A minister belonging 
 to that branch of the Society called "Hicksites," who 
 usually preached in Rose-street Meeting, New- York, 
 had imbibed very strong prejudices against all modern 
 reforms : and he manifested his aversion with a de- 
 gree of excitement, in language, tone^ and gesture, 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 389 
 
 very unusual in that quiet sect. Those who labored 
 in the cause of temperance, anti-slavery, or non-resis- 
 tance, he was wont to stigmatize as "hireling lec- 
 turers," "hireling book-agents," and "emissaries of 
 Satan." Soon after Thomas Huo:hes consented 
 to return to the South, in consequence of the fair 
 professions of Mr. Darg, this preacher chimed in 
 with the exulting tones of the pro-slavery press, by 
 alluding to it in one of his public discourses as fol 
 lows. After speaking of the tendency of affliction 
 to produce humility, he went on to say, "iVs a slave, 
 who had suffered the effects of his criminal conduct, 
 and been thus led to calm reflection, recently chose 
 to go back with this master into slavery, and endure 
 all the evils of that condition, notwithstanding his 
 former experience of them, rather than stay with 
 those hypocritical workers of popular righteousness 
 who had interfered in his behalf. For my own part, 
 1 commend his choice. I had a thousand times 
 rather be a slave, and spend my days with slave- 
 holders, than to dwell in companionship with abo- 
 litionists." • 
 The state of things among Quakers in the city of 
 New-York may be inferred from the fact that this 
 minister was exceedingly popular, and his style oi 
 preaching cordially approved by a majority of them. 
 One of the editors of the Anti-Slavery Standard, at 
 that time, wrote a severe, though by no means abu- 
 
390 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 sive article on the subject, headed "Rare Specimen 
 of a Quaker Preacher." This gave great offence, 
 and Isaac T. Hopper was very much blamed for it. 
 He, and his son-in-law James S. Gibbons, and his 
 friend Charles Marriott, then belonged to the Exe- 
 cutive Committee of the Anti Slavery Society ; and 
 it was assumed to be their duty to have prevented 
 the pubhcation of the sarcastic article. Charles 
 Harriot was absent from the city when it was pub- 
 lished, and Friend Hopper did not see it till after it 
 was in print. When they urged these facts, and 
 stated, moreover, that they had no right to dictate 
 to the editor what he should say, or what he should 
 not say, they were told that they ought to exculpate 
 themselves by a public expression of their disappro- 
 bation. But as they did not believe the editorial ar- 
 ticle contained any mis-statement of facts, tfiey could 
 not conscientiously say any thing that would satisfy 
 the friends of the preacher. It would be tedious to 
 relate the difficulties that followed. There were 
 visits from overseers, and prolonged sessions of com- 
 mittees ; a great deal of talking witli the accused, 
 and still more talking about them. A strong dispo- 
 sition was manifested to make capital against them 
 out of the Darg Case. Robert H. Morris, who was 
 presiding Judge while that case was ponding, and 
 afterward Mayor of New- York, had long known 
 Friend Hopper, and held him in much respect. When 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 391 
 
 he was told that some sought to cast imputations on 
 his character, he was greatly surprised, and offered 
 to give favorable testimony in any form that might 
 be desired. J. R. Whiting, the District Attorney, 
 expressed the same readiness ; and private misrepre- 
 sentations were silenced by a pubhshed certificate 
 from them, testifying that throughout the affair 
 Friend Hopper had nrierely "exhibited a desire to 
 procure the money for the master, and the manu- 
 mission of the slave." 
 
 The principal argument brought by Friends, against 
 their members uniting with Anti-Slavery Societies, 
 was that they were thus led to mix indiscriminately 
 with people of other denominations, and brought into 
 contact with hireling clergymen. There seemed 
 some inconsistency in this objection, coming from 
 the mouths of men who belonged to Rail Road Cor- 
 porations, and Bank Stock Companies, and who 
 mingled constantly wdth slaveholders in Southern 
 trade ; for the early testimonies of the Society were 
 quite as explicit against slavery, as against a paid 
 ministry. However, those of their members who 
 were abolitionists wxre willing to obviate this objec- 
 tion, if possible. They accordingly formed an asso- 
 ciation among themselves, "for the relief of those 
 held in slavery, and the improvement of the free 
 people of color." But wlien this benevolent associa- 
 tion asked for the use of Rose-street Meeting-house, 
 
392 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 their request was not only refused, but condemnef* 
 as disorderly. Affairs were certainly in a very sin 
 gular position. Both branches of the Society of 
 Friends were entirely inert on the subject of slavery. 
 Both expressed pity for the slave, but both agreed 
 that " the way did not open" for them to do any 
 thing. Tf individual members were thus driven to 
 unite in action with other sects upon a subject which 
 seemed to them very important, they were called 
 disorganizers. When they tried to conciliate by 
 forming an association composed of Quakers only, 
 they were told that "as the Society of Friends saw 
 no way to move forward in this concern, such asso- 
 ciations appeared to reflect upon them;'''' implying 
 that they failed in discharging their duty as a reli- 
 gious body. What could an earnest, direct charac- 
 ter, like Isaac T. Hopper, do in the midst of a sect 
 thus situated? He proceeded as he always did. 
 He walked straight forward in what seemed to him 
 the path of duty, and snapped all the hlliputian 
 cords with which they tried to bind him. 
 
 Being unable to obtain any apology from their of- 
 fending members, the Society proceeded to adminis- 
 ter its discipline. A complaint was laid before the 
 Monthly Meeting of New-York, in which Isaac T. 
 Hopper, James S. Gibbons, and Charles Marriott, 
 were accused of "being concerned in the publication 
 and support of a paper calculated to excite discord 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 393 
 
 and disunity among Friends." Friend Hopper pub- 
 lished a statement, characterised by his usual bold- 
 ness, and disturbed his mind very little about the re- 
 sult of their proceedings. April, 1842, he wrote 
 thus, to his daughter, Sarah H. Palmer, of Philadel- 
 phia : "During my late indisposition, I was induced 
 to enter into a close examination of my own heart ; 
 and I could not find that I stood condemned there 
 for the part I have taken in the anti-slavery cause, 
 which has brought upon me so much censure from 
 those 'who know not God, nor his son Jesus Christ. 
 They protess that they know God, but in works they 
 deny him.' I have not yet given up our Society as 
 lost. I still live in the faith that it will see better 
 days. I often remember the testimony borne by 
 that devoted and dignified servant of the Lord, Ma- 
 ry Ridgeway ; which was to this import: 'The 
 Lord, in his infinite wisdom and mercy, has gathered 
 tliis Society to be a people, and has placed his name 
 among them ; and He has given them noble testimo- 
 nies to hold up to the nations ; but if they prove un- 
 faithful, those testimonies will be given unto others, 
 who may be compared to the stones of the street ; 
 and they will wear the crowns that were intended for 
 this people, who w^ill be cast out, as salt that has 
 lost its savor.' We may plume ourselves upon be- 
 ing the children of Abraham, but in the days of sol- 
 emn inquisition, which surely will come, it will only 
 17* 
 
394 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 add to our condemnation, because we have not done 
 the wo)'ks of Abraham." 
 
 *'The Yearly Meeting will soon be upon us, when 
 we shall have a final decision in our cases. I feel 
 perfectly resigned to the result, be it what it may. 
 Indeed, I have sometimes thought I should be happi 
 er out of the Society than init. I should feel more 
 at liberty to ' cry aloud and spare not, to lift up my 
 voice like a trumpet, and show the people their 
 transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins,' 1 
 believe no greater benefit could be conferred on the 
 Society. There are yet many in it who see and de- 
 plore its departure from primitive uprightness, but 
 who are afraid to come out as they ought against the 
 evils that prevail in it." 
 
 An aged and very worthy Friend in Philadelphia, 
 named Robert Moore, who deeply sympathized with 
 the wrongs of colored people, wrote to Friend Hop- 
 per as follows : "From 1822 to 1827, we had many 
 interesting conversations in thy little front room, 
 respecting the distracted state of our Society, and 
 the efforts made to sustain our much beloved brother 
 Elias Hicks, against those who were anxious for his 
 downfall and excommunication. This great excite- 
 ment grew hotter till the separation in 1827; we 
 not being able to endure any longer the intolerance 
 of the party in power. Well, it appears that the 
 persecuted have now, in their turn, become persecu- 
 
I 
 
 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 395 
 
 tors ; and those v\"ho went through the fire aforetime 
 are devoted to pass through it again. But, my dear 
 friend, I hope thou and all who are doomed to suffer 
 for conscience sake, will stand firm, and not deviate 
 one inch from what you beheve to be your duty. 
 They may cast you out of the synagogue, which I 
 fear has become so corrupt that a seat among them 
 has ceased to be an honor, or in any way desirable ; 
 but you will pass through the furnace unscathed. 
 Not a hair of your heads will be singed." 
 
 The ecclesiastical proceedings in this case were 
 kept pending more than a year, I think ; being car- 
 ried from the Monthly Meeting to the Quarterly, and 
 thence to the Yearly JMeeting. Thirty-six Friends 
 were appointed a com-mittee in the Yearly fleeting. 
 They had six sessions, and finally reported that, af- 
 ter patient deliberation, they found eighteen of their 
 number in favor of confirming the decision of the 
 Quarterly Meeting ; fifteen for reversing it ; and 
 three who declined giving any judgment in the case. 
 Upon this report, the Yearly Meeting confirmed the 
 decision of the inferior tribunals ; and Isaac T. Hop- 
 per, James S. Gibbons, and Charles Marriott were 
 excommunicated; in Quaker phrase, disowned. 
 
 I thus expressed myself at the time ; and the lapse 
 often years has not changed my view of the case : 
 Excommunication for such causes will cut off from 
 the Society their truest, purest, and tenderest spirits 
 
396 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 There is Isaac T. Hopper, whose Hfe has been one 
 long chapter of benevolence, an unblotted record of 
 fair integrity. A man so exclusive in his religious 
 attachments that the principles of his Society are to 
 his mind identical with Christianity, and its minutest 
 forms sacred from innovation. A man whose name 
 is first mentioned wherever Quakerism is praised, or 
 benevolence to the slave approved. 
 
 There is Charles Marriott, likewise widely known, 
 and of high standing in the Society ; mild as a lamb, 
 and tender-hearted as a child ; one to whom conflict 
 with others is peculiarly painful, but who nevertheless, 
 when principles are at stake, can say, with the bold- 
 hearted Luther, '' God help me ! I cannot otherwise." 
 
 There is James S. Gibbons, a young man, and 
 therefore less known ; but wherever known, prized 
 for his extreme kindness of heart, his steadfast hon- 
 esty of purpose, his undisguised sincerity, and his 
 unflmching adherence to his own convictions of duty. 
 A Society has need to be very rich in moral excel- 
 lence, that can afford to throw away three such 
 members. 
 
 Protests and disclaimers against the disownment 
 oi these worthy men came from several parts of the 
 country, signed by Friends of high character ; and 
 many private letters were addressed to them, ex- 
 pressive of sympathy and approbation. Friend Hop- 
 per was always grateful for such marks of respect 
 
f 
 
 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 397 
 
 and friendship ; hut his own conscience would have 
 sustained him without such aid. He had long- felt 
 a deep sadness whenever he was reminded of the 
 spiritual separation hetween him and the religious 
 Society, whose preachers had exerted such salutary 
 influence on his youthful character ; but the external 
 separation was of no consequence. He attended 
 meeting constantly, as he had ever done, and took 
 his seat on the bench under the preachers' gallery, 
 facing the audience, where he had always been ac- 
 customed to sit, when he was an honored member of 
 the Society. Charles Marriott, who was by tempera- 
 ment a much meeker man, said to him one day, 
 "The overseers have called upon me, to represent 
 the propriety of my taking another seat, under 
 existing circumstances. I expect they will call upon 
 thee, to give the same advice." 
 
 "I expect they worUt^^ was Isaac's laconic reply; 
 and they never did. 
 
 His daughter, Abby H. Gibbons, soon after re- 
 signed membership in the Monthly Meeting of New- 
 York for herself and her children ; and his sons 
 Josiah and John did the same. The grounds stated 
 were that "the meeting had manifestly departed 
 from the original principles and testimonies of the 
 Society of Friends ; that the plainest principles of 
 civil and religious freedom had been violated in the 
 whole proceedings in relation to their father ; and 
 
398 LIFE OF ISAAC T HOPPER. 
 
 that the overseers had prepared an official document 
 calculated to produce false impressions with regard 
 to him ; accusing him of 'grossly reproachful con- 
 duct' in the well known Darg Case ; whereas there 
 was ahundant evidence before the public that his 
 proceedings in that case were influenced by the pu- 
 rest and most disinterested motives." 
 
 The Philadelphia Ledger, after stating that the 
 Society of Friends in New- York had disowned some 
 of their prominent members for being connected, 
 directly or indirectly, with an Abolition Journal, 
 added the following remark: "This seems rather 
 singular ; for we had supposed that Friends were 
 favorably inclined toward the abolition of slavery. 
 But many of their members are highly respectable 
 merchants, extensively engaged in Southern trade. 
 We are informed that they are determined to dis- 
 countenance all pragmatic interference with the legal 
 and constitutional rights of their brethren at the 
 South. The Quakers have always been distin- 
 guished for minding their own business, and per- 
 mitting others to attend to theirs. They would be 
 the last people to meddle with the rights of pro- 
 
 The Boston Times quoted the paragraph from 
 the Philadelphia Ledger, with the additional remark, 
 "There is no logician like money." 
 
 Whether Friends in .New-York felt flattered by 
 
L:FE of ISAAC T. HOPPER. 399 
 
 Ihese eulogiums, I know not ; but they appear to 
 have been well deserved. 
 
 In 1842 and the year following, Friend Hopper 
 travelled more than usual. In August '42, he visit- 
 ed his native place, after an absence of twenty years. 
 He and his wife were accompanied from Philadel- 
 phia by his son Edward and his daughter Sarah H. 
 Palmer. Of course, the haunts of his boyhood had 
 undergone many changes. Panther's Bridge had 
 disappeared, and Rabbit Swamp and Turkey Cause 
 way no longer looked like the same places. He 
 visited his father's house, then occupied by stran- 
 gers, and found the ruins of his great-grandfather's 
 dwelling. Down by the pleasant old creek, shaded 
 with larg-e walnut trees and cedars, stood the tombs 
 of many of his relatives ; and at Woodbury were 
 the graves of his father and mother, and the parents 
 of his wife. Every spot had something interesting 
 to say of the past. His eyes brightened, and his 
 tongue became voluble with a thousand memories. 
 Had I been present to hsten to him then, I should 
 doubtless have been enabled to add considerably to 
 my stock of early anecdotes. He seemed to have 
 rought away from this visit a peculiarly vivid recol- 
 ection of "poor crazy Joe Gibson." This demented 
 being w^as sometimes easily controlled, and willing 
 to be useful ; at other times, he was perfectly furious 
 and ungovernable. Few people knew how to man- 
 
400 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 age him ; but Isaac's parents acquired great influence 
 over him by their uniform system of forbearance and 
 tenderness ; their own good sense and benevolence 
 having suggested the ideas which regulate the treat 
 ment of insanity at the present period. The day 
 spent in Woodbury and its vicinity w^as a bright spot 
 in Friend Hopper's life, to vi^hich he alw^ays reverted 
 with a kind of saddened pleasure. The heat of the 
 season had been tempered by floating clouds, and 
 when tljey returned to Philadelphia, there was a 
 faint rainbow in the east. He looked lovingly upon 
 it, and said, "These clouds seem to have followed 
 us all day, on purpose to make everything more 
 pleasant." 
 
 In the course of the same month he accepted an 
 invitation to attend the Anti-Slavery Convention at 
 Norristown, Pennsylvania. His appearance there 
 was quite an event. Many friends of the cause, 
 who were strangers to him, w^ere curious to obtain a 
 sight of him, and to hear him address the meeting. 
 Charles C. Burleigh, in an eloquent letter to the 
 Convention, says : " I am glad to hear that Isaac T. 
 Hopper is to be present. That tried old veteran, 
 with his eye undimmed, his natural strength unabat- 
 ed, his resolute look, and calm determined manner, 
 before which the blustering kidnapper, and the self- 
 important oppressor have so often quailed ! With 
 the scars of a hundred battles, and the wreaths of an 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 401 
 
 hundred victories in this glorious warfare. With 
 his example of half a century's active service in this 
 holy cause, and his still faithful adherence to it, 
 through evil as well as good report, and in the face 
 of opposition as bitter as sectarian bigotry can stir 
 up. Persecution cannot bow the head, which seven- 
 ty winters could not blanch, nor the terrors of ex- 
 communication chill the heart, in which age could 
 not freeze the kindly flow of w^arm philanthropy." 
 
 I think it w^as not long after this excursion that his 
 sister Sarah came from Maryland to visit him. She 
 w^as a pleasant, sensible matron, much respected by 
 all who knew her. I noted down at the time several 
 anecdotes of childhood and youth, which bubbled up 
 in the course of conversations between her and her 
 brother. In her character the hereditary trait of be- 
 nevolence was manifested in a form somewhat differ- 
 ent from his. She had no children of her own, but 
 she brought up, on her husband's farm, nineteen poor 
 boys and girls, and gave most of them a trade. 
 Nearly all of them turned out well. 
 
 In the winters of 1842 and '43, Friend Hopper 
 complied with urgent invitations to visit the Anti- 
 Slavery Fair, in Boston ; and seldom has a w^armer 
 w^elcome been given to any man. As soon as he ap- 
 peared in Amory Hall, he was always surrounded 
 by a circle of lively girls attracted by his frank man- 
 ners, his thousand little pleasantries, and his keen 
 
402 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 enjoyment of young society. A friend of mine used 
 to say that when she saw them clustering round 
 him, in furs and feathered bonnets, listening to his 
 w^ords so attentively, she often thought it would 
 make as fine a picture as Wilham Penn explaining 
 his treaty to the Indians. 
 
 Ellis Gray Loring in a letter to me, says : "We 
 greatly enjoyed Friend Hopper's visit. You cannot 
 conceive how everybody was delighted with him ; 
 particularly all our gay young set ; James Russell 
 Lowell, Wilham W. Story, and the like. The old 
 gentleman seemed very happy; receiving from all 
 hands evidence of the true respect in which he is 
 held." Mrs. Loring, writing to his son John, says : 
 "We have had a most delightful visit from your fa- 
 ther. Our respect, wonder, and love for him in- 
 creased daily. I am sure he must have received 
 some pleasure, he bestowed so much. We feel his 
 friendship to be a great acquisition." 
 
 Samuel J. May wrote to me : "I cannot tell you 
 how much I was charmed by my interview with 
 Friend Hopper. To me, it was worth more than all 
 the Fair beside. Give my most affectionate respects 
 to him. He very kindly invited me to make his 
 house my home when I next come to New- York ; 
 and I am impatient for the time to arrive, that I may 
 accept his invitation." 
 
 Edmund Quincy, writing to Friend Hopper's 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 403 
 
 daughter, Mrs. Gibbons, says: "You cannot think 
 how glad we were to see the dear old man. He 
 spent a night with me, to my great contentment, and 
 that of my wife ; and to the no small edification of 
 our little boy, to whom breeches and buckles were a 
 great curiosity. My Irish gardener looked at them 
 with reverence; having probably seen nothing so 
 aristocratic, since he left the old country. I love 
 those relics of past time. The Quakers were not so 
 much out, when they censured their members for 
 turning sans culottes. Think of Isaac T. Hopper in 
 a pair of pantaloons strapped under his feet ! There 
 is heresy in the very idea. But, costume apart, we 
 were as glad to see Father Hopper, as if he had 
 been our real father in the flesh. I hope he had a 
 right good time. If he had not, I am sure it was 
 not for want of being made much of. I trust his 
 visits to Boston will grow into one of our domestic 
 institutions." 
 
 In the old gentleman's account of his visit to the 
 Fair, he says : "I was struck with the extreme pro- 
 priety with which everything was conducted, and 
 with the universal harmony and good-will that pre- 
 vailed among the numerous friends of the cause, who 
 had collected from all parts of the old Common- 
 wealth, on this interesting occasion. Many of the 
 most distinguished citizens were purchasers, and ap- 
 peared highly gratified, though not connected with 
 
404 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 the anti-slavery cause. Lord Morpeth, late Lord 
 Lieutenant of Ireland, attended frequently, made 
 some presents to the Fair, and purchased several ar- 
 ticles. 1 would call him by his christian name, if I 
 knew it; for it is plain enough that he was not bap- 
 tized, ' Lord'. His manners were extremely friendly 
 and agreeable, and he expressed himself highly 
 pleased with the exhibition. I had an interesting 
 conversation with him on the subject of slavery ; 
 particularly in relation to the Amistad captives, and 
 the case of the Creole." 
 
 "I had an opportunity to make a valuable addition 
 to my collection of the works of ancient Friends. 
 On the book-table, I found that rare old volume, 
 *The Way Cast Up,' written by George Keith, 
 while in unity with the Society. I took it home 
 with me to my chamber; and as I glanced over it, 
 my mind was moved to a painful retrospect of the 
 Society of Friends in its original state, when its 
 members were at liberty to follow^ the light, as mani- 
 fested to them in the silence and secrecy of their 
 own souls. I seemed to see them entering places 
 appointed for worship by various professors, and 
 there testifying against idolatry, superstition, and a 
 mercenary priesthood. I saw them entering the 
 courts, calling upon judges and lawyers to do jus- 
 tice. I saw them receive contumely and abuse, as a 
 reward for these acts of dedication. My imagina- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 405 
 
 tioD followed them to loathsome dungeons, where 
 many of them died a lingering death. I saw the 
 blood trickling from the lacerated backs of innocent 
 men and women. I saw William Robinson, Marma- 
 duke Stevenson, Mary Dyer, and William Leddra, 
 pass through the streets of Boston, pinioned, and 
 wdth halters about their necks, on the way to execu- 
 tion ; yet rejoicing that they were found worthy to 
 suffer, even unto death, for their fidelity to Christ ; 
 sustained through those last bitter moments by an 
 approving conscience and the favor of God. 
 
 "I now see the inhabitants of that same city sur- 
 passed by none on the globe, for liberality, candor, 
 and benevolence. I see them taking the lead of 
 very many of the descendants of the martyrs refer- 
 red to, in many things, and at an immeasurable dis- 
 tance. I compared the state of the Society of 
 Friends in the olden time with what it now is. In 
 some sections of the country, they, in their turn, 
 have become persecutors. Not with dungeons, hal- 
 ter, and fire ; for those modes of punishment have 
 gone by ; but by ejecting their members from reli- 
 gious fellow^ship, and defaming their characters for 
 doing that which they conscientiously beheve is re- 
 quired at their hands ; casting out their names as 
 evil-doers for honestly endeavoring to support one of 
 the most dio^nified testimonies ever given to the So- 
 ciety of Friends to hold up before a sinful world 
 
406 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 These reflections pained me deeply ; for all the con- 
 victions of my soul, amd all my early religious recol- 
 lections, bind me fast to the principles of Friends ; 
 and I cannot but mourn to see how the world has 
 shorn them of their strength. J spent nearly a 
 sleepless night, and was baptized with my tears." 
 
 **In the morning, my mind was in some degree re- 
 assured with the hope that there are yet left, through- 
 out the land, 'seven thousand in Israel, all the knees 
 which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth 
 which has not kissed him ;' and that among these 
 shall yet 'arise judges, as at the first, and counsel- 
 lors, and lawgivers, as in the beginning.' My soul 
 longeth for the coming of that day, more than for 
 the increase of corn, and wine, and oil." 
 
 In the Spring of 1843, Friend Hopper visited 
 Rhode Island, and Bucks County, in Pennsylvania, 
 to address the people in behalf of the enslaved. He 
 was accompanied by Lucinda Wilmarth, a very in- 
 telligent and kind-hearted young person, who some- 
 times spoke on the same subject. After she returned 
 to her home in Massachusetts, she wrote as follows, 
 to the venerable companion of her mission ; "Dear 
 Father Hopper, I see by the papers that Samuel 
 Johnson has gone home. I well remember our call 
 upon him, on the second Sunday morning of our so- 
 journ in that land of roses. I also remember his ra- 
 diant and peaceful countenance, which told of a life 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 407 
 
 well spent, and of calm and hopeful anticipations of 
 the future. I love to dwell upon my visit to Penn- 
 sylvania. I never saw happier or more lovely 
 homes. Never visited dwellings where those little 
 household divinities, goodness, order, and cheerful- 
 ness, held more universal sway I was enabled to 
 ^iew men and things from an entirely new point of 
 view. I had previously seen nothing of Quakerism, 
 except in a narrow orthodox form, with which I had 
 no sympathy. I was much pleased with the appa- 
 rent freedom and philanthropy of the Friends I met 
 there. I know not whether it was their peculiar isviy 
 that made them so comparatively free and liberal. 
 Perhaps I unconsciously assigned to their Quaker- 
 ism what merely belonged to their manhood. But 
 the fact is, they came nearer to realizing the ideal of 
 Quakerism, associated in my mind with Fox and 
 Penn, than any people I have ever seen. 
 
 "I stopped at Providence on my way home. As 
 soon as I entered Isaac Hale's door, little Alice be- 
 gan to skip with joy, as she did that day when we 
 returned so unexpectedly to dine ; but the next mo- 
 ment, she looked down the stair-case, and exclaimed 
 in a most anxious tone, 'Why dicfnt Grandfather 
 Hopper come? What did you come alone for? 
 What shall I do V On my arrival home, the first 
 noisy greetmgs of my little brothers and sisters had 
 scarcely subsided, before they began to inquire, 
 
408 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 *Why did'nt your other father come, too?' They 
 complained that you had not written a single 'Tale 
 of Oppression' for the Standard since you were here. 
 But a week after, my little sister came running with 
 an open newspaper in her hand, exclaiming, 'Father 
 Hopper has made another story !' She has named 
 her doll for your little granddaughter, Lucy Gib- 
 bons, because you used to talk about her ; and every 
 day she reads the book you gave her." 
 
 Friend Hopper found great satisfaction in the pe- 
 rusal of the above letter, not only on account of his 
 great regard for the writer, but because many of the 
 Friends in Bucks County were the delight of his 
 heart. He was always teLing me that if I wanted 
 to see the best farms, the best Quakers, and the 
 most comfortable homes iA the world, I must go to 
 Bucks County. In his descriptions, it was a bloom- 
 ing land of peace and plenty, approaching as near 
 to an earthly paradise, as could be reasonably ex- 
 pected. 
 
 At the commencement of 1845, the American 
 Anti-Slavery Society made some changes in their 
 office at New-York, by which the duties of editor 
 and treasurer, were performed by the same person ; 
 consequently Friend Hopper's services were no 
 longer needed. When he retired from the office 
 he had held during four vears, the Society unani- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 409 
 
 moiisly voted him thanks for the fidehty with which 
 he had discharged the duties entrusted to him. 
 
 At that time, several intelhgent and benevolent 
 gentlemen in the city of New- York were much in- 
 terested in the condition of criminals discharged 
 from prisons, without money, without friends, and 
 with a character so blasted, that it was exceedingly 
 difficult to procure employment. However sincerely 
 desirous such persons might be to lead a better life, 
 it seemed almost, impossible for them to carry their 
 good resolutions into practice. The inconsiderate 
 harshness of society forced them back into dishonest 
 courses, even when it w^as contrary to their own 
 inclinations. That this was a fruitful source of 
 crime, and consequently a great increase of expense 
 to the state, no one could doubt who candidly ex- 
 amined the subject. To meet the wants of this 
 class of sufferers, it was proposed to form a Prison 
 Association, whose business it should be to inquire 
 into individual cases, and extend such sympathy and 
 assistance as circumstances required. This subject 
 had occupied Priend Hopper's mind almost as early 
 as the wrongs of the slave. He attended the meet- 
 ings, and felt a lively interest in the discussions, in 
 which he often took part. The editor of the New- 
 York Evening Mirror, alluding to one of these occa- 
 sions, says: "When Mr. Hopper rose to offer some 
 remarks, we thought the burst of applause which 
 18 
 
410 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 greeted the quaint old man, (in the very costume ol 
 Frankhn) was a spontaneous homage to goodness ; 
 and we thanked God and took courage for poor 
 human nature." 
 
 His well-known benevolence, his peculiar tact in 
 managing wayward characters, his undoubted integ- 
 rity, and his long experience in such matters, natu- 
 rally suggested the idea that he was more suital^le 
 than any other person to be Agent of the Association. 
 It was a situation extremely well-adapted to his 
 character, and if his limited circumstances would 
 have permitted, he would have been right glad to 
 have discharged its duties gratuitously. He named 
 three hundred dollars a year, as sufficient addition 
 to his income, and the duties were performed with 
 as much dihgence and zeal, as if the recompence 
 had been thousands. Although he was then seven- 
 ty-four years old, his hand-writing was firm and 
 even, and very legible. He kept a Diary of every 
 day's transactions, and a Register of all the dis- 
 charged convicts who applied for assistance ; with 
 a monthly record of such information as could 
 be obtained of their character and condition, from 
 time to time. The neat and accurate manner in 
 which these books were kept was really surprising 
 in so old a man. The amount of walking he did, to 
 attend to the business of the Association, was like- 
 wise remarkable. Not one in ten thousand, who 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 411 
 
 had li\ed so many years, could have endured so 
 much fatigue. 
 
 In his labors in behalf of this class of unfortunate 
 people he was essentially aided by Abby H. Gibbons, 
 who resided nearer to him than his other daughters, 
 and who had the same affectionate zeal to sustain 
 him, that she had manifested by secretly slipping a 
 portion of her earnings into his pocket, in the days 
 of her girlhood. She was as vigilant and active in 
 behalf of the women discharged from prison, as her 
 father was in behalf of the men. Through the exer- 
 tions of herself and other benevolent women, an asy- 
 lum for these poor outcasts, called The Home, was 
 established and sustained. Friend Hopper took a 
 deep interest in that institution, and frequently went 
 there on Sunday evening, whh his wife and daugh- 
 ters, to talk with the inmates in a manner most likely 
 to soothe and encourage them. They were accus 
 tomed to call him " Father Hopper," and always 
 came to him for advice when they were in trouble. 
 
 When the Prison Association petitioned to be in- 
 corporated, it encountered a great deal of opposition, 
 on the ground that it would be likely to interfere 
 with the authority of the State over prisons. During 
 two winters. Friend Hopper went to Albany fre- 
 quently to sustain the measure. He commanded 
 respect and attention, by the good sense of his re- 
 marks, his dignified manner, and readiness of utter- 
 
412 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 ance. The Legislature were more inclined to have 
 confidence in him, because he was known to be a 
 benevolent, conscientious Quaker, entirely uncon- 
 nected with party politics. In fact, the measure 
 was carried mainly by the exertion of his personal 
 influence. He sustained the petition of the Associa 
 tion in a speech before the Legislature, which excit 
 ed much attention, and made a deep impression on 
 those who heard it. Judge Edmonds, who was one 
 of the speakers on the same occasion, often alluded 
 to it as a remarkable address. He said, " It elicited 
 more applause, and did more to carry the end in 
 view, than anything that was said by more practised 
 public speakers. His eloquence was simple and di- 
 rect, but most effective. If he was humorous, his 
 audience were full of laughter ; if solemn, a death- 
 like stillness reigned ; if pathetic, tears flowed all 
 around him. He seemed unconscious of his power 
 in this respect, but I have heard him many times be- 
 fore large assembhes at our Anniversaries, and in the 
 chapel of the State Prison, and I have been struck, 
 over and over again, with the remarkable sway he 
 had over the minds of those whom he addressed." 
 
 The business of the Association made it necessary 
 for Friend Hopper to visit that city many times after- 
 ward. He came to be so well known there, and 
 was held in such high respect, that whenever he 
 made his appearance in the iialls of legislation, the 
 
[ 
 
 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 413 
 
 Speaker sent a messenger to invite him to take a 
 seat near his own. 
 
 He often applied to the Governor to exert his par- 
 doning power, where he thought there were miti 
 gating circumstances attending the commission of a 
 crime ; or where the mind and health of a prisoner 
 eemed breaking down ; or where a long course of 
 good conduct seemed deserving of reward. When 
 Governor Young had become sufficiently acquainted 
 with him to form a just estimate of his character, he 
 said to him, ''Friend Hopper, I will pardon any con- 
 vict, w^hom you say you conscientiously believe I 
 ought to pardon. If I err at all, I prefer that it 
 should be on the side of mercy. But so many cases 
 press upon my attention, and it is so difficult to 
 examine them all thoroughly, that it is a great relief 
 to find a man in whose judgment and integrity I 
 have such perfect confidence, as I have in yours.'* 
 On the occasion of one of these applications for 
 mercy, the following quaint correspondence passed 
 between him and the Governor : 
 
 "Esteemed Friend, 
 
 John Young : 
 
 Thou mayst think this mode 
 of address rather too familiar ; but as it is the spon- 
 taneous effusion of my heart, and entirely congenial 
 w^ith my feehngs, I hope thou wilt hold me excused. 
 
 Permit me to embrace this opportunity to con- 
 
414 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 gratulale thee upon thy accession to the office of 
 Chief Magistrate of the State. I have confidence its 
 duties will be faithfully performed. I rejoice that 
 thou hast had independence enough to restore to 
 liberty, and to their families, those infatuated men 
 called Anti-Renters. Some, who live under the old 
 dispensation, that demanded 'an eye for an eye, and 
 a tooth for a tooth,' will doubtless censure this act 
 of justice and mercy. But another class will be 
 glad ; those who have embraced the Christian faith, 
 and live under the benign influence of its spirit, 
 which enjoins forgiveness of injuries. The approba- 
 tion of such, accompanied with an approving con- 
 science, will, I trust, more than counterbalance any 
 censure that may arise on the occasion. 
 
 The object I particularly have in view in address- 
 ing thee now, is, to call thy attention to the case of 
 Allen Lee, who was sentenced to twelve years' im- 
 prisonment for horse-stealing, in Westchester Coun- 
 ty. He has served for eleven years and two months 
 of that time. It is his first offence, and he has con- 
 ducted well during his confinement. His health is 
 much impaired, and he has several times had a slight 
 haemorrhage of the lungs. Allen's father was a regu- 
 lar teamster in the army during all the revolutionary 
 war. Though poor, he has always sustained a fair 
 reputation. He is now ninety years old, and he is 
 extremely anxious to behold the face of his son. 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 415 
 
 Permit me, most respectfully, but earnestly, to ask 
 thy early attention to this case. The old man is 
 confined to his bed, and so low, that he cannot con- 
 tinue many weeks. Unless Allen is very soon re- 
 leased, there is no probability that he will ever see 
 him. 1 have no self-interested motives in this mat- 
 ter, but am influenced solely by considerations of 
 humanity. With sincere desires for thy health and 
 happiness, I am very respectfully thy friend, 
 
 ''Isaac T. Hopper." 
 
 Governor Young promptly replied as follows. 
 
 "My worthy friend, Isaac T. Hopper, 
 
 "I have often thought of thee since we lact 
 met. I have received thy letter ; and because thou 
 hast wTitten to me, and because I know that what 
 thou writest is always truth, and that the old man, 
 before he lays him down to die, may behold the face 
 of his son, I will restore Allen to his kindred. When 
 thou comest to Albany, I pray thee to come and see 
 me. Very respectfully thy friend, John Young." 
 
 The monitor within frequently impelled Friend 
 Hopper to address the assembled convicts at Sing 
 Sing, on Sunday. The officers of the establishment 
 were very willing to open the way for him ; for ac- 
 •ording to the testimony of Mr. Harman Eldridge, 
 the warden, "With all his kindness, and the en- 
 couragement he was always ready to give, he was 
 guarded and cautious in the extreme, that nothing 
 
416 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 should be said to conflict with the discipline of the 
 prison." His exhortations rendered the prisoners 
 more docile, and stimulated them to exertion by keep- 
 ing hope alive in their hearts. On such occasions, I 
 have been told that a large portion of his unhappy- 
 audience were frequently moved to tears ; and the 
 warmth of their grateful feelings was often mani- 
 fested by eagerly pressing forward to shake hands 
 with him, whenever they received permission to do 
 so. The friendly counsel he gave on such occasions 
 sometimes produced a permanent effect on their 
 characters. In a letter to his daughter Susan, he 
 says: "One of these poor fellows attacked the life 
 of the keeper, and I soon after had a private inter- 
 view with him. He received whcit I said kindly, hut 
 declared that he could not govern his temper. He 
 said he had no ill-will toward the keeper ; that what 
 he did was done in a gust of passion, and he could 
 not help it. I tried to convince him that he had 
 power to control his temper, if he would only exer- 
 cise it. A year and a half afterward, on First Day, 
 after meeting, he asked permission to speak to me. 
 He then told me he was convinced that what I had 
 said to him was true; for he had not given way to 
 anger since I talked to him on the subject. He 
 showed me many certificates from the keepers, all 
 testifying to his good conduct. I hardly ever saw a 
 man more changed thcin he is." 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 417 
 
 I often heard my good old friend describe these 
 scenes in the Prison Chapel, with much emotion. 
 He used to say, the feehng of confidence and safety 
 which prevailed, was sometimes presented to his 
 mind in forcible contrast with the state of things in 
 Philadelphia, in 1787, as related b}^ his worthy 
 friend, Dr. Wilham Rogers, who was on the commit- 
 tee of the first Society formed in this country "for 
 relieving the miseries of public prisons." That 
 kind-hearted and conscientious clergyman proposed 
 to address some religious exhortation to the prison- 
 ers, on Sunday. But the keeper was so unfriendly 
 to the exertion of such influence, that he assured 
 him his hfe would be in peril, and the prisoners 
 would doubtless escape, to rob and murder the chi- 
 zens. When an order was granted by the sheriff for 
 the performance of rehgious services, he obeyed it 
 very reluctantly ; and he actually had a loaded cannon 
 mounted near the clergyman, and a man standing 
 ready with a lighted match all the time he was 
 preaching. Plis audience were arranged in a solid 
 column, directly in front of the cannon's mouth. 
 This is supposed to have been the first sermon ad- 
 dressed to the assembled inmates of a State Prison 
 in this country. 
 
 Notwithstanding Friend Hopper's extreme benevo- 
 lence, he was rarely imposed upon. He made it a 
 rule to give very httle monev to discharged convicts, 
 18* 
 
418 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 He paid their board till employment could be obtain- 
 ed, and when they wished to go to their famihes, in 
 distant places, he procured free passage for them in 
 steamboats or cars ; which his influence with cap- 
 tains and conductors enabled him to do very easily. 
 If they wanted to work at a trade, he purchased 
 tools, and hired a shop, when circumstances seemed 
 to warrant such expenditure. After they became 
 well established in business, they were expected to 
 repay these loans, for the benefit of others in the 
 same unfortunate condition they had been. Of 
 course, some who expected to receive money when- 
 ever they told a pitiful story, were disappointed and 
 vexed by these prudential regulations. Among the 
 old gentleman's letters, I find one containing these 
 expressions : " When I heard you talk in the Prison 
 Chapel, I tliought there was something for the man 
 tliat had once left the path of honesty to hope for 
 from his fellow-men ; but I find that I w^as greatly 
 mistaken. You are men of words. You can do the 
 wind-work first rate. But when a man wants a lit- 
 tle assistance to get work, and get an honest living, 
 you are not there. Now I wish to know where 
 your philanthropy is." 
 
 But such instances were exceptions. As a general 
 rule, gratitude was manifested for the assistance ren- 
 dered in time of need ; though it was always limited 
 to the urffcnt necessities of the case. One day, 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 419 
 
 the following letter, enclosing a dollar bill for the 
 Association, was addressed to Isaac T. Hopper : 
 "Should the humble mite here enclosed be the 
 means of doing one-sixteenth part the good to any- 
 poor convict that the sixteenth of a dollar has done 
 for me, w^hich I received through your hands more 
 than once, when I was destitute of money or friends, 
 then I shall have my heart's desire. With the bless- 
 ing of God, I remain your most humble debtor." 
 
 From the numerous cases under Friend Hopper's 
 care, while Agent of the Prison Association, I will 
 select a few ; but I shall disguise the names, because 
 the individuals are living, and I should be sorry to 
 wound their feelings by any unnecessary exposure of 
 past delinquences. 
 
 C. R. about twenty-nine years old, called at the 
 office, and said he had been lately released from 
 Moyamensing prison ; having been sentenced for two 
 years, on account of selling stolen goods. When 
 Friend Hopper inquired whether it was his first of- 
 fence, he frankly answered, "No. I have been in 
 Sing Sing prison twice for grand larceny. I served 
 five years each time." 
 
 "Thou art still very young," rejoined Friend Hop- 
 per ; "and it seems a large portion of thy life has 
 been spent in prison. I am afraid thou art a bad 
 man. But I hope thou seest the error of thv ivays. 
 
420 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 and art now determined to do better. Hast thou any 
 friends ?" 
 
 He replied, " I have a mother ; a poor hard-work- 
 ing woman, who sells fruit and candies in the streets. 
 If you will give me a start, I will try to lead an 
 honest life henceforth ; for I want to be a comfort 
 and support to her. I have no other friend in the 
 world, and nobody to help me. When I left prison, 
 I was advised to come to you. I am a shoemaker ; 
 and if I had money to buy a set of tools, I would 
 work at my trade, and take care of my mother." 
 
 Necessary tools were procured for him, and he 
 seemed very grateful ; saying it was the first time in 
 his life that he had found any one willing to help 
 him to be honest, when he came out of prison. 
 Great doubts were entertained of the success of this 
 case ; because the man had been so many times con- 
 victed. But he occasionally called at the office, and 
 always appeared sober and respectable. A few 
 months after his first introduction, he sent Friend 
 Hopper a letter from Oswego, enclosing seven dol- 
 lars for his mother. He immediately delivered it, 
 and returned with a cheerful lieart to enter it on his 
 Record ; adding, " The poor old woman was much 
 pleased that her son remembered her, and said she 
 believed he was now going to do well." 
 
 After that, C. R. frequently sent five or ten dol- 
 lars to his mother, through the same channel, and 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 421 
 
 paid her rent punctually. He refunded all the mo 
 ney the Association had lent him, and made some 
 small donations, in token of gratitude. Having be- 
 haved in a very exemplary manner during four years 
 and a half. Friend Hopper, at his earnest request, 
 applied to the Governor to have all the rights of citi- 
 zenship restored to him. This was readily obtained 
 by a full and candid statement of the case. It is 
 entered on the Record, with this remark: "C. R. 
 has experienced a wonderful change for the better 
 since he first called upon us. He said he should al- 
 wavs remember the kindness that had been extended 
 to him, and hoped he should never do anything to 
 make us regret it." 
 
 He afterward opened a store, with a partner, and 
 up to this present time, is doing well, both in a moral 
 and worldly point of view. Five years and a half 
 after he began to reform. Dr. Russ, of New-York, 
 sent a discharged prisoner to him, in search of work. 
 He wrote in reply, as follows: "I have obtained 
 good employment for the bearer of your note ; and 
 it gives me much pleasure at my heart to do some- 
 thing for him that wishes to do well. So leave him 
 to me ; and I trust you will be gratified to know the 
 end of charity from a discharged convict." A week 
 elapsed before the man could enter on his new em- 
 ployment ; and C. R paid his board during that 
 time. 
 
422 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 A person, whom I will call Michael Stanley, was 
 sentenced to Sing Sing for two years ; being con- 
 victed of grand larceny when he was about twenty- 
 two years old. When his term expired, he called 
 upon the Prison Association, and obtained assistance 
 in procuring employment. He endeavored to estab- 
 lish a good character, and was so fortunate as to gain 
 the affections of a very orderly, industrious young 
 woman, whom he soon after married. In his Regis- 
 ter, Friend Hopper thus describes a visit to them, 
 little more than a year after he was discharged from 
 prison: "I called yesterday to visit M. S. He 
 lives in the upper part of a brick house, nearly new. 
 His wife is a neat, likely-looking woman, and ap- 
 pears to be a nice housekeeper. Everything a})out 
 the premises indicates frugality, industry, and com- 
 fort. They have plain, substantial furniture, and a 
 good carpet on the floor. Before their door is a 
 grass-plot, and the margin of the fence is lined with 
 a variety of plants in bloom. He and his wife, and 
 her mother, manifested much gratification at my vi- 
 sit." 
 
 In little more than two years after he began to re- 
 trieve the early mistakes of his life, M. S. establish- 
 ed a provision shop on his ov\n account, in the city 
 of New-York, and was successful. He and his tidy 
 littl*^ wife called on Friend Hopper, from time to 
 time, and always cheered his lieart l)y their respecta- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 423 
 
 ble appearance, and the sincere gratitude they mani- 
 fested. The following record stands in the Regis- 
 ter : "31. S. called at my house, and spent an hour 
 with me. He is a member of the Society of Metho- 
 dists, and I really believe he is a reformed man. It 
 is now more than four years and a half since he was 
 released from Sing Sing ; and his conduct has ever 
 since been unexceptionable." 
 
 Another young man, whom I will call Hans Over- 
 ton, was the son of very respectable parents, but un- 
 fortunately he formed acquaintance with unprinci- 
 pled men when he was too young and inexperienced 
 to be a judge of character. Being corrupted by 
 their influence, he forged a check on a bank in Alba- 
 ny. He was detected, and sentenced to the State 
 Prison for two years. AVhen he was released, at 
 twenty-two years of age, he did the best he could to 
 efface the blot on his reputation. But after having 
 obtained respectaljle employment, he was discharged 
 because his employer was told he had been in prison. 
 He procured another situation, and the same thing 
 ao^ain occurred. He beg^an to think there was no 
 use in trvins' to redeem his lost character. In this 
 discouraged state of mind, he applied to the Prison 
 Association for assistance. Inquiries were made ol 
 the two gentlemen in whose employ he had been 
 more than a year. They said they had found him 
 capable, industrious, and faithful ; and their distrust 
 
424 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 of him was founded solely on the fact of his being a 
 discharged convict. For some time, he obtained on- 
 ly temporary employment, now and then ; and the 
 Association lent him small sums of money w^henever 
 his necessities required. At one time, he was charg- 
 ed with being an accomplice in a larceny ; but upon 
 investigation, it was ascertained that he had become 
 mixed up with an affair, which made him appear to 
 disadvantage, though he had no dishonest intentions 
 in relation to it. Finally, through the influence of 
 the Association he obtained a situation, in a drug 
 store. His employer was fully informed concerning 
 his previous history, but was willing to take him on 
 trial. He remained there five years, and conducted 
 in the most exemplary manner. Having married 
 meanwhile, he was desirous to avail himself of aia 
 opportunity to obtain a higher salary ; and the drug- 
 gist very willingly testified that his conduct had been 
 entirely satisfactory during the time he had been 
 with him. But in about eight months, his new em- 
 ployer discovered that he had been in prison, and he 
 immediately told him he had better procure some 
 other situation ; though he acknowledged that he 
 had no fault to find with him. Friend Hopper 
 sought an interview with this gentleman and repre- 
 sented the youthfulness of H. O. at the time he com- 
 mitted the misdemeanor, which had so much injured 
 the prospects of his life. He uro;ed his subsefjuenl 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 425 
 
 good conduct, and the apparent sincerity of his ef- 
 forts to build up a reputation for honesty. He final- 
 ly put the case home to him, by asking how he 
 would like to have others conduct toward a son of 
 his own, under similar circumstances. It was a 
 point of view from which the gentleman had never 
 before considered the question, and his mind was 
 somewhat impressed by it ; but his prejudices were 
 not easily overcome. Meanwhile, the druggist was 
 very willing to receive the young man back again ; 
 and he returned. It seems as if it w^ould have been 
 almost impossible for him to have avoided sinking in- 
 to the depths of discouragement and desperation, if 
 he had not received timely assistance from the Prison 
 Association. How highly he appreciated their aid 
 may be inferred from the following letter to Isaac T. 
 Hopper : 
 
 "My dear friend, as business prevents me from see- 
 iiig you in the day-time, I take this method to express 
 my thanks for the noble and generous mention made 
 of me in your remarks before the Association ; which 
 remarks were as pleasant and exciting to me, as they 
 were unexpected. I need scarcely assure you, my 
 kind and generous friend, (generous not only to so 
 humble an individual as myself, but to all your fel- 
 low creatures,) that it is out of my power to find 
 ^crda to thank you adequately, or to express my 
 feelings on that occasion. I was the more gratified 
 
^25 LIFE OF ISA.AC T. HOPPER. 
 
 }. o: s.v.ie iriv dear v/ifc Wcis present with me, and also 
 mj l/:;othe:-in-lriw. Oh, what a noble work the So- 
 ciety is engaged in. }Aj most fervent prayer is that 
 your name may remain on its list for many years to 
 ccme. Then indeed should J have no fears for those 
 v>oor unfortunates, whose first unthinking error pla- 
 ces them unconditionally within the miasma of vice 
 czid crime. That you may ei^py a very merry 
 Christmas, and many happy New- Years, is .the sin- 
 cere desire of my wife and myself." 
 
 T. B., who has been for several years in the em- 
 ploy of the Association, was raised by their aid from 
 the lowest depths of intemperance, and has become 
 a highly respectable and useful citizen. 
 
 J. M., who was in Sing Sing Prison four years, for 
 grand larceny, was aided by the Association at vari- 
 ous times, and always repaid the money precisely at 
 the appointed day. His industry and skilful man- 
 agement excited envy and jealousy in some, who had 
 less faculty for business. They taunted him with 
 having been a convict, and threw all manner of ob- 
 stacles in the way of his making an honest living. 
 Among other persecutions, a suit at law was institut- 
 ed against him, which cost him seventy-five dollars. 
 The charge was entirely without foundation, and 
 when brought before the court, was promptly dis- 
 missed. It is now about six years since J. M. re 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 427 
 
 solved to retrieve his character, and he still perse- 
 veres in the right course. 
 
 Ann W. was an illegitimate child, and early left 
 an orphan. She went to live with an aunt, who kept 
 a boarding-house in Albany. According to her own 
 account, she was harshly treated, and frequently 
 taunted with the circumstances of her birth. At the 
 early age of fourteen, one of the boarders offered to 
 marry her, and induced her to leave the house with 
 him. She lived with him some time, always urging 
 the fulfilment of his promise ; and at last he pacified 
 her by going to a person, who performed the mar- 
 riage-ceremony. She was strongly attached to him, 
 and being a capable, industrious girl, she kept every- 
 thing nice and bright about their lodgings. He 
 pretended to have a great deal of business in New- 
 York ; but in fact his frequent visits to that city 
 were for purposes of gambling. On one of those 
 occasions, when he had been absent much longer 
 than usual, she followed him, and found him living 
 with another woman. He very coolly informed her 
 that the marriage-ceremony between them was a 
 mere sham ; the person who performed it not having 
 been invested with any legal authority. Thus be 
 trayed, deserted, and friendless, the poor young 
 creature became almost frantic. In that desperate 
 state of mind, she was decoyed by a woman, who 
 kept a disreputable house. A short career of reck- 
 
428 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 less frivolity and vice ended, as usual, in the hospital 
 on Blackwell's Island. When she was discharged, 
 she tried to drown her sorrow and remorse in intem- 
 perance, and went on ever from bad to worse, till 
 she became a denizen of Five Points. In her brief 
 intervals of sobriety, she was thoroughly disgusted 
 with herself, and earnestly desired to lead a bettei 
 life. Being turned into the street one night, in a 
 state of intoxication, she went to the prison called 
 The Tombs, because its architecture is in imitation 
 of the ancient sepulchral halls of Egypt. She hum- 
 bly asked permission to enter this gloomy abode, in 
 hopes that some of the ladies connected with the 
 Prison Association w^ould visit her, and find some 
 decent employment for her. Her case being repre- 
 sented to Friend Hopper, he induced his wife to 
 take her into the family, as a domestic. As soon as 
 she entered the house, she said, "I don't want to 
 deceive you. I wilf tell you everything." And she 
 told all the particulars of her history, without at- 
 tempting to veil any of its deformity. She was very 
 industrious, and remarkably tidy in her habits. She 
 kept the kitchen extremely neat, and loved to deco- 
 rate it with little ornaments, especially with flowers. 
 Poor shattered soul ! Who can tell into what blos- 
 som of poetry that little germ might have expanded, 
 if it haa been kindly nurtured under gentle and re 
 fining influences "? She l)ehav('d very well for several 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 429 
 
 months, and often expressed gratitude that shb could 
 now feel as if she had a home. Friend Hopper took 
 great interest in her, and had strong hopes that she 
 would become a respectable woman. Before a year 
 expired, she relapsed into intemperate habits for a 
 time ; but he overlooked it, and encouraged her to 
 forget it. As she often expressed a great desire to 
 see her cousins in Albany, he called upon them, and 
 told the story of her reformation. They sent some 
 little presents, accompanied with friendly messages, 
 and after a while invited her to visit them. For a 
 time, it seemed as if the excursion had done her 
 good, both physically and mentally ; but the sight of 
 respectable relatives, with husbands and children, 
 made her realize more fully the utter loneliness of 
 her own position. She used opium in large quanti- 
 ties, and had dreadful fits in consequence. Some- 
 times, she stole out of the house in the evening, and 
 was taken up by the pohce in a state of intoxication. 
 When she recovered her senses, she would be very 
 humble, and during an interval of weeks, or months, 
 would make an effort to behave extremely well. I 
 forget how often Friend Hopper received her back, 
 after she had spent the night in the Station House ; 
 but it was many, many times. His patience held 
 out long after everybody else was completely weary. 
 She finally became so violent and ungovernable, and 
 endangered the household so much in her franiir lits, 
 
430 LIFE OF ISAAC T HOPPER. 
 
 that even he felt the necessity of placing her under 
 the restraining influences of some pubhc institution. 
 The Magdalen Asylum at Pliiladelphia consented to 
 receive her, and after much exhortation, she vv'as 
 persuaded to go. While she was there, his daughters 
 in that city called on her occasionally, at his request, 
 and he and his v^^ife made her a visit. He wrote to 
 her frequently, in the kindest and most encouraging 
 manner. In one of these epistles, he says: "I make 
 frequent inquiries concerning thee, and am generally 
 told thou art getting along ijretty well. Now I want 
 to hear a different tale from that. I want thy 
 friends at the Asylum to be able to say, ' She is 
 doing exceedingly well. Her health is good, she is 
 satisfied with her condition, and we are all much 
 gratified to find that she submits to the advice of her 
 friends.' When they can speak thus of thee,. I shall 
 begin to think about changing thy situation. The 
 woman who fills thy place in my family does very 
 well. Every day, she puts on the table the mug 
 thou gavest me, and she keeps it as bright as silver. 
 Our little garden looks beautiful. The Morning 
 Glories, thou used to take so much pleasure in, 
 have grown finely. All the family desire kind re- 
 membrances. Farewell. May peace and comfort 
 be with thee." 
 
 In another letter, he says : " Thy Heavenly Father 
 has been ki d, and waited lonir for thee; and He has 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER 431 
 
 now provided a way for thy redemption from the 
 bondage under which thou hast suffered so much. 1 
 hope thou wilt not think of leaving the Asylum for 
 some time to come. Thou canst not be so firmly 
 established yet, as not to be under great temptation 
 elsewhere. What a sorrowful circumstance it would 
 be, if thou shouldst again return to the fihhy and 
 wicked habit of stupifying tliyself with that per- 
 nicious drug ! I am glad thou hast determined to 
 take my advice. . If thou wilt do so, I will never 
 forsake thee. I will do all I can for thee ; and thou 
 shcilt never be without a home." 
 
 Again he writes : "Thy letter occasioned joy and 
 sorrow. Sorrow to find thou hast not always treated 
 the matron as thou oughtest to have done. I am 
 sure that excellent person is every way worthy of 
 thy regard ; and I hope my ears will never again be 
 pained by hearing that thou hast treated her un- 
 kindly or disrespectfully. I did hope that after a 
 year's discipline, thou hadst learned to control thy 
 temper. Until thou canst do so, thou must be 
 aware that thou art not qualified to render thyself 
 useful or agreeable in any family. But after all, I 
 am glad to find that thou art sensible of thy error, 
 and hast a disposition to improve. When thou 
 liest down at night, I want thee to examine the 
 deeds of the past day. If thou hast made a hasty 
 reply, or spoken impertinently, or done wrong m any 
 
432 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 otlier way, be careful to acknowledge thy fault. 
 Ask thy Heavenly Father to forgive thee, and be 
 careful to do so no more. I feel a great regard foi 
 thee ; and I trust thou wilt never give me cause to 
 regret thy relapse into vice. I hope better things 
 for thee, and I always shall." 
 
 But his hopefulness and patience proved of no 
 avail in this instance. The wreck was too complete 
 to admit of repair. The poor creature occasionally 
 struggled hard to do better ; but her constitution 
 was destroyed by vice and hardship ; her f(!elings 
 were blunted by suffering, and her naturally bright 
 faculties were stupified by opium. After she left the 
 Asylum, she lived with a family in the country for 
 awhile ; but the old habits returned, and destroyed 
 what little strength she had left. The last I knew 
 of her she was on Blackwell's Island ; and she will 
 probably never leave it, till she goes where the weary 
 are at rest. 
 
 An uncommon degree of interest was excited in 
 Friend Hopper's mind by the sufferings of another 
 individual, whom I will call Julia Peters. She was 
 born of respectable parents, and was carefully tended 
 in her early years. Her mother was a prudent, re- 
 ligious-minded woman ; but she died when Julia was 
 twelve years old. The father soon after took to 
 drinking and gambling, and spent all the property he 
 possessed. His daughter was thus brought into tlie 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 43b 
 
 midst of profligate associates, at an age when im 
 pulses are strong, and the principles unformed. She 
 led a vicious life for several years, and during a fit 
 of intoxication married a worthless, dissipated fellow. 
 When she was eighteen years old, she was im- 
 prisoned for perjury. The case appeared doubtful 
 at the time, and from circumstances, which after- 
 ward came to light, it is supposed that she was not 
 guilty of the alleged crime. The jury could not 
 agree on the first trial, and she remained in jail two 
 years, awaiting a decision of her case. She was at 
 last pronounced guilty ; and feeling that injustice 
 was done her, she made use of violent and disre- 
 spectful language to the court. This probably in- 
 creased the prejudice against her ; for she was sen- 
 tenced to Sing Sing prison for the long term of four- 
 teen years. She was naturally inteUigent, active and 
 energetic ; and the limitations of a prison had a 
 worse eflfect upon her, than they would have had on 
 a more stolid temperament. In the course of a year 
 or two, her mind began to sink under the pressure, 
 and finally exhibited signs of melancholy insanity. 
 Friend Hopper had an interview with her soon after 
 she was conveyed to Sing Sing, and found her m a 
 tate of deep dejection. She afterward became com- 
 pletely deranged, and was removed to the Lunatic 
 Asylum at Bloomingdale. He and his wife visited 
 her thei-e, and found her in a state of temporary 
 19 
 
434 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 rationality. Her manners were quiet and pleasing, 
 and she appeared exceedingly gratified to see them. 
 The superintendent granted permission to take her with 
 them in a walk through the grounds, and she enjoyed 
 this little excursion very highly. But when one of 
 the company remarked that it was a very pleasant 
 place, she sighed deeply, and replied, "Yes, it is a 
 pleasant place to those who can leave it. But chains 
 are chains, though they are made of gold ; and mine 
 grow heavier every day." 
 
 Her temperament peculiarly required freedom, and 
 chafed and fretted under restraint. Insanity returned 
 upon her with redouhled force, soon after. She used 
 blasphemous and indecent language, and cut up her 
 blankets to make pantaloons. She picked the lock 
 of her room, and tried various plans of escape. 
 When Friend Hopper went to see her again, some 
 weeks later, he found her m the masculine attire, 
 which she had manufactured. She tried to hide 
 herself, but when he called her back in a gentle, but 
 firm tone, she came immediately. He took her 
 kindly by the hand, and said, " Juha, what does all 
 this mean ?" 
 
 "It is military costume," she replied. "I am an 
 officer of state." 
 
 "I am sorry thou art not more decently clad," 
 said he. "I intended to have thee take a walk with 
 me ; but I should be ashamed to 12:0 with thee in 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 435 
 
 that condition." She earnestly entreated to go, and 
 promised to change her dress immediately. He 
 accordingly waited till she was ready, and then 
 spent more than an hour walking round the grounds 
 With her. She told him the history of her life, and 
 wept bitterly over the retrospect of her erroneous 
 course. It seemed a great relief to have some one 
 to whom she could open her over-burdened heart. 
 She was occasionally incoherent, but the fresh air 
 invifrorated her, and the quiet talk southed her per- 
 turbed feelings. At parting, she said, "I thank you. 
 I thouo-ht I had n't a friend in the world. I was 
 afraid everybody had forgotten me." 
 
 "I am thy sincere friend," he replied; ''and I 
 promise that I will never forget thee." 
 
 1 make the following extract from a letter, which 
 he wrote to her soon after: "Now, Julia, listen to 
 me, and mind what I say ; for thou knowest I am 
 thy friend. I want thee, at all times, and upon all 
 occasions, to be very careful of thy conduct. Never 
 suffer thyself to use vulgar or profane language. It 
 would grieve me, and 1 am sure thou dost not wish 
 to do that. Besides, it is very degrading, and very 
 wicked. Be discreet, sober, and modest. Be kind, 
 courteous, and obliging lo all. Tliou wilt make 
 many friends by so doing, and wilt feel more cheer- 
 ful and happy thyself. Do be a lady. I know thou 
 canst, if thou wilt. More than all, I want thee to be 
 
436 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 a Christian. I sympathize with thee, and intend to 
 come and see thee soon." 
 
 Dr. Earle, physician of the Asylum, said the letter 
 had a salutary effect upon her. Friend Hopper 
 went out to see her frequently, and was often ac- 
 companied by his wife, or daughters. Her bodily 
 and mental health continued to improve ; and in the 
 course of five or six months, the doctor allowed her 
 to accompany her kind old friend to the city, and 
 spend a day and night at his house. This change of 
 scene was found so beneficial, that the visit was 
 repeated a few weeks after. Before winter set in, 
 she was so far restored that she spent several days 
 in his family, and conducted with the greatest pro- 
 priety. He soon after applied to the Governor for a 
 pardon, which was promptly granted. His next step 
 was to procure a suitable home for her; and a 
 worthy Quaker family in Pennsylvania, who were 
 acquainted with all the circumstances, agreed to 
 employ her as chambermaid and seamstress. When 
 it was all arranged. Friend Hopper went out to the 
 Asylum to carry the news. But fearful of exciting 
 her too much, he talked upon indifferent subjects for 
 a few minutes, and then asked if she would hke to 
 go into the city again to spend a fortnight with his 
 family. She replied, "Indeed I would." He pro- 
 mised to take her with him, and added, "Perhaps 
 thou wilt stay longer than two weeks." At last, he 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 437 
 
 said, ''It may be that thou wilt not have to return 
 here again. She sprang up instantly, and looking in 
 his face with intense anxiety, exclaimed, "Am I 
 pardoned ? Afn I pardoned ? " 
 
 "Yes, thou art pardoned," he replied ; "and I have 
 come to take thee home." She fell back into her 
 seat, covered her face with her hands, and wept 
 aloud. Friend Hopper, describing this interview in 
 a letter to a friend, says : "It was the most afFect- 
 mg scene I ever witnessed. Nothing could exceed 
 the joy I felt at seeing this child of sorrow relieved 
 from her sufferings, and restored to liberty. I had 
 seen this young and comely looking woman, who 
 was endowed with more than common good sense, 
 driven to the depths of despair by the intensity of 
 her sufferings. I had seen her a raving maniac. 
 Now^, I saw her 'sitting and clothed in her right 
 mind.' I was a thousand times more than compen- 
 sated for all the pains I had taken. I had sympa- 
 thized deeply with her sufferings, and I now partook 
 largely of her joy." 
 
 As her nerves were in a very excitable state, it 
 was thought best that she should remain a few w-eeks 
 under the superintendence of his daughter, Mrs. Gib- 
 bons, before she went to the home provided for her. 
 She w-as slightly unsettled at times, but was disposed 
 to l)e industrious and cheerful. Having earned a lit- 
 tle money by her needle, the first use she made of it, 
 
43S LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 was to buy a pair of vases for Friend Hopper ; and 
 proud and pleased she was, when she brougnt them 
 home and presented them ! He always kept them 
 on the parlor mantel-piece, and often told their histo- 
 ry to people who called upon him. 
 
 When she had become perfectly calm and settled, 
 he and his wife accompanied her to Pennsylvania, 
 and saw her established among her new friends, who 
 received her in the kindest manner. A week alter 
 his return, he wrote to assure her that his interest in 
 her had not abated. In the course of the letter, he 
 says : "I need not tell thee how anxious I am that 
 thou shouldst conduct so as to be a credit to thyself, 
 and to those who have interested themselves in thy 
 behalf. I felt keenly at parting with thee, but I vas 
 comforted by the reflection that I had left thee with 
 kind friends. Confide in them upon all occasions, 
 and do nothing without their advice. Thy future 
 happiness will depend very much upon thyself. Never 
 suffer thy mind to become excited. Remember 
 that kind friends were raised up for thee in the midst 
 of all thy sorrows, and that they will always continue 
 to be thy friends, if thou wilt be guided by their 
 counsels. Thou wert with us so long, that we feel 
 toward thee like one of the family. All join me in 
 love to thee." 
 
 In her reply, she says : "Your letter was to me 
 what a glass of cold w. ■:er would i)e when fainting. 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 439 
 
 I have pored over it so much, that I have got it by- 
 heart. Friend Hopper, you first saw me in prison 
 and visited me. You followed me to the Asylum. 
 You did not forsake me. You have changed a bed 
 of straw to a bed of down. May Heaven bless and 
 reward you for it. No tongue can express the grati- 
 tude I feel. Many are the hearts you have made 
 glad. Suppose all you have dragged out of one 
 place and another were to stand l)efore you at once ! 
 I think you would have more than you could shake 
 hands with in a month ; and I know you would shake 
 hands with them all." 
 
 For a few months, she behaved in a very satisfac- 
 tory manner, though occasionally unsettled and de- 
 pressed. She wrote that the worthy woman with 
 whom she lived was ' both mother and friend to her.' 
 But the country was gloomy in the winter,^ and the 
 spirit of unrest took possession of her. She went to 
 Philadelphia' and plunged into scenes of vice for a 
 week or two; but she quickly repented, and was 
 rescued by her friends. I have seldom seen Friend 
 Hopper so deeply pained as he was by this retrograde 
 step in one whom he had rejoiced over, " as a brand 
 plucked from the burning." After awhile, he ad- 
 dressed a letter to her, in which he says : "I should 
 have written to thee before, but I have been at a loss 
 what to say. I have cared for thee, as if thou hadst 
 been my own child. Little did I think thou wouldst 
 
440 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 ever disgrace thyself, and distress me, by associating 
 with the most vile. Thou wert woiidcrfally snatched 
 from a sink of pollution. 1 hoped thou wouldst ap 
 preciate the favor, and take a fresh start in life, de- 
 termined to do well. Better, far better, for thee to 
 have lingered out a vv^retched existence in Blooming 
 dale Asylum, than to continue in such a course a 
 that thou entered upon in Philadelphia. My heart is 
 pained while I write. Indeed, thou art seldom out 
 of my mind. Most earnestly, and affectionately, 1 
 beseech thee to change thy course. Restrain evil 
 thoughts and banish them from thee. Try to keep 
 thy mind quiet, and stayed upon thy Heavenly Fa- 
 ther. He has done much for thee. He has follow- 
 ed thee in all thy wanderings. Ask him to for- 
 give thy iniquity, and he will have mercy on thee. 
 Thou mayest yet be happy thyself, and make those 
 happy who have taken a deep interest in thy welfare. 
 But if thou art determined to pursue evil courses, af- 
 ter all that has been done for thee, let me tell thee 
 thy days will be brief and full of trouble ; and 1 
 doubt not thou wilt end them within the walls of a 
 prison. I hope better things of thee. If thou doest 
 well, it will afford encouragement to assist others ; 
 but if thy conduct is bad, it may be the means oi 
 prolonging the sufferings of many others. I am still 
 thy friend, and disposed to do all I can for thee." 
 In her answer, she says : " Oh, frail woman ! No 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 441 
 
 Steps can be recalled. It is all in the future to make 
 amends for the past. After all the good counsel 
 some receive, they return to habits of vice. They 
 repent when it is too late. How true it is that virtue 
 has its reward, and vice its punishment. I know 
 that the way of transgressors is hard. If I only had 
 a few years of my life to live over again, how differ- 
 ent would I hve ! For the many blessings Provi- 
 dence has bestowed on me, may I be grateful In 
 all my troubles. He has raised me up a friend. I be- 
 heve He never forsakes me ; so there is hope for me. 
 Don't be discouraged that you befriended me ; for, 
 with God's blessing, you shall have no reason to re 
 pent of it." 
 
 He wrote thus to her, a short time after : "I very 
 often think of thee, and I yet hope that I shall one 
 day see thee a happy and respectable woman. I 
 have lately had a good deal of conversation with the 
 Governor concerning 'my friends,' as he calls those 
 whom he has pardoned at my request. I did not tell 
 him thou hadst behaved incorrectly. I hope I shall 
 never be obliged to do so. I have had pleasant ac- 
 counts concerning thee lately, and I do not wish to 
 remember that thou hast ever grieved me. As I 
 passed down the river yesterday, from Albany, I saw 
 Bloomingdale Asylum. I remembered how I used 
 to walk with thee about the grounds ; and my mind 
 was for a time depressed with melancholy reflections. 
 19* 
 
442 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 I had deeply sympathized in thy sufferings ; and I 
 had rarely, if ever, experienced greater pleasure 
 than when I was the happy messenger of thy re- 
 demption from the grievous thraldom, under which 
 thou wert suffering. Thou art blessed with more 
 tlian common good sense, and thou knowest how to 
 make thyself agreeable. I earnestly advise thee to 
 guard well thy thoughts. Never allow thyself to 
 use an immodest word, or to be guilty of an unbe- 
 coming action. On all occasions, show thyself wor- 
 thy of the regard of those who feel an interest in 
 thy welfare. 'There is joy in heaven over one sin- 
 ner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine 
 just persons that need no repentance.' With ardent 
 solicitude for thy welfare, I remain thy sincere 
 friend." 
 
 About two years afterward, Friend Hopper made 
 the followinof record in his Register: "J. P. conti- 
 nues to conduct very satisfactorily. She makes a 
 very respectable appearance, is modest and discreet 
 in her deportment, and industrious in her habits. As 
 a mark of gratitude for the attentions, which at dif- 
 ferent times I have extended to her, she has sent me 
 a pair of handsome gloves, and a bandana handker- 
 chief. Taking into consideration all the circumstan- 
 ces attending this case, this small present affords me 
 much more gratification than ten times the vahie 
 from any other person." Six months later, he made 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 443 
 
 this record : "The Friend, with whom J- P. hves, 
 called upon me to say that she sent a w^orld of love 
 to Isaac T. Hopper, whose kindness she holds in 
 grateful remembrance." The same Friend afterwaid 
 wTote, " She is all that I could wish her to be." 
 
 Many more instances mi^ht be quoted ; but enough 
 has been told to illustrate his patience and forbear- 
 ance, and his judicious mode of dealing with such 
 characters. Dr. Russ, one of the most active and 
 benevolent members of the Prison Association, thinks 
 it is a fair statement to say that at least three-fourths 
 of those for whom he interested himself eventually 
 turned out well ; though in several cases, it was af- 
 ter a few backslidings. The fullness of his sympa- 
 thy was probably one great reason why he obtained 
 such influence over them, and made them so willing 
 to open their hearts to him. He naturally, and with- 
 out effort, put his soul in their soul's stead. This 
 rendered it easy for him to disregard his own inter- 
 ests, and set aside his owm opinions, for the benefit of 
 others. In several instances, he procured another 
 place for a healthy, good-looking domestic, with 
 whose services he was well satisfied, merely because 
 some poor creature applied for work, who was too 
 lame, or ill-favored, to obtain employment elsewhere. 
 When an insane girl, from Sing Sing, was brought to 
 his house to wait for an opportunity to return to her 
 parents in Canada, he sent for the Catholic Bishop to 
 
444 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 come and minister to her spiritual wants, because he 
 found she was very unhappy without religious con- 
 solation in the form to .which she had been accus- 
 tomed in childhood. 
 
 The peculiar adaptation of his character to this 
 mission of humanity was not only felt by his fellow 
 laborers in the New-York Association, but was ac- 
 knowledged wherever he was known. Dr. Waltei 
 Channing, brother of the late Dr. William Ellery 
 Channing wrote to him as follows, when the Boston 
 Prison Association was about being formed ; "I was 
 rejoiced to learn that you would stay to help at oui 
 meetings in behalf of criminals. The demand w^hich 
 this class of brothers has upon us is felt by every 
 man, who examines his own heart, and his own life. 
 How great is every man's need of the kindness and 
 love of his brethren ! Here is the deep-laid cause of 
 sympathy. Here is the secret spring of that w^ide 
 effort, which th^ whole world is now making for the 
 happiness and good of the race. I thank you for 
 what you have done in this noble work. I had heard 
 W'ith the sincerest pleasure, of your labors for the 
 down trodden and the poor. God bless you for these 
 labors of love ! Truly shall I thank you for the 
 light you can so abundantly give, and which will 
 make the path of duty plain before me." 
 
 Incessant demands were made upon his time and 
 attention. A great many people, if they happened 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 445 
 
 to have their feelings touched by some scene of dis- 
 tress, seemed to think they had fulfilled their whole 
 duty by sending the sufferer to Isaac T. Hopper. 
 Few can imagine what an arduous task it is to be 
 such a thorough philanthropist as he was. Whoever 
 washes for a crown hke his, must earn it by carrying 
 the martyr's cross through life. They must make 
 up their minds to relinquish their whole time to such 
 pursuits ; they must be prepared to encounter envy 
 and dislike ; to be misrepresented and blamed, where 
 their intentions have been most praiseworthy ; to be 
 often disheartened by the delinquences, or ingrati- 
 tude, of those they have expended their time and 
 strength to serve ; above all, they must be willing to 
 live and die poor. 
 
 Though attention to prisoners was the mission to 
 which Friend Hopper peculiarly devoted the last 
 years of his life, his sympathy for the slaves never 
 abated. And though his own early efforts had been 
 made in co-operntion with the gradual Emancipation 
 Society, established by Franklin, Rush, and others, 
 he rejoiced in the bolder movement, known as mod- 
 ern anti-slavery. Of course, he did not endorse eve- 
 rything that was said and done by all sorts of tem- 
 peraments engaged in that cause, or in any other cause. 
 But no man understood better than he did the fallacy 
 of the argument that modern abolitionists had put 
 back the cause of emancipation in the South. He 
 
446 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 often used to speak of the spirit manifested toward 
 William Savery, when he w^ent to the South to 
 preach, as early as 1791. Writing from Augusta, 
 Georgia, that tender-hearted minister of Christ says : 
 "They can scarcely tolerate us, on account of our 
 abhorrence of slavery. This was truly a trying place 
 to lodge in another night." At Savannah the landlord 
 of a tavern where they lodged, ordered a cruel flog- 
 ging to be administered to one of his slaves, who had 
 fallen asleep through weariness, before his daily task 
 was accomplished. W^illiam Savery says : "When 
 we went to supper, this unfeeling wretch craved a 
 blessing ; which I considered equally abhorrent to the 
 Divine Being, as his curses." In the morning, when 
 the humane preacher heard sounds of the lash, ac- 
 companied by piteous cries for mercy, he had the 
 boldness to step in between the driver and the slave ; 
 and he stopped any further infliction of punishment, 
 for that time. He says : "This landlord Hvas the 
 most abominably wicked man that I ever met with ; 
 full of horrid execrations, and threatenings of all 
 Northern people. But I did not spare him ; which 
 occasioned a bystander to express, with an oath, that 
 I should be 'popped over.' We left them distressed 
 in mind ; and having a lonesome wood of twelve 
 miles to pass through, we were in full expectation of 
 their waylaying, or coming after us, to put their 
 wicked threats in execution.' 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 447 
 
 As early as 1806, James Lindley, of Pennsylvania, 
 had a large piece of iron hurled at him, as he was 
 passing through the streets, at Havre de Grace, 
 Maryland. Three of his ribs vv^ere broken, and 
 several teeth knocked out, and he was beaten till he 
 was supposed to be dead. All this was done merely 
 because they mistook him for Jacob Lindley, the 
 Quaker preacher, who was well known as a friend to 
 fugitives from slavery. 
 
 In view of these, and other similar facts. Friend 
 Hopper was never disposed to blame abolitionists for 
 excitements at the South, as many of the Quakers 
 were inclined to do. He had a sincere respect for 
 the integrity and conscientious boldness of William 
 Lloyd Garrison; as all have, who know him well 
 enough to appreciate his character. For many 
 years, he was always an invited and welcome guest 
 on the occasion of the annual meeting of the Anti- 
 Slavery Society in New-York. Mr. Garrison's feel- 
 ings toward him are manifested in the following 
 answer to one of his letters : "As there is no one in 
 the world for whom I entertain more veneration and 
 esteem than for yourself, and as there is no place in 
 New-York, that is so much like home to me, as your 
 own hospitable dwelling, be assured it will give me 
 the utmost pleasure to accept your friendly invita- 
 tion to remain under your roof during the approach- 
 
448 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 ing anniversary week." It was on one of these 
 occasions, that Garrison addressed to him the fol- 
 lowing sonnet : 
 
 " Thou kind and venerable friend of man, 
 
 In heart and spirit young, though old in years ! 
 
 The tyrant trembles when thy name he hears. 
 And the slave joys thy honest face to scan. 
 A friend more true and brave, since time began. 
 
 Humanity has never found : her fears 
 
 By thee have been dispelled, and wiped the tears 
 Adown her sorrow-stricken cheeks that ran. 
 If hke Napoleon's appears thy face. 
 
 Thy soul to his bears no similitude. 
 He came to curse, but thou to bless our race. 
 
 Thy hands are pure ; in blood were his imbrued. 
 His memory shall be covered with disgrace, 
 
 But thine embalmed among the truly great and good." 
 
 Until the last few years of his life, Friend Hopper 
 usually walked to and from his office twice a day, 
 making about five miles in the whole ; to which he 
 sometimes added a walk in the evening, to visit 
 children or friends, or transact some necessary busi- 
 ness. When the weather was very unpleasant, he 
 availed himself of the Harlem cars. Upon one of 
 these occasions, it chanced that the long, ponderous 
 vehicle was nearly empty. They had not proceeded 
 far, when a very respectable-looking young woman 
 beckoned for the car to stop. It did so ; but when 
 she set her foot on the step, the conductor, some- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 449 
 
 what rudely pushed her back ; and she turned away, 
 evidently much mortified. J^'riend Hopper started 
 up and inquired, "Why didst thou push that woman 
 away ?" 
 
 *' She's colored," was the laconic reply. 
 
 *'Art thou instructed by the managers of the rail- 
 road to proceed in this manner on such occasions ? ' 
 inquired Friend Hopper. 
 
 The man answered, "Yes." 
 
 " Then let me get out," rejoined the genuine re- 
 pubhcan. "It disturbs my conscience to ride in a 
 public conveyance, where any decently behaved per- 
 son is refused admittance." And though it was 
 raining very fast, and his home was a mile off, the 
 old veteran of seventy-five years marched through 
 mud and wet, at a pace somewhat brisker than his 
 usual energetic step ; for indignation warmed his 
 honest and kindly heart, and set the blood in motion. 
 The next day, he called at the rail-road oflEice, and 
 very civilly inquired of one of the managers whether 
 conductors were instructed to exclude passengers 
 merely on account of complexion. 
 
 "Certainly not," was the prompt reply. "They 
 have discretionary power to reject any person who 
 is drunk, or oflfensively unclean, or indecent, or quar- 
 relsome." 
 
 Friend Hopper then related how a young woman 
 of modest appearance, and respectable dress, was 
 
450 LIFE OF ISAAC T HOPPER. 
 
 pushed from the step, though the car was nearly 
 empty, and she was seeking shelter from a violent 
 rain. 
 
 "That was wrong," replied the manager. "We 
 have no reason to complain of colored people as pas- 
 sengers. They obtrude upon no one, and always 
 have sixpences in readiness to pay ; whereas fash- 
 ionably dressed white people frequently offer a ten 
 dollar bill, which they know we cannot change, and 
 thus cheat us out of our rightful dues. Who was 
 the conductor, that behaved in the manner you have 
 described ? We will turn him away, if he does n't 
 know better how to use the discretionary power with 
 which he is entrusted." 
 
 Friend Hopper replied, "I had rather thou wouldst 
 not turn him out of thy employ, unless he repeats 
 the offence, after being properly instructed. I have 
 no wish to injure the man. He has become infected 
 with the unjust prejudices of the community without 
 duly reflecting upon the subject. Friendly conver- 
 sation with him may suggest wiser thoughts. All I 
 ask of thee is to instruct him that the rights of the 
 meanest citizen are to be respected. I thank thee 
 for having listened to my complaint in such a candid 
 and courteous manner." 
 
 "And I thank you for having come to inform us 
 of the circumstance," replied the manager. They 
 parted mutually well pleased ; and a few days after, 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 451 
 
 the same conductor admitted a colored woman into 
 the cars without making any objection. This im- 
 proved state of things continued several wrecks. But 
 the old tyrannical system was restored, owing to 
 counteracting influence from some unknown quarter. 
 I often met colored people coming from the country 
 in the Harlem cars ; but I never afterward knew one 
 to enter from the streets of the city. 
 
 Many colored people die every year, and vast 
 numbers have their health permanently impaired, on 
 account of inclement weather, to which they are ex- 
 posed by exclusion from public conveyances. And 
 this merely on account of complexion ! What a tor- 
 nado of popular eloquence w^ould come from our 
 public halls, if Austria or Russia were guilty of any 
 despotism half as mean ! Yet the great heart of the 
 people is moved by kind and sincere feelings in its 
 outbursts against foreign tyranny. But in addition 
 to this honorable sympathy for the oppressed in other 
 countries, it would be well for them to look at home, 
 and consider whether it is just that any well-behaved 
 people should be excluded from the common privi- 
 leges of public conveyances. If a hundred citizens 
 in New- York w^ould act as Friend Hopper did, the 
 evil would soon be remedied. It is the almost uni- 
 versal failure in individual duty, which so accumu- 
 lates errors and iniquities in society, that the ultra- 
 theories, and extra efforts of reformers become abso- 
 
452 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 lately necessary to prevent the balance of things 
 froni being destroyed ; as thunder and lightning are 
 required to purify a polluted atmosphere. Godwin, 
 in some of his writings, asks, " What is it that ena- 
 bles a thousand errors to keep their station in the 
 world ? It is cowardice. It is because the majority 
 of men, who see that things are not altogether right 
 yet see in so frigid a way, and have so little courage 
 to express their views. If every man to-day would 
 tell all the truth he knows, three years hence, there 
 would scarcely be a falsehood of any magnitude 
 remaining in the civilized w^orld." 
 
 In the summer of 1844, Friend Hopper met with 
 a Methodist preacher from Mississippi, who came 
 with his family to New- York, to attend a General 
 Conference. Being introduced as a zealous aboli- 
 tionist, the conversation immediately turned upon 
 slavery. One of the preacher's daughters said, " I 
 could'nt possibly get along without slaves, Mr. Hop- 
 per. Why I never dressed or undressed myself, till 
 1 came to the North. I wanted very much to bring 
 a slave with me." 
 
 "I wish thou hadst," rejoined Friend Hopper. 
 
 "And what would you have done, if you had seen 
 her?" she inquired. 
 
 He replied, "I would have told her that she was 
 a free woman while she remained here ; but if she 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER 453 
 
 went back to the South, she would be liable to be 
 cold, like a pig or a sheep." 
 
 They laughed at this frank avowal, and when he 
 invited them to come to his house with their father, 
 to take tea, they gladly accepted the invitation. 
 Again the conversation turned toward that subject, 
 which is never forgotten when North and South 
 meet. In answer to some remark from Friend Hop- 
 per, the preacher said, "Do you think I am not a 
 Christian ?" 
 
 "I certainly do not regard thee as one," he replied. 
 
 *'And I suppose you think I cannot get to hea- 
 ven ?" rejoined the slaveholder. 
 
 "I will not say that," replied the Friend. "To 
 thy own Master thou must stand or fall. But slavery- 
 is a great abomination, and no one who is guilty of 
 it can be a Christian, or Christ-like. I would not 
 exclude thee from the kingdom of heaven ; but if 
 thou dost enter there, it must be because thou art 
 ignorant of the fact that thou art living in sin." 
 
 After a prolonged conversation, mostly on the 
 same topic, the guests rose to depart. The Metho- 
 dist said, "Well, Mr. Hopper, I have never been 
 treated better by any man, than I have been by you. 
 I should be very glad to have you visit us." 
 
 "Ah ! and thou wouldst lynch me ; or at least, thy 
 fi-iends would," he replied, smiling. 
 
 "Oh no, we would treat you very well," rejoined 
 
454 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 the Southerner. " But how would you talk about 
 slavery if you were there ?" 
 
 "Just as I do here, to be sure," answered the 
 Quaker. "I would advise the slaves to be honest, 
 industrious, and obedient, and never try to run away 
 from a good master, unless they were pretty sure of 
 escaping; because if they were caught, they would 
 fare worse than before. But if they had a safe op- 
 portunity, I should advise them to be off as soon as 
 possible." In a more serious tone, he added, " And 
 to thee, who claimest to be a minister of Christ, I 
 would say that thy Master requires thee to give de- 
 liverance to the captive, and let the oppressed go 
 free. My friend, hast thou a conscience void of of- 
 fence? When thou best dow^n at night, is thy mind 
 always at ease on this subject? After pouring out 
 thy soul in prayer to thy Heavenly Father, dost thou 
 not feel the outraged sense of right, like a perpetual 
 motion, restless within thy breast ? Dost thou not 
 hear a voice telling thee it is wrong to hold thy fel- 
 low men in slavery, with their wives and their little 
 ones ?" 
 
 The preacher manifested some emotion at this ear- 
 nest appeal, and confessed that he sometimes had 
 doubts on the subject ; though, on the whole, he had 
 concluded that it was right to hold slaves. One of 
 his daughters, who was a widow, seemed to be more 
 deeply touched. She took Friend Hopper's hand, at 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 455 
 
 parting, and said, ."1 am thankful for the privilege 
 of having seen you. I never talked with an ahuU- 
 tionist before. You have convinced me that slave- 
 holding is sinful in the sight of God. My husband 
 left me several slaves, and I have held them for five 
 years ; but when I return, I am resolved to hold a 
 slave no longer." 
 
 Friend Hopper cherished some hope that this 
 preaching and praying slaveholder would eventually 
 manumit his bondmen ; but I had hstened to his 
 conversation, and I thought otherwise. His con- 
 science seemed to me to be asleep under a seven-fold 
 shield of self-satisfied piety ; and I have observed 
 that such consciences rarely waken. 
 
 At the time of the Christiana riots, in 1851, when 
 the slave-power seemed to overshadow everything, 
 and none but the boldest ventured to speak against 
 it. Friend Hopper wrote an article for the Tribune, 
 and signed it with his name, in which he maintained 
 that the colored people, "who defended themselves 
 and their firesides against the lawless assaults of an 
 armed party of negro-hunters from Maryland," ought 
 not to be regarded as traitors or murderers "by men 
 who set a just value on liberty, and who had no con- 
 scientious scruples with regard to war." 
 
 The first runaway, who was endans^ered by the 
 passage of the Fugitive Slave Law in 1850, happen- 
 ed to be placed under his protection. A very good- 
 
456 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 looking colored man, who escaped trom bondage, re- 
 sided some years in Worcester, Massachusetts, and 
 acquired several thousand dollars by hair-dressing. 
 He went to New-York to be married, and it chanced 
 that his master arrived in Worcester in search of 
 him, the veiy day that he started for that' city. 
 Some person friendly to the colored man sent infor- 
 mation to New- York by telegraph ; but the gentle- 
 man to whom it was addressed was out of the city. 
 One of the operators at the telegraph office said, 
 "Isaac T. Hopper ought to know of this message ;" 
 and he carried it himself. Friend Hopper was then 
 eighty years old, but he sprang out of bed at mid- 
 night, and went off wnth all speed to hunt up the fu- 
 gitive. He found him, warned him of his danger, 
 and offered to secrete him. The colored man hesi-' 
 tated. He feared it might be a trick to decoy him 
 into his master's power. But the young wife gazed 
 very earnestly at Friend Hopper, and said, "I would 
 trust the countenance of that Quaker gentleman 
 anywhere. Let us go with him." They spent the 
 remainder of the night at his house, and after being 
 concealed elsewhere for a few days, they went to 
 Canada. This slave was the son of his master, who 
 estimated his market-value at two thousand five hun- 
 dred dollars Six months imprisonment, and a fine 
 of one thousand aollars was the legal penalty for 
 aiding him. But Friend Hopper always said, " I 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 457 
 
 have never sought to make any slave discontented 
 with his situation, because I do not consider it either 
 wise or kind to do so ; but so long as my life is 
 spared, I will always assist any one, who is trying to 
 escape from slavery, be the laws what they may." 
 
 A black man, who had fled from bondage, married 
 a mulatto woman in Philadelphia, and became the 
 father of six children. He owned a small house in 
 the neighborhood of that city, and had lived there 
 comfortably several years, when that abominable law 
 was passed, by which the Northern States rendered 
 their free soil a great hunting-ground for the rich 
 and powerful to run down the poor and weak. In 
 rushed the slaveholders from all quarters, to seize 
 their helpless prey ! At dead of night, the black 
 man, sleeping quietly in the humble home he had 
 earned by unremitting industry, was roused up to re- 
 ceive information that his master was in pursuit of 
 him. His eldest daughter was out at service in the 
 neighborhood, and there was no time to give her no- 
 tice. They hastily packed such articles as they 
 could take, caught the little ones from their beds, 
 and escaped before the morning dawned. A gentle- 
 man, who saw them next day on board a steamboat, 
 bserved their uneasiness, and suspected they were 
 *' fugitives from injustice." When he remarked this 
 to a companion; he replied, " They have too much 
 
 luggage to be slaves." Nevertheless, he thought it 
 20 
 
458 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 could do no harm to inform them that Isaac T. Hop- 
 per of New- York was the best adviser of fugitives 
 Accordingly, a few hours afterward, the whole co 
 lored colony was established in his house ; w^here the 
 genteel-looking mother, and her bright, pretty little 
 children excited a very lively interest in all hearts 
 They made their way to Canada as soon as possible 
 and the daughter who was left in Philadelphia, was 
 soon after sent to them. 
 
 Friend Hopper's resolute resistance to oppression, 
 in every form, never produced any harshness in his 
 manners, or diminished his love of quiet domestic 
 life. He habitually surrendered himself to pleasant 
 influences, even from events that troubled him at the 
 time, he generally extracted some agreeable incident 
 and soon forgot those of opposite character. It was 
 quite observable how little he thought of the instan- 
 ces of ingratitude he had met with. He seldom, if 
 ever, alluded to them, unless reminded by some di- 
 rect question ; but the unfortunate beings who had 
 persevered in reformation, and manifested gratitude, 
 were always uppermost in his thoughts. 
 
 Though always pleased to hear that his children 
 were free from pecuniary anxiety, he never desired 
 wealth for them. The idea of money never seemed 
 to occur to him in connection with their marriages. 
 It was a cherished wish of his heart to have them 
 united to members of the Society of Friends ; yet he 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 459 
 
 easily yielded, even on that point, as soon as he saw 
 their happiness was at stake. When one of his sons 
 married into a family educated under influences to- 
 tally foreign to Quaker principles, he was somewhat 
 disturbed. But he at once adopted the bride as a 
 beloved daughter of his heart ; and she ever after 
 proved a lovely and thornless Rose in the pathway 
 of his life. Great was his satisfaction when he dis- 
 covered that she was grandchild of Dr. William 
 Rogers, Professor of English and Oratory in the 
 University of Pennsylvania, who, sixty years before, 
 had preached the first sermon to inmates of the State 
 Prison, in Philadelphia. That good and gifted cler- 
 gyman was associated with his earliest recollections ; 
 for when he was on one of his pleasant visits to his 
 uncle Tatem at six years old, he went to meeting 
 with him for the first time, and was seated on a stool 
 between his knees. The proceedings were a great 
 novelty to him ; for Dr. Rogers was the first minis- 
 ter he ever saw in a pulpit. He never forgot the 
 text of that sermon. I often heard him repeat it, 
 during the last years of his life. The remembrance 
 of these incidents, and the great respect he had for 
 the character of the prison missionary, at once es- 
 tablished in his mind a claim of old relationship be- 
 tween him and the new inmate of his household. 
 
 He had the custom of sitting with his wife on the 
 front-door-step during the summer twilight, to catch 
 
460 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 the breeze, that always refreshes the city of New- 
 York, after a suUry day. On such occasions, the 
 children of the neighborhood soon began to gather 
 round him. One of the most intelhgent and inter- 
 esting pupils of the Deaf and Dumb Institution had 
 married Mr. Gallaudet, Professor in that Institution, 
 and resided in the next house. She had a bright 
 Hvely little daughter, who very early learned to imi- 
 tate her rapid and graceful way of conversing by 
 signs. This child was greatly attracted toward 
 Friend Hopper. The moment she saw him, she 
 would clap her tiny hands with delight, and toddle 
 toward him, exclaiming, " Opper ! Opper !" When 
 he talked to her, she would make her little fingers 
 fly, in the prettiest fashion, interpreting by signs to 
 her mute mother all that " Opper" had been saying. 
 Her quick intelligence and animated gestures were a 
 perpetual source of amusement to him. When he 
 went down to his office in the morning, all the nurses 
 in the neighborhood were accustomed to stop in his 
 path, that he might have some playful conversation 
 with the little ones in their charge. He had a plea- 
 sant nick-name for them all; such as "Blue-bird," 
 or "Yellow-bird," according to their dress. They 
 would run up to him as he approached home, calling 
 out, "Here's your little Blue-bird !" 
 
 His garden was another source of great satisfac- 
 tion to him. It was not bigger than a very small 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 461 
 
 bed-room, and only half of it received the sunshine. 
 But he called the minnikin grass-plot his meadow, 
 and talked very largely about mowing his hay. He 
 covered the walls and fences with flowering vines, 
 and suspended them between the pillars of his little 
 piazza. Even in this employment he revealed the 
 tendencies of his character. One day, when I was 
 helping him train a woodbine, he said, "Fasten it in 
 that direction, Maria ; for I want it to go over into 
 our neighbor's yard, that it may make their wall 
 look pleasant." 
 
 In the summer of 1848, when I was staying in the 
 country, not far from New-York, I received the fol- 
 lowing letter from him: "Dear Friend, the days 
 have not yet come, in which I can say I have no 
 pleasure in them. Notwithstanding the stubs against 
 which I hit my toes, the briars and thorns that some- 
 times annoy me, and the muddy sloughs I am some- 
 times obliged to wade through, yet, after all, the 
 days have not come in which I have no enjoyment. 
 In the course of my journey, I find here and there a 
 green spot, by which I can sit down and rest, and 
 pleasant streams, where I sometimes drink, mostly 
 in secret, and am refreshed. I often remember the 
 saying of a beloved friend, long since translated from 
 this scene of mutation to a state of eternal beati- 
 tude : 'I wear my sackcloth on my loins ; I don't 
 wish to afflict others by carrying a sorrowful coun- 
 
462 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 tenance.' A wise conclusion. I love to diffuse hap- 
 piness over all with whom I come in contact. But 
 all this is a kind of accident. I took up my pen to 
 tell thee about our garden. I never saw it half so 
 Handsome as it is now. Morning Glories are on 
 both sides of the yard, extending nearly to the 
 second story windows ; and they exhibit their glories 
 every morning, in beautiful style. There are Cy- 
 press vines, twelve feet high, running up on the pil- 
 lar before the kitchen window, and spreading out 
 each way. They blossom most profusely. The 
 wooden wall is entirely covered with Madeira vmes, 
 and the stone wall with Woodbine. The grass-plot 
 is very thrifty, and our borders are beautified with a 
 variety of flowers. How thou wouldst like to look 
 at them !" 
 
 I replied as follows: "My dear and honored 
 friend : Your kind, cheerful epistle came into my 
 room as pleasantly as would the vines and flowers 
 you describe. I am very glad the spirit moved you 
 to write; for, to use the words of the apostle, *I 
 thank my God for every remembrance of you.' I do 
 not make many professions of friendship, because 
 neither you nor I are much given to professions ; but 
 there is no one in the world for whom I have a higher 
 respect than yourself, and very few for whom I che- 
 rish a more cordial affection. You say the time has 
 not yet come when you have no pleasure. I tnink, 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 463 
 
 my friend, that it will nevci' come. To an ever- 
 green heart, like yours, so full of kindly sympathies, 
 the little children will always prattle, the birds will 
 always sing, and the flowers will always offer in- 
 cense. This reward of the honest and kindly heart 
 is one of those, which 'the world can neither give 
 nor take away.' 
 
 ''I should love to see your garden now. There is 
 a peculiar satisfaction in having a very little patch 
 all blooming into beauty. I had such an one in my 
 humble home in Boston, some years ago. It used to 
 make me think of Mary Howitt's very pleasant poe- 
 try : 
 
 "Yes, in the poor man's garden grow 
 
 Far more than herbs and flowers ; 
 Kind thoughts, contentment, peace of mind, 
 
 And joy for weary hours." 
 
 I have one enjoyment this summer, which you can- 
 not have in your city premises. The birds ! not only 
 their sweet songs, but all their little cunning manoeu- 
 vres in courting, building their nests, and rearing 
 their young. I watched for hours a httle Phoebe- 
 bird, who brought out her brood to teach them to 
 fly. They used to stop to rest themselves on the 
 naked branch of a dead pear-tree. There they sat 
 so quietly, all in a row, in their sober russet suit of 
 feathers, just as if they were Quakers at meeting. 
 The birds are very tame here ; thanks to Friend Jo- 
 seph's tender heart. The Bob-o-links pick seed from 
 
464 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 the dandelions, at my very feet. May you sleep 
 like a child when his friends are with him. as the 
 Orientals say. And so farewell." 
 
 Interesting strangers occasionally called to see 
 Friend Hopper, attracted by his reputation. Frederi- 
 ka Bremer was peculiarly delighted by her inter- 
 views with him, and made a fine sketch of him in 
 her collection of American hkenesses. William 
 Page, the well-know^n artist, made for me an admi- 
 rable drawing of him, w-hen he w^as a little past sev- 
 enty years old. Eight years after, Salathiel Ellis, 
 of New-York, at the suggestion of some friends, 
 executed an uncommonly fine medallion likeness. 
 A reduced copy of this w^as made in bronze at 
 the request of some members of the Prison Asso- 
 ciation. The reverse side represents him raising a 
 prisoner from the ground, and bears the appropriate 
 inscription, *'To seek and to save that which was 
 lost." 
 
 Young people often sent him pretty little testimo- 
 nials of the interest he had excited in' their minds. 
 Intelligent Irish girls, with whom he had formed ac- 
 quaintance in their native land, never during his life 
 ceased to write to him, and occasionally sent some 
 tasteful souvenir of their friendship. The fashiona 
 ble custom of New-Year's and Christmas ofl^erings 
 was not in his line. But though he always dined on 
 humble fare at Christmas, as a testimony against llie 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 465 
 
 observance of holy days, he secretly sent turkeys to 
 poor families, who viewed the subject in a diflerent 
 light ; and it was only by accidental circumstances 
 that they at last discovered to whom they owed the 
 annual gift. 
 
 Members of the Society of Friends often came to 
 see him ; and for many of them he cherished high 
 respect, and a very warm friendship. But his cha- 
 racter grew larger, and his views more liberal, after 
 the bonds which bound him to a sect were cut asun- 
 der. Friends occasionally said to him, "We miss 
 thy services in the Society, Isaac. Hadst thou not 
 better ask to be re-admitted ? The way is open for 
 thee, whenever thou hast an inclination to return." 
 He replied, " I thank thee. But in the present state 
 of the Society, I don't think I could be of any ser- 
 vice to them, or they to me." But he could never 
 relinquish the hope that the primitive character of 
 Quakerism would be restored, and that the Society 
 would again hold up the standard of righteousness 
 to the nations, as it had in days gone by. Nearly 
 e\ery man, who forms strong religious attachments 
 in early life, cherishes similar anticipations for his 
 sect, whose glory declines, in the natural order of 
 things. But such hopes are never realized. The 
 spirit has a resurrection, but not the iorm. "Soul 
 never dies. Matter dies off it, and it lives else- 
 where " Thus it is with truth. The noble prnici 
 20* 
 
466 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 pies maintained by Quakers, through suffering and 
 peril, have taken root in other sects, and been an in- 
 calculable help to individual seekers after light, 
 throughout the Christian w^orld. Like winged seed 
 scattered in far-off soils, they will produce a forest- 
 growth in the future, long after the original stock is 
 dead, and its dust dispersed to the winds. 
 
 In Friend Hopper's last years, memory, as usual 
 with the old, was busily employed in reproducing the 
 the past ; and in his mind the pictures she presented 
 were uncommonly vivid. In a letter to his daughter, 
 Sarah Palmer, he writes : "I was deeply affected on 
 being informed of the death of Joseph Whitall. We 
 loved one another when we were children ; and I 
 never lost my love for him. I think it will not be 
 extravagant if I say that my soul was knit with his 
 soul, as Jonathan's was to David's. I have a letter, 
 which I received from him in 1795. I have not 
 language to express my feelings. Oh, that separa- 
 tion ! that cruel separation ! How it divided very 
 friends ! " 
 
 In a letter to his daughter Susan, w^e again find 
 him looking fondly backward. He says : "I often, 
 very often remember the example of thy dear mother, 
 with feelings that no language can portray. She 
 was neat and tasteful in her appearance. Her dress 
 was elegant, but plain, as became her Christian pro- 
 fession. She loved sincere Friends, faithfully main- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 467 
 
 tained all their testimonies, and was a diligent at- 
 tender of meetings. She was kind and affectionate 
 to all. In short, she was a bright example in her 
 family, and to all about her, and finally laid down 
 her head in peace. May her children imitate her 
 virtues." 
 
 Writing to his daughter Sarah in 1845, he thus 
 returns to the same beloved theme: "T lately hap- 
 pened to open the Memoirs of Sarah Harrison. It 
 seemed to place me among my old friends, with 
 whom I walked in sweet unity and Christian fellow- 
 ship, in days that are gone forever. I there saw the 
 names, and read the letters, of William Savery, 
 Thomas Scattergood, and a host of others, who have 
 long since gone to their everlasting rest. I hope, 
 however unworthy, to join them at sonje day, not 
 very distant." 
 
 "Next day after to-morrow, it will be fifty years 
 since I was married to thy dear mother. How fresh 
 many of the scenes of that day are brought before 
 me ! It almost seems as if they transpired yester- 
 day. These reminiscences afford me a melancholy 
 pleasure, and I love to indulge in them. No man 
 has experienced more exquisite pleasure, or deeper 
 sorrows than I have." 
 
 Perhaps the reader will say that I have spoken 
 little of his sorrows ; and it is true. But who does 
 not know that all the sternest conflicts of life can 
 
468 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 never be recorded ! Every human soul must v^'alk 
 alone through the darkest and most dangerous paths 
 of its spiritual pilgrimage ; absolutely alone with 
 God ! Much, from which we suffer most acutely, 
 could never be revealed to others ; still more could 
 never be understood, if it were revealed ; and still 
 more ought never to be repeated, if it could be un- 
 derstood. Therefore, the frankest and fullest bio- 
 graphy must necessarily be superficial. 
 
 The old gentleman was not prone to talk of his 
 troubles. They never made him irritable, but rather 
 increased his tenderness and thoughtfulness toward 
 others. His naturally violent temper was brought 
 under almost complete subjection. During the nine 
 years that I lived with him, I never saw^ him lose his 
 balance but twice ; and then it was only for a 
 moment, and under very provoking circumstances. 
 
 The much-quoted line, "None knew him but to 
 love him, none named him but to praise," was proba- 
 bly never true of any man ; certainly not of any one 
 with a strong character. Many were hostile to 
 Friend Hopper, and some were bitter in their enmity. 
 Of course, it could not be otherwise with a man who 
 battled with oppression, selfishness, and bigotry, 
 wherever he encountered them, and whose rebukes 
 were too direct and explicit to be evaded. More- 
 over, no person in this world is allowed to be pecu- 
 liar and independent with impunity. There are 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 469 
 
 always men who wish to compel such characters 
 to submit, by the pressure of circumstances. This 
 kind of spiritual thumb- screw^ was often, and in va- 
 rious w^ays, tried upon Friend Hopper ; but though 
 it sometimes occasioned temporary inconvenience, 
 it never induced him to change his course. 
 
 Though few old men enjoyed life so much as he 
 did, he always thought and spoke of death w-ith 
 cheerful serenity. On the third of December, 1851, 
 he wrote thus to his youngest daughter, Mary : 
 "This day completes my eightieth year. 'My eye 
 is not dim, nor my natural force abated.' My head 
 is w^ell covered with hair, w^hich still retains its usual 
 glossy dark color, with but few gray hairs sprinkled 
 about, hardly noticed by a casual observer. My life 
 has been prolonged beyond most, and has been truly 
 *a chequered scene.' I often take a retrospect of it, 
 and it fills me with awe. It is marvellous how many 
 dangers and hair-breadth escapes I have experienced. 
 If I may say it without presumption, I desire not to 
 live until I am unable to take care of myself, and 
 become a burden to those about me. If I had my 
 life to live over again, the experience I have had 
 might caution me to avoid many mistakes, and per- 
 haps I might make a more useful citizen ; but I 
 don't know that I should greatly improve it. Mercy 
 and kindness have followed me thus far, and I have 
 faith that thev will continue with me to the end." 
 
470 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 But the bravest and strongest pilgrim, when he is 
 travelling toward the sunset, cannot but perceive 
 that the shadows are lengthening around him. He 
 did not, like most old people, watch the gathering 
 gloom , but during the last two or three years 
 of his life, he seemed to have an hicreasing feeling 
 of spiritual loneliness. He had survived all his co- 
 temporaries ; he had outlived the Society of Friends, 
 as it was when it took possession of his youthful 
 soul ; and though he sympathized with the present 
 generation remarkably for so old a man, still he was 
 among them, and not of them. He quieted this 
 feeling by the best of all methods. He worked 
 continually, and he worked for others. In this way, 
 he brought upon himself his last illness. A shop 
 had been built very far up in the cily, for a dis- 
 charged convict, and the Association hud incurred 
 considerable expense on his account. He was re- 
 markably skilful at his trade, but after awhile he 
 manifested slight symptoms of derangement. Friend 
 Hopper became extremely anxious about him, and 
 frequently travelled back and forth to examine into 
 the state of his affairs. This was in the severe 
 winter of 1852, and he was past eighty years old. 
 He took heavy colds, which produced inflammation 
 of the lungs, and the inflammation subsequently 
 extended to his stomach. In February of that year, 
 declining health made it necessary to resign his 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 471 
 
 office in the Prison Association. His letter to that 
 effect was answered by the following Resolutions, 
 unanimously passed at a meeting of the Executive 
 Committee : 
 
 "This Association has received, with midissembled 
 sorrow, the resignation of Isaac T. Hopper, as their 
 agent for the relief of discharged convicts. 
 
 "He was actively engaged in the organization of the 
 Society, and has ever since been its most active mem- 
 ber. 
 
 "His kindness of heart, and his active zeal in behalf 
 of the fallen and erring, whom he has so often befriended, 
 have given to this Society a lofty character for goodness, 
 which, being a reflection of his own, will endure with the 
 remembrance of him. 
 
 "His forbearance and patience, combined with his 
 groat energy of mind, have given to its action an impetus 
 and a direction, which, it is to be earnestly hoped, will 
 continue long after it shall have ceased to enjoy his par- 
 ticipation in its active business. 
 
 " His gentleness and propriety of deportment toward 
 us, his associates, have given him a hold upon our af- 
 fections, which adds poignancy to our grief at parting 
 with him. 
 
 "And while we mourn his loss to us. our recollection 
 of the cause of it awakens within us the belief that the 
 good he has done will smooth his departure from among 
 us, and gives strength to the cheering hope that the reco) 
 
472 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 lection of a life well spent may add even to the happiness 
 that is in store for him hereafter." 
 
 He sent the following reply, which I believe was 
 the last letter he ever wrote : 
 
 " Dear Friends : — I received through your committee, 
 accompanied by Dr. Russ, your resolutions of the loth of 
 February, 1852, commendatory of my course while agent 
 for Discharged Convicts. My bodily indisposition has 
 prevented an earlier acknowledgment. 
 
 The kind, friendly, and affectionate manner in which 
 you have been pleased to express yourselves on this occa- 
 sion, exched emotions which I found it difficult to repress. 
 The approbation of those with whom I have long labored 
 in a deeply interesting and arduous concern, I value next 
 to the testimony of a good conscience. Mvdtiplied years 
 and debility of body admonish me to retire from active 
 life as much as may be, but my interest in the work has 
 not abated. Much has been done, and much remains to 
 be done. 
 
 In taking a retrospect of my intercourse with you, I am 
 rejoiced to see that the great principles of humanity and 
 Christian benevolence have risen above and overspread 
 sectarian prejudice, that bane of Christianity, and while 
 each has been allowed to enjoy his own religious opinions 
 without interference from his fellows, we have labored 
 harmoniously together for the promotion of the great 
 object of our Association. 
 
 May He who clothes the lilies, feeds the ravens, and 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 473 
 
 provides for the sparrows, and without whose Providen- 
 tial regard, all our endeavors must be vain, bless your 
 labors, and stimulate and encourage you to persevere, so 
 that having, through His aid, fulfilled all your relative and 
 social duties, you may in the end receive the welcome, 
 " Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the ivingdom 
 prepared for you from the foundation of the world : for I 
 was an hungered, and ye gave me meat ; I was thirsty, 
 and ye gave me drink ; I was a stranger, and ye took me 
 in ; naked, and ye clothed me ; I was sick, and ye visited 
 me ; 1 was in prison, and ye came unto me." 
 
 That this may be our happy experience, is the fervent 
 desire of your sincere and affectionate friend, 
 
 Isaac T. Hopper. 
 
 New-York, 4th mo. 15, 1852." 
 
 Early in the Spring, he was conveyed to the 
 house of his daughter, Mrs. Gibbons, in the upper 
 part of the city ; it being supposed that change of 
 air and scene might prove beneficial. It was after- 
 ward deemed imprudent to remove him. His illness 
 was attended with a good deal of physical suffering ; 
 but he was uniformly patient and cheerful. He 
 often observed, "There is no cloud. There is 
 nothing in my way. Nothing troubles me." His 
 daughters left all other duties, and devoted them- 
 selves exclusively to him. Never were the declining 
 hours of an old man watched over with more devot- 
 ed affection. Writing to his daughter Mary, he 
 
474 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 says: "I have the best nurses in New-York, thy 
 mother and sisters. I have every comfort that in 
 dustry and ingenuity can supply." 
 
 Among the Quakers who manifested kindness and 
 sympathy, several belonged to the branch called 
 Orthodox ; for a sincere respect and friendship had 
 grown up between him and individuals of that 
 Society, in New^-York, after the dust of controversy 
 had subsided. He w^as always glad to see them ; 
 for his heart warmed tow^ard the plain dress and the 
 plain language. But I think nothing during his 
 illness gave him more unalloyed satisfaction than a 
 visit from William and Deborah Wharton, Friends 
 from Philadelphia. He loved this worthy couple 
 for their truly Christian character ; and they were, 
 moreover, endeared to him by many tender and 
 pleasant associations. They stood by him gene- 
 rously during his severe pecuniary struggles ; they 
 had been devoted to his beloved Sarah, whose long 
 illness was cheered by their unremitting attentions , 
 and she, for many years, had received from Hannah 
 Fisher, Deborah's mother, the most uniform kind- 
 ness. William's father, a wealthy merchant, had 
 been to him an early and constant friend : and his 
 uncle, the excellent mayor of Philadelphia, had sus- 
 tained him by his influence and hearty co-operation, 
 in many a fugitive slave case, that occurred in years 
 ^ong past. It was, therefore, altogether pleasant to 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 476 
 
 clasp hands with these tr'w.d and trusty friends, 
 before hfe and all its reminiscences faded away. 
 
 His physician, Dr. John C. Beales, was very as- 
 siduous in his attentions, and his visits were always 
 interesting to the invalid, who generally made them 
 an occasion for pleasant and animated conversation ; 
 often leading the doctor off the professional track, 
 by some playful account of his symptoms, however 
 painful they might be. He had been his medical ad- 
 viser for many years, and as a mark of respect for 
 his disinterested services to his fellow-men, he uni- 
 formly declined to receive any compensation. 
 
 Neighbors and acquaintances of recent date, like- 
 wise manifested their respect for the invalid by all 
 manner of attentions. Gentlemen sent choice wines, 
 and ladies offered fruit and flowers. ^larket people, 
 w^ho knew him in the way of business, brought deli- 
 cacies of various kinds for his acceptance. He was 
 gratified by such tokens of regard, and manifested it 
 in many pleasant little ways. One of his sons had 
 presented him a silver goblet, with the word "Fa- 
 ther" inscribed upon it ; and whenever he was about 
 to take nourishment, he would say, " Give it to me 
 in John's cup." When his little grand-daughter 
 brought flowers from the garden, he was careful to 
 have them placed by the bedside, where he could see 
 them continually. After he was unable to rise to 
 take his meals, he asked to have two cups and plates 
 
476 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 broiiglit to him, if it were not too much trouble ; for 
 he said it would seem pleasant, and like old times, to 
 have Hannah's company. So his wife ate with him, 
 as long as he was able to partake of food. A china 
 bird, which a ransomed slave had given to his daugh- 
 ter, when she was a little girl, was placed on the 
 mantel-piece, because he liked to look at it. A visi- 
 tor, to whom he made this remark one day, replied, 
 "It must be very pleasant to you now to remember 
 how many unfortunate beings you have helped." He 
 looked up, and answered with frank simplicity, "Yes, 
 it is pleasant." 
 
 He made continual efforts 'to conceal that he was 
 in pain. When they asked why he was so often 
 singing to himself, he replied, "If I didn't sing, I 
 should groan." Even as late as the day before he 
 died, he indulged in some little " Cheeryble" plea- 
 santries, evidently intended to enliven those who 
 were nearly exhausted by their long attendance on 
 him. At this period, his son-in-law, James S. Gib- 
 bons, wrote to me thus : " Considering his long bodi- 
 ly weakness, now ten weeks, he is in an extraordina- 
 ry state of mental strength and clearness. Reminis- 
 cences are continually falling from his lips, like 
 leaves in autumn from an old forest tree ; not indeed 
 green, but rich in the colors that are of the tree, and 
 characteristic. Thou hast known him in the extra- 
 ordinary vigor and freshness of his old age; cheat- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 477 
 
 ing time even out of turning his hair gray. But 
 thou shouldst see him now ; when, to use his own 
 words, he feels that 'the messenger has come.' All 
 his thoughts have tended to, and reached this point. 
 The only question with him now is of a few more 
 days. Though prostrate in body, his mind is like a 
 sturdy old oak, that don't care which way the wind 
 blows. As I sat by his bedside, last evening, I 
 thought T never had seen so beautiful a close to a 
 good man's life." 
 
 He had no need to make a will ; for he died, as he 
 had lived, without property. But he disposed of his 
 little keepsakes with as much cheerfulness as if he 
 had been making New-Year's presents. He seemed 
 to remember everybody in the distribution. His 
 Quaker library w^as left in the care of his children, 
 with directions that it should be kept where mem- 
 bers of the Society of Friends or others interested 
 could have ready access to it. To his daughter Sa- 
 rah he entrusted the paper written by her mother, at 
 fourteen years of age ; still fastened by the pin she 
 had placed in it, which her dear hand had invested 
 with more value than a diamond, in his eyes. He 
 earnestly recommended his wife to the affectionate 
 care of his children ; reminding them that she had 
 been a kind and faithful companion to him during 
 many years. He also gave general directions con- 
 cerning his funeral. "Don't take the trouble to 
 
478 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 make a shroud," said he. "One of my night-shirts 
 will do as well. I should prefer to be buried in a 
 white pine coffin ; but that might be painful to my 
 family ; and I should not like to afflict them in any 
 way. It may, therefore, be of dark wood ; but be sure 
 to have it entirely plain, without varnish or inscrip- 
 tion. Have it made by some poor neighbor, and pay 
 him the usual price of a handsome one ; for I merely 
 wish to leave a testimony against vain show on such 
 occasions." He appeared to be rather indifferent 
 where he was buried ; but when he was informed 
 that his son and daughter had purchased a lot at 
 Greenwood Cemetery, it seemed pleasant to him to 
 think of having them and their families gathered 
 round him, and he consented to be laid there. 
 
 I was summoned to his death-bed, and arrived two 
 days before his departure. 1 found his mind perfect- 
 ly bright and clear. He told over again some of his 
 old reminiscences, and indulged in a few of his cus- 
 tomary pleasantries. He spoke of rejoining his be- 
 loved Sarah, and his ancient friends William Savery, 
 Nicholas Wain, Thomas Scattergood, and others, 
 with as much certainty and pleasure as if he had 
 been anticipating a visit to Pennsylvania. Some- 
 times, when he was much exhausted with physical 
 pain, he would sigh forth, "Oh, for rest in the king- 
 dom of heaven !" But nothing that approached 
 nearer to complaint or impatience escaped his lips. 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 479 
 
 On the last day, he repeated to me, what he had pre- 
 viously said to others, that he sometimes seemed to 
 hear voices sin":ino\ "We have come to take thee 
 home." Once, when no one else happened to be 
 near him, he said to me in a low, confidential tone, 
 " Maria, is there anything peculiar in this room ?" I 
 rephed, "No. Why do you ask that question?*' 
 "Because," said he, "you all look so beautiful; and 
 the covering on the bed has such glorious colors, as 
 ] never saw. But perhaps I had better not have said 
 anything about it." The natural world was transfigur- 
 ed to his dying senses ; perhaps by an influx of light 
 from the spiritual ; and I suppose he thought I should 
 understand it as a sign that the time of his departure 
 drew nigh. It was a scene to remind one of Jeremy 
 Taylor's eloquent words : " When a good man dies, 
 one that hath lived innocently, then the joys break 
 forth through the clouds of sickness, and the con- 
 science stands upright, and confesses the glories of 
 God : and owns so much integrity, that it can hope 
 for pardon, and obtain it too. Then the sorrows of 
 sickness do but untie the soul from its chain, and let 
 It go forth, first into liberty, and then into glory." 
 
 A few hours before he breathed his last, he rallied 
 from a state of drowsiness, and asked for a box con- 
 taining his private papers. He wished to find one, 
 which he thought ought to be destroyed, lest it should 
 do some injury. He put on his spectacles, and looked 
 
4bO LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 at the papers which were handed him ; but the old 
 man's eyes were dimmed with death, and he could 
 not see the writing. After two or three feeble and 
 ineffectual attempts, he took off his spectacles, with 
 a trembling hand, and gave them to his beloved 
 daughter, Sarah, saying, "Take them, my child, and 
 keep them. They were thy dear mother's. I can 
 never use them more." The scene was inexpressi 
 bly affecting ; and we all wept to see this untiring 
 friend of mankind compelled at last to acknowledge 
 that he could work no longer. 
 
 Of his sixteen children, ten were living ; and all 
 but two of them were able to be with him in these 
 last days. He addressed affectionate exhortations to 
 them at various times ; and a fev/ hours before he 
 died, he called them, one by one, to his bedside, to 
 receive his farewell benediction. At last, he whis- 
 pered my name ; and as I knelt to kiss his hand, he 
 said in broken accents, and at long intervals, "Ma- 
 ria, tell them I loved them though I felt called 
 
 to resist some who claimed to be rulers in Israel 
 
 1 never meant ." His strength was nearly 
 
 exhausted ; but after a pause, he pressed my hand, 
 and added, " Tell them I love them «//." I had pre- 
 viously asked and obtained permission to write his 
 biography ; and from these broken sentences, I un- 
 derstood that he wished me to convey in it a mes- 
 sage to the Society of Friends; including the "Or- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 481 
 
 thodox" branch, with whom he had been brought into 
 painful colhsion, in years gone by. 
 
 After several hours of restlessness and suffering, 
 he fell into a tranquil slumber, which lasted a long 
 time. The serene expression of his countenance re- 
 mained unchanged, and there was no motion of limb 
 or muscle, when the spirit passed away. This was 
 between eight and nine o'clock in the evening, on the 
 seventh of May, 1852. After a long interval of si- 
 lent weeping, his widow laid her head on the shoul- 
 der of one of his sons, and said, "Forty-seven years 
 ago this very day, my good father died ; and from 
 that day to this, he has been the best friend I ever 
 had." 
 
 No pubhc buildings were hung with crape, when 
 news went forth that the Good Samaritan had gone. 
 But prisoners, and poor creatures in dark and deso- 
 late corners, wept when they heard the tidings. Ann 
 W. with whose waywardness he had borne so pa- 
 tiently, escaped from confinement, several mile§ dis- 
 tant, and with sobs implored "to see that good old 
 man once more." Michael Stanley sent the following 
 letter to the Committee of the Prison Association : 
 " When I read the account of the venerable Friend 
 Hopper's death, I could not help weeping. It touch- 
 ed a tender chord in my heart, when I came to the 
 account of his being the prisoner's friend. My soul 
 responded to that ; for I had realized it. About six 
 21 
 
482 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 years ago, I was one of those who got good advice 
 from 'the old man.' I carried it out, and met with 
 great success. I was fatherless, motherless, and 
 friendless, with no home, nobody to take me by the 
 hand. I felt, as the poet has it, 
 
 'A pilgrim stranger here I roam, 
 
 From place to place I'm driven ; 
 
 My friends are gone, and I'm in gloom; 
 
 This earth is all a lonely tomb ; 
 
 I have no home but heaven.' 
 
 Go on in the work of humanity and love, till the 
 Good Master shall say, 'It is enough. Come up 
 higher.' " 
 
 Nearly all the domestics in Friend Hopper's neigh- 
 })orhood attended the funeral solemnities. One of 
 these said with tears, "I am an orphan; but while 
 he lived, I always felt as if I had a father. He al- 
 ways had something pleasant to say to me, but now 
 everything seems gone." A very poor man, who 
 had been an object of his charity, and whom he had 
 employed in many little services, could not rest till 
 he had earned enough to buy a small Arbor-vitse, 
 (Tree of Life,) to plant upon his grave. 
 
 The Executive Committee of the Prison Associa- 
 tion met, and passed the following Resolutions : 
 
 "■Resolved: — That the combination of virtues which 
 clistii\guished and adorned the character of our lamented 
 friend, eminently qualified him for the accomplishment of 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 483 
 
 those benevolent and philanthropic objects to which he 
 unremittingly devoted a life far more extended than ordi- 
 narily falls to man's inheritance. 
 
 "That in our mtimate associations with him for many 
 years, he has uniformly displayed a character remarkable 
 for its disinterestedness, energy, fearlessness, and Chris- 
 tian principle, in every good word and work. 
 
 "That we tender to the family and friends of the 
 deceased our sincere condolence and sympathy in their 
 sore bereavement, but whilst sensible that words, how- 
 ever truly uttered, cannot compensate for the loss of such 
 a husband, father, and guide, we do find both for our- 
 selves and for them, consolation in the belief that his 
 peaceful end was but the prelude to the bliss of Heaven. 
 
 "That in the death of Isaac T. Hopper, the community 
 is called to part with a citizen of transcendent worth and 
 excellence ; the prisoner, with an unwearied and well- 
 tried friend ; the poor and the homeless, with a father 
 and a protector ; the church of Christ, with a brother 
 whose works ever bore unfailing testimony to his faith ; 
 and the world at large, with a philanthropist of the purest 
 and most uncompromising integrity, whose good deeds 
 were circumscribed by no sect, party, condition or clime." 
 
 The American Anti-Slavery Society received the 
 tidings while they were in session at Rochester. 
 Mr. Garrison, after a brief but eloquent tribute to 
 the memory of the deceased, offered the following 
 Resolution : 
 
484 LIFE OF ISAAC T, HOPPER. 
 
 ^'Resolved : — That it is with emotions too profound for 
 utterance, that this Society receives the intelligence of 
 the decease of the venerable Isaac T. Hopper, on Tues- 
 day evening last, in the city of New-York; the friend 
 of the friendless — boundless in his compassion — exhaust- 
 less in his benevolence — untiring in his labors — the most 
 intrepid of philanthropists, who never feared the face ot 
 man, nor omitted to bear a faithful testimony against 
 injustice and oppression — the early, steadfast, heroic 
 advocate and protector of the hunted fugitive slave, to 
 whose sleepless vigilance and timely aid multitudes have 
 been indebted for their deliverance from the Southern 
 House of Bondage ; — in Avhom were equally blended the 
 gentleness of the lamb with the strength of the lion — the 
 wisdom of the serpent with the harmlessness of the dove ; 
 and who, when the ear heard him, then it blessed him, 
 when the eye saw him, it gave witness to him, because 
 he delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and 
 him that had none to help him. The blessing of him 
 that was ready to perish came upon him, and he caused 
 the widow's heart to sing for joy. He put on righteous- 
 ness, and it clothed him; his judgment was as a robe and 
 a diadem. He was eyes to the blind, and feet was he to 
 the lame. The cause which he knew not he searched out, 
 and he broke the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the 
 spoil out of its teeth. 
 
 He moved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded 
 in an official form to the estimable partner of his life, and 
 fhe children of his love, accompanied l)y an assurance 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 485 
 
 of our deepest sympathy, in view of their great .bereave- 
 ment. 
 
 Several spoke in support of the Resolution, which 
 was unanimously and cordially adopted. 
 
 The Conniiittee of the Prison Association desired 
 to have public funeral solemnities, and the family 
 comphed with their wishes. Churches of various 
 denominations were immediately offered for the pur- 
 pose, including the meeting-houses of both branches 
 of the Society of Friends. The Tabernacle was ac- 
 cepted. Judge Edmonds, who had been an efficient 
 co-laborer, and for whom Friend Hopper had a strong 
 personal affection, offered a feehng tribute to the vir- 
 tues and abilities of his departed friend. He was 
 followed by Lucretia Mott, a widely known and 
 highly respected minister among Friends. In her 
 appropriate and interesting communication, she dwelt 
 principally upon his efforts in behalf of the colored 
 people ; for whose sake she also had encountered 
 obloquy. 
 
 The Society of Friends in Hester-street, to which 
 he had formerly belonged, offered the use of their 
 burying-ground. It was kindly meant ; but his chil- 
 dren deeply felt the injustice of their fathers expul- 
 sion from that Society, for no other offence than fol- 
 lowing the dictates of his own conscience. As his 
 soul had been too much alive for them, when it was 
 
486 LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 in the body, their unity with the lifeless form was 
 felt to avail hut little. 
 
 The body was conveyed to Greenwood Cemetery, 
 followed only by the family, and a very few intimate 
 friends. Thomas McChntock, a minister-in the So- 
 ciety of Friends, addressed some words of consola- 
 tion to the bereaved family, as they stood around the 
 open grave. Lucretia Mott affectionately commend- 
 ed the widow to the care of the children. In the 
 course of her remarks, she said, '' I have no unity 
 with these costly monuments around me, by which 
 the pride and vanity of man strive to extend them- 
 selves beyond the grave. But I like the idea of bu- 
 rial grounds where people of all creeds repose to- 
 gether. It is pleasant to leave the body of our friend 
 here, amid the verdant beauty of nature, and the 
 sweet singing of birds. As he was a fruitful bough, 
 that overhung the wall, it is fitting that he should 
 not be buried within the walls of any sectarian en- 
 closure." 
 
 Three poor little motherless German boys stood 
 hand in hand beside the grave. Before the earth 
 was thrown in, the eldest stepped forward and drop- 
 ped a small bouquet on the coffin of his benefactor. 
 He had gathered a few early spring flowers from the 
 little garden plot, w-hich his kind old friend used to 
 cultivate with so much care, and with childish love 
 and reverence ho dropped them in his grave. 
 
LIFE OF ISA.AC T. HOPPER. 487 
 
 Soon after the funeral Lucretia Mott called a 
 meeting of the colored people in Philadelphia, and 
 delivered an address upon the life and services of 
 their friend and protector. There was a very large 
 audience ; and among them were several old people, 
 who well remembered him during his residence in that 
 city. At the Yearly Meeting also she paid a tribute 
 to his virtues ; it being the custom of Friends, on 
 such occasions, to make tender allusion to the wor- 
 thies who have passed from among them in the 
 course of the year. 
 
 The family received many letters of sympathy and 
 condolence,, from which I w^ill make a few brief ex- 
 tracts. Mrs. Marianne C. D. Silsbee, of Salem, 
 Massachusetts, thus speaks of him, in a letter to his 
 son John: "I have thought much of you all, since 
 your great loss. How you must miss his grand, con- 
 stant example of cheerful trust, untiring energy, and 
 love to all ! What a joy to have had such a father ! 
 To be the son of such a man is ground for honest 
 pride. The pleasure of having known him, the 
 honor of having been in social relations with him, will 
 always give a charm to my life. I cherish among my 
 most precious recollections the pleasant words he 
 has so often spoken to me. I can see him while I 
 write, as vividly as though he were with me now ; 
 and never can his benign and beautiful countenance 
 lose its brightness in my memory. Dear old friend ! 
 
488 LIFE OP ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 We cannot emulate your ceaseless good works ; but 
 we can follow, and we can love and remember." 
 
 Mrs. Mary E. Stearns, of Medford, Massachusetts, 
 wrote as follows to Rosalie Hopper : *' The Telegraph 
 has announced that the precious life you were all so 
 anxiously watching has 'passed on,' and that myste- 
 rious change we call death has taken it from your 
 midst forever. It is such a beautiful day ! The air is 
 so soft, the grass so green, and the birds singing so 
 joyously ! The day and the event have become so 
 interwoven with each other, that I cannot separate 
 them. I think of his placid face, sleeping its last 
 Btill sleep ; and through the open window, I see the 
 springing grass and the bursting buds. My ears are 
 filled with bird-music, and all other sounds are hush- 
 ed in this Sabbath stillness. All I see and hear 
 seems to be hallowed by his departed spirit. Ah, it 
 is good to think of his death in the Spring time ! It 
 is good that his soul, so fresh, so young and hopeful, 
 should burst into a higher and more glorious life, as 
 if in sympathy with the ever beautiful, ever wonder- 
 ful resurrection of nature. Dear, blessed old man ! 
 I shall never see his face again ; but his memory will 
 be as green as this springing grass, and we shall al- 
 ways think and talk of our little experience with 
 him, as one of the golden things that can never pass 
 away." 
 
 Dr. Russ, his beloved co-laborer in the Prison As- 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 489 
 
 sociation, wrote thus in a note to Mrs. Gibbons : "I 
 have found it for my comfort to change the furniture 
 of the office, that it might not appear so lonely with- 
 out your dear, venerable father. I felt for him the 
 warmest and most enduring friendship. I esteemed 
 him for his thousand virtues, and delighted in his so- 
 cial intercourse. I am sure no one out of his own 
 immediate family, felt his loss more keenly than my- 
 self." 
 
 James H. Titus, of New- York, thus expresses 
 himself in a letter to James S. Gibbons : " I have 
 ever considered it one of the happiest and most for- 
 tunate events of my life, to have had the privilege of 
 an acquaintance with Friend Hopper. I shall always 
 recur to his memory with pleasure, and I trust with 
 that moral advantage, which the recollection of his 
 Christian virtues is so eminently calculated to pro 
 duce. How insignificant the reputation of riches, 
 how unsatisfactory the renown of victory in war, 
 how transient political fame, when compared with 
 the history of a long life spent in services rendered 
 to the afflicted and the unfortunate !" 
 
 Ellis Gray Loring, of Boston, in a letter to John 
 
 Hopper, says : "We heard of your father's death while 
 
 we were in Eome. I could not restrain a few tears , 
 
 and yet God knows there is no room for tears about 
 
 the life or death of such a man. In both, he was a 
 
 blessing and encouragement to all of us. He really 
 21* 
 
490 IIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 lived out all the life that was given him ; filling it up 
 to such an age v^dth the beauty of goodness, and 
 consecrating to the divinest purposes that w^onderful 
 energy of intellect and character. In a society full 
 of selfishness and pretension, it is a great thing to 
 have practical proof that a life and character like 
 his are possible." 
 
 Edmund L. Benzon, of Boston, writing to the 
 same, says; "You will imagine, better than I can 
 write, with what deep sympathy I learned the death 
 of your good father, whom I have always esteemed 
 one of the best of men. I cannot say I am sorry for 
 his death. My only regret is that more of us cannot 
 live and die as he has done. 1 feel with regard to 
 all good men departed, whom I have personally 
 known, that there is now another witness in the spi- 
 rit, before whose searching eyes my inmost soul lies 
 open. I shall never forget him ; not even if such a 
 green old age as his should be my own portion. II 
 in the future life I can only be as near him as I was 
 on this earth, I shall deem myself blest." 
 
 . From the numerous notices in papers of all par- 
 ties and sects, I will merely quote the following : 
 The New-York Observer thus announces his death : 
 "The venerable Isaac T. Hopper, whose placid bene 
 volent face has so long irradiated almost every public 
 meeting for doing good, and whose name, influence, and 
 labors have been devoted with au apostolic simplicity 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 491 
 
 and constancy to humanity, died on Friday last, at an 
 advanced age. He was a Quaker of that early sort 
 illustrated by such philanthropists as Anthony Benezet, 
 Thomas Clarkson, Mrs. Fry, and the like. 
 
 He was a most self-denying, patient, loving friend of 
 the poor, and the suflering of every kind ; and his life 
 was an unbroken history of beneficence. Thousands o 
 hearts will feel a touch of grief at the news of his death , 
 for few men have so large a wealth in the blessings of the 
 poor, and the grateful remembrance of kindness and 
 benevolence, as he." 
 
 The New- York Sunday Times contained the fol- 
 lowing : 
 
 "Most of our readers will call to mind in connection 
 with the name of Isaac T. Hopper, the compact, well-knit 
 figure of a Quaker gentleman, apparently about sixty 
 years of age, dressed in drab or brown clothes of the 
 plainest cut, and bearing on his handsome, manly face the 
 impress of that benevolence with which his whole heart 
 was filled. 
 
 He was twenty years older than he seemed. The 
 fountain of benevolence within, freshened his old age 
 with its continuous flow. The step of the octogenarian, 
 was elastic as that of a boy, his form erect as the moirn- 
 tain pine. 
 
 His whole physique was a splendid sample of nature's 
 handiwork. We see him now with our "mind's eye" — 
 but with the eye of flesh we shall see him no more. 
 
492 MPE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 
 
 Void of intentional offence to God or man, his spirit has 
 joined its happy kindred in a world where there is neither 
 sorrow nor perplexity." 
 
 I sent the following communication to the New- 
 York Tribune : 
 
 " In this world of shadows, few things strengthen the 
 soul like seeing the calm and cheerful exit of a truly good 
 man ; and this has been my privilege by the bedside of 
 Isaac T. Hopper. 
 
 He was a man of remarkable endowments, both of head 
 and heart. His clear discrimination, his unconquerable 
 will, his total unconsciousness of fear, his extraordinary 
 tact in circumventing plans he wished to frustrate, would 
 have made him illustrious as the general of an army ; and 
 these qualities might have become faults, if they had not 
 been balanced by an unusual degree of conscientiousness 
 and benevolence. He battled courageously, not from 
 ambition, but from an inborn love of truth. He circum- 
 vented as adroitly as the most practised politician ; but 
 it was always to defeat the plans of those who oppressed 
 God's poor ; never to advance his own self-interest. 
 
 Few men have been more strongly attached to any re- 
 ligious society than he was to the Society of Friends, 
 which he joined in the days of its purity, impelled by his 
 own religious convictions. But when the time came that 
 he must either be faithless to duty in the cause of his 
 enslaved brethren, or part company with the Society to 
 which he was bound by the strong and sacred ties of early 
 
LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. 493 
 
 religious feeling, this sacrifice he also calmly laid on the 
 altar of humanity. 
 
 During nine years that I lived in his household, my 
 respect and affection for him continually increased. 
 Never have I seen a man who so completely fulfilled 
 the Scripture injunction, to forgive an erring brother " not 
 only seven times, but seventy times seven." I have 
 witnessed relapse after relapse into vice, under circum- 
 stances which seemed like the most heartless ingratitude 
 to him ; but he joyfully hailed the first symptom of re- 
 pentance, and was always ready to grant a new proba- 
 tion. 
 
 Farewell, thou brave and kind old Friend ! The 
 prayers of ransomed ones ascended to Heaven for thee, 
 and a glorious company have welcomed thee to the Eter- 
 nal City." 
 
 On a plain block of granite at Greenwood Ceme 
 tery, is inscribed : 
 
 ISAAC T. HOPPER, 
 
 BORN, DECEMBER 3d, 1771, 
 
 ENDED HIS PILGRIMAGE, MAY 7tH, 1852. 
 
 *'Thou henceforth shalt have a good man's calm, 
 A great man's happiness ; thy zeal shall find 
 Repose at length, firm Friend of human kind.** 
 
"^^ ^' 
 
 s- '^■^^- 
 
 .<> "^^x 
 
 ,0' -■' V '/, c 
 
 ■V^' 
 
 'fix. '^. 
 
 
 o 0^ 
 
 
 .•\ 
 
 o ^- 
 
 ^'- ^ 
 
 ?. .aN^ 
 
 V 
 
 
 -0^ 
 
 ^. ^^ 
 
 "^^ V^' 
 
 
 
 
 . ^^^> 
 
 
 
 -^ ' * <t *> A 
 
 
 %/-oTo^\n^^ 
 
 
 •S^ 
 
 * * A 
 
 
 
 
 
 '•^->. 
 
 .^^^ 
 
 
 N^^' 
 
 
 
 
 ,.^^ 
 
 \ 
 
 
 <•>- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 \ 1 
 
 ., %, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 .>^ 
 
 ''*.. 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 A 
 
 
 
 %^^.^.^ ,N^ 
 
 ^A '-i- 
 
 
 -■ '' % v^'' -^^k^''. 
 
 ^■^ -^. 
 
 .^^ 
 
 XN^-^ 
 
 .^^^\. 
 
 
 N^' -^4^^^;:^^% 
 
 
 ,^--^^.. N^^- 
 
 
 ..^^' 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 'I I 'liii III I III liijiliilli III III I mill 
 011 932 579 1