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PRISON LIFE AND REFLECTIONS; 
 
 A NARRATIVE 
 
 ARREST, TRIAL, CONVICTION, IMPRISONMENT, TREATMENT, OBSERVA- 
 « TIONS, REFLECTIONS, AND DELIVERANCE 
 
 WORK, BURR, AND THOMPSON, 
 
 VHO 91FFERED AV 
 
 UNJUST AND CRUEL IMPRISONMKNT IN MISSOURI PENITENTIARY, 
 
 ATTEMPTING TO AID SOME SLAVES TO LIBERTY. 
 
 THREE PARTS IN ONE VOLUME. 
 
 BY GEORGE THOMPSON, 
 
 ONE OF THE PRISONERC. 
 
 THrep EDITION. 
 
 HARTFORD: 
 PUBLISHED BY A , W O R K 
 
 1819. 
 

 Entered, according to Act of Congiess. in the year 1947. 
 
 By GKORGK THOMPSON. 
 
 In the Clcik's Office of the District Court of the United States for tho 
 District of Ohio. 
 
 Copyright transferred to .\LANSON WORK. 
 
 yj-1' - /J" 
 
PREFACE. 74 
 
 Reader, do you know the heart of a prisoner ? Are you a 
 friend of convicts 1 If not, you may not be much interested 
 in the following pages — for they tell you much about the 
 inside of a prison, and its suffering inmates. They are not 
 confined entirely to the strict history of Alanson Work, James 
 E. Burr, and George Thompson— they tell you much about 
 other prisoners - much about the officers — something about 
 the Governors, and Legislators, and Ministers of a slave State 
 — they tell you a little about the poor slave — the spirit of 
 slaveholders — the influence and effects of slavery, and numer- 
 ous incidents, with brief reflections on various subjects. 
 
 You will not charge me with telling something about some- 
 body of whom I know nothing — or with attempting to describe 
 imaginary scenes — or telling of something that occurred, 
 nobody knows whore — for " 1 speak that I do know, and 
 testify that I have seen," heard, and experienced. The book 
 is principally a compilation from our prison writings — mostly 
 from my own, as the greater part of that which came from the 
 pens of my " companions in tribulation," has been lost, or I 
 was not able to obtain it. 
 
 However, as we all lived together, I was constituted, by 
 mutual consent, the scribe or secretary. 
 
 In my journal, I recorded for all. When we came into our 
 cell at night, if either had seen or heard anything during the 
 day, that was of interest, he made it known, and it was re- 
 
IT PREFACE. 
 
 corded hj the secretary. Of the writings which are lost, the 
 most valuable arc their letters, which were written from time 
 to time, and would give a better idea of their individual feel- 
 ings, than 1 can in my own language — yet our feelings were so 
 similar, and so nearly in unison did our hearts beat, that the 
 reader must feel when reading mine, that he is in them 
 reading the feelings of the other two brethren. 
 
 I have been obliged to omit and pass by much that I desired 
 to insert. Much of my journal — many letters, and various 
 incidents, have been excluded. 
 
 The reader need not expect connexion of subjects, or 
 beauty of style, or elegance of language, or logical reasoning. 
 I have mentioned things generally as they occurred, in their 
 order, without regard to connexion. In some places, I have 
 classified things of the same kind. The style, and language, 
 are the spontaneous overflowings of my soul — in words which 
 most readily presented themselves to my mind. And 1 have 
 endeavored to present everything in its proper, natural light. 
 The whole has been written in great haste, amid cares and 
 anxieties. 
 
 When speaking of other prisoners, I have withheld all 
 names, for reasons I need not mention. When speaking of 
 officers, I have given names. And 1 think no one can charge 
 me with partiality — I have endeavored to give both sides. 
 Wlien they acted like men, I have said so — when they played 
 the part of brutes, or demons, I have mentioned it. If they 
 were kind, 1 have given them credit — if cruel, it is charged 
 against them. If they complain of any one, they must com- 
 plain of themselves — if Missourians are disgraced, or con- 
 demned, they themselves have done it. 1 have recorded 
 /acts. 
 
PREFACE. V 
 
 If they are enraged, because the world has looked in upon 
 their abominations, let the thought that God will expose them 
 to the universe, compose their troubled consciences. If they 
 are vexed with themselves, because they have so long harbored 
 an enemy in their midst, let me say to them, as they said to 
 us — " Just mind your own business, next time, and let other 
 people alone." They must have been fools indeed, to 
 suppose they could press a viper to their bosom without being 
 wounded— or tread on coals, without being burned — or that 
 they could lay open their hearts before a " dyed-in-the-wool 
 abolitionist,'''' and not expect that it would be laid before the 
 world — or that an opossum is dead, merely because he does 
 not kick, and squall, when beaten by his enemy. 
 
 If the reader is not a Christian, he will here see the excel- 
 lence and importance of that religion, which will support and 
 cheer its possessor in all possible conditions iu life. And oh ! 
 that he may be influenced to choose a friend, who will never 
 forsake — a guide who will never mistake. 
 
 If he is a Christian, I trust he will, in the following pages, 
 learn the secret of having the mind kept in " perfect peace," 
 though billows dash, and tempests roar — of being filled with a 
 "joy unspeakable, and full of glory," though surrounded by 
 a darkness as dense as Egyptian — and of " rejoicing in the 
 Lord alway,^^ though he " die daily" — namely, trusting in 
 Go /, ratioiialhi, sincerely, implicitly, and continually. 
 
 The book has not been written to make money, nor to get 
 a name -but to do good. 1 felt it to be my duty to write 
 such a book, long before I left my cell — and there the most of 
 it was wiitten. 
 
 I have endeavored to exhibit our own feelings — as also those 
 
VI PREFACE. 
 
 of our enemies. I have tried to exhibit the circumstances, 
 and influences, by which we were surrounded, that the grace 
 of God might the more be magnified, in our preservation from 
 the jaws of destruction — in our deliverance from the oppres- 
 sor's power. 
 
 Reader, you will here see the faithfulness of God to his 
 promises — you will see the unfaithfulness of man. You will 
 get a glimpse at the sufferings of a portion of your fellow 
 creatures, of whom perhaps you never thought much, and if 
 by reading this book, you shall be induced to " remember them 
 in bonds as bound with them,'''' I shall not have spent my time 
 in vain. 
 
 Part first, includes an account of the time we were in the 
 County Jail, trial, sentence, &c. 
 
 Part second, comprises about sixteen and a half months, 
 under the government of John Gordon and William Burch. 
 
 Part third, embraces the remainder of our history, under 
 James Brown, Capt. Richmond, Blaine, and Co., &c. 
 
 That every one who reads the following pages, may be 
 stimulated to labor more zealously for suffering humanity, is 
 the desire and prayer of 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 Oberlin, April 9, 1847. 
 
 Note. — The First Edition having: met with so speedy a sale, and the 
 testimony of those who have rend it, being so unilbrin, that it has been a 
 great blessing to their souls, — another Edition is sent tbrth to the world, 
 which I desire to leave as a token of my lore to the Slave, and the cause 
 of SupFERrNO Humanity, while I go far hence to labor, and die, for the 
 degraded of other lands. 
 
 GEORGE THOMPSON. 
 
 Ohcrlin, Deccmlicr lO'/(, ISH. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 PART FIRST. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Description of the prisoners — residence — naotives and principles by which 
 governed — tour of mercy — light in the darkness — betrayed — taken 
 and bound — confidence in God — conduct of enemies — letter from 
 Alanson to a brother — do. to his wife — extracts of letters from 
 George -..-.. 13—21, 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Alanson's journal — a murderer bailed — reflections of duincy committee 
 — Alanson's journal .... - 21 — 26. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Poetry, why in prison — George's journal — the library and our feelings — 
 journal — letter from George — letter from James — ^journal, poor men 
 in slave States, the vile woman — PatroUers — blasphemy — the church 
 in slave States — the leaven working, friendly lawyer, a load of 
 friends visit the jail, valuable cakes, counsel engaged 26 — 41. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The sleeping preacher — his dream — dark places, full of cruelty — Dr. 
 Ely's slave — bloody towns — eifects of slavery — devices of the enemy 
 
 41—48. 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Letter to Mrs. Ballard — to Moses Hunter — the Missourian's letter — re- 
 flections — the Dr. Bosley affair — letter from James — from Alanson 
 — from George ..... 48 — 56. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 The command — the search — slave women in Palmyra — betrayers — a 
 way opened to pass letters — rage of enemies — a slave whipped — 
 promises sweet — letter to the church — sale of human beings — reflec- 
 
VIU CONTENTS. 
 
 tions on P. C. L.'s letter — court — the abolition stand — treatment of 
 our friends — closet mother — the sleeping preacher a^ain — excite- 
 ment - - - - . . 5<;— 70. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Indictments — shackles off — jury chosen — witnesses, testimony — the plead- 
 ing — journal — sentence — our gallowsj and murderers— hill of ex- 
 ceptions and instructions — appeal refused — novel decision — our 
 mm-derers again, testimony - . - _ 70 — 85. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Journal, twelve years in the penitentiary — a free man mobbed — mob in 
 Cincinnati — the broken will — unbelief and faith — taking the slave's 
 place — the last view — the Illinois and Missouri clergj'men — in 
 chains again — slaveholder's religion and Catholicism — trusting in 
 Grod — the day of adversity — letter from Alanson, his feelings — letter 
 from George to his parents — to Oberlin Evangelist — the slaveholder's 
 plan — the accusation, look at it — abrogation of God's law — "The 
 slaves will not run away " — letters from George to a friend 
 
 85—112. 
 
 PART SECOND. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Journey to the penitentiary — Sabbath — slaveholder' idea of happiness- 
 arrival at Missouri River - . . . 112 — 116. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 Reception at penitentiary — the rules — journal how kept — the first night — 
 the first morning — our cell, poetry — food — work— first Sabbnth — 
 second do. — brick kilns— character of officers — of prisoners — flcg- 
 ging — prayer in the cell, singing, reading — Alanson 's first P. Y. 
 letter — George's do. — chains ofll"— the runaways — our library, read- 
 ing by moonlight — the fire - . . - 116 — 142. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Letter from G<orge to a friend — work in the city — a friend — treachery 
 of prisoners — chain off, trustee — the Lord's supper, poetry — letter 
 
CONTENTS. la 
 
 writing — conversation — death of Ellen — slaveholder's conscience 
 quieted — uses of scripture — runaways - - 142 — 156. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 A majn killed — dog buried — funeral sermons — George's letter to parents 
 — ^joyful discovery — that "salt" again — letter to a friend — Sabbath 
 shaving, Alanson whipped— the pleasing sight — friend brought let- 
 ters — extract of answer — our character good in Missouri — slaves 
 escaping — the polyglott Bible — extract of letter — abolition all the 
 time — the harvest field — a man hung — visit of friends — "relieving 
 the niggers" — the new cell — " the preachers " - 156 — 173. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 The first convert — first death bed scene — alone in the woods — fruits on 
 the Sabbath — "it's out of order," chained for attempting to speak in 
 meeting — the door opening — gazed at — second death bed scene — a 
 prisoner baptized — the sleeping guard — ".that won't count" — third 
 death bed scene — experience telling meeting — self defence 173 — 185. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Talk with Capt. B. and a Senator — with Slocumb and Chandler — reflec- 
 tions — giving up principles — talk with Legislators — with Slocumb 
 and J. Gallagher — letter to Governor and Legislature — clothing — 
 sick ---.-.- 185—198. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Desire and prayer for the conversion of the wond — the sympathizing 
 gard — talk with a sick man — fourth death bed scene — dishonesty of 
 officers — ardent spirits — a novel case — the hypocrite — gambler's 
 happmess — satisfaction ^-the wonder— reflections — the hand of the 
 Lord 198—207. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PART THIRD. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 New wardens — The examination — recommendation — character of offi- 
 cers — points gained — influence of power — partiality — our work — 
 food, table, blessing sought — unfeeling doctor — preaching — "sing 
 us one of the songs of Zion " — our first prayer meeting 207 — 217. 
 
 CHAPTER 11. 
 
 The revival — communion season — a dream interpreted — a convert — 
 journal — describing the revival— Lovejoy's murderer — letter — the 
 reconciliation — general remarks — the memorable communion sea- 
 son ------ - 217—234. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Letter to parents — the sick man's resolution — the sick bed repentance — 
 reflections —letter — James outside — scarcity of food — the buffalo 
 robes— knitting ..... -231—243. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Visit from friends, privileges — journal — letters — petition — the privilege 
 — the letters — departure— Judge B.'s hospitality — reflections 
 
 213-250. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Cruel death — a man pardoned, why — amalgamation — the false tongue — 
 the inspector's first examination — convspondence with the chaplain 
 — letter from a Missouri brother — change of wardens again — new 
 overseer — lamps -the load of sin — new responsibilities and duties — 
 trials — a trying time — the New Year— letter — a great break — the 
 broken arm — letter to Mrs. Beardsley — cutting hair and head stiav- 
 ing — Dr. Ely — Governor Reynolds murdered — class organized and 
 broken up - - - .. - 250—275. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Some interesting cases — poetry, "release of a prisoner" — intercession 
 for Alanson — executive responsibility — James and the lawyer — 
 James and Alanson outside — letters from them — conversation with 
 
CONTENTS. Xt 
 
 a Legislator, reflections — female prisoners — a prohibition — new or- 
 der — " my cup runneth over " — searching cells— narrow escapes 
 
 275—292. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 rjfth death bed scene — -reflections now^-letter to parents — the beaten 
 horse — the slave and liberty^— the Holy Spirit — the slave and his 
 crime — equality of slaveholders' laws — our reformer — the little cloud 
 —'men made worse-^the fourth of July — letter to a brother — condi- 
 tion of discipieship — letters from James — my dreams — the incendi- 
 ary letter— my deposition- — letter—benefit of affliction — inspectors' 
 second examination - - - - 292 — 308. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 False names— a note of thanks — tasks — the sick, reflections — recommit- 
 tents — extract from Jam.es' letter— from George's — the Christian 
 slave — a break, cruelty — like seeks like — the unjust law — new chap- 
 lain— deatns — talk with legislators — monthly concerts — fighting — 
 our stove — George an assistant to the chaplain — ho!yday, prayer 
 meeting 308-324. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Sixth death bed scene — letter to the widow — New Year — effort for Alan- 
 son's release — talk with Legislators — Alanson pardoned, poetryi 
 weaK mmas, the pardon— letter from Alanson — the lying Missourian 
 a man murdered — a funeral sermun — the colporteur — the great cross 
 — the temperance lecturer— prayer with prisoners— did he love liber- 
 ty ? — Sabbath working— a slave's theology • - 324 — 336. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 The chaplain driven away— the converted sailor — treatment of sick — 
 slaveholders converted — seventh death bed scene— the Universalist's 
 death bed — bibles— temperance pledge, tobacco, &c. — holyday, and 
 prayer meeting— Capt. Gorden's humanity! — extract of a letter — 
 "abolition niggers" — the unfortunate family— inspector's third ex- 
 amination — "not this man, but Barrabas" — Pope G. — Fussing 
 guard — address to Gov. E., poetry — More pardoned— a case of cru- 
 elty — nothing against me — visit from friends, rich blessings— slave- 
 holder's Christianity — ducking — new preacher — new prisoner 
 
 336—355. 
 
«U CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 Another interesting case— James fainted — a day of fasting and prayer- 
 Catholics — petition for us — Chase and Judge B. — letter to Gov. E. 
 — secretary of state talked with us— James pardoned — poetry — new 
 cell mate — the slave's request — hogs out— conversation with String- 
 fellow — converts — fugitive missionar}' — the Lord defended me— last 
 communion — Miss Dix — Capt G.'s sabbath breaking— conversation 
 with a sick convert — poetry, Torrey's death - - 355 — 370. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 The aged father's visit to his son in prison — conversation about my 
 private sentiments — why not do so again — my release — conversation 
 with the Governor — time of imprisonment — farewell reflections — 
 concluding address to the reader - - - 370 — 377. 
 
PKISON LIFE AND REFLECTIONS. 
 
 PART FIRST. 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 MOTIVES, ARREST, IMPRISONMENT, ETC. 
 
 The subjects of this narrative are Alanson Work, 
 James E. Burr, and George Thompson. The former 
 was a man about forty years old — having a wife and four 
 children — he was living at the Mission Institute, for the 
 sake of educating his children, and training them up 
 for usefulness. The other two persons were young men 
 studying for the ministry. 
 
 The Mission Institute being situated near the Missis- 
 sippi River, and just across the River from a Slave State 
 (Missouri), we could, as it were, hear the crack of the 
 overseer's whip — the shrieks and groans of those who 
 were suffering its cruel inflictions. Their earnest cries 
 for help — their sighs for deliverance — their importunate 
 entreaties, as they rehearsed to us their tales of woe, 
 reached our ears, and our hearts melted with pity, while 
 the resolution was formed to respond to their call ; and 
 if need be, risk our own liberty and lives to effect their 
 rescue. 
 
 Inasmuch as we desired mercy from the " God of 
 heaven," should we at any time, be brought into trouble, 
 wc did not dare to shut our eyes, nor our ears, nor our 
 hearts, nor to restrain our hands from delivering them 
 out of their troubles — remembering, " Whoso stoppeth 
 his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, 
 and shall not he heard.^' We knew if we were in their 
 
14 A TOUR OF MERCY. 
 
 condition, we should feel very thankful to any one who 
 would render us the desired assistance ; and then calling 
 to mind the gospel rule, " As ye would that men should 
 do to you, do ye even so unto them," we felt impelled 
 to lend a helping hand. Likewise the command to love 
 our neighbor as ourselves, impressed upon us the same 
 obligation — so that we made up our minds, with earnest 
 prayer for divine guidance, and anxious consultation, in 
 view of these and many other principles and commands, 
 to make the attempt — to " rid them out of the hand of the 
 oppressor." 
 
 About the first of July, 1841, James, wnth another 
 brother, made a tour of mercy into Missouri, which re- 
 sulted in an agreement with two slaves, to meet them at 
 a certain point on the river, on a certain evening, to 
 assist them across the river, on their way to freedom. 
 On the day appointed, we went, arriving at the place 
 about the middle of thf* afternoon. Alanson and James 
 went into the country to view and reconnoitre, while I 
 remained in the skiff to fish, and await their return. 
 While thus alone ray prayer was, " O Lord, I beseech 
 thee, send us good speed this day." And we now feel 
 that the prayer was abundantly answered — though in a 
 very different way from what we expected. We desired 
 the liberation of the slaves. God knew how to bring it 
 about, better than we did. We longed to be instrumen- 
 tal in doing something for our brethren in bonds. God 
 granted us our hearts' desire. And a happy day for the 
 slaves of Missouri was it, when we were taken captive, 
 bound, and incarcerated in their midst. This was plac- 
 ing the light just were it was most needed — in the dense 
 darkness — and where it made visible the abominations 
 that prevailed. Blessed be God ! After dark, a number 
 of slaves came to Alanson and James, in the prairie, and 
 pretended they were going with them. They had pro- 
 ceeded but a short distance, when on a suilden, the slave- 
 holders arose out of the grass, with their rifles, and took 
 them prisoners — placing the muzzle of their guns to their 
 breasts, and threatening, " I will shoot him any how," — 
 but the mercy of the Lord prevailed. They were bound, 
 
DISCOVERY AND ARREST. 15 
 
 and taken to a house, where they were kept, while the 
 blood-hounds came in hot pursuit of me. I was in the 
 skiff. At first three or four slaves came, and approach- 
 ing the bank very cautiously, one asked, " Are you a 
 friendV I replied, " I am." I had talked with them 
 but a short time, when suddenly I heard another kind 
 of a salutation, " Come out of that, or I'll blow you 
 through !" I looked up, and two guns were pointed at 
 me from the bank. I was obedient to my new com- 
 manders — dropped my fishing pole, and marched up to 
 them, in secret ejaculations committing myself to God, 
 to do with me as He saw best. Though the thing was 
 so perfectly unlooked for, and unthought of, the Lord 
 stood by me, saying, ^'■fear not, I am with thee" — and 
 my mind was calm — my soul composed — and my faith 
 unwavering, that all was right and for the best. Of what 
 was before me, I could form no conception, but felt that 
 infinite wisdom and goodness would lead me. Sudden 
 death seemed quite probable, amid their numerous threats 
 to shoot me; "but none of these things moved me, 
 neither counted I my life dear unto myself, so that I 
 might finish my course with joy" in the holy cause of 
 suffering humanity. To die for the slave I felt willing, 
 if this was the thing needed — the Lord being Judge. 
 
 I was bound, and marched barefoot, over hubs, roots, 
 and stones. Host after host came with all speed to meet 
 us, and " the earth rang again" with their fiendish yells. 
 It seemed almost as if the infernal reg-ions had been un- 
 capped, and had vomited forth their legions to hail our 
 approach, as if some long dreaded monster had been 
 captured. But oh ! how sweet it was to feel that they 
 could not go beyond what my Father should kindly and 
 wisely permit. This kept me in peace. 
 
 After they had eaten supper, they marched us some 
 miles through the woods to another house. They made 
 the slaves lead us by a rope, and sing "corn songs."* 
 It seemed as if the very forests themselves were moved 
 at the bursts of such unearthly sounds — and if there 
 
 ♦ See page 18, f . r explanation. 
 
16 LED AWAY BY ROPES. 
 
 were any wild beasts in the region, they must have fled 
 for their lives, to their caverns, or dens, or more distant 
 forests. When we came to the house, we were marched 
 round it time and again ; and when we halted in front 
 of the piazza, the old grand-father and mother, and chil- 
 dren — old and young, male and female, came out in 
 their night dresses to gaze upon the wonderful monsters. 
 The old grandfather, tottering just on the verge of the 
 grave, gave a little vent to his boiling soul, in the ex- 
 clamation — " Ah ! you gallows-looking devils !" After 
 their curiosity was somewhat gratified, we laid us down 
 up(jn a feather bed, on the floor — all tied together — and 
 slept sweetly till morning. We awoke refreshed and 
 stnmgthened to endure the reproaches and sufferings 
 which were before us, with patience, fortitude, and I 
 Iru.^t submission. That morning a man came in to see 
 us, who asked many questions, and made threats of 
 shooting us on the spot. He was a professor of religion 
 — seemed very much excited, and had hard struggles to 
 keep from drawing his pistols on us, but " the good hand 
 of our God upon us," saved us from his burning fury. 
 
 At the breakfi^st table, we asked a blessing on our 
 food, while the landlady and others stood by. She 
 seemed almost horror struck, that such wretches as we 
 should pray ! — for she looked upon us as monsters of 
 iniquity. The poor woman seemed to have some idea 
 of the numerical strength of the Abolitionists — for said 
 she, " They are as thick down there in the bottoms, as 
 maggots in a dead horse, watching for slaves." And so 
 terrified was she at the thought, that she had not been 
 able to sleep soundly for two weeks ! Poor woman ! 
 Who can help pitying one who is obliged to live in 
 such constant fear? 
 
 After breakfast, a crowd gathered round, who ques- 
 tioned us in many things, and gave vent to their raging 
 bosoms, in sneers and rej)roaches. We were then tied 
 together, and led by the slaves (to mortify us) five miles, 
 to Palmyra. The city was moved at our approach, many 
 saying, " Who are these?" " Well, you've made a fine 
 haul," &.C. In the court house, we had a mock trial 
 
THRUST INTO PRISON. 17 
 
 before a magistrate and were "thrust into prison," to 
 await the sitting of the court, two and a half months 
 from that time. After they had left us, we knelt down, 
 and committed ourselves to God, imploring his guidance 
 and protection, feeling that He had wise purposes to ac- 
 complish by this unintelligible dispensation. 
 
 The following from Alanson to a brother in Quincy, 
 will give further particulars. 
 
 LETTER. 
 
 Dear Brother : — I am a prisoner in a land, where to 
 tell a man, made in the image of his Maker, that he has 
 a right io freedom, is a crime of the deepest dye. James 
 and I walked four or five miles back into the country. 
 The first human being that we saw, was a woman and 
 her son hoeing tobacco. James spoke to her, and I 
 walked on. He found that she wanted to be free, and 
 agreed to help her. We next came to a house ; James 
 went in, and learned from a slave (the whites being 
 absent), that the slaves he had seen before, w^ere in the 
 field alone. We went to them, it being now sunset. 
 We asked them if they were going — they told us they 
 were, and that one, living a mile from them, where they 
 had some clothes to get, was going with them, and that 
 they would come three hours after dark. We were seen 
 by white men while with the slaves. After dark, we 
 came and waited, anxiously listening fpr the signal. 
 After some time we heard a distant whistle, and by an- 
 swering repeatedly, soon came to five slaves — three or 
 four miles from the river, on a bottom prairie. After 
 salutations and professions, we started in a foot path for 
 the river, rejoicing in the prospect of helping the op- 
 pressed to liberty and happiness — when, suddenly three 
 men -irose from the high grass. The slaves having be- 
 trayed us, now seized us, bound our hands, and marched 
 us back in triumph to the first house. A company then 
 started, and after two hours, returned with Brother 
 George, — the slaves singing and shouting — making a 
 song for the occasion. We were soon put on the march 
 
18 
 
 LETTER TO MRS. WORK. 
 
 for the residence of one of the party, two or three miles 
 distant — each of us being led by a slave — others follow- 
 ing, weaving the past and present circumstances, with 
 our future prospects, into a song, which they made to 
 echo through the woods, to the great satisfaction of their 
 masters and friends, who were on horseback. When 
 we arrived at the house, we were marched around, and 
 stared at as little less than Infernals. The language 
 used, I will not attempt to describe. The next morning 
 we were tied together, and taken on foot to Palmyra — 
 being led by slaves, and escorted by fifteen horsemen. 
 We were taken to the court house, a warrant issued 
 against us — witnesses examined, and we committed, tor 
 stealing slaves (/) We were not permitted to speak for 
 ourselves, but were taken to Jail, and the doors closed 
 upon us. Under these trying circumstances we looked 
 up to Him, who came to preach " deliverance to the 
 captives, and the opening of prison doors to them that 
 are bound," and found the promise of God precious to 
 our souls. 
 
 Soon after dark, the Sheriff, Jailer, and others came 
 in, and made us fast to a chain fifteen or sixteen feet 
 long. One end of the chain was made fast to the wall. 
 Near the other end, an iron was put through a link and 
 riveted around my ankle. Brother Burr was placed 
 about two feet from me, and George about two feet 
 farther. 
 
 To his wife, Alanson wrote : 
 " Mv Dear Wife : — I write from Palmyra Jail. The 
 wall is about four feet thick, made of two thicknesses 
 of hewed logs with one foot of stone between them, and 
 the outside brick. We feel that God is here. Send to 
 us if you can. We have asked for a Bible, a Hymn 
 Book, and paper. They reply, ' yes,' but do not. 
 (Nearly a week elapsed, before we could get a Bible 
 from any of them — at length an impenitent Lawyer 
 brought us his.) Our enemies rejoice over us. Pray 
 that we may be Christ-like. Be not troubled : the Lord 
 will provide, and protect. Myself and companions sit 
 
EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS. 19 
 
 on the floor. We have three or four (very poor) blankets 
 for a bed. Our food is corn bread and bacon, which we 
 eat with our fingers ; but we have meat to eat which 
 they know not of — ' a contented mind is a continual 
 feast.' I am not anxious about myself, but feel that 
 ' tribulation will work patience.' I feel that if you 
 will trust in God, He will make ' all things work to- 
 gether for your good' — and this affliction prove a bless- 
 ing to you, and give an impulse to the cause of truth 
 and mercy. We know not our destiny, but fear the 
 worst, and trust we shall be prepared for it." 
 
 On the same piece of paper I wrote : " Dear Brother 
 Hunter, if we could see you and Mr. Warren, we should 
 like it. It is evident they are determined to send us to 
 Jefferson, Two men were sworn who testified falsely. 
 Can you come ? We rejoice in our chains. May the 
 Lord direct." 
 
 On the same I wrote to the church of which we were 
 members. 
 
 " Brethren and Sisters, you may think we repent the 
 step we have taken. JYot at all. We feel that we are 
 in chains for Jesus^ sake. The 2d, 3d, and 4th chap- 
 ters of 1 Peter are very precious to us, as also the whole 
 'Letter of our Father.' We feel that good will result 
 from our being here — that our Master knows best what 
 kind of a school we need. We can now sympathize 
 with the slave as never before. We know how the chain 
 feels. But our trials are light, compared with his. 
 Pray for us. Our only hope is in God. Pray in faith — 
 God will hear. 
 
 " Yours in bonds, 
 
 '■ George." 
 
 About the same time (July 15), I wrote to M. C, '' I 
 am now separated from you very unexpected!'^ — but 
 however the case may turn, I know the ' Judge of all 
 the earth will do right' — and that ' all things shall 
 work together for good to them who love God.' You 
 may think that I am unhappy. By no means. I am 
 happy in my Savior." 
 
20 CONFIDENCE IN GOD. 
 
 July 19. I wrote to the same : — " It seems very 
 strange for me to date a letter to you from Prison. Yet 
 so it is. Did you ever imagine such a thing? I had 
 thought of trials and persecutions when we should be 
 far among the heathen, and had imagined the thing 
 possible, that I might be cast into prison in Illinois, ' for 
 conscience toward God,' but such a circumstance as this 
 1 now realize, I had not thought much about. Yet be 
 assured, I am happy in my Savior. I have an unshaken 
 confidence that this shall turn out for my good, for 
 yours, and for the good of Christ's cause. With this 
 confidence can I be troubled or uneasy? 'Be careful 
 for nothing ; but in everything, by prayer and supplica- 
 tion with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known 
 unto God, and the peace of God, which passeth all un- 
 derstanding, shall keep your hearts and minds, through 
 Christ Jesus.' — Phil. iv. 6, 7. This is very sweet. 
 My Bible is more than ever precious. Pray for my 
 mother, that this may be sanctified to her present and 
 eternal good. Try and make the same profitable im- 
 provement of it yourself. Don't be over-anxious. Roll 
 the care upon Jesus, and there let us leave it. Exercise 
 an unwavering confidence in his providence. Our 
 kind Father has wise reasons for putting me here ; and 
 ' what thou knowestnot now thou shalt know hereafter.' 
 We should be willing to be in just that school that He 
 sees we need. I hope I am willing. Pray that I may 
 learn thoroughly and faithfully the lesson He intends I 
 shall learn. When I have learned my lesson well, then 
 I know He will take me out. And should I desire to 
 leave school before I get my lesson? Oh no. I do de- 
 sire that discipline and instruction which will best qua- 
 lify me for the greatest usefulness. 
 
 " Yours, in chains and gospel bonds, 
 
 " George." 
 
JOURNAL — GREAT PEACE. 21 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM ALANSON's JOURNAL. 
 
 July 14-17. Visited often by the sheriff and many 
 others, but still without the means of communicating 
 with our friends. Had many anxious thoughts about my 
 family, from whom I can hear nothing. 
 
 18. Sunday. Our prison was the " house of God and 
 the gate of heaven" to our souls. In the forenoon 
 George talked to our companions (two colored and one 
 white man) about the prodigal son. In the afternoon he 
 spoke on the Judgment day. Jesus was with us, and 
 fed us with the bread of heaven. To me it was the most 
 precious Sabbath I have enjoyed for many months. 
 
 19r Feel willing to go to the penitentiary or wherever 
 the Lord wills. This afternoon Esq. Warren and 
 Brother Hunter came in to see us. (The first we had 
 seen or heard of any of our friends since leaving home.) 
 We were happy before, but our happiness was increased 
 on seeing them, and learning the sympathy in our behalf. 
 
 The goodness of God and the kindness of friends 
 broke my heart. We received books and paper. (We 
 had received from the jailer in the forenoon one sheet of 
 paper for us all, on which I was writing a joint letter to 
 the Church, which was, at the time, published exten- 
 sively — but now I have it not. This letter the jailer 
 gave to Brother H., without showing it to the sheriff; 
 but its being published, and the consequent excitement 
 being so great, we could not, after that, get any more 
 letters to or from our friends through the sheriff.) After 
 consultation they went out to see what could be done for 
 us. In +he evening we attended prayers as usual. As 
 we closed, C. I. (the free black), of his own accord, 
 broke out in prayer. 
 
 20. Have been here a week to-day. Brother H. and 
 
22 JOURNAL MONTHLY CONCERT. 
 
 Esq, W. came in, consulted about employing other 
 counsel, and, much to our comfort, brought us a table 
 and chairs. Had with them a precious season of 
 prayer. 
 
 21. No visitors to-day. The horse-thief is an un- 
 pleasant companion. The truth does not reach his 
 heart. I find the night season the most precious to my 
 soul. When all are still, I have sweet communion with 
 Him who heareth the sighing of the prisoner. 
 
 22. Found great satisfaction in reading the lives of 
 Bunyan and other men, who suffered for well-doing. 
 
 23. Feel the want of exercise and pure air. The 
 horse-thief held a conversation with a stranger outside, 
 the most abominable and profane, which makes it very 
 unpleasant. O ! "gather not my soul with sinners, nor 
 my life with bloody men." 
 
 25. Sahhath. Brother George described heaven and 
 hell, and pressed on our impenitent companions the 
 question, whether they would leave their sins and go to 
 heaven, or have them and go to hell. 
 
 26. The Lord hears prayer; blessed be his name. 
 My chain feels light this morning. ! let me not trust 
 in man. Last evening being monthly concert for the 
 oppressed, we remembered those in bonds, as hound icith 
 them. After lying down to rest, and while thinking of 
 those bound in more galling chains than ours, we over- 
 heard a conversation, by which we learned that six 
 slaves had crossed the Mississippi, the night before, and 
 that some persons were preparing to go to the river to 
 intercept other fugitives. Gladly will I wear this chain 
 till it galls my ankle to the bone, if thereby the slave 
 may go free. (We all felt so and rejoiced.) 
 
 27. We are not disturbed with company. Spend 
 our time in reading, writing, meditation, and prayer. 
 
 28. Health good. Peace of conscience and the pre- 
 sence of my Savior. Our prison is a pleasant place, 
 although we are surrounded by that which is filthy and 
 abominable. 
 
 31. Have seen none of our friends to-day, as we ex- 
 pected. Our companions now stand talking with some 
 
JOURNAL ELECTION DAY. 23 
 
 children in the street. The conversation is the most 
 filthy imaginable. Slavery seems to have corrupted the 
 very buds of society. It would be pleasant to be alone. 
 This evening we prayed that if we could do John (the 
 horse-thief) no good, we might be rid of his company. 
 Just after, the jailer came in and said that the sheriff 
 w-as going to take him away in the morning. 
 
 Aug. 1. Sabbath. When the officers came in for 
 John, numbers came in to gape upon us. They staid 
 some time, and we were obliged to hear their revilings, 
 oaths, and filthy conversation. When they were gone, 
 we hoped to have a still, pleasant, and profitable Sab- 
 bath. We were disappointed. The room overhead was 
 occupied, most of the day, by a vile woman, and two 
 more than vile would-be gentleinen ; yet the Lord was 
 our " sun and shield." George spoke on Ps. Ixxxiv. 
 The tabernacle of God appears more lovely, because we 
 cannot enter therein. In the afternoon he spoke from 
 Is. i. 3. Showed the great goodness of God in reason- 
 ing with men, and our guilt in not knowing and consi- 
 dering. Surely the Lord has placed us here that we may 
 consider. 
 
 2. Election day. Numbers came to the window. 
 The colored men conversed with them through the grates, 
 which was very unpleasant. I sometimes imagine we 
 are confined on the brink of the pit and hear the sounds 
 that come therefrom. O ! how lovely do holiness and 
 heavenly purity appear, when contrasted with the abo- 
 minable,. unholy, and filthy scenes that surround us. 
 
 3. Felt strengthened by the promise that " as my 
 day is so my strength shall be." 
 
 5. Had the privilege of seeing my wife and Edwin 
 Lovejoy.* There were numbers at the door, by whom 
 we learned the hatred and excitement against us. 
 Though we are in the lion's mouth we find honey in the 
 carcase. " Who shall harm us if we be followers of 
 that which is good ?" 
 
 7. Have not been well for the three past days. 
 
 8. Sabbath. In the afternoon there was a company 
 
 ♦ A little son about four years old. 
 
24 TREATED WORSE THAN MURDERERS. 
 
 playing cards over our heads, who mocked at and reviled 
 the worship of God. " Father, forgive them." 
 
 9. An unpleasant day : felt gloomy ; but in the even- 
 ing the love of God filled ray heart. The guard take 
 delight in making a noise. They thump and dance over 
 our heads, mocking and deriding our worship. We 
 pity, and pray for them — " they know not what they 
 do." Saw Mr. Craig, from Quincy, at the jailer's door. 
 He went from there to the sheriff's but was not per- 
 mitted to see us. I feel that this is the very school I 
 need ; and though I sometimes tremble at the danger 
 that surrounds me, yet the promises of God give me 
 strength and peace. 
 
 10. Last night, a Mr. Berry was confined here on 
 the alleged crime of murder, committed in Kentucky, 
 last November. 
 
 11. Mr. Berry obtained bail and left us. He is a 
 slave-holder. I tried to make him acquainted with the 
 principles of abolitionists, the rights of man, and the 
 claims of God. He could not gainsay the truth. 
 
 " Let this fact be well considered. A man committed 
 for the crime of Tnurder, is allowed the privilege of bail 
 within twenty-four hours of his confinement. And 
 while he was in jail, his friends had free access to him ! 
 besides, he was not considered sufficiently guilty to de- 
 serve a chain ! — while our three brethren, whose offence 
 consisted in offering aid to a few wretched slaves in 
 attempting to escape from their degrading vassalage, 
 were treated with all manner of insult and scorn — made 
 fast to the prison wall with a very heavy chain riveted 
 about the ankle — guarded by an armed force during the 
 whole time of their confinement there — kept on the 
 coarsest fare — denied the privilege of seeing or corre- 
 sponding with their friends (except Mrs. Work and 
 children), — and not allowed the privilege of seeing 
 ministers of the gospel from Illinois, who called for the 
 purpose — neither allowed to have bail ! ! The offer was, 
 indeed, made to accept of $6,000, advanced in (-ash, as 
 bail for them; but we were assured that no individual 
 or any number of individuals out of the state, would be 
 
LOOKING AT DEATH. 25 
 
 accepted in such a case. And to find any in Missouri, 
 that would become thus responsible, Avas out of the 
 question." — Quincy Committee. 
 
 12. I feel that the sheriff is cruel in keeping the 
 letters of my wife and children from me,- as some of 
 them contain nothing but family affairs : but I will not 
 murmur. 
 
 13. My body fails from confinement. 
 
 14. Find peace and strength in prayer — feel my 
 " inward man renewed." Then let this body fail and 
 die — •' this corruption shall put on incorruption, and this 
 mortal immortality." 
 
 15. Sabbath. George spoke on the subject of faith, 
 from the circumstance of Elisha and his servant seeing 
 the mountain full of chariots and horses of fire. Surely 
 *' they that be with us are more than they that be with 
 them." 
 
 17. Saw^ Brothers Van Doorne and Record, at the 
 jailor's. As they were starting for home (Quincy), we 
 hailed them. They stopped in the middle of the street 
 • — said they were not permitted to speak with us — that 
 our friends were well and thought much of us. They 
 brought us fruit and sundry comforts. 
 
 The patrols stand in the different streets at night ; 
 each armed with pistols, a club and cow hide. If a 
 white man passes he is hailed ; if a negro, his " pass" 
 is demanded. If he has none, no excuse will answer; 
 his shirt must come off and the cow-hide be applied to 
 his back ! 
 
 20. Have been unwell. Looked at death. It does 
 not appear dreadful, though I am so great a sinner. I 
 love the Savior, his law and service : and though I feel 
 he would [)repare me a mansion on high, I would be 
 glad to live to train up my children, and to help the 
 slave ; but " thy will, Lord, be done," for which pre- 
 pare me and my family. 
 
 23. Last night, heard the guard say — " Since the 
 
 d — d rascals have been here, more niggers have run 
 
 away than ever before." They mentioned several, for 
 
 whom $50 and $100 reward was offered. It makes our 
 
 2 
 
26 IN PRISON WHY 1 
 
 chain light to think that those of others are broken. 
 We believe that our beino- here will spread the know- 
 ledge that there is a road to LiBtRTV. Yes, yes, bless 
 the Lord ! 
 
 S. S. Glover, at our request, came in to see us, and 
 spoke respectfully to us. This is the first Missourian, 
 the blacks excepted, that has done so. 
 
 The foregoing is all of Alanson's journal that I have 
 been able to obtain. It will show of what spirit he was, 
 and how he bore his imprisonment. He continued his 
 journal till the day of trial, breathing the same spirit. 
 Nothing could be found in it but pity towards the op- 
 pressor and oppressed. 
 
 CHAPTER in. 
 
 POETRY, JOURNAL, ETC. 
 
 Among other letters, I received one from a sister, asking 
 me the question, why I was in prison'? — which I answered 
 in the foUowinor manner : — 
 
 I. 
 
 " In prison ! ah ! why is this, my brother dear ' 
 I was amazed and shocked, such news to hear. 
 What hast thou done ? — thy Savior disobeyed 1 
 That thou art thus in chains and prison iaidi" 
 
 II. 
 Hark, sister, while to thee the cause I tell, . 
 Why I w 's bound, nnd why now in this cell — 
 Why witnesses who're false are 'gamst me sworn. 
 And cruel men with rage and malice burn. 
 
 III. 
 
 A man by thieves was met upon his way — 
 Robbed, bruised, and weltering in his gore he lay — 
 And sad indeed the slate this man was in ; 
 No one to help or take him to an inn. 
 
 IV. 
 A Le\nte passing where the sufferer lay, 
 Stopped not to pity — hastened on his waj'. 
 A priest along the same way chanced to go, 
 He looked, but left the sufferer to his wo. 
 
IN PRISON — WHY 5 
 
 V. 
 
 At length one came, who on him Inokea anifelt, 
 Poured oil and wine, as by his side he knell : 
 On his own beast lie placed the man, relieved ; 
 Conveyed him to an inn, nor pay received. 
 
 VI. 
 " Go, do thou likewise," saith my glorious Kine^, 
 " Relieve the poor, and out of troub.e bring — 
 Where'er thou find him, lend a helping hand, 
 And aid him on his way to freedom's land." 
 
 VII. 
 In deep distress a poor man thus I found, 
 And offered freely to do up his wound ; 
 The priest and Levite scorned and passed him by — 
 The neighbors heeded not his mournful cry. 
 
 vni. 
 
 Knocked down, and robbed of all, he long had lain, 
 By cruel men oppressed and almost slain. 
 With torturing stripes his back was deeply gashed, 
 Which oft, through spite and malice, had been lashed. 
 
 IX. 
 Thus groaning, weltering, and despised by man, 
 1 heard him loudly call, •' Help, if you can ; 
 To be delivered from this state I long, 
 And placed w^here 1 may sing sweet freedom's song." 
 
 X. 
 1 listened while he told his tale of grief, 
 And longed to find some way for his relief, 
 My heart with tender sympathy was moved, 
 And my poor neighbor, as myself I loved. 
 
 XI. 
 I tried to comfort him, and poured in oil — 
 I told him of Victoria's happy soil — 
 " I'd like to go," said he, " but here I'm bound, 
 How can I reach that distant, happy ground ?" 
 
 XII. 
 " I'll gladly help you neighbor on your way — 
 We'll carry you by night, and hide by day." 
 "O! ihis is good ! 'tis good ! 'lis good P' he cried, 
 " ril go with you, and with you safely ride." 
 
 XIII. 
 
 While thus engaged a dreadful voice 1 heard 
 Which threatened ^ea</i, if from the place I stirred ! 
 Amazed was I — my hands were quickl}' tied. 
 While hardened rubbers stood on either side ! ! 
 
 XIV. 
 Followed by fiendish spirits, black and white. 
 With hellish rage they vented out their spite — 
 While hundreds jound us rushed, to gaze and rail, 
 They thrust, and locked me fast within this Jail ! 
 
 ^ 
 
28 OF ONE HEART AND MIND. 
 
 XV. 
 
 Such, Si<ter, is ihe cause why I am here — 
 Such, why my voice you ca.i no longer hear. 
 Did I in this do wrong 1 or sin commit, 
 Because I wished this man to benefit ? 
 
 XVI. 
 
 My blessed Savior did I disobey. 
 
 When from this man, I crossed not o'er the way"? 
 
 Because I tried the sutfrer to relieve. 
 
 Did 1, by doing iJiis, the Spirit grieve 1 
 
 XVll. 
 Ah, no — the Dove is still within my breast, 
 And 'midst the raging tempest gives me rest. 
 The Savior smiles, and all within is peace. — 
 The storm and tumult. He will cause to cease. 
 
 XVIIF. 
 " Fear not," He says to me — " keep courage good ; 
 I will be with thee through the fire and flood ; 
 You -hall not want — I'li be to you a Friend, 
 And all that's needful, I will surely send 1" 
 
 XIX. 
 
 Blest Savior, in thy word I will confide. 
 And 'neaih the shadow of thy wing abide. 
 Now let the tempests howl, and hell engage; 
 Secure and safe am I from all their rage. 
 
 XX. 
 Come life or death — come sorrow, care, or pain — 
 In him I'll trust, and glory in his name. 
 " All things shall work together for the best;" 
 And soon I'll with my glorious Jesus rest. 
 Palmyra Jail, 1 84 1 . 
 
 Some extracts from my journal will give further par- 
 ticulars, and show my feelings at that time better than I 
 can now express. 
 
 My journal, for the first month and a half is lost — as 
 also all of James's — but the extracts given from Alan- 
 son's may be considered as expressing the feelings of 
 each of us. We had but one mind in attempting to aid 
 the slave, and after we were bound among strangers, 
 and in an enemy's land, we felt but one interest. We 
 all rejoiced in our sufferings — each sympathized with the 
 other, our hearts beat in sweet unison, and all were 
 willing to go to the Penitentiary, or die^ if need be, for 
 the deliverance of the oppressed. At home or abroad, 
 in prison or at liberty, living or dying, we felt but one 
 
god's law null and void. 29 
 
 desire, and were aiming at hv^ pne object — the good of 
 our fellow-men. and the glory of God. 
 
 We had been in jail but a day or two, when one of 
 the Guard came to the grates one night, and wished us 
 to sing for them a song they heard us sing once ; it was 
 
 " Awake my soul, in joyful lays, 
 And sing the great Redeemer's praise," &c. 
 
 It was nno to them. And we were reminded of the 
 Jews in Babylon, whose enemies, said, " Sing us one of 
 the songs of Zion." But blessed be God, that we were 
 not obliged to " hang our harps upon the willows," — 
 that we couldy with joyful hearts, " sing the Lord's 
 song," " though in a strange land." 
 
 July 18. Sabbath. In the morning a crowd came in 
 to gaze upon, taunt, and try us. In my chains, with 
 Testament in hand, I stood before them and preached, 
 plainly and boldly, deliverance to the oppressed — hold- 
 ing before them the Savior in bo7idage, bought and sold, 
 whipped and abused, in the person of his " little ones," 
 — the slaves — making appeals to their consciences, &c. 
 One of them, their chief speaker (who will hereafter 
 speak for himself), tried to form some pleas for slavery, 
 but they were dams of quicksand. 
 
 When we spoke of our trust in God, they sneered at 
 the idea of such rascals trusting in Him. When we 
 appealed to his law, for our rule — they said, " You better 
 just let that alone, if you know what is good for you. 
 God's law is not the standard here in Missouri. We 
 have laws of our own. You better study them !" When 
 we told them, " the eyes of the Lord are upon them that 
 fear Him, and his ears are open to their cry," they 
 replied, " Wliat had God to do in the matter? What 
 does He care for you ? You better trust in the laws of 
 Missouri," &c. 
 
 I am glad they are so honest as to own, what we have 
 believed, and are now more firmly convinced of, that the 
 law of God, in slave states, is null and void — a dead 
 letter. Slavery tramples the Bible in the mire, nor heeds 
 in the least its wr.rnino; voice ! 
 
30 MERCIES FRIENDS A RABBLE. 
 
 When Brethren Hunter .and Warren came over to see 
 us the first time, they brought us such books as they 
 thought would be suited to our condition — such as the 
 Book of Martyrs, Village Hymns, Greek Testament, 
 Pilgrim's Progress, some Memoirs, Henry and Scott's 
 Commentaries, Christian Lyre, Manhattan Collection, 
 &c., &c. So that we had plenty of reading and music. 
 Considerable of our time was spent in tuning our hearts 
 and voices in praise. At morning, noon, and night, we 
 thus poured out our souls before the Lord. 
 
 Our singing, and happy contentment in our prison- 
 house, much annoyed the consciences of the inhabitants 
 of Palmyra. They said, " They are the strangest pris- 
 oners we ever had here : " " We never saw such men 
 before : " " Hark, the rebels are singing," &c. But 
 none of these things moved us. Though at times the 
 guard would order us to stop our singing, try to mock or 
 frighten us, as " servants of the most high God," we 
 felt that we were hound to praise his name in every place. 
 
 July 24. A load came from Mission Institute. 
 Brethren Griswold, Kirkland, and Seymour, Mrs. Sey- 
 mour, and M. C, also xMrs. Work. None but Mrs. W. 
 were allowed to look at us. We could see them walk 
 the street, but could not. speak a word to them. This 
 was trying, but the Lord is good and kind in it all. 
 They brought us many little comforts, which we were 
 allowed to have, —straw bed, bedding, &c. After a 
 long time, Mrs. W. was allowed to come in, with the 
 sheriff, jailer, and others. She fell prostrate at her hus- 
 band's feet, and wept excessively, for some time. At 
 length, becoming more composed, she talked and prayed 
 with us. She begged the sheriff to take off the chain 
 — but no. She asked that they would keep her^ and let 
 her husband go home, — no, no ! The scene was affect- 
 ing. We tried to comfort her, directing her to " trust 
 in the Lord," and all would be well. Lord, be with 
 and support her. 
 
 While they were here, a rabble gathered round, and 
 acted like heathen. Poor, deluded, miserable men ! 
 O, Jesus, sanctify this event to us and to them. — My 
 
A RABBLE — VISITED BY FRIENDS. 31 
 
 faith is tried. My heart is sick, at seeing the depravity 
 of man. Had I now no Savior, what could I dol No 
 promises, where could I gol These disappointments 
 are for my good. O, that I may have no will of my own. 
 Brother G. demanded admittance to us, as our counsel, 
 but was denied. 
 
 26. Last night there was a rabble around the jail 
 nearly all night, carousing, and thirsting for our blood. 
 Night gatherings around the jail are frequent. 
 
 27. Last night great excitement about twelve run- 
 away slaves. Some went in pursuit of them. May the 
 Lord direct and protect the "■ outcasts." 
 
 28. O, the degradation of man ! How sweet is the 
 word of God ! Bright and very excellent does religion 
 appear, when I witness the conduct of those who profess 
 it not. May we ever exhibit the true spirit of Jesus. 
 
 I should write more if I could get paper. My jour- 
 nal I write on old scraps, and keep it in my watch 
 pocket. " It is all for the best." 
 
 31. Time passes very pleasantly. 
 
 Aug. 1. This morning a company came, gazed, 
 talked, mocked, sneered. " This," said one, " is a 
 Gospel ship.'' Honorable appellation ! Ps. Ixxxi. 
 and Ixxxiv. have afforded great comfort to us. Ps. xci. 
 has been a rich feast. What ! Angels keepers ? Yes. 
 0, precious — delectable — sweet! Of this fountain the 
 ungodly cannot drink. 
 
 5. Mr. Warren, and Mrs. Work, and Aunt Terrel 
 called 10 see us. Mrs. W^ was admitted. Aunt T. 
 stoo 1 at the door, wept, and begged to see us, but could 
 not. This is strange. Their hearts are made of steel 
 — surely they cannot be flesh. Esq. W. demanded ad- 
 mittance as our counsel, but was denied ! They came 
 near mobbing him. Poor deluded creatures, they act 
 more like fiends than men ! 
 
 6. To M — . " 1 am glad you can trust me and 
 yourself in God's hands. I am happy in lying there. 
 His promises are as a rock^ and strong consolation to 
 my soul. I can see no reason for feeling uneasy or be- 
 ing troubled. I know my Father will do just right. 
 
32 LETTER TO A FRIEND. 
 
 We shall one day see it, and thank him for this provi- 
 dence ; then let us rejoice now." 
 
 8. The excitement runs high. We arc a \vonder to 
 them. God will " cause the wrath of" man to praise 
 him." Glory to Jesus ! I find tlie Bonk of Martyrs 
 very interesting and profitable. I am in a palace com- 
 pared with the condition of the ancient Christians. 
 Compared with them I do r.ot suffer at all. 
 
 Sweet Sabbath ! 
 
 9. Hapjiy to-day. Time passes pleasantly. Said 
 Latimer to Ridley, as they were bound to the stake, 
 " We shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace, 
 in England, as I trust, shall never be put out." God 
 grant a candle may be lighted in this prison, that 
 shall not cease to burn, till slavery shall come to an end. 
 Although we are so small, insignificant, and unworthy, 
 yet I have no doubt God will kindle a fire, that will burn 
 and spread, not only through this region and state, but 
 through the United States, and that will hasten the de- 
 liverance of the oppressed and the conversion of the 
 world. O ! how unworthy am I to be the brand that 
 shall be burned to cause this light ! 
 
 Dear Lord, " do with me as seemeth thee good." 
 Let this body be tortured and killed, only spread thy 
 truth and glorify thy blessed name. But leave me not 
 to my own strength. Stand by me: support, and com- 
 fort me. We are unworthy to lie here. We do not 
 deserve the honor ; but my God can use feeble means, 
 and kindle the flame. Glory to his name ! 
 
 LETTER TO A FRIKXD. 
 
 Palmyra Prison, August 9, 1841. 
 
 " M. 1 feel as if I wanted to express my feelings 
 
 to you, that you may know what is the state of my mind, 
 and how to pray for hie ; and I request, tliat before you 
 read any further, you will retire and pray, that your 
 mind and heart may be in a jiroper frame to receive and 
 profit by what I am about to say. Lest you may feel that 
 I am disturbed in my mind, you may be assured that it 
 
FEELINGS OF THE MOB. 33 
 
 is fixed on God. He is my stay. I feel a sweet peace 
 within, and an assurance that He will do just right. 
 
 " To-day I have heard more of the feelings of the 
 people here, than I have since I came. It is amazing 
 what passions can dwell in the human heart. 
 
 " Brethren Brown and Turner came here about noon, 
 and we talked with them through the grates. A crowd 
 immediately gathered round, with savage wildness and 
 hellish madness depicted in their countenances. They 
 looked upon Brethren B. and T. with a fiendish, blood- 
 thirsty eye, as ihey talked to us through the grates. 
 When Brother B. asked, " Are you so filled with grief 
 that yon cannot eat your bread ?" and I promptly an- 
 swered, " No, we are happy ;" they wfere cut to the 
 heart, and could scarcely refrain from gnashing on B. 
 and T. with their teeth. Brother B. remarked, " We 
 are all praying for you, and sympathize with you, and 
 believe God will overrule it for great good ;" which stir- 
 red their rage very much. Brother T. asked James, 
 how he felt about a " certain subject^^^ which they had 
 often talked over. James replied, " The same as usual." 
 Fuel was only added to the flame. 
 
 " As soon as the brethren left us to get their wagon, 
 they then gave vent to their spite and enmity, still 
 standing under the window, where we could hear. They 
 were running-over full. One man made a flaming 
 speech about our feeling so happy, when we had com- 
 mitted such an awfui. crime ! — believed we lied — said 
 we must have hard consciences, &c. Others, " They 
 are sure to go to Jefferson." Others, " If they are not 
 sentenced for twenty years, they will be hung here. The 
 people will not be satisfied with anything less." Oth- 
 ers, twenty-five years. Others thought the people 
 would be contented with a sentence of twenty years. 
 Others, " It will need 100 men to take them to Jeffer- 
 son," &c. 
 
 " When Brethren B. and T. came back, and left the 
 things, they again began to gather, but they drove off 
 before all came. One cried out, " You need not come 
 2* 
 
34 GOD WILL DO WHAT IS BEST. 
 
 with that blacking, for they have gone." They then 
 talked of pursuing them. But I think they did not. 
 
 " Such is a sketch of what I have seen and heard 
 to-day. It drove me to ray Bible to search for promises, 
 and with them to the mercy seat. For a few moments 
 my mind was a little agitated, but reflection, prayer, 
 and the promises, calmed the tumult of my thoughts, 
 aud brought sweet peace and consolation. I was ena- 
 bled to roll my burden upon the Lord, and feel that He 
 would sustain me, and grant me all needed grace. 
 
 '• I feel that we are in the hands of God, and that He 
 will do w^ith us just as shall be for our best good, the 
 good of the slave and the world. I don't know 
 out we may be called to suffer (we have not yet suf- 
 fered any), and perhaps to die for the slave, and for the 
 truth of our Lord. I know that our Father can preserve 
 and deliver us ; and will, if that will most glorify his 
 name (and I don't wish him to do it unless his cause 
 willbemoreadvancedby mylifethanbymydeath). Many 
 holy men and women have been long imprisoned, and 
 killed in many ways, for the name of Jesus, who, to hu- 
 man appearance, were much needed in the church, and 
 who promised fair to do much good ; but God saw that 
 their sufferings and death would do more for his glory 
 than their lives, and suffered wicked men to vent their 
 fury upon them. He could have preserved them. 
 Lovejoy's death probably did more good than he could 
 have done by his life. I have expected that there must 
 be more sacrifices upon the altar of slavery, before it 
 would come to an end, and if God sees fit to select one, 
 so unworthy of the honor as myself, to suffer or die in 
 this cause, I say. Amen, 
 
 " George." 
 
 James, writing to Brother Turner respecting the same 
 adds, " One said, ' It was a violation of the laws of God 
 and man, as sure as there is a God' — that is our act. 
 Another, ' I have concluded to hang them.' Another, 
 ' I have determined to have them whij)pcd,' and with 
 many similar imprecations did they curse us. When 
 
JOURNAL, FAITH A SLAVK. 35 
 
 they heard what Brother B. said, they were cut to the 
 heart ; and when they saw you were gone, they were 
 ready to gnash on us with their teeth. But as the natu- 
 ral heart is opposed to God, of course it is to all good. 
 Nothing enrages them so much as to hear of our peace 
 and comfort. But our hope is in God. Ps. vii., xviii., 
 xxii., and xlvi. Isaiah xYi. 10 — 19. God's word, dear 
 brother, appears more and more precious every day. 
 
 " When we were first taken into the jail, the jailer 
 said to us, ' This is your house.' " We then dedicated 
 it to God, for the time we should occupy it. 
 
 " We have good times on the Sabbath. I feel that 
 God is giving us severe lessons to learn, but blessed be 
 his name, it is good to be taught of Him." 
 
 Aug. 14. The king of Syria was an enemy to Israel, 
 and to God's people. He sent an army to take Elisha. 
 When Elisha's servant arose in the morning, he saw the 
 city surrounded, and was filled with fear. Forgetting 
 Elisha's God, he cried, "Alas, m.y master, how shall 
 we do ?" He saw no way of escape. He had no faith, 
 and consequently could not see. But what w^as the re- 
 ply of one who had faith in God '? " Fear not, for they 
 that be with us are more than they that be with them." 
 This was like a Christian. With the enemy were horses, 
 and chariots, and a host ; but with Elisha, the Almighty 
 God, the angels, and the hosts of heaven. Why then 
 should he fear? What could man do unto him 7 O 
 Lord, increase my faith. 
 
 Mr. Creathe, a Campbellite preacher in Lewis Co., 
 Mo., is here preaching. Albert says he has a slave, 
 through whose ear he has cut a hole, where he takes 
 hold when he whi})S him !! — says he has seen the hole 
 him-self. How far is slavery behind the Inquisition'? 
 
 In conversation with our jailer, he remarked, " It is 
 no place here for a poor man ; he can't get along." No ; 
 slavery crushes him. 
 
 16. A few nights since, a woman of vile character 
 spent most of the night with the guard overhead. The 
 next day I wrote a letter to the sherilF, informing him 
 
36 A VILE WOMAN. 
 
 that it was very unpleasant living so near a brothel, and 
 requested its removal. He gave the letter to tiie guard. 
 We overheard them read it, and say, '^ Now this thing 
 is known and she must leave the place," &c. Last 
 night, Esq. Wilson, captain of the guard, came in with 
 others, and showed out som ■ of his spite about it. He 
 had his iron rod in his hand and seemed much aoritated 
 and enraged against me. "■ Well, is that brothel re- 
 moved yet?" said he. He evidently came to give us 
 a severe flogging, but dare not here in the jail. He is 
 much troubled. 
 
 Mr. Bess, the jailer, says they sent her away from 
 town soon after. So it seems the letter was not in vain. 
 
 PATROLLERS. 
 
 David foresaw and described them more than two thou- 
 sand years ago, in Ps. lix. 6, 7, and they now answer 
 the description. In the Sth verse he pronouncetl their 
 sentence. They are very despicable characters. 
 
 The slaves here on the Sabbalh, dress like gentlemen, 
 They get their clothes by extra work, done on the Sab- 
 bath and in the night, and yet " they can't take care of 
 themselves !" Shame on those who hide under this 
 leaf. 
 
 17. The Lord is my comfort. Is. li. 12, 13. Dost 
 thou, dear Lord, ask "• who I am?'' I am but dust — a 
 feeble worm — yet leave me not to fear my fellow worms, 
 who are also weak antl shall die ; nor to " Ibrget thee," 
 the Lord my Maker, though " the fury of the oppressor" 
 is great, and he seems " ready to destroy." 
 
 The Christian should not live in slavery, but walk at 
 liberty. 
 
 BLASPHEMY. 
 
 Last night, one ot the guard, talking about our first 
 letter that was published, said, '' It is blasphemy and 
 sacrilege for thieves to write such a letter !'' 
 
 This letter was an affectionate outpouring of our souls 
 
THE CHURCH IN SLAVE STATES. 37 
 
 to those whom we dearly loved in the Lord, and with 
 whom we had long " taken sweet counsel ;" expressive 
 of our happiness, contentm<:nt, submission, faith — ask- 
 ing their prayers, urging them to duty, &c. 
 
 Reader ; you see how enlightened the inhabitants of 
 slave states are, and what clear views of sin and virtue, 
 reverence and blasphemy, they have ! ! if you have 
 any pity in your heart, let it move for such pitiable ob- 
 jects. 
 
 " Mr. Moore, the rumseller, is nearly as great a nui- 
 sance as John was. Charles and Albert seem worse 
 than ever, and to be hardening fast. Dear Savior, pre- 
 serve our souls safe from their polluting influence. 
 Teach us how to speak and act before them. 
 
 Aug. 20. Our circumstances are such as try our souls, 
 and make us feel the preciousness of religious society. 
 There is so much obscene talk-— so many foolish songs 
 — and so much trifling nonsense, that, much of the time, 
 we can read with but little satisfaction ; and it is often 
 difficult to fix our minds so as to pray with an undivided 
 heart. For two nights past I have had precious seasons, 
 in the silent watches, when all was still, and nothing to 
 disturb. With the poet I can say, 
 
 " 'Tis sweet conversing on my bed, 
 With my own heart and Thee." 
 
 Why should I feel anxious about my friends'? Does 
 not my kind Father sit on the throne? Am I not in his 
 his hands'? Will He not do right? Does he not 
 know what I need, better than myself? Then for me 
 to murmur, is great folly and aggravated unbelief. He 
 has always done me good ; and frequently I have had 
 occasion to thank Him for providences, which at the 
 time looked dark, and I could not understand, and I will 
 trust Him noiv. 
 
 THE CHURCH IN SLAVE STATES. 
 
 Aug. 21. In slave states, especially, Zion is almost 
 dead — but little signs of life left. 
 
38 MORE FUGITIVES. 
 
 Slavery eats out the very vitals. It causes and nour- 
 ishes pride, laziness, hauo;htiness, cruelty, oppression, de- 
 ceit, fraud, theft, lying. Sabbath-breaking, drunkenness, 
 adultery, fornication, and all uncleanness, murder, and 
 everything that is hateful and abominable in tlie sight of 
 God ! It disregards all his laws — tramples them under 
 foot — sunders, and as it were, annihilates, the principles 
 of the Gos})el ; and how can a church, with such a 
 monster in its bosom, grow in the grace of God 1 Until 
 slavery dies, there can await the slaveholding church 
 naught but leanness and death. Already is error and 
 delusion sweeping through the land like a mighty flood. 
 O Lord, how long ? How wonderful, u'07i do-fu I, ihsii 
 God has borne so long ! Surely he hath showed us what 
 is good — " to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk hum- 
 bly with God." Hut where is this to be found in the 
 slave states'? Certainly not in Missouri — not in Palmyra. 
 
 22. How delightful the Sabbath morning ! How my 
 soul would leap for joy to meet with the saints 
 in the sanctuary ? But this is denied me ! Is the 
 Savior ashamed of our habitation, or our chains'? Glory 
 to God! — 710 f He will come even here and bless us, 
 though man may curse and reproach, and many who 
 profess to love Him, be ashamed to be seen communing 
 with us. 
 
 Have taken comfort in reading my father's letter. 
 This morning Alanson talked to us from Isaiah Iv. 6 ; 
 very {rood : I did not know that he could preach so well. 
 In the afternoon, I talked from Micah vi. 2, 3, 8. Card 
 j)laying overhead, anil much noise. 
 
 23. Morning. The leaven is working — the flame is 
 rising — the fire is spreading! May the Lord fan the 
 fiame. Last week we learned, by overhearing the guard, 
 that the people here are much troubled on account of 
 their slaves. Since v.e have been here, light has gone 
 abroad, and some sparks have found their way into the 
 minds of the slaves, who are beginning to walk in the 
 light thereof foicards (he river. Saitl Esq. Wilson, 
 " Since these d — d rascals have been put here, the slaves 
 
MORE FUGITIVES. 39 
 
 are golnoj off faster and faster ; [good, good — go it my 
 good fellows! ] and there are multitudes of other rascals, 
 just like them, on the other side, ready to help the run- 
 aways along." Yes, yes, Mr. W., and they are multiply- 
 ing " faster and faster," too. May the Lord protect and 
 carry them through. Shall we murmur that we are cast 
 here? Are we not willing to suffer for the slaves, and 
 thereby for our master ? If the leaven begins to work so 
 soon, shall we not rejoice 1 Yea, Lord, carry on thine 
 own work, in thine own way. 
 
 If the Palmyrians think to wreak their spite on all 
 the " rascals" who are like us, on the other side, they 
 will have a long work before them. Let them rage, and 
 foam, and vent out hell's fume — let them imprison, 
 revile, and menace, but let them know also, that the 
 more they stir up fire-brands, the brighter and fiercer 
 will they burn — the more they attempt to extinguish the 
 flame, the hotter will it flash in their faces — the more 
 rapidly spread and consume their two-legged property ! 
 liet them go on then. They are but spreading snares 
 for their own feet — preparing shame to cover their own 
 faces — using means to defeat their own purposes, and 
 pull down what they wish to build up. Work away — 
 work hard ! 
 
 Before breakfast, Mr. Glover came in. He appeared 
 the most friendly and gentlemanly of any one that has 
 been here (our friends excepted), since we came. He 
 spoke like a friend — said the sheriff's conduct was alto- 
 gether unjustifiable — he had no right so to do — that 
 prisoners, may, by law, have paper, &c. The sheriff 
 came in a moment, but could not look us in the face, nor 
 did we have time to speak with him at all. I expect he 
 has what Bunyan calls the gripes. 
 
 Evening. I know not how to express my feelings, 
 nor in what words to frame my thanks to God, for what 
 I have seen, heard, and felt to-day. My heart is full to 
 overflowing. Bless the Lord for his goodness. My 
 soul exults in Him who orders all things aright, and for 
 his own glory. His kind hand is very plain, his direct- 
 ing providence quite manifest. 
 
40 MORE FUGITIVES. 
 
 The journal description is so lengthy, I cannot copy. 
 A load of our friends came to see us (nine in number), 
 bringing us many comforts, fruit, cakes, pies, bread, 
 clothes, letters, &c. None but Mrs. W. and her child- 
 ren, were, allowed to come in, and they were strictly 
 forbidden to say anything to the father, or he to his 
 family, except in a manner that all could hear ! This 
 was truly astonishing, and shows the heart-hardening 
 and conscience-searing effects of slavery. They 
 seemed perfectly steeled, and past feeling. 
 
 With the other friends we conversed through the 
 grates, with great satisfaction, passing letters to and from 
 each other, while we shook hands through the iron bars. 
 In this way the most of our writings had to be sent out. 
 The brethren and sisters seemed very cheerful and hap- 
 py. Said one (now my wife), " I come not to weep, but 
 to rejoice with you." And we did rejoice to see them 
 so submissive under the affliction. It seemed to do our 
 friends much good, thus to have an opportunity to see 
 and speak with us, though iron grates intervened. 
 
 Among other letters, I received one from my brother 
 in Ohio, written to Brother Hunter. He said, " Tell 
 George I am not ' ashamed of his chain,' nor to call him 
 a brother^ in any sense of the word." It was reviving. 
 Two of our letters were rolled in a cloth, and baked in 
 the centre of a loaf of cake, so that when we opened 
 the cake, our letters were safe and legible. Such cakes 
 we valued very highly. They were rich food — very 
 nourishing. The Lord can find ways enough to give his 
 children all tlrat is good. 
 
 Our beloved teacher, Brother Beardsley, informed us 
 that the committee in Quincy, had concluded to employ 
 Esq. Warren, of Quincy, and Wright, of Palmyra. As 
 they did not feel justifieil in employing another counsel, 
 and as Wright was unwilling to undertake without the 
 assistance of S. T. Glover, we engaged him — Alanson 
 giving his note for two hundred and iifty dollars. The 
 fee of the other two was four hundred dollars, paid, 
 principally, by friends. 
 
THE SLEEPING PREACHER — 'JOURNAL, ETC, 41 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE SLEEPING PREACHER, JOURNAL, ETC. 
 
 August 24. Last night Charles dreamed aloud again. 
 (He, in his dreams, talked it all aloud.) VVe lay and 
 heard him for two or three hours. He preached us a 
 good sermon — adapted to the occasion, and fitted to our 
 circumstances. We were much benefitted thereby, and 
 strengthened in our faith ; encouraged to trust in God 
 implicitly, being assured if we have Him on our side, 
 vain are all the efforts of w'icked men and devils arrayed 
 against us. He was emphatically a sleeping preacher^ 
 and a very eloquent one too. Though he is an ignorant, 
 wicked boy, even Demosthenes could not produce finer 
 strains of eloquence — nor Bunyan more sublime and 
 striking metaphors — nor divines more pure theology. It 
 was beyond anything I ever heard ; and I trust we shall 
 remember and profit by that sermon as long as we live. 
 The next morning I wrote down all the principal 
 ideas, as far as I could call them to mind, and give a few 
 of them below for the curiosity of the reader, and I 
 hope profit too. 
 
 THE DREAM. 
 
 He first seemed to be in a by-way, where he ought not 
 to be, with his mother, his child and another of his 
 companions by the name of George. While there, he 
 espied a huge monster with great horns, and an iron 
 grapple in his hand, coming towards them. They were 
 much terrified ; and he felt that the devil had come for 
 him and his child. He seized the child, threw it to his 
 mother, auvl said to the monster — " Let my child alone, 
 and take me." The mother and child escaped, while he 
 disputed with the devil, who seized him ; but he very 
 
42 THE DREAM. 
 
 narrowly made his escape, and, they all got home. After 
 Ihey had talked about what had passed, he consulted 
 with George about going with an army to take all the 
 slaves in the country and free them. He would make 
 peace with slave-holders on one condition only — that 
 they should give up every slave. Said he, " Til have 
 every one, even to a span long." He was very uncom- 
 promising with them. 
 
 %Vhile thus employed in talking, his wife (who was 
 dead), appeared to him, and gave him a letter, in which 
 she exhorted him to repent and meet her in heaven, or 
 he must go to hell — told him that the child must die and 
 be with its mother, &c., which gave him much trouble 
 and distress. He thought of his promises to his wife on 
 her dying bed, and how he had broken them. He talked 
 with his mother, who urged him to repent and prepare 
 to meet his wife. She spoke of his wife's urging him 
 to be a Christian. Now and then he would get out of 
 patience and exclaim, " Mother, do go away and let me 
 alone ; you are all the time at me about this subject — do 
 let me alone." At length he confessed his neglect and 
 his sin — said he was sorry — and after much entreaty and 
 persuasion, promised he would do better and serve God 
 the rest of his life, and trust in Him. He then seemed 
 very happy — had great courage and faith in God — was 
 not afraid of the devil and all his hosts — felt he could 
 put them all to flight, and none of them could hurt him 
 so long as he kept his faith in the Almighty God. '' I 
 have cast aside the devil's garments and implements," 
 said he, " with which I could do nothing, and have put 
 on God's garments, in whicli nothing can hurt me." 
 
 He then began to talk with George, his companion, 
 who was very fearful and faint hearted : — " You must 
 not be so. You have the devil's garment on, and you 
 must cast it all aside before you can do anything or be 
 happy ; and you must put on God's garments ; then you 
 will not fear.'' George tried to put the garment on over 
 the devil's. " No ; you can't do that. You must take 
 the Old garment clean otf. It wont go on over. It just 
 fits, and you ciin't get it on over anything." George 
 
THE DREAM. 43 
 
 tried, but could not get the old garment off. " Try- 
 again, pull hard, tear it off and throw it in the devil's 
 face. I had to try hard many times, and kept it on a 
 long time, but bless God, I've got it off and got on a 
 new one which the devil can't look at." George finally 
 got it off and the devil took it away. He put on God's 
 garment, and was happy and courageous. " Now when 
 the devil meets you, look him right in the eye and he 
 can't hurt you, but if you look down you are gone for 
 ever. Don't be afraid ; look up ; look him plumb in the 
 eye, and he'll flee. 
 
 " With our enemies is only the devil, but with us the 
 Almighty God, who is stronger than all. He has given 
 me a commission to go and fight, and He will be with 
 me, for He has said so (and that is enough), He canH lie. 
 I shall conquer. They can't overcome. God will help 
 me, and bring me safely home to heaven. 
 
 " George, you must give up all the devil's armor, keep 
 none ; take entirely new ; take God's. There is a trap- 
 door in the heart, and you must turn the heart bottom 
 upwards, and empty out all the filth and bad stuff, and 
 have it filled with good, with God and his Spirit. Do it 
 now. 
 
 " You must not attempt to go round the commandments; 
 you must go straight and keep them. If you go round 
 them the first you know you will be right plumb in the 
 middle of hell. 
 
 " Keep your coat on. So long as you keep it on and 
 your bright weapons in your hand, the devil can't look 
 at you. You can walk right over him." 
 
 He was sometimes very oratorical. It exceeded any- 
 thinpr I ever heard. It was wonderful ; for when awake 
 he is an exceedingly wicked and profane man. He must 
 have been talking in this way for two or three hours ; so 
 that I have given a mere skeleton of the scene. Could 
 the whole dream be written out, just as he spoke it, it 
 would make an uncommonly interesting, amusing, and 
 instructive liitle volume. 
 
 At other times in his dreams he would be commanding 
 an army, planning and calculating with great shrewdness 
 
44 TREATMENT OF SLAVES. 
 
 how to ontain the conquests, pursuing the enemy, 
 cutting bridges, charging with his cavalry on the sur- 
 prised foe, firing cannon, shouting — " They llee, they 
 flee, hurrah ! come on my brave fellows," — and then, 
 after a victorv, calling: his officers about him and address- 
 ing one and another, praising their bravery, encourag- 
 ing them and bestowing rewards upon them. 
 
 This " sleeping preacher," is a short, thick set, stout 
 mulatto — a Canadian — was engaged in their war skir- 
 mishes there a few years ago, where he probably 
 obtained his war spirit. And if he is as shrewd and 
 persevering and undaunted a warrior when awake as 
 when asleef) our generals would do well to seek him out 
 and promote him to some chief rank ^ for in his sleep he 
 seemed to understand war tactics perfectly. 
 
 His hatred of slavery was inveterate ; and from his 
 dreams it was evident that he thought much of lead- 
 ing an army into the South and liberating every slave in 
 the land. At times, in his dreams, he had collected a 
 force and was going from plantation to plantation pro- 
 claiming liberty to every one who would join, and thus 
 swelling his army till it was irresistible. 
 
 Aug. 25. " In reproaching us do they not reproach 
 the Savior?" {Mat. xxv. 40, 45) . " 'i'hey have blas- 
 phemed thy name, 0! Lord." " How long?" " Arise, 
 plead thine own cause. Remember how the foolish 
 man reproacheth thee daily." {Ps. Ixxiv. 22). 
 
 Surely " the dark places of the earth" (slaveholding 
 dominions), " are full of the habitations of cruelty." 
 It is a system of cruelty as much as the Inquisition. 
 
 Said Charles, " It is a common thing for slaves to 
 come upon the boats almost starved and plead and beg 
 for something to eat ; will ofTer their hats or theii- clothes 
 for something to satisfy the cravings of nature ; will 
 work Suntlays and nights to get money to buy some- 
 thing to eat !" He says they are often fed on cotton 
 seed ! 
 
 When I think of sejinrated wives and hus])nnds, pa- 
 rents and children, brothers and sisters ; the mangled, 
 
DR. Ely's slave. 45 
 
 bleeding backs ; the starvations ; the oppressions and 
 labors ; the murders, degradations, and ignorance ; the 
 innumerable evils and sutferings indescribable ; I can 
 but exclaim with the Psalmist — " Full of cruelty /" " 0, 
 Lord, pluck thy right hand out of thy bosom; let thy 
 arm be exalted and thy name honored in the destruction 
 of this evil." 
 
 To-day we talked with Ambrose — Dr. Ely's slave. 
 He has a family of nine children — is buying himself — 
 has to pay nine hundred dollars with interest ! — has it 
 nearly paid, besides having worked two years for the 
 Dr. of which no account was made. He was sold to go 
 down south, but ran away, and the Dr. bought him run- 
 ning in the woods. He is forty-one years old, black, 
 and very large. He told us that one of the slaves who 
 betrayed us had run away and there was fifty dollars re- 
 ward offered for him. "0, they won't run away, they 
 can't be hired to run away." Ah, ha ! Let them be sure 
 oi friends and see. 
 
 The blacks generally seem to sympathize with us ; 
 they are getting some ideas into their heads which are 
 new to them. 
 
 0, if our enemies knew what they were doing how they 
 would tremble at the consequences. They are fast un- 
 dermining themselves. 
 
 The thought that our being here will advance the 
 cause of liberty is delightful. Let them do what they 
 please with this body, if the chains of the poor slave 
 are broken thereby, I will gladly suffer all that their 
 spite and malice can invent. With the assurance that 
 it will be so, a States prison will be a sweet place. 
 
 BLOODY TOWNS. 
 
 Aug. 26. Hahk. ii. 11, 12.—'- Wo to him that 
 buildeth a town with blood, and establisheth a city by 
 iniquity." What meaneth this strange, this awful lan- 
 guage 1 How can a town be built with blood? How 
 established by iniquity? Go to ancient Babylon. It 
 
46 DR. Ely's slave. 
 
 was built and enriched by conquering other nations ; its 
 glory sustained by the blood of its enemies. It was es- 
 tablished by its iniquitous laws. Concerning it the 
 " woe'' was fulfilled. It has long since been adesolation. 
 
 But come to our own country. Behold our southern 
 cities. They are built and enriched, and sustained, by the 
 gains procured from the blood anrl sweat and tears of the 
 slave. They are built on slavery, and slavery is a sys- 
 tem of wholesale bloodshed — the blood flows continually. 
 
 They are also " established" by such " iniquity" as 
 the sun scarce ever looked upon ! Behold their laws, 
 by which they are governed and " established," and 
 Avell may we blush to think that we belong to the same 
 race. 
 
 O ! could their cruelty and oppression be fully known ! 
 But can they prosper? Is not the cup of New Orleans, 
 of Vicksburg, of Palmyra almost full 1 The " woe" 
 has gone out against them, and if it is not executed in 
 their overthrow it is fulfilled in their moral desolation, 
 and will be in their eternal destruction unless they re- 
 pent. Are the inhabitants so generally and entirely 
 sunken in iniquity, and so united together in their wick- 
 edness, that there are none to testify against them 1 Let 
 them not, therefore, think they are secure, for" the stone 
 out of the wall shall cry against them, and the beam out 
 of the timber shall answer it," (or " witness against it," 
 as the margin reads), and proclaim their abominations. 
 God will find witnesses enough to testify against them, 
 and unless they repent there is only loo ! wo ! ! WO ! ! ! 
 for them. 
 
 Last night Charles preached repentance again in his 
 sleep. He is much disturbed in mind, — Alanson talked 
 with him to-day. He said, " I have so much pressing 
 on my mind that I can't attend to religion." Getting 
 out and getting slaves to Canada occupies all his 
 thoughts. 
 
 My journalizinjj now is all done on old letters, and 
 my letters written on old cards, which I split — writing 
 on the inside with my pencil, and on the outside with 
 ink. " Necessity is the mother of invention." 
 
GAMBLING, AND OTHER IMMORALITIES. 47 
 
 The effects of slavery are seen very plainly in this 
 State. Horse-racing is a great game among them. Pri- 
 vate gambling is prohibited, while public and wholesale 
 gambling is licensed by statute ! Fighting, dueling, 
 lawing (or mobbing), murdering, and so on, abound. 
 Children are brought up to be haughty and insolent, and 
 the fine feelings of the soul are totally destroyed. 
 
 27. When I read of the unspeakable pains and tor- 
 tures so many Christians have endured from the servants 
 of Satan, I can hardly think of my condition. Happy, 
 happy am I. Thanks to God that I live in this day. 
 Yea, thanks to his name that I am here. 
 
 DEVICES OF THE ENEMY. 
 
 Doubtless our enemies felt they were waging an un- 
 holy warfare. For, so little confidence had they in the 
 justice of their cause, that they used every means they 
 could devise to call to their aid the united prejudices of 
 the community against us. 
 
 At first they branded us with the name of Mormons, 
 than which, Aholitionists excepted, there was not a more 
 odious name in Missouri. This was soon known to be 
 falsely applied. Then they called us Dr. Nelson's sa- 
 tellites — a name we were proud of — and he had been 
 driven from their midst and hunted like a wolf, fleeing, 
 in dead of night, for his life. In the papers they pub- 
 lished us as dyed-in-the-wool abolitionists. 
 
 Some were so zealous in the cause, they went about 
 reporting that the Church to which we belonged had 
 held several meetings, and passed resolutions to come 
 and take us out by force ; which caused great excite- 
 ment and tumult, preparations for resisting, &c. 
 
 And when the three men were hung in St. Louis, they 
 published a confession, said to be Brown's, in which he 
 confessed he had assisted eighty slaves to Canada in 
 one year — that he was employed by the abolitionists, 
 and received a large salary, &c. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Bullard came out and published that 
 Brown denied ever saying any such thing, but this was 
 
48 SOURCE OF CONSOLATION. 
 
 of no avail. They were eager to believe that it was so, 
 and I suppose they succeeded ; for it is exceedingly 
 easy and natural for the carnal heart to " believe a lie." 
 
 All these and other causes combining, produced a tre- 
 mendous excitem'ent all over the country against us. 
 Even the little boys drank in the S[)irit, and would come 
 to the jail and try to torment us, knocking on the door 
 and calling out, — " Ha ! there, nigger-stealers, you 
 think you will steal any more niggers, heh ?" — yea, and 
 even the loomen would revile us as they passed the jail ! 
 
 But by this excitement they only burdened themselves, 
 making it necessary, as they supposed, to keep a guard 
 of four men at the jail, every night, at an expense of 
 $1,50 a piece, $6,00 a night, for seventy nights — §420, 
 beside other expenses amounting in all to nearly $1000 
 — all to come out of the county. 
 
 Again, the more they increased and kept up the ex- 
 citement, the more light spread abroad, the more the 
 slaves inquired, heard, and learned ; and many times 
 more than we should have got away, had we succeeded, 
 bade farewell to Missouri and slavery in consequence of 
 their foolish zeal to excite public odium against us. 
 
 See how God "disappointed the crafty devices" of 
 the wicked, how He " takes them in their own crafti- 
 ness," and causes all their " wrath to praise Him," 
 while his children sing and rejoice. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 EXTRxVCTS OF LETTERS. 
 
 EXTRACT TO MOTHER BALLARD. 
 
 We do not feel to murmur or repine, because we 
 are here confined, and deprived of former privileges. 
 No. It is not for us to say what we will do — where we 
 will go, &c.,— all this we leave with our Father, to di- 
 
LETTER TO REV. MOSES HUNTER. 49 
 
 rect as will most glorify his name. He best knows 
 what kind of a training we need — and shall we say to 
 Him — This is not best 7 We cannot. We are happy 
 here — and how can we be unhappy so long as we have 
 such words, as Ps. xviii. 12; xxiii., xxvii. 1 — 3, 10 
 — 14 ; xxxii. 7, 8 ; xxxiv., xxxvii. 1 — 8 ; xlvi. 1 — 3 ; 
 Ixxi. 1 — 8; Ixxxiv. 11, 12 ; xci., cxxi., cxxv. 1, 2, Is. 
 xxvi. 3, 4; xliii. 1—3; xlix. 25; Matt. v. 10 — 12. 
 Rom. vii. 28, 35 — 39 ; and many others 1 These are 
 ^few of crur cordials — our tonics — our balsams — our life 
 preservers. Just read them carefully, and see if they 
 are not sufficient for every state. Although our chain is 
 a very large one, yet it feels very light. T sometimes 
 forget I have any chain on my leg. I hardly think of it. 
 Mother, come and pray with us in our palace. Come 
 and see how we keep house. We are highly favored. 
 We not only have a cook, but our victuals and drink are 
 even brought to us, so that we are not obliged to step a 
 foot out of the door. Yours truly, 
 
 George. 
 
 The following was written to Rev. Moses Hunter on 
 a margin, cut from a newspaper : 
 
 Palmyra Jail, Aug. 28, 1841. 
 
 Dear Brother H. 
 
 You see we have to rob the edges of newspapers 
 in order to get paper on which to write to you. I have 
 kept my journal on scraps of old letters, bits of news- 
 papers, &c., ever since I came here. The paper which 
 you left with the Sheriff, we cannot get. It has been 
 more than three weeks since we had an opportunity to 
 speak with him. But if his conscience can endure his 
 conduct, we can easily bear what he sees fit to lay upon 
 us. 1 think he will view his conduct in a very different 
 light, at the great day of solemn trial. It seems he is 
 determined to prevent us from obtaining justice. May 
 the Lord have mercy on him. 
 
 The jailer appears quite friendly. He is willing to do 
 all he dares for us. We are watched very closely. The 
 guard annoy us very much. Poor men ! I pity them. 
 3 ' 
 
50 AN enemy's acknowledgment. 
 
 Many of ihe colored men appear like real friends, and 
 take a deep interest in our case. Some of them will 
 get a few ideas, which I hope they will improve to ad- 
 vantage. They frequently converse with us through 
 the grates, and some of them appear like sensible men. 
 
 God will take the cause into his own hands. Let 
 this comfort our friends, though we go to the penitentia- 
 ry, or be assassinated. Our bodies, our earthly ease and 
 comfort, are nothing compared with God's cause. Let 
 God's will be done, and let ours yield joyfully to his. 
 
 I think it will be well to have a number of the sisters 
 here on the day of decision. If we are acquitted, their 
 presence will Jiave a tendency to restrain violence. The 
 Lord will reward you for all your trouble, and many 
 poor slaves will rise up and ' call you blessed.' 
 
 Yours, 
 
 George. 
 
 The following letter was written by P. C. L., of 
 Palmyra, who is said to belong to the Episcopal Church ; 
 (at any rate, he professed to be very pious when he 
 talked to us). It was written for the St. Louis Repub- 
 lican. 
 
 THE MISSOURIAn's LETTER. 
 
 Mr. a. B. Chambers : 
 
 Dear Sir, — From an editorial which I observed 
 in a late number of yours, in regard to the Abolition- 
 ists which have been lately apprehended in this county, 
 I perceive you have been led into an error in saying 
 they were Mormons. They are Presbyterians, and are 
 the satellites of the notorious Dr. David Nelson, for- 
 merly of this county. Two of them are students of his ; 
 the other is a man of family. You will remember that 
 this same reverend gentleman was driven away from 
 this county, some five or six years since, for disseminat- 
 ing Abolition doctrines. 
 
 When these men were first arrested, I was under the 
 impression that they were kidnappers, and that their 
 object was to get the negroes otT and sell them ; but I 
 
THE MISSOURIAN's LETTER. '' 51 
 
 am perfectly convinced that they are dyed-in-the-wool 
 Abolitionists ! ! They talk freely and openly on the 
 subject,* and say that the laws of God are superior to 
 the laws of man. 
 
 On Sunday I called on and conversed freely with 
 them. They are quite conversant, and one of them is 
 studying for the pulpit as I am informed. 
 
 They have prayer night and morning, and one gene- 
 rally gives a short discourse on the Bible. I never have, 
 in the whole course of my life, seen such deluded crea- 
 tures ! They say that they are fully resigned to their 
 fate — that God will protect and defend them — that in 
 doing what they -were about to do, they were endeavor- 
 ing to set free a portion of God's creatures, who were 
 in bondage contrary to his will. 
 
 Speaking of Dr. Nelson, he says. 
 
 But would you think he had the impudence to make 
 an appointment at Philadelphia, a small place near 
 Marion College, to preach, on last Sunday. News of 
 this fact was brought to town (Palmyra), in the early 
 part of the week, when two or three large companies 
 were formed in different parts of the county, to go and 
 take him out of the pulpit; but I am happy to say he 
 left the county on Saturday, for had he remained and 
 attempted to preach, He would have been hung as 
 HIGH AS Haman ! 
 
 A large company, however, went to the College to 
 make an examination, but as I said, he left the day 
 before. In justice to Marion College, allow me to say, 
 that it is in no way connected with these vile fiends. 
 
 We are opposed to mob law in Marion, but there is a 
 point beyond which lenity ceases to be a virtue. We 
 are detei'mined not to be harassed by this monster in 
 human shape. We do not want to se6 one of our old 
 and valued citizens stabbed, and nearly murdered as Dr. 
 Bosley was, a few years since, and that on Sunday, by 
 the same gang, and that too under the guise of religion. 
 Respectfully yours, P. C. L, 
 
 ♦ See Chapter III., July 18. 
 
52 WHO ARE ABOMINABLE IN SLAVE STATES 1 
 
 Can it be possible that the slaveholder's religion is 
 the same as ours? " I tell you nay" — as far from it as 
 light is from darkness. Who is the man that is most 
 abominated in a slave state ? Why, he who dares to 
 live by the Bible, and act out its holy principles. 
 " Well, do not slaveholders go by the Bible 7" No ; by 
 the Bible ! — no, no ! Themselves being judges, the 
 laws of their States are far superior to all the laws of 
 God. Who is called a " monster," " fiend," &c.? Why 
 he who " let the oppressed go free," and then called on 
 his neighbors to do the same ! He who would rebuke 
 their abominations — pointing out to them a better way. 
 Believe me, dear reader, for I speak that I do know, 
 there can not be a greater abomination to slaveholding 
 Christians than a Bible Christian. I have not merely 
 heard so — or conjectured it — or believe so — 1 have seen 
 it — I have felt it. 0, pray that the Spirit of God will 
 open their eyes. 
 
 THE DR. BOSLEY AFFRAY. 
 
 Dr. Bosley is said to have been " nearly murdered by 
 the same gang" — the Abolitionists. The circumstances, 
 if my memory serves me, are about as follows. Dr. 
 Nelson was preaching in Palmyra in 1835 or 1836. 
 While thus engaged, Dr. Bosley advanced to take him 
 from the pulpit. William JMuIdrow, a slaveholder, but 
 friendly to Dr. Nelson, attempted to hinder^ him, at 
 which Bosley drew his pistol on INIuldrow, and Muldrow 
 drew his dirk and stabbed Bosley. 
 
 EXTRACT FROM JAMES's LETTER. 
 
 One of our counsel told us it would be a violation 
 of the laws of Missouri, to read either the Declaration 
 of Independence or the Bible, to a slave ! How plainly 
 their laws are at war with God ! I have thought that 
 slaveholders will soon have to commence a law-suit 
 against Jehovah, to see whether his or their laws shall 
 stand. But the contest would be unequal — the Almighty 
 will overturn their system of iniquity. 
 
PEACE PATIENCE. 53 
 
 It may be a satisfaction to you to know our individual 
 feelings, in regard to the step that brought us here. I 
 do not repent it, nor have I any doubt respecting the 
 morality of the act. 
 
 • James. 
 
 EXTRACT FROM ALANSOn's LETTER. 
 
 I think I can see the hand of God in it. I now 
 know how to feel for those who are separated from their 
 families, and bought and sold like cattle — how to sym- 
 pathize with the slave in all his afflictions, better than I 
 ever did before. 
 
 I have often thought I would give my life and strength 
 to the cause of the slave. If He who is infinite in wis- 
 dom, sees that I can do more for the cause by being for 
 years separated from my family and those I love, shall I 
 murmur 1 JVo ; in humility I will rejoice, that I am 
 accounted worthy to suffer for well-doing. 
 
 Palmyra jail is not a gloomy place. I have had 
 many happy moments here, which I shall not soon 
 forget. 
 
 When I look at myself and the dangers that surround 
 me, I tremble — but when I look at the promises, I find 
 confidence and peace. Thus far 1 haA'e found ray 
 strength sufficient for my day, and in this promise I will 
 continue to trust. Though men have bound us with this 
 chain, and guards are prepared to take our lives, if we 
 attempt to escape, yet I feel that it is a kind hand that 
 holds us here ; and that when our great Redeemer shall 
 have accomplished His purposes of mercy. He will de- 
 liver us. Be not anxious for us, but pray. Through 
 the prayers of Christians I trust our imprisonment will 
 be for the glory of God, and the speedy release of many 
 in bonds. 
 
 We have the sympathies of the slaves, and who 
 knows but the " blessing of those ready to perish" may 
 come upon us 1 May I ever esteem it of more value 
 than the favor of the oppressor. 
 
 A. Work. 
 
54 SUMMARY OF FEELINGS. 
 
 TRIAL IN PROSPECT. 
 
 Palmyra Jail, September 4, 1841. 
 
 Not knowing what will be the issue of ray trial, I de- 
 sire to record a summary of my feelings, that it may be 
 known what they are, should I suddenly be killed or 
 thrust into States prison. 
 
 And 1st: I do not regret the step I took more than 
 seven weeks ago ; nor have I at any time been sorry for 
 it, although thousands condemn and call me a thief, 
 rascal, liar, and all that is vile and abominable — though 
 many who love the Lord, and feel for the slave, and are 
 my friends, disapprove of my course, yet I cannot see 
 wherein I acted contrary to my master's direction or the 
 spirit of the Gospel. My conscience approbates my 
 course. 
 
 That helping the poor is right, I have no doubt ; and 
 although the slaveholders may plead it is taking their 
 property, I feel, and am bold to affirm, that there is no 
 such thing as their having property in man. It is all a 
 sham. The slaves, by the law of God, own themselves, 
 and if we can relieve them in any proper way, we are 
 bound, by the laws of our king — by the bonds of huma- 
 nity — by the feelings of mercy — by the spirit of the 
 blessed gospel — to do it. The reproaches, insults, and 
 menaces that have been heaped upon me — the close 
 confinement, dragging the heavy chain, and being denied 
 the many privileges which even their own law allows, 
 have not in the least altered my principles concerning 
 the rights of the slave, but on the other hand, have much 
 strengthened them. 
 
 I have not felt sorry that I have had to lie here so 
 long. I have blessed the Lord, and will continue to 
 bless Him for placing me here. As long as I live, I ex- 
 pect to praise Him for it, and trust all my friends will 
 have occasion to do the same. 
 
 At the time I was taken I felt a little troubled for a 
 moment — so sudden was the transaction — but my mind 
 soon became composed ; I lifted up my heart to God, 
 committed myself to his care, and said " Father, glorify 
 
SUMMARY OF FEELINOS. 55 
 
 thy name." Then, as ever since, I felt assured that He 
 would overrule it for his own glory, that He had kind 
 and wise designs in permitting it, and that " all things 
 shall work together for good," to those that love Him. 
 I have all along desired that his name may be glorified 
 and the greatest good accomplished, and felt the assur- 
 ance that this would be the case. I felt, and still feel, 
 a peace within, a comfort, and a satisfaction, in leaving 
 all in his hands. 'Tis 
 
 " Sweet to lie passive in His hands, 
 And know no will but His." 
 
 There have been times, since I have been here, that 
 have tried my faith, and I have been almost ready to 
 despond ; but betaking myself lo the promises, and the 
 weapon, " all prayer," I have been strengthened and. 
 encouraged, and would look up and say, " My Lord and 
 my God." The days I have spent within these walls, 
 have been happy, memorable, and profitable days. 
 Time has passed sweetly and pleasantly away. The 
 glorious Redeemer smiles upon and communes with us. 
 He has spread before us the rich tables of his grace, and 
 on their loaded bounties we have feasted. I now feel a 
 confidence and joy in committing my whole cause into 
 his hands, that He may plead it, and order all things 
 according to his will, that knowing that it will be best 
 for me, for ray friends, and for the world. Can 1 not 
 rejoice? 
 
 It would be very pleasant to be restored to dear 
 friends, and with them again enjoy the privileges of the 
 sanctuary, of prayer and praise ; but if this is not my 
 Savior's will, I hope I may not be left to desire it, nor 
 feel dejected, though long deprived of it. 
 
 It has long been my prayer that God would do with 
 me just as He saw best. I have expressed a willing- 
 ness lo labor in any part of the vineyard where He shall 
 direct. If He has work for me in a States prison why 
 should I not be willing to perform it, and rejoice to run 
 at his command 1 I do, yes, and I will " rejoice in the 
 Lord and joy in the rock of my salvation." This I know, 
 
66 REJOICING IN GOD. 
 
 that wherever my Master sends me. He will be with me 
 to counsel, support, and grant all needed grace ; and no 
 good thing shall I want. He will be more to me than 
 father or mother, brother or sister — more than any or all 
 earthly friends. He will also be more to them than I 
 could possibly be myself. I joyfully commit them to 
 his will. 'I'he fury of my enemies will not be in vain. 
 Truth will be elicited — lisfht will tjo forth — interest will 
 be excited for the slave — and the great cause of liberty 
 advanced. If this be the case, then what are years of 
 toil and exclusion from the world and from Christian 
 society? I go cheerfully — I go gladly. Pray for 
 me daily — that I may " be strong in the Lord" — exhibit 
 his spirit in all circumstances, and be useful to others. 
 Yours in the gospel, 
 
 George Thompson. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 JOURNAL. 
 
 THE COMMAND. 
 
 August 28. " Remember them in bonds as bound with 
 them." — Heb. xiii. 3. 
 
 Those who have never been bound can better sympa- 
 thize with those who are, by imagining themselves in 
 the same condition. They will then /k/ for them. We 
 here can, in a small degree, " remember tliem in bonds 
 as bound with them,"y>o;?i experience. 
 
 1st. We know how the cXvAxn feels. 
 
 2nd. We know what it is to be at the will of another ; 
 to do as others say ; receive what they see fit to give ; 
 eat and drink what their will supplies, and await their 
 pleasure. 
 
 3rd. We understand what it is to be forciblyseparate d 
 
THE SEARCH. 57 
 
 from wife, children, parents, and friends, and denied the 
 sweetness of their society. 
 
 4th. To live in uncertainty — not knowing to-day what 
 they will do with us to-morrow. 
 
 5th. To be looked down upon with scorn, reproach, 
 and contempt, by men, women, and little children. 
 
 6th. What we now suffer is for trying to benefit the 
 poor, down-trodden slave. 
 
 0, that we may feel for them more than we should 
 have done had we not been placed here. I do. I be- 
 lieve I shall. 
 
 This evening a man was brought here from Waterloo 
 for fighting. Said he, " If it had not been for whisky I 
 should not have come here." His head was bound up, 
 having been cut in the affray. ! cruel avarice ! that 
 makes such deathful drink ! What multitudes are slain 
 by this monster ! ! the misery ! — beggared families — 
 broken-hearted wives, and desolate children ! 
 
 29. Just after breakfast a gang of seven came in, 
 some with clubs, one with a great book under his arm, 
 and amono; them the magistrate and constable. Amaze- 
 ment filled our minds. What was coming, we could not 
 conjecture — but soon, said one, " Where shall we be- 
 gin ?" And another, " We've come to see whether you 
 have anything with which you can get out !" Then they 
 searched every nook and corner — turning things upside 
 down — rummaging the beds, trunks, drawer, &c. They 
 have not had the least occasion to suspect any such 
 thing as our desiring to get away. 
 
 I expected they would search our papers — but as the 
 Lord would have it, they did not read one — though they 
 saw them in the drawer. 
 
 They seem to know no Sabbath, except for wicked 
 ness. In the morning we were much disturbed. Many 
 came to the window, with whom the others talked and 
 laughed till nearly noon. It was very distressins: to hear 
 such nonsense and folly on this blessed day — but here 
 we are confined, and all we can say seems of no avail. 
 We could neither read, nor think to profit. Dear Lord, 
 it is said of thee, " He preserveth the souls of his saints." 
 
58 CONFIDEKCE IN GOD. 
 
 ! look upon us surrounded by wickedness^ and save 
 us from its contaminating influence. At noon talked 
 from Is. Iv. 2. A very quiet afternoon — was much be- 
 nefited by the word. James preached from, " What 
 shall I then do with Jesus?" 
 
 Whatever may come, I feel to say with the prophet 
 Habakkuk, iii. 18 — " Yet will I rejoice in the Lord, and 
 joy in the God of my salvation." Ps. Ixix. 19 is a 
 comfort to me. The Lord knows all my wrongs, and 
 my adversaries are all before Him. He knows their 
 hearts, and just how to deal with them. 
 
 SLAVE WOMEN IN PALMYRA. 
 
 It is a common thing here for women to chop wood, 
 and frequently, have I seen them thus engaged on the 
 Sabbath. (I suppose their masters were in C/<?/rc/i.) A 
 great part of the water that is used in Palmyra, is car- 
 ried a considerable distance by slave women, on their 
 heads — and many of them carry their large washings to 
 and from the public spring in the same manner. (The 
 town is chiefly supplied by a fountain.) Thus slavery 
 not only robs, and oppresses, but turns even females into 
 beasts of drudgery and burden. 
 
 OUR REASONS FOR SUSPECTING THEM. 
 
 To-day, the slaves we would have helped, were here, 
 among many others, who came to see us. They looked 
 very much ashamed, and seemed to regret what they did, 
 since they have ascertained that we were friends, and 
 wished to do them good. But we have not the least 
 hard feeling towards them — would just as soon help them 
 to freedom as any others, though they may have volun- 
 tarily betrayed us, as some say. We have rather felt 
 inclined to think that it was whipped out of them, by 
 their masters — yet there are some things which strongly 
 favor the former. It is said that the one who was foremost 
 in the affair, belonged to a genuine kidnapper — if so, 
 he may have feared we were like his master, and conse- 
 quently betrayed us. And it is a well known fact, that 
 slaves in general are taught that abolitionists are their 
 
 1 
 
VISIT FROM OUR BETRAYERS. 59 
 
 worst enemies. It is not therefore to be wondered at, 
 that they should be suspicious of them, till this idea is 
 corrected — and this has been, and will be one good re- 
 sult of our imprisonment. The slaves will learn the 
 true character of abolitionists, and fly to them for help 
 from every quarter. 
 
 Another thing, that favors the idea that they betrayed 
 us. The slaves informed us, that they got together one 
 night — tied the one who was leader in the matter, to a 
 tree, and gave h\m Jifty lashes! so incensed were they 
 at him, for treating in such a manner, those who loved 
 them. 
 
 Again, one of the very slaves who assisted in taking us, 
 (and for it, received large pay from the people), as soon 
 as he learned our intentions, and that in Illinois were 
 friends to help him, left his kind and generous master, to 
 try and "take care of himself!" I trust he will suc- 
 ceed. 
 
 But whether they did or did not, voluntarily betray us, 
 it matters not to us. We are, by this event, settled for a 
 time in their midst, for wliich we bless the Lord. We 
 will continue to seek their best good. 
 
 ^iia;. 31. " Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust 
 also, in Him, and He shall bring it to pass." We are 
 at times much puzzled to know how to get our letters to 
 our friends, and often pray that the Lord will open ways 
 for us to communicate with those we love. To-day 
 Brethren William Vandoorne, and John Brown came 
 over, and contrary to all that has been before they were 
 allowed to come in with our two lawyers. Brother 
 Vandoorne seemed to understand our straits, and while 
 we were talking with the lawyers, &c., he with his hat 
 in his hand behind him, backed up before us, and be- 
 fore Charles (to whom we had given most of our papers), 
 and we cast in our offerings, unobserved by our enemies. 
 
 FRIENDS ENEMIES RAGE. 
 
 Sept. 1. Another load of friends came over — brethren 
 and sisters. Mrs. Work came in while the rest were in 
 the wagon under the grates of our window. We had 
 
60 A WAY OPENED. 
 
 but just passed our letters, shaken hands through the 
 double grates, and spoken a few words, when they were 
 ordered aw^ay from the window. Many gathered round 
 as if to devour them. Their wild stare, and unmanner- 
 ly conduct was such as might be looked for among a 
 company of savages. Our brethren and sisters in the 
 street, and we fast to our husfe chain, united in sino-ino; 
 some of the precious " Songs of Zion." When we be- 
 gan to sing, the people in greater numbers gathered round, 
 and many went away in a rage, cursing, and almost 
 gnashing their teeth ! O ! what a spirit is that, which 
 is so envious at the hapjiiness of others ! What a heart 
 does it show when a man is filled with rage, and fury, 
 by seeing those who are the objects of his spite, happy 
 in the Lord, and rejoicing under reproaches ! When I 
 see the fury of those who would devour me —the great 
 numbers of great men, of all classes who are uniting 
 against me — their resolutions and determinations, al- 
 most like that of the forty, who " bound themselves with 
 an oath, that they would neither eat nor drink till they 
 had killed Paul" — when I see all these things, and hear 
 their threats, and then remember that they are magnify- 
 ing themselves against God, it is very comforting to 
 know that He can put his " hook in their noses, and his 
 bridle in their lips," {[s. xxxvii. 29), and lead them 
 where — and as He will — and cause all their rage to 
 magnify his name. 
 
 SLAVE WHIPPED. 
 
 Sept. 4. Last night a slave passing the Jail, was or- 
 dered by Esq. Wilson to stop. " Where are you go- 
 ing ?" " My master sent me after the Doctor." " It is 
 a d— d lie !"' said Wilson—" Pull olf your shirt." " I 
 can't do that," said the slave, and took hold of Wilson. 
 The guards came to his help, and held the slave while 
 Wilson gave him twenty lashes ! " Now go home," 
 said he. " I shan't, I shall go after the Doctor," replied 
 the slave, and ran, Wilson pursuing him. 
 
 Shortly after Ambrose (Dr. Ely's slave), came along, 
 "Wliere are you going]" bawled out Wilson. "It's 
 
TRUST IN THE LORD. 61 
 
 none of your business," replied A , and as he was 
 
 very large they dared not attack him. Two others came 
 along with clubs in their hands, and Esq. Wilson 
 thought his safest way was to let them alone. ! the 
 abominations of slavery ! How innumerable are its 
 cruelties ! 
 
 Sept. 5. My faith fastens on the promises more and 
 more strongly; and yet the blessing of being restored to 
 liberty and friends, seems almost too good, and too great, 
 to expect. I am unworthy of it, but will cast myself 
 into my Savior's arms, to do with me as seemeth good 
 to Him. His word is very dear and sweet to-day. 
 Talked from Ps. xxvii. 1 — 5. It crave me comfort and 
 peace. With the assurance that th(: " Lord of Hosts is 
 with us," " I will not fear." '' For in the time of trou- 
 ble He will hide me in a pavilion, and set me on a Rock." 
 
 The ''Book of Martyrs," has afforded me much com- 
 fort and strength in prospect of suffering. As we were 
 singing, a Palmyra lady passed by. " Hark," said she, 
 " the rebels are singing." Tlie Lord open her eyes, and 
 have mercy. The Sun is about to leave us. Farewell, 
 " King of Day." Shall I greet you again, on a Sab- 
 bath, in Missouri ? I slmll see you where it is best. 
 Amen. 
 
 EXTRACT FROM A LETTER TO THE CHURCH JUST 
 BEFORE THE TRIAL. 
 
 Dear brethren and sisters, I still ask you to remember 
 us at the " throne of grace." Don't put any trust in 
 man. There is no hope in an arm of flesh. There are 
 many who have risen up against us, and who are laying 
 deep their plans, in certain expectation of our condem- 
 nation. They will spare no money, nor efforts to ac- 
 complish their end. 
 
 But " with us is the Lord our God." Don't think our 
 lawyers can help us, unless God be on our side. Think 
 of Hezekiah and Sennacherib — of Paul and Silas, and 
 of Peter, Read the accounts, and look only to the 
 Lord. Let there be much fervent prayer while the trial 
 
63 PREPARATION FOR TRIAL. 
 
 is advancing. Pray that Jesus our great " counsellor" 
 will direct the whole. 
 
 Of some of those who shall come as witnesses, it may 
 be required to testify to our former character. Esq. 
 Glover thinks if that is established, it will be sufficient, 
 and no more will be required. We wish VV. J. C, to 
 recollect very particularly the conversation between him 
 and James and the two slaves, to show that the slaves 
 ivished to go — that there was no intention of taking them 
 against their will. Wright and Glover think this very 
 important. We shall want those to whom James relat- 
 ed the facts, and conversation, and his intentions — who 
 knew our feelings and motives, as they have heard us 
 express them, to testify to our wo^iue— that it was to set 
 them across the river, according to their own desire, and 
 not against their wills, nor to make gain of them. Per- 
 haps testimony may be required as to the time we had 
 been in Missouri. May the Savior direct you all. 
 Come filled with the Sj)irit, and relying on God. 
 
 George. 
 
 I will here remark, that many came over prepared to 
 testify on all these points, but for reasons which will 
 hereafter appear, not one was examined — our lawyers 
 all considering it perfectly unnecessary. The particulars 
 will be given in their order. 
 
 TO A FRIEND. 
 
 M , how would you feel to see your father, mo- 
 ther, brothers, or sisters put up, and knocked off to the 
 highest bidder ! O, have we felt for the poor slave, " as 
 bound loitli him ?" Did Christians realize their condi- 
 tion ; 0, how differently would they act ! Wherever 
 we go, " let us cry aloud." 
 
 SALE OF HtJMAN BEINGS ! JOURNAL. 
 
 Sept. 6. I know not in what words to express my 
 feelings — my mind is filled with mingled emotions of 
 amazement, indignation, pity, and horror. At noon, 
 eight or ten hoises were sold, at sheriff's sale, and then 
 a woman and her child, for four hundred and sixty-five 
 
SALE OF HUMAN BEINGS. ^ 
 
 dollars — lastly, a man for five hundred and seventy-one 
 dollars ! Of such things I have often heard, but never 
 before saw them. ! the scene ! 
 
 A crowd gathered round, and these immortal beings 
 — bound to eternity, Hought with the sweat, groans, 
 blood, and death of Jesus Christ — destined to heaven or 
 hell — bearing the impress of their Maker's hand — pos- 
 sessing feelings, emotions, and affections like ourselves, 
 and the consciousness that they were horn with the *"' in- 
 alienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of hap- 
 piness" — 4hese were set up, cried, and knocked otF 
 under the hammer, to the highest bidder, for gold and 
 silver ! 
 
 Am I among human beings'? Ami in a civilized 
 country 7 Can it be that T am among those who profess 
 to be the servants of the blessed Redeemer, that meek 
 and lowly Lamb ! Am I in a community where the 
 Bible is read, and its principles professed ? 0, what is 
 man ! Where are his feelings of propriety, of mercy, 
 of reason, of justice, of humanity? What do they 
 think their fellow-men are 1 Have they any thought of 
 an eternity — of a judgment— of a righteous, holy, and 
 just God 1 Do they expect to meet these proceedings 
 at his bar 7 There, do they expect to see the poor 
 slaves they thus buy and sell, and be charged by the 
 Judge with buying, selling, and abusing Him, in the 
 person of his children % What can they think 7 What 
 have their hearts become 1 And what will become of 
 them 1 Is there a heaven for them ? 
 
 Poor slaves ! what must be their cogitations, while 
 being thus bid off 7 And what must be the state of a 
 community — how distorted, how sunken in vice, and 
 corruption and wickedness — how far gone, and almost 
 past recovery — how ripe for the judgments of heaven 
 and how deserving to be cast into the darkness of deep 
 oblivion and eternal night, that can allow, practise, and 
 justify such awful abominations by law and by the Bible f 
 and who imprison and kill those who oppose their 
 iniquity ! ! 
 
 And yet what are northern, compared with southern 
 
64 A HORRIBLE THING DONE IN THE LAND. 
 
 slave states 1 0, my country, my country ! Is there 
 any mercy for it ? How is God insulted, and cast away 
 (so to speak), when men are looked upon, and treated 
 as the brutes / And yet multitudes who profess to be 
 Christians, yea, the ministers of the gospel ! are en- 
 gaged in this hellish system of barbarity — and worse 
 than heathenish cruelty, and heaven-daring, insulting 
 abomination ! ! heaven spare. 
 
 Are they followers of Christ ? Are they on the road 
 to the Celestial City 7 And are the upper regions to 
 ring with songs from such beings ? But I forbear. -^ 
 that they were wise, that they would consider their latter 
 end," and these things also in view of it. May God 
 have mercy on them, open their eyes, melt their hearts, 
 and cause them to repent. May I have right feelings 
 towards them. I can pray for them. 
 
 THE MISSOURIAn's LETTER, AGAIN PRISON REFLEC- 
 TIONS. 
 
 Sept. 6. Read the letter, written by P. C. Lambert 
 — and a strange one it is to be written by a professor of 
 religion. Dr. Nelson, that meekest of men — very harm- 
 less, and who would not injure a fellow mortal for a 
 world — whose whole soul is filled with love to God and 
 man — who thinks of naught but heaven, and doing good 
 to a lost world — he is called a ^^ monster in human 
 shape /" 
 
 Does P. C. L., expect to sing in heaven 1 Let him 
 know that this " monster^^ will be there (he is already 
 there before him). Abolitionists, whose hearts burn with 
 love to their fellow-men — who are trying to benefit, help, 
 and comfort the poor, and who rebuke the iniquities of 
 slavery, — they are called " vile fiends.^'' If such be 
 " fiends " God increase the number, and fill the earth 
 with them. This man, no doubt, anticipates a seat in 
 the roansions on high. Yet how will he feel, and all 
 others like him, when they see " a multitude that no man 
 can number of these " vile fiends," coming up before the 
 throne, and striking their harps to the praise of the Lamb 1 
 They will surely be there, and can such men as P. C. L., 
 
 I 
 
DEPRAVING INFLUENCE OF SLAVERY. 65 
 
 be happy in their presence 1 Will their notes of praise 
 at all harmonize 1 But there is no discord there. Can 
 they sing the same song? There is only one there. 
 Then what will they do ? Will a portion of the upper 
 region be set apart for them? Will they be colonized ? 
 Ah ! no. There is no place in heaven for those who 
 cannot love all men. I fear many will find their hea- 
 ven to be hell. O ! the Church ! Lord purge it. 
 
 Of us he says, " I never saw such poor deluded crea- 
 tures." Deluded? Bless God for such a delusion ! O ! 
 that it may rapidly spread, till all the Church shall be 
 under its influence. Happy delusion ! 
 
 ! how Slavery blinds men's eyes and minds ! They 
 can see nothing good or lovely in a person or plan, that 
 does not uphold their " Domestic Institutions." The 
 more faithful a man is to them, the more he is despised 
 and persecuted ! And should the glorious Redeemer again 
 appear, and pass through the slave dominions, doubtless 
 he would be looked upon as 4;he greatest " fanatic" — 
 " insurrectionist," and " monster in human shape," that 
 ever trod God's footstool — would be despised, hated, 
 and "hung as high as Haman," without "Judge or 
 Jury," by those who " worship the great goddess," and 
 fear lest" the hope of their gains" should be taken 
 away ! Shall I then repine, and think it hard that I 
 must lie here so long ? No, 7io f I bless the Lord for 
 this chain. It looks sweet to me. I shall never forget 
 it. 
 
 COURT. 
 
 On the 6th of Sept., court commenced, but our case 
 did not come on till the lOth. There were three rea- 
 sons for its delay. First : It took some time for the 
 Sheriff to hunt up men for Jurors. Second : Confident 
 of the weakness and injustice of their cause, they had 
 sent to St. Louis, for one Crockett, who was paid a large 
 sum, by the voluntary contribution of individuals — and 
 our trial must be delayed till he arrived. But the third, 
 and perhaps most prominent reason was, they could not, 
 for a long time, find any indictment against us, for it had 
 
66 A DIFFICULT CASE ON HAND. 
 
 become universally acknowledged, by friends and foes, 
 that we had broken no law of Missouri / And what 
 to do they knew not. To send us to the penitentiary 
 they w^ere determined, but the how puzzled them for a 
 time. Said the States Attorney to a brother lawyer, 
 " I wish you would help me a little. I have a difficult 
 case on hand. I can find no law on which to jiredicate 
 an indictment against these men, and yet an indictn'ent 
 must be made out in some way !" Yes, but none but 
 the distorted mind of the slaveholder could have devised 
 the plan. For how is it possible to indict a man who is 
 obedient to the law 1 And, " Where no law is, there 
 is NO transgression" — divine authority for it. 
 
 Said a lawyer to Esq. Glover, after he had made his 
 plea for us, and was retiring from the court-house — 
 '• Well G., you have made it perfectly clea?-, that these 
 men have transgressed no law of the State." 
 
 Said Wright in his speech — " If we have no law to 
 inflict punishment upon these men — if we have over- 
 looked this point in our legislations, let justice take its 
 course — release them and send men to Jefferson who 
 will etiact a law^ and thus guard against all future de- 
 predations of the kind. At Jefferson only, can this 
 defect be supplied." 
 
 To our trial many of our friends from Quincy and vi- 
 cinity came, with whom we had frequent interviews 
 through the grates, while waiting from day to day for our 
 case to come on. Those who could not come, wrote, 
 assuring us of their sympathy and prayers. 
 
 THE ABOLITION STAND. 
 
 While waiting in daily expectation of our trial, I wrote 
 the tbl lowing on the bottom of the drawer to our stand, 
 with my ])ericil, that after we had gone it might act as 
 an Anti-Slavery lecturer where the living voice would 
 not be heard. 
 
 ADDRESS. 
 
 " Wo to them who decree unrighteous decrees (such 
 as slave laws), and estaltli.sh iniquity by law," (such as 
 
• ADDRESS TO THE STAND. 67 
 
 buying and selling men — parting wives and husbands, 
 parents and children — causing men to work without 
 wages, the hire of whom crieth unto the Lord for ven- 
 geance), Ijet every one engaged in this system of 
 hellish iniquity be afraid and tremble, for the judgments 
 of heaven hang over their guilty heads, and will quickly 
 fall upon them unless they repent. 
 
 ! man, " flee from the wrath to come." " Escape 
 for your life." Ruin is nigh. " What thou doest, do 
 quickly ;" — for unless you humble yourself before the 
 eternal God, there is no heaven for you, but an awful, 
 eternal hell. 
 
 The slaves are God's poor. All their sufferings are 
 noticed by Him — every stroke of the whip is recorded 
 — every groan counted — and every tear bottled up by 
 their Maker, to be brought up against you at the solemn 
 judgment. How will you ans\\er'? What will you say 
 for yourself? You will be speechless. 
 
 1 pity the fate of a slaveholder. If there is a low 
 place in hell, an enlightened slaveholder will occupy that 
 place. He will be cursed by men and devils. 
 
 I pity the children of slaveholders. They are trained 
 up for oppressors, upon whom God will pour the " black- 
 ness of darkness" for ever and ever. 
 
 I pity a patrol. This office is cruel, low, mean, and 
 heart-hardening:. 
 
 Dear stand, — You have been very kind to us in our 
 confinement. For your valuable services we are very 
 thankful. As we are now about to leave you, we bid 
 you farewell, and send you into the world a single-hand- 
 ed abolitionist, to preach deliverance to the captive, to 
 rebuke men for their sins, and warn them of their danger. 
 Cry aloud to high and low, rich and poor — spare not. 
 May you do much good and be protected. We com- 
 mend you to the mercy of the people. May many of 
 the oppressed be delivered by your means. 
 
 I pray some eye may fall upon it, and that good may 
 result by the blessing of the Lord. " How great a mat- 
 ter a little fire kindleth." 
 
68 A DEVICE — THE RABBLE.* 
 
 TREATMENT OF OUR FRIENDS. 
 
 Though many of our friends were present in Palmyra 
 for nearly a week, yet, by the " good hand of God upon 
 them," no one was injured. And wonderful, as it may 
 seem, the large body of " dyed-in-the-wool," abolition- 
 ists were generously entertained by the citizens. Mr. 
 Muldrow, keeper of the Temperance house, invited Mrs. 
 Work and other ladies to make his house their home 
 during the trial. Mr. Wilcox, a tavern keeper, gave the 
 use of a house, and fuel, to all who desired to occupy it. 
 I rejoice that I am able to speak some good of those who 
 desire our destruction. One of our witnesses, whose 
 testimony was deemed very important, was pursued by 
 a company, and very narrowly escaped with his liberty, 
 at the risk of his life. By some means (perhaps by 
 some Illinois traitor), it was ascertained that he was with 
 James at the time the agreement was made to meet and 
 help the slaves. They had determined to take him, and 
 send him to Jefferson with us (merely for speaking to a 
 slave) ! Their plan being known, by one who felt 
 friendly, he was advised to stand on Illinois soil as 
 soon as possible. He fled, and barely saved himself. 
 
 On the night of the 9th, the rabble made considerable 
 disturbance — collected a company of " certain lewd 
 fellows of the baser sort," and marched round through 
 the town singing, huzzaing, and deriding our friends, till 
 the Lord came upon them and smote one of their num- 
 ber, making him groan and cry aloud, and thus they 
 were dispersed. How easy for God to smite them all ! 
 They made their boasts that if we were cleared, we 
 would q-et a "^reat flocjirinij, before we could set out of 
 town. How vain their threats ! " The Lord is on my 
 side. I will not fear what can man do unto me?" 
 Dear Savior, stand by me. 
 
 THE CLOSET MOTHER. 
 
 Said mother B., as she stood and talked with us 
 through the grates, " If my John (who was dead), was 
 there, I should feel that I could do more for him, by 
 
FEW WILLING TO SUFFER. 69 
 
 staying at home in my closet., than by going into court to 
 testify for him !" This is an excellent spirit, it shows 
 that she knows from whence help must come, and a con- 
 fidence that she should not be turned empty away. Ah ! 
 give me such to plead my cause — those who go to the 
 fountain of help. 
 
 Some seem to think w^e cannot be so happy here, as 
 at liberty. I know of no two months in all my life, to 
 which I expect to look with so much real pleasure, as to 
 these. Sweet walls ! sweet chain ! 
 
 THE SLEEPING PREACHER AGAIN. 
 
 To-day he had a long dream about delivering the 
 slaves. As he fell asleep and dreamed in the day-time, 
 we had a fair opportunity to observe all his motions, as 
 well as hear his words — and a more amusing sight I 
 never saw. Sometimes he would be in one position, 
 levelling a cannon at the enemy ; then he would be 
 riding" on horseback, spurring and hastening with all 
 speed, calling upon his troops to follow. 
 
 Said he, with great energy, " Slavery shall be done 
 away, or J will die." His whole soul seems to be bent 
 on this one thing. This is his fixed determination — 
 asleep and awake. O ! that every abolitionist had his 
 courage and perseverance. But how few are ready to 
 die, or even suffer a little for the poor slave ! They are 
 willing to avow themselves the friends of the despised, 
 so long as they are surrounded by others who plead their 
 cause ; but as soon as they find themselves among the 
 enemies of the slave, they are still and afraid. 
 
 Said Charles (in his dream) , " If no one will go with 
 me, I'll go alone, in the strength of God, and shall pre- 
 vail. The slave shall he free .'" May all have this 
 spirit as respects spiritual weapons, and go forward — 
 single-handed if necessary — determined never to cease 
 crying aloud, and using all their endeavors, till every 
 chain is broken, or life is extinct. O Lord ! gird up thy 
 people for the work. Prepare me to go forth, and labor 
 successfully for the downtrodden. 
 
70 THE TRIAL. 
 
 EXCITEMENT. 
 
 During the two months we lay in jail previous to trial, 
 our fame had spread far abroad — and^the farther it 
 extended, the more exaggerated and false the statement 
 became ; so that great excitement prevailed over the 
 country. The prejudices of the people were aroused 
 against us, and great indignation was manifest on almost 
 all countenances. When court time came, multitudes 
 assembled from far and near. The old and young, black 
 and white, rich and poor, all seemed enlisted — here a 
 company and there a group — some staggering like a 
 drunken man, others cursing and mocking. Some 
 seemed "very anxious to get into the jail, where they 
 could lay hands on us ; but God restrained them. They 
 evidently waited from day to day, with much im- 
 patience, to see us brought forth, eager to get a view of 
 such notorious disturbers of their peace. 
 
 It would be a great wonder, if, in the midst of such a 
 furious gang of wolves, a few feeble lambs (our friends), 
 were not destroyed, if we did not call to mind the pro- 
 mises. From these, we should have expected just such 
 a wonderful deliverance. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 TRIAL AND CONVICTION. 
 
 On the day previous to our being brought forth, our at- 
 torneys, Warren and Glover, came into the jail, and read 
 to us our indictments. And I almost regret I have not 
 a copy of them, for the reader — but it is best I should 
 not have. They were strange things indeed, and would 
 show very clearly, to what extremities slavery was 
 driven, when obliged to resort to such measures for its 
 support. The principle, by which they were governed, 
 
INDICTMENTS. 71 
 
 seemed to be, " If we have not right., we have might on 
 our side, and go to the penitentiary they shall." In my 
 journal, respecting it, I recorded, — " What the result 
 will be I cannot tell, but it does appear as if, in making 
 out their indictments, they lacked common sense. I can 
 say with Paul, ' Neither can they^-prove the things 
 whereof they now accuse us ;' unless they suborn wit- 
 nesses (which a number did), and then I am sure they 
 will have the worst of it." 
 
 There were three indictments. The first took the 
 broad ground, and charged us with stealing four or 
 five negroes — being utterly false in many of its circum- 
 stantial statements. The second charged us with an 
 attempt to steal them. The third, with having formed a 
 combination, intending to make an attempt to steal 
 them — both the latter, as false and ridiculous in their 
 statements, as the former. 
 
 At first, our counsel thought of trying me alone on 
 the latter indictment, as this was the lightest, and t was 
 only an accessory in them all — but finally concluded 
 there would be no manner of dano;er in taking^ us all 
 together, on the first, feeling confident that justice could 
 do nothing with us. We consented to be thus tried. 
 
 " May our faith be greatly increased, and continue to 
 increase, as we advance through the fiery ordeal. May 
 we have His spirit, " who, when He was reviled, reviled 
 not again — when he suffered, He threatened not, but 
 committed Himself to Him who judgeth righteously." 
 
 SHACKLES OFF. 
 
 Sept. 10. JYoon. Truly they are many who are gath- 
 ered together against us, to destroy us. What are we, 
 that we should attract so much notice ! A little before 
 twelve o'clock, they came, and knocked off our fetters, 
 with hammer and chisel. We were then led out to the 
 gaze of hundreds, who, no doubt, expected to see some- 
 thing very wonderful. They were a sight indeed ! 
 Such running, and crowding, and stretching, and climb- 
 ing — such eyes, and mouths, and expressions of wonder 
 and amazement, we had not before seen ! O ! what mad- 
 
72 JURY CHOSEN. 
 
 ness! What folly! What meanness! They seemed 
 almost ready to devour us. 
 
 Thus surrounded, we walked to the court house, each 
 accompanied by a guard. In a few minutes, court ad- 
 journed, and we returned to our palace, safe and sound. 
 This is the first time, for more than fifty-eight days, that 
 I have taken a natural step. I feel like a bird out of its 
 cage, now that we can walk about our room with free- 
 dom. 
 
 Evening. Have been before the court — house crowd- 
 ed — windows, doors, stairs, &c., all full, while many 
 could not find a place. After a long time the Jury was 
 chosen, — all of whom, with one exception, had made up 
 their minds from previous report, and under oath, con- 
 fessed themselves prejudiced against us, but thought they 
 could decide according to justice, which was, in their 
 view, the Penitentiary. Such, reader, was the impar- 
 tial jury , before whom we were tried ! 
 
 WITNESSES. 
 
 Against us, were three or four witnesses sworn 
 — and for us, about six. As Esq. B., an old man, 
 whose head blossomed in white, came forward to be 
 sworn in our behalf, one of the rabble behind us, ex- 
 claimed, " there goes the daddy of all Aboli'ionists." 
 But though so many of our witnesses were sworn, when 
 the testimony and confessions of those against us were 
 heard, it was deemed wholly unnecessary to occupy more 
 time in the examination of our witnesses ; as the testi- 
 mony of our enemies was considered abundantly suffi- 
 cient to clear us from the indictment. 
 
 In their first testimony, many things were stated, posi- 
 tively false, and which the witnesses must have known 
 to be so. For example, Wm. P. Brown testified that 
 he heard Work and Burr tell the slaves that they had 
 sent off four negroes about four weeks ago — that they 
 had sent off a good many negroes, who were all doing 
 well, &c. The Devil could not have told a more abso- 
 lute falsehood. Nothing of the kind was ever uttered 
 by them. Two weeks previous to our arrest, we had 
 
EXAMINATIOJS OF WITNESSES BRuWn's TESTIMONY. 73 
 
 helped one on his way, and that was all. Again Brown 
 said, when he presented his gun, Burr sprang,- and said 
 " Lord God !" and appeared to be ne^iV fifteen feet high ' 
 Burr made no such expression. The ^^ fifteen feef^ 
 is a sufficient comment on this testimony. 
 
 Again, he swore, that when he came to the bank, I 
 was paddling. I had my fishing pole in my hand, and 
 was standing in the skiff, just ready to draw ray captive 
 from the watery element, when he approached and threat- 
 ened to shoot me. Again, he swore it was dark, there 
 being a fog., so that he could not see a man at any dis- 
 tance. The fact is, it was a very bright night, and the 
 moon was shedding her silvery rays most beautifully 
 upon the earth. And many other statements, which I 
 will not mention, were just as false — statements respect- 
 ing what we said — what slaves said, &c. When cross 
 examined by our counsel, he said, " I told Paris, 
 Allen, and Prince (slaves), that there were some men 
 from Illinois, wlio wished to assist them in getting their 
 freedom, and that if they wished to go, they had my per- 
 mission to go loith them ! They said they did not 
 wish their freedom. I told them to go with Anthony, 
 (a slave) — and where he was going — and that if they 
 saw any man who wished to aid them in getting their 
 freedom, that they had my permission to go with them ! 
 That I would meet them before they got to the River. I 
 did dot direct Anthony to go, but I knew he was going. 
 I did not know that John went, but John was present, 
 when he told all his boys, that they might go, if they de- 
 sired. We gave the negroes five dollars apiece, for 
 their conduct, and some more money was made up for 
 them in Palmyra afterwards. I gave these directions to 
 my negroes, at my home, in the yard, before they went. 
 I told them to go where Anthony had appointed to meet 
 them — the prisoners — at the river, I told Allen to go, 
 and get hold of the skiff, and hold it. I also stated to 
 Wiseman, the directions I had given to my negroes. I 
 don't know that the prisoners had ever seen the negroes 
 before, nor do I know that any agreement had been 
 made to meet the negroes. I never had any communi- 
 
 4 
 
74 NKGRO TESTIMONY LUGGED IN. 
 
 cation directly or indirectly, with the prisoners, prior to 
 the time I took them. I had no control over Woolfolk's 
 negro. Woolfolk was not at home. I do not know 
 that John heard me, when I said that as many as wished 
 to go had my permission, but he was present in the yard 
 and heard me." 
 
 Reader, what think you of sending men to Penitentia 
 ry for twelve years on such testimony 1. It needs no 
 comment, 
 
 Mr. Quinn was examined. Among other things he 
 stated that he saw Burr two weeks before our arrest, in 
 Boulman's field, where he was at work. When he left 
 he did not go in the precise direction given to him, he 
 did not go in any road.'''' Cross examined. He said, 
 " Burr did not speak to the negroes, and there U'as no 
 road, to go in the direction my uncle gave him. He was 
 in \he field, and there v)as 7io road .'" 
 
 Reader, you may consider this as a specimen of the 
 circumstantial evidence brought against us. Look at it. 
 Because, perchance, Burr did not go in the precise course 
 he was directed ; because, in a field where there was no 
 road he varied a little to the south, what is the conclu- 
 sion 1 Why, that he wanted to steal the slaves ! 
 
 Another thing. When the witnesses were cross ex- 
 amined, our counsel were particular to enquire from 
 whence Xhey derived their information (on many points). 
 They were obliged to confess, '■''from the slaves f-^ By 
 the Taws of Missouri, a black man's testimony against a 
 white man, is oi' no avail, and yet here, they were lug- 
 ging in testimony after testimony, as if they saw or 
 heard the things themselves, when, lo ! " My negroes told 
 me," so and so. 
 
 Crockett, the St. Louis lawyer, saw that the most of 
 the testimony of the witnesses was likely to be shown 
 to be but the mere say-so of the negroes, and he remon- 
 strated strongly against our counsel asking such ques- 
 tions. 
 
 Mr. Boulman, an old man, tottering on the brink 
 of the grave, was examined, but what he said, mere 
 ly made sport, and a roar of laughter in the assem- 
 
SPKECH OF GLOVER. 75 
 
 bly — and I deem it not necessary to fill my pages with 
 trifling nonsense. For want of room, I am obliged to 
 omit much I otherwise should desire to lay before the 
 public. 
 
 Sept. 11. Last night as we were talking together, 
 one above cried out, " Shut your mouths there below, 
 and go to sleep." They had been playing cards and ca- 
 rousing, so that we could scarcely sleep at all, and 
 then because we could not sleep on account of their 
 noise, and were passing the time in conversation, their 
 hearto were so filled with spite and envy, that they 
 grudged us even that happiness. 0, what a spirit. 
 But such worketh slavery. 
 
 THE PLEADING. 
 
 The States Attorney [Abernethy], made a short 
 speech, venting out his hatred to abolitionists — classed 
 them with Mormons, yea, with the notorious land pi- 
 rates, John A. Murrell's gang, holding us up as terrible 
 creatures, and making appeals, to excite the prejudice 
 and hatred of the multitude, who were already so charged 
 therewith, that they could scarcely contain themselves. 
 
 In his speech he compared the slaves to sheep, and 
 liberty to salt ; — said that enticing away the slave by 
 spreading the offer of liberty before him, was just as 
 reallv larceny, as tolling away a man's flock of sheep 
 by salt. 
 
 ' Glover followed him with a clear, forcible, p.nd argu- 
 mentative speech, showing by various illustrations that 
 what we did could not, in any sense of the word, be 
 called larceny. His illustrations and references I cannot 
 call to mind. He made some thrilling appeals to the 
 jury with regard to the importance of justice — beautiful- 
 ly introduced the case of Aristides — referred to the 
 house in which we were assembled as being called a house 
 of justice, &c. — acknowledged that the rights of the peo- 
 ple had been invaded — but there was no law forbidding 
 it, and consequently they must patiently and nobly bear 
 the wrong, till legal steps could be taken to prevent 
 such tilings. 
 
76 SPEECHES OF ANDERSON AND WARREN. 
 
 He made the case very plain ; but their hearts were 
 so filled with deeji-rooted prejudices, and their minds so 
 blinded to everything that does not uphold slavery, the 
 jury appeared to see no force in his reasoning. 
 
 Anderson followed Glover. He volunteered his ser- 
 vices, and talked very wickedly. His whole speech 
 was merely a wild, boisterous harangue against Aboli- 
 tionism and Mormonism (classing us with the Mormons), 
 appealing with great spirit to the malice and prejudice of 
 the jury and crowded assembly present, that he might 
 make our j)unishment more sure. He fought hard 
 against God, against his truth, his poor and his 'little 
 ones' — against righteousness and all reason, mercy, jus- 
 tice and humanity. Tt distressed my soul exceedingly 
 to hear a professor of religion (I was informed he was 
 such), talk thus ; and I could, at the time, but raise my 
 heart to God in his behalf. ! that his eyes may be 
 opened. Once (as I am informed) he professed to be a 
 warm friend of Dr. Nelson and of the poor slave — but 
 he has laid aside such feelings, and, as his own slave 
 testifies, is now worse than ever — more oppressive to the 
 slaves, and more bitter against those who plead their 
 cause. He plead strongly for slavery — made exciting 
 appeals, and seemed to desire ardently our long impri- 
 sonment. 
 
 Shall we meet him in heaven? How will he look 
 upon us and sing with us there? Unless his feelings 
 change from those expressetl, he could not be happy 
 with us. The Lord will make it all right. 
 
 Alanson and myself wrote him a very plain letter, 
 which he published, to increase the prejudice against us, 
 and augment our suflfering. 
 
 Warren next made a lucid speech — showing clearly, 
 by a variety of familiar illustrations, that what we did, 
 could not be called larceny. He was an lUinoisian, and 
 much prejudice prevailed against him in Palmyra., many 
 supposing him to be an abolitionist. Vet lie plead 
 boldly. That his arguments might have more force, or 
 to secure his own safety, he told them — '" I have never 
 yet passed for an abolitionist on either side of the river." 
 
SPEECH OF WRIGHT. 77 
 
 Whether he was an abolitionist, I cannot say — but this 
 much I can say for him — he and Moses Hunter were 
 the first of our friends whom we saw after our confine- 
 ment, i'hey both prayed with us in the jail ; and there, 
 in the presence of the jailer, guard, &c., he prayed for 
 the " oppressed" as not one half of the abolitionists 
 would dare to. 
 
 Wright followed, making the closing speech in our 
 behalf. He was quite lengthy but not tedious. He 
 took up the statute, and, from standard authors (so re- 
 ceived on all other points even in slave states), demon- 
 strated to every unprejudiced mind, that upon no possi- 
 ble principle of legal interpretation, could our conduct be 
 called larceny — that there was no law whatever in 
 Missouri touching our case. 
 
 He took up the facts, and showed that we had no in- 
 tention to convert said property to our own use — had no 
 self-interest in the matter, but desired only the benefit of 
 the slave. In every point of view, from legal rules, le- 
 gal principles and examples, he in numerous ways 
 brought out the same truth. 
 
 Said he — " I appear before you as a friend to our in- 
 stitutions — as a citizen of the State, and as a slaveholder ^ 
 but also a defender of justice. I believe those men 
 were honest in their intentions, and really desired to 
 benefit the slave. I have no doubt that they think them- 
 selves persecuted, and, should ihey go to the peniten- 
 tiary, will feel that they are martyrs, and that their 
 crown will shine brio-hter, and their sono; rise hio;her on 
 account of what they now suffer. I despise an aboli- 
 tionist, and their conduct too, but I plead that there is 
 no law to hit the case, and therefore they should not be 
 punished. Our only v*'ay is to send men to Jefferson who 
 shall make provision for the future.* Let justice take 
 
 * The following law was passed and approved by the Governor more 
 than three years after we were confined in the Penitentiary. 
 
 " If any person shall forge for any slave a free pass, or place in the 
 possession of any slave any paper or thing whatever, by which such 
 slave may the more readily escape from his master, — and any persoa 
 who may abduct or entice, or attempt to abduct or entice any slave away 
 from his master, such person shall, for every such offence, be subject to 
 
78 THE GREAT LEVER. 
 
 its course," &c. He plead nobly, though he was a 
 slaveholder. None but those who were determined not 
 to see could help seeing the truth, as thus spread before 
 them in meridian brghtness. He showed that the slaves 
 were so far from being in our possession, and under our 
 control, that we were in their possession, and that they 
 were in the possession of their masters, acting according 
 to their commands, and under their control — and instead 
 of our stealing them, that they stole us. 
 
 It was now evening. After an intermission of half an 
 hour, we again assembled, and Crockett ma(Je a display 
 of his ingenuity in evading argument, blinding men's 
 eyes, and causing justice to fall in the streets. His 
 speech pleased the rubble very much, but M'as not in ac- 
 cordance with the law. 
 
 For the information of the reader, I will mention the 
 great lever by which he overturned, in the minds of the 
 jury, all that had been brought forward from standard 
 authorities, by our counsel. From a great many refer- 
 ences, they had shown what was, and what was not lar- 
 ceny — and that the present case could not from any 
 definition, or principle, or example, be construed into 
 larceny. But a very easy way to get round all this, had 
 Crockett, by simply saying that " EngJand had no slave 
 property, consequently all these examples that have been 
 brought forward, have no application to this species of 
 property, and are wholly irrelevant ! ! !" Amazing ! what 
 a discovery ! Where is the school-boy that does not know 
 that England did have such kind of property, when the 
 laws were made ? And yet, this jialjvable absurdity was 
 swallowed by the mass, as an unanswerable argument. 
 
 His speech continued till near midnight, on Saturday; 
 we then returned to our habitation, to spend the Sabbath. 
 
 an indictment in any court in the State having criminal jurisdiction, 
 and, on conviction thereof, shall be confined in the Penitentiary ol' the 
 State for a term of years ntit less than five nor more than ten."' — Sec. vii. 
 Reader, the above is a true copy from the Stale Records, signed by the 
 Speaker of the House, Presiilent tif the Senate, Secretary and Governor 
 of the State of Missouri, March '27, 18-45. And we were locked in the 
 Penitentiary, Oct. 3, 1841. Judge whether we were transgressors of 
 their laws. 
 
DESTINY UNCERTAIN YET NOT ANXIOUS. 79 
 
 JOURNAL. 
 
 Seft. 12. After the scenes of the past week, the 
 care, anxiety, and suspense in which we have been held 
 — surrounded by gazing crowds, who poured their ana- 
 themas upon us, and thirsted for our blood, how delight- 
 ful to be ao-ain enclosed in our room from the multitudes ! 
 Yea, how sweet to meet another Sabbath, when we can 
 draw near, and pour out our hearts into the bosom of 
 our Savior. Though we are yet in suspense, it is good 
 to have this day, "to study our bibles and pray. The 
 result is yet uncertain. It is now in the hands of the 
 judge and jury, and they are in the hands of God — and 
 I pm sure lie' will lead to that decision which will most 
 advance the cause of liberty and truth. Feeling this, 
 and desiring only the advancement of that cause, why 
 should one anxious thought possess my bosom 1 They 
 say they must punish us^ to deter otheis from the like, 
 and put a stop to such proceedings — but how vain ! Why 
 cannot they see that the more they punish, the worse it 
 will be for them 7 For they will only increase the 
 number of " these vile fiends," an hundred fold ! Well, 
 if Jesus be with me, I can bear the reproaches and 
 insults of man. Confinement will be liberty ; the 
 prison, a palace ; stripes, sweet-oil ; hard labor, rest ; 
 separation from friends, tolerable ; and death, in forms 
 frightful, will be glorious. 
 
 In ourselves, in our friends, in our lawyers, in man, 
 there is no help ; " our help is in the name of the Lord." 
 " Man's extremity is God's opportunity." 
 
 SENTENCE. 
 
 Sept. 13. Monday morning, we again went before the 
 court. After the different instructions were given to the 
 judge, 9nd he had charged the jury, that we were guilty, 
 &c., they retired a short time, and returned with a verdict 
 of " Guilty^ and ticelve years in the penitentiary.^'' Clap- 
 ping of hands, and shouts of " good, good," filled the 
 house. Though they had so strongly declared they 
 would hang us, if we were sentenced for less than twenty 
 
80 liNTKNDLD MURDKK. 
 
 years, they appeared to be satisfied, when this sentence 
 was pronounced. " There," said one, " we've got clear 
 of mobbinp; them !" 
 
 OUR GALLOWS. 
 
 So general was the expectation, that they could do 
 nothing with us, by law, that a mob had been organized, 
 who had erected our gallows, provided ropes, blacked 
 their faces, and were ready to take us at a moment's 
 notice, in case we were acquitted, and hang us on the 
 spot! Reader, do you believe this? It cannot be 
 doubted. I have abundant testimony, printed, oral, and 
 optical. On this point I shall let the Missourians speak 
 for themselves. 
 
 Yes, there were twenty men, at Palmyra and Hannibal, 
 who, in the sight of God, were (and if living are), guilty 
 of our murder ! They are murderers in the light of 
 God's law, and as such, they will be tried and condemned 
 at the great tribunal, unless, before that time, they make 
 their peace with the Judge. We pity them, we pray 
 for them — " Fathei, forgive them, for they know not 
 what they do." 
 
 BILL OF EXCEPTIONS FROM THE COURT RECORDS. 
 
 " And this being all the evidence in the cause, the counsel for the 
 prisoners ask the court to instruct the jury as foMows : 
 
 " That before they can find ihedelendaiits guilty, theymust, from 
 the evidence in the cause (and from no other source), find the fol low- 
 ing facts : 
 
 " 1. That the defendants had jiossession of the slaves. Anti, to 
 constitute a possession in thein. of said slaves, the jury must from 
 the evidence in the cause, find that the defendants exercised autho- 
 rity to restrain the movements of the slaves, or (the slaves being 
 present), claimed the right of control, dominion, or authority over 
 the will of said slaves. 
 
 " Th'it if they find that the defendants were so ])ossessed of said 
 slaves, the jury must also find, from the evidence in the cau^e, 
 that at the time of becoming so possessed of said slaves, it was the 
 intention of said defendants, to convert the property in said slaves 
 to llieir own use. If on the contrary the jury siuiH find fri'in the 
 evidence in the cause, that the defendants were in the control of 
 said slaves or in the power of said slaves, or that when the defend- 
 ants and slaves met and while they remained together, the defend- 
 
INSTRUCTIONS, 
 
 81 
 
 ants claimed no authority over said slaves, nor exercised any, but 
 met the slaves on equal footing, as free men, they ought to find the 
 defendants not guilty. 
 
 "They ask the court further to instruct the jury, that whether 
 Anthony met the defendants, with or without the consent of his 
 master, still, to constitute a taking of said slave, by the defendants, 
 the said slave must have been in the possession of said defendants, 
 as before explained — and that even such possession cannot author- 
 ize the jury to find defendants guilty of larceny unless the jury can 
 also find from the evidence in the cause, that at the time defendants 
 had the intention to convert the property in said slaves, to their own 
 use. That a conversion to the use of said defendants cannot be 
 made out, by merely showing that the defendants were willing and 
 desirous to give aid and assistance to said slave or slaves in crossing 
 the Mississippi river, and in pursuing their journey to Canada, but 
 that there must be an intention to sell, or hire, or retain said slaves 
 for their service, or otherwise to exercise acts of ownership over 
 said slaves." 
 
 The record proceeds — " Which instructions the court 
 refused, and instructed the jury that the agreement to 
 meet the slaves for the purpose of aiding them in ob- 
 taining their freedom, and their meeting under that 
 agreement constituted a taking ! To which opinion of 
 the court, in refusing to grant the instruction asked by 
 the counsel, for the prisoners, and deciding that the 
 agreement to meet the slaves, constituted a taking, the 
 defendants except." 
 
 The attorney for the State moved the court for the 
 following instructions : 
 
 State of Missouri, against George Thompson, James Burr, and 
 Alanson Work, for larceny. The said State, by her attorney moves 
 the court to instruct the jury : 
 
 1. That if they believe from the evidence in this cause, that James 
 Burr and Alanson Work f/z(/ steal, take, and carry away the slaves, 
 as charged in the indictment, or any one of them, and George 
 Thompson was in any way aiding or abetting as charged in the in- 
 dictment, then they must find them all guilty, as charged in the 
 second count of said indictment. 
 
 2. That if they, the defendants, Burr and Work had the slaves, 
 or anyone of them under their control or government, and while so, 
 caused the said slaves to take one step, then the taking and carrying 
 away was completed. 
 
 3. That if the defeu'lants fraudulently intended to deprive the 
 owners of said slaves, of the projierty and labor of said slaves, 
 and to confer the same on them (the slaves), the defendants 
 
 4* 
 
82 REFUSED A NEW HEARING. 
 
 or any third person or persons, other than the said owners, 
 that is sufficient to make the stealing, taking and carrying 
 away, larceny. That if the jury believed there i^-w a taking, it is 
 no difference whether the taking was effected by physical, or moral 
 force, if the force was sufficient to effect the object intended. 
 
 5. (Erased). 
 
 6. That if the jury find from the evidence in this cause, that the 
 defendants, James Burr and Alanson Work attempted to steal, take, 
 and carry away the slaves, or any one of them a^ charged in the 
 indictment,* and that George Thompson aided or abetted in such 
 attempt, but failed in executing said attempt, then they must find 
 them, Burr and Work, guilty of said attempt, and George Thomp- 
 son guilty as accessory before the fact of said attempt," — which (in- 
 struction) was given by the court. To which opinion of the court 
 in giving the said instructions for the State, the defendants by their 
 counsel also excepted. After verdict, the defendants moved in 
 writing for a new trial as follows. 
 
 ^'^'^"' / Indictment for larceny. 
 
 T> A\r ^^" T V of slaves 
 
 Blrk, Work, and Thompson, ) 
 
 The defendants by their counsel, move the court for a new trial. 
 
 1. Because the cou:t refused proper instructions asked by the de- 
 fendants. 
 
 2. Because the couit gave improper instructions on behalf of the 
 plaintiff. 
 
 3. Because the verdict is against evidence. 
 
 4. Becau.'^e it i^ against law. 
 
 5. Because the punishment i» excessive. 
 
 Glover and W' right, for def'ts. 
 
 Which motion the court also overruled, and the defend- 
 ants excepted to the opinion of the court in overruling 
 said motion. The defendants then moved in writing to 
 arrest the judgment in the case, as follows : 
 State, ) 
 
 vs. > Indictment. 
 
 Burr, Work, and Thompson, ) 
 The defendants move the court to arrest the judgment in the above 
 cause. 
 
 1. Because the declaration is bad. 
 
 2. Because the judgment is for the wrong party. 
 
 Glover and Wright, for def'ts. 
 
 But the court also overruled said motion, and defendants excepted, 
 
 • This is wholly j^raluitous and false, for there was no such charge in 
 the indictment by «r.ith we were tried — the charge was broad stealing 
 —the aUempt to steal v/as a separate indiciment altogether. 
 
APPEAL TO THE SUPREME COUKT REFUSED. 83 
 
 and prayed that their several exceptions to the opinions and deci- 
 sions of the court as aforesaid, might be signed and sealed, and 
 made part of the record in the cause. This is done accordingly. 
 
 rp I P. H. McBride, Judge. 
 
 leste. I p. RucKER, CZeri. 
 
 (A copy.) 
 
 From the foregoing, the reader will get a pretty 
 good idea of the circumstances in the case, as also of the 
 flagrant injustice we suffered. The exceptions and in- 
 structions of our counsel were contemned, and utterly 
 rejected — our appeal for a new hearing refused, and every 
 motion in our favor vetoed by the judge. 
 
 We remain-ed in jail until the 17th, when we went out 
 to receive our sentence f;om the Judge. After hearing 
 it, we appealed to the Supreme Court of Missouri — and 
 obtained a respite of two weeks, while our counsel could 
 go to St. Louis, where the court was sitting — but the 
 Supreme Judge utterly refused to have anything to do 
 with it, and would not allow the appeal. Thus our 
 twelve years stared us fairly in the face ; but by the grace 
 of God, we were enabled to meet them undaunted and 
 unmoved. 
 
 Let me here remark (what the reader must have ob- 
 served), that it was evident through the whole of our 
 trial and imprisoninent, we were not looked upon nor 
 considered as common State felons, but as abolitionists. 
 It was contended by no one that we intended to steal the 
 slaves in the common acceptation of that term. Every 
 body acknowledged us as " true blue" abolitionists, who 
 desired only the good of the slave. 
 
 NOVEL DECISION. 
 
 During the course of the trial, it was contended and 
 decided, that a man on the East bank of the Mississippi 
 river, might steal another on the West bank ! It was 
 not necessary that he should even see, or speak with the 
 slave ; if, by any means, by moral suasion, letter, or 
 signs, he helps a slave to freedom, who had of his own 
 accord run away from his master, he is guilty of 
 grand larceny ! If a man in Quincy lets it be known 
 
84 STEALING SLAVES WITH SALT. 
 
 that he will help slaves on their way, after they have 
 crossed the river — and this information spreads among 
 the slaves, so that hundreds take shelter under his roof ; 
 what is the decision of a t;ourt of justice in Missouri J 
 Why, that he stole them all, though he may never have 
 seen one of them till they called at his door for help. 
 Nay more. If he only sends word into Missouri to one 
 slave, and that slave spreads the news to others, that in 
 Quincy are friends who will help them — as many as 
 will come — they come — others help them on their way 
 — he sees or speaks to none of them — what is the deci- 
 sion in Missouri, by lawyers, judges, and juries ] Why 
 he STOLE them all! How? pray. "Why he placed 
 the SALT before them!" " Salt ! salt !— Sheep ! Sheep !'-' 
 is the great hue and cry, for an illustration on this 
 subject. 
 
 Hereafter, reader, you shall have more as novel deci- 
 sions as this, by Missouri courts of justice. 
 
 OUR MURDERERS AGAIN. 
 
 As this subject is in close connexion with our trial, I 
 will close this chapter with testimony on the point. ^ A 
 man writing from Palmyra says, " There is a determina- 
 tion on the part of the citizens, should they be cleared, 
 in consequence of any flaw or technicality in the law, 
 710^ to let them go unpunished. 
 
 " This, T think you may put down as a settled point — 
 and I am of the opinion that it would be far better for 
 the prisoners to be sent to the penitentiary, than to be 
 turned loose here — for there is no telling what scenes 
 might be enacted. On one day I heard the above senti- 
 ment expressed on several occasions by as respectable 
 gentlemen as there are in the county. Suppose, sir, 
 that those men had been cleared, could not every man 
 in this community have done the same with impunity 1 
 Most assunnlly, and I repeat it — I should deeply deplore 
 to see these men loose, in Palmyra, for there is no tell- 
 ing what scenes might be enacted." 
 
 I am thankful I can inform the public " what scenes" 
 would have been " enacted" had we been cleared. 
 
OUR Murderers — testimony. 85 
 
 Rev. Wra. Beardsley, writing for the Oberlin Evan- 
 gelist, says, " We have been assured by respectable 
 people in Missouri, that there were many at the court, 
 prepared and fully determined, in case they were not 
 convicted, to assassinate them on the spot." 
 
 A minister, at the time he wrote, living at St. Louis, 
 and acquainted in Palmyra, handed us, in the Peniten- 
 tiary, a letter (hereafter to be introduced) in which he 
 says, " I believe the Lord overruled the affair for the 
 preserving of your lives — for had you been acquitted, 
 you all would have certainly been murdered ! The in- 
 furiated mob, with their faces all blacked, had prepared 
 the gallows, and even the ropes for your execution I ! 
 tell it not in Gath — publish it not in the streets of Aske- 
 lon ! 
 
 After we had been in the Penitentiary, nearly four 
 years, a man who at the time of our trial (I believe he 
 was present) lived in the adjoining county, said to us, 
 "To your trial, twenty men came from Hannibal pre- 
 pared to hang you in case of an acquittal. When the 
 sentence was announced, k ma gistr ate s^idio his fellow, 
 " There we've got clear of mobbing them !" 
 
 Reader, turn back and read their repeated threats, 
 their oaths and curses, and then judge if 1 speak falsely. 
 " Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." 
 
 CHAPTER VIIL 
 
 JOURNAL AND LETTERS. 
 TWELVE YEARS IN THE PENITENTIARY. 
 
 Sept. 13. " Father, not as I will, but as thou wilt." 
 '' Glorify thy name." 
 
 If that is the field of labor for me — if most for my 
 good— if best for my friends — if the cause of Christ 
 
86 PATIENT IN TRIBULATION. 
 
 needs it — if abolitionists need it to stir them up — if the 
 poor slave needs it — if it will be for the best good of the 
 world — " if my crown will shine brighter in heaven, my 
 song rise higher," and be sweeter — then Amen ! I 
 shall be acquitted at the great and supreme tribunal of 
 the universe. Then my dear Savior will act as judge, 
 and the world will see and acknowledge the justness of 
 my cause. Then those who are now my enemies, and 
 rejoice and clap their hands at my condemnation, will be 
 covered with shame and everlasting confusion, unless 
 they repent. Then all things will be set perfectly right, 
 and to that court I appeal ! 
 
 I had laid my plans, and was looking forward with 
 joyful anticipations to the time when I should stand on 
 heathen ground, to proclaim the gospel of Jesus. But 
 if these plans were not in accordance with my Savior's, 
 let them be frustrated, and his fully carried out. 
 
 I have dear attachments at Mission Institute, but I 
 leave them to accomplish my Redeemer's will. I 
 have aged parents, dear brothers, sisters, and friends, 
 but gladly leave them to follow in the steps of my Cap- 
 tain, and of the innumerable company of those who 
 have suffered for Jesus' sake. 1 feel unworthy to be 
 thus honored, hut am willing my Master should make 
 me just such an instrument to roll on his cause, as he 
 sees fit. 
 
 Should I be confined twelve years to toil, shut out 
 from Christian society and privileges, I will say with 
 David, " Though I walk through the valley of the 
 shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with 
 me." Yes, Jesus will be with me there. " He will 
 never leave me, nor forsake" me. When I walk through 
 the " midst of trouble. He will revive me" — " through 
 rivers of sorrow, they shall not overflow me" — through 
 the "flame, I shall not be burned," for He is with me. 
 •' There shall no evil befall" me, for He shall " preserve 
 me from all evil." He shall " preserve my soul." 
 
 If I go to Jefferson, I go as innocent a man (as to this 
 crime) as ever suffered from the spite and malice of wick- 
 ed men. Their own law condemns them, and -God's 
 
SUSTAINED BY GRACE. 87 
 
 law pronounces sentence upon them, unless they re- 
 pent. 
 
 Well, let them do their worst, they can't hurt us. 
 They cannoi give a guilty conscience, nor keep us from 
 communion with God, nor shut from our hearts the con- 
 solations of the Holy Ghost. They cannot bar heaven 
 against us nor take from us the golden harp, nor pluck 
 our crowns from our heads. No; still ''Blessed is the 
 man who trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the 
 Lord is." I pity those who would injure me — I pray 
 for them — I forgive them, and hope they may find for- 
 giveness with God. for a spirit of greater love to, 
 and more hearty forgiveness of enemies. 
 
 The grace of God has sustained me during the trial ; 
 my heart has been calm, and my mind composed. At 
 the time of the sentence, our minds were unmoved and 
 our countenances unchanged. The multitude gazed to 
 see us blush and drop our heads, but were disappointed. 
 Jesus did not forsake us at that trying time. I felt then, 
 and still feel the preciousness of trusting in Christ, of 
 leaning upon his arm, and committing all to his care. 
 
 To-day, through the intercession of our counsel w^e 
 received a quire of paper, that we might wn-ite letters to 
 some of our friends before going to the Penitentiary. 
 
 Durinp- much of the time, of those two weeks, we 
 were engaged in writing letters — some of which shall 
 be soon forthcoming. 
 
 A FREE MAN MOBBED. 
 
 14. This afternoon, Charles (the sleeping preacher), 
 went out and was cleared — no prosecutor appearing 
 against him, nor indictment found. He started to go 
 over with Stephen (a student), but a mob pursued. 
 
 They have long threatened abusing him, when he 
 should get out, and no sooner is he clear, than the hu- 
 man bloodhounds are in close pursuit ! This is but a 
 specimen of the spirit that exists here — that slavery ger- 
 minates and fosters. The cause of their hatred to 
 Charles, was doubtless his enmity to slavery. Mark ! 
 though he was honorably discharged, and had injured no 
 
88 MOB LAW. 
 
 one, he could not, with safety, stay there one hour — 
 and yet " we are opposed to mobs in Marion !" 
 
 MOB IN CINCIXXATI. 
 
 Heard, by Stephen, that there has been a mob in Cin- 
 cinnati — some killed — property destroyed — and great 
 commotion. Our nation appears to be drawing very 
 near a crisis. It seems almost ripe for ruin. 'J"he suf- 
 ferings of the slave, and the blood of the martyrs, cry 
 loudly to heaven for vengeance. 
 
 That slavery is soon to fall I have no doubt, but in 
 what way, I cannot tell. I fear men will not listen to 
 truth, sufficiently to lead them to see and put away the 
 evil peaceably ; if they will not, then, by the judgments 
 of God they will be compelled to give it up. He can 
 easily find means to put away the system ; and may the 
 time be hastened. Let God use those means which will 
 most glorify Him. These commotions, mobs, concus- 
 sions of States, casting honest men into prison, and 
 other events rf like character, evince that something 
 uncommon, unlooked-for, and that will cause " the ears 
 of men to tingle," is near. Lord, turn and overturn, 
 till the nation and church are thoroughly purified. 
 
 THE BROKEN WILL. 
 
 15. Harry, the shoemaker, is a slave. His old mas- 
 ter, at his death, left in his will that Harry should be 
 free. But as soon as he was dead, before he was buri- 
 ed, his children contrived and destroyed the will, and 
 still hold Harry as a slave. 
 
 Such is the case with many. I have heard of num- 
 bers ; and there is not an honest, enlightened slave- 
 holder, that can deny that such cruel injustice is com- 
 mon in the slave states. Nothing is too bad for the spirit 
 of slavery to do. 
 
 Albert's first master willed him free at the age of 
 twenty-five. Since then he has been sold again and 
 again. They have trietl their utmost to sell him south, 
 so that he could never get the will ; but he is a little too 
 smart for them — he knows too much, and doubtless will 
 
NO CAUSE FOR DESPONDENCY. 89 
 
 get his freelom, by will, or " leg bail." His mind is 
 well-filled. This Albert was sold south — ran away — 
 was taken up and put in Palmyra jail — was there during 
 all our time — learned to write — took lessons on liberty 
 — and, shortly after our departure, slipped by the jailer, 
 as he came one evening to bring his supper — called, 
 with his companion, on our friends — and went safely to 
 Victoria's domain. 
 
 UNBELIEF AND FAITH. 
 
 16. At present the way may seem dark to some of 
 our friends, and because they cannot see the reason of 
 this dispensation, may feel discouraged. Let not this 
 be the case with any. There is no cause for being cast 
 down. Only believe that God knows and will do what 
 is for our best good, and we shall rejoice in all his ways. 
 
 Joseph might have thought his treatment a strange 
 providence ; he could have brought up many plausible 
 reasons why it would have been better for him to be 
 with his father and friends, but he trusted in God. 
 Though he could not see, yet he believed and was happy, 
 and useful in his prison — in a land of strangers. Had 
 he not believed, he would have made himself miserable, 
 and perhaps pined away, and sunk into the grave. Un- 
 belief banishes })eace. 
 
 Behold his father. How very different. He has no 
 faith. As soon as a dark cloud arises, he is in trouble 
 — puts the worst construction on the providence of God 
 — looks at the dark side, murmurs, frets, repines, and 
 makes up his mind to " go to the grave mourning." 
 He was unhappy — had no peace ; for his unbelief had 
 completely shut out peace from his soul. Friends, be- 
 lieve, where you cannot see. Rest in God, and you shall 
 be kept in " perfect peace," though the earth should pass 
 away. 
 
 Though Jacob chafed and vexed himself, yet God 
 went forward with his wise and kind purposes. Joseph 
 was separated from home and friends for perhaps twen- 
 ty years. Jacob, all this time, made himself wretched 
 by unbelief, vvheii he might have been contented and 
 
90 UNBKLIKF AND FAITH. 
 
 happy, by only exercising confidence in God. But af- 
 ter a long time he showed the old father his folly in be- 
 ing so concerned and irreconciled. 
 
 Great good was the result of this strange providence 
 — not only Jacob and his f iinily but nations saved and 
 God glorified ! How much sweeter this blessing would 
 have been to Jacob, had he all the time felt a firm con- 
 fidence that all would come out for the best. 
 
 'riien let not my [)arents feel and say as did Jacob — 
 '• An evil beast hath devoured him. George is, without 
 doubt, rent in pieces." " 1 will go down to the grave 
 mourning," &c., but let them trust in Go 1 and be quiet. 
 Let them feel that He is wiser and more kind than they. 
 
 Let not M. feel as did Martha and Mary of old when 
 their brother died — " Lord, if thou hadst been here my 
 brother had not died," — as if their happiness all rested 
 on their brother. Here was unbelief. I'hey did not 
 acknowledge the hand of God. Because their brother 
 died, their hopes were all blasted, and they were filled 
 with anxiety and trouble. Let her remember the words 
 of the Savior — " Said I not unto thee that if thou 
 w^ouldst believe, thou shouldst see the glory of God ]" 
 Let none fret and murmur. The glory of God shall be 
 seen — therefore let all be satisfied, composed, and trust 
 in Jesus. 
 
 Though I go not down to Egypt to feed with tempo- 
 ral bread or save the temporal lives of millions, yet, if 
 I go to Jefferson, there is no doubt that thousands 
 will be deliveied from worse than Egyptian bondage, 
 and fed with spiritual bread, and made to inherit eternal 
 life in consequence. More broken hearts than were in 
 Jacob's family will be bound up and comforted, — many 
 an old mourning father will be made to rejoice upon his 
 son's neck, and to say — "Now let me die, since I have 
 seen thy face and thou art yet alive." In many a fami- 
 ly will there be "'heard music and dancing," because he 
 that was as dead has come again, and the lost has been 
 found — of many places shall it be said, " there was great 
 joy in that city," because the oppressor's arm has been 
 broken, and liberty to all proclaimed through the land. 
 
NOT AFRAID TO GO TO PENITENTIARY. 91 
 
 Shall I then fear to go down to Egypt ? (Jefferson V, 
 No! No ! " Lord, here am I, send me." 
 
 TAKING THE SLAVe's PLACE. 
 
 " Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." How 
 shall this be applied to the slave 1 If many can be re- 
 leased from their sufferings for years, by my taking, as 
 it were, their place, then does not this principle require 
 me to do it cheerfully'? At any rate I am willing to 
 wear the chain — endure the frowns and threats — per- 
 form the toil, and suffer the smartings of the lash, if 
 this will ease them of their burden. 
 
 Although going to the penitentiary is not exactly tak- 
 ing the slave's place, yet it is suffering with him, and 
 for him, and will shorten the time of his bondage. If 
 in this way, more than in any other, I can labor effectu- 
 ally to break his chain, then let Jesus take me, use me 
 in his own way, help me to " gird up the loins of my 
 mind," that I may bear up manfully under all.* 
 
 THE LAST view. 
 
 After our sentence, many of our beloved associates 
 hastened, day after day, to take their last view of us in 
 this world. Load after load came and gave us the part- 
 ing hand, the farewell look, and the affectionate bene- 
 diction. The clank of our chain, and the united voices, 
 of those kindred and dear, made music sweet, while 
 they in the street, and we in our dungeon, together 
 praised the Lord, and sought his blessing and protection. 
 0, precious seasons ! 
 
 As I write, my mind recalls the names of many who 
 then beheld us for the last time. One, and another, and 
 another, were soon called to their rest. Our beloved 
 Moses has gone ; good old David walks in white ; Isaac 
 and Samuel are no more ; Brother Francis is with Jesus ; 
 Rebecca has long sung with the angels ; little Ellen 
 (Alanson's youngest child) , quickly pined away and sank 
 
 * Though my journal was written as expressive of my own particular 
 feelings and views, it is believed it as heartily expresses the feelings of 
 the other brethren as my own. 
 
92 THE ILLINOIS AND MISSOURI CLERGYMEN. 
 
 into the grave, sorrowing for her father; — while many 
 have been wafted to distant nations, to ])roclaimthe glad 
 tidings of salvation. 
 
 'I'lioiiiili bars of iron prevented our near approach, our 
 spirits rejoiced in secret fellowship, while we anticipated 
 the happy meeting above, where foes can never more 
 approach. 
 
 On the 18th of Sept., Mrs. Work with all her family 
 made a visit to the Jail — came in — and while the little 
 ones embraced their father, and each bade him farewell, 
 ! where is the heart that would not melt ? Yet Palmy- 
 rians could look upon the scene unmoved. Slavery "is 
 very familiar with seeing parents torn from their chil- 
 dren, and families sundered. Such things are common, 
 every-day occurrences, and not regarded. 
 
 I believe Mrs. Work came once more, before we left 
 — some came still later, but for the last week of our time 
 there, no one came — having heard that we were gone. 
 Ex])ecting every day that some one would be over, we 
 wrote many things both in the way of journal and letters, 
 expecting an opportunity to send them by our friends; 
 but no friends came, and they all fell into the hands of 
 the enemy, and most probably were committed to the 
 flames. Our books, watch, &c., after a long time, were 
 given up. 
 
 Before our trial, a minister, Brother B., from Illinois, 
 came to see and converse with us, but was not allowed 
 to come in. We spoke a few words through the grates. 
 
 On the 17th, Horatio Foote came to see us, but was 
 denied the privilege. He went to the sheriff: "-No." 
 He went to the circuit judge : " No admittance." And 
 he went home, without seeing^ or speakintr to us. 
 
 in a 1-ehgious town, and yet a prisoner not allowed to 
 converse with a gospel minister, nor receive from him a 
 word of counsel and consolation. Now mark. On the 
 very next day, firo men [Missourians], were allowed to 
 come and talk with us, in defence of slavery ; while he 
 wdio wished to enquire after our souls' welfare was ex- 
 cluded. One of the two was formerly a methodist 
 minister, but is now an editor, and probably came in to 
 
THE CLERGYMAN CONFOUNDED. 93 
 
 talk with us, that he might have something to attract 
 notice in the columns of his paper. 
 
 The following is the substance of our conversation : 
 " What are your feelings under your trials "?" " We 
 are perfectly resigned, contented, and happy." " Do 
 you think your conduct was right?" "Perfectly so." 
 " By what rule was it justifiable ?" " By the commands 
 of the Bible, and the whole spirit of the gospel." 
 " Will you please state more definitely '?" " Love thy 
 neighbor as thyself," — " As ye would that men should 
 do to you, do ye even so to them," — " Do good unto all 
 men," &c. "What do you think of Philemon's case'?" 
 " There is no difficulty in that, for Onesimus was Phile- 
 mon's oivn brother, and not a slave.^' On this he argued 
 some time, " I have been accustomed to believe that 
 Onesimus was a runaway slave, and that Paul sent him 
 back to his master." " All very natural, sir, but read 
 the chapter, and see w^hat it says (v. 16), ' Not now as a 
 servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially 
 to me — but how much more to thee, both in the flesh, 
 and in the Lord V Sir, the phrase ' in the flesh,' can 
 mean nothing more nor less than an oivn brother. 
 Read again (v. 18), 'If he hath wronged thee, or oweth 
 thee aught,' &c. Can a slave owe his master? The 
 probability is, sir, that he was a younger brother, bound 
 out to his older brother, Philemon." It w^as a new idea 
 to him altogether, and he was taken in a way he was not 
 expecting — was confused, and could not say much ; for 
 there it was, right before his eyes ; deny it he could not. 
 Perhaps he had read the chapter hundreds of times, and 
 preached from it frequently to slaves, and others ; yet 
 slavery had so blinded his eyes, he never had seen the 
 plainest undeniable meaning. He had been looking for 
 something with which to bolster up slavery and not for 
 the simple truth — and is not this the case with the 
 majority of slaveholding ministers? 
 
 OUR CHAIN AGAIN. 
 
 Sept. 18. Before dark they came and put us in chains 
 again, not the old one, but one not quite so large. It 
 
94 CATHOLICISM AND SLAVERY. 
 
 was a large ox chain. One of us at each end, and James 
 in the middle, about five feet apart. — This is the one 
 they expect us to wear to Jefferson. What their object 
 can be I know not, unless it is to spite and harass us all 
 they can, while they have the power ; for surely they 
 cannot feel that there is any danger of our getting away, 
 and they must know that we have no disposition so to 
 do. This is by the sheriff's orders, a professed brother 
 in Christ ! 
 
 Remonstrance was in vain, nor had he courage to 
 come and speak with us, but sent word, " It must be 
 done." Is it uncharitable to say, " And Felix willing 
 to show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound ?" But 1 
 will bear it patiently, for heaven will be the sweeter for 
 the trials of earth. We have been free from our chain 
 eight and a half days. 
 
 slaveholders' religion and CATHOLICISM. 
 
 I very much fear that much of the religion of the 
 slaveholders is like the religion of Bishop Bonner and 
 the Catholic clergy in the times of the persecutions, 
 about the year 1500. Then, if a man called the Pope 
 Anti-Christ, &c., he was at once, without judge or jury, 
 condemned as a heretic, and not fit to live. So now, if 
 a man go into a slave state, and open his mouth against 
 the awful abominations practised — if he " cry aloud and 
 spare not," or if he even drop a word or remark in fiivor 
 of abolition — if he does not uphold their " domestic in- 
 stitutions" — if it is seen that he is against slavery — why 
 then, no matter what his character may be, though ever 
 so meek, humble, inoffensive, and devoted to doing 
 good, he is denounced as unworthy to live, — mobbed 
 and killed, imprisoned or driven from the state. The 
 more holy the man, the fiercer their rage. 
 
 There certainly is a great similarity in the fruits of 
 the two religions — whether they are the same religion, 
 the Lord be Judge. 
 
THE DAY OF ADVERSITY. 
 
 95 
 
 TRUSTING IN GOD. 
 
 Sept. 19. " Whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall 
 be safe ;" and again, " shall be made fat." 
 
 Situated as we are — in chains — among enemies who 
 devise our hurt ; separated from dear friends, and denied 
 the privileges of God's house — watched with an eagle- 
 eye — reproached and reviled — not knowing what a day- 
 may bring forth — expecting, in chains, to be hastened 
 to the confinement of a penitentiary, under the care and 
 treatment of whom we know not — there, for years, to be 
 shut out from all religious society ; perhaps to be denied 
 even speaking or writing to our friends ; excluded from 
 religious privileges ; in speechless toil to spend the day 
 under a driver, and by night alone with Jesus — thus situ- 
 ated it is beyond utterance blessed, sweet, and glorious, 
 to commit ourselves and cause into the hands ofptwr 
 faithful Redeemer. It gives a peace " the worjji^^not 
 take away" — a "joy unspeakable ajid fujj^^rfglory." 
 
 20. " If thou faint in the da^^,.*-ef^advei-sity thy 
 strength is small." — Proji.^x5i^*^!<^ "That ray strength 
 is small I am con,s«^«ift'y'^ i t™sVJt^i^ grace , of Christ 
 will so sij^fl-gtheh me. that I shall not '-'faint:." For he 
 has said, i^i:.! >' w-^ilFi-rri hiiii wit1i good courage," He 
 ^^^_;^^>i«it*^ti'cnglheif''i^^^ heart." ; I ha:Te-Traited on Him 
 '^^tkl havejia-Ufainted.^ T will wait upon' Hrrjj^^andtrust 
 
 jfe^Fmrtiiaiat. His promise is sw-e. ^*'"-'-«.^ 
 
 O ! that n«Trr^ja-y frieiids..jgaajjaint, but trust in the 
 "^^^.^.pitifd In adversity as well as in pro?rperity — yea, we 
 hardly know whether w^e do really trust in HinL iJll ad 
 
 versitY tries our faith. We should then be thankful for 
 circumstances which put ovu- faith and principle to a test. 
 They show us what we are — teach us ourselves — bring 
 out our real hearts. Adversity is calculated to promote 
 in us unfeigned humility; to increase our dependence 
 on God — our patience, love, faith ; and to separate us 
 from the world and all creature objects. It shows us 
 who are our true friends ; for 
 
 " The friends who in our sunshine live. 
 
 When winter comes, are flown ; 
 
 And he who has but tears to give. 
 
 Must weep those tears alone." 
 
96 THE DAY OF JUDGMENT GOOD. 
 
 It teaches us to be thankful for prosperity ; we learn 
 the worth of it ; and when restored again to health, 
 friends, and comforts, we shall prize and improve them. 
 Thus sickness teaches us the worth of health — losses 
 and destitution, the value of possession — bereavements, 
 the greatness of the blessing of friends, parents, hus- 
 band, wife, and children — persecution, the blessedness 
 of peace and quietness — and by imprisonment, we learn 
 the importance oi liberty. 
 
 Such being the beneficial results of adversity, shall 
 we shrink back from its approach ? Oh ! no ; for " bless- 
 ed is the man that endureth temptation, for when he is 
 tried he shall receive a crown of life." 
 
 I welcome, then, the piercin^ blast, 
 
 For Oh ! though sharp, 'twill soon be past. 
 
 And swiftly waft me homeward too: 
 
 Let tempests blow and billows roll. 
 
 My Captain will their raare control. 
 
 And He will bear me safely throusrh. 
 
 I welcome dunsjeons, pain, and shame, 
 
 Yea, welcome death, for Jesus's name. 
 
 If I may reach his blest abode, 
 
 In tribulation HI rejoice. 
 
 In persecution tune my voice, 
 
 And glory in the path He trod. 
 
 Moreover, adversity not only teaches us, as notl:ing 
 else can, the preciousness and worth of the promises, 
 but gives us a claim to them, bringing us into circum- 
 stances for which they were especially provided, and to 
 which particularly adapted. Says Meikle — " He that 
 suffers under the greatest load of afflictions, has a right 
 to the greatest number of promises : and whenever he 
 loses another enjoyment, he has a right to another pro- 
 mise, which makes up that loss with a redundancy of 
 goochiess.^' But I need not enlarge. The whole tenor 
 of the Bible teaches us that adversity is profitable if 
 rightly improved — sent in love, and only designed to 
 " do us good in the latter end," and " make us partakers 
 of his holiness." 
 
 The universal testimony of the saints is that their 
 most afflictive days have been their best days. They all 
 
alanson's feelings. 97 
 
 Sing, it is good to be afflicted, — sweet affliction, that 
 brings Jesus to my soul. 
 
 LETTER FROM ALANSON, BEFORE STARTING FOR JEF- 
 FERSON. 
 
 Brother Turner : — 
 
 You expressed the opinion that we did not rea- 
 lize what it is to go to the penitentiary, or that we looked 
 upon it in too liglit a manner. Thinking it may help me 
 to endure with patience whatever awaits me, and be a 
 satisfaction to you and the dear friends, who have mani- 
 fested their kind feelings to us while here, I have con- 
 cluded to give you a brief history of my feelings, that 
 you may be the better able to judge of my preparation 
 to go to the penitentiary. 
 
 When I started on the expedition that has brought me 
 here, I felt confident that it was right, yea, and duty, to 
 help those who want help. This confidence has given 
 me a quiet conscience at all times. When we first fell 
 into the hands of our enemies, and they, with their guns 
 at our breasts, threatened to shoot us if we stirred ; 
 when they had us in their power, and Brown stepped 
 back and said he would shoot me anyhow, I felt startled. 
 And when I came to realize my condition and the pros- 
 pect before me ; not knowing what to expect — hearing 
 the threats of those who had us in their power, some of 
 whom were for hanging, some for shooting ; some for 
 one thing and some for another ; v^hen these prospects 
 flashed across my mind, my condition appeared dreadful. 
 And then my family ! — my wife forty miles from home 
 — ray little children alone, waiting in anxious suspense 
 the return of their father — all came pressing on my 
 mind with such force, that for the first week I was 
 unhappy. 
 
 The thought that I might, if acquitted, fall into the 
 hands of the mob, my body be whipped to a gore of 
 blood, or my life be taken away by this or some other 
 means, at times made me tremble. But feeling conscious 
 that my motive was " to do to others as I would they 
 should do to me," I continued to commit myself and 
 
 5 
 
98 ALANS j.n's FEKLINGS. 
 
 family to God, in fervent prayer, feeling that He was my 
 only hope. 
 
 Our friends furnished us witli hooks. In these I found 
 food and strength. In studying the Bible, I found it " a 
 lamp to my feet, and a liglit to my path." In it I learned 
 that the " Captain of our salvation was made perfect 
 through suffering;" and that if we " would reign with 
 Him, we must also sulfer with Him." These and kin- 
 dred passages, together witli the account of the sufferings 
 of Christians, as given in the Book of Martyrs, recon- 
 ciled me to my " ligh' atllictions." When I heard my 
 Savior saying, " Let not vour heart be troubled, neither 
 let it be afraid ;'' w'.ien I heard the won! of God in 
 almost every chapter — " PVar not," " Be not dismayed," 
 " I will be with you," "• I will help you," " Not a hair 
 of your head shall perish, and nothing shall by any 
 means hurt you," '' When thou passest through the 
 waters I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they 
 shall not overflow thee," " When thou walkest through 
 the tire thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame 
 kindle upon thee," iscc, my fears were allayed. And 
 when I read Mahan's Christian Perfection, anil saw the 
 full redemption there is in Christ — how He has made the 
 fullest provision for all our necessities of body and soul, 
 for time and for eternity, that infinite love and wisdom 
 could devise — when I saw that infinite faithfulness was 
 pledged to fulfil the " exceeding great and precious pro- 
 mises" to every one believing in tliem,and when I could 
 plead these promises with confidence, I felt my strength 
 renewed, and my mind girc'ed to meet the conflict. 
 
 I committed myself to the Lord, and jirayed that He 
 would deliver me out of the hands of my enemies, or 
 that He would allow them to triumph by sending me to 
 the penitentiary, or to wreak their vengeance by taking 
 my life, or in any other v ay that would glorify his name, 
 and most beneiit the slave. With these feelings I 
 went before the court, and was ^ not greatly moved" 
 during the trial, as the prospect appeared for or against 
 us. 
 
 When the jury gave their verdict, and all eyes were 
 
alanson's feelings. 99 
 
 turned upon us, to see the effect, by the grace of God, I 
 looked them in the face with composure. 
 
 And now, if it is my Heavenly Father's will that I 
 should go to the penitentiary and labor for twelve years, 
 separated from my family, from his ordinances, and 
 people, I know that He has wise reasons — some pur- 
 poses of mercy to accomplish ; and as He has hitherto 
 given me strength according to ray day, I feel that I can 
 trust Him for the future, and that He will prepare me to 
 endure to the end, or open the prison door, in his own 
 time and way. Now, dear brother, is ray confidence 
 misplaced? Have I any reason to raurmur, be cast 
 down, or to fear what man will do to me? I trust that 
 you, and all who sigh and pray, and labor for the slave, 
 will answer, no. 
 
 I learn that my condition, on account of ray family, 
 excites sympathy even in the hard heart of the op- 
 pressor. But why should it ? They can see the slave 
 separated from his family, and all the ties of nature sun- 
 dered in respect to hira, without one feeling of compas- 
 sion. Let them first learn to show pity at home, and I 
 shall need none. I now feel my interest, my life, ray 
 liberty, my all, identified with those of the slave. I de- 
 sign to search for some pillar on which slavery rests, and 
 through the prayers of God's people, hope to be endued 
 with power from on high to lay hold of it, and if I per- 
 ish, perish Sampson like. A. Work. 
 
 Doubtless the foregoing letter will be read with inte- 
 rest by every reader. 
 
 I regret that henceforth, our history, feelings, &c., 
 must be drawn chiefly from my own writings. The 
 journal for all, was kept by myself. Each of us wrote 
 letters frequently, yet these are for the most part lost, 
 and many of ray own I have not been able to get, so 
 that the history will necessarily be incomplete. How- 
 ever I trust it will not be unprofitable. 
 
 L 
 
100 LETTER TO MY FRIENDS, AFTER TRIAL. 
 
 Palmyra Jail, Sept. 14, '41. 
 
 Dear Parents, Brothers, and Sisters : 
 
 " I suppose you have had many anxious thoughts 
 about me, since you heard of my confmement in this 
 jail. Let me say, dismiss your anxiety, your carefulness, 
 and your fears. All is well, Yesterday, our trial 
 closed, with a verdict of guilty, and twelve years in the 
 penitentiary. Be not troubled. ' The Lord reigns.' 
 Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" Yes, I 
 am satisfied with his dealings with me. Be assured that 
 the things whereof I am accused, are not true. 
 
 They have tried but failed to prove them, and passed 
 sentence contrary to their own laws, though in perfect 
 accordance with their prejudices and their malice. I go 
 to Jefferson, remembering that 1 am but treading in the 
 steps of my Captain, and of an innumerable company of 
 saints who have been persecuted and killed for doinggood. 
 I go with cheerfulness, to be a partaker of the slaves'* 
 sufferings, and to " fill up that which remaineth of the 
 sufferings of Christ." I go, feeling that I have done 
 right. In view of these things the Penitentiary seems 
 a sweet place — the toil, rest — the confinement, liberty 
 — the years, a few days — the disgrace, a great honor. 
 My spirit they cannot confine, my thoughts they cannot 
 chain. They shall soar on high, and dwell in the celes- 
 tial region : 1 shall lack no good thing. If my plans are 
 all to be frustrated. Amen. I will not love my parents, 
 brothers, sisters, plans, attachments, more than my Sa- 
 vior ; but gladly leave them all, to fulfil his most blessed 
 will. My sentence is twelve years, but we do not ex- 
 pect to remain that length of time — if nothing else can 
 be done, slavery will probably cease before that time, and 
 then we shall come out. 
 
 I enjoin upon every one to plead the cause of the 
 poor slave — to " cry aloud, and spare not," to exert 
 yourselves to the utmost, to deliver the poor, and speed 
 on the day of universal liberty. 
 
 Not one Christian in Palmyra has been to converse 
 with us, as a Christian. Our friends at Quincy and 
 
LKTTER TO THE OBERLIN EVANGELIST. 101 
 
 Mission Institute, have been very kind ; they have 
 spared no pains nor effort, to make us comfortable and 
 happy. Since we have been here, unceasing prayer 
 has been offered by multitudes, that God would glorify 
 his name. The time spent here has been very precious. 
 We have had a prayer meeting, night and morning — 
 and on the Sabbath, usually two sermons. I shall ever 
 look back to these days with pleasure, 
 
 George. 
 Of the previous and following letter, I give merely 
 extracts, as much of the sentiment is similar to that ex- 
 pressed in Alanson's letter, and in my journal. 
 
 LETTER TO THE OBERLIN EVANGELIST. 
 
 Palmyra Jail, Sept. 15, 1841. 
 Dear Brother : 
 
 It no doubt seems strange to you, to see me date 
 my letter as above, and strange it would be had not our Sa- 
 vior, more than eighteen hundred years ago said, " Be- 
 hold the Devil shall cast some of you into prison, and 
 ye shall be tried,^^ and did we not remember that the 
 apostles, and thousands of the ancient Christians, were 
 cast into prison " for the name of Jesus," and " for con- 
 science toward God." Remembering these things, it 
 is not strange, that the devil should even noiv cast God's 
 " little ones" into prison. We are told " It is through 
 much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of 
 God," and " all who will live godly in Christ Jesus, 
 shall suffer persecution,^^ yea, the time cometh, that 
 whosoever killeth you, will think that he doeth God 
 service." 
 
 I am not at all astonished to see days of persecution 
 commence. I have expected them. I have felt that 
 they would come, before the poor slave could be deli- 
 vered : and that some must make up their minds to be 
 sacrificed upon the altar of slavery, and if I am thus to 
 be sacrificed, I submit cheerfully, rejoicing that I am 
 counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus. 
 
 1 am happy. I never expect to look back to any por- 
 
102 TRIUMPHANT SUFFERING. 
 
 tion of ray past life with greater joy and satisfaction, 
 than upon the time spent in the chain. The Savior has 
 been our constant companion, to whom we have had 
 great delight in approaching. He has poured into our 
 souls the consolations of his grace. His love has cast 
 out fear, and our souls have been kept in peace. 
 
 If I am to labor for years in prison to satisfy the spite 
 of blood-thirsty men, be it known that I go gladly and 
 triumphantly, knowing that truth will prevail, and great 
 shall be the good resulting. May thousands arise in my 
 stead — the cause roll on with power, and the Lord arise, 
 and cut short the work in righteousness. 
 For the truth and the slave, 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 Geo. Thompson. 
 
 THE slaveholder's PLAN. 
 
 Sept. 20. This afternoon a slaveholder came to the 
 window, and wished to know how we felt. He expect- 
 ed to find us cast down and sorrowful, but was much dis- 
 appointed and amazed, when he found us cheerful and 
 contented, in view of twelve years in the Penitentiary. 
 
 Said Alanson to him, " I expect that every stroke I 
 strike there, will be knocking down your goddess. The 
 man replied, " I think not, but perhaps you may do the 
 State some good by your labor ; I confess that slavery 
 is wrong — that it is an evil, and should be done away, 
 by enlightening the mind, and getting legislators to 
 enact laws against it." Granted. But how are your 
 minds to be " enlightened ?" Already, you have laws 
 against a word being spoken, or a book circulated, on 
 the subject ! If a man dares to open his mouth he is 
 mobbed and abused. You have closed your eyes, stop- 
 ped your ears, fortified your hearts, and seared your 
 consciences against every approach of light on the sub- 
 ject, and how are your minds to be enlightened. 
 
 The man thought he could show us a better way, to 
 do away the evil, than helping slaves away from their 
 masters, but he soon saw that there was no hope in his 
 way of operating, confessed his ignorance of the Bible, 
 
HOW ENLIGHTEN THE MIND ? 103 
 
 and that he did not govern himself by that book. Un- 
 doubtedly this is the case generally, with slaveholders, 
 and the supporters of the system — they are ignorant of 
 the Bible. 
 
 THE ACCUSATION LOOK AT IT. 
 
 Sept. 21. Slaveholders accuse abolitionists of entic- 
 ing their slaves to run away — of exciting them to re- 
 bellion, &c,, — mob them for their principles, imprison, 
 kill them, and [)ass laws to prevent their speaking or 
 circulating their jiamphlets on the subject ; and yet 
 come out and declare publicly in their paper (Missouri 
 Courier), and even in this lime of great excitement, 
 that the " notions of these fanatics only tend to rivet 
 still closer the chains of servitude upon our slaves — they 
 are doing more than any other class to fasten the chain 
 on the African slaves," &,c. What logic ! How alarmed 
 lest they cannot get the slaves otF their hands! How 
 they groan to be delivered from the burden ! Oh, what 
 hollow-heartedness ! 
 
 The whole community thrown into an uproar and 
 consternation, because three abolitionists are among them, 
 and yet they are only tightening ihe chains of the slave ! 
 Are they indeed so anxious to get rid of slavery 7 Do 
 they so ardently desire to have every chain broken, that 
 they so dread the presence of an abolitionist, lest he 
 should re^arrf the day of liberty ? Ah, no. If they de- 
 sire the continuance of slavery, and these fanatics are 
 doing so much to rivet the chain, surely they should 
 rather court iheir presence, and thank them for their 
 assistance in holding the slave. Such is the true speci- 
 men of the logic of slaveholders and supporters. What 
 nonsense. 
 
 ABROGATION OF GOd's LAW. 
 
 Sept. 22. How true are the words of David. Ps. 
 119, 126, " It is time for Thee, Lord, to work, for they 
 have made void thy law." Surely slaveholders have 
 so done. They have not only been careless and indif- 
 ferent towards it, as is the case with many wicked men 
 
104 ABROGATION OF GOd's LAW. 
 
 — do not care whether it is obeyed or not ; but they 
 have made it " ro2<i, ' as to the government of their ac- 
 tions — it is of no force or account in managing slaves. 
 They have, as it were, done it aicay, and enacted in its 
 stead, those coinciding with their lusts, and base pas- 
 sions — laws which encourage and reward wickedness 
 — discountenance and forbid mercy, truth, and righteous- 
 ness. All the multiplied and awful warnings, and 
 alarming denunciations against oppression, are entirely 
 disregarded, and laws directly opposite enacted in their 
 stead ! 
 
 God says, " Go preach the gospel to every creature." 
 They forbid its being preached at all, to more than half 
 their population ; and forbid the preaching of the ichole 
 gospel to any ! God says " Teach your children." 
 They forbid and make it a penal otfence to do it. God 
 says, " Let every man have his owm wife." They for- 
 bid it. " What God halh joined together let not man 
 put asunder." The law is universally disregarded. " Do 
 good unto all men." They won't allow it. " As ye 
 would that men should do to you, do ye even so to 
 them." For doing thus we are here in prison. " Love 
 your neighbor as yourself." Because we did, we are 
 sentenced for twelve years to the Penitentiary. " Be 
 merciful." Because we were, the country is in array 
 against us, and would destroy us. " Deal justly — love 
 mercy." Justice is a mere name among them, and their 
 mercy is cruel as the grave." '' Judge the fatherless, 
 plcr.d for the widow." '1 hey condemn and tread them 
 down, and persecute those who do plead for them. 
 God made man in his own image. They, by law, make 
 them brutes, })roperty, chattels. " We ought to obey 
 God rather than men." They tell us, " God's law is of 
 no account here — you better just let that alone, and 
 think of the laws of Missouri." We tell them, " the 
 ]^ible forbids such and such things." " Well, well," 
 say they, "the laws of our land and the Constitution of 
 the United States grant us suth privileges. God's law 
 is not our rule." 
 
 And so in almost every thing have they made void 
 
THE SLAVES WILL NOT RUN AWAY. 105 
 
 God's holy law. They have legislated it away — it comes 
 not into their code. It is quite obsolete. 
 
 Surely, Lord, it is time for Thee to work." They 
 profess to love Thee, and to regard Thy word — it is a 
 professedly Christian community, and yet behold how 
 they insult, reproach, and mock at Thy law. "What 
 will become of Thy great name," if they are thus suf- 
 fered to triumph? O, arise, and come forth, for the 
 vindication of Thy honor, the establishing of Thy law, 
 and making it honorable. Let thy right hand be exalted, 
 and the glory of Thy name be greatly magnified. De- 
 fend Thy litile ones, and save those who put their trust 
 in Thee. 
 
 Reader, you are well aware that the above sketch is 
 very incomplete — that " the half has not been told" you. 
 The list may be extended almost indefinitely ! Truly 
 God's law is " made void.'''' 
 
 " The slaves are contented and happy, and could not 
 be hired to run away !" So say slaveholders to aboli- 
 tionists. But what is their testimony in a crowded 
 court house, when trying to condemn three abolitionists'? 
 The State's attorney compared slaves to sheep, and lib- 
 erty to salt. Said he, " they would as readily follow a 
 man who held out liberty before them, as sheep would 
 follow a man who gave them salt." And who does not 
 know the readiness of sheep to follow salt, and the 
 strength of their appetite for it? 
 
 Thomas Anderson, a lawyer and slaveholder, testified, 
 " It is only necessary to give them any hope of liberty, 
 and they are ready to escape. They love liberty more 
 than sheep love salt," &c. Glover testified to their love 
 of liberty, and how they often show this love by trying 
 the fleetness of their feet. Wright, a lawyer and 
 rdaveholder, contended that they were men — were ra- 
 tional and immortal beings — that the love of liberty was, 
 by the Deity, implanted in their hearts, and could not 
 be got out ; and many other such things which I do not 
 now call to mind. 
 
 Iftheslavesdo not love liberty, then why so much effort 
 to keep them down ? — whv such severe laws, and pun- 
 's* 
 
106 LETTERS TO A FRIEND. 
 
 ishments ap^ainst them, to keep them from running away 1 
 Why so much terror, alarm, excitement, and rage, be- 
 cause an abolitionist is found on this side of the river 7 
 Ah ! they are afraid the slaves will hear a word about 
 liberty and Canada, and that then it will be impossible 
 to keep them. Their only way to hold them, is to keep 
 them in the darkest ignorance, and this is done by legis- 
 lation. 
 
 Why are we sentenced for twelve years to the peniten- 
 tiary 1 Because the slave loves liberty. Why so many 
 advertisements and rewards in the papers — so much 
 effort and pains to find the slaves 1 If they do not love 
 liberty, surely they will come back. Why are slave- 
 holding cities filled with patrols by night 7 And why 
 cannot slaveholders sleep at night 1 Ah, the slave 
 loves liberty, and they know it ! Don't love liberty ! 
 What a libel on human reason and common sense. 
 Their own mouths, conduct, spirit, laws, condemn them, 
 and proclaim to the world that the slave does love lib- 
 erty? 
 
 The remainder of my jail journal probably fell a vic- 
 tim to Palmyra flames. The above is the last record 
 that I have been able to find. A few extracts of letters 
 will close the first division of this work. I insert them 
 because I think they will do good. 
 
 TO A FRIEND. 
 
 I am satisfied with God's dealings thus far, and ever 
 expect to be with all his providences. I have " rolled 
 my burden upon the Lord, and He has sustained" me. 
 While the trial was advancing, and when the jury were 
 out, I waited to hear the will of my Savior, and when 
 known, how should I feel but resigned, composed, and 
 satisfied ? — and wliat do but rejoice in that will '? I do, 
 yea, and I will rejoice. Let me lose sight of myself, 
 and look to the general crood. 
 
 What are twelve years' labor, compared with the im- 
 prisonment and torture of ancient Christians ? What, 
 compared with the life of toil, and suffering of the poor 
 slave 1 Shall I hesitate to suffer with them ? Ah no. 
 
THE LIGHT AFFLICTION. 107 
 
 The way not to be dejected and discouraged, is to 
 look at the promises, the end of life, the good to be ac- 
 complished ; and not to ourselves and selfish interests. 
 Forget these. 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 True, we are under sentence of twelve years in the 
 penitentiary, but what of this 7 Surely, it will not hurt 
 us ; it will only purify and better prepare us for our 
 ht avenly abode. 
 
 We feel that our separation is an affliction, but must 
 we not call it a "light affliction?" Comparing it with 
 what Jesus suffered for us — the apostles, and primitive 
 saints, for the name of Christ — with what the poor slave 
 suffers — with whr't we deserve — can we call it more than 
 a very " light affliction ?" Surely we cannot. But how 
 shall we conduct ourselves under those afflictions. Paul 
 tells ; 2 Cor. iv. 18 : Look not at ourselves, our suffer- 
 ings, and our prospects ; but at ''• Jesus, who endured 
 such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest we be 
 wearied, and faint in our minds." Look at his suffer- 
 ings, and his conduct under them. Look at his pro- 
 mises — their faithfulness, ri:hness, fulness, all-suffi- 
 ciency ; look at heavenly and divine things — the mansion, 
 the crown, the harp, the white robe, the innumerable 
 company, the Lamb. Looking at these things we 
 shall forget our sufferings, and be filled with peace 
 and joy, substantial, soul-reviving, satisfying, and 
 eternal. Rom. viii. 18. But looking at, and dwell- 
 ing on the things " seen," our troubles, &c., we 
 shall forget the promises, Jesus, and the glory pre- 
 pared for us ; and be earthly, fretful, unhappy — be- 
 cause the things " seen are temjioral," and cannot furnish 
 that enduring food for the soul, which the "things un- 
 seen and eternal" afford. Well, what are the consequen- 
 ces of thus conducting ourselves under these " light af- 
 flictions?" Why, they will seem, as they really are, 
 " but for a moment," and shall " work for us a far more 
 exceeding and eternal weight of glory." See how Paul 
 labors to get words to express the fulness of his soul. 
 
108 SPIRITUAL LIGHT IN DARKNESS. 
 
 There is also a sweet promise in Ecc viii. 12, " It shall 
 be well with them who fear God." Believing this will 
 give us peace and joy in all possible adverse circumstan- 
 ces. Can we not fully trust our Savior's word 1 
 
 We need not fear being crushed, or killed by the rod, 
 so long as we lean on Jesus. Knowing that the rod is 
 applied in love, by our Father, let us not faint, but em- 
 brace and kiss the rod, which shall make us " partakers 
 of his holiness." 
 
 May some afflicted soul profit by these hints. 
 
 The following is considered important for every 
 Christian to understand and feel. Because this idea is 
 not understood and felt, is the cause of nearly or quite 
 all the baneful influences arising from broken plans, 
 disappointed hopes, &,c. 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 How often have we prayed that God would make us 
 useful in the world, to the greatest extent of our pow- 
 ers. We have said that this is all for which we desire to 
 live. We profess to desire the glory of God more than 
 anything else. This is all right. And have we not 
 given ourselves up to Jesus, to direct and thi with us just 
 as He sees best ? Is not He wise 1 And does He not 
 know perfectly all our abilities, and qualifications, and 
 circumstances? Does He not understand fully, just 
 where we are calculated to labor with the greatest suc- 
 cess ; and where it will be most for our good, the good 
 of our friends, and most for his glory? Then, if we 
 have given ourselves up to Him, to dispose of, and use 
 for his glory and the greatest good of mankind, let us 
 fully believe in our souls, that He will place us just 
 where we are most needed, where we shall be 
 most useful, and where we shall most honor and 
 glorify his name. If we have no will of our own, 
 we shall be periectly satisfied with all the will and dis- 
 pensations of our Savior, in whom we repose implicit 
 confidence. We shall rejoice to go just where He sends, 
 do what He assigns, and suffer what He lays on us ; 
 not doubting, for one moment, thai we are in just the 
 
DELIGHT IN THE WILL OF GOD. 109 
 
 circumstances where we shall accomplish the most for 
 
 our Redeemer. 
 
 Though He may place us in circumstances that seem 
 adverse, and dark clouds gather around as — though we 
 cannot see how good will result, yet, let our confidence 
 in his wisdom and faithfulness be unshaken, feeling as- 
 sured that He will bring it out just right — and just as we 
 "would have it, did we know all the circumstances and 
 results as He knows them. 
 
 Forget ourselves, our interests, our plans, and rejoice 
 to let Christ take and make us instruments to carry on 
 his plans and interests, in his own way. Be perfectly 
 swallowed up in God's will — ready for anything. This 
 will give a quietness, peace, and joy, that nothing else 
 will. And lf;t me assure you, this quietness, peace, and 
 joy, I feel in ray soul in view of all that is before me. 
 It banishes anxiety and all uneasiness, while I patiently 
 wait for, and desire only God's will to be done. I have 
 an unshaken confidence that He will do " all things 
 ■weliy With these feelings, it is out of the power of 
 earth and hell, combined, to make me unhappy. If the 
 greatest good will result (and can w^e doubt it) ? by our 
 suffering, our long imprisonment, why then, our desire 
 is accomplished — our request granted, and why not re- 
 joice ? Is it for tis to say, in what way we will be use- 
 ful 1 We are in the Savior's employ— let Him direct, 
 and we will sing, 
 
 "Only thou our leader he, 
 And we still will follow thee." 
 
 I have not a doubt, that if the Lord sends me to the 
 penitentiary, more will be accomplished, than could 
 possibly, by me, in any other way. 
 
 My Savior calls, and I rejoice to obey. Keep close 
 to Him, and He will keep close to you. George. 
 
 LETTER OF INTRODUCTION. 
 
 To the Warden of Missouri Penitentiary, Jefferson City, 
 
 Palmyra, Sept. 20, 1841. 
 Dear Sir : — This will be handed to you by Messrs. 
 
110 LETTER OF INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Work, Burr, and Thompson, who have been confined in 
 the jail of this place, for some months, on a charge of 
 taking some slaves, with intent to set them at liberty — 
 on which charge they have been convicted, and sentenced 
 to twelve years' imprisonment under your care. 
 
 They have solicited me to say to you, what is their 
 true character and standing. I can say that I have 
 known them only since they came to Palmyra jail, and 
 in the relation of counsel, who defended them on their 
 trial. 
 
 That they have sustained a good reputation heretofore, 
 I have no doubt, from all 1 can learn. I am of the 
 opinion that they are conscientious men, and mean to do 
 right, according to their views of right. I think, sir, 
 they would be incapable of stealing, in the common ac- 
 ceptation of that term — and what they have done, has 
 been induced by mistaken opinions of duty in regard to 
 the subject of slavery — they being practically and em- 
 phatically abolitionists. They having requested, I 
 could not withhold from persons situated as they are, a 
 statement of what I have been satisfactorily induced to 
 believe, was and is their true character. 
 
 With great respect, I am sir. 
 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 
 S. T. Glover. 
 
 The jailer also wrote a letter to the Warden, com- 
 mending our good conduct while with him, approving of 
 our character, &c. 
 
 The Judge also wrote to the Warden, stating that he 
 believed us honest, conscientious men, who meant to do 
 right in what we did — and he believed if we were at 
 liberty, would do the same again. He thought we should 
 not be treated as common felons, as other prisoners, but 
 more leniently, &c. And yet this same Judge was a 
 wicked man, and so prejudiced, and hard-hearted, that 
 he did all he could to convict us. No thanks to him for 
 thus recommending us to the Warden, for the Lord 
 pressed it out of him. 
 
 After our trial, a committee was appointed at a public 
 
QUINCY COMMITTEE. Ill 
 
 meeting in Quincy, to collect and publish all the circum- 
 stances in the case. They did so. A pamphlet of 
 thirty-seven pages, one thousand copies, was published. 
 A few remarks from that work, and I close this 
 chapter. 
 
 They say — " That they are honest men, all who have 
 been acquainted with them will testify. We believe 
 them incapable of a departure from wdiat they deem a 
 course of integrity and honor. We know the men — ■ 
 have witnessed their correct course of life, and the close- 
 ness of their walk w'ith God. 
 
 " They have hitherto been distinguished for uprightness 
 of character, for benevolence, and purity of life, and for 
 their zeal in every work of reform, and especially in the 
 cause of human rights. The standard by which they 
 aimed to regulate their lives, was not public opinion, 
 not expediency, but Heaven's own statute book, for 
 which they maintained the most sacred regard, and made 
 it their constant study. And in marking out their 
 course of conduct, their great inquiry seemed, not what 
 would please others, or be to themselves a source of 
 present advantage, but what w^as right, what was duty, 
 what was in fact the will of God. They emphatically 
 ' Remembered those in bonds as bound with them,' and 
 they have been heard, while engaged in prayer for their 
 emancipation, to entreat the Lord that if thus they could 
 more effectually aid in delivering the enslaved from bond- 
 age, they might themselves wear the chain," — and 
 blessed be God, we have worn the chain. 
 
PART SECOND. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 EMBRACING FIFTEEN AND A HALF MONTHS— THE 
 TIME UNDER CAPT.'S GORDEN AND BURCH. 
 
 JOURNEY TO THE PENITENTIARY. 
 
 The morning of the first of October, 1841, was cold and 
 Very stormy. We arose as usual — but about nine o'clock 
 we were called to start for Jefferson. A crowd again 
 assembled to take their farewell gaze at us. The rain 
 was pouring down almost in torrents, but the stage came, 
 and we, after bidding the jailer adieu, were seated, on 
 the middle seat — the driver before, and the sheriff behind 
 us. 
 
 A guard of six or seven men, armed with pistols, 
 dirks, &c., on horseback, accompanied us. The cause 
 of this o:reat force, was an expectation on the part of the 
 sheriff, and others, that we would be waylaid by a large 
 company of our friends, for the purpose of rescuing us 
 from their hands. We told the sheriff he need fear 
 nothing of the kind — for our friends were not of that 
 disposition. We had repeatedly requested our friends, 
 that let the case be as it might, there should be no phy- 
 sical defence in our behalf. 
 
 Let me here state, that since my release, I have been 
 informed that there were men in Licking county, Ohio, 
 who at the time of our arrest, were ready, and very 
 eager, to head a company, for the purpose of going to 
 Palmyra, demolishing the jail, and effecting our rescue. 
 They prol)ably would have advanced with the project, 
 but for the disapprobation and opposition of my friends 
 in that county — who did what they could to discourage 
 
CONVERSATION WITH THE SHERIFF. 113 
 
 any such measures — and told them that we would not 
 come awa)^ in such a manner, if they should go — and the 
 plan was abandoned. 
 
 I heartily rejoice in having parents, brothers, and 
 sisters, who would sooner see me lie in prison, than give 
 countenance to any such illegal, mobocratic suggestions 
 of such ferocious, hot-headed friends. 
 
 Our sheriff, John Jordon Montgommery, was a 
 member of th^ Presbyterian church in Palmyra. Though 
 during our confmement in jail, he shunned us, now he 
 was obliged to look us in the face with shame and blush- 
 ing. He thought the subject of slavery was a very de- 
 licate subject, and was quite reluctant to talk — but we 
 discussed the question to some extent, at various times. 
 He looked upon Dr. Nelson as a very bad man — not fit 
 to live ! 
 
 I asked, " Do you think that what we did, unchris- 
 tianized us V " I do," was the bold and unhesitating 
 reply. So much for the opinion of a slaveholder as to 
 what religion is. This, connected with his views of 
 Dr. Nelson, will give the reader a little idea of the vast 
 difference, there must be between the religion of slave- 
 holders, aud that of the Bible. His opinion did not at 
 all change our views of the character of our conduct. 
 
 In the stage we read " Clarke's Promises," " Mahan's 
 Christian Perfection," and the Testament, which tended 
 to keep our minds tranquil, and gave us much comfort. 
 Where we stopped at night, we found a large Bible, and 
 as we sat before the fire, in chains, the gazing stock of 
 the neighbors who ran together to see the sight, we read 
 the thirty-first Psalm. The reader will there find some 
 very precious promises, upon which our souls laid hold, 
 and were strengthened. 
 
 As we stopped for dinner, the sheriff, &c., ate before 
 us. While thus waiting in a separate room, the landlord 
 came and talked quite freely. He began, — " Well, we 
 slaveholders v.ill have a great account to render, will we 
 not '?" Yes, sir, you will indeed. He acknowledged 
 the evil of slavery — that they would be better off with- 
 out it — it was a curse, &c., '"'' but how are we to get clear 
 
114 WILLINGNtSS TO GO TO JEFFERSON. 
 
 of it 7 The evil has been entailed on us, and now what 
 can we do ?" " Let the oppressed go free"—" break 
 every yoke," and " pay the hireling his wages." Just 
 stop oppressing them — let them go. 
 
 At our next stopping place for the night, Alanson left 
 an Emanci|vator, hoping and praying, that the spark 
 might kindle into a flame. We (^ould walk, by all 
 stepping together — and we frequently refreshed ourselves 
 by our musical marching step. It was vmy pleasant to 
 be able to walk in this way, after being so closely con- 
 fined to the side of the old jail, so long. We felt that 
 God was with us, to comfort and support. Into his 
 hands we committed ourselves and our cause, with the 
 unwavering assurance that " a// ?6'a5 wcZ/. " With this 
 confidence we were cheerful and happy. The promises 
 were unspeakably sweet and precious, on whicli we 
 feasted. 
 
 The sheriff would not believe we were satisfied with 
 our condition — thought we would run away, if we had 
 an opportunity. I told him I was so far from going un- 
 willingly, that if I were left alone, I would go directly 
 to the penitentiary, and tell them I had come as a con- 
 vict, to take up my abode with them, for twelve years. 
 But this was what slaveholders could not believe. It 
 was a spirit of which they knew nothing. 
 
 THE SABBATH. 
 
 The morning of the third day, was the Sabbath. We 
 remonstrated with the sheriff against travelling, but he 
 was unfeeling, 'and only tried to insult us. " You might 
 have attended to your business, then, and staid on your 
 own side of the river."' Alanson thought we ought to 
 refuse to stir a step — but James and myself, said it would 
 be of no avail, they wouUl put us in, and take us any 
 how — accordingly we made use of our own strength to 
 get in and out of the stage. We afterwards regretted so 
 doing — felt we diii wrong, and sought pardon from God. 
 
 It was a very trying day to our souls, but God in 
 great mercy, stood by us. 
 
HAPPY IN EVERY CONDITION. 115 
 
 SLAVEHOLDERS, AND BIBLE RELIGION, AGAIN. 
 
 As we came in sight of the huge and dismal walls, 
 one of the guard, a professor of religion, came, and said 
 to us, " Your happiness for this world is now at an end. 
 You may be happy in a world to come, but you will see 
 no more happiness below." 
 
 Reader, see how little slaveholders know of the power 
 and excellency of the Gospel. The very first princi- 
 ples, are so far from being understood, that he who 
 practises them, and acts out the spirit of religion (which 
 is benevolence and love to all mankind) — is branded as 
 a criminal, and looked upon as having forfeited all right 
 to liberty, and the privileges of the gospel — and as 
 utterly incapable of experiencing further peace and 
 happiness on earth ! Amazing ! 
 
 Of the power of the gospel to support, and cheer, in 
 times of trial and darkness, he seemed to have no con- 
 ception ! Poor men ! how they are to be pitied ! North- 
 erners, do not censure them too severely. Their gross 
 ignorance calls for the exercise of charity — " they know 
 not what they do." 'Tis true they have the Bible, but 
 they can't read it intelligently — they read it, but they 
 don't understand its meaning — and they understand not, 
 because they will not, for their eyes are blinded, and 
 their hearts hardened. 
 
 I informed the poor man that my happiness arose from 
 a source beyond the reach or power of mortals to atfect 
 — that it was of such a nature as not to be destroyed by 
 outward circumstances — and that it was not in the power 
 of any man, or body of men, to make me unhappy. 
 Thrust me into prison, afflict, torture or kill, they could, 
 but still I should be happy, so long as my trust was re- 
 posed in God. But such doctrine was beyond his com- 
 prehension — " it was high — he could not attain unto it." 
 I hope he may be so fortunate as to be " happy in 
 the world to come" — for here, he certainly cannot be 
 happy with such lean, low, heathenish views of what 
 religion and happiness are. And I suppose that Missou- 
 rians are an enlightened people, when compared with 
 the great mass of the South ! 
 
116 " SHEEP AMONG WOLVES." 
 
 THE MISSOURI RIVER. 
 
 In the afternoon of the third day, we came to the 
 Missouri River, opposite the city of Jefferson, and the 
 penitentiary. A messenger who went over for the ferry 
 boat, reported that the abolitionists had come, and a 
 multitude crowded the bank to behold the sight. 
 
 While waitii>g on the boat, we read the fourteenth 
 chapter of John. Our hearts were comforted, and our 
 minds composed by the sweet words, " I will not leave 
 you comfortless" (there in your dungeon), " I will come 
 unto you," &,c. We believed the gracious words, and 
 rejoiced. 
 
 A large concourse awaited our arrival, on the oppo- 
 site bank, that they might meet and welcome to their 
 city, those of whom they had heard so much. The mass 
 of the male population, old and young, rich and poor, 
 bond and free, were there — each one striving engerly to 
 get one view of an abolitionist ! And from their running, 
 and gazing, it was evident they expected to see some- 
 thing wonderful. 
 
 So elated were the people at our arrival among them, 
 that many followed in our train, while others ran before, 
 and on either side, like so many obedient servants, re- 
 joicing to show their master honor, or homage to their 
 king. I think the arrival of the President would not 
 have caused greater " joy in that city." 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE CHANGE EXAMINATION FIRST APPEARANCES. 
 
 A MULTITUDE attended us to the prison ; and the office 
 was crowded, while we were loosed from our chain, 
 stripped, examined, recorded, one side of our hair cut 
 close — arrayed in shining colors, and another chain put 
 
REVILED AND THREATENED. 117 
 
 upon each of us ! It was a trying time, but Jesus said, 
 " Fear not." The Warden was insulting, calling us 
 kidnappers (he had not yet read our letters), &c. The 
 overseer stood before us with his great knife and pistols, 
 while the guard, with muskets, kept the door ! One 
 might infer from their conduct, that they looked upon us 
 as altogether another species of beings. But one who 
 %vas present, afterwards said, " I was there, and looked 
 upon you as three lambs led to the slaughter." He was 
 anti-slavery, but dare not speak out. 
 
 It was now evening — the prisoners had all retired — 
 everything was still, and dark, and dismal, as we were 
 conducted to our cell ! 
 
 Soon, we were separately brought before the war- 
 dens, and overseer, in the " guard-room." One of the 
 wardens was so drunk, he could scarcely sit up — and he 
 did the most of the talking. We were " questioned in 
 many things" — and things with which they had no busi- 
 ness. They wished to know all about the " under 
 ground railroad" (but could not get the information) — 
 how many slaves we had helped away — what were the 
 principles of Mission Institute — if abolition was not the 
 principal doctrine — if they did not conceal slaves there 
 — if that was not the object of the Institution — what 
 were the doctrines of abolitionists — what we had 
 studied, and meant to do, &c,, heaping upon us oppro- 
 brious epithets, and curses — threatening, insulting, and 
 trying to frighten us into a confession of guilt, with, 
 " If you don't acknowledge you are guilty, I'll take you 
 down, and give you forty lashes !" at the same time 
 swinging his hickory cane, and shaking it in our faces — 
 his eyes flashing fury. 
 
 We were treated very ungentlemanly — charged with 
 lying when we told the simple truth, in the honesty of 
 our souls ; and then threatened with punishment — de- 
 nounced as worse thnn highway robbers, cut-throats, or 
 wholesale murderers, and as meaner than chicken thieves 
 — threatened with having our tongues wired — and other 
 things too vile and wicked to repeat. 
 
118 A FEW KIND WORDS HOW 1 WROTE. 
 
 THE RULES. 
 
 1. " You must not speak to any prisoner, out of your 
 cell, nor to each other in your cell." 
 
 2. " You must not look up at any visitor — if it is your 
 own brother; if you do, J'll ilog you." 
 
 3. " You must always take off your cap, when speak- 
 ing to an officer, or when an officer speaks to you." 
 
 4. " You must call no convict, ' Mr.' " 
 
 When I was before them, I used the expression, " Mr. 
 Burr." " No, no ; there are no ^Ifw^er.? here." "Well, 
 brother Burr, then." " No, there are no brot/iers here.^^ 
 " Well, what shall I call him?" " Why, Burr, in just 
 the roughest way you can speak it." Frequently after- 
 wards, we were checked for applying Mr. to a convict. 
 
 With the repetition of these rules, we were threatened 
 with severe punishment upon the violation of them ; and 
 charged, " carry yourselves straight." 
 
 We were then locked in our cell for the night ; but 
 soon the overseer came and spoke very kindly — told us 
 what we must do in the morning — what would be ex- 
 pected of us, &c. He said, " There are many bad men 
 here, but if they behave, they will be treated well ; for 
 every man here is treated not according to his character, 
 but according to his conduct." I asked if we could 
 write to our friends. He said, " Yes, but you better not 
 be in a hurry. Wait a little, till you see how you 
 like the place." He said we could write once in 
 two or three months. I asked if we could keep a 
 journal. " I guess not," was the reply. And my jour- 
 nal for the first year and a half, was kept on the bedstead, 
 old ])oards, and blank leaves, by recording, sometimes a 
 word, sometimes two or three words, and sometimes a 
 sentence or two — just enough to bring the occurrence or 
 scene to my mind — with the date. In this way I noted 
 nearly every important occurrence or change ; and after 
 about two years, commenced writing out in full, all that 
 had transpired from the time we came to the penitentia- 
 ry ; and from that work, written in my prison cell, I now 
 copy — so that the reader may, for the most part, in the 
 
A DARK TIMK THK DRUNKEN WARDEN. 119 
 
 remainder of this narrative, consider the writer locked 
 in his cell ; and there, while others were wrapped in 
 slumbers, describing and commenting on the scenes he 
 had witnessed. 
 
 THE FIRST NIGHT. 
 
 That evening (the first), was a trying time to our souls 
 — our faith — our constancy ; but our God, on whom we 
 had leaned, in whom we had trusted, and to whom we 
 committed our cause, did not leave us w^holly to our- 
 selves — otherwise " our feet had slipped, and we had 
 sunk beneath the deep waters," — but even then, we 
 could lift the heart to heaven for support, for faith, for 
 Christian boldness. And when " we cried unto the 
 Lord, He heard and delivered us from our fears." I 
 believe Alanson and James stood the shock with more 
 composure of mind than I diil, and were enabled to 
 speak with more boldness ; but even my weak heart 
 was enabled to look upward, trust in God, and roll my 
 cares upon Him. It was indeed a squally time — the 
 clouds were very dark, and our prospects gloomy 
 enough. Doubtless we " should have perished in our 
 affliction, unless God's word had been our delight." But 
 glory to his name, faith pierced the dense darkness, and 
 showed us a Father's hand behind. It opened our ears 
 to hear a Savior's voice, saying, " I will surely do you 
 good" — " Be strong and of good courage" — " No man 
 shall set upon you to do you hurt." 
 
 We laid us dow^n to sleep, but were suffered to in- 
 dulge ourselves but little in such enjoyment, being 
 awakened and disturbed by the shrieks, and groans, and 
 pleadings of our fellow-prisoners, in the guard room, 
 adjoining our cell. Capt. William Burch, the drunken 
 warden, had come in from his revels, towards midnight ; 
 he dragged the sufferers from their beds — it being of little 
 consequence with him whether they were guilty of any 
 misdemeanor or not, and was giving vent to his cruelty by 
 putting them to the torture. To hear them scream, and 
 see them writhe and smart under the strap, or the pad- 
 dle, was to him a rich and sumptuous feast. 
 
120 MUSIC OF CHAINS. 
 
 And such things were repeated night after night, for 
 hours together. Sometimes the whole evening, and then 
 the hours of midnight, and then again before the morn- 
 ing dawn, would be thus occupied, driving slumber far 
 from us, and almost making our hair stand erect on 
 our heads, while we lay in suspense, expecting every 
 moment that our turn would come next. But the good 
 hand of our God saved us from their hellish mad- 
 ness. 
 
 in the midst of these fears and alarms, it was sweet to 
 go to the mercy-seat, and pour out our hearts before the 
 Lord, cast ourselves upon the promises, and invoke his 
 merciful protection. 
 
 THE FIRST MORNING. 
 
 As the prisoners were all in their cells, when we were 
 brought in, we knew nothing of the ajipearance and 
 sound of things, till we were aroused by the rattling of 
 bolts and locks, the slamming of iron doors, with a dis- 
 mal, hollow sound, as it echoed through the hall, and 
 the music of chains, as of a multitude of oxen walking 
 over a bridge with large chains hanging from their yokes ! 
 Strange sounds were these to us, and the conviction that 
 they were produced by human beings almost startled us. 
 But still more were we shocked when with our eyes we 
 beheld the scene. 0, it was heart-rending! Out of 
 u})wards of ninety, the majority were in chains — some 
 with one, fastened to the ancle, and suspended from the 
 loins — some with two, one on each leg, and suspended 
 in the same manner; and others with large fetters on 
 the feet, besides two heavy chains, one on either side, 
 obliging them to take very short steps. We also, with 
 ours, contributed to the harmony. 
 
 Soon it was generally known that the " 'J'hree Preach- 
 ers," (this was the name by which we were designatetl 
 for a long time, by jirisoners and citizens), had come ; 
 and it was truly amusing to see how eagerly every eye 
 was turned upon us, with a gaze that refused to be satis- 
 fied. 'I'hey had learned all about us, by the horse 
 thipf mentioned in part first, who came a month or so be- 
 
A GREAT MERCY. 121 
 
 fore us ; and also by tlie newspapers, which contained 
 our letters, and other things respecting us. 
 
 That day we remained in our cell the most of the 
 time, but were allowed to walk about the yard in 
 the afternoon by ourselves. As w^e looked at each other 
 with our striped clothes, and cap, and sheared heads, 
 we could not refrain from laughing heartily, and remark- 
 ing, " Well, you make a pretty good-looking convict." 
 
 OUR CELL. 
 
 We were all allowed to be in one cell. This was a 
 great mercy. Had we been separated and scattered 
 among the wicked, I know^ not what would have become 
 of us. But God knew our weakness, and need of each 
 other's help, and in his great compassion, constrained 
 these wicked men, to treat us in this respect, kindly, 
 beyond our most sanguine hopes. 
 
 What was their motive, I cannot say. We attribute 
 it all to the hand of God. They may have thus kept us 
 together, to keep us from contaminating the other pri- 
 soners with our principles — for according to their 
 charges, the principles of a highwayman, or whole- 
 sale pirate, were harmless, compared with ours. Be 
 that as it may, we felt very thankful to God for this 
 peculiar expression of His favor towards us. There be- 
 ing such a very bitter spirit against us and our princi- 
 jdes, we shoidd have supposed they would be eager to 
 do all they could to keep us apart, if perchance they 
 might overcome us single-handed, and get us to reform, 
 and renounce our errors. But God suffered it not; and 
 blessed be his name. 
 
 Our cell is twelve feet by eight — arched — brick, and 
 plastered — a window, on hinges, in the corner at the 
 top, defended by two large iron bars — an iron door, 
 about four feet by twenty-two inches, with a thick 
 wooden door on the outside. When we went into it, 
 there were two beds — one double, and one single one. 
 The covering of the double bed, consisted of t\vo small, 
 very poor, and thin Indian blankets, under which Alan- 
 son and myself tried to sleep ; but the cold woukl frequent- 
 
 6 
 
122 CONVENIENT EXCHANGE. 
 
 ly so molest us, that we could sleep but little the whole 
 night. They were both too thin, short, and narrow — 
 but these, or nothing The covering of James' bed, 
 was one Indian blanket, too short at both ends — in which 
 he would wrap himself, and shiver away the lingering 
 hours, till called aerain to his task. At work we could 
 keep warm. 
 
 After a time, James obtained permission, and fixed, 
 the double bedstead wide enough for us all. In this 
 W'ay we fareti a little better — for we could take turns 
 getting into the middle. If an outside one was becom- 
 ing frost-bitten, he only had to request the middle one 
 to exchange places awhile ; and we were ever ready to 
 oblige and accommodate — for each knew how to sympa- 
 thize with the other. So far from murmuring, we had 
 great cause for thankfulness — for many were in a worse 
 condition than we. 
 
 THE ILLUMINATED CELL. 
 F. 
 I've often heard of prison cells. 
 And dreary things, su])posed they were : 
 Where gloom, where darkness only dwells. 
 To fill the pris'ner with despair. 
 
 ir. 
 
 And such they are to carnal hearts, 
 Who have no Savior and no God — 
 The day rolls slow — tiie night departs, 
 And leaves them still a drear abode. 
 
 III. 
 But glory to the eternal King, 
 Who brought me to this little cell : 
 Sweet pleasure here I find can spring. 
 For here my God delights to dwell. 
 
 IV. 
 A hallowed, consecrated place — 
 A bethel is my little cell : 
 The heavenly Dove descends with grace. 
 And ble.ssings, more than tongue can tell. 
 
 V. 
 
 The Father, and the Son, come down, 
 And with me make their blest abode : 
 Not all the honors of a crown, 
 Equal the presence of my (iod. 
 
GOD WITH US, IN OUR CELL. 123 
 
 vr. 
 
 He sups with me, and I with Him — 
 He feasts my soul with heavenly love — 
 And while I eat my food so plain, 
 He pours the manna from above. 
 
 VH. 
 Not king, nor prince, finds such delight, 
 With all his daily, sumptuous fare, 
 As 1 within my cell, at night, 
 When breathing out my humble prayer. 
 
 vni. 
 
 These iron doors, and bricken walls, 
 Do fail to keep my Savior out- 
 He comes, and listens to my calls — 
 Says, " Peace to thee, my child, — ^fear not." 
 
 IX. 
 
 Ill peace, I lay me down to rest, 
 While angels hover o'er my head : 
 And while with welcome slumbers o.est, 
 Tliey keep their stations round my bed. 
 
 X. 
 
 When morning gilds the Eastern sky, 
 1 early rise to sing and pray : 
 My Savior still 1 find is nigh, 
 Who never leaves me, night or day. 
 
 XI. 
 
 Let monarchs have their wide domain — 
 And men of state in mansions dwell — 
 Let worldlings shining dust obtain. 
 But give me Jesus and my cell. 
 
 OUR FOOD. 
 
 All went to their cells to eat — their food being 
 brought to them by the cook. We had " bread and 
 flesh in the morning," and at noon ; at night, bread 
 and water. Now and then beans or some vegetables 
 for dinner. Our bread was cold, hard, heavy corn bread 
 — our meat, generally bacon — which we had to eat with 
 our fingers — no knives or forks were allowed. 
 
 From April to November, we worked from one to 
 three hours before eating breakfast, which gave us a 
 hearty appetite for our corn bread and bacon. During 
 the rest of the year, we generally ate before it was light, 
 
124 " BKTTER THAN A STALLKD OX." 
 
 SO as to be ready to work as soon as we could see. 
 And I am sure it would have put to the test the delicate 
 tastes and stomachs of many who have been accustomed 
 to their dainties — yea, and of many of the hardy farm- 
 ers too. Imagine a man locked up in a dark room, and 
 his victuals brought to him — he knows not what, nor how 
 prepared — whether clean or dirty. Imagine hog's ears 
 and feet half-cleaned — eyes, hearts, livers galls, and 
 lights — many times quite offensive to the smell — and 
 all these to be separated and divided by the fingers and 
 teeth, in the dark — and a pretty good idea may be had 
 of the poor prisoners' manner of living for weeks and 
 months together. This is no iiction. We know it to have 
 been a reality. And yet this, with contentment, and 
 the blessing of the Lord, was " better than a stalled ox, 
 and hatred therewith" — Far " a little that a righteous 
 man hath is better Jihan the riches of many wicked." 
 And feeling, as we did, that it was the good and wise 
 providence of Gotl that placed us here, and that the 
 same kind hand ordereil all our circumstances — meted 
 out to us what we should eat, and what we should 
 wear, we received it as from heaven, with thank- 
 fulness, contentment, and love. But let it not be- 
 inferred that such has been constantly our kind 
 of living. By no means. Though there have been 
 times when we have gone for days without being able 
 to get even a piece of corn bread — living on little, bit- 
 ter, cold, potatoes, and fat, or stale bacon ; yet, in crejie- 
 ral, our food has been sweet, wholesome, anil not un- 
 palatable to us — though many complained and were con- 
 tinually finding fiiult with the living. The fact was, they 
 did not like prison life. 
 
 For this coarse fare we were prepared, by previous 
 discipline while at liberty ; so that the change affected 
 us but little, in comparison with the other prisoners. 
 Many who have been accustomed to the dainties and 
 luxuries of lite were immediately taken with diarrhea, 
 loss of appetite, and were sick much of their time. 
 Thanks to heaven for our Mission Institute training in 
 this respect. 
 
WORKING OUR FEKLINGS, &C. 126 
 
 WORKING. 
 
 In the course of two or three days we had commenced 
 our twelve years' task for the suffering and downtrodden. 
 Alan son was put at the chair business, which was his 
 steady employ for fifteen months — except that he stocked 
 now and then a pistol or gun, or did some other occa- 
 sional job. James went at his trade, carpentering, 
 worked mostly inside the walls — but also in the city 
 considerably, building and finishing houses. 
 
 I was first put in the brick yard — assisted in setting 
 and burning a kiln. 
 
 Thus we were now " under way," had fairly com- 
 menced our onset upon the Arch- Monster^ feeling that 
 every- blow we struck fell directly at the roots of the 
 grcrit American Upas tree — at the foundation of the 
 Pedestal — the vitals of the Goddess — the life of slavery. 
 With this confidence, we worked with light hearts and 
 willing hands. 
 
 In the course of two or three weeks, I was sent to the 
 city, to work with the masons ; was thus engaged for 
 about a month, building ice-houses, brick dwellings, 
 &c., sometimes carrying brick or mortar, then laying 
 brick or stone. It was pleasant to be allowed to work 
 after so long confinement. It seemed to brace up our 
 systems very much. 
 
 When it became too cold to work at brick and mortar, 
 I went to chopping. A company of us, perhaps twelve 
 or sixteen, went about three miles — took our dinner with 
 us, and returned at night. Chopping wood and splitting 
 rails was hard, but pleasant work. It was an exercise to 
 which I was well accustomed, and in which I took delight. 
 
 I also worked in December, in the city again, lathing 
 a large building. At one time, I was cutting up corn ; 
 then at the stone quarry ; then following the wheel- 
 barrow — was at this and the other — hither and thither, 
 till February, at which time I was put at the turning 
 business, and followed it mostly, for upwards of one 
 year. At intervals, I was working with the masons, 
 then with the carpenters — bottoming chairs, &c., &c. 
 
12G VARIOUS KINDS OF WORK PREACHING. 
 
 My principle was to learn all I could, in whatever 
 kind of work I was engaged, feeling that it could not 
 injure, but might be of much use to me. 
 
 When we thus worked outside of the walls we were 
 accompanied by a guard of from one to four men (ac- 
 cording to our number), with pistols and muskets, who 
 were sworn to shoot the first man that attempted to run 
 away ; but of their powder and balls we had no fear, for 
 we gave them j)lainly to understand, that as we had been 
 openly thrust into prison, we should not leave them until 
 we were permitted to depart in the same manner. 
 
 THE FIRST SABBATH. 
 
 In the morning we w^ere let out, as usual, and after 
 washing, &c., we were locked up again in our cell, 
 where we spent most of the day, having one Bible among 
 us. During the morning the overseer came round to 
 each cell, examined our clothes, enquired if we had 
 enough to eat, generally, &c. Then, soon the wash- 
 man came around, and brought the clean shirts and other 
 clothes, if any were needed. 
 
 In the afternoon, the cells were all opened, above 
 and below, and every man took his seat (on his stool), 
 in front of his cell, for preaching. It was a singularly 
 looking congregation, indeed. Some had their caps on, 
 and blankets wrapped round them ; some, with only 
 pantaloons and shirt on, others warmly clad, antl many 
 loaded down with chains, while a man, with his musket, 
 stood to guard us ! 
 
 In time of prayer, all kneeled. The minister (an 
 Episcopalian), stood at the far enil of the hall, above, 
 where he could see the most of his hearers, and preached 
 a short but good discourse. To us it was a rich feast, 
 having been so long from the sanctuary ; for as bodily 
 hunger makes palatable the coarsest food, so spiritual 
 hungei gives a relish and sweetness to the most common 
 instruction, which to the satiated, would be very insipid. 
 
 Our chaplain was not hired, his services were volun- 
 teered ; he usually came once in two or three weeks — 
 
SECOND SAiiUATlI. 127 
 
 sometimes only once in six weeks, and once we were 
 about four months without any preaching. 
 
 The prisoners generally sung, and gave good attention. 
 They were pleased to hear preaching for a number of 
 reasons. 
 
 1st. It was a change to them, and helped to wear 
 away the Sabbath's lingering hours, for the most of them 
 had no book, and the Sabbath to them was a tedious 
 day. 
 
 2d. They looked upon the minister as a. friend, and 
 one who sought their good, while the officers and visit- 
 ors were viewed with abhorrence, as those who only 
 delighted themselves in their misery and disgrace. 
 
 3d. They frequently would gain some intelligence of 
 what was going on outside. 
 
 4th. The sermon would afford them matter to talk 
 about, and to many, the ideas were altogether new, while 
 others would listen to find something at which to cavil 
 and mock. A few gave attention, to gain instruction in 
 the way of duty and the precepts of the Bible. 
 
 OUR SECOND SABBATH. 
 
 It was a trying one. In the morning, while we were 
 eating breakfast, the overseer came and called James 
 and myself out of our cell — for what we knew not — but 
 followed our keeper, and were taken outside with a 
 company, ancl marched towards the brick-kiln, which 
 was then burning. I then saw what was wanted, but 
 knowing the desperate character of our drunken warden, 
 we did not feel it duty, at that time, to stop, and refuse 
 to go further. We knew also, that it was a generally 
 received opinion, that a brick-kiln could not be burned, 
 without encroaching on the Sabbath — we knew no better, 
 and supposing that sojne must be thus occupied, we made 
 up our minds to go forward, and spend the day as profita- 
 bly as we could. I had with me, my little " heavenly 
 manna," upon which mv soul feasted, nor was the 
 " mercy seaf barred against us in these unpleasant cir- 
 cumstances. Jesus, to our complaints gave audience, 
 
128 BUHNKNCi UUICK-KILNS. 
 
 and said, "Fear not, thou shalt not be burned," — " I am 
 with thee." 
 
 In the afternoon, the cha[)hiin passed by, on his way 
 to the prison, to preach, but none of our company could 
 go. This is the only time that either of us has been 
 called on to work on the Sabbath, though many are 
 obliged to labor on that day. 
 
 With regard to burning brick-kilns on the Sabbath, we 
 saw it proved again and again, that there is no need of 
 taking one moment of the Sabbath for this purpose. 
 Scarcely a kiln has here been burned more than five or 
 six days. They generally put fire in, about Friday or 
 Saturday, and stop about Wednesday or Thursday of 
 the next week, occupying universally less than a week ; 
 so that a kiln may easily be sufficiently burned between 
 one o'clock, A. M., Monday, and eleven P. M. Satur- 
 day, if time is improved. 
 
 We observed that it took a little over five days, to 
 burn the one at which we assisted. Learning that fact, 
 we should not have consented to burn another on the 
 Sabbath, upon any condition, or for any consequences. 
 
 Before I advance further, let me give the reader a 
 concise view of the characters under whom we were 
 placed, and by whom surrounded — that thus our circum- 
 stances may be better understood. 
 
 CHARACTER OF OI FICERS (PREVIOUS TO FEB. 1843). 
 
 Already, I have given a broad hint, as to this, but will 
 sjiecify further. 
 
 The wardens were both ungodly men — awfully pro- 
 fane — very blasphemous, and regardless of the temporal 
 and eternal welfare of the prisoner. Oaths and curses 
 seemed to be almost as natural to them as their breath, 
 and yet they jiretended to disallow swearing in a con- 
 vict, and said they would pimifih for so doiiio-. What 
 consistency ! 
 
 They had no regard for the S;ibbath. Durint:; the 
 Summer season, scarcely a Sabbath passed, but the brick 
 yard hands and others wore ordered out to work, a por- 
 
CHARACTER OF OFFICERS. 129 
 
 lion of the day. Also within the walls, there was noise, 
 pounding, and confusion. 
 
 Though our minister came so seldom, yet even then it 
 was often the case that twenty or thirty hands were 
 outside at work, till meeting was through. If he wished 
 to preach to those not at work, well and good, but if he 
 was not satisfied with this he must stay away. 
 
 One evening, a man sat in the chair shop reading 
 " Clarke's Promises," which James had lent him. Capt. 
 Burch came in. " What book is that '?" " A prayer- 
 book." " It's no place here to say your prayers, you 
 should have said them before you came here." At ano- 
 ther time, an old man — unwell — was sitting by the stove, 
 unoccupied, and I gave him " Mahan's Christian Per- 
 fection" to read. Soon Capt. Burch came into the shop. 
 "Ah! you've got a reading school here, have you'?" 
 and took the book from him. " Whose book is this'?" 
 " Thompson's. Is there any harm in it'?" " It is not 
 for every one to read," said he, and looked at me, with 
 a fiery savageness that seemed to say, " You better take 
 care how you lend your books to other prisoners," but 
 he uttered nothing. Turning to James, he said, " Here, 
 Burr, take that book, and keep it." 
 
 One evening I had finished my work, and was sitting 
 by the light reading my Testament, Capt. Gorden came 
 along. " Have you nothing to do but read?" " I have 
 finished my work, sir." " Well, when you have nothing 
 else to do but read, go to your cell !" At other times, 
 James and I have been ordered to put up our books,, 
 when we have been reading our Testament or Promises, 
 going to and from work — walking correctly in our place. 
 Suffice it to say, " They feared not God, nor regarded 
 man;" but took great satisfaction in doing what they 
 could to degrade and unman those in their power. The 
 guards for the most part, were wicked, profane, dissolute 
 men, and these were the men placed over others to reform 
 them. 
 
 CHARACTER OF PRISONERS. 
 
 Undoubtedly a few have been sent here unjustly, by 
 
 6* 
 
130 CHAKACTER OF PRISONERS. 
 
 perjured witnesses, but the majority are bad men. 
 Here are collected the licentious, debauched, profane, 
 thieves, perjured, counterfeiters, gamblers, highwaymen, 
 drunkards, burglars, liars, vagabonds, infidels, scotfers, 
 gospel-hardened, man-slaughterers, rakes, sabbath- 
 breakers, murderers, anti, and pro-slavery men, «&.c. — 
 from the youth of sixteen up to the hoary head of sixty- 
 two years — under sentences of from two to ninety-nine 
 years. 
 
 Some acknowledge the truth, and pay respect to it, 
 while the multitude treat it with carelessness and con- 
 tempt. Of the most it may in truth be said, " Whose 
 God is their belly, who glory in their shame, and who 
 mind earthly things," " having the understanding dark- 
 ened, being alienated from the life of God, through the 
 ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of 
 their heart. Who being past feelings have given them- 
 selves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness 
 with greediness.''^ " Having eyes full of adultery, and 
 that cannot cease from sin, beguiling unstable souls ; a 
 heart have they exercised with covetous practices, cursed 
 children, which liave forsaken the right way, and gone 
 astray ;" " counting it pleasure to riot in the day time. 
 Spots and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own 
 deceivings" — " as natural brute beasts made to be taken 
 and destroyed — who speak evil of the things they un- 
 derstand not; and shall utterly perish in their own cor- 
 ru})tion." "These are murmurers, complainers, who 
 %valk after their own lusts," — '' '"^gi^g waves of the sea, 
 foaming out their own shame — wandering stars, for 
 whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever," — 
 "having no hope, and without God in the world." 
 
 With such characters we have been obliged to associ- 
 ate, to work, to eat ; and by such influences have we 
 been surrounded. W^liat, but the grace of God could 
 have preserved us from being contaminated, corrupted, 
 consumed? Truly, had it not been for ''the form of 
 the Fourth with us," long before this we should have 
 been devoured by the raging dames of corruption, into 
 Avhich we have been thrust. The hand of the " Angel" 
 
METHOD OF FLOGGING. 131 
 
 has been manifest at every step of our way, from the 
 first to the last ; the path has grown brighter and bright- 
 er; and many have been the wonderful deliverances 
 from evil — some of which I shall mention in their places. 
 Enough has been said to give a tolerable idea of our situ- 
 ation, for more than a year. In the midst of such dark- 
 ness w'e felt ourselves called upon to shine as lights — to 
 walk circumspectly and humbly with God. 
 
 FLOGGING. 
 
 When Brother Edward Turner was talking with us at 
 our jail window, about coming to the penitentiary, he re- 
 marked that we would probably find Missourians semi- 
 harharians. We have found the saying fully verified. 
 As our cell was next to the guard-room, we could hear 
 the charges, the threats, the curses, the rage of the offi- 
 cers, and the blows they inflicted. We could hear the 
 cries and groans of the poor sufferers. 
 
 Flogging was very frequent during the time of Gor- 
 den and B^rch — though the worst of it was before we 
 came — yet afterwards it was awful enough. 
 
 For trities, and often for nothing, men were called up, 
 and received ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, one hundred, 
 or more strokes, with the strap or paddle. The sufferer 
 had his hands tied together, and placed over his knees, 
 where they were held by a broomstick or cane, passing 
 through behind the knees. Thus, lying on his side, 
 stripped to his skin, he received the strokes. To get up, 
 or straighten himself, was impossible, until the inquisitor 
 drew the stick from its place. 
 
 The strap was of thick leather, about one inch wide, 
 and tw^o feet long, sometimes tied to a short handle. It 
 did not break the skin, but bruised and mashed it till it 
 turned black and blue. The paddle was a board about 
 two feet long, six inches wide, one end shaved to a 
 handle, the other bored full of holes, every one of which 
 would raise a blood-blister, where it struck the fiesh. It 
 w^as very severe. The reader probably is aware that 
 this is a common instrument of torture among the slave- 
 
132 UNMERCIFUL PUMSHMENTS. 
 
 holders. One man was so dreadfully mangled that his 
 flesh matterated and pulrified, and became so bad, that 
 he was under the doctor's hands for some time, and was 
 unable to sit down. I believe his charge was an inten- 
 tion or agreement to run away, though he did not make 
 the attempt. 
 
 Often, two, three, or more, would be flogged every 
 night, week after week, month after month. Sometimes 
 the whole day would thus be occupied, '['he greatest 
 rascals, and those who could lie the most smootidy, ge- 
 nerally came off" with the lightest infliction. Many a 
 time have we heard the scream of "Murder, murder! 
 0, have mercy — have mercy —do, do have mercy !" — 
 and the reply, " Stop your noise, or I'll kill you." 
 Many times, when they could not make them cry out or 
 beg, they would then whi]) them for that. " You stub- 
 born rascal, I'll si-e if I can't make you holler ;" ami the 
 instrument would be applied again. W hip them because 
 they do scream, and whip them because they won't — 
 that's the way ! 
 
 Thus we were obliged to hear the storming and pro- 
 fanity of a drunken fiend, connected with the yells, 
 shrieks, and cries for mercy, of our fellow-prisoners ; 
 and thus we were frequently disturbed, when on our 
 knees in prayer to God ! Often we would be compelled 
 to stop praying till the noise was over. It was almost 
 enough to make our blood run cold, to listen ; but hear 
 it we must. Frequently, Burch would come in at ten or 
 twelve o'clock at night, drunk, and satiate his hellish 
 appetite, by ordering up some one or more, for nothing, 
 and putting them to the torture. 
 
 No doubt men often deserved correction, but there was 
 no mercy for many who suffered very unjustly. '" There 
 was no llesh in his hard heart. It did not feel for man." 
 But these days are past. And 0, what a scene will the 
 judgment bring to light ! 
 
 For a week or more, at the first, we felt such a re- 
 straint, from the exceeding strictness of the rules, that 
 we only prayeil in secret, and talked but little. Gain- 
 ing a little more strength and boldness, we ventured to 
 
SWEEt TO READ A FEW WOJRDS. 133 
 
 pray together, in a whisper, which continued for some 
 time — though a whisper would not suffice, frequently, to 
 give vent to our lull souls. We ventured to converse 
 more freely, though at the risk of being punished — for 
 we could easily be heard in the guard-room, where they 
 slept — or in the hall, where they were frequently walk- 
 ing, even if but a slight noise was made. But becoming 
 more bold still, our evening prayers were uttered aloud, 
 so that we " prayed, and sang praises, and the prisoners 
 heard us." It was a very frequent thing for the guard, 
 and others, to collect under our window to hear us sing 
 and pray — whether from a desire to overhear something, 
 of which they might make complaint, or from other 
 motives, we know not. But from that time, and onward, 
 we poured forth our souls, without much restraint — for 
 ourselves, our fellow-prisoners, our officers, the slave, 
 the church, the world. And I have often wondered, 
 why we were not called up, for our conversation or our 
 prayers — but the mystery is all solved, by one expres- 
 sion, " It is the Lord.'''' His restraining hand alone held 
 them back, and by his hook He led them. 
 
 We spent much of our long winter evenings (when 
 not at work), but especially Sabbath evenings, in 
 " singing the Lord's song in a strange land." In this 
 delightful exercise we were not forbidden to indulge. 
 While Alanson and James were at work evenings, 
 (before I commenced night work), I feasted my soul, " in 
 psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and 
 making melody in my heart, unto the Lord," When 
 the 7noo7i shone brightly, I improved my time in reading 
 by my heavenly Father's candle — so holding my book 
 as to catch the reflection from the wall. This was a rich 
 feast. To do it I would often have to stand on my bed, 
 stretching and leaning, in order to get to the place where 
 it shone on the wall — but it was sweet. Why was it so 
 sweet to read a few words'? Why? Why is bread 
 sweet to a hard working man, at night, when he has 
 toiled all day without any food? Reader, if you " know 
 not the heart" of a prisoner — of a convict, perhaps you 
 cannot understand this — but go into Missouri, try to help 
 
134 FIRST PKISON LETTEK EXTANT. 
 
 a slave, be taken, and locked up in a prison — forced to 
 toil from light till dark — and you will comprehend why 
 it was so sweet to us to read a few words in the Bibh;. 
 We carried our little books in our pockets, and read 
 them, by the way, while at our dinner, and when we 
 had a few moments lei:jurefrom our work — much of the 
 time my Testament lay pressed to my heart. 
 
 THE FIRST PENITENTIARY LETTER. 
 
 On the 18th of October, Alanson wrote to his wife, 
 giving an account of our circumstances, feelings, &c. 
 (This letter — as also all of Alanson's — has been lost, 
 so that the reader cannot be entertained therewith.) 
 There is a very singular circumstance connected with it. 
 He gave the letter to the officers on the day it was writ- 
 ten. But it was not mailed, till the twenty-seventh of 
 November, more than iive weeks after. And probably 
 they would not have sent it then, had not God quickened 
 their memories a little, by burning down the large cen- 
 tre building. The letter was mailed the very next day. 
 They were withholding from " the widow and father- 
 less," that comfort they much needed, and which 
 they were anxiously waiting for — " The Lord saw it, 
 and it displeased Him." And he has promised to hear 
 the " widow and fatherless" when they cry unto Him, 
 and to plead their cause, with their enemies. Take 
 care, how you lay oppressive hands on God's poor ! 
 
 I had many times asked for paper, to write a letter 
 home. About the last of October, I obtained it, and 
 wrote. Extracts will show my feelings at that time, 
 better than they can now be described. 
 
 THE LETTER. 
 
 Jetfer^^on, Oct. 30. 1841. 
 Much Beloveo Parents: 
 
 'i'hrough the great goodness of God, I still enjoy 
 the privilege of adcbessing you. And although I write 
 under circumstances peculiar — under such as I never be- 
 fore addressed you — trying to the soul, and to ourconfi- 
 
HAPPY IN BELIEVING. 135 
 
 dence in our Redeemer — and which no doubt have caused 
 you many moments of anxious solicitude, and painful re- 
 flections — yet / am happy in my Savior. ' And though my 
 outward man perish, my inward man is renewed day by 
 day.' I rejoice that 1 can yet endeavor to administer 
 comfort to your aching hearts : and to prevent your 
 " gray hairs from coming down with sorrow to the grave." 
 I am contented and happy. I came here cheerfully, and 
 shall remain contentedly. I have no desire to leave 
 till the set time. The hours and days pass rapidly 
 away. They seem very short. 
 
 Dear father, for a number of years past, you have de- 
 nied yourself and worked hard to help me a little. 
 Should I remain here twelve years, and have my 
 health I can support myself^ and save you that expense, 
 or you can give it to others who need it. 
 
 Should I here be sick, I shall be taken care of. I am 
 in the hands of the Great Physician, " who knoweth 
 my frame" — " who healeth all our diseases." He " will 
 strengthen me upon the bed of languishing, and make 
 all my bed in my sickness." " He doth not afflict will- 
 ingly, nor grieve the children of men" — but " for our 
 profit y'' &c. Then do not be anxious about me. He 
 is more tender than earthly parents can be, and better 
 knows our wants than earthly physicians. 
 
 Dear mother, do not let my circumstances make you 
 unhappy. Go to Jesus, " casting your care on Him — 
 He will sustain you." Do not feel that George is 
 wretched, being deprived of the comforts which you 
 enjoy — for I have all the comforts of life that I need. 
 Whenever you think about your son, for whom you 
 have toiled, and exercised so much care and anxiety — 
 of whom you have had high hopes, that he would be 
 useful and cause you much pleasure in your declining 
 years, 1 want you to feel that he is happy. If in this 
 world, happy in every situation, for " I have learned, in 
 whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." If in 
 the world to come, still happy, and rejoicing in God 
 with joy unspeakable, and full of glory." 
 
 Dear parents, let the words of God to Abraham, 
 
136 PERSECUTION TO BE EXPECTED. 
 
 come to your hearts as from a wise and faithful Father, 
 " Let it not be grievous in thy sight concerning the lad." 
 Though you cannot see the why, believe. Let faith 
 show the hand of God ; and may you be able to say 
 with Laban and Bethuel, " The thing proceedeth from 
 the Lord" — and if from Him, then surely we should not 
 repine, but rejoice. Do not feel that " all these things 
 are against you" — but " trust in the Lord, and wait pa- 
 tiently for Him," and soon you shall see wise reason.s 
 for so doing. Rest down upon the promises. 
 
 We truly live in a changeable world, and God's 
 " ways are not our ways." When my mother brought 
 me forth, and nursed me in her arms, spent anxious days 
 and sleepless nights watching over me, instructed and 
 corrected me, led me to the house of God and the Sab- 
 bath school, and did what she could to make me happy 
 and useful — when she saw me growing up, and her hopes 
 centered more and more upon me — when she saw me 
 renounce my sins, and choose the Lord for my portion — 
 when she heard me in the prayer-meeting, and listened 
 to my voice at the family altar — when she read my let- 
 ters from a far distant land, little did she think that she 
 had brought forth and was training a son for the Peni- 
 tentiary ! 
 
 When my father held me in his arms, to be baptized 
 into "the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the 
 Holy Ghost," — when he dandled me on his knees, as I 
 ran to his embrace, after his return from Inbor — when he 
 taught me to work, sent me to school — worked hard to 
 feed and clothe me — when he corrected me for my faults, 
 and I began to be a help to him — yea, when he rejoiced 
 to see me turn my mind to the subject of preaching the 
 gospel, and leave the paternal roof, to prepare for that 
 work, little did the thought possess his mind that he 
 should soon hear of George being in the Penitentiary ! 
 Yet such is the case. / am here. 
 
 And, dear parents, had you thought in what a sinful 
 world we live, when you baj^tized, instructed, and prayed 
 for me — when you saw me bow to Jesus, and leave my 
 lovely home, to prepare to preach Christ, among the 
 
NECESSITY OF FAITH. 137 
 
 heathen, and had you recollected the words which the 
 Savior spoke while on earth, you might have thought 
 that such a thing was possible. 
 
 Yea, considering such passages as the following, it 
 v^^ould have seemed very probable. Matt. v. 11, 12; x. 
 17-25; Jno. xv. 19, 20; 1 Cor. iv. 11-13; Mk. viii. 
 35 ; X. 29, 30 ; Jno. xvi. 2, 33 ; Rev. ii. 10 ; ^cts xiv. 
 22 ; 2 Cor. vi. 4, 5 ; xi. 23-27 ; 2 Tim. ii. 12 ; iii. 12 ; 
 1 Pet. ii. 19-21 ; iii. 14-17 ; iv. 12-19. 
 
 Please read these and let your minds be quiet. We 
 " know not what a day may bring forth," nor should we 
 be anxious. The apostle has said, ^' be careful for no- 
 thing," &c. I pray that you may receive all the com- 
 forts and consolations of the gospel ; " cast your burden 
 on the Lord and be sustained." I know, dear parents, 
 it must be trying to your faith, but read James i. 2 — 4; 
 Pet. i. 5-9','Ro,n. v. 3-5 ; Heb. xii. 6-13. 
 
 How often have you punished me when it was painful 
 to the flesh; and I perhaps fretted and cried about it, 
 thinking it was very hard tluis to be whipped ; yet you 
 saw that I needed it, and you did it in kindness and love 
 to me, and for my good — and now I thank you for the 
 same. " Shall we not much rather be in subjection to 
 the Father of spirits and live "?" He desires our good 
 infinitely more than we do, and knows just how to bring 
 it about. He will do nothing to injure, but all He can 
 to benefit us. " Now the just shall live by faith." 
 What then if we cannot see the reason of all God's 
 dealings, yet let us have faith in his wisdom. Did you 
 always give a reason to your little, ignorant, inexperi- 
 enced children for all you did ] So our heavenly Father 
 does not always now give u.s the reason — the why — but 
 He has said, " What thou knowest not now thoii shalt 
 know hereafter," and this should satisfy us. 
 
 I hope my brothers and sisters will profit by this provi- 
 dence. Tell them, from me, that if they were once 
 deprived of the privileges of the sanctuary, as I am, ihey 
 would feel the importance of improving them. 
 
 For your comfort read Ps. xxxiv. 7-10 ; xxxvii. 3- 
 7; xli. 1-3 ; xlvi. 1-3 ; Ixxxiv. 11, 12 ; xci. 1-16 ; 
 
138 CONVERSATION WITH CAPT. 6. 
 
 cxviii. 5-9 ; Prov. xii. 21 ; xvi. 3 ; xviii. 10 ; xxvin. 
 25 ; xxix. 25 ; Is. xliii. 2, 3 ; Job v. 17-27 ; Jer. xvii. 
 7, 8; Rom. viii. 28 ; Phil. iv. 4-7, 13, 19. Just be- 
 lieve that God means what He. says in these and all the 
 promises, and you shall be kept in peace. 
 
 Your son, George. 
 
 CHAINS OFF. 
 
 After we had been here just one month, Alanson and 
 James were called into the guard-room, on the evening 
 of the third of November, and their chains cut oC 
 Capt. Gorden was present, and spoke kindly. He 
 asked Alanson about his family ; whether they had any 
 property ; how he thought they would get along, &,c. 
 A. replied — " I think the people of Missouri will not 
 keep me here twelve years, as I have injured no one." 
 " But you intended to, or would have done it, had you 
 succeeded. I have no fault to find with your conduct. 
 There are many bad men here, and you will need to be 
 careful," ice. 
 
 To James he said, " I know that slavery is wrong, but 
 it was entailed on us by our forefathers, and we can't 
 help it. We would be as glad as anybody to get rid of 
 it, but we know not how. I have no doubt that you 
 were honest in what you did ; and there are thousands, 
 the same way, who are good men, thev mean no harm, 
 but they are aholitiotiisfs. But would you think it harm 
 for a man to steal your bench planes ? Would it not be 
 wrong?" James replied, '■'■ I do not look uprn a slave 
 as a set of tools — as a chattel — he is a man." " Would 
 you run away V " No. I will not go without an 
 honorable discharge." " I have been watching you 
 since you came, and I am satisfied with you. I have no 
 fault to find with your conduct. You have conducted 
 yourself like a man,'" &.c. 
 
 Capt. G. is a slavehokler. His is only another evi- 
 dence of the dishonesty and heartlessness of slavehold- 
 ers, when they say '' tiiey wish to get rid of slavery as 
 much as any one," — " know not how," and yet perse- 
 veringly refuse to hear or read on the subject. 
 
READING. 139 
 
 THE RUNAWAYS. 
 
 About the first of November, as I was walking home 
 from the chopping, about three miles distant, with twelve 
 or twenty others, in double file, with a guard before, and 
 two behind, with their muskets, two of the hands, as we 
 were passing a thicket, dropped their axes, and suddenly- 
 broke into the woods, bounding through the thicket with 
 almost incredible swiftness. Each had on a chain, but 
 the thoughts of liberty made them light and nimble. 
 Both were in danger of being shot, but the love of 
 liberty nerved them to risk even their lives. The sen- 
 sations produced in my mind cannot be described by 
 words. One was wounded and taken ; the other escaped. 
 That evening the wounded man was punished very 
 severely, and another heavy chain put on him. 
 
 As we started to come home the next night, an old 
 guard, a professor of religion, said to us, " Now boys, 
 the first man that breaks the ranks, I swear by my Maker, 
 I'll drop him dead." But he had no opportunity to glut 
 his blood-thirsty appetite. While going to and from 
 work, I read my Testament, or "Manna." One day I 
 worked at the quarry, loading waggons. There were 
 about five of us, and a guard. We had our fire, and 
 nothing to do, more than half the time. I had my Tes- 
 tament in which I was reading, by the side of a rock, 
 when one said to me, " Come here to the fire, and read 
 to us." So I went and preached to them awhile. But 
 it being not a very orderly audience, I chose rather to 
 retire in the cold, from their noise, and hold uninterrupt- 
 ed communion with God, in his word. That day I read 
 the Gospel of Mark through in that way. 
 
 OUR LIBRARY, 
 
 At this time, consisted of three Bibles, furnished by the 
 overseer (many had none), Mahan's Christian Perfection, 
 Village Hymns, Clarke's Promises, and Mason's Hea- 
 venly Manna, which we brought with us, and were 
 allowed to have, after asking for them repeatedly. 
 On the Sabbath, we sung, read, and prayed, with much 
 
140 READING BY MOONLIGHT. 
 
 comfort and profit. From Christian Perfection, we took 
 turns in reading a lecture aloud. Let me here say, that 
 that book has been a source of unspeakable peace and 
 consolation to us, amid our trials. Its sweet instruction 
 — its lucid explanations of the promises — its presenta- 
 tions of the provisions ot" divine grace, have cheered, 
 strengthened, and encouraged us to trust implicitly in 
 God. And for hours and hours have we stood and read 
 it by moonlight. I have followed the reflection on the 
 wall half round my cell, holding my book so as to catch 
 the rays, as the brightness gradually moved round the 
 room. 
 
 THE FIRE. 
 
 On the night of the twenty-sixth of November, we 
 went to bed as usual, but were awakened by the cry, 
 " Fire ! fire !" We arose, dressed ourselves, committed 
 our bodies and our all to a Father's care, and waited pa- 
 tiently his will, being assured that He would do all 
 things well. 
 
 The centre building, adjoining the cells, containing 
 various work-shops, had taken fire, which placed the 
 nearer cells in imminent danger ; but God sutfered not a 
 hair of our heads to perish. Our preservation was very 
 providential — we being next to, and almost under the 
 flames. We coulil look out of" our little window and 
 see the raging element just above us ; the sparks and 
 cinders falling directly upon the window ; and we not 
 knowing what moment the wall that towered above us 
 would fall with a crash upon our cell. But God can 
 secure his little ones, and bring them safely through fiery 
 trials and threatening dangers. " Blessed are all they 
 that put their trust in Him." 
 
 The prisoners were quickly alarmed, and that saying 
 was verified, '" In trouble they will call upon me ;" " In 
 their aflliction they will seek me earlv.'' Such scream- 
 ing — such crying tor mercy — such praying, I never betbre 
 heard. Locked in their cells, and not knowing but the 
 next minute would wrap them in llames, and send them 
 quick to the presence of their Judge, they were impor- 
 
AFFRIGHT OF PRISONERS. 141 
 
 tunate, with loud voices — some calling upon God, and 
 others begging for some one to let them out — others still, 
 ■with their broken bedsteads, endeavoring to knock open 
 the door — while others were screaming, " My cell is all 
 on fire ! — Murder ! murder ! — O, do let me out ! — 0, God, 
 have mercy on me." It was startling. Seeing the 
 danger they were in, their fears were wrought to the 
 highest pitch ; and anticipating certain death, they 
 became almost frantic. 
 
 A singular, indescribable, multifarious, confused 
 uproar, was the result of pounding, yelling, begging, 
 groaning, the crackling of the flames, the crash of fall- 
 ing floors and timbers, the running, commanding, an- 
 swering, and inquiring of those engaged about the fire. 
 Some of the prisoners, with their broken bedsteads, dug 
 through the brick wall, and came out. In our cell no 
 noise was heard. 
 
 When the building was mostly consumed, the prison- 
 ers were let out for a short time, and then locked up 
 again in the cells most distant from the fire. From four 
 to six or eight were in a cell. There we all remained 
 till morning. It was a desolate sight. The inside of 
 the building, with most of its contents, was now in ashes 
 — for "riches certainly take to themselves wings; they 
 fly away as an eagle toward heaven." 
 
 That day (Saturday), we spent mostly in our cell, 
 reading, while others were engaged wheeling away the 
 ruins. Also on the Sabbath, numbers were at w^ork in 
 the same way ! Thus the officers seemed to defy the 
 Almighty to do his worst. Some wdio called on God so 
 earnestly for mercy in their trouble, when they saw^ the 
 danger past, were ashamed of their prayers, thus evinc- 
 ing their heartlessness. 'Twas now cold weather, and 
 many of the mechanics were thrown out of work. They 
 mourned the occurrence, not for the loss, but because 
 they would be obliged to labor in the cold, having no 
 shop. 
 
 On Monday morning, we were all collected and formed 
 into a ring in the middle of which stood Capt. G. After 
 making a speech, he called on all who would henceforth 
 
142 REFORMATION. 
 
 behave themselves, to step forward — all advanced. Said 
 he, " This is a place of reformation '." The reader 
 will keep this in mind, and connect it with my past ac- 
 counts. Remember it is a place of reformation. I told 
 you a little about the teachers and the schoLars, but you 
 must form a more intimate acquaintance with this school. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 LETTER EXTRACT. 
 
 Penitentiary, Dec. 5, 1841. 
 " Dear Friend : 
 
 " Truly God's ways are not our ways, nor his 
 thoughts, our thoughts." But may it ever be our delight 
 to yield up ours, and cheerfully acquiesce in His ways, 
 and thoughts toward us. May we always feel that they 
 are wise and kind and good, nor for one moment give 
 way to unbelief, but trust in Him, and experience the 
 blessedness of his promises. Ps. xxvii. 14 ; xxxi. 19- 
 24; xxxiv. 8, 22 ; xxxvii. 3, 40 ; cxii. 7, 8 ; Lam. iii. 
 25-27, 31-33 ; 1st. Pet. v. 7. Can you in view of all 
 that is past and to come, adopt the language of the poet : 
 
 I. 
 
 "'Tis my happiness below, 
 Not to live without the cross ; 
 But the Savior's power to know. 
 Sanctifying every loss. 
 
 II. 
 
 " Triiils must and will befall — 
 But with humble faith to see 
 LovK inscribed upon them all, 
 T/iis is happiness to me. 
 
 m. 
 
 " Did 1 meet no trials here, 
 No chastisement by the way. 
 Might I not with reason fear 
 I should be ' a cast away ?" 
 
SANCTIFIED AFFLICTIONS. 143 
 
 IV. 
 •' Trials make the promise sweet ; 
 Trials give new life to prayer : 
 Bring me to my Savior's feet, 
 Lay me low, and keep me there." 
 
 My feelings heartily respond to the above, and ray whole 
 soul cries " Amen." Though our way be dark and 
 thorny, trying to flesh, and faith too, I can, with an un- 
 wavering confidence, joyfully trust all with my blessed 
 Savior ; and respond to the hymn in the Lyre, 
 " Although the vine its fruit deny," &c. 
 
 Should you at any time, feel anxious about me, just 
 say to your heart, 
 
 I. 
 
 " Be still, my heart, these anxious cares; 
 To thee are burdens, thorns and snares ; 
 They cast dishonor on thy Lord, 
 And contradict his gracious word. 
 
 IL 
 
 " Brought safely by his hand, thus far, 
 Why wilt thou now give place to fear ? 
 How canst thou want if He provide i" 
 Or lose thy way with such a guide .' 
 
 IIL 
 " When first before his mercy-seat, 
 Thou didst to Him thy all commit ; 
 He gave thee warrant from that hour, 
 To trust his wisdom, love, and power. 
 
 IV. 
 
 " Did ever trouble yet befall. 
 And He refuse to hear thy call .' 
 And has He not his promise passed, 
 That thou shalt overcome at last. 
 
 V. 
 
 " Though rough and thorny be the road, 
 It leads thee home apace, to God : 
 Then count thy present trials small, 
 For heaven will make amends for all." 
 
 Regard what Paul says in 1 Cor. iv. 5, and let us 
 continually endeavor in all things to be conformed to the 
 will of Christ. Though my circumstances are so dif- 
 
144 WORK IN THK CITV. 
 
 ferent from yours, yet I am happy. The Lord blesses 
 my soul. I do not get much time to read, during the 
 week, but it is sweet to tJiink of my Savior's words. 
 
 Gkorge." 
 
 The above is but a note to a friend, appended to the 
 letter — but this has been torn off, and is all I have. The 
 letter more particularly expressed our feelings. 
 
 After the fire, the carpenters had a room prepared in 
 the city, where they worked. There, James could talk 
 freely, — a guard only being with them, who would 
 often join in their discussions. Practical religion, and 
 frequently, abolition, were the topics of conversation. 
 In the same building, I worked at lathing, and could 
 converse without much restraint. 
 
 While we were there at work, a citizen asked per- 
 mission to speak with James, and was refused. How- 
 ever he contrived to communicate with us through ano- 
 ther prisoner, who was allowed to run about where he 
 chose, and we in the same manner sent word to him. 
 At one time he wrote a letter, enclosing paper on which 
 we could answer it, sending it to us through the same 
 medium. 
 
 He expressed himself as a warm friend, his abhon-ence 
 of slavery, and belief that it could not continue long. 
 Spoke of the abominable injustice we had received, and 
 gave us assurance of his sympathy and {)rayers, advised 
 us to be faithful, &c. 
 
 We answered the letter, nailed it between two chips, 
 and threw it to him, as he came near, one day. In this 
 kind of correspondence, we did not much allow ourselves. 
 Connected with it was much danger to us, to the one 
 conveying the letter, and to the man who wrote to us. 
 Had it been discovered, we should iiave been severely 
 punislied, as also the conveyer, and the citizen would 
 have been fined. And in trusting a fellow-jirisoner, we 
 ran much risk of being betrayed. 
 
 AN EXAMPLE. 
 
 A Trustee (as those are called, who are allowed to go 
 out alone), with great professions of friendship offered 
 
CHARACTER OF PRISONERS. 145 
 
 to get paper, pen and ink, for another, to write a letter 
 to his friends, and promised to put the letter in the otRce 
 for him. The man, confiding in him, wrote the letter, 
 and gave it into his hands. iSoon he was called into the 
 guard-room, before the officers. — " Do you know that 
 letter?" holding before him the letter he had just written. 
 The man was punished. 
 
 And this reminds me of another trait in the character 
 of prisoners ; which is, 
 
 TREACHERY. 
 
 Situated as they are, one would suppose they would 
 feel a common interest — a general sympathy. It is not 
 BO. There are a few, who would be whipped to death, 
 before they would betray trust, or get a fellow-prisoner 
 punished. But the mass will do anything to gratify 
 their own revengeful spirit, and procure the favor of the 
 officers. See the example above. The favor of the 
 officers was his whole object. When they thus betray 
 a fellow-prisoner, it has an appearance of regard for the 
 interest of the officer — an'l generally, by so doing, they 
 gain the confidence and favor of the officers, at the ex- 
 pense of their injured fellow-prisoners. For the officers 
 are so perfectly duped, they cannot see that one who 
 will betray hU fellov:, will betray Mem, just as soon as 
 he thinks he c;;n reap atlvantage by so doing. 
 
 Many, by the fore-mentioned means and in similar 
 v, ays, have acquired the confidence of the officers — been 
 faithful trustees, and seemed to be very much interested 
 in the \\elfMre of the officers — how long? Why, till 
 they could make all needful preparations for an effectual 
 escape — and they are gone. 
 
 Others have been very eager in espying out the faults 
 of prisoners and running to the officers with every little 
 thing — very much concerned for their interest — would 
 traduce and belie their fellows — work and " fly around" 
 nights and Sundays — how long, and for what? Till 
 they had so acquired the confidence of the officers as 
 not to be watched closely ; when lo ! some one privy to 
 
 7 
 
146 TREACHERY OF PRISONERS. 
 
 their plans has betrayed them (to get favor, mark), and 
 they have been found just ready to scale the xcall ! ! ! 
 
 One will betray others ; then some one will betray 
 him ; next, he is betrayed by another ; and so on, all for 
 the same thing — favor of officers I 
 
 Two men, to gain favor, professed to be converted, 
 and won the confidence of the overseer, who was a 
 Christian. He trusted them out alone. Soon they 
 backslid, (?) and were more wicked than before ; yet he 
 trusted them. One even assisted in taking some run- 
 aways, and thus gained confidence greatly. What next*? 
 They ran away. 
 
 I told the overseer, " you might have known that 
 since they had ])roved false to God they would betray 
 yonr trust." 
 
 One more case. Two men took a skiff to go after a 
 paddle that had fallen overboard, but instead of coming 
 back, plied their oars for liberty. A guard with two 
 other prisoners was sent after ihem, in another skiff. 
 These trustees were faithful till they were far enough 
 away, then threw the guard into the water to [jet home 
 as he could, and followed on to join their companions. 
 
 But enough of this though examples might be multi- 
 plied. 
 
 About the middle of December I stopped work ten 
 days, being unwell ; not confined to my bed, but unable 
 to work. My time was principally spent in reading my 
 Bible, now and then exercising lightly, and dieting on 
 mush. 
 
 ClIAIN OFF TRUSTEE. 
 
 On the seventeenth of December my chain was taken 
 off. I had carried it two and a half months. When I 
 first attempted to walk I could scarcely keep my balance, 
 but with a little practice I soon learned to walk again. 
 
 The next (hiy I was sent out alone to procure mate- 
 rials to fill our bed. Mv feelings were very peculiar, 
 and my heart involuntarily broke forth in thanksgiving 
 to God, as I walked by the way, for his goodness. Ai- 
 
A SMALL TASTE OF LIBERTY. 147 
 
 ter being under guard and in chains five months, it was 
 inexpressibly sweet and delightful to walk at liberty and 
 alone. 
 
 As I looked behind me, and saw no man with his mus- 
 ket following me, sensations were produced in my soul, 
 of which those who have not been captives can know 
 nothing. To the " good hand of our God" all this 
 must be attributed. A few days after I went out all alone, 
 to gather me some herbs — and again, was sent to the 
 woods to get elm bark for the sick. At other times I 
 was sent on errands (when in the woods and in the city, 
 at work), to get water, fire, &c. Other instances I shall 
 hereafter notice. 
 
 This surely was " the good hand of God." To what 
 else can such treatment be ascribed '? Look at it, rea- 
 der. Not only a convict, but a hated abolitionist, among 
 enemies, in a slave state, in the penitentiary for twelve 
 years — and such confidence, on so short an acquaintance, 
 reposed in him ! 
 
 This would be indeed surprising, did we not remem- 
 ber that the hearts of wicked men even, are in the 
 hands of God — and also recall his promise, " Verily I 
 will cause the enemy to treat thee well in the time of 
 evil." This explains the whole, and to God be all the 
 praise. Though they so vilified us at first, it was soon 
 evident we had their confidence — that they looked upon 
 us as honest men, who would be faithful to the trust 
 committed to them. 
 
 THE lord's supper. 
 
 On the nineteenth of December, after preaching, we 
 obtained permission and spoke with the chaplain. He 
 was very kind, and gave us gospel instruction and com- 
 fort. His was the first Christian's hand we had pressed 
 since our arrival here, and the short interview made our 
 ^ souls rejoice. 
 
 We told him our feelings ; how long we had been 
 barred from the table of our Lord, and desired him to 
 break unto us the emblems of our Savior's broken body.* 
 
 * With my present light, 1 could not receive the Sacrament from a slave- 
 
148 COMMUNION SEASON IN PRISON. 
 
 He saw no impropriety in the thing, and promised to 
 attend to it the next time he came. 
 
 But in two or three weeks lie came again, and said he 
 had " consulted with his brethren, and they thought 
 it would not be proper ! — that we had forfeited the right 
 to s-uch a privilege — were considered as outcasts — and 
 we had better wait till we were free !" We could but 
 submit and say, " the will of the Lord be done ;" yet 
 we felt 'lisappointed. Truly this is strange reasoning 
 for a Christian ! What will not " the fear of man" do 1 
 Probably his " brethren" thought it would have too much 
 the appearance of friendshi}) for our principles, and ren- 
 der him unpopular ! " Father forgive them, for they 
 know not what they do." 
 
 Feeling that our master's command was binding on all 
 his people, and as much on us here, in prison, as any 
 where, we anxiously desired to " show forth his death," 
 and " remember" Him in his own appointed ordinance. 
 
 But what could we do? Already we had been re- 
 fused by our minister, and who should visit us in prison 
 to break unto us the sacred emblems of his broken body 1 
 We thought ; we talked together ; we prayed ; and 
 sought direction from above, and became settled in the 
 conviction that it was the duty of all Christians to obey 
 the command, " Do this in remembrance of me :" if 
 they had no regularly authorized person to administer it to 
 them, that they should adiniuister it among themselves : 
 if a certain kind of bread and wine and dishes could not 
 be procured, that they should make use of such as they 
 had ; and to God it would be acceptable, " according to 
 what a man hath, and not according to what he hath not." 
 
 With these feelings we determined to obey the dying 
 charge of our Savior, and administer the emblems to 
 one another. 
 
 Accordingly we made choice of bread and water — the 
 staff of natural life — the nourishment of the body — as 
 fit emblems of the body and blood of Jesus — the sup- 
 
 A<»W«r, nor from one (like our Chajilain) who ^ives his countenance to 
 the " sum of all villanies." 
 
COMMUNION HYMN. 149 
 
 port of spiritual life — the strength and nourishment of 
 the soul. 
 
 Gathered around our little table, we read, and sang, 
 and conversed of the sufferings of our Lord. In our 
 humble manner we prayed, and partook of the symbols 
 of his broken body and shed blood — and our souls were 
 feasted with love divine. Jesus was with us, and made 
 it a precious season. From that time we continued to 
 observe it, in this manner. Such seasons were general- 
 ly much blessed to our spiritual comfort and peace. 
 And at various times when thus gathered around our 
 simple board, have we experienced a joy, and satisfac- 
 tion, and rapture of soul, unspeakable, and far beyond 
 anything we ever felt while enjoying liberty. Of some 
 of these seasons, I shall hereafter speak, in their order : 
 but here I will insert a hymn, which I composed ex- 
 pressly for those seasons, and which we often sang. 
 
 "do this in remembrance of me." 
 
 I. 
 Dear Savior, now enthroned on high. 
 Who gav'st thyself for us to die — 
 And lest we ever should forget, 
 Thy dying groans, and bloody sweat, 
 Didst charge thy followers bond and free, 
 '' This do in memory of me." 
 
 11 
 Thy dying charge we will obey. 
 In this our simple, humble way: 
 ! let us each tliy love partake. 
 While now thy death we celebrate ; 
 From sin's dominion set us free. 
 And help us to remember thee. 
 
 III. 
 Thou art the " true and jiving bread," 
 ! may our souls with thee be fed ; 
 As water makes our bodies clean. 
 Thy blood shall cleanse our souls from sin; 
 Thy fair example let us see. 
 For Lord we would remember thee. 
 
 IV. 
 Thy spotless life we call to mind — 
 With all thy treatment so unkind ; 
 
150 THE UNFEELING CAPT. B. 
 
 The garden, judgment hall, and thorns, 
 The nails, the spear, and impious scorns — 
 W'hile each can say, " Twas all for me" — 
 O ! Lord, we do remember thee. 
 
 V. 
 
 Our cov'nant vows, we now renew, 
 Thy will to suffer, or to do ; 
 Give us thy Spirit for our guide, 
 That we may never turn aside. 
 See now thy little children, see. 
 Henceforth, we will remember thee. 
 
 On the twenty-fifth of December, a gentleman from 
 my father's neighborhood called to see me, with whom 
 I conversed, in the presence of the officers. I told him 
 to tell my parents that I was contented and happy, in 
 my new situation. 
 
 Speaking of letters, Capt. Burch said, " Many 
 letters come here, which the prisoners do not re- 
 ceive — and they write many which are not sent." This 
 was very true. They were read by the officers, and if 
 there was any expression they did not like, or if they 
 had a spite at the prisoner, the letter was destroved. 
 While at work out-side, one day, I picked up a juece of 
 paper which looked much like a torn letter — when in 
 my cell, I placed the parts together, and lo, it was a 
 letter to a prisoner, who had been anxiously expecting, 
 and waiting for a letter from his wife and friends. It 
 did not suit Capt, B., and was destroyed. However 
 I told the man the substance of his letter. These few 
 words may suffice to magnify the great goodness of God 
 to us, in this respect. I think the reader will join me 
 in saying, " It is the Lord," when he sees how freely 
 we were allowed to correspond with our friends. Why, 
 if all our letters were collected they would make a pile 
 a foot high. I think I never, in any previous five years, 
 wrote so many letters as during the five years in prison ! 
 How was this'? Others were not allowed this privilege. 
 With a few exceptions they were not permitted to write. 
 How was it then ? " It was the Lord." Situated as we 
 were, this was a great blessing. Communion with 
 friends is sweet while at liberty, but a thousand fold 
 
TALKED WITH OUK FELLOW-PKISONERS. 15] 
 
 more so when we are confined in prison. 0, how re 
 vivins" ! 
 
 CONVERSATION. 
 
 Though all conversation was strictly forbidden, yet it 
 was common among the prisoners. Some guards would 
 suffer it, while others would eagerly watch and report 
 the first offence, and punishment succeeded. We made 
 it a matter of conscience to talk w-ith our fellow priso- 
 ners as op})ortunity otf'ered, and feel that it was not in 
 vain. They evidently felt our influence. We reproved 
 them for profane or filthy language, and many would ab- 
 stain in our presence. We recommended to them that 
 religion which we found so precious in all our afflictions, 
 and most were ready to confess their guilt. Some would 
 freely weep as we presented Christ to them, while 
 others would only mock and sneer. 
 
 In our evening labors, we had more opportunity to 
 converse \vith them about their souls, and endeavored to 
 improve it. Why not? The wicked took the privilege 
 of talking for Satan, and why should not we stand up 
 for God I We felt that we were his " witnesses," and 
 that we were bound to let our light shine. 
 
 DEATH OF ELLEN. 
 
 On the thirteenth of January, 1842, Alanson received 
 a letter from his wife ; it w^as like cold water to our 
 thirsty souls, though it brought the news of the death of 
 his youngest child Ellen. She grieved herself to death 
 (so her mother thought) for her father, shortly after we 
 came to Jefferson. She was about three or four years 
 old — a lovely child. And w^ho can deny that our per- 
 secutors will have to answer for her blood at the day of 
 impartial reckoning? 
 
 The following was suggested to my mind, when mus- 
 ing on the death of Ellen. I thought of not inserting 
 it, but others advised me to do it. 
 
 i 
 
152 DEATH OF ELLEN. 
 
 I. 
 Ellen, where art thou, my dear ? 
 
 I thy form no longer see; 
 Mow thy voice I cannot hear, 
 
 Say, my child, where can'st thou be . 
 
 II. 
 Mother, see on Jesus' breast ; 
 
 In my Savior's arms who died : 
 Nothing now can me molest. 
 
 For He keeps me near his side. 
 III. 
 Ellen, why so soon removed ? 
 
 Was not I a mother kind .' 
 Have I not thy sorrows soothed ? 
 
 Comforts sought for thee to find ? 
 
 IV. 
 Mother, you were kind to me. 
 
 And your voice I loved to hear ; 
 Always loved with you to be. 
 
 All your lonely ho-urs to cheer. 
 
 V. 
 Had you not a father dear? 
 
 Loved he not your fond embrace ? 
 Loved he not to wipe the tear, 
 
 Trickling down your tender face? 
 
 VL 
 Yes, my mother — but in chains ! — 
 
 He could not come home at all ; 
 He could not relieve my pains, 
 
 Could not answer to my call ! 
 
 VII. 
 Ellen, why for this depart ? 
 
 Why not stay and cheer me still ? 
 ■ Stay, and sooth my aching heart? 
 Was not this thy Savior's will ? 
 
 VIH. 
 Mother, Jesus saw 'twas best, 
 
 To remove me to this place 
 In his will, O let us rest, 
 
 Trust Him for all needed grace. 
 
 IX. 
 Ellen, sing your Maker's praise, 
 
 With the saints around the throne; 
 Tune your sweet and heavenly lays 
 
 To the Father, Spirit, Son. 
 
THE WORN-OUT LETTER. 153 
 
 X. 
 Mother, can't you come to me ? 
 
 Better place than earth is this ; 
 ! what beauties here you'll see ! — 
 
 Dwell in everlasting bliss. 
 
 XI. 
 Ellen, wait, till Jesus speaks, 
 
 Saying to your Mother, Come : 
 Then with you I'll walk the streets 
 
 Ol" the new Jerusalem. 
 
 XII. 
 
 Mother, will my father come .' 
 
 Brothers dear, and sisters too ? 
 Ellen, yes, we'll come as one. 
 
 And for ever dwell with you. 
 
 My poetic musings were principally while at my work 
 -sometimes while on my bed. 
 
 slaveholders' consciences quieted. 
 
 On the fourteenth of January I received a letter from 
 a friend who viewed our conduct in a different light from 
 what we did. It censured me pretty severely, calling 
 the act contrary to the example of Christ and the Apos- 
 tles, and exhorting me to repentance. But truly we did 
 not know how, nor of what to repent, having a "con- 
 science void of offence." We felt more like praying 
 that God would open his eyes, and bring him to repent- 
 ance for having given such encouragement to slavehold- 
 ers. For they were so pleased with the letter, that they 
 wore it nearly out, in circulating and reading it. After 
 I had read it, the warden called for it, and months pass- 
 ed away before I could get it again. As it was handed 
 to me, he remarked that it had been lent considerably. 
 And more than three years afterwards, that letter was 
 thrown in my face, by a slaveholder, saying, " He gave 
 you good advice." We were grieved to see such occa- 
 sion given to the enemy, but we could only pray. If 
 in any letter, we had justified our course, it would not 
 have been sent ; therefore we had to be silent, and 
 acquaint our friends of our true feelings, by giving 
 
 7* 
 
154 USES OF SCRIPTURE. 
 
 references to passages of Scripture expressive of our 
 feelings. In this way we often wrote on subjects 
 which our officers knew nothing about; for they would 
 not spend time to look out our references, which were 
 many. Our friends wrote to us in like manner. In 
 this way we could express ourselves understandingly on 
 almost any subject. We could exhort our friends to 
 more earnestness in pleading for the oppressed — or they 
 could tell us about the success of the cause — how many 
 slaves ran away, &c. An example of the latter : — in 
 1 Samuel, xxv. 10, are the words, " There be many ser 
 vants, now-a-days, that breakaway every man from his 
 master." We all knew where this passage was. So 
 that when our friends wished to tell us that any certain 
 number had escaped, the understanding was that they 
 should quote 1st Samuel, xxv., and give the verse that 
 expressed the number of slaves — if three, it would be 
 1st Sayniiel, xxv. 3, and so on. If we wished them to 
 circulate petitions, or write to the Governor, or come 
 unto us with all speed, we had references suitable. If 
 we wished to inform them of our circumstances more 
 particularly than we could in words, we had appropri- 
 ate references. In this way, while our officers were 
 perfectly in the dark, we walked and rejoiced in the 
 light of abolition news. 
 
 RUNAWAYS. 
 
 The two painters were accustomed to go to the city 
 alone, to work. When they went to the gate with theii 
 paint kegs, the guard was wont to let them out, without 
 asking any questions, supposing they had been sent by 
 the overseer. One day, they went as usual, but did not 
 return. After a few days, they were discovered in Ar- 
 kansas. An attempt was made to take them, and one 
 of them was shot dead ; the other wounded, and brought 
 back to serve his time out. When thus brought back, 
 they were generally severely whipped ; one side, ar the 
 whole of their head shaved with a razor ; and heavy 
 chains put on them. Many times they underwent great 
 sufferinof. 
 
THE IRON GATE OPENED. 155 
 
 On the evening of the2ndof February, we were at work 
 as usual, when suddenly there was a great excitement 
 and confusion among the guards and officers. Quickly 
 the bell rang, and orders were given, " Go to your cell 
 — goto your cell quick." Officers ;;nd guards were 
 running to and fro, with pistols and muskets cocked, cry- 
 ing to every prisoner they saw, " Go to your cell quick." 
 Slam, slam, slam, went the iron doors, and soon we 
 were all safe. What was the matter, we knew not till 
 the next morning, when we learned that one of the 
 blacksmiths had made a key, opened the two large gates, 
 and taken out with him three others. Two of them were 
 brought back in a day or two, and dreadfully punished. 
 One cried " murder," very loud, and was ordered to stop. 
 " I can't help it," he replied. Excessively large chains 
 were put upon them. One of the other two was 
 broucrht back about five months afterwards. The other 
 escaped. 
 
 During the winter, a number ran away. The his- 
 tory of their exposures and adventures, as I had it from 
 their own mouths, wouhl make a volume that would be 
 read with great interest ; but I have no room to insert 
 them. 
 
 Before the second of February, I had asked Capt. G. 
 to let me learn the wagon maker's trade. He answered 
 very jocosely, "What do you want of a trade ? You 
 will go right to preaching when you get out." "Yes 
 sir, but I wish 1 to teach the heathen how to work, as 
 well as pray." " Well, I'll see about it." On the 
 fourth of February, I was put at the turning business, 
 of which I have before spoken. While standing at my 
 lathe, I have had precious seasons, singing, and preach- 
 ing to myself. 
 
156 BUKIAL Oi' A MAN AND A DOG. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 A MAN KILLED. 
 
 During the winter about twenty of the prisoners were 
 taken six or eight miles to chop wood. They encamp- 
 ed on the ground, coming home once in two weeks for 
 clean clothes. On the 8th of February, a tree fell on 
 one, and killed him. He was brought here in his blood 
 — wrapped as he was in a cotton sheet, placed in a rough 
 coffin, and buried. I assisted in carrying him to the 
 grave. It was an open, exposed place, near by, where 
 other prisoners had been laid. 
 
 Two days after, one of our number was hung, outside 
 the wall. He was charged with murdering the overseei 
 — which took place a short time before we came. On 
 the gallows he professed to be prepared to die, but per- 
 sisted in his innocency of the horrid deed. We endea- 
 vored to improve these events for the good of some of 
 the prisoners, but the effect soon wore away. 
 
 There are no funeral sermons here (one, afterwards 
 of which I shall afterwards speak). 'I'hose who die, 
 are nailed up in a rough box, and placed beneath the 
 ground, with much less ceremony than many make over 
 a dumb brute. When Capt. Gordon's dog died, he had 
 a nice coffin mrde, and fine gravestones cut, with a 
 splendid inscription, " My dog Trip," &c., &c. A fine 
 specimen, by the by, of the value which slaveholders 
 place upon a dumb brute over a man, if he chances to 
 to be poor, or despised, or tinged. 
 
 But surely, if there is any place where funeral ser- 
 mons are needed, it is such a place as this. If there 
 is in them any solemnity, any tendency to affect the 
 heart, and rouse the careless from their death-like stu- 
 pidity, then they are much called for in a penitentiary. 
 We plead for the officers to send for a minister, but in 
 vain. 
 
MUST NOT WRITE ON ABOLITION. 157 
 
 On the twenty-fifth of February, James received a 
 letter from Brother Seymour, which filled us with great 
 joy. Nothing but the hand of God upon them, made 
 them give it to us, for it w^as strongly tinctured with abo- 
 lition. But our Father knew it would comfort, and en- 
 courage us, and suffered them not to withhold it. It 
 was through the intercession of Capt. G.'s eldest son 
 that w^e received it. He was always very kind to the 
 prisoners, and to him generally they went for favors. 
 Through him chiefly our letters passed. He said to 
 James, " Tell your friends not to write any more aboli- 
 tion, for, if they do, you will not be able to get the 
 letters." I would gladly give extracts, but I have none 
 to give. 
 
 second letter to my parents. 
 Dear Parents : 
 
 I received yours with great pleasure — the more 
 so, because I have not heard a word from you, since I 
 was taken prisoner. Circumstanced as w^e are, it is more 
 than ever delightful to hear from Christian friends. It 
 makes me more contented with my situation — not that I 
 am dw-contented — far from it. I am happy. But shut 
 out as we are from Christian society, and the courts of 
 God's house, it is unspeakably sweet and refreshing, to 
 receive the breathings of a Christian's soul, though on 
 paper. But should 1 be deprived of even this privilege, 
 still with my bible I should be happy. In this I can listen 
 to the words of Prophets and wise men — yea, sit at the 
 blessed Savior's feet, and listen to his " gracious words." 
 I can be instructed and comforted by the apostles, and 
 feast upon the promises which fill the " book of books." 
 But should this be taken away, still there remains a 
 source of happiness, which men cannot cut off — which 
 the world knows not, nor can take away. Need I tell 
 you what this is ? I trust that you also drink of this 
 spring, and know the sweetness of its waters. It is 
 holding communion with heaven, and having " fellow- 
 ship with the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ." Pre 
 vent this men cannot. In every place and condition I 
 
158 THE BIBLE PRECIOUS. 
 
 can lift my heart to God, and feel that He who " stick- 
 eth closer than a brother" is ray " Iriend," ever near to 
 impart all the comforts I need and can receive. I never 
 knew how to prize the Bible, nor understood as much of 
 its meaning as I now do. It is exceedingly sweet to 
 my soul. 
 
 My mother, so far from murmuring at my lot, I can al- 
 ready bless the hand of God, and kiss the rod. " It is 
 good that I have been afflicted." 
 
 Granting that this is a punishment for my sins, as some 
 say, then surely we should rejoice, and bless the Lord 
 for it ; He does it in love, even as a tender father cor- 
 rects his child, and as you often corrected me, for my 
 good. Our sins are our worst enemies ; shall we repine 
 at that which separates us from them ? Should we re- 
 fuse or murmur to bear pain a very short tmie, when 
 great and unending happiness is thereby brought to us? 
 Ah, no. Better be deprived of all eartldy comforts and 
 joys, and secure the favor of God and iieaven, than en- 
 joy all that earth can afford, and lose the smiles of the 
 Redeemer one moment — much more for ever. 
 
 Dear mother, " only believe," and you will be happy. 
 " Faith in God will quell every fear, and fill the soul 
 with light, joy, and peace. Unbelief will fill it with 
 gloominess and continual disquietude. Faith lets the 
 Savior into our hearts. Unbelief shuts Him and all com- 
 forts of His grace and salvation out of our souls. Faith 
 is all light, unbelief all darkness. 
 
 " Have failh in Gotl," the Savior cries, 
 
 Nor fear what feeble man can ilo ; 
 'Jlioiigli clou(l:> and darkiiess veil your skies, 
 
 All, all 8liall work for good to you. 
 
 " Have faith in God," — thouj^h tempests blow, 
 And billows like huge mountains swell; 
 
 Thousih every singe should overflow, 
 Have faith in God, and "all is well." 
 
 Dear parents when I gave myself to God, I surrender- 
 ed all to Him and His cause, to be used by Him in His 
 own wav. I have often prayed that He would send me 
 where He saw best — make me useful in the way He saw 
 
 4< 
 
 1 
 
DELIGHT IN GOd's WILL. 159 
 
 fit — continue me in the vineyard — call me away when 
 and as He saw would most glorify His name. This is 
 still my prayer. It is not for me to say when, where, 
 nor how long I shall labor. I lay myself upon the altar, 
 a whole, a " living sacrifice." If His will is that I 
 should labor here, I am willing to do it faithfully, so 
 long as He sees best, should it be my whole life. What 
 pleases my Savior, shall please me. If I am to meet no 
 more with the dear people of God on earth, I expect 
 soon to meet with a larger and better company than 
 earth can afford. Is it possible that Elias (my youngest 
 brother), has again grieved the Spirit, and hardened his 
 heart against God 1 O, that he would submit. Dear 
 brother, every moment you continue in sin, you are 
 heaping up to yourself that of which you will one day 
 repent, and it may be when it is too late ! Read Prov. 
 i. 20-33. 
 
 We live on prophet's food, only a greater variety. 
 
 To close, how great the privilege of prayer ! That 
 such worms as we can approach the Majesty of heaven 
 — the Maker of millions of worlds, the Ruler of the 
 universe, and hold converse with Him as with a father, 
 a friend, a brother ! O, let us love the Mercy Seat. 
 
 Your son and brother, 
 
 George. 
 
 joyful discovery. 
 
 We had supposed that we were the only ones in the 
 prison who bore the name of Christ, for in all our con- 
 verse with them, we found none who even pretended to 
 be Christians. Some were old backsliders, but a " kin- 
 dred spirit" we did not find till March 13, 1842. While 
 working in the evening with VV. G., 1 talked with him, 
 and found him quite seriously disposed. This encour- 
 aged me, and that evening I told my companions that I 
 had once more enjoyed the privilege of giving instruc- 
 tion to an anxious soul. He was naturally quite diffi- 
 dent, and being unacquainted with us, did not let his 
 feelings be known hastily. In a previous conversation, 
 I learned that he was a murderer. He felt and confess- 
 
160 A MURDERER CONVERTED. 
 
 ed it a great crime against God and man. Being much 
 interested in his case, on the morning of the thirteenth, 
 I whispered to him, " Read the 51st Psalrn to-day." 
 He read it, and when we were let out again towards night, 
 he said to James, " Tell Thompson that not the 51st 
 Psalm, but the 56th and 57th Psalms are suitable to my 
 ca«e, and express my feelings." 
 
 We read them with eag-erness — being anxious to be- 
 come more acquainted with him. And no one who has 
 not experienced something of the same, can even ima- 
 gine what were our feelings, when we read those Psalms, 
 and saw there the expressions of a decided Christian. 
 Our hearts leaped for joy — we shouted and praised the 
 Lord. 
 
 But still we were solicitous for a further acquaintance, 
 and it being difficult to find opportunity to talk with him, 
 we had further recourse to the language of books, as our 
 medium of conveying ideas. I selected the 360th and 
 412th Village Hymns, requesting that he would let us 
 know whether he could fully adopt the sentiments there 
 expressed. On the next Sabbath he returned the book 
 saying, " They do not exj)ress my feelings," and a short 
 time after, selected others himself, as descriptive of his 
 feelings — such as the 145th, 155th, and 415th of the same 
 book — and gave to us. We were now satisfied that he 
 was indeed a brother, and we could but shout "• hosanna ! 
 glory to God." We were filled with comfort and joy- 
 fulness. It gave new life to our devotions, and lighten- 
 eil the burthens and trials of the day. He had been so 
 long alone, in the midst of such awful cruelty and wick- 
 edness, ignorant and weak, that he was nearly buried be- 
 neath the rubbish, and his light shone very dimly. 
 
 But he now began to be " dug out" a little — his spi- 
 rit revived as he heard us sing and pray (he celled op- 
 posite us), and his strength began to increase. From that 
 time till his death, he grew stronger and stronger — moun- 
 ted higher ami higher, and shone brighter and brighter. 
 
 THAT " salt" again. 
 
 Not far from this time, a slave was put in here for 
 
THK CHRISTIAN SLAVE AND THE "" SALT." 161 
 
 punishment. This slave was a Christian, could read, 
 and loved his Bible. He has a family. He soon found 
 us out, and was eager for conversation — said he saw us 
 when we came — knew what we came for, &c. He 
 wanted a " loriting''' — we told him we could not, in our 
 circumstances, give one — hut we placed the " salt" be. 
 fore him. We told him of Canada — we told him of 
 
 where he would find friends — and assisted to plan 
 
 for getting his family away. We heard no more of him 
 for years, and supposed he had gone — but latterly we 
 have seen him here again. His family probably hin- 
 dered his o-oino; — for slaves love their wives and chil- 
 dren, as well as pale faces. 
 
 But what I am at is this : — Suppose that this man had 
 made his escape. Suppose that others, here, before 
 whom we have placed the " ^a/^," make their escape — 
 what then? Why, according to the decision of a Mis- 
 souri court, w^e stole those men while here locked 
 up in the Penitentiary! We placed the '■'• saW before 
 them — we told them oi liberty — and this was decided to 
 be stealing ! They sent us here to keep us from steal- 
 ing their slaves — but it seems we can steal them here, 
 as well as in Illinois, or any other State. If a man who 
 is travelling, leave a book or tract, which makes known 
 that England has no slaves, or that slaves are free 'in 
 Canada — and a slave learning this fact, escapes, why 
 then the book pedler stole him ! 
 
 EXTRACT FROM A LETTER TO A FRIEND. 
 
 " It is unspeakably sweet to hear from dear Christian 
 friends. It lightens our toils, sweetens our labors, cheers 
 and strengthens our hearts, makes time roll more de- 
 lightfully away, and stimulates us to labor more faithfully 
 in behalf of those (the slaves), for whom we are engaged. 
 By this do not understand that we could not, without 
 such letters, labor cheerfully and happily ; for we do 
 work as cheerfully as the man who gets great wages, 
 and with more delight and satisfaction than he who re- 
 ceives his three, five, or ten dollars per day. I need not 
 tell you why or how we can labor so happily here. 
 
162 alanson's head shaved. 
 
 Jesus is our^ friend, and ever near. Though shut out 
 from religious privileges, yet with our precious Bible and 
 locked within our little Bethel, we are more happy than 
 the king on his throne. From this we learn the way to 
 be happy anywhere, to " rejoice always," to have th.e 
 mind kept in " perfect peace," and to be like Jesus. 
 0! with this fountain of knowledge shall we not be 
 happy and rejoice ? 
 
 The letter to which this was an answer was withheld 
 from us more than a month, but in due time God caused 
 them to give it up. 
 
 SHAVING ON THE SABBATH. ALANSON WHIPPED. 
 
 It was the custom to have all the shaving done on the 
 Sabbath, because they could not spend time on a week 
 day — so much gained, they thought! We felt that the 
 practice was very wicked — endeavored to leave no means 
 untried to be shaved on a week day — talked with 
 wardens and overseers — besought and plead, but in vain. 
 We talked and i)rayed together about it in our cell. On 
 the third of April, Alansoa refused to leave the cell and 
 go down to be shaved. A great stir followed. A guard 
 came and said, " Work, why don't you comedown to be 
 shaved ?' " I feel that it would be wrong." The over- 
 seer came, threatened and coaxed — now flashing with 
 rage, then speaking kindly. Capt. B. was quickly 
 present, fiery and raging — his eyes flashing fury — he 
 threatened, commanded, and stormed — " Do you not 
 know the rules?'' " I feel that I ought to obey God," 
 '' Well, put him in the diak cell, and see if that will be 
 ( brying God !" Alanson was then taken from us and 
 1 ut'alone in a dark cell. The next morning one side of 
 h'.s head was shaved with a razor, and a heavy chain 
 iuslened to his leg. 'Jhat evening he was summoned 
 before the grand council, questioned and insulted, but 
 not injured. The next morning early Alanson was 
 brought back to us, and ;d! hands kejit in their cells that 
 day. A general inquisition wns held, and all were ex- 
 amined and questioned, which occupied most of the day. 
 
 i 
 
WHIPPED rOR OBEYING GOD. 163 
 
 We spent our time in reading and prayer, not knowing 
 what was before us. 
 
 When I was called to the guard-room, among many 
 other thino^s I was asked, " Has there not been an asree- 
 ment between you that Work should refuse to be 
 shaved ?" " No sir." " Did he not try to persuade you 
 to join with him?" "No sir. We talked and prayed 
 about it, and each did as he thought best." Eager to 
 find some fig-leaf with which they might hide their wick- 
 edness and ease their troubled consciences, Capt. Burch 
 began to question me about this one and that one with 
 whom I was acquainted — " Is not he in the habit of 
 shaving Sundays'?" What could I say] Speak the 
 truth I must. But what occasion and advantage was 
 this giving the enemy ! How did it strengthen them ! 
 Again : " Do not farmers generally, where you are ac- 
 quainted, shave on Sundays V O that I could have 
 answered boldly — No. But I could not. ! did Chris- 
 tians know the evil influence they are exerting by thus 
 desecrating God's holy day, surely they would desist at 
 once. May the Lord open their eyes to see their sin. Had 
 it not been for the wicked example of professors, behind 
 which these men tried to hide themselves, who knows 
 but I should have utterly confounded them? "O that 
 they would consider!" 
 
 The next Sabbath Alanson was called to the guard- 
 room ; and while James and myself w^ere on our knees, 
 beseeching heaven in his behalf, we were interrupted by 
 the sound of the whip — upon whose naked flesh we well 
 knew. Our own flesh quivered. He received ten 
 strokes, inflicted by the overseer, John Fulkerson. 
 Capt. Gordon gave the sentence, with the charge to the 
 overseer, " And double the dose every time he refuses 
 to be shaved," and other very insulting remarks. As 
 Alanson arose, he said to them, " May the Lord forgive 
 you." It was comforting at that time to call to mind — 
 " Some had trials of cruel scourgings." " This is 
 thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure 
 grief, suffering wrongfully." " If when ye do well and 
 suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with 
 
164 NOT GUILTY, FOR WHAT WE CAN't HELP. 
 
 God." "Rejoice and be exceeding glad." "It is 
 enough for the disciple that he be as his Lord," &,c. 
 
 As a farther punishment, Alanson was kept from us 
 till the last day of May. When he returned, we united 
 in heart-felt thanks to God for his goodness, in per- 
 mitting us once more to unite our hearts and voices 
 before the throne. While thus sej^arated, he wrote to 
 us on a piece of his sand paper with his pencil, saying 
 that he felt *he need and worth of social intercourse — 
 that it was " good to be afflicted," &c. I wrote to him 
 in the same manner. Afterwards he felt that as he had 
 solemnly protested against the procedure, and sustained 
 his protest by suffering, the whole responsibility of the 
 matter lay with them, and that if they persisted in 
 their course he would not be held guilty. We did not 
 feel that the act was ours, and the wicked wardens 
 themselves confessed " You can't help it, Thompson ; if 
 there is any wrong about it we shall have to bear the 
 blame." 
 
 THE PLEASING SIGHT. 
 
 For some months we had all worked within the walls, 
 and were thus excluded from the beauties of spring. 
 The spring of 1842 was very forward. On the twenty- 
 first of April, I worked in the city. And what a scene 
 now burst upon the sight ! The earth clothed in green 
 — the air perfumed with sweetness — the trees waving in 
 blooming colors, and loaded with green fruit — while all 
 nature rejoiced in the goodness of its Creator! It was 
 delio;htful. Our Father's garden, thus variesrated with 
 richness and beauty, was well calculated to till the soul 
 with admiration, wonder, and love. 
 
 Could a blind man suddenly have his eyes opened to 
 see the wonders of nature, in vernal bloom, how would 
 he be filled with rapture and amazement ! What words 
 could he find to give vent to the fulness of his soul ? If 
 he were a Christian, how would he adore and praise his 
 Maker for his wonderful goodness to man ! 
 
 Imagine, then, what were the feelings of my soul, 
 
REFRESHING VISIT. 165 
 
 when I was taken from the dungeon, and suddenly 
 placed in the midst of such a bright display of heavenly 
 wisdom, goodness, and love. 
 
 Those who carefully watch the opening spring in its 
 gradual advances from step to step till it puts on its per- 
 fect dress, can form but a faint conception of the im- 
 pression made on the mind of one, before whose eyes 
 such inimitable richness and beauty is suddenly spread. 
 
 It was not merely that I might gaze and feast upon 
 his wonderful works, that God so unexpectedly sent me 
 to the city to work, but to see a friend and fellow-laborer 
 in his cause. While there employed, a fellow-student 
 came from the Institute, bringing news from the bre- 
 thren. He called, and talked but a few minutes, as the 
 boat would soon start. It w^as reviving to see the face, 
 and hear the voice of one with whom we oft had united 
 our prayers and labors for the oppressed, in the social 
 circle, and in the sanctuary. He brought us letters, 
 which were a rich feast to our souls. 
 
 EXTRACT FROM MY ANSWER. 
 
 " Heaven will make amends for all these days of 
 trial ; but should I get no other reward than what I get 
 every day in ray own soul, I shall feel abundantly repaid 
 for all these deprivations. Just let the child of God 
 believe the Bible, and what can make him unhappy ? 
 Will afflictions — will persecutions — will tribulations, or 
 distress, or anguish of body — will the scoffs, and re- 
 proaches, and threats of earth and hell combined — will 
 imprisonment — will the famine or the pestilence discom- 
 pose him ? Will death terrify him 1 Will anything — 
 can anything cause him to be anxious and unhappy, 
 while he rests on the eternal truth of God 1 I tell you 
 nay. He stands upon an eternal Rock, and nothing in 
 earth or hell can destroy his peace, but his own sin. 
 He is more than a conqueror." 
 
 OUR CHARACTER GOOD IN MISSOURI. 
 
 On the twenty-eighth of May, a man who has been a 
 
 7* 
 
166 TESTIMONY AS TO GOOn CHARACTER. 
 
 legislator here, came to see us. He was quite familiar, 
 and spoke very frankly. 
 
 He enquired concerning Alanson's family, and pro- 
 mised to write to them. Said he, " There is no imputa- 
 tion against your characters ; but ihe excitement against 
 your doctrine is increasing, and all the sympathy there 
 is for you, is on account of your I'amily." 
 
 To James, he said, " You [all three] have a good 
 character here — you have a good name all over the 
 country. We have nothing against your characters — it 
 is only against your doctrine." 
 
 To me, he said, " The officers give you a good name, 
 and say you have behaved well. I hope you all will 
 learn to mind your own business, when you get out of 
 this place," &c. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 Has a murderer — a thief — a robber — a kidnapper, a 
 " good character'' in community ? Is there " no impu- 
 tation" against them 1 Then what mean the above con- 
 fessions from a Missouri statesman ? Do they not plainly 
 declare, that the people did not believe what they 
 chargecl against us '? That they did not try, sentence, 
 and imprison us as State felons, but as aholitionists ? 
 That it is not because we have violated their laws, but 
 because our views are diverse from theirs? Because our 
 consciences have not yet been warped, our eyes blinded, 
 and our tongues tied by slavery? For these reasons, 
 we are here placed, and here held — as will appear more 
 fully as we advance. 
 
 SLAVES ESCAPING. 
 
 As we were not allowed to write on abolition — con- 
 sequently could know but little of what was going on, 
 the Lord sent a man one hundred miles to tell us that 
 the slaves were escaping very fast, and they were able 
 to retake but few of them. I was taken aside by Capt. 
 G., with him and other strangers, where I was questioned 
 as to the ^'- slave roufe.^^ Said Capt. G., "There is a 
 
ENCOURAGED TO LABOR FOR THE SLAVE. 167 
 
 regular stage route, and he can tell you all about it if he 
 will." I replied, "There is such a route, but I do not 
 know it, but a short distance." 
 
 The man said that three slaves had gone to Canada 
 
 from , and that an anonymous letter had been sent 
 
 to the master, from Quiney, stating that his slaves were 
 safe in Canada. He wished me to promise that 1 would 
 give him the name of the author, should I know the hand 
 writing — that the person might be taken. Said he w^ould 
 send the letter, but I never saw it. 
 
 The assurance that the oppressed were being deliver- 
 ed, by our coming here, made us clap our hands for 
 joy. We felt more willing to hibor for them twelve 
 years — " thanked God and took courage." 
 
 The man said that when we left Palmyra, it was the 
 determination of the people to raise a petition for Work, 
 in a year, and get him out. But when the guard came 
 back, and reported that he was unyielding in his princi- 
 ples, they all said, " If that is the way he talks, let him 
 stay." 
 
 THE POLYGLOTT BIBLE. 
 
 While James and myself were working in the city, 
 old Mrs. Hart passed by, frequently, and looked with 
 pity upon us. She said to James, as he was near the 
 fence, " Would you like a volume of bound tracts V 
 He replied, " I do not know as I should be allowed to 
 have them, but we would be very glad if you would get 
 us a Polyglott Bible." She quickly obtained a very 
 neat one, and together with her daughter-in-law, after 
 pleading a longtime with Capt. G., prevailed on him to 
 let us have it. Reader, his objection to our having it, 
 was, " I don't want to teach them another Religion .'" 
 We consider it a rich treasure — a choice companion. 
 Xhis good old lady afterwards sent us divers little com- 
 forts, tracts, books, &c. 
 
 On the thirteenth of June, I received a letter from 
 home, bringing the news of the conversion of my young- 
 est brother. 
 
168 MY BROTHER CONVERTED. 
 
 an extract, in reply. 
 
 Beloved Parents : 
 
 When I read your letter, I could scarce contain 
 myself. My soul was filled to overllowing with joy and 
 gratitude. " I have all and abound," — " ray cup' run- 
 neth over," — I feiist on the heavenly manna — the life- 
 giving fruit that grows on the banks of Canaan's river. 
 
 Dear Brother, you have now sworn eternal allegiance 
 to the Savior. The heathen are dying. I am shut uj), 
 and at present, cannot go to them. And in the name of 
 my Master, I charge you to step up immediately, fill my 
 place, and hasten to those who are perishing." 
 
 " abolition all the time." 
 
 As James was at work, outside, with two others, on 
 the Fourth of July, a slave watching his opportunity, 
 when James was alone, asked, " Are you one of the 
 three abolitionists who came here last fall ?" " I am." 
 "Are you abolition all the time?" — meaning if he 
 still continued to be an abolitionist, though in prison and 
 suffering on account of it. James answered, " I am 
 abolition all the time." Then came up another prisoner, 
 and asked the slave, " Why are yo\i not keeping Fourth 
 of July ?" The slave, very beautifully and expressive- 
 ly answered, " Ah, when 1 am frfe. Twill keep Fourth 
 of July — Pll keep it then, Sundays, and all days." 
 
 Though he was a slave, he understood the nature of 
 Liberty, and clearly saw the palpable inconsistency of 
 our Fourth of July celebrations, while in our land, 
 Liberty is but an empty sound, — a mockery. Let this 
 shame the thousands who are so enthusiastic in celebrat- 
 ing this day, in honor of liberty^ while millions are 
 groaning in chains and cruel bondage, from childhood to 
 death. 
 
 And "they are contented," are they? So ardently 
 did this slave long for liberty, and so highly prize the 
 blessing, that could he obtain it, he would hold a con- 
 tinual celebration, and make everyday a day of gladness 
 and rejoicing, on account of it ; thus provino; the bare- 
 
 I 
 
SLAVES UNnEKSTANO THE NATUUE OF LIBERTY. 169 
 
 faced falsify of the declaration of slaveholders — " they 
 would not be free if they could." And this slave, pro- 
 bably, was " treated kindly," not " worked hard,-' and 
 allowed many privileges. He belonged to a Methodist 
 class-leader. 
 
 THE HARVEST FIELD. 
 
 During haying and harvest, I worked in the field, 
 swinging the scythe and cradle. James assisted a few- 
 days, in the latter part of haying. This was hard but 
 pleasant work. It did not seem much like being in the 
 penitentiary — except that the guard, with his musket, 
 was following us around. The grain was about four 
 miles distant. To and from our work we walked every 
 day — carrying our provision and tools, which was the 
 hardest part. Frequently, after walking home at night, 
 I would be so completely exhausted I could not eat. 
 The view of the stone wall, as we returned, after a hard 
 day's work, was cheering; and almost involuntarily I 
 would break forth with " Home, home, sweet home." I 
 longed for a place to rest my weary limbs. In the field, 
 and by the way, we could generally converse freely. 
 
 At this time, Capt. G.'s oldest son was sick. The 
 prisoners were much attached to him, as he was always 
 kind to them. I asked the old man if I could go up and 
 see him. He turned me out alon*.', and I v.'ent and con- 
 versed with him, about his soul, and the importance of 
 being prepared to die. The family received me kindly. 
 This we looked upon as an advance in the opening for 
 usefulness, which we gladly improved, blessing the Lord. 
 
 A MAN HUNG. 
 
 Adjoining the hay field was the public gallow^s. On the 
 eighth of July, a man who had poisoned his wife in the 
 city, was hung. As it was near, Capt. G. allowed us 
 all to go to the place. A large concourse assembled. 
 A document of his own was read, in which he confessed 
 the crime ; as also his repentance, pardon, peace, and 
 hope of happiness. He warned the multitude to learn 
 
170 VISITFI) THK SICK. 
 
 wisdom from his example. The most of that day, I was 
 
 without a cjuanl, with two others. 
 
 OUR FRIKNDS. 
 
 On the ninth, being unwell, I abstained from work, to 
 rest and recruit a little. And this sickness was very 
 providential — for on that morning Mrs. Work and my 
 aunt came to see us, so that I had an opportunity to 
 converse with them, which I should not have enjoyed 
 had I been well. Thus " All things .work together for 
 good." 
 
 We were allowed to converse with our friends sepa- 
 rately, a short time, which was a great feast to our souls. 
 The next day (Sabbath), they came to our cell a few 
 minutes — but Capt. B. was present, and we could say 
 but little. However, for the privilege of seeing them, 
 we felt grateful. They brought us letters, which we 
 answered. They brought us two Polyglott Bibles, my 
 Greek Testament, Saint's Rest, and Christian Instructor. 
 This was a valuable accession to our Library. They 
 brought my Webster's Dictionary, but this Capt. B. 
 would not let me have. Why, I cannot tell, only he 
 said we did not need one. 
 
 Mrs. W. brouglit two children with her. They were 
 treated kindly and with attention, by the officers — treat- 
 ed as no other convict's wife or friends were treated. The 
 sight of them awakened the svmpathies of some, and 
 their visit deposited a leaven whii'h continues to work. 
 
 They went to sec Gov. Reynolds, but he refused to 
 do anything for tliem. He told Mrs. W. he did not 
 blame abolitionists for helping slaves after they were in 
 a free state — it was right enough. 
 
 Previous to this, a petition from Connecticut came to 
 the Governor, for Alanson. He refused to grant it, and 
 wrote a long piece against letting us out. And the great 
 reason was, '" because he still persists in the same sen- 
 timents,'' — not because he had broken any law, but be- 
 cause he will not renounce his sentiments. That is it, 
 reader. 
 
 A raao asked Alanson's little son his name. He an- 
 
THE SLAVES '' RELIEVED." 171 
 
 swered — " Edwin Lovejoy Work," — and the babe was 
 named Alanson. Learning these names, a citizen re- 
 marked, " He ought to stay there every day of his time, 
 (why?) for naming his chiklren after such men !" Pa- 
 rents, be careful what names you give your children, 
 lest )'ou get into the penitentiary. ! what will not 
 slavery do ! It was not because they were named after 
 some noted infidel, or robber, or murderer, or pirate, or 
 tyrant — then it would all have been well enough — but an 
 abolitionist ! this is insupportable ! 
 
 " RELIEVING THE NIGGERS." 
 
 On one Sabbath Capt. B. came to our cell with three 
 strangers. As he opened the door, and they looked in, 
 one exclaimed, " Ah ! these are the men w^ho have 
 placed themselves in this condition to relieve the niggers ! 
 Well, there are but few of them in a worse condition." 
 This taunt may have two meanings either of which is 
 true. 
 
 1st. That our object was benevolent — " to relieve the 
 niggers" — " to relieve" those who are trodden down by 
 the cruel oppressor — " to relieve" our brother, robbed 
 and spoiled of all that is dear in life. 
 
 2nd. That our coming here would have a tendency to 
 relieve the poor slaves from their suffering, and hasten 
 the day when every chain shall be broken and all shall 
 be free. That this has been the case, there can be no 
 doubt : and this is one source of our contentment. We 
 have felt that not one stroke should be in vain — that all 
 would tell on the demolishment of the great American 
 dragon — and it has been our constant prayer that God 
 would give all our earnings to the slave — put all to the 
 account of the widow and fatherless, and not let the op- 
 pressor have one cent. 
 
 Of the multitudes who came to gaze on us, some 
 manifested in their countenances a feeling of sympathy ; 
 others seemed to feel highly gratified at our suffering. 
 The sight of us, under such circumstances, seemed to 
 feast their malice and spite, while their looks plainly 
 said, " Aha, so would we have it." Frequently the in- 
 
172 THE NKW CELL. 
 
 quiry was heard, " Where are the abolitionists?" And 
 then, " This is one of them." 
 
 THE NEW CELL. 
 
 On the eighteenth of July, we were removed from the 
 cell which had been our home for nine and a half months, 
 to one much more retired, and more desirable on severa' 
 accounts. 
 
 1st. It was so far from the guard-room that we were 
 not disturbed and continually annoyed by the whipping, 
 except when the cries were very loud. This was a 
 great blessing. 
 
 2d. There we were overheard so easily that we felt a re- 
 straint in conversation, and frequently in prayer and praise. 
 Here, we could converse freely, and sing and pray as 
 heartily as we pleased. Though we were never once re- 
 proved for talking in our cell, when it was known by all 
 that we did talk, and talk about slavery and abolition 
 too. 
 
 3d. Being so far from " head quarters," we had more 
 opportunity to converse with our fellow prisoners, &c. 
 
 On taking possession, we kneeled down and unitedly 
 consecratc<l it to be "holiness to the lord;" to be 
 the " house of God, and the gate of heaven" to our souls; 
 not imagining that it would prove thus to so many others 
 as it has. It is emphatically "• the hallowed cell ;" hal- 
 lowed not only by consecration, but also by the glorious 
 display of God's saving grace in converting sinners, 
 and comforting and establishing saints. But I am anti- 
 cipating ; after a little you shall hear more about the 
 " hallowed cell." ' » 
 
 As yet, the windows of the " new cells" were fasten- 
 ed down, which made them extremely warm and oppres- 
 sive in the summer. Capt. G. refused to let them be 
 opened. But at our request, granted us the privilege ; 
 as also to have the little door left open, so that we en- 
 joyed the free circulation of fresh air, of which others 
 were deprived. Thus was the " good hand of our God 
 upon us." 
 
THE LOST MUSKETS. 
 
 THE PREACHERS/ 
 
 173 
 
 This is the appellation by which we have most com- 
 monly been designated, by prisoners and visitors. If 
 they wished to speak of our cell, it was " the preachers' 
 cell." And many a time have we heard the remark, 
 when locked up, and officers were passing around — " this 
 is the preacher's cell." 
 
 Frequently, as the guard went round on Sabbath af- 
 ternoons, to let out the brick yard hands and others, 
 when they came to our door, would say — " The preach- 
 ers' cell is there ; you need not look ; they don't go." 
 No. God kept them from even asking us. 
 
 At one time, there was some disturbance, and we 
 were all sent in haste to our cells. We heard the offi- 
 cers going from cell to cell, for a long time, searching 
 them. As they came to ours, Capt. B. remarke i — 
 "This is the preachers' cell ; you need not look here ;" 
 and passed to the next. What was the matter'? Two 
 muskets were suddenly missed, and it was supposed some 
 prisoner had hid them in his cell ; but they did not even 
 suspect that the persons whom they had charged as be- 
 ing " worse than murderers, and meaner than chicken 
 thieves," would do such a thing! 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 BEGINNING OF REVIVAL— DEATH-BED SCENES, &c. 
 
 THE FIRST CONVERT. 
 
 For some time we had observed E. R., and now and 
 then spoken a few words to him. Finding him quite so- 
 ciable, well informed, and familiar with the scriptures, 
 we were soon interested in his case. He also became at- 
 tached to us, and took pleasure in our company. Find- 
 
174 
 
 THE FIRST CONVERT. 
 
 ing him tolerably sound on anti-slavery, we took more 
 interest in drawing out his feelings. He was particular- 
 ly kind to us ; and as he was allowed to go where he 
 chose, he received many little favors from persons out- 
 side, which he <2:ladly divided with us: thus brintrinsr 
 us apples, peaches, tomatoes, gra[)es, &,c. By him per- 
 sons would frequently send us favors, thereby manifest- 
 ing their regard lor the three abolitionists. 
 
 About the middle of August, E. R. was evidently in 
 a serious state of mind, and searched for the truth with 
 an eagerness that indicated the workings of his soul, 
 and the influences of the spirit. As liis mind was a 
 little confused on the subject of future punishment, we 
 gave him the Christian Instructor to read, directing him 
 to the chapter on this point. He read it with attention ; 
 his eyes were opened ; he saw his danger and lost con- 
 dition ; and betook himself to pleading with God for 
 mercy. The contest within was strong — whether 
 Christ or Satan should rule over him — but grace tri- 
 umphed, and he threw himself at the Savior's feet — a sub- 
 dued child. 
 
 During the afternoon of the twenty-first (Sabbath), 
 he came to our door, and looking in, with a smile, said, 
 " I have had a hard struggle to-day — I have overcome the 
 wicked S])irit." " Have you given your heart to God ?" 
 " I have, and I feel his love in my soul." With the an- 
 gels we rejoiced, and cried, " Glory to God.'' We were 
 encourati;e{l to pray, and watch for opportunities to speak 
 "a word in season." We |)ursued our toils with glad 
 and light hearts. At evening, he would frequentlv come, 
 a few minutes, just before we were locket! up, and tell 
 us how he prospered ; what temptations, ditficulties and 
 trials he encountered ; and with what feelings he met 
 and endured them. This gave us opportunity to coun- 
 sel, encourage, and strent2;lhen him. His work, usuallv, 
 wassuchaskepthiin outside till the rest were shut up, then 
 he would come softly to our cell, and talk till the guard 
 came to lock him up. Thus we fed him, as a lamb, and 
 " strengtheneil his hands in God." Here he would 
 come, and hear us sing and pray, when he could not 
 
DEATH-BKD SCENE. 175 
 
 get ill to join his voice with ours. Frequently, as we 
 we were at our devotions, we would hear his gentle 
 footsteps, coming to unite his heart with ours. At one 
 time he said, " I have had a severe trial, last night and to- 
 day. I have been tempted to turn back, but I keep good 
 courage.'' At another time, " Go as it may with me, 
 you have done me no harm, but much good." Jesus 
 shall have all the praise. He talked with his cell-mate, 
 and obtained his consent to let him pray with him, but 
 could not get him to pray for himself. But I shall have 
 occasion to speak of him again. 
 
 FIRST DEATH-BE U SCENE. 
 
 On the twelfth of August, about midnight, the over- 
 seer came and called, — " George Thompson." "What is 
 is wanting, sir T' " I want you to get up a little while, 
 to go and see Richards. We think he won't live long. 
 Take your books and read and pray with him. It can't 
 do him any hurt, and it may do him good." I was quick- 
 ly ready. In the guard room I saw Pope Gorden, son 
 of Capt. G., who said, " Ask him if he washes to send 
 any word to his friends — and he may wish to confess 
 something to you about the Bullard scrape" — (the mur- 
 der of the former overseer). I went to his cell, but al- 
 ready was he beyond the power of utterance, and sink- 
 ino; in the arms of death. The short breath, the fixed 
 and glassy eye, and the gnashing teeth, showed that he 
 had but a short time to stay. He soon expired, and it is 
 to be feared he exchanged this for the gloomy pri- 
 son of eternity. We laid him out, and four of us re- 
 mained there the rest of the night, lendeavored to im- 
 prove the event for their good. The next day he was 
 buried. The effect on the minds of the prisoners, was 
 transient. This man had been tried on the charge of 
 murder, above mentioned, and acquitted. His disease, 
 1 believe, was that mentioned in Prov. v. 11. 
 
 FRUIT, SABBATH, ETC. 
 
 Daring peach time, bushels were brought in, and di- 
 vided among the prisoners. Though confined in prison. 
 
f 
 
 176 REFUSAL OK SABBATH-GATHERED FRUITS. 
 
 we were not deprived of all the luxuries of nature. 
 On the third of September, I obtained permission and 
 went alone to the woods for pawpaws — and afterwards, 
 in like niimner, for grapes. At these times, I enjoyed 
 the inestimable luxury of prayer, alone, in the grove, 
 " Where none but God could hear," Others would go 
 out on the Sabbath, and gathergrapes, nuts,&(',, and divide 
 them among the prisoners. When olTered to us, we re- 
 fused, telling them we could not receive things which 
 were obtained by breaking the Sabbath. The rebuke 
 was felt by prisoners and officers, and the " prison was 
 shaken" morally. But what if we had quickly received 
 all they brought, disregarding the manner in which it 
 was obtained ? Of course they would have been en- 
 couraged. Can a man, with any consistency, say unto 
 a thief, " thou shalt not steal," when he is ready to 
 share with him the stolen property 1 So neither could 
 we, with any propriety or efficacy, have opened our 
 mouth for the Sabbath, had we given our sanction to 
 their wickedness, by being participants of the ill-gotten 
 articles. And so of any other sin. If we would rej^rove 
 with any etfect, we must not be •' partakers of other 
 men's sins." The same principle applies to slavery, 
 and slave produce. 
 
 PREACHING AGAIN. 
 
 We had been without preaching about four months, 
 when, on September 4th, a large number of Metho- 
 dist ministers attended, and preached for us twice, a 
 thing not done before. Conference was sitting in the 
 city, and many came to see and do the prisoners good. 
 Then, for the first time, about half the prisoners were 
 assembled in one of the shops, while the rest sat as 
 usual at their doors. The speaker, standing in a door, 
 was easily heard both ways by all. It was a rich feast, 
 once more to listen to the glad tidings of salvation. 
 Never did a famishing man receive food with more eager- 
 ness and pleasure, than we the words of eternal life, 
 after so long a famine. 
 
 It was also a solemn time. Some, speaking of it af- 
 
DESIRE TO SPEAK IN MEETING. 177 
 
 terwards, said that it made them think more seri- 
 ously about their souls, than they ever in their life 
 had done. We strongly desired to express our feelings 
 — E. R. likewise. I asked one of the ministers to give 
 the privilege in the afternoon. He consulted with Capt. 
 B., who refused to grant it. But, at the close of the 
 sermon, my soul Avas full almost to bursting, and I felt I 
 must call on my fellows to come to Christ. I arose — 
 said " i should like to say a few words to my fellow 
 prisoners, if it would not be out of order," and began, 
 when Capt. Burch cried out, " It's out of order, Thomp- 
 son, take your seat.'' His wnfe, who was present, on 
 hearing this, burst into tears. I took my seat — but the 
 privilege of a social prayer-meeting then appeared more 
 precious than ever! O, what would we not have given 
 for the opportunity of giving vent to our almost bursting 
 hearts, in exhort'ng sinners, and in testifying to the 
 goodness of God ! But this was denied us, and we 
 " withheld our tongue even from speaking good, because 
 the Lord did it." 
 
 REFLECTION. 
 
 Ah ! how little do they know what they do, who wil- 
 fully neglect the place of prayer ! — or who, when there, 
 are backward, and even refuse to speak or pray ! How 
 little do they value that which is of such inestimable 
 worth ! Yea, how would they prize and desire what 
 they now so lightly esteem, were they once wholly de- 
 prived of it, as we are ! Reader, I hope it may not be 
 necessary for God to send you to a Penitentiary, to 
 make you prize and improve your high privileges. 
 Then take a prisoner's advice, and be " ready to every 
 good word and work." 
 
 For thus attempting to speak " in the name of Jesus," 
 I was called before the " Grand Council," which con- 
 sisted of the wardens, overseer, all the guards, &c. — -a 
 room full. Capt. Burch was the "speaker." I was 
 " questioned in many things," but " finding nothing how 
 they might punish me," I was, for this grievous crime, 
 sentenced to wear a heavy chain. I " departed from the 
 
 8* 
 
178 THE CHAIN. 
 
 council, rejoicing that I was counted worthy to suffer 
 shame for the name of Jesus." My chain I carried 
 about with me, as my constant and precious companion, 
 for ten days, at which time Capt. G. ordered it off. I 
 rejoiced in being able to tread so much more nearly in 
 in tLe steps of Paul. The day after it was put on me, 
 a wicked man remarked to his cell-mate, '• Now you see 
 if some judgment don't happen to Capt. B. for putting 
 that chain on Thompson." And so it was, for the Lord 
 killed his horse ; ant! unless he repents, that chain will 
 appear against him at the judgment. Think not, reader, 
 that we did, or do, feel a spirit of revenge towards Capt. 
 B., or the most bitter enemy we may have. No, far 
 from it. We heartily forgive, as we hope to be forgiven 
 of God ; and w^e would rejoice to manifest our forgive- 
 ness by acts of benevolence to them. 
 
 THE DOOR OPENING. 
 
 About this time, W. G. expressed a wish to ,be bap- 
 tized, and wished counsel. While I was conversing 
 with him one day on the subject, as we walked across 
 the yard, the overseer suddenly came round the corner 
 of a building, and called out " What is the chat, Thomp- 
 son ?" 1 told him plainly. "Has G. any serious 
 thoughts about Religion ]" " He has, sir." '" Well if 
 you and he, or any other one, wish to converse on that 
 subject, come to me, and I will gladly hear what you 
 have to say. If any one wishes to converse with you 
 about their souls, ask me, and you shall have the privi- 
 lege ; for I am favorable to religion and have respect for 
 it." Here, it will be noticed, is an advance in opening 
 the door for our usefulness. We rejoiced in the pros- 
 pect, and " took courage." 
 
 We informed the seriously disposed of what the over- 
 seer said, and advised them to get permission, and come 
 to our cell, expecting, of course, that he would be pre- 
 sent to hear every thing. But as God always goes be- 
 fore his people, exceeding their petitions, and granting 
 what they neither asked, nor had faith to hope for, so 
 it was in the present case. 
 
THE DOOR OF USEFULNESS OPENING. 179 
 
 On Sabbath morning, the eleventh of September, 
 Capt. Gorden came to our cell, bringing W. G. and G. G., 
 saying, " Here is G. G., he wishes to learn to read. I 
 turn him over to you to instruct on the Sabbath. Also 
 instill into him Christianity. As for W. G. , he can read, 
 and can speak for himself, and tell you what he wants." 
 He left them with us, and departed. E. R. also came, 
 and we spent the day together. Then we felt that " God 
 had done great things for us." What a door was now 
 opened ! How gradually, and yet how rapidly did cir- 
 cumstances combine to bring about this event ! And to 
 what can we ascribe it, but to the ^' good hand of our 
 God upon us '?" 
 
 After prayer, we entered upon our work. Said W. 
 G., "I know I have been ' born of the Spirit,' but the 
 water is yet wanting." We then explained the nature, 
 design, and mode of baptism — leaving him to satisfy his 
 own conscience as to the form. And as he felt he ought 
 to be immersed, we did not attempt to argue him out of 
 his opinion. 
 
 G. G. was impenitent. We taught him to read .and 
 exhorted him to repentance. He tried to play the hypo- 
 crite, and came a few Sabbaths, but the fire was too hot 
 for him, and he ceased coming. The other two con- 
 tinued to attend. We all studied the Bible together, 
 sr'ng praises, and then for the first time, for more than a 
 year, united with others in social prayer to God, and lis- 
 tened to supplicating voices we never before had heard. 
 
 Oh, how did our souls rejoice — our bones fatten, and 
 our tongues praise the Lord ! It was far beyond our 
 faith or our hope, and rebuked our unbelief. We could 
 but exclaim, " VVhat hath God wrought !" " Halleluia !" 
 " Not unto us, Lord, not unto us, but to Thy name 
 give glory." 
 
 The two brethren " grew in grace," and increased in 
 " knowledge and utterance." At first, W. G. was diffi- 
 dent and confused — could say but little — but by going 
 forward, trusting in God, he gained the victory, and 
 mounted up as on wings of eagles. 
 
180 THE DEATH-BED. 
 
 THE METHODIST PREACHERS. 
 
 On the twelfth, we were pointed out to companies of 
 the ministers, who came to have a view of the three abo- 
 litionists. They gazed and looked — and looked and 
 gazed — surveyed us on every side, and some seemed 
 to pity — but we could not speak. We desired to 
 ask, " Watchman, what of the night ?" but had to 
 content ourselves with praying, that they might open 
 their mouths for the oppressed. " We are a spectacle 
 unto the world, to angels, and unto men!" When we 
 were pointed out to strangers, every eye would be fixed 
 upon us, marking every turn, viewing every feature, our 
 stature, and form, as if to ascertain whether we were 
 really human beings, or such fiends incarnate, as we hud 
 been represented to be. 
 
 SECOND DEATH-BED SCENE. 
 
 On the eighteenth of September (Sabbath), as we were 
 engaged in our social exercises, a guard came and called 
 for me to go and talk with a sick man. He had been 
 sick about tv.'o weeks — we had talked some to him, and 
 saw that he was fast verging towards his end. As I ap- 
 proached the bed, it was evident he had but a short time 
 to remain — what v\-as to be done must be done quickly, 
 or not at all. He called me by name, but could only 
 articulate faintly. His eyes sunken, his breath short and 
 difficult, he was gradually sinking into the arms of death 
 — sensible of his condition, but unprepared to die. Do 
 you think you shall die ? '' Yes." Do you feel ready 1 
 " No." Are you willing to die ? " No." Do you feel 
 that you are a great sinner? " Yes." I spoke of the 
 Savior to him — what he had done — his willingness to 
 pardon, even him, if he would now truly repent, and 
 cast himself upon liim for mercy. I spoke of the thief 
 on the cross — reminded him of his own condition, and 
 asked, can you net look to Jesus, and now cast yourself 
 upon Him ? "I doift know — Lord have mercy on me," 
 said he, and continued to sink in death. 
 
 I knelt by him, and prayed. Many others were in the 
 
BAPTISM 6F A CONVERTED PRISONER. l8l 
 
 room — some standing — others kneeling — some weeping, 
 and others careless. I spoke a few w^ords to those 
 around, warning them against a sick-bed repentance. He 
 expired, leaving us to fear that he also had exchanged 
 this for the prison-house of eternity. 
 
 We used our endeavors to have a funeral sermon, but 
 to no effect. It will be observed in this instance, that 
 the door was opened wider, than at any previous time. 
 Notice further advances. Keeping in mind the charac- 
 ter of our officers — the strict rules, and the odious name 
 we bore, how plain is the " good hand of our God !" 
 
 THE CLOSING YEAR. 
 
 Just fifty-two weeks had passed away, when we were 
 permitted to witness a very interesting scene. After 
 preaching, W. G. was called forth by the minister (an 
 Episcopalian), and questioned respecting his desire for 
 baptism. Many of the prisoners accompanied him to 
 the river — and a crowd of citizens was present to wit- 
 ness the ceremony. 
 
 As we stood upon the shore, while the sun was send- 
 ing forth its last rays, from the West — there to unite in 
 solemn prayer and praise to the Redeemer, and behold a 
 dear brother publicly covenant to be the Lord's — to cru- 
 cify the flesh — to resist the devil, and live only for the 
 Savior. ! it was delightful ' Who can imagine our 
 joy, and exultation, as we returned to our " hallowed 
 cell," to render thanksgiving to God for the wonderful 
 things He had shown us in the penitentiary during the 
 year that was then closing? In looking back, and view- 
 ing our Father's hand at every step, we " thanked God, 
 and took courage" — hoping and praying for still greater 
 blessings, which were abundantly bestowed in the suc- 
 ceeding year. 
 
 THE SLEEPING GUARD. 
 
 James, with myself, and one other, were at work in 
 the city — our guard went to sleep — he was reported to 
 Capt. G., w^ho accosted him about it, and said to him, 
 " These men do not need any one to guard them — but 
 
182 THE DYING PRISONER. 
 
 wh^n I hire a guard, I want him to pay attention to his 
 business, and do his duty.'''' Reader, what think youl 
 " When a man's ways please the Lord, He raaketh even 
 his enemies to be at peace with him" — so we found it. 
 
 Oct. 15. A prisoner, who ate his dinner as usual, was 
 taken with convulsive fits, and narrowly escaped with 
 his life. 
 
 Oct. 17. An old man died, who had been sick a long 
 time. We had no opportunity of conversing with him. 
 He was a Catholic. 
 
 Oct. 19. I obtained permission of Pope G., to go 
 out and get some grapes, while my lathe was occupied 
 by another. On my way, I met Capt. G. " Which way, 
 Thompson ?" " I was going to get seme grapes, sir, 
 while my lathe is occupied." " Ah, Thompson, that 
 won't count. I can find something for you to do." I 
 returned with him, but God recompensed his covetous- 
 ness a hundred fold ; for on that same day, three valua- 
 ble hands ran away ! 
 
 Thus whenever they have attempted to afflict and 
 oppress us, the hand of the Lord, in some judgment, has 
 fallen heavily upon them ! 
 
 THIRD DEATH-BED SCENE. 
 
 Alanson's shop-mate had been unable to work, for a 
 long time, and about the middle of October was confined 
 to his bed, from which he never arose. He all the time 
 had his reason, failed gradually, and sank in death. On 
 the twentieth Alanson talked with him. He expressed 
 no fears of death, but did not wish to die in a penitenti- 
 ary ! As if it would be thrown up to him in the eter- 
 nal world — even in heaven ! And this is the feeling of 
 most here — that it is a great disgrace to themselves and 
 their friends, to have it said of them, " He died in a 
 penitentiary !" And the same objection they have to 
 getting religion here — put it off, promising to attend to 
 It when they get free ! But the monster needs none of 
 these objections and excuses. He comes^ and with re- 
 lentless grasp lays his cold hand upon them — 
 
AWFUL COMMINGLING OF GROANS. 183 
 
 " Pursues them close, thro' every lane of life ; 
 Nor misses once the track ; but presses on, 
 Till, lorc'd at last to the tremendous verge, 
 At once they sink ****** p' 
 
 During the day, James weni in to see hira. Another 
 prisoner, a physician, was standing by. The sick man 
 looked on them and said, " one a physician of the body ; 
 the other, of the soul." That night, James and myself 
 sat up with him, I asked, is Jesus near? " I hope so." 
 Is he precious? "Yes" Are you willing to die? 
 " Yes ; but I would like to see my wife and child." 
 He then gave me a message to send to his wife, which I 
 gave to Pope Gorden. Capt. Burch had just been to see 
 him — left and went to the guard room ; called out a 
 number of prisoners; and while the long, mournful 
 groans of the dying man were ringing through the 
 hollow-sounding hall, at the same time, were mingled 
 with them the noise of the strap and paddle joined to 
 the shrieks and cries for mercy, of another fellow-pri- 
 soner, beneath the torture ! ! 
 
 ! it was an awful mingling of strange and discord- 
 ant sounds ! 
 
 But such is the hardening influence of slavery^ slave- 
 ry, SLAVERY ! 
 
 The poor man died at half past nine. We laid him 
 out, and staid with him the rest of the night, busying 
 ourselves in reading. 
 
 The death of this man caused some solemnity among 
 the officers, for they thought much of him. It was also 
 a loud call to Alanson, as he was taken from his side, 
 and from before his face. 
 
 The whole business of chair-making now devolved on 
 Alanson, bringing with it a weight of responsibility and 
 care. It also brought him more into notice, and afford- 
 ed hira more frequent opportunities of speaking a word 
 for the honor of his Master. 
 
 EXPERIENCE meeting. 
 
 J^ov. 6. After shaving, the usual three were locked 
 up with us to study the Bible, sing and pray. We then 
 
184 CRIME AND EXPERIENCE OF W. O. 
 
 had an experience-telling exercise, which was very in- 
 teresting and profitable, as it made us better acquainted 
 with e^ich other's souls. 
 
 W. G., before he committed the crime for which he 
 came here, had been anxious for his soul, and felt the 
 importance of being a genuine Christian. But a neigh- 
 bor of his had threatened his life, and was watching for 
 an opportunity to shoot him ; so that he was in constant 
 fear, day and niglit. He was much agitated. He felt 
 he was not in a proper state of mind to repent, as he 
 would be liable to be influenced only by fear ; and his 
 mind was so confused he could not bring it to bear upon 
 the subject long enough to accomplish the work. He was 
 in great distress lest he should be killed and go to hell. 
 And under this excited state of mind he was influenced 
 to take the life of his enemy, not because he hated the 
 man, nor because the man had injured him, nor merely 
 to save his own life, but that he might have an opportu- 
 nity to repent of his .sins in a proper frame of mind ! 
 He felt that the act was very wrong, but felt impelled to 
 do it, rather than be killed himself and go to hell. He 
 was apprehended and put in prison to await trial. As 
 he was on his way to the jail, he yielded his heart to 
 God, while riding along the road ; light and peace broke 
 in upon his mind, and he was happy.* Everything ap- 
 peared new ; he felt himself a iieio man, but was doubt- 
 ful whether this was religion. (For the man was very 
 ignorant, and learned to read in jail.) He talked with 
 one of the guard, who was a baptist professor, who told 
 him his experience, and began to speak of his hope. 
 This was too dry for the new-born soul ; he broke out, 
 " My religion is better than that ; it is stronger than a 
 hope ; I feel that I have it in possession." 
 
 In jail, he read his Bible from morning till night, with 
 much prayer, and was filled with joy and peace'unutter- 
 able. 
 
 Then he could look at death and rejoice. He was 
 
 • It should be understood, that some considerable time elapsed after the 
 commission of the crime, before his arrest. 
 
A QUESTION. 186 
 
 tried, and sentenced to be hung; the day of execution 
 came ; his funeral sermon was preached on the gallows- 
 stand ; the sheriff showed him his watch and said, " You 
 have six minutes, sir, to live." During all this, his 
 mind remained calm and unruffled ; " none of these 
 things moved him;*' his wife and children he had com- 
 mitted to God ; himself, resigned to his will, he felt 
 ready and longed " to depart and be with Christ." But 
 before the time had expired, a reprieve from the Gover- 
 nor came, saving his life, and sentencing him for ten years 
 to the penitentiary. Said he, " When the reprieve was 
 read to me, I felt really disappointed. I felt that it 
 would be better to die, than suffer the imprisonment." 
 He seems to be fast ripening, either for some station of 
 usefulness, or for heaven. He is willing to do anything 
 for his Master. There dwells within him a warm heart 
 — a choice spirit — a noble soul. 
 
 In the afternoon we had preaching — after which, I 
 again requested the minister to administer the Lord's 
 supper, not only to us, but to the other two brethren.* 
 He acknowledged the propriety of the thing, and pro- 
 mised to consult with the wardens, but we heard no 
 more of it. I continued to administer the ordinance 
 myself to the brethren. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 PRISON SCENES— VISITS— REFLECTIONS, ETC. 
 
 THE STKONGEST TEXT. 
 
 November 12th was quite cold. W. G. had come to 
 our cell as usual. Our clothing being thin, our blankets 
 few, and our bed broad, we all crowded therein, with our 
 heads raised so that we could read, and thus we studied 
 
 ' See note on pp. 147, 148. 
 
186 THE BRETHREN, CAPT. B., AND A SENATOR. 
 
 the Bible, fed the lamb, and strengthened each other. 
 While we were engaged in this raannirr, Capt. Burch and 
 a Senator came into the cell. I arose, but the others 
 clung to their warm nest. Capt. B. began — " G., what 
 is their strongest text to support their doctrine ?" — (abo- 
 lition.) G. not comprehending his meaning, and being 
 contused, we replied, we do not teach any particular 
 doctrine, except that a man repent of his sins, and love 
 God. We can fellowship all who give evidence of be- 
 ing Christians. "But how will you judge?" By the 
 Bible, sir. " But the Universalists and others take the 
 Bible." Yes, but " by their fruits shall ye know them." 
 Capt. B. still w'ished to enquire of G. about the doctrine 
 we taught. We said, we have not attempted to instil 
 abolition into the mind of G., as that subject is not 
 allowed here. He replied, " But placed as you are here, 
 you can't help talking — and having so good an opportu- 
 nity, you must converse on the subjec^ I know that 
 the prisoners talk ; I knoNV that I give rules which are 
 not kept fifteen minutes, and I don't expect they will be 
 kept when I give tliem." But we have the fear of God 
 before our eyes, said James. ''And so do I have the 
 fear of God before ??ie," replied the scorched and fiery 
 drunkard. Then turning to the Senator, he said, *' Their 
 doctrine is a reasonable one — that 'all men are born free 
 and equal.' I agree with them in the theory, but when 
 it comes to the practice of it, I can't go with them." 
 The Senator asked, " Is there no way for the men to 
 keep warm on the Sabbath ?" " No otlierthan that you 
 see," said Capt. B , pointing to those in the bed. 
 
 JVoy. 30. Mr. Slocumb, a Presbyterian minister, and 
 Hinton, a Baptist, came to talk with us. Thev were 
 very friendly, trave cheering consolation, and argued the 
 subject of abolition. They said to me — ^ You arc a 
 professor of religion I suppose ?" Yes, sir. " You 
 think you enjoy yourself here '?" I know I tlo — I am 
 contented and happy. 
 
 The next Sabbath, Mr. S. preached lor us ; and then, 
 for the first time, all the prisoners were assembled in 
 one room — the carpenter's shop. A Methodist minister, 
 
can't go thk practice. 187 
 
 from town, came with him ; and after preaching, they 
 both, with Pope G., came to our cell. 
 
 MESSRS. S.OCUMB AND CHANDLER. 
 
 Mr. S. made many inquiries about us — names, resi- 
 dence, sentence, &c. Said he, " It is hard, is it not?" 
 No sir, it is good to be here, I replied. . Alanson said, 
 it is not pleasant to the flesh, but the confidence that it 
 will work for good makes us happy. He was very 
 anxious to try and do something " to bring us out of this 
 place ;" and as the giving up of our principles seemed to 
 be the pivot on which our deliverance turned, he was 
 anxious to convince us of our error, as he called it, and 
 bring us to look at the subject in its true light. " For, 
 until you can see and say that you have done wrong, and 
 will do so no more, I feel that all I can do for you here, 
 with this people will be of little avail." Accordingly 
 they tried their reasoning faculties, to convince us that 
 what we did was legally and morally wrong, bringing 
 the old illustrations of the sheep, horse, salt, &c. The 
 same kind of strange infatuation, and blind, mock rea- 
 soning, we had heard so often, that it was disgusting to 
 us. We told them plainly, that we could conceive of 
 no such thing as the slave being comparable to a horse 
 — that we could not admit the principle of property in 
 man. We contended, " The slave is a ma?i, and as such 
 has an indisputable right to himself, to his earnings, and 
 to his liberty (unless forfeited by crime), and it is but 
 just and right to use any lawful means to aid him in ob- 
 taining that of which he has been so unjustly and inhu- 
 manly deprived." Mr. S. confessed that if he was in a 
 free state, and a slave should ask his assistance, he would 
 help him — not as a slave, but as he would any other 
 man. Said he, " I would ask no questions — I would 
 not stop him." Mr. Chandler said, " We will allow our 
 abolition friends to go thus far — they may help them 
 after they get into a free state. They need not stop nor 
 return them, but assist them if they choose." He also 
 acknowledged, " We ought to obey God rather than 
 man" — that where human laws clashed wdth the divine. 
 
188 WHEN YOU MAY ASSIST SLAVES. 
 
 we ought to refuse allegiance to the former, even unto 
 death. And again, he said, " I see no reason why the 
 whites should not be slaves, as well as the blacks.'"' 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 They both contended that it would be larceny to de- 
 prive the owner of his slave, whether by enticing, 
 threatening, forcing, or any other way, while he is in a 
 slave State ; but that it would be just and right to help 
 him after he had escaped ! What logic ! How perfect- 
 ly does slavery blind the eyes and pervert the mind and 
 reason of those under its influence ! According to their 
 doctrine, one man may help a slave across the river ; 
 artother may take him to Canada. The former is guilty 
 of grand larceny, the latter " has done that which is just 
 and right." 
 
 The very men who charge us with breaking the laws 
 of God and man, in our attempt to aid a poor slave, on 
 one side of the river, say they would help him, if he was 
 on the other side ! 
 
 If a man comes into Missouri, and steals a horse — 
 takes him into a free state, and delivers him up to ano- 
 ther, the latter is not justified, but considered just as 
 guilty as the former. But according to the reasoning of 
 Missouri moralists, he should be fully acquitted. The 
 slave is property — the horse is property ; both are taken 
 from Missouri to a free State, and delivered up to ano- 
 ther — parallel cases. But here they are not so fond of 
 their horse illustrations. They are unwilling to carry 
 out their princijdes. The man who helps away the 
 property of another, after his comrade has brought it 
 across the river is accessory to the crime, and as guilty 
 as the principal — so pronounced by the laws of God and 
 man. Now mark — if the slave is property while west 
 of the Mississippi river, he is when east of it; for cer- 
 tainly the bare crossing a river cannot change a chattel 
 into a man — cannot deprive of legal ownership — cannot 
 destroy the right to recover that which has escaped ; 
 and if it is properly, whether horse or slave, that has 
 crossed into a free State, then to assist that property in 
 
THE SLAVE NOT PROPERTY. 189 
 
 escaping from its owner — to prevent his recovering what 
 is legally his own, is evidently wrong. But slavehold- 
 ers tell us we may help the slaves, after they get into a 
 free state — we may assist them in their struggles for 
 "liberty and the pursuit of happiness." So said Gov. 
 Reynolds, so say the clergymen of Missouri, and so 
 say we. 
 
 And when they have granted this, they have virtually 
 said what we affirmed, that the slave is not pro- 
 perty. As I said one day to Dr. Moore, so long as the 
 slave is possessed of a rational mind — an immortal soul, 
 it is out of the power of any or all human legislation, to 
 change him into a piece of property. Rob him of these 
 grand distinctions, and his body may be made a chattel, 
 but not till then. After all the legislation, he is still a 
 man ; and the laws of sympathy, of kindness, of huma- 
 nity, and of God, are as binding upon us respecting 
 him in his low, suffering condition, as in reference to 
 any other man in afflictive circumstances. In view of 
 the foregoing, then, our enemies themselves being 
 Judges, when brought to the bar of reason, it is right to 
 help the slave in a free state — thereby depriving them of 
 what they call property — but which has been shown 
 from their own concessions, not to be property — other- 
 wise it would be wrong to deprive them of it. 
 
 GIVING UP OUR PRINCIPLES. 
 
 Dec. 18. Mr. Slocumb again preached for us, and 
 came again to our cell for further conversation. He 
 said he had talked with the Governor about us, who 
 thought we might do much good if we would correspond 
 with our friends, and entreat them to desist from their 
 exciting work. " If this can be stopped, and you are 
 willing to use your influence to accomplish the work, 
 then he (the Governor), may do something for you. But 
 if you persist in your course, and maintain your princi- 
 ples, youVill have to stay your whole time out. You 
 could have much influence with your friends, if you 
 would only give up, make it known to them, and beg 
 them to refrain and be quiet. You suffer on account of 
 
190 SWEETER THAN LIBERTY. 
 
 what they do, and you will have to stay your whole 
 twelve years, unless your friends stop." How clear 
 that it is not felony, but (ioctrine, that locks the doors 
 upon us. If we are willirig to renounce our principles, 
 and manifest the sincerity of our abjuration, by persuad- 
 ino^ our friends to do the same, or to hold their peace, 
 and not speak against slavery, then the Governor will 
 begin to think about letting us go ! 
 
 '1 here is a something sweeter to us than liberty— namely, 
 a clear conscience and our principles respecting " hu- 
 man rights." Liberty! It is but trash ^hen put up 
 as a price for the renunciation of those great principles, 
 founded on that immoveable basis — the word of God. 
 Yes, when we deem them too dear to be bought or 
 bribed away from us by life, even much less by what is 
 called liberty ! 
 
 THE LEGISLATORS. 
 
 During the sitting of the legislature, we were often 
 visited by crowds of the members, who would inquire, 
 dodge, and look, to get a view of the abolitionists, and 
 then gaze anrl stare, more like idiots than statesmen ! 
 
 On the 25th of December (Sabbath), four of them 
 came to our cell to "-gratify iheir curiosity," and learn 
 our principles respecting helping the poor. 
 
 They inquired how we felt about the deed which 
 brought us here. We answered, " We feel that we 
 acted imprudently, but that we did not sin." They con- 
 fessed that slavery was wrong; " But how shall we do ? 
 Our legislative bodies know not what course to adopt." 
 Said I, " send your statesmen to me, I can tell them 
 W'hat to do, very quick." '' Well, here are four legisla- 
 tors, you can tell us." " Why just stop doing wrong. 
 Abolish your wicked oppressive hiws, and at once enact 
 those which are just and righteous. Just take your foot 
 otf the neck of the slave and let him get up ; and no 
 longer rob, spoil, whip, and oppress hrm." 
 
 " ! if we do that, they will cut their masters' 
 throats, and raise insurrections I" 
 
 Sirs, which is most calculated to exasperate them to 
 
PREACHING ANTI-SLAVERY, 191 
 
 such desperation, robbing them of everything that is dear 
 in life, and acting the part of a cruel tyrant towards them 
 — or paying them for their work, and treating them kind- 
 ly ? If they do not rise up and cut your throats when 
 you are heaping all manner of abuse and outrage upon 
 them, is it at all according to. reason, observation, or good 
 sense, thut they will be thus enraged because you come 
 to them in the spirit of kindness, and say, " I have been 
 treating yon wrongfully ; I am sorry for it, I will do so 
 no more. You are all free men ; and now if you will 
 work for me, I will pay you your wages." Is it the na- 
 ture of kindness to provoke '{ They could not get 
 over it. 
 
 I appealed to the Bible in supp Mt of my positions. 
 He replied, •' I do not pretend to be a religious man, 
 who takes the Bil'ie for his guide.'' Suffice it to say, 
 we o-ave them a corapeadium of abolitionism, which 
 was not very palatable. And we rejoiced in having 
 the privilege of lecturing boldly in the centre of Mis- 
 souri. He)i> ,ve may preach the strongest anti-slavery 
 to ministers and statesmen, and no man dare lay his 
 hands on,u^. Hfre we can pray and •' cry aloud," 
 with no fear of molestation! Behold the wisdom of 
 God. 
 
 RENUNCIATION AGAIN. 
 
 While pui^u^ng our avocations, we were all three 
 called for to p, to the guard room, where we found Mr. 
 Slocumb and Jatnes Gallaher waiting lor an interview 
 with us. Mr, S. was very anxious to induce us to con- 
 cede, so far as >•' secure executive clemency, in our be- 
 half, as also Ml-, t- 
 
 Mr. S. " Ca:! y u not feel and say that you have 
 done wrong — thn' youj; views were mistaken and un- 
 sound 1 How far can you, in conscience, renounce 
 them? I may secure the influence and talent of the 
 Legislators in your favor. If you continue to persist, 
 and refuse to yield and confess publicly, there is 
 NO HcJPE of doing anything for you. Petitions will be 
 of no avail, and all that I or any other man can say in 
 
192 BENINCI ^TION. 
 
 your behalf will be in vain so long as you remain inflexi- 
 ble on this subject. 
 
 I have talked with the members respecting your case ; 
 and the other evening I met a large room full of them, 
 to whom I mentionetl the subject of your deliverance. 
 Those who were from the interior and back parts of the 
 state, who had heard and felt hut little of the excitement, 
 would con e.-.-e with calmness, and reason upon the sub- 
 iect ; t u; ihos^ from the eastern borders would take fire 
 "in an instan' at the mention ol the thing, and were so ex- 
 cited that they could not speak of it but in very harsh 
 language. 
 
 He spoke of the increasing excitement in the commu- 
 nity, and said, " If this state of things continues, it will 
 tear us all to pieces as a nation, and fill our land with 
 carnage and blood ; but if you will only renounce your 
 views, it will have a tendencv to quell the excitement 
 and cool down the abolition fever." 
 
 Mr. Gallaher also said — " I have no doubt that if it was 
 known to the people of Missouri that you had given up 
 your principles, they would very soon be reconciU>d and 
 willing to sign a i)etition for your release. If the exci- 
 ting cause could be removed they would easily forgive 
 and forget, and you would he delivered. But so long as 
 that remains which caused the irritation, — hatred and pre- 
 judice, — any effort for your deliverance will be useless." 
 
 As Mr. S. wished some answer, full and definite, and 
 not having sufficient time then. I proposed writing out 
 our views and feeliniis, frankly and fidly, that it 
 might be known just where we stood — what we could do, 
 and what we could not do. They wished it written in 
 such a manner that it could he published (hoping it 
 would be of such a character as would please slave- 
 holders), so that the people might be induced to act for 
 us. I accord infjiy wrote ; and as the letter cannot 
 be obtained, I will give the substance of what we ad- 
 dressed " To the Governor and Legislature of Mis- 
 souri, — Men, brethren, and fathers," &c. We stated 
 how long we had been here — how cheerfully we had 
 toiled, and contented and happv we h u! l)een, am'd all 
 
ADDRESS TO THK GOVERNOR \1< D LEGISLATURE. 193 
 
 our sufferings — the thing we attempted to do, namely, 
 to help a poor man across the river, who asked for our 
 assistance, and the feeling which prompted us, pure love 
 — that we had no other feeling than love, toward those 
 who had been most active in sending and holding us 
 here — that we would as soon help the most bitter ene- 
 my we had as the most wretched slave living — that we 
 should remain cheerfully and work faithfully, just so 
 long as they saw proper to hold us. We staled plainly 
 how far we could go, and how far we coidd not go. that 
 we could not refuse to '"'• open our mouth for the dumb," 
 for God had commanded it — that we must " cry aloud, 
 and spare not, ami show the people their sins," for it 
 was heaven's injunciion — that we could not assist to re- 
 turn, or stop their slaves who escaped, for God had said, 
 '" i'hou shalt NOT deliver unto his master, the servant 
 that is escaped," ;uid wo to those do it — that we could 
 not say we would not help iham on their way, forthiswas 
 commanded by God — that we could not give up one 
 single principle which we conceived to be truth, and 
 founded on the word of God, for liberty, or life itselt^ — 
 that much as we valued the ble;.sings of freedom, of 
 Christian society, and the house of God, and ardently as 
 we longed to be preaching the gos[)el to those in mid- 
 night darkness, we could not. on any conditions, purchase 
 these privileges, by any act, which we should lament 
 on a death bed, or at the day of judgment. That if they 
 wished us to say, we would not come to this State, to 
 help slaves away, so far we could promise, and no fur- 
 ther (not because it would be sinful so to do, but unsafe) 
 — that our writing to our friends would not stop the ex- 
 citement; for it was the'w puffing vs here that caused, 
 and their holding us here, that continued the excitement, 
 and all they could do or say, while they held us, would 
 only be pouring oil on the fire — that if thfey wished to 
 stop the excitement, they must /ef us go. We informed 
 them that in sending us here, they had confined three 
 m.en, who could no^ sny or do much, any how; but in 
 consequence, thousands had arisen, and would rise up 
 in their stead, who could soeak, write, and act with effi- 
 
 9 
 
19-4 SUKFERIXGS FROM COLD. 
 
 ciency and power — ihal ihoy^b we had been, by an 
 earthly tribunal, condeninpd, we had taken an appeal to 
 the court of the ujiiverse., which was recorded — that 
 there we were sure of being acquitted, for Jesus Him- 
 self, would be our advocate and Judge. 
 
 VVe reminded them of the tears, groans, and prayers 
 of the widow and fatherless (Mrs. Work and famdy) 
 which they must meet at the last clay, and other things 
 not now recollected. What was the effect, perhaps will 
 not 1^ known till it is divulged to an assembled world. 
 We followed it with many prayers, but heard nothing of 
 it, till about four months afterwards. Mr. Gallaher call- 
 ed again — said he saw it at the office of the Governor, 
 " but it was rather too high toned to suit." 
 
 REKJ.KCTIONS. 
 
 From the foregoing (as also from more that will come 
 hereafter) what can be more evident, than the fact before 
 affirmed, that it is our sentiments respecting slavery, that 
 placed and detain us here in the jienitentiary ] And 
 that too, in a land of liberty! where freedom of thought 
 is allowed, and liberty of expression tolerated ! Yes, it 
 IS clear, " Put a gag in your mouth — wear our slavery 
 goggles — sear your conscience — harden your lieart — stop 
 your 'ears against the cry of the poor' — stupify and de- 
 stroy your moral sensibility, :^o that you can connive at 
 slavery, then we will sign a jietition, and use our utmost 
 endeavors to have you speedily set at liberty !" Such is 
 the ])lain English of their propositions and actions. 
 " Doctrine! doctrine!" Yes, blessed be God, that it is 
 doctrine, and not crime. For our doctrine we rejoice to 
 suffer, and to lav down our lircs,'\f lU'cd be. 
 
 CLOTHINU in RING THK WINTKR OK '42 and '43. 
 
 As the conduct of Capts. B. and Cx., had been sudi 
 toward the prisoners, that lliey had little oi- no hope of 
 being able lo lease the establishm<nt again, they were 
 desirous to expend as little as possible, and make as 
 much of wliat they had, as they could — and so did not 
 buy any fresh supjdy of winter clothing; but arrayed 
 
PATIENT IN TRIBULATION. 195 
 
 US in the mock covering of the patched rags, saved from 
 Ihe fire, leaving many of the prisoners to suffer extreme- 
 ly, by day and night. Some, who were more adept at 
 stealing, and " shirking for themselves," wore two pair 
 of summer pantaloons — others, and the majority, were 
 dressed in the had-heen clothes. Many, during all the 
 severities of wunter, had nothing but a shirt, a once-was 
 roundabout, a thread-bare cotton pair of trowsers, a pair 
 of shoes, and perhaps an old pair of socks, and perhaps 
 not. Neither was there a change of shirts, but if we 
 wished a clean one, we must go without, till it could be 
 washed and dried. 
 
 In this plight we were driven through '.vet and dry, 
 rain and snow, cold and heat, 1 r.yself, with others, 
 worked in town, on the tc^, of buddings, in winter's 
 piercing days, with only my thin, ragged, cotton prnta- 
 loons to shield my body from the sleet and winds — chill- 
 ed from morning to night. But by most, the night w'as 
 more dreaded than the day — for instead of bringing them 
 release from their sufferings, it only added to them. 
 Their covering was so very insufficient, that they could 
 with difficulty keep from freezing. We know from o-r 
 own experience, what it was, though many were much 
 worse off than we. With many, getting warm in a cold 
 night, was altogether out of the question. And during 
 the latter part of the winter, the rags would scarcely 
 hang together. With nuralDcrs, they were not sufficient 
 to cover their nakedness, as legislators and others can 
 testify. Some were driven to such extremities, that 
 they were obliged to buckle their blankets aboht them, to 
 hide their naked bodies ! O, we were a pitiable compa- 
 ny indeed ! Our appearance, even, ma'le the legislators 
 turn their heads, and draw their faces with scowls of pity. 
 Let no one think this is the language of raui muring 
 and complaint. We had better than v.e deserved ; and 
 felt that we received what infinite love, wisdom, and 
 goodness saw best for us. And from these trying cir- 
 cumstances we learned many important lessons. We 
 were reminded of thousands in a ^vorse state. We 
 learned sympathy for the poor — " to feel another's 
 
196 TREATMENT OF THE SICK. 
 
 woes," to pray for the needy and destitute. As our 
 tribulation abounded, so our consolation abounded, " that 
 we might be able to comfort them which are in any 
 trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are com- 
 forted of God." We can testify to his faithfulness, in 
 supporting and comforting his little ones, even in fiery 
 trials and deep waters, if they will only trust in Him. 
 We can testify to the sufficiency of religion, to make its 
 possessors happy, in the absence of outward comforts — 
 in the midst of deprivations, hunger, cold, and nakedness 
 — in sickness, poverty, and reproach — in prisons, chains, 
 and weariness. O, it was then^ that religion was sweet 
 to our souls, and seemed more lovely than ever. 
 
 TREATMENT OF THE SICK UNDER G. AND B. 
 
 It was their language to the prisoners, " We doi't 
 wish any man to work, who is sick," but their actions, 
 which spoke louder than their words, were quite tiifferent. 
 Men did have to work when they were sick, and scarce 
 ly able to walk. And I have seen the poor sufferers 
 driven like beasts, to labor in piercing cold weather, 
 when they were shaken like an aspen leaf, with the ague 
 — others that could wiih difficulty walk straight, ordereil 
 to their " burtlens" — others who conkl hardly hold up 
 their heads, compelled to continue their work, and others 
 were driven til! Uiey could go no longer, and fell to the 
 ground in a swoon / 
 
 I was not thus with all — there were some favorites, 
 to whom they paid more regartl. The diet of the sick 
 was almost uniformly, a little mush and molasses. 
 Those w^ho were not able to be about some business, 
 were frequently locked in their cold cells, not even al- 
 lowed to come to the fire — and that too, in severe win- 
 ter weather. But this was not always the case. 
 
 If a man was sick on the Sabbath, it was all well 
 enough — but if on a week day, a storm of oaths and 
 curses, complaints, and lies, might be looked for, from 
 the officers. The Doctor came two or three times a 
 week — and when he was here, it would remind one of 
 the sick, halt, maimed, and blind, at the pool of Bathes- 
 
THE BLIGHT OF SLAVERY. 197 
 
 tia, iiwaiting a cure — to see them linger around the door, 
 each waiting his turn to be called before him. It mat- 
 tered not much what the complaint was, a dose of pills 
 was the usual medicine, to be swallowed with cold water. 
 We have great reason for gratitude, that we had not 
 much need of his services. And when they were con- 
 fined to their beds of straw, or hard boards, they had no 
 soothing voice, to cheer and comfort them — no angel- 
 hand to minister to their necessities — but it was rough- 
 ness, indiiference and neglect. One man, who was sick 
 and confined to his cell for two weeks, had no one to sit 
 up with him, nor even a light, till the night he died. 
 
 Toward the latter part of the time of these wardens, 
 the sick, who were confined to their beds, had a little 
 better attendance — some one to wait on them a little dur- 
 ing the day, and to sit up with them at night. 
 
 Now to what shall we trace the caxise of this inhu- 
 manity, this driving, this indifference to another's woes % 
 Is it thus in civilized countries 1 Are the sick thus treat- 
 ed in prisons, where slavery does not exist? It is a 
 well known fact that slaves are treated similarly, and 
 worse — half-naked, half-starved, driven early and late, 
 urged on by the lash, their aches and pains disre- 
 garded, and when they can go no longer, cursed, because 
 they can't work. 
 
 Yes, to the influence of slavery in hardening the heart, 
 and creating a habit of treading down the poor, must be 
 ascribed the reason of this barbarity. 
 
 O, slavery, thou cruel monster ! when will thy 
 death-knell be proclaimed, and from thy curse, my 
 countrymen and brethren be redeemed 1 
 
198 INTELLIGENCE FROM THE LORD. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 TERM OF CAPTS. GORDEN AND BURCH CLOSING. 
 
 PRAYER FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WORLD. 
 
 January 1st, 1843, we observed as a day of fastino^and 
 prayer, for the conversion of the world. Though shut 
 up in prison, we could not feel ourselves released from 
 obligation to those who sit in the " region and shadow 
 of death." And though by providence prevented from 
 going to them — from calling on the servants of God to 
 awake — from uniting vocally with the thousands of 
 Israel — yet in heart we rejoiced to unite in seeking 
 Zion's welfare, by beseeching her King to extend and 
 multiply her victories, till the nations should cheer- 
 fully submit to his sway. Placed as we were, we knew 
 comparatively little respecting the state of the Church, 
 and the world — the position the two contending armies 
 maintained in relation to each other, consequently we 
 could not pray so definitely as others — yet we had the 
 great directory, the prophecies and promises of our Lord ; 
 and on his faithfulness, we could cast ourselves, and 
 plead their speedy fulfilment. 
 
 Frequently we were favored with the perusal of va- 
 rious newspapers, from which we kept a general idea of 
 the condition of the world. At times we have been con- 
 strained to shout aloud, by the intelligence of the on- 
 ward march of truth and liberty ! And we have been 
 encouraged to pray tlr.it God would" overturn, overturn, 
 overturn," till the kingdoms of this world should be- 
 come the kingdoms of our Lord, and his Christ" — that 
 he migrht " rei<in for ever and ever." 
 
 By law, we were forbidden " to receive any period! 
 cal." How did we get them? The Zo re? sent them. 
 His wisdom and power, found ways enough to convey 
 
SUDDF.N DEATH. 199 
 
 to US such intelligence, respecting:; his cause, as we most 
 needed, and at the time we were in the greatest want ot 
 it, thus cheering our souls, and increasing our faith. If 
 we w'ere praying for the Jews, and ardently wishing to 
 know what was the prospect of their return and conver- 
 sion, a paper or a piece of one has fallen in our way, giv- 
 ing us the desired knowledge, which we received as from 
 God. 
 
 If we were imploring the blessing of heaven on the 
 re[)resen!atives of our n ition assembled at the Capitol, 
 in due time, God has sent us the intelligence, that taught 
 us ^ou', and iJiat 1o pray for in their behalf — that they 
 might repeal all unholy and oporessive law^s — ''execu- 
 tive judgment" — " break every yoke," and " let the op- 
 pressed go free." To the distant rumblings of the cha- 
 riot, we have listened with attention, marked the move- 
 ments of providence, and the signs of the times," watch- 
 ing for the dawning of that day, when " the wickedness 
 of the wicked shall come to an end," and the earth be 
 filled with the glory of God. 
 
 Thus our heavenly Father has been faithful to send 
 us just the things we needed, and v.'e have •' lacked no 
 go. d thing." 
 
 Jan. 2. While r\ number of prisoners were at work 
 about seven miles distant, one was taken unweU, quit 
 work, beciime speechl s>, and tiled in a short time. He 
 was a wicked man— was brought hi^re and buried. 
 
 ini': SYMPATHIZING GUARD. 
 
 About the inUl lie of .January, James, myself, and three 
 others, were finish'ng off a Louse in town. By the fire, 
 I talked considerably with the guard. Among other 
 things, he s .id '''{'here are many who sympathize with 
 you ; and if you cond'act yourselves as you have thus far, 
 you will not slay your time out. The Book tells us 
 •' that all things work for good to them who love God" 
 — not a part, but all things — and this dispensation, 
 undoubtedly will be for your best good,^^ &c. So we be- 
 lieve, felt, and knew, for He cannot lie that has pro- 
 mised." 
 
200 S[ck-ij:::)s profitablk. 
 
 Jan. 26. 1 went to the t-ell of VV. S., who wns \gt^ 
 sick with pleurisy, to converse about his soul. I asked, 
 are you ready to die ? He replied, '• Yes, long ago." 
 Do you think you would be happy 1 " Yes." Are you 
 willing to die ? " Yes." Can you commit your family 
 to (jod, and trust Hirn to take care of them ? " I can ; 
 I leave them with him. If it is his will, that I should 
 die now, 1 am satisfied." I then prayed with him. 
 Hert^after, it will be observed, we were with the sick 
 considerably. To enjoy the privilege of talking and 
 praying with them, we esteemed an invaluable blessing. 
 And I wonder, Christians are not more anxious to get 
 around the beds of the sick, and dying. It is so profit- 
 able to the sick and well — the dying, and the living! 
 Why is it, they are so backward ? Is it because they 
 do not like to be so forcibly reminded of their own desti- 
 ny 1 Of this, we cannot think too much ; nor be too 
 well prepared, to " depart, and be with Christ." 
 
 FOURTH DKATH-BED SCENE. 
 
 C. was a cripple, in his hands and legs; and had en- 
 dured a great amount of suffering in his time. As he 
 could not icork, he had been the princi[)al one to sit up 
 with, and wait on the sick, for some time. He had at- 
 tended on a number, till their spirits took their tlight. 
 He was present at the j^econd and third death-bed scene. 
 But now (February), /lis time came to be waited upon, 
 and ministered unto. James was with him one night — 
 Alanson two, and myself five nights. At these times 
 another sat up with us, thus giving us an opportunity to 
 converse freely with them, which we endeavored to im- 
 prove. During the three last nights I was with him, 
 and had frequent occasions to speak a word for my 
 Master, as many came in to see him. At one time, I 
 talked with the overseer, who came in, and remarked, 
 " Oh ! it would be better for him to die, if he was pre- 
 pared — that he might be freed from his troubles, and 
 sufferings." I spoke of the importance of being ready 
 to die, at any time — and mentioned the case of Moses 
 Hunter, who said, on his dying bed, " My work of pre- 
 
DISHONESTY OF OFFICERS. 201 
 
 paration for death, was done years ago'' Ke listened 
 attentively, and se.'iously. On the night of the eleventh, 
 as the sick man appeared rational, I asked. Do you feel 
 that your sins are forgiven? He replied, " Yes." If 
 you should die now, do you expect to be happy 1 " Yes." 
 Are you willing to die i " Yes." Shall 1 pray with you 1 
 *' Yes." I did so. At one time, he seemed very earnest 
 in prayer himself. I could not understand all he said, 
 but he closed distinctly, "for Jesus' sake. Amen." He 
 soondied, and wasburiedasabrute isburied. I was fearful 
 he was trusting to his inorality, but the j udgment will show. 
 
 VARIOUS INCIDENTS. 
 
 Many of the prisoners come here, dressed in the high- 
 est style, expecting to have their clothes again, when 
 they go out into the world. The law also makes such 
 provision. But the best of the clothes were taken by 
 the officers, and sold — the proceeds of which, they put 
 into their own pockets — thus as really stealing, and 
 ROBBING, as did the thieves who wore them here ! 
 
 Frequently prisoners brought money with them wh'ch 
 was never returned. And when men had served their 
 time out, they were put olf with some ordinary, half- 
 worn, and perhaps patched suit of clothes; with, it may 
 be, one dollar; some, fifty cents; some, one shilling; 
 and some, noihing, to go forth into a strange and liostile 
 world ; thus, as it were, driven, or at least tempted to 
 steal again, the first opportunity. 
 
 And the most of the remaining clothes which were 
 worn here were given to the men inside, to cover their 
 nakedness during their last winter, and worn out, to save 
 them from buying any new supply I 
 
 Such was the honesty of men placed over thieves to 
 reform them ! 
 
 ARDENT SPIRITS. 
 
 Many of the prisoners have frankly confessed — " It 
 was whisky that brought me here. Had it not been for 
 whisky, I should never have been here," &c. With 
 many it has been the immediate cause of their coming 
 
202 INTEMPERANCE AND CRIME. 
 
 here, and with others the remote. The immediate is 
 where they have committed the crime under the influ- 
 ence of liquor. This class is numerous. Again, by 
 drinking they have been led into bad company, and 
 thus tempted to do what they would not have done un- 
 der other circumstances. Of this class there are many. 
 A case of the remote cause. C. lived in N. Y., and 
 was much given to drinking. At a time when there was 
 a demand for soldiers in the west, he enlisted when he 
 was drunk, was shipped to New Orleans, and from there 
 up the Missouri river, to one of the forts. After a time 
 he deserted, stole a skiff, and was coming down the 
 river, when a colored man asked the privilege of riding 
 with him. He took him in ; but at St. Charles was ar- 
 rested, put in jail, tried for stealmg a slave, and sentenced 
 here for seven years. Though years intervened between 
 his being drunk and his coming to the penitentiary, yet 
 how obvious is it that whisky was the cause. He felt 
 so. 
 
 P. R. cannot read. He was drunk, and traveling to 
 a certain place. A slave with whom he was acquainted 
 had stolen two of his master's horses, overtook R.,and 
 asked him to ride, saying, " I am going to the same 
 place." He mounted the horse, but when he became a 
 little sober he learned that the slave was running away ; 
 divulged the fact at a tavern; was arrested; charged 
 with stealing the slave, and sent here for two years. 
 
 I might trace some causes even more remotely. Many 
 are herej for stealing, stabbing, murdering, &.c., in a fit 
 of intoxication. Others, who never stole or did any fla- 
 grant crime, by drinking, have associated with thieves 
 and such ch iractors, have been taken up on suspicion 
 and sent here. And were the real truth known, doubt- 
 less it would appear that alcoholic drinks have been the 
 proximate or remote cause of three fourths of the priso- 
 ners coming here. ! the misery, despair, and death 
 of the intoxicating glass ! 
 
 J. J. is a free colored man. A slave girl, in or near 
 St. Louis, had an iron yoke on her neck, which, she 
 complained was choking her. H^ took a file and cut it 
 
A NOVEL CASE. 203 
 
 off. For this he was arrested, charged with stealing the 
 girl, and sent here for three and a half years, which he 
 faithfully served I What will they not make out 
 "stealing" next 1 This is only a specimen of slave- 
 holding justice. Truly a man must be careful how he 
 looks at a slave, lest his pity should move ! 
 
 J. J. took it very cheerfully, felt that he was suffer- 
 ing HI a good cause, and would do the same again if 
 occasion required. 
 
 THE HYPOCRITE ! 
 
 J. C- was a very intelligent, loquacious man. He 
 soon attracted our notice, and was very free to tell us 
 his history at different times. 
 
 T lent him a short but very pointed tract. When I 
 questioned him about il, he replied, '• I thought when I 
 got to the penitentiary 1 should not be troubled with 
 appeals to the conscience, on the subject of religion : 
 but I find t key follow me here.'''' Poor man ! For many 
 years he was one of the most active and zealous mem- 
 bers of the Church in Philadelphia — engaged in Sabbath 
 schools, bible classes, prayc:;r meetings, iu destitute por- 
 tions of the city — -missionary and Bible societies, &c., 
 but he frankly confessed, "It a as all to secure the favor 
 and influence of certain rich merchants in the Church, 
 who, f hoped, would take notice of me and set me up 
 in business ! /" For a long time he professed to desire 
 to study for the ministry, and plead with different minis- 
 ters to aid him, but says, " my whole motive was selfish- 
 ness — a popular education f^^ He was one who assisted 
 in burning the Pennsylvania Hall — came to St. Louis — 
 was clerk in a store — stole. some thousands of dollars 
 from his employer, and was sent here, for four years. 
 Are not the motives of many in the Church similar? 
 " Search me, God, aud know my heart ; try me, and 
 know ray thoughts." 
 
 In conversation with gamblers and highway robbers, 
 who have had many thousands of dollars at a time, they 
 have confessed, "' It did me no good. All that I ever 
 got in that way never did me any good. The thought 
 
204 gamblers' happinkss 
 
 of how it was obtained would spoil all my enjoyment." 
 This was the confession of Elijah P. Lovejoy's murder- 
 er, of whom I shall speak hereafter. Said T. J.," All 
 that I ever procured in that way never benefited me any. 
 I never derived any i)rofit from it. Somehow it would 
 slip away as easily as it came." And he has bundled 
 much. \V. W. coiitessed, " In all my scenes of mirth, 
 riot, and wickedness, I never knew what real hapjjiness 
 was; never felt anything worthy the name of happi- 
 ness." Mark ! these are not the words of convertetl 
 men, but of those who continued to cleave to their folly. 
 Many have confessed similar things. " There is no 
 peace to the wicked." 
 
 VV. P. was born and brought U[) in New York. Said 
 he, " Many a time has my mother got up at twelve and 
 one o'clock at night and ijone to the city (a half mile), 
 to hunt for me, found me at the card table, and led me 
 home." When grown up and in business the habit 
 followed him. By gambling he lost his property. He 
 " could not dig, and to beg he was ashamed." The next 
 ste}) was to rob some one, for money he must have. 
 Then conscience would trouble him ; and to drown its 
 \vhispers, free use was made of the bowl. Whenever 
 he reflected, and called to mind his old mother he was 
 miserable, and would rush to the tavern or grog-shop to 
 drown his feelings. Thus from step to step, he advanced, 
 till he landed here, for ten years, charged with highway 
 robbery! Said he, •' I deserve *i\e\'y moment of my time 
 in this place." He {)roiniscd an amendment, and swore 
 entire abstinence from li(]uor, forever. 
 
 In giving this sketch of his case, I draw the picture 
 of very manv liere. Tlievhave pious parents, brothers 
 and sisters ; but liquor has led them to the card table, the 
 ambling shop and ''' the way to hell ;" this company has 
 ed them on to new scenes of wickedness; and thus 
 proceeding, they have hardened their hearts, and seared 
 their consciences, till they have " sold themselves to 
 work wickedness," with all their might. 
 
MUST HAVE SATISFACTION < 205 
 
 SATISFACTION. 
 
 A number here who confessed themselves guilty of 
 what they were sent here for, told me," I will never give 
 another man whom I rob, the opportunity to appear 
 against me in court" — meaning they would kill him on 
 the spot. 
 
 And a great many talk about getting " satisfaction," 
 when they get out — some by killing their prosecutors, 
 or those who appeared against them in court; some, by 
 flogging; and others by stealing from them ! They say, 
 "I must have pay for all the time I spend here," by 
 stealing and robbing whom and where they can. If 
 one gets into difficulty there are generally enough to step 
 forward and swear him innocent. 
 
 A highway robber told me ail about the circumstan- 
 ces of his knocking a man down and robbing him ; and 
 yet, in court he had three witnesses to swear he was in 
 bed at the time the deed was done ! That is the way 
 they do it. 
 
 Another, who ran away, said, " I had three men who 
 swore I had been sick in bed five weeks in St. Louis, 
 when I had been but three weeks from the penitentia- 
 ry !" What is an oath ! 
 
 THE W'ONDEr! 
 
 I confess I never before knew what an amount of 
 wickedness there is in the world — that every town and 
 city, river and railroad, steamboat and stage is infested 
 by such connected gangs of thieves, and robbers, and 
 murderers, who are disciplined and taught the art from 
 childhood ; and who make it their only business to go 
 from place to-place, dressed in the garb of gentlemen, to 
 lay hands on everything they can, not caring for tears, 
 groans, nor life even, if they may but succeed ! But 
 very little do we yet know. Still there is an eye which 
 sees the whole, and will one day bring it all to light. 
 
 O ! what a sight will be presented before the universe ! 
 
206 IT IS The lord. 
 
 UEKLKCTIONS ON THE FOREGOING PAGES. 
 
 Keep in mind the character of the men, we, to this 
 time, had been under — slaveholders, profane, blasphe- 
 mous, sabbath-breakers, God-hating, and enemies to all 
 good ; — connect with this the treatment we have receiv- 
 ed, the privileges enjoyed, the opportunities of useful- 
 ness granted, liberty to write and receive freely on the 
 subject of religion, to sing, read, and pray as heartily as 
 we chose, and to converse with our fellow prisoners — 
 and how manifest to every one is the hand of the Lord. 
 
 Such things could not, humanly speaking, have been 
 looked for, or hoped for. 
 
 But " It is the Lord." " He hath done all things 
 well." If this truth is evident from the foregoing, much 
 more will it appear from what is to come. Reader, 
 " Because I have said these things, do you believe'- that 
 God will take care of his own in every situation ? Follow, 
 and "thou shalt see and hear greater things than these." 
 
PART THIRD. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 TERM OF CAPTAIN RICHMOND AND JUDGE BROWN. 
 
 NEW WARDENS. 
 
 By all the prisoners it was understood that at that ses- 
 sion of the Legislature (February 1843), the penitentia- 
 ry was to be sold, for ten years, to the highest bidder. 
 In almost every bosom, there was an anxious solicitude 
 as to who should be placed over us. A thousand inqui- 
 ries were made, and reports were circulated, but " we 
 gave ourselves to prayer," knowing that it was the Lor 1, 
 who could raise up and cast down, and send us whom 
 He chose. 
 
 Thus, by casting our care upon God, we were saved 
 from the manifold anxieties, and gloomy forebodings 
 which agitated the bosoms of the ungodly. They often 
 thought of their sufferings, and cruel treatment, and had 
 many apprehensions concerning the future. But with 
 the settled assurance that the " Disposer of all events," 
 would place over us just such men as would, on the 
 whole, most glorify his name, we were composed — and 
 feeling that the character of the men might depend on 
 our prayers, we earnestly " besought the God of 
 heaven,'' if it could be possible to give us men who 
 would fear his name, and seek the spiritual good of the 
 wretched prisoners. We knew, that no one cculd obtain 
 the station without his consent, that our " good" was 
 secured by eternal promise^ and therefore we were satis- 
 fied. 
 
 On the 16th February 1843, the new Wardens took 
 possession — giving security for the sum of fifty thousand 
 dollars, for the use and profite 'of the prison for ten years. 
 
208 THE EXAMINATION. 
 
 The morning we spent principally by the stove reading, 
 while the majority were locked in their cells. In the 
 afteinoon a committee from the Legislature, came to ex- 
 amine into the condition and circumstances of the pri- 
 soners. We were all assembled in the carpenter's shop, 
 where we passed before the committee, one by one. 
 The principal questions, were such as follows. '' How 
 long have you been here ?" " To stay 7" " Charge'?" 
 "Guilty?" "Enough to eat ?" " Comfortable cloth- 
 ing]" "Work hard?'- " Work' when sick?" "Treat- 
 ment when sick V " Read V> " Write ?" " What 
 your occupation before coming here?" &c., &c. They 
 wrote down the name, age, where born, whether he 
 could read or write, occupation, &c., of each one. 
 They listened to some pitiable tales indeed — for some 
 of the prisoners had such an inveterate spite against G. 
 and B., that they " brought out the whole budget" — 
 stating what kind of food they had been obliged to eat 
 — how they had suffered day and night with the cold — 
 that they had not had a clean shirt for four, six, or eight 
 weeks — being driven to work, with two large chains on, 
 when they were so sick they could scarcely walk, &,c. 
 
 Sometimes they would ask," Are those all the clothes 
 you have?" " Yes sir" — which wrung a scowl and long 
 sigh of pity, even from those wicked men. They mani- 
 fested their enmity to us, Dr. Nelson, and the Mission 
 Institute. * 
 
 RECOMMENDATION TO THE WARDENS. 
 
 James was in the sick room, just above the guard-room, 
 where he overheard the following, as the new officers 
 were making many inquiries about the prisoners. 
 " Well, what kind of persons are the abolitionists ?" 
 Mr. B,, an old guard, who was generally kind to us, re- 
 plied, " they are first-rate fellows — they will do no 
 harm. I let them go just where they please. They 
 would not run away, should the gate be left wide open. 
 Without an honorable discliarge they won't leave." He 
 came into my cell, a day or two after, and said he had 
 
RECOMMENDATION. 209 
 
 given us a good name to the officers, and wished us to 
 conduct ourselves exetnplarily, and we would fare well. 
 
 See here " the good hand of our God," in causing 
 one who had long observed us, to speak a word in our 
 favor, to those who know us not, and were probably 
 filled with prejudice against us ! " Blessed are all they 
 who put their trust in Him," Reader, try it. 
 
 The next morning we were all assembled ; and in the 
 midst of the crowd, Judge B. mounted on a bench, read 
 to us some Rules, with various remarks. Said if we be- 
 haved well, we should be treated well — but if any were 
 lawless, means would be employed to make them obey ; 
 when any were sick they should be well taken care of, 
 &c. Reader, remember this promise. For a few days, 
 very little was done, but to sit around the stoves. Soon 
 they concocted their plans, and began to tear down the 
 middle wall, which furnished work for some — but who 
 should go 1 For many had not clothes sufficient, to ven- 
 ture forth into the cold — and some had neither clothes 
 nor shoes. We had opportunity to read considerably. 
 
 CHARACTER OF NEW OFFICERS. 
 
 Judge Brown is a member of the Presbyterian church, 
 Capt. Richmond, of the Baptist, and the overseer, of the 
 Presbyterian. At first, they all manifested much kind- 
 ness toward the prisoners. They seemed to take an in- 
 terest in their eternal welfare, as will shortly appear — 
 but this feeling gradually wore away, and its place was 
 supplied by a spirit of indifference, and contempt of a 
 convict's welfare, as the reader will notice in the sequel. 
 But many very important points were gained, under our 
 new officers. 
 
 1. All chains were taken off, and every man placed on 
 a new probation — the past was all overlooked, and op- 
 portunity given to each one to secure favor, by his good 
 conduct. 
 
 2. Swearing was not only prohibited among prisoners, 
 but there was a corresponding example^ on the part of 
 the officers. 
 
 3. All Sabbath-work was stopped, for about one year. 
 
210 
 
 POINTS GAINED. 
 
 4. The shaving was changed frona Sabbalh to Satur- 
 day. 
 
 5. A Chaplain was appointed by the Sia'' — s ;,' o 
 Inspectors. 
 
 6. We enjoyed free opportunity of talking with the 
 prisoners — thougii it was forbidden, yet we were never 
 reproved for so doing. 
 
 7. We had a godly overseer for one year, to whom 
 we could go with freedom and confidence. He would 
 listen to a prisoner's tale of grief, and try to comfort and 
 relieve. He was remarkably kind and gentle. 
 
 When the first Saturday came, with what anxiety did 
 we w^atch the movement of things! And when we saw 
 the men being shaved, and found ourselves without a 
 beard before the Sabbath, and saw them cutting wood 
 enough to last till iVIonday — 0, how our hearts leaped 
 for joy! How did we ble^s and praise the Lord, that 
 our eyes were permitted to see such a change ! Then 
 we perceived it was not in vain to pray — for with joy 
 we beheld an answer to our many and oft repeated sup- 
 plications. The blessing, so long implored, was un- 
 speakably sweet and precious. We had very many 
 rimes, " in our hallowed cell," plead with God to send 
 us a man, fearing him and* loving souls — to bring an end 
 to Sal)bath shaving. And to see these blessings granted 
 — to feel th.it they came from God in answer to prayer, 
 was cheering to our souls, reviving to our taith, and en- 
 couraging to our hearts. We felt almost as if we were 
 in a new world. 
 
 We were, by all the officers, treated with more kind- 
 ness and respect than we could have expected, and al- 
 lowed to cell together, as formerly. 
 
 HtART-IIARDKNING INFLUENCE OF POWER. 
 
 For some time our ofTicers were kind, and made many 
 
 iromises of what they would do in future. For exam- 
 
 'le, the wardens, overseer, and CapK R.'s son, time and 
 
 rain, promised us a Sabbath School. Said J. R. (the 
 
 )n), " When we get our Sabbath Si-hool in operation, 
 
 ou will have an opportunity to do good to your fellow 
 
HARDENING INFLUENCE OF POWER. 211 
 
 prisoners by teaching them." This was glad news, 
 indeed. Capt, R. said, " we shall have a Sunday School, 
 and shall set you to teaching the prisoners. We intend 
 to give all who wish an opportunity to learn to read and 
 write, and endeavor to send them forth into the world, 
 honest and useful citizens. These and many similar 
 promises greatly rejoiced and elated our hearts. For 
 these things we had been praying again and again ; we 
 spoke to them about it, but they " said and did not." No 
 Sabbath School came — nor were any taught to read or 
 write, though many ardently desired it. Our entreaties 
 and arguments were all ineffectual. 
 
 They solemnly promised that they would keep no 
 guard who would use profane language before the priso- 
 ners. After a few months guards were heard to swear 
 unblushingly. I went to the officers time and again 
 about it. " 0, we can't help it. It can't always be 
 avoided," was the reply — and a guard could swear as 
 much as he pleased. I was telling J. R. how much I 
 had been annoyed by profane guards, previously He 
 remarked, " I am not a Christian. I sometimes swear, 
 myself, but I will not do it in the presence of any one 
 whose feelings I know it will wound." This respect 
 for a prisoner's feelings did not last long. He also stat- 
 ed, " We mean to do all we can to make the- prisoners 
 happy and contented with their lot. It is bad enough 
 at the best, and we wish to regard their feelings, and 
 consult their comfort and happiness. 1 shall treat every 
 one kindly, and I am determined that no one shall hear 
 an unkind word from me so long as I stay here." 
 
 But his professions were not carried out, though he 
 always treated us kindly. Use and authority soon har- 
 dened his heart, so chat like ftazael, he could perform 
 deeds of cruelty and barbarity, the thou2;ht of which, a 
 short time before, w^as revolting to his mind. Though 
 he remained here only a little more than a year, he be- 
 came a perfect tyrant to the prisoners generally. 
 
 Capt. R. professed to feel for the prisoners, and did 
 treat them kindly for a time, but his heart also soon be- 
 came unfeeling, so that he could disregard and contemn 
 
212 prisoners' comfort disregarded. 
 
 a prisoner's sufferings, to a degree that was shocking. 
 He came to the cell of one who was unwell one morn- 
 ing, and had not yet got out of his bed, and said, " W., 
 why are you not at work? Get right up, and come out 
 here quick, and go along to your work, or I'll flog you 
 like a dog. Come, be quick." Another had made re- 
 peated applications to stop, because he was sick. I 
 saw him — I worked with him — I heard him complain — 
 I saw his swollen legs, upon which he could scarcely 
 stand, frequently having to lie down. He was driven 
 on until he suddenly fell to the ground in a fit! 
 
 I have seen Capt. R., again and again, walk up to 
 a prisoner, and with his hickory cane repeatedly try his 
 strength over the head and shoulders of the sufferer, 
 who dared not resist, and that too, when there was no 
 occasion for it. 
 
 Judge B., who was so gentle and kind, at first, has 
 hardened with an amazing rapidity, so that a prisoner's 
 comfort and happiness, health and life, are regarded with 
 shocking indifference, neglect, and even contempt. 
 
 All this tenderness, and sympathy, and attention to 
 the happiness of the prisoners, by degrees passed away, 
 and a want of feeling for another's woes, was exhibited, 
 that was truly awful. And about in proportion as the 
 press of business increased, did this disregard of the 
 pains and ills of the sufferers increase. So true is it, that 
 people do not know themselves until they are brought 
 to the test. Such is the deceptive nature, the hardening 
 effect, and the too common fruits of power, when not 
 under the inlluence and government of religious princi- 
 ple, of holy love, of enlarged philanthropy. 
 
 Poor, ragged, ignorant back-woodsmen, come here 
 and hire out for guard, and they soon seem more lordly 
 and of greater consequence than monarchs. It is laugh- 
 able and disgusting to see them. 
 
 partiality. 
 
 Soon after the change of officers, one of the guard- 
 rooms was set apart as a hospital, to which the sick \> ere 
 removed. James, being sick, was taken there. We had 
 
PRIVILEGES. 213 
 
 free access to him, and to all in the hospital — to talk and 
 pray with them. 
 
 Also we were permitted to remain there, by the fire, 
 Sabbath days, while the other prisoners were locked up 
 in their cold cells. There we read, sang, and prayed 
 with all who came — and enjoyed some precious seasons. 
 Our kind and good overseer, would come in and talk 
 freely with us — tell us his experience, sing, bring us re- 
 ligious newspapers, — in short, he seemed not so much 
 like an overseer, as a brother^ who delighted in the image 
 of Christ wherever found — in high or low, bond or free 
 ■ — though in a despised convict ! 
 
 In the time of G. and B.,we were not allowed to 
 lend our books — but these men came to us and said, 
 " You must lend your books to the prisoners, till we get 
 some — and do them good in this way." We rejoiced to 
 do so. 
 
 The prisoners finding that the officers would let them 
 write letters, many made application — soon an order was 
 given that no prisoner should have more than a half 
 sheet at a time, but they always, with one or two excep- 
 tions, gave us a whole one, and as often as we desired, 
 for the first two years. A frequent objection to our let- 
 ters was, " They are too long.''^ Now, while we were 
 under G. and B., those extremely wicked men, that ob- 
 jection was never mentioned to me, though I always in- 
 terlined, and filled my sheet — but so soon as covetous 
 professors of religion take their place, they can't spend 
 time to read such long letters ! It is very strange, yet 
 such is the truth. However, they sent our letters, for 
 W'hich they have our thanks. 
 
 I also was privileged to write letters for other prison- 
 ers, who could not write ; and for numbers who could 
 write, because they thought I could do it better. In 
 this way I preached the gospel to many a far off — to wives, 
 mothers, childnm, friends — to the widow and fatherless 
 — the bond and free — directing them to Jesus, for com- 
 fort, amid their sorrows — to the widow's God., and the 
 " Father of the fatherless," for support and defence, 
 while the husband, father or son, was shut up in prison. 
 
214 JOY, AT THE CONVERSION OF FRIENDS. 
 
 And often, while reading to the old gray headed father, 
 what I had written to his children, would the tears abun- 
 dantly tlow — and the eyes of the son, would pour forth 
 a flood, as he heard what I said in his name, to the old 
 father, or widowed mother, from whom he had run away. 
 And then to read the answers to some of these letters, in 
 which were the rejoicings of the aged widow, united 
 with those of brothers and sisters, over a '' son that was 
 lost, but now found," was truly cheering, and abundantly 
 repaid me for all my trouble. For some seemed almost 
 to overlook the crime, the sutfering, and the disgrace — 
 so great was their joy to hear that their son or brother 
 was yet alive, that their many prayers were answered, in 
 their conversion to God, though by means so different 
 from what they had marked out. Again, and again, 
 have they sent their thanks to me, from distant States, 
 free and slave, for the interest I had taken in the wel- 
 fare of their unfortunate children or brothers. 
 
 OUR WORK. 
 
 Alanson continued as before, at his chair makiii;j:, 
 with the addition of spinning wheels, large and small — 
 having frequent opportunity to converse with customers, 
 about their souls, or concerning the news of the day. 
 No one to hurry him, or find any fault with his work, he 
 did much as he chose, taking care, however, not to give 
 prisoners or officers, occasion to complain of him. He 
 was faithful to his trust. At one time he said, " Some- 
 times I am tempted to be lazy, as no one looks after me, 
 to see whether I do little or much ; but then I think, 
 that the angels and God, are looking at me — our friends, 
 and the anti-slavery world are watching eagerly to see if 
 we will work cheerfully and faithfully for the poor slave, 
 and at my work I go with new resolution, and vigor." 
 So we all teit. 
 
 James continued his (Carpentering, when he could 
 work (being sick much of the time), for nearly a year. 
 The cause of change I shall mention in its place. I 
 worked at turning awhile — then carpentering sometime 
 —then spinning bale-rope about four months — then 
 
CHANGKS— PREACHING. 215 
 
 weaving^ bagging about one year and 'a half — lastly in the 
 wagon shop, sixteen months, including about four 
 months of sickness. At times, I worked a few days at 
 other things, but such was my general employment- 
 pursued with much pleasure, while I felt that all was foi 
 the cause of humanity. 
 
 Our food continued much as before — generally, corn 
 bread and bacon — now and then, some potatoes or turnips, 
 hommony, or beans. 
 
 In the spring, a long table was prepared, in one of the 
 halls, and all ate together at breakfast and dinner — hav- 
 ing our corn bread, in our cells at night. With this 
 arrangement, our overseer, introduced into the prison, 
 for the first time since its commencement, the practice ot 
 publicly seeking from God a blessing on our food. This 
 was new to the prisoners, and made many of them very 
 angry. Frequently the victuals would be very poor, 
 then to hear a blessing asked over " such^' food would 
 make them curse Christians and their God. The over- 
 seer often called on Alanson, James, myself, or W. G. 
 And when he was absent, one of us was always spoken 
 to. This state of things continued only during the time 
 of this overseer. 
 
 For some months, the sick were treated with a good 
 degree of attention. The officers would come to see 
 them, and find out their wants — but this, as I have 
 already intimated, soon passed away, and the sick have 
 been left to suffer unaccountably. The young, inexpe- 
 rienced, ignorant, unfeeling doctor, was the cause of more 
 cruelty towards the sick, probably, than all the officers 
 together — for he had the power to see that they were loell 
 taken care of — but he was bribed by the officers, and 
 sought not the good of the prisoners, but the favor of his 
 employers. But facts, hereafter shall speak for them- 
 selves. 
 
 PREACHING. 
 
 The first two Sabbaths we had no preaching. As we 
 were in the hospital, on the next Sabbath, reading and 
 praying, the overseer came in, and siaid, " We have been 
 
216 AN EFFECTUAL DOOR OPENING. 
 
 talking below, and I have come up to see if you will 
 preach for us this afternoon, if the minister does not 
 come." I told him I was willing so to do. But the 
 chaplain came, and "preached to us his first sermon. He 
 is a warm hearted, zealous Methodist preacher — gener- 
 ally very earnest in his exhortations to saints and sinners, 
 and helped us to do good. 
 
 After sermon, he called on me to pray. This was 
 another new thing which caused much talk among tlve 
 prisoners. We felt that God was fast opening " a great 
 and effectual door" of usefulness, for which we desired 
 to be prepared. We had long been praying, and look- 
 ing, and waiting, but now we saw the clouds dispersing ; 
 the sua began to shine, and we could see our way more 
 clearly. We were greatly encouraged to look up, and 
 ask for " great things" — to " open our mouths wide," and 
 to " commit our way unto the Lord." 
 
 SING us ONE OF THE SONGS OF ZIOX. 
 
 March 12. We had spent our Sabbath in the hospi- 
 tal as usual, with James, who was there sick. Alanson 
 iind myself had retired to bed, but soon a guard came 
 for me, saying, " I want you to come into the hospital 
 and sing for us." So of old, " They that carried us away 
 captive, required of us a song" — but, blessed be God, 
 that we were not obliged, through grief and sorrow of 
 heart, to say, " How can we sing the Lord's song in a 
 strange land V With joyful hearts we arose and went. 
 The guards, five or six, were assembled, and we sang 
 some of our favorite pieces for them. 
 
 OUR FIRST PRAYER MEETING. 
 
 19. After preaching, I went to Capt. R., and asked 
 permission for a few of us to have a season of prayer 
 together in the Hospital. It was granted. We assem- 
 bled — eight in number — sang, prayed, and exhorted. In 
 addition to our usual praying number, J. D., our colored 
 brother was present. He had frequently conversed with 
 us on the subject of his soul's salvation, but this was 
 the first opportunity ^ve had of jirayinir with him. He 
 
THE FIRST PRAYER MEETING. 217 
 
 was considerably broken and confused, but in earnest. 
 An old man wlio was present and heard him pray, said, 
 "I did not know as old J. had sot alono- so far as that." 
 He confounded the wicked. 
 
 VV. S. was sick in the Hospital. After we had sung 
 and prayed, he broke forth as follows, " I feel the love of 
 God in my soul. Jesus is precious. He is very sensi- 
 bly and feelingly near. Q, if I had a tongue, I would 
 persuade all to go to glory with me, but I am too weak." 
 It was a precious little season to us, and a commence- 
 ment of a series of meetings never to be forgotten. 
 True, our number was small, yet we were enough to 
 claim the promise, " Where two or three are assembled 
 together in my name" — no matter where, though in a 
 prison, enclosed by high walls, secured by locks, and iron 
 gates, or in a dungeon, or a cave — " there am I in the 
 midst of them." 
 
 CHAPTER H. 
 
 PRAYER MEETINGS— CONVERSION OF SINNERS, &c. 
 
 THE REVIVAL. 
 
 March 25. I had considerable conversation with J. R. 
 about the spiritual wants of the prison, and begged the 
 privilege of a stated prayer meeting, every Sabbath 
 morning, promising that I would hold myself responsible 
 for any misconduct that might occur in meeting. He 
 spoke favorably, and said, ' 1 will talk with my father, 
 and let you know." Accordingly, the next morning 
 (Sabbath), I was called down to the guard room, where 
 were Capt. R. and others. He said, " We have conclud- 
 ed to g • mt you that privilege, and you can have your 
 meetings in the hospital." 0, what glad tidings were 
 the>;e to our thirsty souls ! Our hearts leaped for joy at 
 
 10 
 
218 STATED PRAYER MEETING. 
 
 the prospect of again exhorting sinners to " flee from 
 the wrath to come," and pointing them to the Lamb 
 of God. The thoughts of our prayer meeting, during 
 the week, would lighten our toils, and sweeten all our 
 cares and pains. We saw clearly that God " had not 
 despised the affliction of the afflicted," nor withheld any 
 good. 
 
 At our next meeting, aboi*t a dozen were present, and 
 interest was manifest. The number continued to in- 
 crease. The attention of the impenitent was arrested. 
 The Lord heard prayer and blessed his own truth, so 
 that while some came from novelty, others evidently 
 had an arrow in their hearts. 
 
 In our exhortations, singing, and prayers, we aimed 
 at the immediate conversion of sinners — beseeching them 
 to come to the Savior tearing away their excuses — and, 
 from our own experience, testifying to the excellency of 
 religion, and to its power to support and cheer, even in 
 these trying circumstances. 
 
 We soon had evidence that the Spirit was in our 
 midst, seconding our feeble endeavors, and pressing sin- 
 ners to forsake their evil ways. 
 
 We had a few meetings when one with whom we hatl 
 frequently conversed, cried aloud for mercy. This not 
 only encouraged us, but it affected the wicked, and a 
 " shaking among the dry bones" was observable. Some 
 mocked and ridiculed, while others became more serious, 
 and anxious to attend the meeting. They tried to ha- 
 rass and vex the convert, but he bore it with jiatience, 
 and continued to pray with us. 
 
 Soon another was anxious to know what he must do 
 to be saved. We talked with him privately, and he 
 made up his rnind fully ,)nd deliberately to serve the 
 Lord. Though both were extremely ignorant, being 
 scarcely able to read intelligibly, yet it was exceedingly 
 interesting to hear them pray. Their broken and half 
 choked words, — disconnected sentences and ideas were 
 " music to our ears." One of them in prayer, used this 
 language, " Lord we are here in this dreadful house of 
 bondage, I thank Thee for the privilege of praying to- 
 
CONVERTS COMMUNION SEASON. 219 
 
 gether in this little cell. I never expected such a great 
 jirivilege," &c. 
 
 April 9. Attended the communion, inviting W. G. 
 to unite with us. At the first suggestion he was pleased 
 with the idea ; but soon expressed doubts as to the pro- 
 priety of the thing without a regular minister. We rea- 
 soned the case wath him — showed the general nature of 
 the command, explained the design of the ordinance, and 
 gave him what light we could. A few days after, he came 
 and said, " I have been studying and praying over that 
 thing, to know my duty, and I have come to the conclu- 
 sion that it is right for me to unite with you." He came, 
 and for the first time, obeyed the dying command of our 
 Lord. He was much blessed, and greatly streng^thened 
 by the occasion. It was sweet to feed this lovely lamb. 
 O, how eagerly he would drink in the truth ! 
 
 April 14. W. F. P. came to my cell, with whom I 
 conversed and prayed. He says, " I feel that I am for- 
 given of the past, and am now determined to live for 
 God the rest of my time." Bless the Lord ! 
 
 A DREAM INTERPRETED. 
 
 With H. B. I had frequently conversed, when at 
 work — he always acknowledged the necessity of a 
 change — knew his duty, but said, " I am so wicked, it 
 seems like I could not bring my mind to the subject. 
 Sometimes I feel as if I could forgive my enemies, then 
 again I am full of revenge." One morning he told me 
 his dream, \vhich I interpreted, according to the event, 
 though it did not come to pass, for perhaps six months. 
 The dream — " I saw" a very beautiful bird of exquisitely 
 fine colors, beyond anything I ever saw, or can describe. 
 It was called the King Bird of Paradise. I pursued it 
 through thickets and thorns, over stones and logs — amid 
 many difficulties, falls, and bruises, but finally I caught 
 it, and it was the most delightful creature I ever saw in 
 all my life." 
 
 The interpretation. — " The King Bird of Paradise' 
 is the Samor, the " chiefest among ten thousand, and al 
 together lovely.'' The "thorns^ logs^ rocks, bruises 
 
220 THE DREAM INTERPRETATION. 
 
 falls," &c., are the trials and sufferings through which 
 you are now passing. And happy indeed would you be 
 amid them all, if by these afflictions you should behold, 
 and embrace the blessed Savior. 
 
 He afterwards acknowledged the interpretation abund- 
 amly true — frequently blessed the Lord for all these af- 
 flictions, which had been the means of leading him to 
 Jesus, and in strong terms expressed his peace and hap- 
 piness, as far beyond everything he ever experienced 
 while at liberty. 
 
 He came to our prayer meetings, became interested 
 for his soul's salvation, and would freely weep, while I 
 presented Jesus before him, with entreaties to repent 
 and accept of his salvation. I conversed with him pri- 
 vately, urging him to immediate submission. 
 
 His wife came to see him. After she left, I asked 
 him, " Have you given your heart to God and deter- 
 mined to serve Him ?" " Yes, 1 have resolved to serve 
 God, and do right the rest of the time I have to live." 
 <' Did you tellyour wife so?" "Yes, and she smiled, 
 and said, I think we shall see happy days togethei 
 yet." He came out a burning Christian. 
 
 Many things in his case would be interesting to the 
 reader, but should I mention half the particulars during 
 the revival, they would swell this volume to an immode- 
 rate size. An outline is all I can present. But I will 
 mention one thing about H. B. When he was converted, 
 he was a perfect slave to tobacco — it had been all his 
 comfort. Before he came to prison, he was a " great 
 drinker" too. But mark, when he submitted to God, 
 and turned enemy to his sins, he " swept the board"— 
 swore eternal abstinence from liquor, and cast away his 
 tobacco pouch, to touch it no more. The habit was 
 strong, but he cried to God, to subdue the desire and in 
 less than a week, he was -a free inan, though in prison. 
 O that his example might shame any of my readers who 
 may use this " abominable thing." 
 
 The interest increased, and we multiplied our meetings 
 — not that we trusted in them, but so great was the 
 wickedness here — anxious sinners confined with the 
 
 I 
 
RELIGIOUS Interest increasing. 221 
 
 vile who did all they could to turn them away, and there 
 being no place of retirement, almost the only hope seem- 
 ed to be, to get them alone, or in a meeting and press 
 them to submission on the spot. 
 
 The sick increasing in the hospital, and some of them 
 being low, we met in our cell, which accommodates 
 about thirty persons. It was soon crowded — we preach- 
 ed Christ, and invited weeping sinners to Jesus. The 
 Lord blessed the truth, and to all it was evident " Truly 
 God is in this place." We felt it and rejoiced. 
 
 Perhaps I cannot better give the reader an idea of 
 these scenes than by quoting from my journal, where I 
 recorded circumstances, and the spontaneous overflow- 
 ings of my soul, as they occurred. 
 
 I had informed the Chaplain of the state of feeling, 
 and advised him to call the anxious forward. The next 
 Sabbath is described in my journal as follows. 
 
 ^pril 30. " Alleluia !" Salvation has come with 
 power. Prayer meeting in the morning ; after which, 
 when we were locked up, I preached in my cell to six 
 brethren, fellow prisoners, from ^^ds ix. 16. New-born 
 souls rejoicing ! Prayer meeting again after dinner ; 
 deep interest. The Chaplain brought with him another 
 brother, who preached from Heb. iii. 13, a very search- 
 ing sermon, and cutting appeals concerning the" deceit- 
 fulness of sin." The anxious were called for; eight 
 rushed forward, dropped on their knees and begged for 
 mercy, sobbing and groaning aloud. The Chaplain 
 prayed and called for others to follow ; — James and my- 
 self did so. It was an awfully solemn scene. The 
 mass of the prisoners crowded around to gaze. The of- 
 ficers were present. 
 
 After meeting I led them to my cell, and ! what a 
 sight! Here were the murderer, the highway robber, 
 the profane, the unclean, the thief and gambler, prostrat- 
 ed, crying for mercy, and yielding themselves to 
 God. 
 
 Glory ! glory ! glory ! The tiger is changed into a 
 lamb, the vulture to adove. One cried, " I am lost, I 
 am lost, I am so wicked." " Submit to God," I cried. 
 
222 THRILLING SCENE. 
 
 " I will," said he. Another — " I will go with you. .1 
 yield to God for ever, and will serve Him." Amen. 
 Another — " I submit to God. I yield to Him body and 
 spirit, to take me and do as He sees best." Hosanna ! 
 Another—" I will serve God." " When ?" " Now. I 
 will obey Him." 0, reader, I cannot present this scene 
 before you in words. Had you been here, you would 
 have heard them bewailing before an offended God, their 
 mountain-towering sins — seen them trembling with fear 
 of being rejected and cast off, almost in despair — some 
 calling for " mercy, mercy, mercy," — others, "there is 
 no hope for me, I have been such a great sinner ; no 
 hope," &c. We felt that it was a critical time with 
 them, and pointed them to the Lamb of God," beseech- 
 ing them to look, believe, submit, and yield their hearts 
 to Him. It was solemn as death. 
 
 We almost forgot we were in prison, where the 
 rules strictly forbade our speaking to a fellow prisoner. 
 We could not hold our peace. Speak we must and 
 speak we did, " no man forbidding." 
 
 We now saw a great work before us in watching over 
 and instructing the lambs, searching out ihe anxious, 
 and warning the careless. But blessed be God for our 
 good overseer. His heart was also in the work. He 
 conversed with prisoners about their souls, and allowed 
 us to do the same with freedom. 
 
 May 2. Conversed with C. S. in my cell — a very 
 interesting case. Said he, " They point at me, and 
 laugh and make fun of me, but I am determined not to 
 care for it." He is very decided. Prayed with me — the 
 the first time he ever prayed in English. He is a Rus- 
 sian — talks well — is very forgiving toward enemies — 
 and thanks God for sending him here. 
 
 3. Talked with J. M., but he did not submit. 
 
 4. Talked and prayed with him ; he also payed 
 and signed his name to an article of entire consecration, 
 which I drew up. He seemed to be in great distress — 
 would give orsutfer anything, if he could only feel that 
 his sins were forgiven. When we arose from prayer, he 
 looked round the cell and said, " Your cell is a palace, 
 
GLORIOUS DAYS. 223 
 
 and you are happy in it, but I ara miserable." I rea 
 soned and plead, but tremble for him. 
 
 5. -Met, in F. D.'s cell, with three converts and an 
 unbeliever — talked and prayed — a precious season — de- 
 lightful to hear the babes pray and praise the Lord. The 
 sinner would not bow. Glory to God ! for sending me 
 to a penitentiary to preach the gospel. Last night with 
 the sick. 
 
 6. Saturday evening, prayer-meeting here with the 
 converts, after they had tinished their work. They are 
 very anxious to get together — could not wait for the 
 Sabbath. ! how " the good hand of our God is upon 
 us!" 
 
 7. Glorious Sabbath ! Murderers and thieves sub- 
 mitting to God — converts rejoicing and praising their 
 King, and pleading for sinners who are trembling be- 
 neath the load of their guilt. Three prayer meetings 
 to-day besides preaching. Li one, the Chaplain was 
 present, and heard them tell what God had done for 
 them. In sermon he spoke of the prayer meeting, and 
 urged all to attend — there is full liberty for all who wish 
 to attend. I have all talk and pray who profess to be 
 converted. 
 
 9. James with the sick — Alanson staying with S. to 
 talk with him — J. S. and E. S. with me. Talked and 
 prayed. They give good evidence of being truly con- 
 verted. 
 
 12. W. 13, with us — formerly an ignorant Catholic — 
 has been very wild and profane — lived eighteen years 
 without going into a meeting house — but truth reached 
 his heart, and he trembled in view of his sins — now 
 seems penitent, humble, decided, ready. 
 
 13. Saturday eve. Meeting full of interest and 
 warm hearts. 
 
 14. The most glorious day I have seen ! The pow- 
 er of God wonderfully displayed. In prayer meeting, 
 four new cases of conversion ; cell crowded to overflow- 
 ing; converts mouutinQj higher and crrowinsf stronger; 
 while the long-hardened tremble like Belshazzar. 
 Preached to twelve converts, in my cell, from Ln.ke ix. 
 
224 A murderer's confession. 
 
 23. In the afternoon, a powerful sermon — six new ones 
 came forward — I talked and prayed with them, " no man 
 forbidding." Glory to God ! 
 
 19. A. D. with us to stay all night — appears 
 well. 
 
 20. A good prayer meeting this evening. 
 
 21. The work is rolling — glory to God! Two new 
 cases in the prayer meeting. Preached to a crowded cell, 
 from Luke xv. 26-33. O ! what scenes ! Hosanna ! E. 
 R. is overflowing. He talks and prays like a preacher. 
 His whole soul is in the work. At one time he said, 
 " I find that the more of the spirit of religion I possess, 
 the more of an abolitionist I am !" This is good. 
 
 Ill the afternoon, divided our prayer meeting, and fill- 
 ed two cells — James and Alanson conducting one, and 
 I the other. Glorious ! glorious ! 
 
 E. p. lovejoy's murderer. 
 
 23. Last night, J. M. cut his throat — bled three 
 quarts — still alive. This is all from unbelief, which 
 drove him to despair. Submission to God would have 
 saved him all this. See May 3d and 4th. 
 
 Just here I will say what I have to say about this per- 
 son. He came here on the night of the fire. I worked 
 wi*h him some time. He told me all about the Alton 
 "scrape" — acknowledged he was one of the leaders of 
 the mob, and was the man who fired the building. He 
 and a young doctor (he would not give the name), swore 
 to each other as follows, that he (J. M.) would ascend 
 the ladder, and fire the building, if the doctor would 
 shoot DKAD the first man who should come out of the 
 door, to shoot him. E. P. Lovejoy was the first, and 
 was shot dead, by the young doctor. J. M. was in- 
 dicted and tried for arson. Air. U. F. Linder, the ring- 
 leader of the mob, plead his cause, and he was cleared, 
 but banished from the place. Subsequently he was en- 
 gaged in house robbing, and an attempt to murder a wo- 
 man — and came here for seventeen yeaas. He is said to 
 be guilty of various other murders. 
 
 He professed to be anxious about his soul, for a time 
 
 1 
 
lovejoy's murderer— a break. 225 
 
 •—became sullen and downcast — cut his throat, which 
 was sewed up — two days after, he picked up a hand axe, 
 and struck a prisoner on the head, hurting him severely. 
 When asked why he did it — he repled, " I felt it my 
 duty to kill somebody !" He was locked in his cell, 
 where he tore his blanket into strips, and tried 
 three times to hang himself from the iron bars of the 
 window, but the string broke every time. He was 
 chained to the floor — tore open his throat wound — wish- 
 ed the officers to give him a rope, and let him hang 
 himself — then begged that he might drown himself, &c. 
 A desperate character. He was one of Murrill's right 
 hand men — and told me of many of his deeds of rob- 
 bery, kidnapping, stabbing, knocking down, &c. 
 
 While working with him one day, he remarked, in 
 the presence of the guard and myself — '' There is a man 
 in Ohio Penitentiary iov fifteen years, for a crime which 
 I committed myself. He is perfectly innocent, and knew 
 nothing about it !" 
 
 Can nothing be done for that man's release ? There 
 are also men in Missouri prison, for what others did ! 
 One slaveholder served two years there for what his 
 slave did ! 
 
 28. Four new cases. Interesting prayer meeting, a 
 bundle of tracts given to us, for which we are thankful. 
 
 June. 4. James quite sick — -chaplain came to see 
 him. 
 
 7. Last night staid with James, in the hospital — and 
 drew up a temperance pledge — also an anti-tobacco 
 pledge. 
 
 10. This morning seven prisoners made a break, by 
 knocking down the gate keeper, and opening the gate. 
 Two were soon taken — one was shot — four balls passing 
 through the fleshy part of the arm, into his side. He 
 came near dying several times, while the wound was 
 being dressed. " The way of transgressors is hard" 
 most certainly. Two others were drowned, one of them 
 leaving a large family. 
 
 11. Very interesting prayer meeting. Preached to 
 about twenty-five, from Ex. xxxii. 26. Said J. D., 
 
 10* 
 
226 IMMERSION — EXTRACT OF A LETTEK. •" 
 
 *' A lazy man cannot seek religion, nor be a Christian.** 
 It is good to feed the lambs. 
 
 18. Preached to parents with respect to trusting their 
 ■wives and children with God^blessed time. In the 
 prayer meeting, J, D. full of the Spirit — the cell could 
 scarcely contain him-^he jumped as if on springs — 
 clapped his hands, and shouted glory ! The old man 
 sixty-two years old pleading for mercy. Lord save him. 
 
 19. W. S. with us to receive instruction on baptism. 
 He is an old gray headed man, and appears of an excel- 
 lent spirit. 
 
 22. H. B. with us, for instruction on baptism. He is 
 a lovely spirit. 
 
 25. An old Baptist man preached. After sermon, 
 those who wished to be immersed, came forward, and 
 were examined. Six were immersed. 
 
 EXTRACT OF A LETTER TO A FRIEND. 
 
 Through the goodness of God, we can yet exclaim, 
 with one of old, " Ebenezer ;" and call upon you all to 
 " magnify the Lord with us." I cannot describe to you 
 on paper, His wonderful works in our midst. The 
 number that now unite with us in prayer, and in telling 
 " what God has done for them, and how he has had com- 
 passion on them," is upwards of twenty. Give God the 
 praise. The work is His. In the converts, the turning 
 point with many was, forgiveness and love of enemies — 
 but God ^ave them no peace till they gave up all animo- 
 sity. Saul one, " For three long years, I have lived with 
 bitter enmity in my heart against two men, on whom I 
 was determined to "have revenge, when I left this place; 
 but God told me I inust give it all np^ or He would not 
 hear one word to me, and now I feel to love them, and 
 find more happiness than in all my life before. You 
 must do as I did — forgive your enemies." I tell you 
 these scenes are glorious. The wicked, who surround, 
 mock, deride, and lie ; but in the face of all this, to see 
 men come out boldly on God's side makes our souls re- 
 joice. I never saw men appear better than some of 
 
READY TO DEPART AND BE WITH CHRIST. 227 
 
 these converts do. They just " cast off the works of 
 darkness," and yield up to God. 
 
 Alanson says, " Tell my family to trust in God, and be 
 patient ; and all things will work together for the best." 
 He is as happy as a king. 
 
 James has been sick, and nigh unto death. We did 
 not much expect he would stay with us long — but 
 through the mercy of God he has nearly recovered ; he 
 now wants bodily strength. He was in the hospital two 
 weeks and a half — felt willing and ready to " depart and 
 be with Christ, which is far better" — still thinks it 
 doubtful whether he meets you all again, till we meet 
 where sio-hins: and sorrow are not known." 
 
 THE RECONCILIATION. 
 
 July 2. We had an interesting scene in the prayer 
 meetincr. H. B. and W. S. were sent here on the false 
 testimony of G. S. They were perfectly innocent as to the 
 thing charged against them. G. S. was hired to swear 
 falsely, and they were sent here. Soon after G. S. stole, 
 and came himself. The two former had cherished bittei 
 feelings of revenge against the latter, and he knew it. But 
 when they were converted, they went to him and told him 
 they freely forgave him. He could hardly believe it. H. 
 B. went to his cell, talked kindly, and assured him of his 
 hearty forgiveness, G. S. melted into tears, confessed 
 his guilt, and said, "I would be willing to do or suffer 
 anything, if you could only be restored to your family." 
 To-day they were all present in the prayer meeting. G. 
 S. professed repentance, and a determination to serve 
 God ! I addressed the three. My heart was moved ; 
 and before all I asked, " H. B., do you freely and fully 
 forgive G. S. V He frankly replied in the affirmative, 
 arose, and gave him his hand in token of reconciliation. 
 I turned to W. S., and asked the same question. He 
 expressed his cheerful forgiveness, and gave his hand in 
 token of friendship and love. 
 
 It was affecting. A little before they were at vari- 
 ance, and meditating each other's destruction, refusing 
 to be reconciled ; now, melted down, their enmity slain, 
 
228 SCENES OF INTEREST. 
 
 and love filling their souls, they embraced each other, as 
 brethren going to heaven together. 
 
 9. A good prayer meeting. Preached from 2 *Jor. 
 V. 17. In the afternoon, after sermon, the chaplain bap- 
 tized four persons by pouring, which he thinks is the 
 only prop.er mode. 
 
 23. Prayer meeting in the carpenter's shop. Many 
 prisoners and the overseer attended. C. N. carne to oui 
 cell — gave evidence of conversion — prayed and talked 
 well. Two weeks ago, we were spinning together, and 
 I reproved him forswearing. Said he, " From that time 
 I began to pray, and ask for the forgiveness of ray sins, 
 and ceased not till I found relief.'' Ah, " a word in 
 season, how good is it?" 
 
 28. Glorious Sabbath ! Salvation and rejoicing ! In- 
 teresting prayer meeting — excellent class meeting. Some 
 new cases. J. P. said, " The thing which brought me 
 here was forsaking Christ. I have a pious wife and 
 children. It has been three years since I forsook God. 
 First, I neglected secret prayer ; second, family devo- 
 tion ; third, the house of God; now I am fully deter- 
 mined to be faithful." He prayed and wept freely. 
 Just came last \\ eek. 
 
 W. W. very much broken down — wept like a child. 
 He said, " I believe my coming here will be the means 
 of saving my soul." 
 
 0, what God can do ! " Is anything too hard for tiie 
 Lord ?" No preaching ; no time to read ; all day occupied 
 in helping others ; but praise to God for such a privilege. 
 
 Said one, " My first year here was one of misery and 
 death. The second has been one of life and peace." 
 
 James in another cell laboring. He had a melting 
 time. The Lord was present in power. 
 
 Aug. 7. Judge B. granted us the privilege of a lamp 
 at night, so that we could improve our evenings by 
 reading. O, what a great blessing ! After being de- 
 prived of it more than two years, how sweet to enjoy 
 again the bliss of reading God's word, after the toils of 
 the day! 0, how good is our Father! May we value 
 and improve the privilege. 
 
A PRISONER PREACHING TO PRISONERS. 229 
 
 13. No preaching. After prayer meeting, went into 
 another cell with four others. Had a precious time. 
 They drank in the truth with eagerness. 
 
 14. Last night T. sent for me to sit up with him. He 
 is quite sick — sees himself a great sinner. 
 
 20. After dinner, Judge B. came and called me out of 
 my cell, and said that there had been a request that I 
 might preach in the absence of the chaplain, who was 
 sick. " I have no objections, and you can address them, 
 or hold a prayer meeting. Just take your own course." 
 
 The prisoners were assembled, and with great delight 
 I preached to them from Ephesians v. 14. Excellent 
 attention. Judge B. and wife, overseer and others, pre- 
 sent. Truly this is the hand of the Lord. 
 
 These quotations from ray journal show pretty clearly 
 the nature of the work, our circumstances, and the way 
 we were occupied for about one year or more after the 
 change of officers. Some general remarks about the re- 
 vival, and I must leave it. 
 
 My usual course was to sing while they were collect- 
 ing, which answered the purpose of a bell — for there 
 was so much heart and life in the singing, that we could 
 be heard all over prison. After two or three prayers, I 
 read a portion of Scripture with remarks suitable to the 
 occasion — warning sinners, and instructing converts in 
 the various duties devolving upon them. And it was 
 very gratifying to see with what eagerness they sought 
 to know the will of God, receiving the truth with a re- 
 lish that convinced us our " labor was not in vain in the 
 Lord." 
 
 After I had talked, opportunity was given for any one 
 to speak or pray, and it was expected that all would take 
 a part. They were remarkably ready on all occasions, 
 to go forward in any Christian duty, and many of them 
 were bright examples of piety. Frequently they would 
 be seen, coming to the prayer meeting leading the impen- 
 itent, with whom they had been talking, and whose 
 conversion they particularly desired — a cell mate, or 
 some fellow laborer. The obstacles in their way were 
 
230 GENERAL REMARKS. 
 
 many. The hardened ridiculed and mocked, but they 
 bore it patiently, and the work rolled on. They all 
 looked up to us, as children to a father. To us they 
 came to make known their joys and sorrows, their temp- 
 tations and their victories, their falls and uprisings, for 
 instruction and counsel, for encouragement and help. 
 
 The responsibility of watching over, and feeding, of 
 seeking out, and reclaiming this interesting flock, all 
 rested on us. The chaplain rarely came to talk with 
 any of them, except on the Sabbath. When he called 
 for the anxious, we were privileged to talk and pray with 
 them. During the week, we had to look after the lambs, 
 who dwelt among wolves, and carry forward our labors 
 also. If we wished to stay all night with any one, or 
 have any one come and stay with us for conversation, it 
 was only to ask and we received. 
 
 They loved the prayer meetings — 'and would remain 
 from breakfast to dinner, without weariness. After din- 
 ner, again they assembled to praise and pray, reluctant 
 to leave the place where God had so richly blessed their 
 souls. 
 
 The work was so great, and important, that we ceased 
 for a time to desire, or pray for liberty. We felt that 
 this was the place for us. And we rejoiced to thrust in 
 our sickles, and reap a rich harvest, " gathering fruit 
 unto eternal life-" 
 
 I. 
 
 I love ill such a place to dwell, 
 These laiiibs to me, are dear, 
 Glory to Jesus, for my cell ; 
 Hosamiah, that I'm here. 
 
 II. 
 ! what is liberty to me, 
 Or friends, however dear — 
 Since scenes like these, I here can see. 
 And things like these can hear ? 
 
 III. 
 
 Let those who wish, seek worldly fame, 
 And warriors wonders tell ; 
 But give to me, reproach and shame, 
 With Jesus and my cell. 
 
Lambs in the midst or wolves. 231 
 
 We saw here a flock of lambs, which, if we should go 
 away, would have no shepherd. They dwelt in the 
 midst of ravening wolves, and who should look after 
 them 1 Our wardens soon became indifferent, and cared 
 not for their souls. Our good overseer was occupied 
 with a multiplicity of other cares ; and after a while was 
 turned away^his place occupied by an enemy of all 
 good — new wardens came in, who " feared not God, nor 
 regarded man "—our chaplain had other business, that 
 he thought more important, and who should look after 
 these precious souls'? Who would care for a poor, de- 
 spised convict? We felt our responsibility — we saw 
 their need of our help, and frequently heard them say, 
 " I don't know how we should get along, if you should 
 go away ;" and, blessed be God, we rejoiced to stay and 
 do them good. To us they would listen — they felt a 
 confidence that as we were " tempted in all points" like 
 as they, we could enter into all their feelings, and sym- 
 pathise with them in all their temptations and trials — 
 that we would listen with patience to all their difficul- 
 tied and sorrows, and gladly " comfort them by the com- 
 fort wherewith we ourselves were comforted of God," in 
 " all our tribulation." 
 
 About forty professed to be converted. How many 
 were truly, in heart renovated, we cannot say. The 
 parable of tbe " sower, and the seed," is just as true 
 here as in places where liberty is enjoyed. Some " ran 
 well " for a time, and turned back — a number were 
 " stony ground hearers,'' who could not endure the 
 scorching rays of ridicule and persecution — of " thorny 
 ground hearers" there were but a few — of those who 
 " received the seed into good and honest hearts" there 
 were a goodly number. " How do you know?" How 
 do I know? How does the husbandman know that his 
 seed found a place in fertile soil ? that his grain did not 
 all fall upon the rock — or that it was not all consumed 
 by the fowls, nor all choked by the thorns? How? 
 Why, he sees it spring up and grow-^he sees it blossom 
 — he sees it ripen — he fills his garner — he eats thereof, 
 and is strengthened. How do I know ? " By their fruits 
 
232 THE MEMORABLE COMMUNION SEASON. 
 
 ye shall know them." They gave every evidence that 
 can be desired. They brought forth fruit — they still 
 bring forth fruit; and we trust they will bring forth more 
 abundantly, when again restored to liberty. When we 
 see thetn so perfectly transformed in their characters, 
 minds, thoughts, words, actions, how can we doubt 1 
 When we see them hating the things they loved, and 
 loving the things they hated — -when we view the " old 
 things passed away, and all things become new " — when 
 the image of Satan is changed into the image of God ; 
 and the spirit of heaven takes the place of the spirit of 
 hell, how can we but believe that they have " Christ in 
 them the hope of glory?" Their gentleness, docility, 
 and exemplary walk would shame multitudes of profes- 
 sors, who enjoy far superior advantages. And could 
 they have been present in our convict meetings, and wit- 
 nessed the readiness and eagerness of these poor prison- 
 ers to give vent to the overflowing of their full and 
 warm hearts, in testifying to the love of God, the pre- 
 ciousness of the Savior, and the blessedness of His ser- 
 vice, they surely would have blushed in view of their 
 own backwardness, and indifference. And to have wit- 
 nessed those scenes, would have made the hear*, of any 
 Christian rejoice and praise the Lord. But I must not 
 fail to give the reader a glance ::t one scene, in our 
 " hallowed cell," which we shall ever remember with 
 
 joy- 
 
 THE prisoner's COMMUNION'. 
 
 We plead again and again, with the Chaplain, to ad- 
 minister to us, and to the converts, the Sacrament* — but 
 in vain. We then concluded to invite a number of 
 the brethren to unite with us. During the week we 
 tried to show them the importance and nature of the or- 
 dinance. They obtained permission to remain in our 
 cell after the prayer meeting — at which time we endea- 
 vored to " remember our Savior" in His own appointed 
 ordinance. Five of the brethren were with us — making 
 
 • See note on page 147, 148. 
 
THE MEMORABLE COMMUNION SEASON. 233 
 
 eight in all. Upon our little table was a cup of water, 
 and a neat piece of corn bread, around which we were 
 gathered. 
 
 In a few words I endeavored to give them proper 
 views of the ordinance, and with what feelings it should 
 be observed. I tried to point out the appropriateness of 
 the emblems, showing that as bread is the staff of natu- 
 ral life, so is Jesus the "bread of heaven" — "the living 
 bread," upon which, by faith, our souls feed, and are 
 strengthened. 
 
 As water cleanses our bodies from filth, so the blood 
 of Christ cleanses the soul from sin — as without water, we 
 should soon die, so without the application of the blood 
 of atonement we should perish for ever — as receiving a 
 draught of water quenches our thirst, so a draught by 
 faith, from " the fountain opened to the house of David, 
 and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem," quenches all our 
 desire for sin, and the vanities of the world, &c. I 
 spoke of the love of our Savior — that we should remem- 
 ber Him, with penitence for sin, with gratitude, and a 
 full consecration of all our powers to His service — that 
 we should remember His life. His example. His pro- 
 mises. His sufferings, death, ascension, and His inter- 
 cession in heaven for us. Portions of the scripture were 
 read — each one prayed, and all united in praise. And 
 while we partook of the simple emblems, the Master of 
 the feast was present, to bless in a remarkable manner. 
 Every soul was full, and all eyes " a fountain of tears," 
 so that our little cell was truly " Bochim.^''* Such a 
 scene I never witnessed. It was a sweet, heart- 
 melting, blessed season. With four of them, it was their 
 first approach to the Savior's table — and often have they 
 spoken of that time. We felt ourselves repaid a hun- 
 dred fold, for twelve years' imprisonment. ! " hal- 
 lowed cell," how dear thou art' With what rapturous 
 delight shall we look back from the heights of Zion, 
 to this sacred place ! And when we sit down, with 
 these little ones, " at the marriage supper of the Lamb," 
 
 Judgcf. ii. }j 5, 
 
234 JOYFUL ACQUIESCENCE IN THE DIVINE WILL. 
 
 how shall we then praise His holy name, for a Peniten- 
 tiary f To " Him who is our life," shall be all the 
 glory. 
 
 We had many other precious seasons, but I cannot 
 particularize. i'hus, reader, I have given you a sketch 
 of our prison revival — the details would interest any 
 person, but my limits will not permit. In its order, I 
 shall tell you a little about the breaking up of our class 
 and prayer meetings by our wicked officers. 
 
 CHAPTER in. 
 
 LETTERS— SICK-BED REPENTANCE, &c. 
 extract of a letter. 
 
 Beloved parents : 
 
 Again let me assure you that " all is well.^^ 
 " The Lord reigns." " He doeth his will in the armies 
 of heaven, and among the inhabitants of this lower 
 world, and none can stay his hand, or say unto Him, 
 what doest thou?" Nor should we wish for a moment 
 to " stay His hand," or alter His course in anything — 
 for all His ways are in infinite wisdom and love, and 
 always for the present and eternal good of his cliildren. 
 
 My prison proves more than a palace — " it is good to 
 be here." Worlds on worlds could not purchase from 
 me what I have here obtained. It is more precious than 
 rubies, and infinitely above silver, or the most fine gold. 
 I do and will rejoice. I kiss the rod and bless the hand 
 that applies it. 0, rejoice with me ! Let no one weep 
 on my account, 'i'here is no cause for weeping. It is 
 joy — joy unspeakable and full of glory, that fills my 
 soul. Peace, like a river from heaven's eternal ocean of 
 love, rolls in u})on me. I have cause to rejoice. We 
 have long prayed ; the Lord has answered our prayers, 
 
LABOR WITH THE SICK. 235 
 
 and gone far beyond our feeble faith and hope. The 
 Lord has opened a great and effectual door of usefulness 
 before us, and we expect to see a great work here. My 
 privileges are too great for words to express. 
 
 I rejoice to labor among these dying sinners, and ex- 
 hibit to them the gospel of Jesus. And if only one soul 
 is made for ever happy in heaven, through our instrumen- 
 tality, shall we not be abundantly paid for all we have 
 sutfered, or may yet be called upon to endure? 0, re- 
 joice that I am placed here. Do not say that 1 could 
 have done more somewhere else. God is wise. This 
 is just where he has put me, and therefore I know it is 
 where I can do the most good. 0, it is inexpressibly 
 sweet and glorious to lie quiet in his hands, and believe 
 his promises ! Blessed is the man that trusteth in Him. 
 I know it. George. 
 
 THE SICK man's RESOLUTION. 
 
 McM. was very sick in the hospital. I was with him 
 two nights. We talked with him about his soul, and 
 urged him to repentance. The overseer did the same, 
 and warned him of his danger. He was so full of pains, 
 and in such distress, that he said, " I can not attend to 
 the subject now as I should, I have so much else to think 
 about. If 1 should repent now, I should be liable to be 
 actuated by wrong motives — fear of death and hell, 
 rather than hatred to sin and love to God. I feel 
 that a sick bed is a poor place to prepare to die, and if 
 the Lord will spare my life and raise me up, I will then 
 attend to the subject." 
 
 He recovered, but did not repent. We reminded him 
 of his promise, and plead with him to be a Christian. 
 He said he would serve God, but meant to do it secretly, 
 without any noise or show, without making a profession 
 of religion. " I will live a sober, upright life, while 
 here, will not join with the wicked, and when I get my 
 liberty I will connect myself with some society." Thus 
 the devil deluded him, and I fear obtained his purpose — 
 the ruin of his soul. How many such ! 
 
236 CONVERSATION WITH A SICK MAN. 
 
 THE SICK-BED REPENTANCE. 
 
 L. H. was a young man — a mere boy in years, but old 
 in sin. He was taken down with pleurisy, and sent for 
 me before day-light, to come and see him. I found him 
 very sick and shuddering at death. He said, " You are 
 the first pious man, George^ I ever sent for to see me, 
 but I feel that I need the instruction and help of some 
 one, for I can't live long." " You now feel the need of 
 the consolations of religion." " Yes, I do, George. I 
 feel that I need it, and if I ever get well, I will live 
 a different life, and be a Christian." "But you may die 
 now." " Then I'm lost.'" I exhorted him to repent, 
 and look to Jesus for mercy, casting himself upon Him, 
 and he should find pardon. That night I sat up with 
 him. He soon asked me to read and pray. " Do you 
 feel that you are a sinner?" " Yes, the greatest in the 
 penitentiary, and need God's grace as much. I have 
 been viewing my past life to-day, and my sins pressed 
 on my head like seas." "Have you repented and con- 
 fessed them to God ?" " Yes, I have. I think I have 
 truly from the heart, repented, and turned from all my 
 evil ways." " Some promise God on a sick bed, they 
 will serve Him." — " It makes no difference with me. I 
 don't ask God that I may get well. Here am I, do as 
 seemeth Thee good. I am willing to die, George, if it 
 is God's will. I have felt a change of some kind, to-day, 
 I know not what it is, but I feel that in my bosom, for 
 which I would not take a world of gold and silver. 
 I feel contented and happy." " Do you feel willing that 
 the world should know all your crimes'?" "Yes, I am 
 willing that everybody should know them. I think I 
 can make reparation in all cases but one." (Probably 
 murder). " Do you wish to talk with and warn your 
 evil companions '?" " Yes, I have done it to-day, though 
 they made sport of me — but I did not mind that." 
 " Well, what do you wish me to pray for]" " That 
 God will forgive my sins, and give me grace to serve 
 Him, and that I may truly repent." While I prayed, 
 he seemed to unite heartily, and to be much affected, 
 
CONVERSATION WITH A SICK MAN. 237 
 
 frequently adding with emphasis, " Amen, Lord have 
 mercy on my soul." I said, " We need not fear to die, if 
 Jesus is our friend." " I feel that He is my friend," he 
 replied, " I have made my first prayer to-day." " Look 
 to God to help you to stand fast, and cleave to Him." 
 " I know I can do nothing without Him, and on Him 1 
 depend for strength." " How do you feel towards 
 Christians ?" " I once hated them, but now I love 
 them better than I do my own life. And I have often 
 cursed you, George, when I have heard you pray on 
 Sundays ; but I do ask you to forgive me, for God has. 
 I was plunging into all manner of vice and sin, never 
 thinking I had a Supreme Master, or that there was any 
 hereafter — but I feel that God has afflicted me. to bring me 
 to consider and see ray sins. I was blind this morning, 
 but now I see where I was, ami through the blood of 
 Jesus Christ I hope to be saved. It was the happiest 
 day that ever happened to me, when I came here. I 
 had a good mother, but she spoiled me by humoring 
 me."* He also confessed his true name. 
 
 On the Sabbath, Alanson was with him all day. He 
 warned his evil associates of their danger, and exhorted 
 them to repent and forsake their evil ways. One replied, 
 " 1 can't.'- Said he, " You can, if you will. You must 
 brmg yourself to say, '/wz//.'" 
 
 James was with him one night. He was restless, but 
 seemed much interested in James' prayer, and often 
 cried aloud, " Amen, Amen." 
 
 At evening, I called to see him. " How do you feel, 
 L. ?" "I'm gone! I'm gone ! George." " Submit to 
 God, and put your trust in Him." And while I held 
 his hand, he prayed that God would have mercy on him, 
 forgive his transgressions, grant him grace, as he needed, 
 &c., " for the Redeemer's sake. Amen." Again, when 
 he was worse, I said, " Commit yourself to God." " I 
 have — I have. Let Him do what he sees best. His 
 will, not mine, be done." 
 
 Again, Alanson said to him, " Be patient, and in the 
 
 • Mothers, will you learn a lesson from this prisoner's confession 1 
 
238 REFLECTIONS, 
 
 spirit of a little child yield to the Lord." He replied 
 with emphasis, " 1 do yield." Alanson repeated, " And 
 let this feeble body fail," &c. He exclaimed, " 0, 
 may I be of that happy company." 
 
 The foregoing is the substance of our conversations 
 with him ; and should no more be said, it might be in- 
 ferred that his repentance was genuine. So we hoped, 
 and watched with trembling every symptom for good or 
 ill, till he recovered ; but we were disappointed. As he 
 became better in body, he grew worse in spirit, and 
 could soon curse and swear freely. 
 
 I have been thus particular with his case for various 
 reasons. 
 
 i. To verify the truth of God's word, " In trouble 
 men call upon God." " In their affliction they will seek 
 me early " 
 
 2. In health, men can despise religion, blaspheme 
 God and curse Christians ; but w^hen death star(?s them 
 in the face, they desire the consolations of that very re- 
 ligion — will call those same Christians to pray for 
 them, and beg God for mercy. 
 
 3. See how perfectly a man may he deluded by Satan, 
 even on a dying bed — willing to die, full of expectation 
 of happiness, yet unprepared. Had he died, instead of 
 getting well, we should have had hope. Do not multi- 
 tudes die in this way? O! a death bed repentance ! 
 
 4. How manifest the folly and danger of putting off 
 repentance to a sick bed. True, many on a sick bed do 
 repent, but not because they hate sin or are sorry they 
 have offended God, or because the love of God has melt- 
 ed their hearts — they do repent., but it is from fear, a ser- 
 vile, slavish dread of hell. And being conscious of a 
 repentance they think God is reconciled, their sins for- 
 given, and they prepared for heaven. 
 
 5. How important that those who converse with per- 
 sons on a sick bed should be faithful in probing thena to 
 the bottom — in showing them the true character of God, 
 and what it is to repent and love Him. We tried to do 
 so in this case, yet see the result. 
 
 6. From both the preceding cases, learn the secret ot 
 
BLESSEDNESS OF RELIGION. 239 
 
 the ephemeral peculiarity, so common to a sick bed re- 
 pentance. They are influenced only by fear, and when 
 the cause of that fear is removed, their religion vanishes. 
 For they love sin just as much as ever. They have no 
 true love to God because He is holy and hates sin, but 
 because they know he will punish sin — and when the 
 prospect of life is again restored, this kind of fear de- 
 parts — and having no decision, no principle, the heart 
 remaining unbroken, they are led captive by Satan at 
 his will. ! a death bed repentance ! Beware ! 
 
 As a candle appears most brilliant in dark places, so 
 true religion shines with clearest lustre in dark dispensa- 
 tions, but with greatest brightness in the gloom of death. 
 When all men forsake it, it stands by its possessor and 
 is more precious than ever. When earthly prospects 
 are all blasted, it opens a door of hope, an assurance of 
 immortal riches and glory. When trials and sufferings 
 combine to crush, it comforts and supports, so that " we 
 glory in tribulation," " rejoice in our sufferings," " and 
 reckon them not comparable with the glory that shall be 
 revealed." But 0, in death, when riches cannot profit, 
 honors cannot relieve, friends cannot help, and every- 
 thing earthly fails — when nature is sinking, and our 
 clay tenement crumbling —when earth fades away, and 
 eternity opens upon our view — while the cold waves of 
 death dash over us, who can tell the worth of religion 
 then 1 It lights the dark valley, dries up the deep wa- 
 ters, quenches the raging flame, so that the last moments 
 are the most delightful of the whole life. 
 
 As its possessor draws near his heavenly home, and 
 more clearly beholds the blissful company, he leaps for 
 joy at the prospect of meeting his Father and Elder 
 Brother — of " sitting down with Abraham, Isaac, and Ja- 
 cob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God," to be 
 " for ever with the Lord." 
 
 ! blessed religion ! What would this prison be 
 without its comforts! What a prison would this world 
 be, were it not for its blessed influences! How un- 
 speakably foolish are they who reject its easy yoke ! 
 How cruel they who would exterminate it from the 
 
240 REJOICING IN GOD. 
 
 earth ! And how inexcusable are all who do not rejoice 
 in its life and peace giving power ! 
 
 We add our testimony — that no place, no troubles, no 
 circumstances, no calumny, nothing can deprive its pos- 
 sessor of the comfort and joy it affords, so long as he 
 trusts in God. " Perfect peace^^ is his portion.* 
 
 AN EXTRACT OF A LETTER, 
 
 Written in the time of the revival, will show our feelings. 
 
 " Beloved, this is a delightful place to me. These 
 walls are sacred, these cells are hallowed palaces^ and 
 the rattle of bars, bolts, and locks, sweet music in our 
 ears. Believe me when I say, a more soul-cheering, 
 blessed place than this same " hallowed cell," I never 
 dwelt in. I had almost ceased to pray for any other 
 field of labor — as to anxiety, I have none. Such scenes 
 as I have here witnessed, I never saw, in all the pro- 
 tracted meetings, or in all the anxious rooms, or prayer- 
 meetings I ever attended. I am in a penitentiary, but it 
 is here I have seen the power of God — the long-harden- 
 ed, cut down by the two-edged sword, prostrate before 
 the Lord, and begging for mercy, in accents almost 
 startling — yea, here., I have seen those same persons sit- 
 ting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in their right mind, 
 " praising and glorifying God" for what He has done. 
 
 O, how they sing ! how they pray ! how they do bless 
 God for a penitentiary ! " My soul doth magnify the 
 Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior." When 
 I see the tiger take the disposition of a lamb — the vul- 
 ture become a dove — obscenity turn to purity — curses 
 to prayer and praise — haired to love, and hell to hea- 
 ven, I must acknowledge the hand of God, and rejoice. 
 
 Some of the hardest, and those least expected, have 
 bowed, while the self-righteous moralist stands aloof. 
 
 Our days are so occupied with work, and our Sabbaths 
 in laborinij with sinners and feedins; the lambs, that we 
 get but little time for reading; but we cheerfully forego 
 this privilege, for the sake of doing others good. We 
 
 • Written, while sitting up witJx a. sick man one night. 
 
- JAMKS, SICK. 241 
 
 adopt the language of one of oJd,* " I have learned to 
 see a need of everything that God gives, and to need no 
 thing that God denies me. There is no dispensation, 
 though cross and afflictive, but either in or after, 1 find I 
 could not be without it, and nothing that I am without, 
 whether taken from me, or not gnen to me, but sooner 
 or later, God quiets me in Himself without it. I cast all 
 my care on the Lord, and live securely on the wisdom 
 and care of my heavenly Father. I find that when faith 
 is steady, nothing can disquiet me — and when faith tot- 
 ters, nothing can establish me." 
 
 George, 
 james, outside. 
 
 About the middle of July, as .James was recovering 
 from a severe fit of sickness. Judge B. granted him the 
 liberty of going outside for his health, to breathe the 
 fresh air, eat at his house, hoe in the garden, &c. Thus, 
 without any guard he went out when he wished, to bathe, 
 gather Nature's spontaneous productions, assist Mrs. B. 
 about the house, read, meditate and pray in the grove, 
 " where none but God could hear," andth-inkin the pure 
 air of fragrant Nature. 
 
 He had free access to Judge B.'s library, from which 
 we had many valuable books. This liberty was very 
 reviving to James' system. 
 
 About the last of August he was very sick again. He 
 was taken in the night, so that we had to knock on our 
 door, for the guard, who called up the hospital steward, 
 and came with some medicine. We felt that he could 
 not last long, but the Lord raised him up. In the fore- 
 pert of September, I was taken down for some days. 
 Hiving no physician — no helper but Jesus, it was sweet 
 to go to Him. 
 
 SCARCITY OF FOOD. 
 
 Sept. 24. Sabbath. Two men worked most of the 
 forenoon to dig potatoes enough for a scanty dinner, 
 and for supper we had nothing-. Food for the body, and 
 
 ' John Elliot. 
 11 
 
242 PRISONERS KNITTING. 
 
 temporal comforts may fail, but glory to God ! for the 
 fountain, ever flowing, and the loaded tables of rich pro- 
 visions, for the .you/, to which we may at all times freely 
 come — no man having power to prevent, and no condi- 
 tion or place being able to bar us from the rich repast. 
 
 Oct. 3, 1843. Now entering upon our third year. 
 How short the time ! How varied the scenes, trials, and 
 circumstances! How^ many and trying the temptations ! 
 How glorious the victories! How multi])lied and im- 
 minent the dangers, and how striking the deliverances! 
 What favors and blessings unspeakable, unnumbered, 
 and ever memorable! To God be glory, and praise 
 for ever. 
 
 THE BUFFALO ROBES. 
 
 Oct. 14. This evening. Judge B. went round, and 
 left a buffalo robe for each cell, which is a great comfort 
 in our circumstances. How^ much have we suffered 
 from the cold nights ! But now we shall be comfortable 
 — for the first time, in a cold night, since we came here. 
 May we be thankful. 
 
 By our scarcity of bedding, we have learned to " re- 
 member the poor.^^ How many have neither shelter nor 
 covering ! But we can assure them that Jesus will 
 warm the soul with his love, while the body may suffer. 
 
 KNITTING. 
 
 After we obtained our lamp, the evening and the cold 
 cell were welcomed wnth great delight, that we might 
 refresh our minds, from the fountain of truth. 
 
 After devotions, Alanson and James would knit, while 
 I read to them aloud. In this way, and wlien they were 
 unwell, Alanson knit for himself two pairs of socks, and 
 James knit for himself one pair. For so covetous 
 •was Mrs. B., that she influenced her husband not to buy 
 socks for all the men, but made many of them knit their 
 own, before they could have any. In this way, many 
 went with cold feet, a long time, till, in their slow way, 
 by knitting Sundays, and all their spare time, they pro- 
 
VISIT FROM FRIENDS. . 243 
 
 vided themselves. And from this cause numbers suffer- 
 ed most of the winter. I did not learn to knit. For 
 the most part I wore my own stockings. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 VISITS— FAVORS SHOWN— LETTERS, &c, 
 
 " IN PRISON AND YE CAME UNTO ME.*' 
 
 On the morning of the 21st of October, Mrs. Work, 
 with three of her children, W. L. A., and M. C. (now 
 my wife), arrived at our habitation. They called on 
 the Chaplain, who accompanied them to the prison. 
 Judge B. came in with him and said to us, " Wash 
 yourselves, get shaved, put on clean clothes and pre- 
 pare to go out and see them." We all went out into 
 Capt. R.'s parlor, where we once more beheld the faces 
 ofthose we loved. Mrs. R. and the Chaplain were present, 
 but we could converse freely. It was a happy meeting. 
 Mrs. R. was very kind io them. We conversed as long 
 as we chose, and came back to our work, after being as- 
 sured that they could come in and see us, at our room, 
 and on the Sabbath. They ate their meal, and came 
 in. As they came to my room, the first words of M. C. 
 were, " I am glad you came here — there are so many 
 slaves getting away, in consequence." Cheering. We 
 quit work and came to our cell, where we all spent most 
 of the day, in free conversation and prayer. Thus to 
 unite our hearts and voices, was beyond expression de- 
 lightful. How oft had we imagined such a scene ! How 
 frequently talked about it, and besought the Lord for the 
 blessing. And yet we never really expected so great a 
 favor in a penitentiary where the rules are so strict. 
 
 THE RULES. 
 
 " Every visitor shall be accompanied by the overseer. 
 
244 GRKAT PRIVILEGES. 
 
 or some one of the guard, and shall, under no pretence 
 whatever, be allowed to speak to any of the convicts, 
 without the written permission of one of the inspectors." 
 
 They had no such permission, nor had they seen the 
 inspectors. 
 
 Again, " No person, when on a visit to the penitentia- 
 ry, shall be permitted to remain here longer than one 
 hour." They staid a week. 
 
 Again, " No person shall speak to, or hold any con- 
 versation with any of the convicts, unless by the ex- 
 press permission of the lessees, and then only in the pre- 
 sence of some one of the guard or overseers?" 
 
 Now, reader, keep these printed rules in mind, as I 
 tell you of the blessings we enjoyed, so that, with us, 
 you may "magnify the Lord," for the remarkable mani- 
 festations of his great mercy to us. Generally, prison 
 rules are very strict, and sometimes, almost like the 
 laws of the Medes and Persians. Yet here, in a slave 
 state, almost everything like a rule is set aside to show- 
 favor to the despised abolitionists and their friends. 
 Who ever heard of such a thing? No other prisoners 
 or their friends are thus treated. Well, it is no more 
 than equitable. In our conviction, they entirely set 
 aside law ; and why not now disregard their rules, and 
 show us favor ? But to proceed. The first day we were 
 by ourselves, and could converse about what, and as 
 we pleased, no man forbidding. 
 
 At night, Mrs. R. would have us come out, and all 
 eat supper with her. That evening, Judge B. asked 
 Alanson and myself to go outside, and spend the evening 
 with them. Alanson went, and spent the whole evening 
 with his family alone. I chose to stay with James, and 
 read letters, which they brought — some of which passed 
 through the officers' hands, and some did not. 0, what 
 a feast ! They also brought us books — Holy War, H. 
 Page, Christian Lyre, Dying Thoughts, Life of Payson 
 — and w^inter clothing, quilts, flannels, stockings, two or 
 three quires of writing paper, steel pens, and other arti- 
 cles, all of which Judge B. allowed us to have, without 
 
JOY IN PRISON. 245 
 
 once looking at them. This was perfectly contrary to 
 their laws. 
 
 Convicts permitted to have their pen, ink, and paper, 
 to write when, what, and as much as they please ! 
 Such was, and is the simple fact of the case. Well, 
 " It is just like God," and in accordance with his pro- 
 mise — " I will cause the enemy to entreat thee well, in 
 the day of evil." 
 
 On another evening, Alanson went out, and was 
 alone with his family. He sang and prayed with them, 
 gave them counsel, and encouraged them to trust in 
 the Lord. Was ever convict treated thus ! See how 
 the hearts of men are in the hands of the Lord. 
 
 After reading the letters, I wrote the following in my 
 journal. 
 
 Glory to God, for such inestimable blessings. Ho- 
 sannah, that the wheels are rolling, the light spreading, 
 the old fabric tottering, and the cause advancing, though 
 many rise up in violent opposition. Yes, glory to God 
 that I am here ! — that he will take such feeble worms as 
 we, to accomplish such wonderful results. His be the 
 praise. 0, how my soul leaps within me with re- 
 joicing, to hear of the progress of the glorious cause ! 
 Most cheerfully will I spend my days in prison, if such 
 may be the blessed effects. I'he cause is God's and 
 must prevail. Vain are threats and violence ; they are 
 but oil to the fire ; stop the work they cannot. No, let 
 earth and hell unite their force and rage, the Mighty 
 Conqueror v'dll tread them beneath his feet. The ban- 
 ner of Liberty shall be unfurled, and the trumpet blown 
 through all the land. Arise, ye brave ; unite your pow- 
 ers, and enlist with your Captain. Wield manfully the 
 " sword of the Spirit," relying on God, and victory is 
 yours. Be valiant. Fear not. Regard not fines, me- 
 naces, prisons, death. 
 
 Ride on thou Mighty Conqueror — triumphantly ride, 
 till all our land submit to thy peaceful sway — till " op- 
 pression shall cease," and violence and spoil " be no 
 more heard in our borders." 
 
246 DR. EELLS, AND GEO. THOMPSON. 
 
 EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM DR. EELLS. 
 
 That such as the following should be permitted to 
 come to us, is remarkable. 
 
 Dear Brethren : 
 
 The cause for which you suffer is on the advance 
 through Ihe country. I have also been called to suffer 
 in the cause, which has not been in vain. That such a 
 cause can be advanced without suffering and sacrifice, is 
 utterly impossible ; and we ought to be willing to lay 
 down our lives if necessary. Community are opening 
 their eyes. The lover of liberty has more friends — the 
 outcast finds a hiding place — the oppressed are deliver- 
 ed — light is breaking in — and the whole land feels a 
 tremendous agitation. " May God speed the work," is 
 the prayer of thousands in our country ; and there is 
 good evidence that the prayer is heard and answered. 
 The field is great and white to the harvest. The north 
 star shines as brightly as ever, and is directing many to 
 the land of the free. 
 
 R. Eells. 
 
 the answer. 
 
 Beloved Bro. E. : 
 
 We could not help shouting and praising God, 
 when we read your epistle. We hail you as a fellow- 
 sufferer, yea, conqueror, in the cause of bleeding humani- 
 ty. Do you not feel that it is good to suffer for the 
 slave, who has suffered so much and sweat so profusely 
 for you. I am heartily willing; yea, I rejoice to be 
 " bound with him ;" yea, more, to lay down my life for 
 the cause in which I am now toiling. Our work shall 
 not be in vain. God will bless and give effect to every 
 stroke, in pulling down the pillars on which the temple 
 rests. Our prayers will come up before the mercy seat, 
 and prevail. The groans and tears of the widow and 
 fatherless shall be regarded and avenged. Be of good 
 courage. Fear not what man can do unto you. Work 
 with all your might. Rouse up all who feel for the slave 
 
GOV. K.'s n::KusAL — our friends. 247 
 
 to a united onset, and storm the enemy's camp. Face 
 opposition, trust in God, and glorious will be the achieve- 
 ment. George. 
 
 On Sabbath morning, our friends came in and attended 
 our prayer meeting, and assisted us by exhortation and 
 prayer. We again had opportunity to converse with 
 them. 
 
 In the afternoon, they came in with J. R. to the guard 
 room, where we spent some time in singing the " songs 
 of Zion ;" while the prisoners, astonished and delighted, 
 gathered around the door and window to listen. Also 
 at preaching they were present, and took a part in the 
 exercises. 
 
 THE PETITION. 
 
 During the week, they circulated a petition in the city 
 for Alanson, which, with one Mrs. W. brought from 
 Palmyra, they presented to Gov. Reynolds. He refus- 
 ed to grant their request. The wife plead for her hus- 
 band — " No." Our sister entreated — " No." The 
 children, with tears, besought their father's restoration 
 to them, — " Can't you let my father go home with me?" 
 *' No, my child, I cannot." To Mrs. W. he said, " So 
 long as the abolitionists keep up such an excitement, I 
 cannot let your husband go." Many sympathized while 
 others mocked. 
 
 THE PRIVILEGE. 
 
 From day to day our friends were allowed to come in 
 without any officer, when they chose, and converse with 
 us, at our work or in our cell. And what is the more 
 remarkable, while we were at preaching, a number ran 
 away from the brick yard, where they were at work ; 
 and the next lay a " break" was made from the rope 
 walk, in which upwards of a dozen ran away. Thes* 
 things produced very great excitement in prison and in 
 the city, yet our friends were allowed to come in as if 
 rif)thing had happened. Thus we had abundant opportu- 
 nity to sav to them all that we wished. 
 
248 GRKAT rRIVIl.EGES. 
 
 On the next Sabbath, they came to our cell, and spent 
 the da)' with us. It was a " high day." Here we 
 sweetly united our hearts and voices, in ])rayer and 
 praise, before the Lord. Then was the least richer tlian 
 ever. After being so long, 
 
 " 'JMid scenes of contusion and creature complaints, 
 How sweet to our souls was communion will) saints." 
 
 It was delightful, and God shall have the glory. 
 
 Tney staid and ate dinner with us, partaking of our 
 coarse prison fare, with their fingers (as yet, we ate our 
 Sabbath dinner in our cell), thus, learning a little how to 
 sympathize with poor prisoners — for, only by entering 
 into the circumstances of others are we prepared to weep 
 or rejoice with them ; and the more this is done in ima- 
 gination, the better can we sympathize with, and ad- 
 minister comfort to the afflicted. 
 
 Alanson's little boy slept with us several nights. 
 
 THE LETTERS. 
 
 We wrote many letters to send by them, to our friends 
 who could not c.oiue. The preceding letter from Dr. E. 
 and the answer may be considered as a specimen of many 
 we received and wrote at that time, which passed not 
 through the officers' hands. And why should they be 
 examined by the officers 1 Already they had granted 
 full liberty to talk what we pleased without their pre- 
 sence. They had given us paper, pen, ink, and oppor- 
 tunity to write what we pleased — and what else could be 
 expected, but that we should improve so favorable an 
 occasion for pouring out the fulness of our almost burst- 
 ing hearts, to stir up and quicken the friends of huma- 
 nity ? 
 
 Again, I gave Judge B. a bundle of eight or ten to 
 examine, and he gave them back to me, to hand to our 
 friends myself. From the appearance of the bundle it 
 was manifest he had not opened it, to read a single letter. 
 And a short time before tliis, he gave me a letter from 
 home, without breaking the seal. Certainly this was as 
 much as to say, " Write what you please." 
 
A slaveholder's kindness. 249 
 
 THE DEPARTURE. 
 
 On Monday morning they came again to our cell. 
 We kneeled down, while I returned thanks to God for 
 the rich displays of his mercy towards us, and commend- 
 ed them to his protection and guidance during their jour- 
 ney home. 
 
 We then bade each other farewell, with as much cheer- 
 fulness and composure as though to be separated but a 
 few weeks. 
 
 JUDGE B.'S HOSPITALITY. 
 
 When our friends arrived at Jefferson, their money 
 was spent, except enough to pay ferriage home. They 
 were hospitably entertained, apparently as cordially as 
 though they had been possessed of thousands of dollars. 
 Their carriage broke, which he repaired gratuitously. 
 The bill for their horse-keeping was five dollars — this 
 Judge B. paid, refusing to receive recompense. And 
 then we sent various articles of our manufacture to our 
 friends, with his consent. When severely censured, in 
 the papers, for treating the abolitionists with such kind- 
 ness and partiality, he replied, " So long as they conduct 
 themselves as they have thus far, I shall not regard such 
 things at all." And when we thanked him for his kind- 
 ness, he answered, " I have done no more than I felt it 
 my duty to do." " I want no compensation," &c. The 
 Lord reward him. 
 
 In view of all these things, my journal says — " The 
 past week has been a memorable one indeed — a week of 
 wonders, considering our circumstances. ' The good 
 hand of our God upon us,' has been wonderful to us and 
 to our fellow prisoners. They never saw such treatment 
 of visitors or prisoners before. And where is the man 
 who ever did 1 
 
 " It seems as if I could not cease thanking my Savior 
 for the great favor shown us on this happy occasion. 
 Everlasting praise be to his name." 
 
 Their presence here caused much talk, spread much 
 light, and awakened an interest in many minds favorable 
 
 11' 
 
250 SYMPATHY AWAKENED. 
 
 to anti-slavery. After their departure, many came in to 
 see the persons, about whom so much was said ; and the 
 countenances of many exhibited an unusual aj)pearance 
 of pity, which seemed to say — '' I wish they were out of 
 this place." Well, we shall go out, in God's own time, 
 which is the best. Till then we rejoice to wait. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 LICENTIOUSNESS OF THE SOUTH— LETTERS, &c. 
 
 CRUEL DEATH. 
 
 B. V. had been here more than a year. He was in a 
 diseased state, most of the time, and was shamefully 
 imposed upon by the officers, and Dr. Moore. He was 
 sick, and unable 1o work, yet but little was done for 
 him. He was taken with fits, and in great distress much 
 of the time. Through hard-heartedness, or ignorance, 
 the Dr. said to him, a little before his death, " there is 
 nothing the matter of you, and you must go to work /" 
 A fellow prisoner, who was a doctor, said, " with proper 
 attention, the man might have been cured." Be that as 
 it may, he did not have attention — and, no doubt, was 
 virtually murdered. 
 
 I had conversed with him some, but fear he was unpre- 
 pared to die. 
 
 In the fore part of November, Alanson was unwell for 
 some days, but not confined to his bed, all the time. 
 
 WHY WAS HE PARDONED? 
 
 Dr. B., who had been here, but a few weeks, was 
 pardoned out, by Gov. Reynolds. Why? An extensive 
 slaveholder, with plenty of money, came from the South, 
 and undertook his case. To such a man, the Governor 
 W'ould listen — when, if a poor man had come to plead for 
 his friend, probably it would have been of no avail, thus 
 
BRIBERY. 251 
 
 clearly exemplifying Prov. xvii. 15, 23; Is. i. 23; v. 
 20, 23. There have been a number of such cases. 
 
 AMALGAMATION. 
 
 A guard, in conversation with Alanson, about aboli- 
 tion, amalgamation, &c., remarked, " probably one half 
 of the white males in town, have unlawful intercourse 
 with black women !" What a recommendation of the 
 morality of a town, and of the healthful influence, and 
 precious fruits of Slavery ! Yet who can deny the truth 
 of it, in slave states'? 
 
 Slaveholders cry out against abolitionists, " Amalga- 
 mation !" But from what source, do our tawny popula- 
 tion proceed? From abolitionists, or slaveholders'? 
 Doubtless the latter. Fads may speak, for they cannot 
 be denied ? Where are mulattos the most numerous? 
 In the South. Who are the most valued ? Fine mu- 
 lattos. W^hom do the gentry buy for their own unholy 
 purposes 7 Mulattos. What children do fathers most 
 value ? Their mulatto children. On all these 
 points, abundant testimony might be adduced, but why 
 multiply words? Is there not ample ocular demonstra- 
 tion^ that fathers and sons, lawyers* and statesmen,! 
 rich and poor, in slave states, are engaged in this aho- 
 mination ? " Mother of abominations !" ! how it 
 destroys the moral sensibilities, and changes men into 
 brutes and demons ! 
 
 But again, a slave overseer from the South, was know- 
 ing to the following. " In Adams County Mississippi, 
 Abner Green, was a slaveholder. A Mr. Ford was his 
 overseer. Maria was a slave girl, whom the overseer, 
 with a cow-hide, whipped very hard fifteen times, for 
 refusing to yield to his beastly desires !" 
 
 Again. " Children are very often destroyed in wells, 
 and various other ways, by slave mothers, hired so to do, 
 by w'hite fathers, to prevent exposure !" " It is common, 
 
 * In Mississippi, the wife of a young lawyer shot herself, leaving a 
 young child, because her husband had connection with the slaves. 
 
 t A vile woman in town, said, one day, " I can show as much money, 
 as any other woman in town, during the sitting of Legislature !" 
 
252 
 
 CORRUPTION. 
 
 for masters, overseers, and young men to have inter- 
 course \uth the slave women !" 
 
 " Men from the North, who have wives, frequently go 
 South, and commingle freely with the slaves — their 
 wives knowing nothing of it !"* 
 
 Daughters of the North, and of the church, what think 
 you? Do you say, these are extreme cases? They 
 are not so. They are common, every day occurrences. 
 I have it from witnesses, too numerous to be doubted — 
 ear-w^itnesses, eye-witnesses, experimental witnesses — 
 and everybody, who has lived long at the South, knows, 
 and most are ready to own, that illicit intercourse with 
 the slaves is as common as the shining of the sun. I 
 might multiply /ac^9, but will not defile my pages with 
 such corruption. 
 
 Reader, what will you do, to put away this abomina- 
 tion ? 
 
 THE FALSE TONGUE. 
 
 Several of the guards, whose hearts were opposed to 
 good, endeavored to injure us, by exciting the preju- 
 dices of the officers ajrainst us — vilifyins us to them, and 
 others, on account ot our principles. This has been 
 frequently tried, by wicked guards. Rut in the midst of 
 the multitude of " f^dse tongues" that surround, and are 
 drawn against us, like " sharp swords," how has God 
 wonderfully fulfilled His promise, Job v. 21; "thou 
 shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue" — also in 
 Ps. xxxi. 19, 20. Thus, "' He is foithful that promised." 
 In spite of their envy, defamations, malice, and lies, our 
 "heads are lifted up above our enemies" — "our cup 
 runneth over," and no man has been allowed to " set 
 on us to do us hurt." Verily He is a "shield and buck- 
 ler, to all who trust Him." iMalicious prisoners, have 
 frequently tried the same thing, but God, as often, has 
 " disappointed their crafty devices," and kept us securely. 
 
 * A gentleman, in Huron Couniy, Ohio, who has lived some time in 
 Slave States, also confirmed the truth of this statement— declared that he 
 knew the practice to b' common ; and mentioned a number of his own 
 acquaintance, who thus left their families, went South, and during their 
 residence there, Uvedwith Mack wamoi! 
 
GOD OUR SHIELD AND BUCKLER. 253 
 
 iHE inspectors' FIRST EXAMINATION. 
 
 It was the custom of the inspectors, to have all the priso- 
 ners separately brought before them, about once a year ; 
 at which time, each one had the privilege of making any 
 complaint against the officer, respecting food, clothing, 
 work, punishment, or any injustice — respecting all these 
 things they were questioned — and the inspectors listened 
 to many sorrowful tales and bitter complaints — some of 
 which were true, some- exaggerated, and some without 
 any foundation. As they had confidence that we would 
 speak only the truth, they were generally very particu- 
 lar in their inquiries of us, respecting the officers, treat- 
 ment of prisoners, sick, meetings, chaplain, &c. &c. 
 We endeavored to tell them the truth, cut where it 
 would. They treated us with great respect, and allow- 
 ed us to come near to them. 
 
 At their first sitting, among many other things, they 
 asked if we thought the preaching did good — if it was 
 spirited, pointed, and arousing — if the chaplain did his 
 duty in efforts to reform the prisoners. To the last 1 
 was obliged to answer somewhat in the negative, as he 
 rarely came during the week, except when called here 
 by business. 
 
 Our prayer meeting was freely talked about, and no 
 objection whatever made to it. One proposed, and all 
 thought it would be an excellent plan, that I should ad- 
 dress all the prisoners on Sabbath morning — promised 
 to converse with the officers, and if they were willing, 
 have arrangements made. On Saturday, General B. 
 said, " I will go right out and have arrangements made 
 for to-morrow." I told him I should consider it one of 
 the greatest favors they could bestow upon me, as my 
 desire was to be useful in every possible way, to my fel- 
 low prisoners. But 1 suppose the officers were afraid 
 of public odium and censure, should they grant the abo- 
 litionists such privileges — indeed, they have expressed 
 the same to me, themselves. I was not called on — 
 though the inspectors thought the influence would be 
 good on the prisoners, and were desirous to bring it about. 
 
254 KINDNESS OF INSPECTORS 
 
 As their printed rules forbade our talking any, I asked 
 the privilege of conversing with my fellow prisoners 
 about their souls, (though I had all along taken it). 
 They replied, " We have agreed to let you preach on 
 Sabbath mornings; and we grant you the same opportu- 
 nity that we do the chaplain !" I asked for the Missiona- 
 ry Herald — they granted it — though the law forbids any 
 periodical being sent to a prisoner ! I asked for a work 
 on the prophecies. They mentioned, r.nd sent me, 
 Isaac T. Hinton's " prophecies of Daniel and John" — 
 then just published in St. Louis, in pamphlet form, ten 
 numbers — which a fellow prisoner bound into a neat vo- 
 lume — a book we read with great interest. 
 
 They wished to have me steward of the hospital, that 
 I might labor for the good of the sick, but I was too good 
 a hand to work, for the officers to be wiilinff to eive me 
 up. Money and not souls, was what they desired. 
 
 Reader, these inspectors were all wicked men, yet see 
 how God turned their hearts towards us. What but the 
 Almighty Spirit could induce those in authority, and who 
 are not governed by his laws, to deal thus kindly with 
 men, who are the pests of their community, and the 
 abomination or slave States'? 
 
 They manifested their good will, and said, " We grant 
 you anything that will conduce to the reformation of the 
 prisoners." Our worldly-seeking officers will be held 
 responsible for all the good that might have been done 
 by the carrying out of the Inspectors' plan. 
 
 OUR TEXTS CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE CHAPLAIN. 
 
 With the chaplain I had frequently conversed on the 
 subject of slavery. He said he was opposed to the 
 system — never did, and never would hold a slave, but 
 could nt)t approbate our course. He requested me to 
 write down for him the passages of scripture, by which 
 we justified ourselves in helping slaves. As I did not 
 keep a copy of the letter, I can only give the reader the 
 references, with some of the principal itleas. 
 
 In the commencemeni, I laid ilown the doctrine that 
 "human leijislation cannot unman the slave'' — that 
 
LETTER TO THE CHAPLAIN. 265 
 
 " man, born in the image of God, is man, of whatsoever 
 color, rank, or condition" — that " there is no such thing 
 as property in man.^' Therefore, it being true that 
 the slave is a man, the commands respecting helping the 
 poor, relieving the distressed, &c., apply to him as oui 
 " brother," our " neighbor," " bone of our bone, and 
 flesh of our flesh," as really as to any other class of pool 
 and needy. 
 
 I rejoiced to comply with his request, as it gave me 
 an opportunity of preaching the truth, backed up at 
 every step with a " Thus saith the Lord ;" to which he, 
 as Zion's Watchman, was bound to give heed and obey. 
 
 The references — Luke x. 27, 30-37 ; Heb. xiii. 3 ; 
 Prov. iii. 27 ; xiv. 31 ; xvii. 5 ; xxi. 13 ; xxiv. 11, 12 ; 
 Matt. V. 7 ; vii. 12 ; xxv. 34-45 ; Mark xiv. 7 ; Deut. 
 XV. 7, 8, 10, 11 ; xxiii. 15, 16 ; Job xxix. 11-17 ; xxxi. 
 15-22, 32 ; Ps. xli. 1-3 ; Ixxxii. 4 ; Is. xvi. 3 ; Iviii. 10 ; 
 Jer. xxi. 12; xxii. 3. Each of these references was 
 followed by appropriate explanations, questions, and 
 remarks, which the reader must imagine for himself. 
 
 ANSWER. 
 
 City of Jefferson, Aug. 12, 1844. 
 Bro. Thompson : 
 
 As to the abstract principle of Slavery, we would 
 not attempt to vindicate it — but as to the measures by 
 which the evil is to be removed, that is quite a different 
 matter. That modern abolitionism is fraught with dis- 
 astrous consequences both to master and slave, is a fact 
 too notorious to be denied. Measures should be adopted 
 for the emancipation of the slaves, but without interfer- 
 ing with our political institutions any further than by 
 moral suasion. 
 
 ■ I find slavery from the days of Abraham to the pre- 
 sent time, and none of the sacred writers ever interfere 
 with it as an institution, but they enjoin obedience on 
 the part of servants to their masters, and never 
 authorize resistance on their part, or an effort to secure 
 their freedom. The apostle says, " Art thou called, 
 being a servant, care not f )r it ; but if thou mayest be 
 
256 LETTER FROM A MISSOURI BROTHER. 
 
 free, use it rather" — that is, if tl^e master of the slave 
 will voluntarily free him, let him receive his freedom — 
 but if not, let him not care about it ! 
 
 As to the passages of Scripture you quoted, I deem 
 them all irrelevant, and having nothing to do with the 
 subject of slavery. They have general reference to 
 acts of oppression, as practised by the rich upon the 
 poor, and will be seen in the conduct of the rich in free 
 States towards their hired servants, more clearly than in 
 the conduct of the master toward the slave," and so on, 
 a sheet full of opposition to abolitionism, of a similar 
 character to the above. 
 
 It needs no comment. He did not give me the letter 
 till about nine months after I wrote to him, and then 
 just as he was leaving, so that I had no opportunity to 
 reply to him. 
 
 As to the references, T leave the reader to judge, 
 whether they are relevant or not. 
 
 THE MISSOURI BROTHER. 
 
 The following letter was handed to us, privately, but 
 it is deemed not unadvisable now to make it public. It 
 was a reviving cordial to our souls. It shows also, 
 that even in Missouri, are some warm-hearted friends of 
 the slave. This man was known to be anti-slavery, but 
 being a wealthy merchant in St. Louis, he stood his 
 ground. 
 
 THE LETTER. 
 
 Jefferson, Nov. 23, 1843. 
 To my dear brethren, Thompson, Burr, and Work, 
 " Peace be multiplied from God our Father and from 
 Jesus Christ our Lord:" 
 
 My Belovkd Brethren : 
 
 Will please excuse the liberty I take in address- 
 ing this to theni. The other day, when in the confines 
 of your wretched abode, I saw you all, but was denied 
 the privilege of speaking one single word to you, though 
 I could scarce refrain! 1 wanted to tell Bro. George 
 
LETTER FROM A MISSOURI BROTHER. 257 
 
 Thompson to be " strong in the Lord," knowing that " all 
 who live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution." 
 The more the God of this degenerate world exalts him- 
 self in opposition to truth, the more he disposes every 
 sincere heart for the reception of it. You are, my dear 
 Brother T. in a trying and afflictive situation — but oh, 
 trust in God, and these afflictions that appear dark and 
 mysterious, will ultimately work out your eternal good 
 and the general good of thousands. " I would that ye 
 should understand," says Paul, "that the things which 
 happened unto me, have fallen out rather unto the fur- 
 therance of the gospel," &c. The Lord bless thee, my 
 dear Brother Thompson, with all his communicable ful- 
 ness. Be assured his grace shall be sufficient for thee. 
 Trust in Him with all thy heart, and thee shall be 
 enabled to say with St. Paul, " I take pleasure in infirmi- 
 ties, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in 
 distresses, for Christ's sake.'' 
 
 " Prisoner of hope, be strong, be bold, 
 Cast off thy doubts, disdain to fear, 
 Dare to believe — on Christ lay hold. 
 Wrestle with him in mighty prayer. 
 Tell Him I will not let Thee go. 
 Till I thy name, Thy nature know." 
 
 Farewell, my friend and brother. Thee shall not be 
 forgotten at the mercy-seat. Peace be with thy spirit. 
 
 To MY DEAR Brother Burr: — " Because thou hast 
 kept the word of his patience, the' Lord, even thy God, 
 will keep thee in the time of affliction, trial, and tempta- 
 tion." ^ He that overcometh, shall be clothed in white 
 raiment, and shall sit down with my Father in the king- 
 dom." Bear in mind the immutability of the promises, 
 and be assured they are on your side. " Lo, I am with 
 you alway, even unto the end," says the blessed 
 Savior. 
 
 O, believe it, dear Brother Burr. Humble faith claims 
 the blessed Jesus as the help of the helpless — the 
 strength of the weak — the riches of the jioor, — the peace 
 of the disquieted — comfort of the afflicted, light of those 
 who sit in darkness, the companion of the desolate, 
 
258 LETTER KROM A MISSOURI BROTHER. 
 
 Friend of the friendless, the redemption of captives — 
 in a word, He is our all and in all, now^ this very moment^ 
 and shall he for ever. 
 
 Never fear, my dear Brother B. Be not in the least 
 cast down. Raliier count it an honor to sutfer for the 
 cause of Christ, and his poor, afflicted, sutTerint; people. 
 The time is not far distant, when Ethiopia shall stretch 
 her bleeding hands to God, and this wicked nation shall 
 know that there is a God, who executeth jud<j;ment and 
 justice, and who ruleth in righteousness. Lord, hasten 
 the time. Thousands of his saints join in — Lord, hasten 
 the time ; Amen. 
 
 The influence by which my brethren are surrounded 
 IS bad — it will, therefore, be highly essential for you to 
 importunately entreat the Searcher of hearts, to keep 
 the candle of his grace lighted in your souls, then you 
 will easily discern, if the inward parts are " Holiness to 
 the Lord." The Lord bless thee, by dear Brother Burr, 
 with every new-covenant blessing. 
 
 " No man too Largely from Heaven's love can hope, 
 If what he liopes he labors to secure." 
 " Man's inhumanity to man, makes countless millions mourn." — 
 £ur7is. 
 
 " Man is to man the sorest, surest ill." — Youiis. 
 I am thy affectionate friend and brother. 
 
 To MY Dear Friend and Brother Work : 
 
 To you as well as to the other two brethren, I am 
 a stranger in person, but not in spirit. 
 
 I would say to Brother Work, " iikj courage." 
 God says to thee as He did to Abraham, " I am thy 
 shield, and exceeding great reward." I was at Quincy, 
 a short time ago — went to see thy companion, and thy 
 dear children — they were all well. Thou need not feel 
 concerned about thy family. The Lord will raise them 
 up friends. I have no doubt that many of the brethren 
 will esteem it an honor and a privilege, as well as their 
 Christian duty, to contribute to their necessities, whilst 
 the head and father suffers in the cause of truth and 
 ritrhteousness. 
 
LETTER FROM A MiaSOURI BROTHER. 259 
 
 The Lord thy God will bless thee and thy family. 
 He will make thy light break forth as the morning. I 
 understand Brother Work is a Mason. I will not fail 
 to try what the Grand Lodge will do for his deliverance. 
 I think perhaps something can be done in this way. 
 Try and be patient. Trust in the Lord, and He will 
 bring it to pass. 
 
 I know you suffer unjustly, and am persuaded in my 
 own mind that you have been put where you are, ille- 
 gally, according to the laws of Missouri. On the 
 other hand, I believe the Lord overruled the affair, for 
 the saving of your lives — for if you had been acquitted, 
 you would all have certainly been murdered. The in- 
 furiated mob, with their faces all blacked, had prepared 
 the gallows, and even the ropes, for your execution ! 
 
 O ! " tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets 
 of Askelon." But never fear. Dear Brother Work, nor 
 be in the least discouraged ; it will come out right at 
 last. But look to him on whose shoulders is laid the 
 government of the world, and yet, astonishing humilia- 
 tion ! felt the infamous load of a malefactor's cross ! 
 Barbarous soldiers, followed by an enraged mob, led 
 Him like a lamb to the slaughter, that we might be 
 delivered from the heavy curse of the law, and gently 
 conveyed by the celestial powers, into Abraham's 
 bosom. My sheet is full before I was aware — so T must 
 subscribe myself. 
 
 Your sincere friend and brother, in the cause of God 
 and of the oppressed. 
 
 This letter was to us almost like a voice from heaven. 
 The Providence which gave it to us was remarkable — 
 but the Lord will find ways enough to convey to his 
 children all that they need. 
 
 change of wardens, again. 
 
 About the ninth of December, Capt. Richmond sold 
 out his half of the penitentiary, to a company in St. 
 Louis, " Blaine, Tompkins, and Barret," ungoHW, ava- 
 ricious men. 
 
260 LHANGES. 
 
 Many regretted the change, but we committed it all 
 to God, believing that he could guide our vessel safely 
 through. 
 
 The new wardens were wealthy business men, and 
 they introduced many changes, improvements in ma- 
 chinery, &c. 
 
 Tiiey were also slaveholders, and looked upon an 
 abolitionist with feelings more bitter than Brown and 
 Richmond — but, by our conduct, we commended our- 
 selves to their consciences, so that they were obliged to 
 treat us with respect. But Blaine's character will more 
 fully appear as we advance. Just here, I will say for 
 him, that he treated the sick with more humanity, and 
 would have the prisoners fed better, than any previous 
 officer. 
 
 NEW OVERSEER. 
 
 « 
 
 Our uncle Joseph (as we called our good overseer), 
 was so kind and gentle that many would take advantage 
 and misbehave — yet all liked him, and his kindness has 
 often conquered the hardest, where whips would only 
 have exasperated to desperation. But he was not cruel 
 enough to satisfy the wardens, and he had to resign his 
 station to a new overseer, on the 11th of December. 
 And " then a new king arose, which knew not Joseph." 
 He was a very unfeeling, tyrannical man, having been 
 so long accustomed to rule over men, in other prisons, 
 that he seemed perfectly hardened. He walked about in 
 a very lordly manner, with a haughty scowl, giving his 
 orders and regulations. 
 
 His first step was to forbid the Savior's name being 
 acknowledged at the table, and turning us, as far as he 
 could, into infidels or brutes. This step caused the 
 wncked to triumph. They had been much annoyed by 
 having a blessing sought on the food, but when they 
 saw this new regulation, they exulted over the Chris- 
 tians, as if thev had gained some great victory. We 
 went to the former overseer — his power was gone, and 
 he could do nothing, We went to Judge Brown — he 
 would do nothing. We went to the inspectors, and 
 
LAMPS. 261 
 
 they did nothing. We went to Jesus, rolled our burden 
 on Him, and there left it. 
 
 LAMPS TAKEN AWAY. 
 
 Judge B. and uncle Joseph had granted a number of 
 the prisoners a lamp, by which they might spend their 
 evenings in reading, and thus improve and store their 
 minds with useful knowledge. 
 
 Many of the converts were thus privileged, who eager- 
 ly improved it, much to their benefit and comfort. We 
 furnished them with books, which they read with great 
 interest and profit. But this was too much for Blaine 
 and Mc C. (our new overseer) . They could not endure 
 to see 'prisoners take so much enjoyment and quiet satis- 
 faction. Accordingly, their next step was to take away 
 all the lamps — thus obliging those who desired to im- 
 prove themselves, to spend their long, cold, winter nights, 
 in darkness and solitude. While many were benefitted 
 by the lamps, no one was injured thereby. But Mc C. 
 must show either his authority, or his hatred to that 
 which is good. 
 
 We were ordered to put out our light, and did so — 
 but the next day, we went to Judge B., who readily 
 consented to let us have it again, and we enjoyed our 
 usual privilege, while others were deprived; Soon, 
 another, and another, and another obtained from him 
 the same privilege ; and some took it without asking. 
 Then again, after a while, Mc C. gave another sweeping 
 order, and all lights were extinguished. We went to 
 Judge B.; he readily granted the continuance of ours. 
 The same thing was acted over again and again, but still 
 the Lord gave us our lamp. Finally, Judge B. said, 
 " You can have it, but you must keep it to yourselves, 
 and not let other prisoners see you have it." So we 
 had our steel, flint, tinder, and matches, and lit our 
 lamp after we were locked up at night. " Behold the 
 goodness of the Lord !" 
 
 On every occasion, when our lamp was taken away, 
 we went to God and asked Him for it — He heard, and 
 immediately restored it to us. 
 
262 BENEFITS OF GODLINESS. 
 
 For this blessing we cannot be sufficiently thankful. I 
 know not how I could have got alono; without it. Besides 
 our devotional reading, and singing, newspaper reading, 
 book reading, letter writing, journalizing, book writing, 
 &c., ray volume of Poems, composed at ray work, has been 
 principally written after night. I am aware that our officers 
 and Missourians little thought of what use our lamp was 
 to us, but our God knew what we needed, and provided it. 
 But setting aside all our writings, our light was an in- 
 valuable blessing. By it, we read the Bible through and 
 through, and who can compute the value of the know- 
 ledge thus obtained ! 
 
 Ah! little do they who have never been deprived of 
 their comforts realize the importance and worth of what 
 they enjoy, and of which multitudes are deprived. Rea- 
 der, may it never be necessary for God to take away 
 your privileges, to teach you the worth of them. 
 
 THE LOAD OF SIN. 
 
 In a prayer meeting, Dec. 17th, three of the converts, 
 in speaking of the goodness of God to them, mentioned 
 their improved health, which they attributed to the cast- 
 ing off the load of sin which bore so heavily upon them ; 
 and to their loving, and obeying God. Multitudes of 
 Christians would never have thought of such a cause ; 
 and yet it is perfectly scriptural. The Bible speaks of 
 " length of days," " long life," freedom from disease, 
 &c., as being a result of obeying God. As " envy is 
 the rottenness of the bones," so a " sound heart is the 
 life of the flesh'" — and " godliness has promise of the 
 life that now is." It is also a very natural result. 0! 
 could you hear them tell of the continual sorrow, and 
 disquietude of their minds, while in sin, you would say. 
 it must be very wearing to the physical life — but 
 when they turned to God, their souls were filled with 
 peace and quietness. Solomon says, " A cheerful heart 
 doeth good like a medicine." What active Christian does 
 not know this? 
 
 NEW RESPONSIBILITIES, AND DUTIES. 
 
 Dec. 18. The overseer railed me to the guard room, 
 
PRIVILEGES AND TRIALS. 263 
 
 and said, " We have agreed to place implicit confidence 
 in you, that you will regard the best interests of the In- 
 stitution." " I have, sir, heretofore, and I shall con- 
 tinue so to do. I feel it to be ray duty." " That's the 
 character given you, and now we want you to act, as 
 foreman of the weaver's shop (about twenty hands). 
 I shall hold you responsible for the conduct of the hands 
 — the quantity, and quality of their work, and for the 
 supply of materials wherewith to keep them busy, you 
 will be responsible to me, and I shall be responsible 
 to the wardens. And now I want you to report 
 every instance of misconduct, otherwise the blame will 
 come upon you," &c. I felt it to be a very undesirable 
 station — for I found it about as much as 1 could do, to 
 watch, and keep myself straight, together with all the 
 care, anxiety, and watchfulness, devolving upon me, re- 
 specting the many weak lambs, without the load of 
 twenty wild, profane, mischief-making men, being laid 
 upon me. But go forward, I must, claiming the promise, 
 " as thy day is, so shall thy strength be." They were 
 continually breaking the rules ; but to report, and have 
 them whipped, I did not desire. I coaxed and warned, 
 I threatened and plead, but they only took advantage of 
 my good nature and forbearance, which often almost 
 vexed my spirit to impatience, but the grace of God was 
 " sufficient" for me. 
 
 The station brouo;ht with it its advantages as well as 
 its trials. 
 
 1. I had to work but little. 
 
 2. I could talk freely with them all, on any subject. 
 
 3. I could go to any shop in the prison, and talk with 
 the prisoners when I pleased, 
 
 4. I could spend much of my time in reading. 
 
 5. I could go to my cell for prayer when I chose. 
 
 6. I could remain out of my cell, on the Sabbath, and 
 converse with whom I saw proper, and other similar 
 privileges. I tried to improve these advantages for the 
 good of my fellow prisoners — and not in vain. God 
 blessed my efforts. 
 
 But the station brouscht with it other trials. It was 
 
264 DELIVKRANCK 1- ROiM TROUBLE. 
 
 customary for tlie hands to do overwork, for which they 
 were paid in flour, mohisses, tobacco, &.c., on Sabbath 
 morning. The foreman had to go all around the prison 
 to find his hands, and give them their pay. This I de- 
 termined I would not do on the Sabbath. 
 
 On one morning I was called to the guard room, igno- 
 rant of what was wanted, and was offered some molas- 
 ses, short cake, butter, &c., (as all foremen were allow- 
 ed). I told him, " I do not wish any, sir.*' " Tell 
 Work to come down, and get some if he wishes." " He 
 does not wish any, sir — the greatest favor you can grant 
 us is, to let us have the Sabbath sacred to ourselves." 
 " You may, but you must conform to prison rules — they 
 must be obeyed, without distinction. We keep the Sab- 
 bath sacred, and make the prisoners observe it.(!) We 
 wish to see all moral. (!) I believe in being religious 
 every day^{/) though I belong to no church. You may 
 stay in your cell, and read, and pray, as much as you 
 choose," &c. And that very day, a number of hands 
 had to work a great part of it, getting bagging to the 
 river ! And this is a specimen of how they " keep the 
 Sabbath sacred." Everything that can possibly be, is 
 crowded into the Sabbath, to save week time, and yet 
 with brazen face they can say, " We keep the Sabbath 
 sacred !" Abominable. 
 
 He gave me some tobacco to carry round to my hands, 
 which I kept till Monday, and then gave it to them, as 
 they came to their work. 
 
 A TRYIN(J TIME. 
 
 On a certain week, a number of ray hands did over- 
 work. I looked forward to the Sabbath with many anx- 
 ious thoughts. Saturday night I went to Judge B. and 
 begged to be excused from waiting on my hands on the 
 Sabbath. "You cannot be excused, Thompson." I 
 looked at both sides of the question — by refusing, I 
 might expect the displeasure of the officers, and their 
 inlluence against me — -a mangled back, and scars Ibr 
 life ; and what more I knew not. On the other hand, I 
 should have a consciousness of "obeying God, rather 
 
REFLECTIONS ON THE PAST. 265 
 
 than men," remembering that " it is thankworthy^ 
 if a man for conscience toward God, endure grief, 
 suffering wrongfully." I went to God, and my mind 
 fully settled on keeping the Sabbath, let the conse- 
 quences be what they might. I threw myself on the 
 promises, and patiently awaited the morning of decision 
 — when, lo ! a fellow-foreman came for my book, and 
 of his own accord, offered to attend to my hands, him- 
 self, that I might not be troubled on the Sabbath. The 
 hand of God was manifest, and my heart involuntarily 
 arose in thanksgiving to the " Hearer of prayer." 
 
 This prisoner was a wicked man, but knew ray feel- 
 ings about the Sabbath, and having hands of his own to 
 attend to, volunteered to attend to mine at the same time ! 
 I was no more molested in this way. The hand of God 
 on the wicked officers, restrained them from ever asking 
 us to break the Sabbath. 
 
 THE NEW^ YEAR. 
 
 Jan. 1st.) 1844, we observed as well as we could, as 
 a day of fasting and prayer for the conversion of the 
 world. We fasted, but being so occupied with labors 
 we could not pray, except at our work, while others 
 were eating, and in the evening ; at which time we had 
 a blessed season. 
 
 In my journal I recorded " How comforting to feel 
 that God knows all our circumstances ! If there be 
 first a willing mind, it is accepted," &c. 
 
 The past has been a year of great things, but its ac- 
 counts are now sealed for the judgment. How has Jesus 
 plead our cause ! While the arrows of envy, malice, 
 and spite have been darted at us, we have been kept 
 under the shadow of his wings. While death has cut 
 down on the right hand and left, we are spared. While 
 thousands have suffered with hunger, " bread has been 
 given us, and our water has been sure," and we have 
 had many comforts. While others have been filled with 
 fear and uneasiness, we have been kept in peace. 
 Wliat scenes have we witnessed ! What songs of 
 thanksgiving from "new-born babes'?" Our cell has 
 
 12 
 
266 IT IS GOOD TO BE HERK. 
 
 been " the house of God and the gate of heaven." 
 Truly it is the Lord. 
 
 We will thank God and take courage — " Praise him 
 for all that is past, and trust him for all that's to come." 
 He who has been with us thus far, will not. now forsake 
 us — no never, never. Come what will, we shall " lack 
 no good thing." 
 
 EXTRACT OF A LETTER TO A FRIEND. 
 
 Speaking of a prayer meeting on the first Sabbath ol 
 the year I said, 
 
 " I expect to remember that delightful season when at 
 the right hand of my Savior with all theblood-washed com- 
 pany. And do you not think it will interest the Redeemer 
 to listen to my simple story, of the amazing goodness 
 of that Savior in whose presence we shall all be assem- 
 bled? And will it not heighten their joy, and increase 
 the sweetness of their harps, as I may be permitted to 
 point to one and another, and say, " This man was born 
 there." 0, there are many trials, yet " it is good to be 
 here." Never did I feel more contented with my condi- 
 tion than now, and you will find the reason beautifully 
 expressed in Abbott's " Young Christian," chapter se- 
 cond, page thirty-seventh, last half — story of Howard. 
 
 Alanson says, if ever he goes as a missionary, he feels 
 bound to the place, " where the Ethiope dwells." 
 James' heart flies across the ocean to the same. We 
 agree as touching this thing." 
 
 George. 
 
 a great break. 
 
 When one or more run away, it is called " a break." 
 On the fourteenth of January, after preaching, as some fe- 
 males were going out at the gate — a plan having been 
 previously laid — one man knocked the gate keeper 
 down ; another pulled the gate open, and a rush was 
 made for liberty. Seventeen went out before the 
 gate could be closed. They were so eager, that they 
 trampled one on another, each caring only for himself. 
 The large bell rang, and the citizens of Jefferson were 
 
JAMEs' ARM BROKEN. 267 
 
 quickly in the pursuit, on horseback and on foot, with 
 muskets, and other warlike weapons. The prisoners 
 were surrounded, and before midnight, all but one were 
 again within the walls. This one was shot in the side, 
 and was unable to be brought back for months ; finally 
 he came. 
 
 All were sentenced to receive thirty-nine stripes with 
 the raw-hide, and to have the head shaved with the ra- 
 zor, for six months. It being on the Sabbath, and just 
 after preaching, it was a distressing scene. Thus the 
 minds of all were diverted from the truth to which they 
 had been listening. 0, how many ways has Satan to 
 " catch away the word that is sown." 
 
 In times of such disturbances, the innocent suffer 
 with the guilty, for all are treated with more rigor and 
 severity for some time. In the midst of such confusion 
 and excitement, it was sweet to us to reflect, " Thou 
 rulest the raging of the seas — when the waves thereof 
 arise, Thou stillest them." " Surely the wrath of man 
 shall praise Thee — the remainder of wrath wilt thou re- 
 strain." 
 
 THE BROKEN ARM. 
 
 On the 19th of January as James was at work cal- 
 endering bagging, his fingers caught in the machine, 
 winding his hand and arm around an iron bar about one 
 and a half inches in diameter. Before the machinery 
 could be stopped it had wound his arm up about half 
 way to the elbow, mangling and bruising the fingers 
 and hand, and breaking into a number of pieces the 
 two wrist bones, one of which protruded through the 
 flesh. It was providential that his whole arm was not 
 taken from his body, or he in a moment crushed to 
 death. But the Lord, who is wise and good, knows just 
 how much to afflict us, " that we may be partakers of 
 his holiness" — how far to suffer the proud waves to 
 advance, before He says, " Hitherto shalt thou come, 
 but no further" — and he will not lay upon us more than 
 we are able to bear, for " He knoweth our frame, He 
 remembereth that we are dust." 
 
268 TREATMENT OF JAMES. 
 
 He came to the cell — the doctor was soon present, 
 and set it according to the best of his skill ; which we 
 feared at the time, was not very good, as the result 
 proved. He bore the setting very well, scarcely utter- 
 ing a groan — painful yet needful. 
 
 The weather being moderate, he chose to remain in 
 the cell, as the hospital at that time was extremely filthy, 
 and the company unpleasant and disgusting. 
 
 After all had left the cell, he broke out into singing — 
 after which he said, "7^ is all right.'" -'Good is the 
 word of the Lord," &c. At our evening devotions, he 
 united with us in singing and prayer. That night and 
 most of the next day, I was with him. The pain, of 
 course, was constant, so that he lost much sleep. In the 
 course of four or five days, the hospital was prepared 
 for him, and he was removed thither, where the steward 
 waited on hira. There he had his bed, large rocking 
 chair, books, fire, and some few things from outside — a 
 little milk, a trifle of light bread, a few apples, &c., but 
 his diet was principally such as the prison afforded — 
 corn bread and bacon, mush or gruel. He was there 
 tolerably comfortable, though much annoyed. The doc- 
 tor assisted in dressing his arm two or three times, and 
 then left it to do as it might, and probably he would 
 have lost his hand altogether, but for the kindness of 
 Capt. R., who was an old sea-doctor, and gave counsel 
 respecting it. 
 
 In about eight months, he began to do a little at light 
 work, but it became stiff, so that he can do but little of 
 any kind of work, and it being his right hand, he is the 
 more disabled. And there is no doubt that it is owing to 
 Dr. Moore's ignorance, but more to his carelessness and 
 indifference, that James has not now the free use of his 
 arm. Dr. Davidson looked at it, and said, " It might 
 have been saved if it had been attended to, but now it is 
 too late." Other experienced physicians were brought 
 in to look at it, and gave the same opinion. But " it is 
 all for the best." 
 
 If the cause in, and for which, we are suffering, be 
 that of Truth and Righteousness, then are all our suffer- 
 
SCARS, FOR JESUs' SAKE. 269 
 
 ings here for the sake of Christ, and his " little ones." 
 Such being the case, James can ever after sing a song, 
 in which I cannot yet unite, viz. : " I bear in ray body, 
 the marks of the Lord Jesus." And what Christian would 
 not glory in being able to say this in truth 1 What a 
 satisfaction to the mind of one who has been lacerated, 
 wounded or maimed, to look on his scars, and feel that 
 they are for the sake of Jesus ! And as they are 
 tokens, or evidences of his love to his Master, so are 
 they the means of quickening, increasing, and cementing 
 his attachments to his Lord and Savior. " Henceforth, 
 let no man trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks 
 of the Lord Jesus." Sweet! 
 
 to mrs. beardsley joy of faith. 
 
 Beloved Sister : 
 
 I am full of joy and peace in believing. It flows 
 into ray soul like a clear, sraooth, peaceful river, pro- 
 ceeding frora the throne of God. 0, the blessedness of 
 believing what our heavenly Father says. It keeps the 
 soul quiet in tiraes of comraotion and danger; fills it 
 with light in the deepest darkness — yea, as the Prophet 
 has inimitably expressed it, '' in perfect peace." A 
 little faith will disperse every cloud, put to flight every 
 lion, and scatter all the objections, and hobgoblins, that 
 unbelief can present. It is a lesson that takes sorae a 
 great while to learn, but the why is because they want 
 their own way, and think they know better than God, 
 what will be for their good. How else can we account 
 for the raurraurings of so raany, when God frustrates 
 their plans. Why so much uneasiness when a shower 
 falls at a tirae they did not wish, or frost cuts off" the 
 crops, or their fields are laid bare by sorae providence 1 
 Why all this weeping and dejection, when sickness pros- 
 trates them, or their friends or relatives are snatched 
 away by death, or by some rude barbarous hand, into a 
 hostile country, to suff"er and toil 7 Why all these, and 
 ten thousand similar feelings, under afflictive dispensa- 
 tions of Providence ? Either they do not really belieye 
 that God governs the world, or that He mistakes Himself 
 
270 BLESSEDNESS OF FAITH. 
 
 sometimes, with respect to their particular case. Could 
 they in all dispensations, see and acknowledge the hand 
 of God, as wise, kind, faithful, mighty, O, how instan- 
 taneously would the troubled emotions of the soul be 
 quieted to peace and joy unutterable. I sometimes am 
 so filled with pity for those under the influence of 
 unbelief, I almost wish a tongue and power I have 
 not, to place before them the excellencies o{ faith. It 
 opens the blind eyes — it looks at things as they are. 
 See two persons in the same circumstances, under the 
 different influences of faith, and unbelief, and what a 
 contrast ! 
 
 It was this matchless principle, that gave me joy and 
 peace, when the guns were pointed at my breast — when 
 dragging the heavy chain, and listening to the sentence 
 of twelve years in the penitentiary ! It is this " faith 
 which works by love," that has supported, and cheered 
 my soul, amid all my trials. 
 
 I rejoice that I came here — that I am here — that I may 
 be here. When the Lord has done with me here, he 
 will give me another field. " My meat is to do the will 
 of Him that sent me." My self, circumstances, inte- 
 rests, friends, comforts, trials, all, I commit to, and leave 
 with my God, saying, " Father, glorify thy name." 
 " Here am I, do with me, as seemeth thee good." Fare- 
 well. George. 
 
 CUTTING HAIR, AND SHAVING HEADS. 
 
 It was the usual custom of the officers to cut the hair 
 close, on one half of the head — and in cases of miscon- 
 duct, to shave the head. 
 
 For a year and a half or two years, our hair was cut 
 in the fashion. Then it was suffered to grow naturally. 
 Most of the prisoners thought it a great trial to have 
 their heads thus disfigured — and indeed it did present a 
 singular appearance — but I never thought it of sufficient 
 consequence to ask for — if they " gave me my hair," 
 well and good — if not, it was all the same. They were 
 welcome, as I frequently told them, to a half, or the 
 whole, if they wished it. The character was not affect- 
 
HAIR CUTTING. 271 
 
 ed thereby. It is done to keep prisoners from escaping, 
 but it is all folly — for if a man is resolved to run away, 
 he will go just as quick without, as with hair. Shortly 
 after McC. came, he gave orders to shave one side of 
 the heads of the prisoners. Some, by hard pleading, 
 got excused — but to us there was nothing said about 
 shaving heads, or cutting hair. And from that time, 
 with a few short exceptions, when there has been great 
 excitement, on the occasion of a " break," or some such 
 thing, we have had our hair. 
 
 Many have been sent forth with one side of their hair 
 cut close — and one man had his whole head shaved, a 
 day or two before he was discharged — both of which are 
 in direct opposition to law. 
 
 DR. ELY. 
 
 Jan. 28. The celebrated Dr. Ely preached to us. 
 All that he said, was good, plain truth, but spoken in 
 such a light manner, as to cause much laughter, and I 
 fear, spoiled the good effect it might have had. The 
 recollection of his past conduct, respecting Marion city, 
 and his slave Ambrose, and slavery, so rushed upon my 
 mind, that, I confess I could not receive that profit, I 
 otherwise would have gained. He once was a great 
 man, but where is he now ? O! how his case should 
 teach us to keep humble at the Savior's feet, and watch- 
 fully avoid everything that will tend to lead us away 
 from God ! 
 
 I spoke to him. He said he recognised me as one of 
 the three — (he was present at our trial). He went in to 
 see James, and talked with Alanson, but could not give 
 much comfort — " If I was thus separated from my fam- 
 ily," said he, " I should be very unhappy." 
 
 GOV. REYNOLDS SUICIDE ! 
 
 Feb. 9, 1844, was an eventful day. Gov. R. after 
 
 making out his will, writing letters to several persons, 
 &c., retired from the breakfast table to his office, and 
 deliberately committed suicide, by discharging the con- 
 
272 GOD DEFENDS THE WIDOW AND FATHERLESS. 
 
 tents of a loaded ride into his head. He had pardoned 
 out a number of wilful murderers^ while the oases of 
 others were rejected ; and finally has gone himseif to 
 reap a murderer's reward ! 
 
 Something of the kind we had looked for. We h?d 
 long prayed that if he could not be converted, but was 
 fully bent on withstanding the Almighty, and trampling 
 down justice and judgment, he might, by some means, 
 be removed^ that the cause of suffering humanity might 
 advance. The cries and tears of many fatherless chil- 
 dren, and desolate widows, had long been ascending to 
 heaven against him. And as God has said He " will 
 surely hear their cry," is it any wonder that he was cut 
 down, in awful judgment? 
 
 " The fatherless and widow," are objects of heaA'en's 
 special care, and protection. And just as certain as 
 " in thee the fatherless findeth mercy," so surely will 
 their " Redeemer thoroughly plead their cause," " hear 
 their cry, and save them" from their rich and proud op- 
 pressors. Well did a noble British officer,* in the time 
 of the Revolution, on hearing of the cruelties of some 
 of his fellow-officers, to the widows and fatherless, re- 
 mark to a widow, " Such men will ruin our cause ; for 
 the word of God assures us, that His ear is always open 
 to the cry of the widow and orphan — and believe me, 
 madam, I dread their cry, more than I do the shouts of 
 an enemy'' s army.''^ 
 
 Yes, sooner let kings and monarchs seek my life, than 
 the orphan's or widow's cry ascend to heaven against 
 me. Rather let me cause " the widow's heart to sing for 
 joy ;" and let " the blessing of those who are ready to 
 perish, come upon me," and I am happy. 
 
 Remembering, the danger of indulging in improper 
 feelings at the downfall of an enemy, we called to mind 
 the injunction, " Rejoice not, when thine enemy falleth, 
 lest the Lord see it, and it displease Him." 
 
 As we felt it to be the hand of God, we could but say 
 
 • Major Muckleworth. 
 
THE CLASS. 273 
 
 Amen, and pray that He would accomplish His own 
 purposes, by the event. 
 
 The Lieutenant Gov. Marmaduke was sent for, and 
 took his place. 
 
 THE CLASS ORGANIZED, AND BROKEN UP. 
 
 I had often urged the chaplain to form some kind of 
 an organization for the converts, by which we might be 
 regulated in receiving, disciplining, and cutting off mem- 
 bers — that it might be known who were " of us," and 
 who were not — but was put off from time to time, with 
 one excuse and another, for about eleven months. Every 
 one who went up to be prayed for, was looked upon by 
 the wicked, as having "joined the church," and when 
 any who had been to the anxious seat, whether convert- 
 ed or not, " turned back,'''' they were pointed at, saying, 
 " There is one of your professors !" " That's your 
 Christianity !" " I knew they were all hypocrites !" 
 &c. Thus the reproach was cast upon all — '* for 
 whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with 
 it." 
 
 And there being no way to deal with backsliders, they 
 were still looked upon by the wicked, as belonging to 
 the church, and in fellowship with those who walked 
 uprightly. Some of these very backsliders would some- 
 times attend the meeting, sing, and even pray, which 
 grieved some honest hearts, and gave the wicked occa- 
 sion to rejoice, but what could I do 7 Should I tell them 
 that I did not wish to see them in the meeting, this 
 would create disturbance. Should I forbid them to sing 
 or pray, I should be called partial, intolerant, and 
 charged with domineering over men's consciences. I 
 was much tried — yet felt it my duty to give full liberty 
 for any to speak or pray, who felt so disposed. 
 
 At length the chaplain came with a methodist " class 
 paper" — talked with the overseer, who gave permission 
 to have a class formed — promised to furnish a room, 
 where we could meet every Sabbath — -that I should put 
 such names on the paper, as I thought proper, which 
 persons should be allowed to attend the meeting — must 
 
 12* 
 
274 CLASS ORGANIZED AND BROKEN UP* 
 
 give the guard a list of the names, that he might know 
 whom to leave out of their ceils, to meet in class — for 
 now all others were locked up, and not allowed to attend 
 unless they belonged to the class ! 
 
 I felt myself placed in peculiarly trying circumstan- 
 ces — dark clouds were fast gathering — the officers were 
 evidently working against the prayer meeting, which had 
 done so much good, but to go ahead, as long as I could 
 move, trusting in God, I was determined. 
 
 We met four or five times in the capacity of a class, 
 and were then forbidden to meet any more, to the great 
 grief of many ! I talked with the overseer, but he was 
 unyielding* I asked for a reason— he replied, " I think 
 there will no good result from it." " I know of no evil 
 that has resulted,'' said I, "but much good. Has there 
 been any improper conduct in any of the meetings'?" 
 " None, but 1 think evil will grow out of it !" Not the 
 first instance of evil could he point out, but meet we 
 should not ! There seemed to be a settled determina- 
 tion to oppose everything that had good in it. 
 
 I went to judge Brown — he refused — though he had 
 positively promised that we should have the meeting — 
 that he would make all the prisoners attend, and would 
 attend himself. He was turned like a weathercock, by 
 McC, whither he would. All hope from this quarter 
 failed. I went to the chaplain — he could do nothing. 
 We went to the inspectors— they promised time and 
 again, that it should be established. I rehearsed its his- 
 tory to them — its rise, fall, and results — they saw no ob- 
 jections, and said they would attend to it, but they never 
 did anything. We carried the case to our Father, and he 
 seemed to say, " Let it suffice thee — speak no more to 
 me concerning this matter." We ceased, saying, "The 
 will of the Lord be done." 
 
 As numbers of the brethren were allowed to stay out 
 of the cells on the Sabbath, I begged the privilege of 
 having them come to our cell and pray with us. McC. 
 and Judge 13. both utterly refused. We could get to- 
 gether in companies and talk — the most wicked men in 
 
OCCASIONAL PRAYER MEETINGS. 275 
 
 the prison could laugh and talk together all day, and no 
 fault was found ! but meet to pray, we should not ! 
 
 As our cell was open on the Sabbath, we ventured to 
 invite the brethren at all events — some were afraid, and 
 others resolved to come, till they were obliged to stop — 
 they came, and we had j)recious seasons together. The 
 Lord richly blessed our souls. And from that time, we 
 had occasional prayer meetings, just as we could get any 
 of the brethren together long enough. Of some of these 
 seasons, I shall hereafter speak. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 CHARACTER OF THE CONVERSIONS— INCIDENTS. 
 
 INTERESTING CASES. 
 
 First. — ^Old J. D. was a colored man — for a misdemea- 
 nor he came here, and served three years. He once was 
 a slave, and bought himself and family. For himself 
 he gave five hundred and fift} dcllars — for his wife, four 
 hundred and twenty; for his daughter, four hundred, 
 and for a child before it vxis Jo?-/?., thirty-five dollars! 
 Unborn children, bought and sold ! Was ever such a 
 thing heard of in the most savage nation under heaven *? 
 And yet in this gospel land, it is not an uncommon 
 thing!* O! shame, shame, on my country ! 0! sla- 
 very, where is thy blush '? 
 
 J. D. was a remarkable old man — he could not read a 
 word, but was a striking instance of the power of grace 
 on the uneducated mind. He seemed taught by the 
 Holy Spirit. His afflictions brought him to the Savior's 
 feet. I could wish that those who say, " the niggers 
 
 • A prisoner who had long been an overseer in the South, said, " It is 
 a common thing South, to sell unborn children. They commonly bring 
 one hundred, and frequently one hundred and fifty dollars.'' 
 
276 POWER OF GRACE ON AN UNEDUCATED MIND. 
 
 have no souls," could only hear him talk and pray — 
 surely their mouths would be stopped. J\ o sou/s / 
 What blasphemy ! His views of gospel truth, and 
 Christian duty, in many respects, were very clear. He 
 talked understandingly, and, when engaged, with 
 great energy, eloquence, and application. He was 
 always active and ready. From many of his sayings, 
 take the following as specimens. 
 
 On one occasion in the prayer meeting, he said, " God 
 has so placed me that when I kneel down to pray, the 
 devil rujis aicay^ for he don't like me, and thank God 
 there's no great loss, for / donU like him. They may 
 take me how, or when they please, Fm always ready, 
 and have something to say about God and his goodness 
 to me." 
 
 What a reproof to many who can find nothing to say 
 for Jesus, unless they are in a particular mood — who can 
 talk about everything else but religion ! " Always 
 ready !" What a lesson ! 
 
 In the same meeting a young man professed to give 
 his heart to God, before whom .1. D. took his stand, 
 and addressed him jTs a young soldier, at some length in 
 a spirited, affecting manner, concerning the difficulties, 
 doubts, dangers, &,c., of the Christian life — much to the 
 edification of all present. 
 
 In another meeting, he said, " My heart has leaped 
 for joy to-day. Trusting in God ! There is nothing 
 like it in all the world. I thank God for sending me 
 here. It has been the means of saving me from everlast- 
 ing torments." 
 
 After the prayer meeting was broken up, he came to 
 our cell one Sabbath, and we sang and prayed together 
 for some time. He arose before us to " tell us the state 
 of his soul," and said, " It has now been a long time 
 since we met here, but I feel the knot drawn tighter 
 than ever, and my soul is anchored out in the cause of 
 the Lord. I feel that God is good in sparing me. 
 When I came here, I did not expect to live one year, 
 but he has helped me to worry my time almost through. 
 I hope and pray that He will spare me a little longer, 
 
THF. SPEECH —CONVERTS. 277 
 
 that I may meet my little family, and tell them what he 
 has done for my soul — to meet them, with Jesus in my 
 soul, and glory in my view. And oh! brethren, when 
 I'm gone, I shall remember and pray for you. If w^e 
 should meet no more on earth, we shall meet in heaven. 
 I shall know you there as I do Acre, and there, there will 
 be no more locking up. Glory to God ! Press on then, 
 brethren, through every difficulty, that you may be re- 
 warded. The prize is great, and soon the time will 
 come when it will be given to us. And when I'm gone, 
 
 I want you all to pray for old gray-headed J y, for 
 
 though I am far away, when you kneel down, your 
 prayers will reach my heart. Sometimes when I reflect 
 what God has done for me, my heart leaps for joy ; and 
 I believe if the prayer meeting had continued until now, 
 / should have been able to inove a mountain ! It was like 
 going to a school to be instructed and strengthened. I 
 sometimes get cold now, but what little I have they can't 
 get from me.-'' 
 
 Notice his estimation of the prayer meeting. Many 
 felt as he did. He left the prison, alive in religion, and 
 spent most of the day going round the city, talking to 
 the slaves and directing them to trust in God. 
 
 He came into the prison again, and said to James, " I 
 feel better than I did, the day / bought my head.'' He 
 took and gave many lessons on abolition. He was wa- 
 ter-drawer the most of his time, and talked with many 
 slaves. 
 
 Second. — H. B. was a father. In the prayer meetings, 
 he often spoke of his family, while the tears would flow 
 freely, in view of his past unfaithfulness to his wife and 
 children. And to hear him pray for them was affecting. 
 
 On one occasion he said, " I would give ten thousand 
 worlds, if I could only hear of the conversion of my 
 children." The Lord heard him. In a few weeks news 
 came of the conversion of two of his daughters, which 
 filled him with great joy. He wept as he related the 
 news, and blessed the Lord. 
 
 At another time, his little son came to see him, with 
 whom he conversed. Said he, " Tell your mother that 
 
278 A CHRISTIAN SPIRlTi 
 
 I am spending here the happiest days of my life. I am 
 contented. 1 should like very well to come home and 
 instruct my children, but cannot just now." 
 
 At another time, news came, that his son, about seven 
 years old, had died. The spirit which he manifested 
 was so perfectly Christians so sweet) so submissive, and 
 his conduct so exemplary, that we rejoiced in happy dis- 
 appointment. He felt perfectly reconciled and satisfied 
 with what his Father had done — felt that it was right, 
 and all for the best — that God would take care of his 
 child better than he could, " and I cheerfully give him 
 back to Him, who gave him to me. The Lord gave, 
 and the Lord hath taken away, and blessed be the name 
 of the Lord." 
 
 But his wife came a few days afterwards, and inform- 
 ed him that the boy was alive, and had not even 
 been sick. He received his son as Abraham did Isaac, 
 " from the dead, in a figure." He felt that he was dead, 
 and under this impression manifested his faith and de- 
 light in God's will, and when his faith, as it were, was 
 proved, as Abraham's, God gave him back his son, 
 whom he was so willing to surrender at the call of the 
 Giver. 
 
 At two different times he was at work outside in the 
 woods. The guard was his relative, and said to him, 
 " Now B., if you wish to go home to your family, go, 
 and I will not stop you. You can have my pistols and 
 go." His family lived only about twelve miles distant, 
 but religion made him unwilling to receive liberty in a 
 dishonorable manner. He chose to trust in the Lord. 
 Once, he, with a company of others, had determined on 
 "liberty or death," but the plot was providentially dis- 
 covered and broken up. See what a change the grace 
 of God makes. His general deportment gave us great 
 comfort in our aflliction. At length a pardon came for 
 him, and he went home, after retiring with us to our 
 cell, to pray and commune together, probably for the 
 last time. Anticipating his departure, I composed and 
 gave him the following : 
 
ftEL£ASE OF A PRISONER. 279 
 
 ON THE RELEASE OF A PRISONER. 
 
 I. 
 Go, Fellow Pris'ner, here so long confined. 
 
 By iron doors, and locks, and gloomy walls; 
 Leave all thy tears and suff rings now behind, 
 
 And answer to thy little children's calls. 
 
 II. 
 
 Go find your darlings — wipe away their tears — 
 Cheer up their hearts — their sor:ows drive away — 
 
 Bid them to banish all their former fears, 
 And now rejoice to see the wished-for day. 
 
 III. 
 Go find that weeping, broken-hearted wife. 
 
 Whom thou hast caused to mourn by evil ways , 
 Go sweeten, now, her long-embittered life, 
 
 And in God's fear together spend your days. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Go to your friends, whom you have made to weep, 
 And who have followed you with many prayers; 
 
 Go wipe the tear from off that furrowed cheek. 
 And lighten life's oppressive, anxious cares. 
 
 V. 
 
 Go, tell them all that you have seen and felt— 
 
 The evil of your former wicked ways; 
 That Jesus' love your hardened heart did melt. 
 
 And filled your soul with songs of grateful praise. 
 
 VI. 
 Go show the world by upright, holy acts. 
 
 And godly conversation joined with all, 
 That you henceforth will mark your Savior's tracks, 
 
 ArrJ do, in earnest on his name now call. 
 
 VII. 
 Go, Fellow Pris'ner, go be useful. Go, 
 
 And be to man a blessing where you dwell: 
 The end of sinful ways to sinners show. 
 
 Which lead to prisons, gallows, and to hell. 
 
 VIII. 
 Go serve Manasseh's God and your's till death. 
 Nor e'er forget your lonely prison-cell ; 
 " Remember those in bonds," with prayerful breath, 
 And meet me finally in heaven. Farewell 
 
 He had spent many pleasant hours and Sabbaths with 
 
280 THE HAPPY PRISONERS UNDER AFFLICTION. 
 
 US, and seemed as dear as an own brother. Our hearts 
 were knit together like those of David and Jonathan. 
 
 Third. — \V. F. P. was a young man of feeble consti- 
 tution, and of rather loose habits. He was converted 
 soon after coming here, and lived so that the wicked 
 were obliged to confess, " I believe that he is a Chris- 
 tian." He was sick much of his time, and often thought 
 he was near his end ; but was always composed, and 
 willing to die or live, just as God saw best. How has 
 my soul been refreshed, as I have conversed and prayed 
 with him, in view of death! 0, he was so sweetly re- 
 signed to his Father's will. The spirit that he exhibited, 
 and the testimony he bore would amply reward us for 
 all our sufferings, had we nothing more to comfort us. 
 
 At one time he said, " I am better satisfied and more 
 contented here, than ever I was outside. I praise God 
 for his atflicling rod, and feel that my two years here 
 will be the happy means of saving me from the prison- 
 house from which none are pardoned." 
 
 Again, I called on him, when he was very sick — con- 
 versed and prayed with him. Found him in an excel- 
 lent frame of mind. He said, " My pains are great, but 
 I feel that God is my friend. He is good and does all 
 things right, and knows best when to afflict. ' He does 
 not afflict willingly,' nor will He afflict me more than I 
 can bear. I am willing to lie and suffer as long as my 
 Lord sees best. All is in love, and for my good. We 
 should be thankful for afflictions as well as mercies, for 
 all are blessings." He had doubt about getting well, 
 but was not alarmed. He felt some anxiety about his 
 old father and family ; but committed them to God, and 
 felt that by prayer in j)rison, he could procure for them 
 blessings and necessaries, which he could not when at 
 liberty, a wicked man. I fed him with some of the 
 jiromiscs, upon which his faith seized with eagerness, 
 and I felt that it was well worth coming to a peniten- 
 tiary, to enjoy such a privilege of comforting one of 
 Christ's "little ones." 
 
 He spent his last Sabbath in our cell, much to our 
 satisfaction. 
 
INTERCESSION FOR ALANSON. 281 
 
 Fourth. — C. S. was a Russian, from St. Petersburg. 
 He gave us much comfort — was exceedingly interesting 
 in prayer meetings or private conversation — full of life 
 and zeal. He attributed his first serious impressions, to 
 seeing us so frequently on our knees, and hearing us 
 pray, when he carried around bread at night. He 
 thought if we needed to pray, surely he vastly more. 
 And to hear him talk and pray in his broken English, 
 would do any one good. 
 
 Reader, I have given you some specimens of our 
 prison fruit. I might multiply cases, if my limits 
 would permit, but these must suffice for the present. 
 
 It was my habit when any who were friendly to us 
 came in, to intercede with them to use their influence to 
 restore Alanson to his family. As the inspectors were 
 frequently in, I plead his cause before them. They 
 listened, felt an interest in his case, and promised to 
 speak to the Governor, and use their influence to get him 
 out — but it was their opinion that when one went, we 
 would all go. They always treated us with great re- 
 spect and kindness. 
 
 At one time, a Mr. C. was inside, to whom I said — 
 " Tell the Governor that if he will let Alanson go, he 
 may add his remaining time to the end of mine." But 
 they would not admit of this kind of substitution. 
 
 At another time, an honorable Judge came in, with 
 whom I made myself somewhat free, and who seemed 
 to feel for us, and had said to our friends that he believ- 
 ed we were innocent. He was a man of extended in- 
 fluence, and could help if he would. I asked, " cannot 
 something be done for Work's release ?" " I do not 
 know — Work is a first rate fellow." I said, " If there 
 is an honest, conscientious man in the world, I believe 
 that he is one." The Judge replied — " I have no doubt 
 of it ; I have no doubt of it." He also asked many 
 questions respecting Alanson's family, and then went up 
 stairs and talked with him. 
 
 EXECUTIVE RESPONSIBILITY. 
 
 He promised Alanson he would go and see the Gov- 
 
282 RESPONSIBILITY AND GIVING UP THE POINT. 
 
 ernor in his behalf, but added, " I think no Governor 
 will lake the rcsjionsibility of turning you three out, 
 without the co-operation of the Legislature." 
 
 Responsibility ! Indeed ! If a thief, a whore-monger, 
 a robber, a "man- stealer," or a murderer, is petitioned 
 for by his friends, the Executive can very readily take 
 the "responsibility" of turning them loose upon the 
 community, without any fear of public censure, or risk 
 of losing his popularity, or election to some higher seat 
 of honor! And this fearful "responsibility," has 
 often been taken without even the form of a petition ! 
 But when asked to " open the prison doors" to those 
 who are acknowledged to be honest, conscientious men, 
 against whom they have " no imputation," who have a 
 " good character," and are " first rate fellows," ! 
 they cannot endure the " responsibility !" To pardon 
 the whole list of criminals, is no responsibility ; but to 
 release those who love and desire to benefit their fellow 
 men, and whose lives are devoted to doing good, this is 
 insupportable " responsibility !" For such persons, in 
 Missouri, are execrated, and should the Executive turn 
 them loose, a torrent of public disapprobation may be 
 expected, which he cannot meet, since he " loves the 
 praise of men more than the praise of God." What a 
 notion of " responsibility !" But more : 
 
 Gov. Marmaduke came in, and had a number of the 
 prisoners called before liim — two or three murtlerers and 
 Alanson were among the number. He said to Alanson, 
 "I have received Iwo letters from your wife, and an- 
 swered one of them, informing her that I could not, con- 
 sistently, let you go. I have also received a long 
 argumentative letter on slavery from Mission Institute, 
 signed by three individuals. I am glad to hear of your 
 behavior here — though you are far from friends it has 
 made friends of all who have had anything to do with 
 the place, and it has also made friends outside ! H I 
 consulted only my own feelings as a father, I would 
 immediately turn you out, but I cannot consistently with 
 my executive duties. The excitement, all over the 
 country, is the greatest it ever has been, and I do not 
 
VITIATED PUBLIC SENTIMENT. 283 
 
 think that I, or any other Executive would be sustained 
 by public opinion, in lettini^ you go. And further — 
 should I let you go, it would have the appearance of 
 GIVING UP THE POINT !" What point? Why their op- 
 position to our principles. They hold us here, because 
 we will not " give up the point" — and if they should 
 let us go while we persist in our doctrines, it would 
 have the appearance of giving up to us that we were 
 right and they were wrong. But if we would only give 
 up the point, they can let us go, and boast, " We've 
 conquered them at last." 
 
 I have not heard of their being troubled about the 
 " appearance of giving up the point" to thieves and 
 murderers* who have been pardoned out, and who de- 
 clared, too, they would do the same thing again ! 
 
 To act in accordance with the convictions of con- 
 science, while the frown of a few ignorant, unreasona- 
 ble, feeble men, is incurred, is great responsibility — but 
 to do wrong, and incur the displeasure of that just and 
 Almighty Being, who holds their life and eternal destiny 
 in his hands, is no responsibility ! What a vitiated pub- 
 lic sentiment do such things bespeak ! Yet such is one 
 of the natural consequences of slavery. 
 
 Contrasted with such principles, how noble is the 
 conduct of him, who, with promptness and resolution, 
 will do right, though the displeasure of the whole world 
 should be incurred, or the sacrifice of his life be the con- 
 sequence. The man who thus acts from a principle of 
 duty to God and man, leaving consequences with the 
 Lord, finds a rich reward in his own bosom, though 
 outward suflTerings and reproaches may be heaped upon 
 him. 
 
 We are thankful that we are not in prison as State 
 felons — but we rejoice that we are " counted worthy to 
 suffer shame," as abolitionists — as the friends of suffering 
 humanity. We ask no higher honor in this world. 
 
 * Gov. M., soon after this conversation with Alanson, pardoned out two 
 murderers — one of whom wilfully shot his neighbor. 
 
2S4 ALANSON AND JAMES OUTSIDE. 
 
 JAMES AND THE MISSOURI LAWYER. 
 
 As James was reading his Bible, in the shoe-shop, a 
 lawyer from Boone County came in, and asked, " What 
 book is that?" " The Bible, sir." " Do all here have 
 the Bible?" "Many are without any, but would be 
 glad to have one." " Is a Bible given to each one 
 when he leaves here ?" " It is given to none, sir." " I 
 think it would be an excellent plan, it might save them 
 in the hour of temptation. What is your name?" " My 
 name is Burr, sir." " Ah, that is just what I should ex- 
 pect from the character I have heard of you outside, to 
 find you with your Bible. Hold on to it." " I expect 
 so to do as long as I live '" " Yes, it is the only thing 
 worth sticking to." 
 
 Would to God that all lawyers could thus speak of 
 the Bible. ! what an overturning would there be in 
 our courts of woc/c -justice ! How much less fraud, ly- 
 ing, and extortion would be practised by them ! And 
 how many more would be willing to plead for the poor 
 as well as the rich, and " open their mouths for the 
 dumb," in the cause of humanity ! 
 
 March 11. James returned to the cell — having been 
 absent six and a half weeks. About this timte, Captain 
 Richmond was expecting to move away, and Alanson 
 and James were permitted to go outside alone, at two 
 different times, each, to converse with Mrs. R. Nothing 
 prevented free conversation on any subject, and the 
 topic of slavery and helping slaves, was discussed with 
 kindness and good feeling. Mrs. R. had always been 
 kind to us. 
 
 About the middle of March, a citizen was in the shoe- 
 shop, conversing with the hands about petitions. He 
 turned to James, and said, " Here is Burr, 1 will not 
 sign a petition for him, because he will not give up his 
 principles." 
 
 EXTRACT OF A LETTER. 
 
 I am happy to find again a few words from Alanson 
 
LETTERS. 285 
 
 and James, that they may speak for themselves. They 
 wrote in my letter — 
 
 Dear Wife : 
 
 I sympathize with you in your troubles, but can 
 only relieve you by advice and prayer. I hope you 
 will draw your consolation from the word of God. Af- 
 fliction sanctified, is better than affliction removed. 
 God's promises are exceeding large, especially to the 
 widow and fatherless. Will not you and the children 
 look out all you can find, and make them your own. 
 Then you will rejoice in tribulation. I want you should 
 be able, with a full heart, to testify to the faithfulness of 
 God in supporting and carrying you in triumph through 
 all }'Our troubles. Be not troubled about me. I am 
 well. Be faithful to the children. Tell them to be 
 good, and then we shall meet in heaven, if not before. 
 
 The Lord bless you, and keep you, and provide for 
 you. Farewell, 
 
 Alanson Work. 
 
 from james, written with his left hand. 
 Friends : 
 
 Why do I not hear from you more often? I am 
 sure if you were in prison, " enclosed in hewn stone," 
 and could neither see nor hear of what was going on in 
 the world — if you were obliged to see one thing all the 
 time — and in addition, if you had a broken arm to cheer 
 the gloom, you would wish for some one, now and then, 
 to comfort you with a word of consolation. You know 
 but little of the worth of a letter in prison. I want you 
 all to do what you can for the salvation of souls. Do 
 as the " Village Blacksmith" did — " set a trap, and bait 
 it with faith and prayer." Do all the good you can. 
 
 J. E. Burr. 
 
 THE LEGISLATURE DOCTRINE LAW. 
 
 April 4. One of the four legislators who came to our 
 cell one Sabbath, mentioned in Part II, called to talk 
 w^ith me. He began, " I suppose you feel about as you 
 
286 CONVERSATION AND REFLECTIONS. 
 
 did when I last talked with you." " I am not aware, 
 sir, that any material change has taken place in my 
 mind, and I do not think the people of this State, can, 
 with reason, require us to give up our sentiments, before 
 they will let us go." The absurdity was so plain, he 
 had to acknowledge it, and said, " They do not, nor 
 could they in any land of liberty." 
 
 Reader, you have been shown time and again, that 
 they do require this — that our principles, and they alone, 
 sent us here and keep us here. " Give them up, and 
 you may go," is the cry from every quarter. 
 
 The man went on, " If you can promise neither to 
 come to this State, nor aid others in coming to assist 
 slaves, there will be no difficulty in getting your time 
 shortened." " We have repeatedly told you we should 
 not come to this State again, forthat purpose." He had 
 considerable to say about the law — that it was made by 
 the people, and till repealed, should be observed — that 
 the way to alter it, was to enlighten the people. Very 
 good and true, but how are the people to be enlighten- 
 ed'? They shut their eyes, and stop their ears, and 
 make special h<uvs to keep out the light from the State. 
 They will neither hear nor read on the subject of Anti- 
 slavery, and if any one dares to attempt to " enlighten 
 the people," he is mobbed, banished, or cast into prison. 
 How shall we en/io'/i^^'/i them ? Will the slave-holding 
 statesmen tell us how ? 
 
 Again the man said, " For one man to disregard the 
 law, is to set himself up against all the people, and tends 
 to the subversion of all go%ernment." 
 
 But what does all this amount to, so long as the law 
 is against the Bible, and contrary to God's law ? If 
 the law is unrighteous, and tends to the subversion of 
 the law of heaven, it must be o})pose(l, though it should 
 subvert every government on earth. There must be 
 those who will cry aloud and refuse obedience, even 
 unto death. When human and divine laws conflict, the 
 latter are always to be regarded. " We ought to obey 
 God rather than man," is the Christian's motto. 
 
THE PRISON DAUGHTER. 287 
 
 FEMALE PRISONERS. 
 
 In the early part of our time, a woman of vile charac- 
 ter was sent here — staid two or three days and was 
 pardoned. About a year afterwards another came, for 
 killing her husband. Her sentence was five years — she 
 staid nearly two, and was pardoned. 
 
 She worked outside, at Capt. R.'s and Judge B.'s 
 house. Mrs. B. abused her so shamefully, she ran away, 
 but was brought back the next day and locked up in 
 her cell, where she had but little to eat or drink, for 
 some days. The horrid cruelty towards her, while 
 thus locked up, so aroused the indignation of certain 
 wicked prisoners, that there was strong talk of a " muti- 
 ny,^^ unless Judge B. altered his course. After about 
 three weeks she was again taken outside, where she 
 worked about four months — coming to her cell every 
 night. In the fall she became the mother of a daughter. 
 The doctor refused to be present at the time of her de- 
 livery. Mrs. Brown would neither come nor let anyone 
 else attend — the overseer told one of the prisoners to 
 assist her — who did so, and he was the only one to wait 
 upon her for some time. Mrs. B. refused to come near 
 her, or to furnish any materials for the child's clothing 
 — so that she remained in her cold cell, with her child, 
 for nearly a week before anything was done. Nor was 
 she allowed to have any fire during the cold winter 
 weather — but suffered in her damp and chilly cell, till 
 she was pardoned out ! The whole is a horrid, disgrace- 
 ful affair, on all sides. But can anything better be ex- 
 pected from slavery 1 
 
 The next woman was put in a cell and rivetted fast, 
 having a stove, and everything brought to her by other 
 prisoners, with whom she conversed much. A great 
 many resorted to her cell to converse with her. Her 
 conversation was very disgusting. She was sick much 
 of the time, and often in the night have we been awa- 
 kened by her groans and screams for help. After a time 
 the door was unfastened, and the guard could go there 
 
288 THE COLORED WOMAN. 
 
 when they chose ! She staid about six months and was 
 pardoned out. 
 
 The next was a colored woman. She arrived here in 
 the night, and was locked in a cell with three wicked 
 vile men ! The next day she was arrayed in prison 
 colors — half of her dress yellow, and the other half 
 white. This was the first time that any female had been 
 so clothed. The others wore their own clothes, which 
 they brought with them. 
 
 She was then placed in the wash-house, to work with 
 two wicked men — if in her cell by day, it was unlocked, 
 so that any prisoner cpuld visit her, or any guard by 
 night! Now why is she treated in this manner 1 
 " ! she is nothing but a nigger f" And what respect 
 is paid to a " nigger'^s''' purity in a slave State"? Many 
 other things might be mentioned respecting the abomina- 
 ble treatment of these women, but I must pass along. 
 
 A PROHIBITION. 
 
 So many of the prisoners who were trusted outside 
 alone, had" run away, that the inspectors prohibited the 
 officers from sending any men out without a guard. But 
 as James had been sick and was quite feeble, he asked 
 one of the inspectors, if he could go out and breathe the 
 fresh air for his health. The reply was, " I have no 
 objection, and I presume the other inspectors will have 
 none. We are not at all afraid of you. There is not 
 the least imputation against you !" " No imputation !" 
 and yet will not let us go ! 
 
 At different times James went out and enjoyed the 
 liberty of recreating himself as he chose, which greatly 
 invigorated his system. 
 
 Usually, in the morning, the guards went around and 
 unlocked the cells, not waiting to see whether the pri- 
 soners came out. But McC. gave his order, that the 
 guards, after they had gone round, and unlocked the 
 doors, should go round again, and lock up every man 
 who was not out of his cell. Then whoever was thus 
 locked up, was taken to the guard room, to give an ac- 
 count of himself. Generally, there were two bells — one 
 
A NKVV OHDEtt. 289 
 
 for rising — the other fifteen minutes after, for openin<r 
 the cells, at which time, every man was ordered to be 
 ready to come out, and proceed to his place of work. 
 Frequently fhe guard would forget themselves, so that 
 the two bells would ring almost immediately after each 
 other — or there would be only one, which often deceived 
 the prisoners, and they were unable to get out in time. 
 
 Our morning devotions were often disturbed by the 
 unlocking and slamming of doors, but pray we would, 
 leaving consequences with God. Some of the guard 
 would not mind anything about us, if we were in our 
 cell, but others wished to show their authority, and im- 
 portance. 
 
 One morning, as I was on my knees, such an one came 
 around, and saw me — stood a moment, went to the win- 
 dow, and waited — then came back, as I was ready to go 
 out, and said, " I'll lock you up every morning, if you do 
 not come out sooner." I simply replied, " I am willing, 
 sir." He reported me to the overseer, but he knew that 
 I understood my own business, and said nothing about 
 it. The guard, poor man ! Did he think he could 
 frighten a Christian from prayer] We felt the need of it. 
 It was onr"^ vital breath.'''' Look at this, Reader. The 
 poor prisoners are driven to work, from before they can 
 see in the morning, till after they can sbk: at night — hav- 
 ing not more than half sufficient time to eat — and yet if 
 one is found on his knees after the door is opened, 
 fault is found because he is not at his work, whether he 
 has anything to do or not ! This will give you an idea 
 of the trials of the dear converts. Such circumstances 
 teach us the value of secret retirement. Deprived of 
 this, we could lift up our hearts, while at work. This, 
 man couhl not prevent. 
 
 " MY CUP RUNNETH OVER." 
 
 About the first of May, a barrel came from our friends 
 to Judge B. It was more than half full of crackers — of 
 which we had not a taste. In the same, was nearly a 
 half bushel of dried fruit, which w^as given to us — also 
 a quantity of medif'ines, which we received — a bundle 
 
 13 
 
290 
 
 RICH BLESSINGS. 
 
 of letters, on which we feasted, and a valuable addition 
 to our library, Memoir of Elias Cornelius, and Hannah 
 Hobbie, Pike's Young Disciple, Pilgrim's Progress, 
 Counsels to Young Men, Infidelity, AUeine's Alarm, 
 Baxter's Call, Bouge's Evidences, and Missionary He- 
 ralds. As we had many calls from prisoners, for books, 
 we could now supply them more fully. We had long 
 felt the need of more religious books — for such was the 
 general anxiety to read, ihey would read anything, how- 
 ever plain and cutting it might be. A number of novels 
 had also been furnished by Mrs. Brown, which were 
 devoured with great eagerness. To counteract this in- 
 fluence, we needed the truth, and God abundantly pro- 
 vided it, from time to time. Beside our books, we had 
 a good supply of tracts, magazines, papers, &c. — so that 
 our cell was a general resort, on Saturday nights, and 
 Sabbath mornings, for something to read on the Sabbath, 
 which gave us again the opportunity of speaking to them 
 about their souls. In this way, " a great and effectual 
 door" was opened for us to do good, for which we blessed 
 the Lord. 
 
 SEARCHING THE CELLS. 
 
 It was customary, now and then, for the guards or 
 overseer to go around, and search all the cells, to see 
 what could be found, that was not allowed — if any were 
 breaking out, &c. 
 
 When guards who wore acquainted with us, went 
 around, they did not disturb our cell, and frequently, 
 as they passed, or looked in at the door, the remark has 
 been heard, " There is no danger here" — " Everything 
 is right enough here," &c.. But .sometimes new guards 
 were sent around, who knew no better than to take every- 
 thing as they went, making no distinction. At such 
 times there was a great rumaging, and overturning in 
 our cell. They found many things to look at — yet such 
 was the general ap[)earance of the cell, that the almost ir- 
 resistible imj)ression was, " There is no danger here" — 
 for it has more the aspect of a student's room, than of a 
 prisoner's cell. 
 
PROTECTED FROM THE DEVICES OF THE ENEMY. 291 
 
 At one time, a very self-important guard came in, 
 "while James was unwell, and searched the cell. He 
 took down my letter box, which before had not been dis- 
 turbed — in which I kept my own letters, ray journal, and 
 various trinkets. He examined the letters, and looked 
 at ray journal, but the Lord blinded hira, so that he 
 did not know what it was. He exclaimed, " Why, 
 what an extensive correspondence this fellow has I" He 
 took sorae little articles, which the overseer and Judge 
 B. restored to us. Thus the Lord was good to us. 
 
 At another tirae, sorae Dutchraen went around. They 
 turned everything up-side down, and took a number of 
 things, which Judge B. gave back, as soon as we asked 
 hira. All my writings and papers, they passed by, not 
 knowing that there was any harm in them. This work was 
 then partly written, besides various other writings, any of 
 which, if they had fallen into the hands of the officers, 
 and been read, would have brought me into deep water, 
 but the Lord blinded them on every occasion. " He 
 disappointeth the devices of the crafty." 
 
 As the overseer had been around examining the cells, 
 I asked him, " Did you find anything araiss in my celH" 
 He replied, " It looks more like a store-room, than a 
 prisoner's cell," and yet the Lord did not let him take 
 away our " store" of goods. But at the last searching, 
 we had a narrow escape — yet the " way of escape" was 
 opened in due tirae, so that God, again disappointed 
 thera, and delivered his little ones, who cried unto Hira. 
 
 In the cell were a nuraber of boxes — one large chest, 
 in which Jaraes kept his papers, and our spare clothes — 
 another,, filled with dried fruit — and another containing 
 all my papers — ^journal, and writings of various kinds. 
 
 The two former were left — the latter, with all its con- 
 tents taken. 
 
 They so arranged it, that no one could go to his cell, 
 to get anything, and we could only lift our hearts to 
 God for help, which was granted. As ray box was on 
 the way to the guard-roora, I told the guard, who was 
 standing near me, and who had ahiays been very favor- 
 able to us, that there were sorae things in it, I would 
 
29.2 FliTII DKATII-BED SCENE. 
 
 like to have — he stopped it, and I took out all my 
 papers, and everything that was of any consequence. 
 He looked at my journ;il, but made no objection. Had 
 he not been present, I should not have dared to stop the 
 box — it wpuUl have been examined, and myself proba- 
 bly severely punished, and my time here much extended 
 — -but God has promised to defend those who trust in 
 Him, and He did so. 
 
 CHAPTER Vn. 
 DEATH— LETTERS— VARIOUS EVENTS. 
 
 FIFTH DEATH-BED SCENE. 
 
 About the first of May, a fellow-prisoner was taken 
 down with consumption. At different times we were 
 called on to sit up with him. James w^as with him one 
 day and night, and asked his feelings in view of death. 
 He replied, " i know I am not prepared to die. I know 
 it — I ktww it, but my pains are now so great, that I have 
 just as much as I can attend to, without thinking of 
 that." 
 
 I was with him one night, but did not talk much, as 
 he seemed inclined to sleep most of the time. — There 
 were three others in the hospital. I read a portion of 
 scripture, and prayed with them, and they retired. To- 
 wards evening of the next day he sent for me. I went, 
 and found him worse. I asked, " Are you in pain?" 
 " I have no particular })ain (of body), but I have an- 
 other sort of misery, misery,''^ referring to the distress 
 of his mind, in view of his condition. He continued, 
 *' 0, I have a heap I want to say to you, when I have 
 opportunity." " Do you think much about your past 
 life of sin, as you lie here ]" " yes. Have I not, 
 to-day, been dissolved in tears, in view of it ?" I urged 
 
CONVERSATION WITH THE DYING MAN. 293 
 
 upon him the necessity of true repentance, and immedi- 
 ate submission to God, while reason was continued — and 
 placed before him the danger of delay — to which he as- 
 sented. He felt that he should not get well, and wished 
 me to send the minister to him, which I did, on the Sab- 
 bath after preaching. — Poor man ! he had not only his 
 pains, and feeble state of body and mind to contend 
 with, but the sneers and " wickedness of the wicked," 
 who made light of his seriousness, and tried to divert his 
 mind. Alanson w^as with him one night, and conversed 
 and prayed. The next night I was with him, but had 
 not much conversation — spent the most of ray time writ- 
 ing some of the foregoing pages. 
 
 A day or two after, he called for me in the morning. 
 He was very glad to see me, and wished me not to leave 
 him. He wished me to sing, '"Eden of love," which I 
 did ; he said, " That i^i the most delightful song I ever 
 heard." Then occurred the following. — " Do you feel 
 prepared to die?" "No." "Do you feel the im- 
 portance of it ?" " Certainly — certainly — but you 
 see how loio I am — so weak I can do nothing, I can- 
 not help myself to anything." " Though you cannot 
 walk, you can think, and speak to God in your heart." 
 " 0, I do think, day and night." " Do you feel that you 
 have been a great sinner?" " I know it — but not so bad 
 as some — I am better than many." " Do you think 
 your good works will do you any good, or be of any 
 avail before God?" "No, they will not." "Your 
 good works are but '■filthy rags.'' You must come to 
 God as a guilty sinner, as a rebel, as a beggar of mercy, 
 for Jesus' sake, and cast yourself wholly upon Him. 
 Do you think God is willing to forgive you ?" " I ex- 
 pect so ; why not me, as well as others ?" " He will, if 
 you come as he has directed." " I am willing to come 
 so." " Are you willing to confess y:)ur sins?" "Yes?" 
 " Do you ?" " I do ; but what is repentance?" " It is 
 true sorrow for all sin ; and putting it away. Now 
 should you get well — go forth into the world — have 
 plenty of money, and the prospect of living many years, 
 would you not love sin as much as ever?" " No, I 
 
294 THE DYING MAN MURDERED. 
 
 would do right." " God has been very kind to you ah 
 your lite." " Yes, He has.'' " But have you ever done 
 anything for Him?" "No, I have done nothing, and 
 now I am so weak, what can I do ?" " You can repent, 
 and give your heart to God. If you now fix your affec- 
 tions upon Him, and strive to please Hira in your niind, 
 it will be as acceptable, as the actions of those who are 
 well. You can now sin in your heart, as well as others 
 in their actions. And you may soon die, therefore it is 
 the more important that you now secure the salvation of 
 your soul, and make Jesus your Friend." " Is He not 
 my Friend ?" " I do not know. He is if you love, and 
 try to please Him." " If I get well, I will never do 
 wrong again." 
 
 On the evening of the next day, a wicked man called 
 to see him, and in a light manner remarked, " O, you 
 will be about again in a few dav'S, and walking around — 
 won't you?" It was with difficulty the sick man could 
 speak, but he exclaimed with emphasis, " Go away — I 
 am dying, go away, go away. Don't you see death 
 hovering around me ?" He felt that he was near the 
 grave, and did not wish such persons near him. As he 
 looked up and saw" me, he asked, " Is that you, Mr. 
 Thompson V " Yes, how do you feel ?" He could 
 but faintly utter, " About as usual." The next morn- 
 ing I called to see him, but he was beyond conversation, 
 or perception, and soon breathed his last. 
 
 He said, one night, to the man who was watching with 
 him, " I am murdered. If I had been brought here (the 
 hospital), three days before I was brought, and when I 
 wanted to come, my life might have been saved — but in- 
 stead of that, they made me work when I was not able, 
 and now I must die .?" And he is not the only case. I 
 shall have occasion to mention others. He was buried 
 — I was going to say " with the burial of an ass," but 
 truly there is more solemnity at the burial of many a 
 dumb brute, than there was in this case. 
 
 While he was yet in the hospital, some were swearing 
 — others talking and lausrhintr about him, as if nothing 
 had happened. Such carelessness and indifference as 
 
NOW IS THL ACCEPTED TIME. 295 
 
 was manifested around this dying and dead man, was 
 most shocking — and bespoke a depravity of the human 
 heart, not to be expected among savages, and probably 
 to be found only with gospel-hardened sinners. How 
 just the complaint of God, " Seeing many things, but 
 thou observest not ;" — " my people doth not consider." 
 
 REFLECTION. 
 
 How uniform and united is the testimony, that "a 
 sick bed is a poor place to prepare to die." And yet 
 how many are acting the same foolish part, and sur- 
 rounded by such a " cloud of witnesses," are " putting 
 far off the evil day." 
 
 Reader, our death-bed may be attended by such 
 burning fever, racking pains, and distraction of thought 
 and mind, as will utterly disqualify us for thinking up- 
 on our latter end — for arranging our business, for medi- 
 tation and prayer — for war ing sinners, or inciting 
 saints to duty. Then let us think of death, judgment, 
 and eternity now — arrange now, and so keep arranged, 
 all our business, that it will not require our thoughts 
 upon a dying bed. Let us do our duty to our own souls, 
 to saints and sinners, now — prepare now to meet God, 
 and henceforth, live in a continual state of preparation 
 to depart suddenly, or by a lingering disease, or in any 
 way, time, or place God shall choose. 
 
 extract of a letter. . 
 
 Beloved Parents and Friends: 
 
 "Ebrnezer," — God is faithful. Though the 
 earth be in motion, and rock from (Centre to circumfer- 
 ence — though the nations are moved and agitated, while 
 war is raging, and " rumors of wars" continually fall 
 upon our ears, yet a simple trust in God, will preserve 
 us from all anxiety and apprehension of evil — from all 
 that would disturb the s^veet repose of the soul in Him. 
 
 Beloved, it is unbelief — a secret unwillingness that 
 God should rule ond govern as He pleases, that causes 
 all the disquietude, fretting, murmuring, discontent, and 
 sorrow, which is so common among professing Chris- 
 
296 THK GREAT WURK, 
 
 lians, when things do not go just as they had desired or 
 planned. And this unbelief" is very offensive to our 
 kind Father. It evinces a very bad, unsubdued spirit, 
 entirely unbecoming obedient and submissive children. 
 
 God has promised to give this world to his Son; but 
 zPgreat work is yet to be done before it can be brought 
 into subjection to his holy will. Mankind are in a state 
 of alienation from Him — degraded, depraved, and sun- 
 ken in ignorance and vice — yet this work is to be 
 DONE, and that speedily. And all opposition to the 
 onward march of His kingdom, and the victories of His 
 cross, will be as vain as they are unreasonable. Tne 
 wicked may scofT — infidelity may spread itself abroad, 
 and till our land with its deadly poison — Catholicism, 
 •with all its absurdities and blasphemies, may sweep over 
 our fair heritage like a deluge — and Satan with his com- 
 bined legions may rage, and bring into exercise all his 
 crafty devices — but all in vain. Immanuel's vic^torious 
 chariot, shall roll on — " the stone cut out of the moun- 
 tain without hands," shall " increase^ and fill the whole 
 earth" — the " little leaven" shall work, " till the whole 
 is leavened." This revolted empire shall be complete- 
 ly subjugated ; and to Jesus " every knee shall bow," 
 and all nations, tribes, and tongues own Him their Lord 
 and King. But in what way is this glorious triumph to 
 be brought about? By Christians hem^ '•'■ co-workers 
 with God,'''' " laborers together with Him,,'''' and co-operat- 
 ing with the Holy Ghost. 
 
 The day has come when every one who bears the 
 Christian name, must make this work the great object 
 and business of their lives, or give up all hope of being 
 friends of the Prince, who calls upon all his followers 
 to fly to his assistance, and lay down their lives, if need 
 be, for his (;ause. O, who can — who dare sleep, in 
 such a day as this '? 
 
 George. 
 
 the beaten horse. 
 
 Judge B. had often beaten, very cruelly, a poor horse 
 which was somewhat balky. As he was thus beating 
 
CRUELTY — LIBERTY. 297 
 
 the poor beast one morning with a hoop-pole, he was 
 kicked in the face, disfigured and seriously bruised, es- 
 caping narrowly with his life. The doctor was speedily- 
 called, who washed and sewed up the wound. " A 
 merciful man is merciful to his beast," and cruelty to 
 dumb brutes, is not overlooked, nor suffered to pass un- 
 punished by Him, whose are " the cattle upon a thou- 
 sand hills." Then how should they tremble, who can 
 treat human beings, stamped with the image of God, 
 worse than they treat their brutes — who inflict wounds, 
 and stripes upon a fellow, " which mercy with a bleed- 
 ing heart, weeps, when she sees inflicted on a beast." 
 " Blessed are the merciful !" 
 
 THE SLAVE AND LIBERTY. 
 
 A slave was in on business, with whom James con- 
 versed. He expected to be free in the Spring, by means 
 of his master's will. He said, " in the time of the war, 
 all were for liberty. Every ball that was shot was for 
 liberty ; and I am for liberty too." The very thought 
 seemed to give him new life and animation. 
 
 0, liberty^ sweet liberty ! thou gift of heaven, and 
 dearest boon of man, on earth, for which our fathers 
 bled and died, how art thou now by thy children, denied 
 to three millions of our brethren, in this our boasted 
 land of liberty. How art thou abused ! How little val- 
 ued, and how little understood ! 0, long desired day, 
 hasten thy approach, when the inestimable blessings of 
 " liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," shall be enjoy- 
 ed, open, and free alike to all. 
 
 THE HOLY SPIRIT. 
 
 On the ninth of June, a Campbellite preacher " held 
 forth" before us. He was brought by the overseer, who 
 favors *hat religion, because he can have it and hold on 
 to his wickedness. The preacher was gifted, and said 
 many good things, but he spoke too lightly of the influ- 
 ence of the Blessed Spirit ; and it is to be feared th^t 
 they who can speak lightly oUhat, but too plainly evince 
 their ignorance and need of his heavenly efficacy. 
 
 13* 
 
298 THE OFFICE OF THE SPIRIT, 
 
 Take away the Holy Spirit, and what can we do'? We 
 cannot know Jesus, for the '* Spirit takes of Him, and 
 shows unto us." We cannot Understand the Scriptures, 
 for the Spirit is our " Teacher." We cannot see the 
 guilt and depravity of our own hearts and lives, for the 
 Spirit " convinces of sin." We cannot pray, for the 
 Spirit is our " Helper." We cannot find happiness, for 
 the Spirit is our *' Comforter." We can know nothing 
 of the joys of Heaven, nor have any view of the things 
 unseen and eternal, for they are " revealed unto us by 
 the Spirit." We shall never love and obey God, shall 
 neither speak, will, nor do good, for it is the Spirit that 
 inclines, persuades, and draws us— speaks and works in 
 us " to will and to do." " It is not by might nor by 
 power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord." " Uphold 
 me by thy free Spirit." " Thy Spirit is good — lead me 
 into the land of uprightness." " Grieve not the Holy 
 Spirit," but " Be filled with the Spirit." 
 
 THE SLAVE AND HIS CRIME. 
 
 June 13. A slave was brought here in chains, hand- 
 cuffed and barefoot. What was his crime? Why he 
 had been torn away from his wife, whom he dearly 
 loved, and went one hundred miles to see her ! And 
 for this was he brought here, with a special charcre to our 
 tyrant, " Work him hard, feed him lightly, and tlog him 
 for every offence," all which was eagerly fulfilled. 
 
 It was iMcC.'s custom to give those who did their task, 
 a piece of meat at night. The slave did more than his 
 task, and came among the rest for meat. McC. addres- 
 sed him, " What do you want, nigger?" " Some meat, 
 sir." "You can't have any, there's none for you." 
 " Why, he has done more than his task," said' one. 
 " That's nothing. I'll make him do that, and feed him 
 twice a-day." 0, cruel slavery ! 
 
 He was also flogged very severely for nothing, except 
 that he w^as a poor slave. After three months he was 
 probably sent South, for an infamous dealer in human 
 flesh was around here buying up all he could, to take to 
 the low countries. 
 
PAST FEELING. 299 
 
 With what fear and agitation, must the bosoms of the 
 poor slaves be convulsed, when a " trader" is in the 
 neighborhood ! Christians, and ye husbands who love 
 your wives, look at this case. Think of it, and remem- 
 ber there are at this moment thousands, whose wives and 
 children are as dear to them as yours are to you, from 
 ■whom they are rudely sundered, and sold to distant 
 climes, to meet them no more on earth ! Have you the 
 heart of a Christian ? Then let it ascend to God in their 
 behalf. Have you a mouth and tongue ? Then cry 
 aloud against such abominations, and '* open your mouth 
 for the dumb." Have you the common feelings of hu- 
 manity ? Then awake and exert your every power for 
 humanity, bleeding at every pore. 
 
 EQUALITY OF SLAVEHOLDERS' LAWS. 
 
 June 19. A man seventy-three years old, was brought 
 here, for ten years, charged with Lev. xx. 15 ! Aston- 
 ishing, if true. The old man could do nothing, and the 
 officers interceded for him, so that he was pardoned in a 
 ^ew weeks. Why'? Not because he was not guilty, 
 but because he could do nothing for the profit of the offi- 
 cers. This has been the case in a number of instances. 
 
 But look here. Slaveholders will send a man to the 
 penitentiary for ten years, for the crime referred to- 
 while for fornication and adultery, if perchance the 
 female be a slave, no notice is taken of it ; but high and 
 low, black and white, bond and free, may thus indulge 
 with impunity. 0, Slavery ! where is thy blush 1 Alas ! 
 thou art one of those " who being past feeling, have 
 given themselves over to work all uncleanness with 
 greediness !" 
 
 OUR '^ REFORMER." 
 
 As a crazy man was reading aloud the tract, " We are 
 all here," at the same time attending faithfully to his 
 business. Col. Price came along, and forbid his "reading, 
 took the tract, and tore it in pieces on the spot, before 
 our eyes ! How similar is this to one of Israel's kings, 
 who cut the Book of the Law in pieces, and threw it into 
 
300 THE LITTLE CLOUD. 
 
 the fire ! He also once forbid, me to read, when I had 
 nothing to do at the time. Again, he refused to give me 
 a letter, because it had a few words in it about the abuse 
 of a servant girl ; and there is no doubt that he destroy- 
 ed a bundle of our letters, which we had written with 
 the permission of other officers, to send by a friend. 
 A prisoner wrote a letter to the inspectors, which every 
 prisoner has a right to do by law. Col. P. threw it into 
 the fire, before his eyes ! 
 
 Many other such things I might mention, respecting 
 Col. P., but will speak of only one more : he is an un- 
 reasonable, op])ressive, fiery tippler. 
 
 Such is one of the men placed over criminals to re- 
 form them — such the inveterate hatred to all good, of 
 one of our head managers ? '"" A place of reformation !" 
 
 On the 27th of June, a small cloud of promise arose, 
 which raised our hopes a little, that God was about to 
 do something for this place. The chaplain was de})uted 
 by the inspectors, to ascertain how many Bibles there 
 were in the j)rison, and report to them. He went into 
 every cell, leaving tracts and searching for Bibles, and 
 found forty ! Here are eighty cells, and about one hun- 
 dred and seventy prisoners, and forty Bibles among them 
 all ! In many of the cells there are two, and in some 
 three, so that more than three-fourths of the prisoners 
 were without any Bible, and many without a book of 
 any kind, except as Satan sent them a novel, or as they 
 borrowed from others. We had numerous applications 
 for a Bible, and had to lend our own to supply the de- 
 mand. We were rejoiced to see that the inspectors 
 were waking up upon this subject ; for we had frequent- 
 ly spoken to them, to ministers and legislators, pleading 
 for Bibles. But look at this case, '["he law provides 
 that every prisoner shall have a Bible. See the neglect. 
 Yet it is called a " place of reformation." This term in 
 the mouth of Satan, and applied to this place, is full 
 of meaning — for it does, mostly, reform men from good 
 to bad, and from bad to worse ! But as the terra is used 
 by Christians, to apply it thus to this place, is a mockery 
 of language and an insult to common sense. " But have 
 
MEN MADE WORSK. 301 
 
 not many been truly reformed here 1" Yes, but no 
 thanks to our wicked " reformers," for the greater part 
 of the reformation. True, for a while they granted us 
 the privilege of having prayer meetings, for which we 
 and thousands of others will thank them eternally — for 
 souls were saved thereby — but a great part of the reli- 
 gious reformation has been carried on, notwithstanding 
 all their hatred and opposition to the work, at the risk, 
 many times, of bringing down upon us their displeasure 
 and their fury. Take out the few Christian prisoners, 
 and then the only influence and tendency of the whole 
 system, under its present officers and regulations, is to 
 damn the prisoner ; to harden and destroy the officers ; 
 to curse the community, the state, and the world. Many 
 come here, who either know nothing about crime, or they 
 are mere children in such knowledge. After studying a 
 few years unde • such willing and experienced teachers 
 as are the officers and many of the prisoners, they 
 become perfect adejits in the business. The old and 
 learned become chafed and exasperated, till they are 
 prepared for more daring deeds ; the weak become 
 strong, and the strong become stronger in wickedness 
 and vice ; and all, witli a few exceptions, are made ten- 
 fold more the children of hell than before ! " A place 
 of reformation !'' 
 
 THE FOURTH OF JULY. 
 
 All hands were allowed to quit work about three 
 hours before night, and keep some of the fourth — of 
 which day, the most of the prisoners thought much, as a 
 day of gambling, drinking, feasting, and carousing. 
 
 An extra supper was prepared, consisting of wheat 
 four biscuit, unleavened, fresh pork, and cotfee ! After 
 sup-er, the prisoners stood in groups, talking as much 
 ?!S they chose, no officer making objections, except in 
 ( ne case. As I stood conversing with a colored man, 
 a guard looked at him and called out, " See here, come 
 away from there." Had he been talking with any ex- 
 cent one of us, there would have been no objection. 
 
302 THE CO.\^lllu.\ 'Jl- i^iSClPLESHII*. 
 
 But he celled with a slave, and was talking to an aboli- 
 tionist. They dislike to have us communicate with the 
 slave in any way — but, thank God, we did place " the 
 salt" before them by proxy, though we could not always 
 speak to them ourselves. 
 
 For a few days in the beginning of July, I was sick, 
 and quit work. While thus sick, a letter was given to 
 me, bringing the joyful news that my oldest brother was 
 preaching — for which I had long been praying — and that 
 my youngest, with his wife, had devoted himself to pre- 
 paration for the missionary work. Language failed to 
 express my feelings. An extract from the answer is all 
 I can give. 
 
 THE EXTRACT. 
 
 " I almost feel to say with old Sitfieon, ' Lord, now let- 
 test thou thy servant depart in pence,' for thou hast heard 
 my prayers. I can cheerfully spend my life in seclusion 
 and toil, or with a willing heart, depart from every earth- 
 ly field of labor, since you have arisen to fill my place. 
 You have now a thousand times repaid me for all my 
 anxiety respecting you. Labor to get enlarged views 
 of the Gospel, and of the work before you. Remember, 
 'The field is the icorld,^ and not some little 'garden 
 spot,' here at home, where they have rejected the gospel 
 a thousand times. The great portion of the field is yet 
 uncultivated, covered with thorns and nettles, having 
 never yet heard the 'jo\lul sound:' and in unbroken 
 crowds, the inhabitants are sinking to rise no more. The 
 gospel would have saved them if carried to them. Chris- 
 tians might have done it, they neglected it, and millions 
 are lost for ever ! Where is the guilt? 
 
 " From every land, they now cry, ' Come over and help 
 us.' If they receive the gospel, they may be saved. 
 Christians can, and should, give it to ' every creature.' 
 If they refuse, may the Lord deliver me from their ac- 
 count. Do you not say, ' Here am I, send me V A 
 hearty missionary spirit, is the only true spirit of Chris- 
 tianity. It is this that constitutes the very condition of 
 discipleship. ' Whosoever he be that forsaketh not all 
 
Joy in CEATiii 303 
 
 that he hath, cannot be' — a deacon? a minister? a mis- 
 sionary ? No, no, but ' he cannot be my disciple.'' Let 
 this spirit fill your soul. Let the gospel be given to the 
 present generation of heathen, or they will perish, and 
 rise up in the judgment to condemn all who could and 
 who were urged to go, but ' would not.' ! look 
 forward to the judgment. Will you there have thou- 
 sands curse, or bless you? I pity those who can satisfy 
 themselves with excuses, when millions are crying, when 
 all nations are stretchingtheirhands for the ' bread of life.' 
 Truly the work is great and responsible, but our suffi- 
 ciency is of God." Though I am ' shut up, and cannot 
 go forth,' I do rejoice to hear of others entering the field. 
 Though we are weak, blind, and ignorant — our foes nu- 
 merous and strong, and obstacles fill our path — yet glory 
 to God ! We hear, ' My grace is sufficient for thee.' 
 
 " George." 
 
 As a few of James' letters have fallen into my hands, 
 I delight to extract from them, that he may speak for 
 himself. The first should have been introduced previ- 
 ously to his breaking his arm, but it will be interesting 
 here. 
 
 FIRST extract. 
 
 Dear Brother : 
 
 " God is love." He desires our greatest happi- 
 ness more than we or all the bowels of humanity con- 
 centrated could desire it ; and his Omnipotence will 
 surely bestow on his children everything that will be a 
 real good, in time or eternity. 
 
 When my sickness w^as most alarming, I had a bright 
 foretaste of heaven, and longed to take my departure, 
 to unite with the bright throng before the throne. 
 
 My soul was filled with rapture at the thought of 
 meeting good old Abraham, the prophets, apostles, and 
 all the martyrs, who have " come up out of great tribula- 
 tion." Nor do I now feel anxious to tarry long on this 
 earth. I am only a pilgrim and a stranger, as all my 
 fathers were. I long to join the happy company above. 
 God has shown me the vanity of all terrestrial objects 
 
304 LETTER FROM JAMES. 
 
 — that " this world is poor from shore to shore,'' and has 
 nothing that is worth one hour's toil, compared with the 
 joys of heaven. I would like to leave this world for 
 some fairer clime, and I know of no place short of hea- 
 ven, worth stopping at. 
 
 SECOND EXTRACT. 
 
 Dear Brother : 
 
 I am obliged to write with my left hand, as my 
 right arm is broken. For the last four months, my 
 health has been better than at any previous time since I 
 came here. God has " stayed his rough wind, in the 
 day of his East wind" — for my former poor health and 
 a broken arm in addition, would have been both winds 
 together. The Lord knows what we can bear. Y-ou see 
 I have been called to "sing of mercy and of judgment." 
 
 God is ten thousand times better to me than all my 
 earthly friends. Notwithstanding all my unworthiness, 
 He has gone before me in all my troubles, and has been 
 a " sun and shield" to me. He has not forgotten his 
 " exceeding great and precious promises.' ' He stands 
 pledged that not a hair of our head shall perish ; yet it 
 depends on our staying where He commands us. If 
 we forsake Him, as did the children of Israel, we must 
 expect the rod. But what a privilege ! that He who 
 cannot err is as willing, as He is able, to lead us ! 
 To Him I will repair. He " doeth all things well." 
 
 J. E. B. 
 
 THE incendiary LETTER. 
 
 She who is now my wife once wrote me a letter on an 
 anti-slavery sheet of paper, having stamped on it a col- 
 ored woman in chains, on her knees, crying " Am not I 
 a woman and a sister?" It created considerable talk 
 and stir, for slaveholders cannot endure to see in picture 
 what they see every day in real life — they are very sen- 
 sitive. However, they reluctantly ^ave me the letter. 
 
 At another time (the first of Julv"), she wrote, giving 
 an account of her journey to the Indians and their hab- 
 its, and her return home. Among other things, was a 
 
THE INCENDIARY LETTER. 305 
 
 story of a certain servant girl, who was very much 
 abused, whipped, punished, and scratched by her mis- 
 tress, till the blood trickled down her face. It was not 
 stated that the servant was a slave,* or that she was 
 even colored ; but Col. Price, who was familiar with 
 such scenes, supposed of course she must be a slave, 
 and would not give me the letter. I ascertained from a 
 friend that the letter had come and was withheld. I 
 mentioned the case to the Chaplain, which greatly in- 
 censed McC. and Col. P. against me. I spoke to Col. 
 P., he declared he would not give it to me. I spoke to 
 Judge B. again and again, till he procured the letter and 
 'brought it to our cell, saying, " Read it, and hand 
 it to me." Had the letter fallen into his hands in 
 the first place, there would have been no difficulty ; but 
 since his partners had refused, he gave it to us secretly, 
 lest they should turn against him. 
 
 Said Col. Price, " You have been corresponding too 
 freely, and it must be stopped." Judge B. — "The 
 Governor, inspectors and officers have agreed that no 
 prisoner shall be allowed to write or receive letters re- 
 specting any means for their liberation ; but I have and 
 shall allow you three to write freely to your friends on 
 that subject ; and shall give you every chance to help 
 yourselves, in that way, that I can." 
 
 The day after we heard of the letter, one of their 
 horses dropped dead. In two days another was found 
 dead — and they soon gave up the letter. 
 
 MV DEPOSITION. 
 
 While they were thus excited about the letter, I was 
 suddenly taken from the M-eaver's shop, and placed in 
 the cooper's shop, where I would have none but myself 
 to watch, and also could learn a new trade. But the 
 next week they were obliged to send for me, to fill my 
 old place — which I did for a few days, and then went to 
 weaving. 
 
 All the reason they pretended to offer for removing 
 
 ♦ I have since learned that she was a slave — and the inhuman mis- 
 tress was the wife of an officer (Jf government, among the Indians. 
 
t' -» EXTRACT OF A LETTER. 
 
 me from the r'oremanship, was, ''You are too easy with 
 the hands — too tender-hearted — too desirous of keeping 
 peace with them all. The hands are not afraid of you.'' 
 And wlio wouhl not wish to keep peace, and to have 
 his workmen do their duty from love, and not from a 
 slavish fear i If I had caused three or four of my 
 hands to be whipped every day, I should have been a 
 first rate foreman ! But because I would not exercise 
 the spirit of a slave-holding tyrant, they are displeased 
 — this is proven by many facts. 
 
 But more. Another very obvious reason was, because 
 I would not break the Sabbath, honor their dignity, and 
 sacrifice all principle to please them, as did the other 
 foreman. 
 
 Judge B. had nothing against me. He remained calm 
 and kind, and took my part against the other officers. 
 
 Col. P. did not speak a word to me for more than a year 
 after that time, so that I had no further difficulty with him. 
 
 ANSWER TO THE TROUBLESOME LETTER EXTRACT. 
 
 " Where have Christians shone brightest, and exhibit- 
 ed to the world the excellence, and power of religion 
 in its greatest brilliancy? Surrounded by comforts, 
 luxuries, friends, and everything that heart could wish 
 — temporal and spiritual 1 Go to the prison — the dun- 
 geon — the stocks ! Hear the persecuted saints sing, and 
 pray, and shout, supported and comforted bv a hand un- 
 seen — a power divine. Go to the rack. Seethe astonished 
 multitude look on and wonder! The bones are crack- 
 ing, the sinews snapping, but songs of praise and prayer 
 for enemies, mingle and ascenil to God ! See them at the 
 stake, amid circling (lames, blessing their persecutors, and 
 shouting in prospect of eternal blessedness. Witness 
 Daniel in the den — the three children in the furnace 
 — Joseph in the prison, and a host of others. In them 
 religion shone forth, with charming lustre. O ! give me 
 such a religion ! What gave to tlie world some of Bun- 
 yan's rich works? A prison. What taught Baxter the 
 sweetness of ''The Saints' Rest?" A prison — long 
 and severe afflictions. What* gave " Dodd's Prison 
 
BENEFIT OF AFFLICTION. 307 
 
 Thoughts" to the afflicted 1 A prison. What Memoirs 
 are most spiritual, and exhijit most of the gospel 1 
 Those which give the history of suffering saints. Wit- 
 ness Payson, Page, H. Hobbie, and many others. What 
 says the humble Christian of every age 1 " My most 
 afflictive dny s have been my 6e^^ days." Think of Job. 
 Read the eleventh of Hebrews. What would the " af- 
 flicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted," do, 
 without these rich examples of patience, submission, joy, 
 and faith I 
 
 What drew forth the overflowing, never-failing foun- 
 tains of comfort, joy, and peace, in a multitude of the 
 Psalms, to suffering saints'? Sore afflictions. 
 
 Let us not then be afraid to meet any trial that our 
 Father places before us. He will be with us. " My 
 grace is sufficient for thee." George. 
 
 inspectors' second examination. 
 
 They heard many sad tales. Some had been unjustly 
 punished — some shamefully neglected and left to suffer 
 when sick — others complained of their food — others, of 
 oppressive tasks, &c. 
 
 The inspectors promised to rectify these things, but 
 that was the last of it. They generally talked much, 
 and did little. 
 
 When I was called before them, the officers were 
 very uneasy and greatly agitated. They stood before 
 the door, went away, returned, looked in, talked, and 
 squirmed as if they were on nettles. They thought I 
 was exposing their abominations — and so I was, and 
 they could not help themselves. Many things were 
 laid before them. I gave them a history of the rise, 
 effects, and fall of the prayer meeting — spoke of the 
 need of, and general desire for one, &c. I added, " It 
 seems to be McChesney's object to break up every 
 thing like religion here." They all agreed there could 
 be no harm in having a prayer meeting, and promised to 
 make arrangements. They said to James, " We mean 
 to do all we can to bring things right here, and to have 
 a prayer meeting." 
 
308 THINGS GROW WORSE. 
 
 They told Alanson, and some of the converts, that 
 they could see no possible objection to it, and gave great 
 encouragement that it should be re-established — but that 
 was the last we heard about it ! We informed them of the 
 Sabbath breaking, by officers and prisoners — but things 
 only grew worse. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 SICKNESS— LETTERS— SLAVES. 
 
 FALSE NAMES. 
 
 It is quite a common thing, for prisoners to come here 
 under a false name — thinking thereby to keep their 
 friends from knowing that they have been in the peni- 
 tentiary — that they may go out into the world again, 
 and not be known as a " convict." In the time of the 
 prayer meetings, I told them that all such were living 
 lies, and they must give up their false names, and be 
 honest, or they could not be Christians. One of this 
 class professed to be converted. We told him he must 
 take his right name — and he was just ready to do it, 
 when he asked the chaplain about it, who told him there 
 was no harm in it, and we could do no more with him. 
 
 Others gave their right names, and were willing the 
 world should know their characters — " converted con- 
 victs !" 
 
 After we were forbidden to meet together, a number 
 of the brethren were in the habit of coming to our cell, 
 on the Sabbath, to sing and pray. At one time, an old 
 man, who had belonged to the Old School Presbyterians, 
 in Ireland, and in Philadelphia, was present, and confes- 
 sed he was here under a false name. " I have been 
 much troubled about it. It was foolish and wicked in 
 me to do so. It is a transgression, for which I must 
 
>ovv. 309 
 
 humble myself before God." He confessed his true 
 name, and felt relieved. 
 
 We were now so hurried with work, that we had but 
 little opportunity to look after the lambs. Take the fol- 
 lowing for a specimen. A brother, who slept under the 
 same roof with ourselves, was very sick for four days, 
 before we knew anything about it ! Other prisoners 
 have died before we heard they were sick. 
 
 A NOTE OF THANKS. 
 
 I have mentioned that many prisoners read our books. 
 The following note w^ll show with what feeling they 
 were received by wicked men. It was written by one 
 who had read the most of our library. He was a great 
 thief, yet a great reader — an Englishman. Just before 
 he left he wrote : 
 
 Sunday, July 28, 1844. 
 To G. Thompson : 
 
 Please to accept my thanks, for the many favors 
 you have bestowed on me, in allowing me the use of 
 your books, from time to time. I wish it was in my 
 power to make you some compensation beside that of 
 empty thanks. You have my best wishes. While you 
 walk in the flowery paths of religion, you have nothing 
 to fear ; for the God whom you worship, is the same that 
 delivered Daniel out of the lions' den. I should be very 
 o-lad to see you, and your companions, at liberty. " Let 
 me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end 
 be like his." G. L. 
 
 How many Christians are often dejected, and fearful, 
 in times of trial ! Says an enemy, " You have nothing to 
 fear.-' Christians, cheer up. 
 
 The same person read " Christian Perfection," and 
 wrote on a blank leaf, " I have read this book, not with 
 any prejudice against the doctrine it contains, nor have 
 I read it with indifference, but still there is a something 
 — a longing disposition to hang on for the pleasures of 
 the world." The judgment is convinced — the will 
 rebels. 
 
310 TASKS. 
 
 TASKS. 
 
 For about two years after we came, there was no task 
 work, — except in the brick yard, where ihey were regu- 
 lated by brickmakers' rules. When task work began, 
 they were quite moderate. By rewards, and promises, 
 prisoners were encouraged to do overwork, and when 
 they had shown that they could doit easily, the task was 
 raised. Take the case of the weaver's shop. At first, 
 the task was thirty-five yards (bagging) a-day. It was 
 a long time before they could get any one to do this. 
 They coaxed, and threatened, and hired, till one did it 
 — then all must do it. Next, forty-four yards, by hiring, 
 was done. This was one piece. The task was then 
 six pieces a week, and a reward offered for seven pieces. 
 When that was done, it was given as a task — do it, or be 
 punished — and a reward offered for eight. And so on 
 to twelve pieces — Judge B. and McC. solemnly giving 
 their word, from time to time, that they would not go 
 any higher. But word, honor, and every principle of 
 honesty, propriety, or decency, was sacrificed to feed the 
 avaricious desire ! 
 
 The weavers, trusting their veracity from time to time, 
 continued to do overwork, till the task was raised from 
 thirty-five to one hundred yards a day, which the most 
 could do before night. I could do my task and have 
 Saturday to mjself, for reading and writing this book. 
 And after I left the shop, they continued their improve- 
 ments, till some would weave their six hundred yards 
 by Wednesday and Thursday night. 
 
 This is only a specimen of the rope walk, the factory, 
 the hackle house, the cooper's shop, &c. A feiv who 
 were strong, and accustomed to the business, would do a 
 great day's work — then that is the task, and all must do 
 it or be punished — and many poor weakly men have 
 been often punished because they could not do more 
 than they could — or as much as some others. Thus 
 while some can '' play" at their business, others are 
 worked far beyond their strength. Some facts would 
 not be believed, and 1 will not tell them. 
 
HARD TREATMENT t F THE SICK. 311 
 
 THE SICK, THIS SEASON. 
 
 Many were taken down with fever and ague, and 
 other complaints. As many as forty were on the sick 
 list at once, and O ! what a miserable spectacle did they 
 present ! Many were driven to work till they could go 
 no longer Then they must go before a doctor, who has 
 not so much feeling for them as for a brute — who will 
 order them to their work, when they need their bed and 
 careful nursing — at other times will give them medicine 
 to make ihem sick — again will refuse to look at, or hear 
 a word from them, when they come before him, and then 
 go and tell the officers that there is nothing the matter 
 with them. 
 
 Next, the officers are impatient and fretful every hour 
 the prisoners are sick, almost ready to command them to 
 get well and go to work, yet will do nothing to make 
 them able. In one instance McC. gave orders to a sick 
 man, " J., you have been sick long enough. I shan't 
 put up with it any longer, now go to work and get 
 well !" Many, many have been driven to work long 
 before they ought to go, or were able to work. The 
 consequence was, they had a relapse, and were worse, 
 perhaps, than before. 
 
 Again, they are committed to the care of a fellow pri- 
 soner, who is almost as bad as the doctor — ungodly, 
 hardened, selfish, lazy, having but little concern whe- 
 ther they live or die. 
 
 It is not of much consequence what the disease is, the 
 prescriptions are much alike — generally a heavy dose of 
 calomel and jalap, or blue mass, or oil, or quinine. A 
 number of men went to the doctor to have their teeth 
 pulled, which ached severely — he ordered an emetic for 
 them, and they had to take it ! Other cases might be 
 given just as absurd. And his dietetic prescriptions are 
 general, for all alike, whether they can eat the food or 
 not. For breakfast they have a piece of dry, hard, corn 
 bread, and a cup of bitter rye coffee ; for dinner, some 
 dry mush, or potatoes, or potato soup, and dry corn 
 bread — at times, beef broth j for supper, the same as for 
 
312 COMFORT IN, AND BENEFIT OF SICKNESS. 
 
 breakfast. Some extreme .md favored cases get now and 
 then a piece of dry, wheat bread, or if they are dying, a lit- 
 tle chicken broth ! The common complaint is " I can't 
 get anything that I can eat." Generally, nothing suita- 
 ble or nourishing is provided, and thus they are starved, 
 till they are driven to work again, on their corn bread 
 and (iii bacon, which often brings a relapse. And, ex- 
 cept in dangerous cases, they are confined to their cells 
 where the air is impure and oppressive, with no one to 
 fan, cheer, or help them. " O, this is exaggeration !" 
 says one. " I speak that I do know, and testify that I 
 have .9een," and felt, and yet " the half has not been 
 told you." I cannot portray it fully. 
 
 On the 5th of August, James was taken with the chills, 
 fever, and headache. He went to Dr. Moore, who ut- 
 terly refused to do anything for him. In the course of 
 a week, he was about again. On the 12th, I was taken 
 ■with the chills. For five days, I was unable to get any 
 medicine. And when it did come, I was obliged to get 
 up every hour, for two nights, at the knock of the guard 
 on the door, and take it alone. About this time James 
 was taken again. We had but little to strengthen us — 
 little that a sick man or weak stomach could bear. 
 
 On the 26th, Alanson was taken sick, and quit work 
 for a week. 
 
 On the 3d of September T was taken again — a shake 
 every day. To get strength on the diet we had, seemed 
 almost impossible. Two weeks I kept still. To- 
 wards the last of September, Alanson was again brought 
 to his bed. During this sickness, he succeeded in get- 
 ting one small piece of light bread. Otherwise, the diet 
 was as previously described. 
 
 While thus stretched upon our beds of pain and lan- 
 guishing^, we had no kind, angel hand to soothe, and 
 administer to our necessities. While one was burning 
 with fever, the others were obliged to be at their work, 
 leaving the sufferer alone with God. 
 
 But the Lord made all our bed in our sickness. Ps. 
 xli. 1-3. He '' stayed his rough wind in the day of his 
 east wind," Whatever we lacked we were assured that 
 
LOVE OF PRISON J.IFE. 313 
 
 we had what was good. While food was denied the 
 body, our souls had food they knew not of. The pro- 
 mises were reviving cordials. The heavenly letter was 
 full of consolation, vast and free. 
 
 By these trials we learned how to sympathize with 
 the poor — we better understand the heart of a pri- 
 f^oner, and the condition of thousands of the slaves, 
 who in sickness are not treated half so well as we were. 
 We are better prepared to labor for them. ! how lit- 
 tle do they suffer from sickness, who are surrounded by 
 kind friends, nnxious to make them as comtbrtable as 
 possible, who have all they can wish or ask for, when 
 compared with a poor prisoner or a slave, who has 
 much to make and keep him sick, and but little to 
 make him well ! "Sick, and in prison." 
 
 I have been thus particular, 
 
 1. That the world may know these things, and if pos- 
 sble, that a change may be effected. 
 
 2. That Christians may pray for them. 
 
 3. That they may be thankful for the mercies they 
 enjoy. 
 
 4. To magnify the grace of God, who stood by and 
 comforted us in all our afflictions. 
 
 When we were sick with chills, we generally could 
 read or write every other day; and in this manner I read 
 much, and wrote many of the foregoing pages, when 1 
 had to bolster up in my bed. Other parts were written 
 late at night, while others were asleep, and when I much 
 needed to be asleep. 
 
 RECOMMITMENTS. 
 
 The majority of the prisoners came from St. Louis in 
 gangs, i'rom two to seventeen, witji sentences from two 
 to ninety-nine years, on charges of all kinds. Many are 
 not satisfied with one trial, and come again. Since we 
 have been here, four or five have served their time out, 
 gone forth to stealing, and came back again — and some 
 have served out their second term, since ours commenced. 
 One man served two years, had the dropsy, just went out 
 with his /i/e, went to St. Louis, committed highway rob 
 
 14 
 
314 LOVF, OF PRISON LITE. 
 
 bery, and was sent back for ten years, having been ab- 
 sent about six weeks. He will probably die here. 
 Many go from here, almost directly to other prisons, and 
 from thence to others — thus they spend their lives in the 
 various prisons of the world. VVe have, and have had 
 them here from nearly all the penitentiaries in the Union, 
 East, West, North, and South. And many have been in 
 two, three, four, penitentiaries, and so on, before they 
 came here. One man spent tweiity-two years of his 
 life thus, before being sentenced here for six more. 
 
 To many, there is no place so natural and so much 
 like home i!S a prison. And I have remarked of a num- 
 ber of new comers, " That man has been in a Peniten- 
 tiary before." Why ] '' He acts perfectly at home. He 
 knows all about the ways and manners of convicts." 
 
 When a new one comes " he acts like a cat in a strange 
 garret," as the saying is. He is awkward and confused, 
 and frightened, and disconsolate. 
 
 A number are here from New South Wales. They 
 escaped from there on vessels, went to New Zealand, 
 and lived for nine months naked with the natives, till an 
 opportunity offered to come to this country. One lived 
 thus among the natives two years — married a chief's 
 daughter, and had two children. He is a polished vogne^ 
 very affable in his manners. Thus they go from one 
 place to another. Steal they wiU., for it is the only way 
 they know to get a living — and thieves are caught — and 
 prisons are made for thieves. Their sin finds them out, 
 and they find '• the way of transgressors is hard — here, 
 and hereafter. Pitiable objects! Yet, this is a place 
 for moulding such characters ! 
 
 extract from james' letter sept. 24, 1844. 
 
 Dear Brother : 
 
 This is the first I have written with my right hand, 
 since I broke it — and as it is now so stiff that I cannot shut 
 it, I have no hope of ever having the proper use of it again. 
 I can do but very little of anything with it. Looking at 
 the circumstance in a worldly point ef view, many 
 
EXTRACT OF A LETTER. 316 
 
 would think it a hard matter to be a cripple all their 
 days, but I do not have a murmuring thought about it — 
 feeling that all that God does is right and well done. He 
 has a special regard for all his children, and will always 
 do what is for their best good. I feel that dying is no- 
 thing. God will do "all things well." 
 
 James. 
 
 quietness extract of a letter. 
 
 " When He giveth quietness, who then can make trou- 
 ble?" There is the quietness of the calm which pre- 
 sages the dreadful storm — and there is a quietness of the 
 soul^ produced by a sense of God's favor, and protection. 
 It arises from a confidence in his goodness, power, and 
 faithfulness to all his promises. It resulis from an im- 
 plicit committing of ourselves to his disposal and care. 
 It is a " quietness,''^ which all the storms of earth cannot 
 discompose, consisting of ^'■perfect peace,^^ of "joy un- 
 speakable and full of glory." O ! blessed " quietness! " 
 
 George. 
 
 the christian slave. 
 
 About the middle of September, a slave was brought 
 here from the city. His crime was this — a suspicion on the 
 part of his master, that he would run away. The slave 
 was a Christian. He said to Alanson, " If they sell me 
 South, the Lord is there. I don't care where they put me, 
 the Lord is with me from time to time. I am happier here 
 than I was outside. I have a house in heaven. I am 
 bound to believe in Jesus Christ, &c." 
 
 The following occurred between him and James : " Do 
 you know whether your master will sell you South 1" 
 He replied, " I do not. I have lived with him fourteen 
 years, and always tried to do well." " Wherever they 
 send you, live for God." " That I am determined to do. 
 Though all forsake me, God is my friend. Send me 
 where they will, they can't take Him away from me. 
 He is all the comfort I have." " Can you read ?" 
 "Some." " You must try and improve all you can." 
 " I will — but we have only one book" (among three) . " I 
 
316 CHRIST SOLD. 
 
 will lend you a Testament next Sabbath." " I wish you 
 would. I like to read — but above all, I like to look into 
 the holy book of God— that's the best of all." " I 
 would be glad to help you if I could, but it is for trying 
 to help just such a man as you, that I am sent here." " I 
 know it," said he, " and there is a great reward laid up 
 for you." " It don't matter much," said James, " if we 
 are bound in this world, if we are Christians, and get 
 to heaven, we shall then all be alike and happy — there 
 is no slavery there." " I know it. I am sure of that." 
 "I pray for you every day." " I thank you," said he. 
 *' I too pray for you all." 
 
 What a lesson many Christians may learn from this 
 poor slave ! No outward trouble or circumstances 
 could destroy his happiness. And mark how the slaves 
 regard our sufferings. Give me their prayers and bless- 
 ings rather than the favor of their opulent masters. 
 
 On the 19th, the master came in with another man, 
 and asked, " How much do you think you can give me 
 for him V Who that has human feelings is not shocked 
 at such a question ? His master is a professor of religion. 
 See him bartering away for money, a brother in the 
 Lord — one of Christ's "little ones!" Yea, selling 
 Christ himself, according to his own declaration. 
 How similar to Judas' question ! 
 
 What multitudes are sold and abused who are true 
 Christians, by those who profess to be the same ! O ! 
 when all these things shall be published at the great, 
 day, what scenes will be exhibited ! And yet this is 
 the system that the mass of the Church are countenanc- 
 ing — in which many of her members are engaged, and 
 which many of her watchmen refuse to rebuke and op- 
 pose ! 
 
 Sept. 20. Sabbath morning, the slave came to our 
 cell, and we had a blessed season of conversation and 
 ])rayer together. O ! that prayer ! How childlike ! 
 How submissive, and truly evangelical ! It did us 
 good. 
 
 He told his experience, which was very touching, and 
 highly scriptural, It reminded us of some of Bunyan's 
 
THE CHRISTI-vN SLAVE. 317 
 
 figures — such as the burden, a view of the cross, and the 
 Savior offering to help. His views of the evil and de- 
 sert of sin were very remarkable. He was evidently 
 taught by the Spirit. " Come life or death, I am fully 
 determined to press on in the narrow way, and never 
 look behind, for there is nothing to look back after. 
 God will be with me everywhere, and if we have Christ 
 we have all. With Him and his love in our souls, the 
 trials and sufferings of earth are nothing. If we lose 
 Him we lose all, and nothing can comfort us. Thank 
 God ! I can stand up before ten thousand worlds, and 
 say — ' I am born of the Spirit.' I know^ God hears 
 prayer, and that the prayers of the righteous do avail 
 much (referring to the prayers of an aged slave woman 
 for his conversion). If I get home first, I shall be look- 
 ing for you, and I hope to strike hands with you there. 
 If you get home first, look out for me, for I am bound 
 to meet you there. I shall be continually scratching 
 that way." 
 
 As he shook hands with us, he said, "God bless you 
 all." Two of the converts were present. " Pray for 
 me. I shall remember you. Let us so live that when 
 we get to heaven, we shall be looking for one another." 
 We told him something of what many were doing for 
 the slaves, which animated and cheered his heart. 0, 
 how far, jfar superior is he to his rich master. And who 
 would not choose the slave's seat in heaven 1 
 
 Should slaveholders see us outside, conversing with 
 their slaves, they would be almost horrified, but they 
 can send them here to us. 
 
 Sept. 22. The slave left, in chains. Farewell, 
 brother. 
 
 Perhaps his master is described in Zec/u xi. 5. — 
 " Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not 
 guilty ; and they that sell them say, ' Blessed be the 
 Lord (very pious), for I am rich.'" (Very thankful.) 
 Oh ! oh ! the abominations of our " peculiar and do- 
 mestic institutions." 
 
 Our hearts were deeply affected by this slave's case, 
 because it has come under our own observation ; we saw 
 
318 A BREAK CRUELTY. 
 
 the Savior in him. But the cases of thousands of others 
 much worse than this, never come to the light. They 
 have no one to cheer and comfort them ; no one to heal 
 their wounds, and go with them to the mercy seat. 
 They suffer and groan, they languish and pine, they are 
 bought and sold, they bleed and die alone. " Remem- 
 ber them in bonds, as bound with them." 
 
 Oct. 1. Some kind friend sent us a quantity of sweet 
 potatoes — we know not who, but it is evident some one 
 thinks of us. 
 
 3. James was directed to stay with a sick man, in 
 his cell, during the day and half the night, till he re- 
 covered. He waited on him about a week. 
 
 On the same day a master pointed me out to his slave, 
 who stared as if he meant to know how an abolitionist 
 appeared. 
 
 9. A company of prisoners working in the back side 
 of the yard, succeeded in getting a hole through the 
 stone wall. That evening was the time to make their 
 exit, but when the leader had advanced nearly through, 
 he saw a number of guns pointed at him, and drew 
 back. Their plan had been discovered, and prepara- 
 tions were made to meet them. A number were severe- 
 ly punished, while the ring-leader went clear. One 
 man received two hundred strokes with the cow-hide, 
 because he would not say he did anything, but only 
 knew of the plan. He was whipped and scarred from 
 the ends of his toes to the crown of his head, and the 
 ends of his fingers ; so that when they brought him forth 
 again, they could find no place to strike him that was not 
 already cut ! The man would not confess, p.nd was 
 almost killed. " For five months after that, I had run- 
 ning sores on my back," said he to me. For a long 
 time he went nearly double, and could scarcely move 
 about. 
 
 The same man was so abused and starved that he 
 was driven to the extremity of cutting otf the ears and 
 tails of living hogs, boiling them in a cup with corn, and 
 eating them. For this he was again punished. "• How 
 could he get these things 1" Very easily. The yard was 
 
V11.E MEN EXALTED. 319 
 
 thronged with hogs, and with a little com he could 
 easily catch them. 
 
 " LIKE SEEKS LIKE." 
 
 In the weaver shop, the meanest and worst man of 
 the company was appointed foreman. In the black- 
 smith-shop, the rope-walk, cooper-shop, hackle-house, 
 and factory, the greatest thieves — the most false, dis- 
 honest, and evil-disposed men in the prison, are fore- 
 men. So did the emperors of old — each one appointed 
 officers according to his own character. " They that 
 work wickedness are set up." Said one of the hands 
 to me, " Thompson, you must be more mean ; then you 
 will soon be foreman again." 
 
 Oct. 17. One of the hands had a fit. While with 
 him in his cell, I saw written on the wall, " God hath 
 delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into 
 the hands of the wicked." Job xvi. 11. I was glad 
 to see that he acknowledged the hand of God in his 
 affliction. 
 
 THE UNJUST LAW. 
 
 Oct. 27. Our chaplain preached from, " Sin is a re- 
 proach to any people." He said many good things, but 
 did not tell how great a sin slavery is, nor what a re- 
 proach it is to our nation. One remark pleased us much. 
 After laying down the broad ground that any, and all 
 sin is a reproach, he said, " The transgression of an un- 
 just law cannot constitute a man a sinner." We trans- 
 gressed no human law, yet suppose there had been 
 ore, as there is now, is not such a law an unjust law, in 
 every sense of the word 1 It makes a man an offender 
 who obeys the divine law, to love, do good to, and re- 
 lieve our fellow men. It makes it a crime to " plead 
 for the dumb," " rebuke iniquity," to be " eyes to the 
 blind, and feet to the lame," and ten thousand other 
 things which God requires. What can be more unjust '\ 
 Then we are not sinners. 
 
 On the next Sabbath he preached his farewell, from 
 " Righteousness exalteth a nation," — a perfect Fourth of 
 
320 Dt-ATHS. 
 
 July harangue. He said nothing about the debasement 
 of our nation, in consequence of its unrighteous and 
 cruel oppression. Every other sin and iniquity but tlie 
 greatest, the cherisher and protector of all others, may 
 be rebuked, but touch not " our craft by which we have 
 our" unrighteous " wealth." 
 
 NEW CHAPLAIN. 
 
 JVov. 10. Our new chaplain preached to us, and as 
 he was not a singer, I was called on to lead the singing. 
 The singeis being scattered all over the room, and so 
 many discordant voices uniting, the sound was rather 
 distressing than pleasing. 1 made application to have 
 ail the singers sit together, which was granted. I chose 
 my own singers, who took a front seat, which helped the 
 matter a little. Till I left, I thus led the singing. 
 
 A few days after, the chaplain came to me, and said 
 " I am a stranger, and hardly know how to proceed or 
 what to do. I want you to advise me what steps to 
 take." I led him to my cell, where I gave him a histo- 
 ry of things, and told him what I thought was his duty. 
 He is a young man, talented, but not at all calculated to 
 preach to i)risoners. He don't understand a prisoner's 
 heart. However, he felt fettered, as he said to me one 
 day. He knew the officers did not want him here, and 
 he feels restraint almost as much as we do. 
 
 About the middle of November, Alanson and myself 
 were let out, at four or five o'clock, to make a fire in our 
 shops. 'I'his was continued all winter, which gave us 
 an opportunity to read considerably in the morning, as 
 W'ell as evening. 
 
 DEATHS. 
 
 On the morning of the 10th, P. R. died. He had 
 been sick but four or five days. I knew nothing of his 
 sickness till after I was locked in my cell, the night he 
 died. He had been here one year. lie was very fond 
 of his children, talked much about, and longed to see 
 them. A short time before this, his little son sent to 
 
LEGlSLAtOllS. 321 
 
 him, " Pa, you are gone too long." Poor boy ! What 
 >vill he think now ? How will his little heart break, to 
 think he can never see Pa again. 
 
 Soon another was called away, after being sick one 
 week. He had but five months to stay, would do any- 
 thing to gain the favor of the officers, but neglected to 
 seek God's favor, " which is life," till death took away 
 his spirit, and the doctors his body for dissection. 
 
 Three days after, another died, trusting in his own 
 morality. 
 
 When I went out, early in the morning, 1 asked the 
 steward, "How are the sick?" "They are all dead." 
 James had been sitting up with them, and a guard asked 
 him how they were. " The Doctor says they might get 
 well, if they could only have the proper attention paid 
 to them." The guard replied, " Ah ! you know that 
 cannot here be obtained." For the want of it, numbers 
 have died. 
 
 THE LEGISLATOR. 
 
 Mov. 23. The man with whom I have had two con- 
 versations (previously mentioned), called to have an 
 " abolition argument," as he said. His principal topic 
 again, was about the pnhlic opinion with regard to this 
 or any other evil. " The only true and safe course, is 
 to enlighten the people, and bring public sentiment 
 against it." I answered, " I heartily believe this is the 
 best way to do away slavery." 
 
 But how, hoio, HOW, is the slaveholdin^ public to be 
 enlightened'? If they believe in "enlightening the 
 public," why this fear of the light, and making laws 
 against if? Ah! well do they know that their cause 
 will not bear the light. To " enlighten the people," is 
 just what we want. 
 
 A few days after, he came again, with two others, to 
 my loom, and we had a long talk. They asked many 
 questions about the treatment, clothing, work, books, &c. 
 One was strongly in favor of a Sabbath School, and Li- 
 brary, Newspapers, and other religious means, to make 
 the prison a place of reformation. The need of all these 
 
 14* 
 
822 CHEERING COiSCtRTS. 
 
 things I strongly urged. Said one, " We expect thai 
 you will tell the truth about the institution !" 
 
 29. A number of legislators talked with Alanson, 
 proposing the same old questions, " How do you feel 1" 
 — " Do you think it was wrong ?" They would not 
 sign a petition^ because he would not '* yield the point, 
 and give up to them." 1 hey urged him to " yield, and 
 not be such an enthusiast — yield for the sake of your 
 family, and for your own sake." This was touching to 
 the parent's tender feelings, but the grace of God ena- 
 bled him to stand firm and unyielding. 
 
 Afterwards he asked another, " Do you think they 
 will let me go home to my family ?" He replied, " I am 
 afraid not. There is too much prejudice yet." Yes, 
 yes, that's it — cruel, unreasonable prejudice ! 
 
 During the legislature, many of the members were in 
 to see us. 
 
 MONTHLY CONCERT. 
 
 Though in prison, we have observed the monthly con- 
 cert for the oppressed, and have had some cheering sea- 
 sons. At one time Alanson conversed with a slave, 
 w-ho came to him to get some work done. He said that 
 many slaves were running away from St. Louis. Others 
 brought in the same news. And from other sources we 
 learned that many were going from other places. This 
 gave new life to our little concerts. We rejoiced and 
 took courage. 
 
 As a slave was standing by Alanson, he asked, 
 " Do you know my name." *' No." " Do you 
 know what I am here for?" "I do not." " It is for 
 trying to help a poor slave." " ! you are one of the 
 preachers ! I preaches sometimes. I have been in the 
 cause five years." 
 
 Dec, 1. After preaching, the chaplain came to me and 
 enquired about the class, and said he would attend to it, 
 and have it started. But he little knew the opposition 
 there was to encounter. " On the side of our oppres- 
 sors there was power." 
 
CALLED ON TO PRAY. 323 
 
 FIGHTING. 
 
 It is a rule, that if two prisoners fight or quarrel, they 
 will certainly be punished. Two fought in the rope- 
 walk. They were led into the guard-room, where were 
 Judge B., Capt. B., and McC, to behold the sport — to 
 witness the diabolical tragedy, which follows. 
 
 The prisoners were stripped of coat and shirt — their 
 left hands tied together — a raw hide given to each — and 
 the command, " Now take satisfaction out of each 
 other !" It was cut and slash, over the eyes, the head, 
 or the back, where they thought they could get the most 
 " satisfaction," till one cried " enough,'' and they were 
 parted. 
 
 In ancient times, they assembled to see wild beasts 
 "worry and devour each other ; but in this enlightened 
 age, this Christian country, this place of reformation, 
 official men, can feast themselves, in seeing their own 
 species act the part of wild beasts, and witness with 
 ecstatic delight, scenes which would make an angel weep 
 and put humanity to blush. Under such instructors is 
 it any wonder that villains are multiplied'? 
 
 OUR STOVE. 
 
 Dec. 10. Alanson obtained permission to have a 
 small sheet-iron furnace in our cell, which made it very 
 comfortable in the coldest weather. How great the 
 blessing ! How agreeable were our mornings and even- 
 ings I How pleasant our Sabbaths, compared with for- 
 mer and latter days ! We kept it through that winter. 
 The next we could get none. It furnished us facilities 
 for reading and writing, we could not have enjoyed in 
 the cold. We praised the Lord for his mercy. 
 
 At that sitting of the Legislature, our friends had ex- 
 pected to be present, to intercede for us, but were pro- 
 videntially prevented. 
 
 Dec. 22. After sermon, I was called on to pray for the 
 first time since I was turned out of the foremanship. 
 During the remainder of my time, it was the chaplain's 
 custom to call on one of us to pray. And towards the 
 
324 A PtlTITION FOR ALANSON. 
 
 latter part, I had to pray, sing, and line his last hymns 
 for him. 
 
 CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY. 
 
 The day was given to the prisoners. Our food was 
 extra — light biscuit, roast meat, coffee, sausage, and ap- 
 ples. The majority spent the day sporting and carous- 
 ing as they pleased. We almost imagined ourselves in 
 some large city, when we heard the fiddle, flute, danc- 
 ing, boxing, wrestling, laughing, hooting, shouting, 
 racing, &c., &c. Col. Price, McC, and the guard, 
 were spectators, and encouraged the sport. The mass 
 were all taken up with the foolishness and wickedness. 
 But in the " hallowed cell," a company of Christians 
 assembled, and we had a reviving prayer meeting. 
 I also wrote a letter for a colored brother to his wife and 
 brother, who are slaves. Increased our temperance 
 signers — talked with the visitors, &c. A citizen came 
 to see us, and said, " Murderers, robbers, thieves, and 
 all villains, can get pardoned out from here before 
 Burr and Thompson. They will stay their time out'" 
 On that day, a man from Quincy arrived with a petition 
 for Alanson, which he circulated among the Legislators. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 LEGISLATORS— ALANSON'S RELEASE, &c. 
 
 SIXTH DEATH-BED SCENE. 
 
 Early on the morning of Dec. 16th, I found W. G., 
 our first prison brother, very sick. He was bled — 
 fainted twice, and was taken to the hospital. The 
 next morning James asked him how he felt in his mind. 
 He answered, " I am so sick, I have no mind, I can't 
 think." " Are you willing to leave all in the hands of 
 
LETTER TO THE WIDOW. 
 
 325 
 
 God ?" " Yes." " Are you willing to die now ?" " I 
 am." We frequently watched with him during the 
 night, and comforted him with the promises. I asked, 
 " Do you feel anxious about your family ?" " No, I do 
 not, at all." We often called on him during the day, 
 and watched the feelings of his soul. He was at all 
 times, calm and submissive, desiring the will of the 
 Lord. 
 
 The following letter, which I wrote his wife, will give 
 further particulars : 
 
 Penitentiary, Jan. 6, 1845. 
 
 Sister G., 
 
 It devolves upon me to announce to you " heavy 
 tidings" — yet not of such a nature as to produce despair, 
 though they cause you to weep and mourn — for you will 
 not mourn "as those without hope." Endeavor, then, 
 to be calm, while I say to you that your beloved hus- 
 band, W. G., has left this troublesome world of pain and 
 sorrow, for his eternal rest-, "at God's right hand, where 
 are pleasures for evermore." He had been sick about 
 three weeks, during which time I frequently conversed 
 and prayed with him, much to his comfort. A day or 
 two ago, we thought he was a getting better, but last 
 ni»ht and to-day he grew worse, and gradually failed, 
 till near sundown, when he breathed his last. He 
 wished me to write to you and tell you his feelings — 
 exhort you to train the dear children for God, and meet 
 him in heaven. In view of death he was composed. 
 During all his sickness, was willing to die, and felt that 
 through the cleansing blood and meritorious sacrifice of 
 Christ, he was prepared to " depart and be with Him." 
 
 To-day, I asked, " Do you feel that Jesus is your 
 Friend?" " Yes." " Will he be with you in the hour 
 of death?" "Yes." I then repeated to him the pro- 
 mises, and prayed with him. A few minutes before he 
 died, I asked, " is the Savior near to you?" " Yes." 
 *' Are you afraid to die ?" " No.*' " Can you commit 
 your wife and children to the Lord?" "Yes." This 
 was the last word he spoke. There can be no doubt of 
 his happy state. For more than three years here, his 
 
32b HAPPY BROTHER. 
 
 walk nas been unblamable-^so that the most wicked 
 were compelled to say, " I believe he is a genuine 
 Christian." Perliaps I knew as much of his heart, as 
 any man, having had sweet fellowship with him for 
 three years, and I can assure you that his spirit, dispo- 
 sitions, principles, aims, desires, hopes, were those of a 
 true, humble, devoted child of God. He was ever fond 
 of his Bible, and " ready for every good word and work." 
 I mention these things for your consolation, and the 
 comfort of his friends." G. T. 
 
 The letter went on to comfort her, but I cannot copy. 
 A poem, which I composed on the sCibject of his death, 
 closes : 
 
 Thus are his toilings, griefs, and sufferings o'er; 
 Ami now, on Canaan's happy, peaceful shore 
 He'll see the wisdom, goodness, love of God, 
 In all ihe pains and smartingsof the rod ; 
 And for them all, will praise, adoie and love 
 Willi all tiie blissful company above. 
 
 ! hap|iy brother ! what a glorious change ' 
 Here, suft'eriiig prisoner—now with Jesus reigns! 
 Here, cast out, scorned, disfigrureii, trodden down — 
 Now, honored by Immanuei with a crown ! 
 From earthly i)risons, and from cruel foes, 
 To heavenly mansions, and to God he goes. 
 
 By the man who came from Quincy, we received a 
 bundle of letters, dried fruit, and clothes. We answer- 
 ed the letters, and wrote a number of others, to send 
 back by him, but they never were sent. Probably they 
 fell into the hands of Col. Price. 
 
 Jan. 1, 1845. " I enter upon a new year, " not 
 knowing the things that shall befall me here, save that 
 the Holy Ghost witnesseth, that bonds and afflictions 
 abide me." " But none of these things move me." 
 Let come what will, if God come with it, it shall be 
 welcome. With Him, I have all, without Him, noth- 
 ing.''' 
 
 The last three Sabbaths Alanson spent with us, he 
 went round to all the cells distributing tracts — " no 
 man forbidding ;" he talked with the prisoners, and 
 
TALK WITH LEGISLATORS. 327 
 
 found a general desire to read anything he would give 
 them. 
 
 Jan. 15. Judge McBride, and other legislators, came 
 in to see Alanson. The Judge said, " Some friends are 
 making an effort to get you out, and I have come to in- 
 quire about your feelings. The Governor says he will 
 do nothing, without a pledge, through us, that you will 
 do so no more." Alanson said, " The act was impru- 
 dent, and done without sufficient consideration. I will 
 not do so myself, nor will I encourage others to do the 
 like." " Your wife pledged herself to use her entrea- 
 ties to get you to go back to Connecticut — if you will do 
 so, you will be oiit of the way, where you can^t inter- 
 fere with our rights." " As for going back I do not 
 know about it — I don't know as it will be so that I can, — 
 though the entreaties of my wife will have considerable 
 influence. I don't know as I have any property." 
 " I believe you have not — your wife is living on charity." 
 Alanson did not promise to go back to the East. 
 
 18. To Capt. Carson and other membei-s, I said — 
 " Can't you do something for me, this winter, to get me 
 out of this place'?" "I don't know, Thompson, it is 
 doubtful. There has been much talk about you among the 
 members, and they generally think that the rigor of the 
 law should have its course on you a while longer. It is 
 generally considered that you are the ring-leader and in- 
 stigator in this affair, because you are the most forward 
 and intelligent." " It is a mistake. In the three indict- 
 ments, I was only brought in as accessory. Have 
 you heard anything against my character or con- 
 duct, since I came here'?" " Not a whisper." Another 
 — " Did you belong to those abolitionists in Illinois'?" 
 " I was a citizen there, and a member of Mission Insti- 
 tute." He was very fiery — spoke of the " under ground 
 railroad," and the work of the abolitionists — was wnlling 
 at once to go and fight them, and tear Illinois all to 
 pieces. Another — " It is a pity, a pity, you got into 
 this scrape — have your sentiments changed *?" " No 
 sir." Capt. Carson — " Well, I will have further con- 
 versation with the members about it." 
 
328 A LEGISLATOR ENRAGED. 
 
 ALANSON PARDONED. 
 
 Jan. 20. Alanson left us. He had been a prisoner 
 three years, six months, and seven days. We rejoiced 
 to see him go. It was a general time of rejoicing 
 among the prisoners, to see " old man Work" go out. 
 
 He carried out with him, in his open hand, upwards 
 of two hundred pages of this work, besides all my jour- 
 nal up to that time. Such was the " good hand of our 
 God upon us," the officers did not even look to see 
 what he had ; otherwise, we all should have found trou- 
 ble a plenty. 
 
 My poem on " The Departure of Alanson" closes as 
 follows — 
 
 I. 
 0, happy Alanson ! released from his chains, 
 
 And compassed with spirits akin to his own : 
 His tongue will break forth in unknown, joyful strains. 
 And tell with exultiiifj; what Jesus hath done. 
 
 II. 
 
 The songsters of nature his bosom will cheer, 
 
 And earth's bloominif prospects enrapture his sight : 
 
 The sound of " the church-going bell" he can hear, 
 And view happy throngs with enlivening delight. 
 
 II. 
 
 Go, go, happy brother, to freedom again. 
 
 The great boon of heaven improve and enjoy. 
 
 A little while longer, your partners remain, 
 To labor, and suffer — and " count it all joy." 
 
 IV. 
 Farewell, now, dear brother, farewell a few days. 
 
 Though parted in body, we're still joined as one. 
 For all these afftictions, our Father we'll praise. 
 And adore him for ever, around the white throne. 
 
 The man who came from Quincy with the petition 
 was here about four weeks, and his conduct was any- 
 thing but that of a gentleman. He represented Alan- 
 son to the legislators as a " poor, weak-minded man ;" 
 said " he was over-persuaded and duped into it by the 
 others, who were more i rafty, and deserved their punish- 
 ment." " Weak-minded !" Would that he had a quar- 
 
BAMSHMENT OF ALANSON. 329 
 
 ter of the mind that Alanson has. And when he came, 
 a year after, he told the same story about James — re- 
 presenting him as having no mind, and myself as the 
 " crafty" one — telling things directly contrary to what 
 he said a year previous. These things I had from an 
 ungodly legislator, who heard both stories, and who 
 despised his wicked conduct. He also lavishly spent 
 hundreds of hard earned dollars, where there was no 
 need. 
 
 THE ARTICLE OF PARDON ALIAS, BANISHMENT. 
 
 THE STATE OE MISSOURI, 
 
 To all who shall see these presents : greeting. 
 
 Know ye, that by virUie of authority in me vested by law, and 
 for ^ood and sufficient reasons appearing, I, JOHN C EDWARDS, 
 Governor of the State of Missouri, do hereby pardon Alanson 
 
 Work, who was, on the day of October, in the year of our 
 
 Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty one, by judgment of the 
 circuit court of Marion County, committed to ihe Penitentiary of 
 said State, for the space of twelve years, for the crime of stealing 
 negro slaves, in this State. And I do hereby restore and entitle the 
 said Alanson Work to all the rights, privileges, and immunities, which 
 by law, attach to, and result from, the operation of these presents 
 — on the express condition, however, that said Work returns to 
 the State of Connecticut, his former residence, with his wife and 
 children, and settles himself there In testimony whereof, I have 
 hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixeil the great seal of the 
 State of Missouri. Done at the city of Jefferson, this, twentieth 
 day of January, in the year of our Lord one tliousand eight hun- 
 dred and forty five, of the independence of the United States, the 
 sixty ninth, and of this State, the twenty-fifth. 
 
 Bv the Governor, JOHN C. EDWARDS. 
 JAMES L. MINER, Secretary of State. 
 
 This is like giving the slaves the privileges of the 
 freemen of the United Slates, if they will go to Africa! 
 And who ever heard before of a Governor having power 
 to banish a person from States other than his own 1 
 Well, it is just like slavery. 
 
 A LETTER FROM ALANSON. 
 
 When the pardon was handed to me the conditions 
 were not pointed out or mentioned, and I came out of 
 
330 iHi-- LVi.NL; MliSOURIAN. 
 
 the prison without knowing that the condition was in 
 it. Capt. Swartout was present when the pardon was 
 given to me and we came out together. After we had 
 started, he told rne he had put the name of John Smith 
 on the way bill, instead of Alanson.Work. Abernethy, 
 the State's Attorney* rode thirty miles in the stage with 
 us. He did not know rae. Where we stopped for din- 
 ner, he began — " Have you been to Jefferson city?" 
 "I have." "Were you acquainted with Thompson, 
 Burr, and Work?" "Yes, I had some acquaintance 
 with them," " Did you go into the penitentiary to see 
 them "?" " Yes, I went in there." He then said", " I am 
 sorry for them. They have staid there long enough. 
 They ought to be turned out." He told Swartout he 
 wanted to make some acknowledgments to rae, but as- 
 sured him he did no more on our trial ♦hanthe law com- 
 pelled him to do.f 
 
 Some months after Alanson left, a citizen, by the name 
 of Chase, came in and said to James, " I have had a 
 letter from Work, at Poughkeepsie. He said, ' if you 
 ever get out, you must never think of a nigger again, 
 for I am thoroughly convinced, that the course we pur- 
 sued, was wrong, unconstitutional, and against God, an • 
 man.' I think Burr, will get out before long, bu 
 Thompson is so head-strong, I believe he will have tc 
 stay his whole time out, unless he talks differently from 
 what he said to me. I would not sign a petition for 
 him." 
 
 Work never said any such thing, | but this man tried 
 
 * Our Prosecuting Attorney. 
 
 t It is false. He did do more. 
 
 X Since writing; the above, I have recei%'ed a letter from Alanson. he 
 says. " I have written but one letter to Mr. C, and that one was written 
 from Mission Institute, soon after my leturn to my family. That I 
 should write what Mr. C. says I did, is too inconsistent to be believed by 
 anybodv who knows as you do. that we should have been released two 
 or three years sooner, if we had only bowed to ihera enough to say we 
 bad done wrong. 
 
 " Now, if I would not .say that, when, by so doing, the prison doors 
 would have been opened to me, thuik you I would, when I had clean 
 e.^cape.l the lion's den, and was restored to my family ? That I woulc^j 
 when many hundred miles Irom the power of slaveholders, voluntariljr 
 
PRICE FOR LIBERTY. 331 
 
 his ingenuity to deceive, frighten, and get me to re- 
 nounce my principles. 
 
 At one time, he came in, and began, "■ Well, Thomp- 
 son, they have played the mischief with the abolitionists 
 in Cincinnati. They have tarred and feathered Birney," 
 &c. I made some plain remarks, and he replied, " If 
 that is the way you talk, you will stay every day of your 
 time." Again, he said, " They have driven the aboli- 
 tionists from Quincy — whipped some, mobbed others, 
 ind they have all left, or will leave soon — and if you 
 were there, they would hang. you right up." 
 
 And again, he came to me, " Thompson, will you sign 
 a paper, for ever renouncing Abolitionism, and all con- 
 nexion with it — never to advocate it in any way, but 
 assist in putting it down? On these conditions, you can 
 now be got out I" 
 
 I have no comments — but will only remark, he was 
 known as a man who regarded not the truth, who had an 
 inveterate hatred against Abolitionists, and yet professed 
 to be our friend ! 
 
 A MAN MURDERED. 
 
 Jan. 24. A prisoner died — insensible to the last. 
 For a week or more, he had been crazy, having fits, and 
 in great pains most of the time— yet the doctor said, 
 " nothing was the raatter with him .^" He begged for 
 medicine, but could not get it ! At night, he was locked 
 in his cell with his sickly cell-mate, without any light, 
 where he frequently had fits ! I hesitate not to say, he 
 
 was MURDERED ! 
 
 On the same day, Capt. Gorden came to be our over- 
 seer, to whom the principal management of the prison- 
 ers was committed. 
 
 A FUNERAL SERMON. 
 
 Jan. 26. The chaplain preached the funeral sermon 
 of W. G., mentioned in the last " death-bed scene." It 
 
 make the concession ihey required ! No, dear brother, you will not be- 
 lieve it. No, I did not write to Mr. C. from P. at all, much less say 
 what he says I did. " Alanson Wokk." 
 
332 A IKIKMJ. 
 
 was the first and the last thing of the kind, known in 
 the prison, while 1 was there. 
 
 Jan. 29. Another man died about the middle of the 
 afternoon, and was buried that evening, I knew not of 
 his sickness, till I heard of his death. 
 
 THE COLPORTEUR. 
 
 Feb. 4. A dear brother called to get some work done 
 — inquired us out, and left some American Messengers 
 — a Christian Almanac, and some precious tracts, which 
 were a rich feast to our souls. On the 22d of Decem- 
 ber, he called again, conversed, and left tracts, almanac, 
 &c. On the 26th, he came in with a basket of books 
 and tracts, distributed around to the prisoners, and gave 
 me what books and tracts I desired — also a bundle of 
 American Messengers. The Lord bless and reward the 
 brolher for seeking out those who are " sick, and in pri- 
 son" — for administering to the wants of the suffering, 
 and despised. We followed him with our prayers. 
 
 THE GREAT CROSS. 
 
 A slave came to me and said, " Do you pray yet?' 
 "Yes, I shall do that, as long as I live." He replied, 
 " When you are praying for all others in the world, re- 
 member poor me. I want you to pray that the Lord wiP 
 take me under His feet, and keep me there till the storm 
 is over. Your brother has a great cross to bear, and it is 
 just as much as he can do to wag under it." I'ruly the 
 poor slaves have '' a great cross" to bear, and all their 
 toils, and sutferings, and reproaches, are " just as much 
 as they can wag under." Lord, hide them beneath thy 
 wings, till the " storm is over." Reader, will you help 
 the slave bear his " great cross ?" 
 
 Feb. 24. I was, at my request, placed in the wagon- 
 shop, where 1 remained till my release — thankful for the 
 opportunity of adding to my knowledge, preparatory to 
 the work of a missionary. 
 
 THE TEMPKKANCE LECTURER. 
 
 Feb. 27. A man came in to collect facts respecting 
 
DESIRE FOR LIBERTY. 333 
 
 intemperance. He went round to each one with many 
 enquiries. He asked me the cause of my confinement. 
 I replied, " My benevolence brought me here." " Abo- 
 litionism V " Yes sir." James said, " My kindness to 
 all men, brought me here." The man replied, " It was 
 unfortunate for you. Some of the Abolitionists carry 
 their points a little too far. There are Abolitionists 
 here (in Missouri), but they don't go so far," &c. 
 
 PRAYKR WITH THE PRISONERS. 
 
 March 2. The chaplain did not come. I was per- 
 mitted to sing and pray with all the prisoners, who had 
 assembled for preaching. The same privilege, I fre- 
 quently enjoyed after that time, w^hen the chaplain failed 
 to come. Sometimes Capt. G., and sometimes a guard 
 requested me thus to sing and pray with them. After 
 preaching, either James or myself, were generally called 
 on, by the chaplain, to pray. 
 
 March 13. I worked on the ware-house, at the river, 
 where I narrowly escaped, with my life. The scaffold, 
 under which I was at work fell, and struck me on the 
 head. It was very providential that I was not killed. 
 
 DID HE "LOVE LIBERTY 
 
 ?» 
 
 J. A. was a slave in Virginia. He resolved to buy 
 himself. For two years he saved what he could by odd 
 jobs, and working Sundays, saving a little here and there, 
 as he could get a few cents for the object. His master 
 moved to Missouri. Here he bought his time for twelve 
 dollars a month — excepting that during two summers he 
 paid one dollar a day. All he could earn over was his 
 own. He worked eight years, and gave $650, for him- 
 self. To this add what he paid for his time — about 
 $1250,00 beside the two years, yea, and all his former 
 life in Virginia, and what a price ! Ten years he toiled 
 for what he didn't love, did he? " Can't take care of 
 themselves !" Try it. Let a poor, ignorant pale face 
 beat it. In addition he earned nearly enough to buy his 
 wife. He has here been converted, and is a lovely 
 Christian. I have written to his wife, and have read ? 
 
3fi4 r\-i-:\'. :i iiR£AKiN(}. 
 
 number ol letters from her. She thinks she would be 
 " better satisfied" to belong to her husband than to 
 another man. Who would not ? She talks like a ^ood 
 Christian. I had intended to insert some of her letters, 
 which I have, but my space will not permit. 
 
 SABBATH WORKING. 
 
 From the time that McC. came as overseer, the Sab 
 bath began again to be desecrated, and its profanation** 
 increased till he left. By officers and prisoners it was 
 contemned and trodden down. Capt. G. came with 
 great pretensions to reformation. He told one and ano- 
 ther that it was wrong to work on the Sabbath, and pre- 
 tended to disallow it saying, " We want no man to work 
 on the Sabbath, but to read their Bibles and Testaments. 
 If you had read your Bibles more, probably you would 
 not have been here." Read the Bible ! — and one half 
 of the prisoners had no Bible, no 'I'estament, or any 
 other good book. " Want no men to work on the Sab- 
 bath !" — and the very man to whom he spoke these 
 words, a short time after, was compelled to work all the 
 Sabbath day, time and again ! For the last year the 
 most prominent record in my journal, is their awful Sab- 
 bath breaking. It has been amazing. I began to keep 
 an account of the names of those who worked on Sun- 
 day, what they did, and by whom ordered out, and con- 
 tinued it for a few months ; but it was too tedious to re- 
 cord all their abominations, and too shocking for 
 the mind to dwell upon. It is one continued scene of 
 noise, pounding, hallooing, bedlam, and confusion, as 
 soon as the Sabbath returned ! 
 
 The blacksmith's hammer was heard nearly every 
 Sabbath. In the carpenter's shop work was common 
 on the Lord's Day. The Sabbath was the day that the 
 guards, Mrs. Brown, and others took, to hire the priso- 
 ners, for a trilling sum, to work for them. In the brick 
 yard, in the hemp, in hog killing, many were hired, and 
 others compelled to work on the Sabbath. If any of the 
 machinery broke or was out of order, it was repaired 
 on the Sabbath. And manv times when thev have thus 
 
SABBATH BREAKING. 335 
 
 stoleh God^s time, to save the time of a few hands, has 
 He visited them with heavy judgments ; yet they would 
 not regard it. Often when we have been thus annoyed by 
 the wickedness around us, has our prayer been, " The 
 Lord require it," and his hand has fallen heavily upon 
 them. We complained to the inspectors. They said, 
 *' it is a breach of their contract, and by so doing they 
 forfeit their claim to the place." But nothing was done 
 — Sabbath desecration continued. 
 
 0! how often have our souls longed for some quiet 
 retreat, some grove or desert, the closet and the sanctua- 
 ry, the stillness of a country Sabbath, and the commu- 
 nion of Saints. But Jesus stood by, and comforted us, 
 taught us to prize these blessings, and to sympathize 
 with those who are deprived of them. 
 
 April 4. For some weeks a protracted meeting in 
 town had been in operation, and all classes were num- 
 bered among the converts — to what I shall not attempt 
 to say. 
 
 JAMES AND A SLAVE. 
 
 James asked, " What are they doing in town V The 
 slave replied, " Some are trying to pray." "Are you 
 helping them V " I have to pray for myself." " Do 
 you not pray for those who will not pray for them- 
 selves?" " I pray for them, any how." " How many 
 times a day do you pray ?" " I have not counted. How 
 many times do you pray ?" " As often as I can get the 
 opportunity." " Well, then, you must pray all the 
 time.-' 
 
 Another prisoner, " W^hat does that mean 1 — ' Pray 
 without ceasing.' " James replied, " Always be in a 
 praying mood." " That ain't the place," said the slave, 
 "where it says, 'Pray in season and out of season'— 
 that means to pray when you feel like it and when you 
 don't feel like it — when you have the Spirit, and when 
 you don't have the Spirit." 
 
 At another time the slave said, " Seventy-five have 
 joined the church. God knows whether they are Chris- 
 tians, and they may know whether they have the Spirit, 
 
336 A SLAVl/S T.itOLOGY. 
 
 end are born o! God." Shame on many gospel-en- 
 lightened professors, who sneer at the idea of assurance 
 in the Christian life. Let this poor, despised slave, teach 
 them purer theology. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 VARIOUS INCIDENTS. 
 
 THE CHAPLAIN DRIVEN AWAY. 
 
 Jl-pril 6. Our chaplain had been SO much engaged in 
 the meeting in town, that he did not come for a number 
 of weeks — and then, as soon as he made the last prayer, 
 Capt. Gorden drove him away, without suffering him to 
 pronounce the benediction — to prevent his speaking to 
 any of the prisoners, as had been his custom after 
 preaching? I exhorted the chaplain not to submit to it, 
 and he afterwards pronounced the benediction,* but was 
 obliged by Capt. G., to leave before the prisoners were 
 dismissed — so that we had no opportunity to speak to 
 hira, except as he sometimes came in on business, and 
 very rarely at such times — for Capt. G. would cling to 
 him, till he saw him again out of the gate. At one time 
 James and myself were talking with him a few moments 
 — Captain G. saw us, came and drove James away, and 
 led the chaplain to the gate! Why this? They were 
 afraid we would expose their awful abominations, and 
 used all their efforts to prevent our communicating with 
 citizens — but they could not — we did, and I now must 
 bring out their wickedness to the world. The law 
 grants to the Chaplain, the privilege of talking with 
 prisoners as much as he desires, but what is law to 
 
 ♦ He was once driven away before the benediction, after Capt. G.'s 
 conversion. 
 
THK CONVERTED SAILOR. 337 
 
 Captain G.l He has ruled over raen, so long, he can 
 tread it down with impunity — and such are the men 
 placed over outlaws, to teach them obedience to law ! 
 Every desire or effort to reform was crushed by Captain 
 G., but notwithstanding all his contempt and opposition, 
 the Lord gave us souls. 
 
 THE CONVERTED SAILOR. 
 
 T. F. was from his youth a seaman, and spent many 
 years on board an English " man of war." He had 
 visited nearly all parts of the world, and told us many 
 things of different nations. The last few years had been 
 spent on the '^ Western waters," where he " drank 
 freely," became intoxicated, and killed the mate of 
 the boat. He was tried in St. Louis, and sent 
 here for ten years — staid about seven. He was very 
 profane, and ignorant of Bible truth. 1 conversed with 
 him, and lent him many of otir books — his eyes were 
 opened, and the Lord blessed 'the truth. He ceased 
 swearing and reproved the sin in others. He com- 
 menced praying, and talked with his fellows about the 
 unreasonableness of revenge — the folly of a dishonest 
 life, and the importance of religion. 
 
 Said he, " I pray every day, night and morning. I 
 sit up and read sermons till the others are in bed, and 
 asleep, then l blow out the light (which he had secretly), 
 kneel down and pray, — confess my sins to God, and ask 
 Him to show me my sins, that I may repent, and put 
 them away — not from fear of punishment, but because 
 they are offensive to God.' I had frequent conversa- 
 tions with him, ami we prayed together. He was very 
 fond of the truth, and drank it in like water. The Mis- 
 sionary Herald he read with great eagerness, and would 
 sit up till midnight to read one through. It was reviving 
 to our souls to see him grow, and strengthen, and shine. 
 The evidence of his conversion was cheering. Soon 
 after the change, he was pardoned out : we prayed to- 
 gether in his cell, then with James, and another brother 
 in ours, and bade him farewell. 
 
 15 
 
338 INHUMANITY TO THE SICK. 
 
 SICKNESS TREATMENT. 
 
 ^pril 7. I was taken with the ague ; and shortly 
 after, James also. We had it at different periods, for 
 more than three months — sometimes one, and then 
 both at a time. A rehearsal of all the particulars of 
 the sick, during this summer, would not only defile my 
 pages, but be a disgraceful and indelible blot on human- 
 ity. At times, James and I had a little light bread, 
 &c.; and then again, for days we have lain upon oui 
 bed, too weak and faint to walk or sit — without having a 
 mouthful brought us to eat. When able to walk about, 
 we sometimes, by hard begging, obtained a few potatoes, 
 or some small article of nourishment ; but when the 
 system was once run down, it was with much difficulty 
 that strength could be regained. When able to sit up, 
 our time was spent in reading or writing, which added 
 much to our comfort. "During this summer, about sixtv 
 of the prisoners were sick at one time with ague and 
 scurvy, and their treatment was inhuman. Men, with 
 limbs swollen, stiff and blotched with scurvy, were 
 driven to work till they could no longer walk — others 
 were neglected till their teeth seemed ready to drop out 
 of their mouths, and their flesh became almost putrid. 
 The sight was awful ! If they went to Judge B. with 
 their complaints, they were turned off with " O you live 
 so high, you are all getting the gout,^^ or some other 
 contemptuous remark. One, who was almost starved, 
 asked him for something to eat. He replied, " I have 
 given the Steward some flour, and you will probably 
 get some of that ; if that won't do, you may go sick .'" 
 The man got one small biscuit ! many got none. The 
 doctor gave strict orders that no sick man should have 
 a mouthful to eat, but one third of a pint of coffee three 
 times a day, and that I could not drink. One who had 
 the ague, said " I have had seven shakes, and have not 
 had any medicine." Another, who had been for months 
 in the Hospital, and beheld the treatment, said, " If the 
 Almighty has anything to do with human events, I 
 
FRUITS OF slaveholders' rf.ligion. 339 
 
 should expect that he would trouble Judge B.,* for the 
 manner in which he has treated the sick here. Some 
 who had been sick and expected to die every hour, could 
 not get a little nourishment, when a picayuue'sf worth 
 would have saved their lives !" 
 
 Doubtless this is true, in a number of instances. On 
 one occasion, the Doctor said, " I do not care much if 
 they (the sick), do starve to death." He probably spoke 
 the truth — for his actions corresponded. 
 
 Said the Steward, " I am not allowed to give the 
 sick any thing to eat ; and yet the officers are mad and 
 complaining because w^e do not get strong and go to 
 work ! As I spoke to Judge B., he said, " O you can 
 shake any time — I suppose you intend to have another 
 shake to-day !" One who was dying said to me, " They 
 have treated me outrageously and inhumanly." Every 
 word is true. One man complained to Captain G., that 
 he was sick, and could not weave — he took him into the 
 guard-room, gave him twenty lashes, and made him 
 work. Such is the medicine some get. These are a 
 few specimens — I might fill a volume with accounts of 
 these abominations, but the Judgment will reveal them. 
 
 SLAVEHOLDERS CONVERTED. 
 
 April 19. The chaplain came to my cell and talked 
 sometime — gave me an account of the revival in town — 
 said that Captain Garden was one of the converts, and 
 would shout as loud as any one ! About ninety were 
 converted, embracing the oldest and most influential men 
 in the place — our Doctor (/) and some desperate tyrants 
 among the number. The news filled us with joy, but 
 we w^atched for the fruits of a slaveholder's revival. 
 For a time Captain G. did seem a little different, but he 
 soon became as bad, and worse than before — exhibiting 
 more of his contrariness, cruelty, and opposition to all 
 good, than when he was Warden ! 
 
 The Doctor, if anything, was more hard-hearted than 
 
 * His little boy, a favorite, sicKened and died very suddenly. 
 t 6 1-4 cents. 
 
340 i)t--..T I-. 
 
 ever ! And slave-hoklers continued to crush their 
 bleeding victims ! Before Capt. G. was converted, he 
 manifested respect for us, but it was after his pretensions 
 to religion, that he treated us with contempt, and seemed 
 to deliiiht in vexing and crossinq- us, all he could. 
 
 And it was after the conversion of some of the in- 
 fluential" men, that they could come and labor to have 
 me renounce my sentiments ! 
 
 May 12. A. G. B. died — a young boy, sent here for 
 life, for killing his father — had been here two and a 
 half years — belonged to my "class," before it was 
 broken up, and was very exemplary in his conduct. 
 
 SEVF.NTH DEATH-BED SCENE. 
 
 J. H. M. had long been sickly, and unable to work. 
 He was greatly abused and so starved because he could 
 not work, that he was reduced to a skeleton, and became 
 unable to move about. Upon his sick and death bed, I 
 conversed with him — gave him dried apples, and tried 
 to do him good. " Can you forgive them for their ill 
 treatment of youP' said I. "I have no hard feelings 
 towards any one, for any thing done to me. Once I 
 used to take it to heart, but now T do not care anything 
 about it." " Do you think you shalLlive'?" " I can't 
 without a great change. I do not dread the sting of 
 death at all." " The best of us have no merits of heaven. 
 All have sinned and need the merits and mercy ot 
 Christ, before they can enter there." "Yes, George, 1 
 have been sensible of that for two or three days." I 
 gave him such counsel as he needed, when the bell rang, 
 and I had to leave. Taking him by the hand, I said, 
 " Farewell, perhaps we shall next meet in eternity." 
 He replied, " Farewell, George. I hope to meet you in 
 a better world." He soon died. 
 
 Jipril 30. J. J., who had long been sick, died. His 
 whole mind was taken up with thoughts of liberty, and 
 plans for the future. Thoughts of death and judgment, 
 he put far away, even while the monster stood before the 
 door. He had but eight days of his time to stay, when 
 
UNIVERSAL.1STS DELUDED. 341 
 
 it was suddenly cut short, and he was called to exchange 
 this, for the prison of eternal gloom ! 
 
 THE UMVERSALISt's DEATH BED. 
 
 L. was from Connecticut — an intelligent man and a 
 strong Universalist. He died with consumption. I 
 frequently conversed with him. At one time he said, 
 " God is just, and justice is all I want. In his hands I 
 am safe." We were called to sit up with him. Just 
 before his death, I asked, " Do you feel willing to die 1" 
 " If I could, I would rather see my family again — but if 
 I must die, why I must. I have no control over such 
 matters." " Do you feel prepared to die 1" He looked 
 up with an expression of wonder, that I should ask such 
 a question, and with a sneer said, '' Why, I can't do 
 anything to prepare for death. You know what my 
 sentiments are." As he was willing to stand or fall, on 
 the ground of justice, God took him at his word — but on 
 such terms can no flesh be justified. Poor man ! How 
 little did he understand of the guilt of sin, and the purity 
 and extent of God's laws ! And here is the delusion of 
 Universalism. Sin is supposed to be but a little thing, and 
 God's law of but little account — similar to the laws of 
 mortals ! 
 
 BIBLES ! BIBLES ! 
 
 For more than two years we plead with ministers, in- 
 spectors, and legislators, to have the place supplied with 
 Bibles. In May the chaplain was deputed to purchase 
 a quantity in St. Louis, and on the 3d of June a box of 
 one hundred and fifty was brought in, and distributed to 
 all who wished for one. They were received with great 
 eagerness, by those who had been so long without any 
 book. To us it was a joyful sight, and our sinking 
 hopes were a little revived. We blessed the Lord for 
 this new token of his love. 
 
 June. 8. Two strangers preached and exhorted — a 
 large company of spectators in. While I prayed, one 
 of the ministers wept aloud. To hear a despised con- 
 vict pray, was a new thing to him and to many others. 
 
342 TEMPERANCE PLEDGE TOBACCO TESTIMONY. 
 
 who came in on the Sabbath, apparently on purpose to 
 see and hear us pray. 
 
 10. While we were at breakfast, two men were found 
 attempting to scale the wall by means of a rope. They 
 were severely punished. Numbers have dug through 
 the wall, out of their cells, at night, but before they 
 could get over the wall, have been observed by the guard 
 and suffered the consequences. 
 
 15. The chaplain formed a Bible class, which took 
 the place of preaching for some months. It was then 
 given up, but few engaging in it. 
 
 TEMPERANCE PLEDGE. 
 
 While sitting up with James, one night, in the hospi- 
 tal, I drew up a temperance pledge, describing the effects 
 of intoxicating drinks, and promising to " touch not, 
 taste not, handle not." As we had opportunity, we ob- 
 tained signatures, to the number of seventy-six — of 
 whom thirty-four confessed that liquor was the cause of 
 their trouble. An opportunity to circulate the pledge 
 would have added many names. The object was to se- 
 cure them against future temptation. Of their drinking 
 in the prison there was not much danger. One man, 
 who ran away, and was brought back after about two 
 years, said to me, " Had I not signed the pledge, here, 
 I should have been drunk fifty times, but I thought how 
 I had promised before God and the holy angels, not to 
 touch it, and I stuck to it and drank none." 
 
 I also drew up an anti-tobacco pledge, but it did not 
 thrive much — yet it saved some from the vortex of pollu- 
 tion. In the pledge, I spoke of looking to Jesus, to 
 subdue the desire for it. One said, " I never knew be- 
 fore that I was such a slave to it. I have often tried 1o 
 quit, but never till now sought the help of Jesus, and it 
 is no wonder that I failed. I feel assured that he will 
 give me the victory." In one week the desire was all 
 gone. 
 
 In two months he gave me the following. " For two 
 years I used snuff. My nose became a trumpet and I 
 quit it. I then began to smoke. I thought it made me 
 
A PRAYER MEETING. 343 
 
 look bip^, and was soon a slave. To appease the craving 
 desire, I took to chewing. 1 knew it was injurious, but 
 persisted in the use of it for eight years. By the grace 
 of God, I was enabled lately to abandon it, and can now 
 be a judge of its baneful effects. In two months since 
 I quit, I have increased in weight twelve pounds, and in 
 strength twenty per cent. I am not now molested with 
 heart burn as formerly, nor troubled with drowsiness 
 and unaccountable dullness of spirits. My nerves are 
 not continually fluttering as formerly, my stomach is now 
 always in good order, ray mind clear and vigorous. In 
 short I am now better and happier than I ever was, with 
 my longest pipe, or my best ' honey dew.' " 
 
 June 28. Said a man to-day, " If I had ray cell full 
 of gold, I would give it for liberty again !" Ah ! what 
 has the ungodly man here to comfort him? They " are 
 like the troubled sea." 
 
 July 4. The afternoon was given to us as a holiday. 
 While the most of the prisoners were carousing, wrest- 
 ling, boxing, and racing, we collected the Christians in 
 our cell, and had a precious prayer meeting. All prayed 
 and expressed their determination to cleave to God. It 
 was a very sweet, refreshing season. The Lord blessed 
 us abundantly. 
 
 CAPT. gorden's humanity ! 
 
 The wife of a prisoner came nearly twenty- one hun- 
 dred miles, with two children, to see her husband. Capt. 
 G. said to him, " What do you want to see your wife 
 for? You can have ten minutes^ by the watch, to talk 
 with her. You must not say one word about what 
 brought you here, or about getting out." He sent a 
 guard with a watch to hear the conversation. For more 
 than three years they had not seen each other, and at 
 first meeting were so overcome, that they could say but 
 little in ten minutes. She went to the Governor, who 
 sent her back, with orders to let them talk together, as 
 much as they desired, and they did so. 
 
 At another time a wife came to see her husband, and 
 Capt. G. said to him, " Your wife has come to see you. 
 
344 TRUSTiJVG I,N GUI) IN AFFLICTION. 
 
 — she is foolish for so doing, and you can have five 
 minutes^ to talk with her." 
 
 Why such inhumanity ! I'hese two men had been 
 faithtul, and worked hard. I assign but one reason. 
 Capt, G. is a slaveholder, and by familiarity with scenes 
 and acts of cruelty, his heart has become steeled, and 
 unfeeling — a natural tendency of slavery. 
 
 Judge Brown, in general, was more humane, in this 
 respect. He would let friends who came a long dis- 
 tance to see a father, husband, son, or brother in prison, 
 see and converse with them. 
 
 EXTRACT OF A LETTER. 
 
 July 15, 1845. 
 
 Dear Brother E. : 
 
 I have scarcely seen the day since early in the 
 Spring that I could say, " I am well" (in body.) And 
 now I have to lie upon my bed to write. However, I 
 feel happy in committing myself to God; crying at all 
 times, " Father, glorify Thy name." Those who are 
 surrounded by health, wealth, liberty, friends, honors, 
 &c., can know but little of what they realize, who are 
 poor, forsaken, insulted, in prison, sick, languid, faint, 
 and surrounded by all that is vile and odious. The for- 
 mer find no difficulty in trusting God, for what they 
 already abundantly enjoy — the latter know and experi- 
 ence from day to day the blessedness of trusting in God, 
 and to the world they can unhesitatingly testify to the 
 power of Religion, to support and cheer, when all 
 earthly supports fail and wither away. 
 
 Those in adversity drink immediately from the foun- 
 tain-head of all comfort and joy — while those in prospe- 
 rity, drink of the streams which are generally mingled 
 with numerous earthly ingredients. Hence, the benefit 
 of affliction. O, let us i.ot " despise the chastening of 
 the Lord," nor be " weary of his correction.'' 
 
 George. 
 
 "abolition niggers." 
 
 July 21. James was appointed servant -general o^ 
 
JAMES TALKING WITH SLAVES. 345 
 
 the prison. His business was to wait on the officers, 
 keep the guard-room in order, light lamps in the halls 
 and around the yard, &c. He served two weeks, was 
 taken sick again, and another took his place. What 
 little he did the rest of his time, was winding bobbins 
 for the weavers. 
 
 While he was " servant," three runaway slaves, were 
 brought here in chains, for safe-keeping. Said Capt. G. 
 to James, " These are abolition niggers." " What ! 
 were they trying to ' abolition' themselves ?" " Yes, that's 
 it." These slaves were waited on, by James, who talk- 
 ed and prayed with them. He asked one, " Well, you 
 were running away, were you?" "0, no, I was only 
 going to see my wife in Kentucky." Again he asked, 
 " Can you read 1" One replied, " I can. I had a tes- 
 tament with me in the woods, but a white man took it 
 away from me, and I've not seen it since !" He then 
 talked some time with them, and gave them a testament. 
 They frequently came to our cell, to talk through the lit- 
 tle door, while we " enlightened their minds." Many 
 other prisoners encouraged them to try again ; and 
 they said they were determined to keep trying, till they 
 had "liberty or death." When they left, in chains, to 
 to go south, they were furnished, by a blacksmith, with 
 instruments to cut their irons. 
 
 The sight of the " slave trader," filled my soul with 
 feelings which I cannot, in words, express. Heaven ! 
 in mercy stay thy judgments ! 
 
 THE UNFORTUNATE FAMILY. 
 
 A young man came for stealing — staid till his brother 
 came, and ran away. After a time two other brothers 
 came — soon, the old gray headed father, who acknow^- 
 ledged he had killed men, came and shortly after, the 
 younger, a lad of fifteen, joined them. The old lady 
 was in jail, and expected to come, but was liberated 
 again. 
 
 Aug. 13. Talked with a prisoner about studying the 
 Bible. He said, " I want no more to do with the Bible. 
 I have read it through twenty-two times, and it never 
 
 15* 
 
348 inspectors' third examination. 
 
 did me any good." He confessed it was his own fault. 
 How many professing Christians have read it as much? 
 
 We talked with them a long time about many things 
 —a little must suffice. Stringfellow said to James, " I 
 have no sympathy for abolitionists. Tney are worse 
 than thieves, robbers, or murdereis ; and doing more 
 evil than all united." Gen. iMonioe — " The slaves 
 running away, is but little. Those who help them off 
 are not the men who do the mischief— they are only the 
 tools of the great men. But those who write and speak 
 much on the subject, are the ones who do the mischief. 
 They even endanger the Union. No one wants to hold 
 you here, but there is a principle concerned in it — if 
 you are pardoned out it will take off the restraint which 
 we wish to lay on others, and encourage them to do the 
 same." 
 
 Stringfellow — " Well, Burr, you are charged witn 
 helping your neighbor — would you not think it as bad 
 for a man to persuade your apprentice away, as to steal 
 your money? James — "It would be wrong, but I do 
 not consider the slave as property, or bound." " Well, 
 if we let you go, you will do so again." " I will leave 
 the State, and not trouble you again." " It is a mighty 
 few abolitionists, that will be reformed in so short a 
 time." (four years.) 
 
 Many ot the prisoners interceded with them to use 
 their influence for their liberation — and upon their re- 
 commendation, without any petitions, six were pardon- 
 ed at once — three of them, murderers — one an old coun- 
 terfeiter — one an incendiary, and the other a horse racer. 
 
 " NOT this man but barrabas." 
 
 Soon after we came here, an old man, a murderer, 
 was pardoned, because of his money, by Gov. Reynolds. 
 
 A petition came for Alanson — in answering which 
 Gov. Reynolds came out strongly against the too free 
 use of the pardoning power. Then soon \.\\v\\ A. ti. 
 who had wilfully and deliberately shot a man, and was 
 sent here for ten years, was pardoned after staying about 
 six months. 
 
NOT THIS MAN, BUT BARABBAS. 347 
 
 Next, E. H. who wilfully shot a man, and declared 
 to me he would do the same thing again, was pardoned. 
 He was first sentenced to be hung — then for twenty years 
 in this place — then for ten — staid five and half and left, 
 again engaging in drinking and gambling. 
 
 A. H. was accessory to a wilful murder — first sen- 
 tenced to be hung — then to this place for life — then his 
 time reduced to ten years — then pardoned at the expi- 
 ration of five and a half years. 
 
 D., a Dutchman, killed a man — was sent here for two 
 years — staid a few months and was pardoned by Gov. 
 Reynolds. 
 
 Ji. H. deliberately shot a man, and declared to me he 
 would do it again — was sent here for forty-nine years — 
 staid two and a half and was released by Gov. Marma- 
 duke. 
 
 J. G. charged with murdering his wife-sent here for 
 ten years — staid five, and was pardoned by Gov. Mar- 
 maduke. 
 
 M., a woman, killed her husband with an axe — was 
 sent here for five years — staid about half of it and was 
 pardoned by Governor Edwards. 
 
 U., an old man, killed his neighbor — staid here a 
 few weeks and was turned out. 
 
 J. P. shot a man for calling him a liar (and a greater 
 one can scarcely walk the earth), staid about two years, 
 and was set at liberty, declaring he would do the same 
 thing again. 
 
 R. stabbed and then shot a man — came here for seven 
 years — staid four years and three months, and was re- 
 leased. 
 
 T. shot his neighbor without a cause, in cool blood — 
 sent here for fifteen years — staid nearly five and was 
 pardoned. 
 
 W. G. stabbed his neighbor to death — sent here for 
 fifteen years — staid five, and was pardoned. 
 
 T . F. stabbed a man in a fit of intoxication — came 
 for ten years — staid seven, and was pardoned. 
 
 W. J. engaged in house breaking and shooting a wo- 
 man, was sent here for ninety-four years — has the pro- 
 
348 POPE G. THE FUSSING GUARD. 
 
 mise of being, and expects soon to be turned out (after 
 staying about five years), by Gov. Edwards! Besides 
 a host of thieves, gamblers, whoremongers, burglers, 
 &c., who have been pardoned by the forementioned Go- 
 vernors ! So partial did the Executives manifest them- 
 selves to murderers, that it passed into a proverb among 
 the prisoners, " A murderer can get pardoned out soon 
 er and easier than those charged with any other crime, 
 though they may be innocent !" " If you wish to gel 
 pardoned out quick, commit murder," &c. Such a pub 
 lie sentiment does slavery foster! 
 
 Sept. 2. Pope G. was in, with whom I talked. " Do 
 you hear anything said about Jetting me go from this 
 place?" "0 yes, Thompson, I hear a good deal said 
 about you." " Anything about letting me go soon?" 
 " Why, people outside think you do not ivishXo get out." 
 " Well I shall not fret about it either way, and if I could 
 see that I was doing good to my fellows, I should not 
 care for my release." " I think they should let Burr go 
 at least, as he is a cripple, has a broken constitution, 
 and can't do much. I suppose he can't earn his salt 
 now." 
 
 Sept. 21. Capt. G. and prisoners at work (Sabbath). 
 We were also annoyed by pounding, bawling from cell 
 to cell, and dancing. I complained to Capt. G. He 
 paid no attention to it. In the afternoon, James and 
 myself were singing, when a new, ignorant guard came 
 along, looked in, his i'ace (lushed with anger, and said, 
 " Do you know you are breaking the rules ?" " We do 
 not know it." "" Well, I'll help you to know it. I'll 
 have no fuss or loud talking here. What are your 
 names'?" ^ Burr and Thompson." He shut both doors 
 in a great rage. We continued our singing, knowing 
 what we were about, and had no'" fuss." 
 
 25. I asked a slave, " When are you going to bo 
 free?" " After I am dead." This is the poor slave's 
 hope. 
 
tHE SLAVEYS HOPE. 349 
 
 THE slave's hope. 
 I. 
 
 From this sore bondage I then shall he free, 
 
 After I'm dead — after I'm dead. 
 Rest in the grave, there remains yet for me, 
 
 After I'm dead — after I'm dead. 
 Here, I expect still to suffer and toil, 
 And with my heart's blood to fatten the soil • 
 But oh ! I shall rest, from this world of turmoil 
 
 After I'm dead— after I'm dead. 
 
 II. 
 I shall be free from the tyrant's strong hand, 
 
 After I'm dead — after I'm dead. 
 Nor tremblino^ hear his loud threat'ning command, 
 
 AftPT T'TT! dead — after I'm dead. 
 i^ow, ihey may bind me, and beat when they please, 
 I're^s me with burdens which give me no ease; 
 No .more, as their victim, on me shall they seize, 
 
 After I'm dead — after I'm dead. 
 
 III. 
 
 I shall be free from their scorn and contempt, 
 
 After I'm dead — after I'm dead. 
 They to their malice may give a free vent, 
 
 After I'm dead — after I'm dead. 
 Far from their power, I then shall abide, 
 cafe from their envy — secure from their pride ; 
 And soon, in the dust, they will lie by my sidi-, 
 
 After I'm dead — after I'm dead. 
 
 IV. 
 
 1 shall be free ! 0, the rapturous name i 
 
 After I'm dead — after I'm dead. 
 Free from my shackles, and all mortals' clain;, 
 
 After I'm dead — after I'm dead. 
 And my dear Savior I hope soon to see, 
 Who gave His life as a ransom for me. 
 That I, in his kingdom, might ever be FREE, 
 
 After I'm dead — aftei- I'm dead. 
 Penitentiary, Sept, 25, 1845. 
 
 Toward the last of September, James was sick again 
 with ague — took much medicine. 
 
 At that time, I composed an address to the Governor 
 in poetry, which he received kindly, and showed to 
 
350 ADDRESS TO GOV. EDWARDS. 
 
 numbers who came to see him. I have not room, or the 
 reader should have the address. Here follows a short 
 extract — 
 
 O, may I go ? Can'st you my pardon grant ? 
 Ten thousand thousand will your kindness thank. 
 Others have been released — O ! why not I 
 Or must I here remain and droop and die ? 
 A brother and companion on my charge 
 Has been reslored to lil)erty at large, 
 For which a thousand thanks to heaven ascend, 
 And shall in blessings on your head descend; 
 And thou-amls more, with prayers for you shall rise, 
 As sweet and grateful incense to the skies, 
 If a poor cajitive's prayer shall reach your heart, 
 And draw the word from you, " In peace depart." 
 
 I am a Christian, Sir, and Christ my Lord, 
 Will bless with vast and infinite reward. 
 The man, who to his suffering subject shows 
 Compassion, and relief from heavy woes. 
 
 In view of our relationship as men. 
 Which should all sinful prejudice condemn ; 
 In view of prayers, and tears, and many sighs, 
 Which daily to Jehovah's throne arise; 
 In view of millions sinking down to hell. 
 Whose suff'rings mortal lips can never tell; 
 In view of time, which soon will be no more, 
 But waft us to a distant, unknown shore; 
 In view of Death, which hastens on apace, 
 To usher us before the Judge's face; 
 In view of that gri at, final, reckoning day. 
 When we shall hear him to his children say — ■, 
 " Come near, ye blessed, and sit down with me 
 On thrones prepared from all eternity" — 
 Hut to the wicked, " Hence, accursed, depart ! — 
 With Satan and his angels have your part ;" 
 hi view of heaven, where angels prostrate fall. 
 With saints confessiiiir Jesus Lord of all, 
 Wlieie endless pleasures do for ever roll, 
 And full fruition fills up every soul; 
 in view of vast eternity to come. 
 Which fixes our unchanging, future doom; 
 In view of all ; I ask once more the same. 
 And plead for mercy in my Savior's name ; 
 Commending you to his all gracious care, 
 That you may hear and grant my earnest prayer. 
 
MORE PARDONED. 351 
 
 Sept. 29. The Methodist minister from St. Louis 
 preached for us. The next day he went, in company 
 with our chaplain and others, to see the Governor in 
 our behalf. Towards evening they called to see us — 
 spoke very kindly — felt much — saw my address — said, 
 " You will get out after a while, be patient. The weather 
 is setting that way /" 
 
 Oct. 1. Two more were pardoned out, and I was ap- 
 pointed to supply the place of one of them, in carrying 
 around bread at night, to one quarter of the prisoners. 
 By this arrangement, we had better suppers. I continu- 
 ed so to do for nine months, till I left. 
 
 15. A young man was pardoned, who went to the 
 Governor to plead for us. The Governor said, " I will 
 attend to their case, and turn them out just as soon as I 
 can consistently." Public opinion was his guide. 
 During this month, James was sick much of the time, 
 with bilious complaints. I began to gain strength to 
 labor. 
 
 A CASE OF CRUELTY. 
 
 Two prisoners dug through the cell wall, unlocked ano- 
 ther cell, and let out two others, intending to scale the out- 
 side wall. They were discovered, and terribly punished 
 immediately. Some who celled near by, said, they " never 
 heard such hot times in the guard-room before." Others 
 said they heard " much whipping and loud cries," and 
 while they were whipping one, they heard Bradbury say, 
 " Now get up." "I can't Mr. B." He then whipped 
 him again, " Now get up, or I'll kill you." " Judge 
 Brown, do stop Mr. B. I can't get up." " Then drag 
 him to his cell." And as he was crawling to a cell 
 near by, he was heard, " Do stop, Mr. Davis. I am go- 
 ing as fast as I can." He probably was kicking him 
 along. In the morning, Capt. G. came to me and said, 
 "Go there into the hall, pick up S., and carry him to 
 his cell, he has the backache.''^ Backache! 0, what 
 hard-heartedness ! But this is slavery ! He was lying 
 on the bricks, in great pain, and almost as helpless as a 
 man with his back broken. We carried him to his cell. 
 
352 CRUELTY NOTHING AGAINST ME. 
 
 where he remained a considerable time before he could 
 get out. 
 
 JVou. 8. One who has lived South, said to James, " I 
 have seen planters sit down, each het a nigger, and 
 gamble for them !" Can the history of heathenism 
 furnish its equal 1 And yet who can doubt it 1 Is it 
 not "just like" slavery, thus to demonize the master, 
 while it brutalizes the slave ! 
 
 On the same day, J. F., a former overseer, was in, 
 with whom I spoke, He said, " I have heard nothing 
 against you — nothing against your conduct here. I 
 know no reason why you should not go out as well as 
 Work. If one, all — for all are equally guilty. I don't 
 think they can require any more than that you shall not 
 do so again. I should rather have seen you go out, than 
 some who have been pardoned, who will be curses to 
 society." 
 
 21. James went to the quarry, with the hands, for his 
 health. A rock burst from the effects of the fire. A 
 guard said to James, " I am glad you came out here with 
 us. You have the Bible, and therefore good Providence 
 protected us from being hurt. 
 
 For a number of days he went outside, and was greatly 
 benefited. 
 
 VISIT FROM FRIENDS. 
 
 On the 22d,W. M. and M. C. arrived at our mansion. 
 It was Saturday evening, and we talked with them, be- 
 fore a guard-room full. 
 
 On Sabbath afternoon, they came to our cell, where 
 we conversed, and prayed, and sang, till night, without 
 restraint. From them we learned much about the state 
 of the aiKi-slavery cause, and of the world. It was un- 
 speakably sweet, thus to fellowship together once more. 
 Why were we so favored above other prisoners, when 
 thoir friends come to see them? My only answer is, 
 " It was the good hand of God upon us," constraining 
 ' the enemy to entreat us well in the day of evil.' " 
 
 On Monday they conversed with the Governor, who 
 promised that he would turn us out, if they would send 
 
THE BEST WINE. 353 
 
 a petition from Marion county, from whence we were sent. 
 He said, " They have been punished enough, and if I 
 should act according to my own feelings, I would turn 
 them out; but I am the servant of the people." In the 
 evening, they came to the cell, and brought dried fruit, 
 crackers, dried beef, sugar, honey, apples, Missionary 
 Heralds, Union Missionaries, writing paper, &c. 
 
 That night, I spent mostly writing and preparing 
 things to send home by them. In the morning, again 
 talked and prayed with them, and gave them just what 
 I pleased — no officer asking, " What have you there?" 
 They saw the box and the bundle, but said nothing. 
 Who can deny the restraining hand of God? This 
 treatment is to be attributed, under God, to Judge Brown 
 — as also all the kind treatment of all our friends when 
 they came. " Give God the glory." In every instance, 
 where we v; eve fearful, the Lord in great mercy rebuked 
 our unbelief, not with the rod, as we deserved, but by- 
 far exceeding our expectations and granting us unex- 
 pected privileges. 0! "how great is his goodness!" 
 As is liis power, so is his mercy to his little ones. 
 
 But the best wine was reserved till after they were 
 gone. In reading the Missionary Heralds, but especial- 
 ly the Union Missionaries, our souls feasted. My jour- 
 nal says, " Such emotions as fill my soul, I cannot 
 express. We both have to shout glory ! glory ! glory to 
 God ! read and rejoice — read and shout — read and 
 thank the Lord for such a new era in the history of - 
 missions — for such a noble coming out from the abomi- 
 nations of slavery. ! how we have prayed here in 
 prison, for a purging of the church in this thing. Glory 
 to God for such intelligence." 
 
 In the Heralds we visited nearly all parts of the world, 
 rejoiced, and wept with the missionaries — heard the 
 converts sing — saw the idols destroyed — the darkness 
 llee, and the light spread abroad. Like John Baptist, 
 though we were in prison, vre heard of the wonderful 
 works of God. We quickly pass fioniMendi to Guinea, 
 Gaboon, Natal, Ceylon, Bombay, Madura, Siara, China, 
 Palestine, Turkey, The Islands, the Rocky Mountains, 
 
354 DUCKING. 
 
 Red Lake, from tribe to tribe — from nation to nation — 
 from continent to continent, and round the world we go 
 — hasten back to our " hallowed cell,'" and lift up our 
 prayer for the Holv Spirit to be poured upon them. 
 
 slaveholders' christianitv. 
 
 JVou. 30. Our Chaplain, before all the prisoners, 
 called Captain G., "Brother Gorden ! !" The most 
 abased prisoner among us, saw the inconsistency of such 
 an appellation, and many made their remarks upon it. 
 
 But I suppose the chaplain did not know as much 
 about his " Brother^'' as we did — for on that very Sab- 
 bath, he had been at work all day, with a number of 
 hands. However, perhaps this is as much as can be 
 expected fiom a slaveholding religion. It does not 
 require them to give up their sins — their greatest sins. 
 They can hold slaves, break the Sabbath, oppress, be 
 covetous, commit adultery, lie, steal, murder, and still 
 be good members of the church ! / know it to he so. 
 
 ENOUGH TO EAT DUCKING. 
 
 Dec. 3. Captain G. whipped a man for cooking a 
 little, which was very common. At the table he forbid 
 any man's cooking, and said, " If any one does not get 
 enough to eat, come to me, and he shall have it." The 
 next day, one went to him, and asked for more — he 
 took him into the guard-room and ducked him for it — 
 and that is the " enough to eat," he got ! 
 
 The ducking apparatus is a large armed chair, in 
 which the sufferer is tied, hand and foot, so that he can- 
 not move. Then there is a box which fits close round 
 the neck below, and open at the top, into which they 
 pour a bason or pail full of water, directly into the man's 
 facp. Not being able to avoid the water, he is strangled, 
 choked, and almost killed. It is said to be very severe. 
 It was an invention of McChesney, our former overseer, 
 who was a perfect inquisitor. 
 
 THE NEW PREACHER. 
 
 Jan. 7. A fellow prisoner, who served two years 
 
PRISONERS EASILY AFFECTED AT FIRST. 355 
 
 here, preached to us. He had been to the Pacific — was 
 converted, turned preacher, came back, and solicited his 
 fellows to make their peace with God. He was ignorant, 
 but zealous, and his sermon produced more effect on offi- 
 cers and prisoners, than all the sermons we had heard 
 for years. Hard hearts melted, and eyes which had not 
 wept for twenty years, were then moistened. 
 
 Such a shake of the hand as he gave us, we had not 
 received in Missouri. He knew not how to let us go ; 
 and as he left, he said, " We'll soon be released from 
 earth — we'll soon meet in heaven." 
 
 THE NEW PRISONER. 
 
 Jan. 9. A new prisoner came, with whom I convers- 
 ed. His feelings were tender, and he wept freely. He 
 said, " 1 hope it will be for my good. My old mother is 
 a widow, and she has prayed for me, thousands and 
 thousands of times [weeping]. I will never do so again. 
 I am resolved to serve the Lord the rest of my days." 
 " Do you pray 7" " Yes, I have prayed, day and night, 
 [weeping], ever since 1 was convicted, and am deter- 
 mined to continue. I wish to know my duty. I desire 
 that all here may come to Jesus," &c. I told him of his 
 trials, and gave him counsel. He did continue to pray. 
 
 Many when they first come are very tender, and open 
 to the truth. Proper officers and treatment, would save 
 them, but they are neglected, mingle with the despe- 
 rate, become hardened and prepared for all evil. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 PETITION— STATE SECRETARY— JAMES PARDONED. 
 
 ANOTHER INTERESTING CASE. 
 
 Dec. 12. I conversed with a man who said " I be- 
 lieve my coming here is the best thing that ever happen- 
 ed to me. I have been a very b^d man, for twelve or 
 
356 JAMES FAINTED. 
 
 fifteen years back- ^not hurting others, but myself — ■! 
 have been my worst enemy. I am now determined it 
 shall be my whole effort, desire, and study to serve God. 
 There is no other object worthy of man. It is what he 
 was created and placed here for. As for the riches and 
 honors of the world, I care no more about them than 
 about the dust on which I tread." He left in ten days 
 after. 
 
 Such cases were very reviving to our hearts, amid the 
 dense darkness. 
 
 Jan. 18. We took to our cell, the tinner's furnace, 
 with coals. As I sat looking in my attas, James com- 
 plained of his heart beating very hard, fainted, and fell 
 into my lap. With my foot I knocked on the door, and 
 called a guard ; he came with the steward, and brought 
 medicine. After they left, he had another spasm, 
 and fell back on the bed — soon vomited profusely — £ 
 had the headache all the night. Such being the effect 
 of our fire, we concluded to go without, and endure the 
 cold. 
 
 Towards the last of December, I worked evenings, 
 packing pork. Thousands of hogs were here killed, the 
 most of the feet of which we had to eat. 
 
 Jan, 4, 1846, we observed as a day of fasting and 
 prayer, for our own benefit, and' the conversion of the 
 "world. In the ibrenoon, we " remembered'" .Jesus in 
 his own ordinance, and sang hymns which I prepared 
 for the occasion. The afternoon was devoted to singing 
 and praying for the church, the boards, the missionaries, 
 and the world — and we longed to be in the field. 
 
 THK CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN. 
 
 A man sent h.ere for ninety-nine years, for murder, 
 said to me, as I was questioning him, "I learnt all my 
 [yrayers when 1 •.■•.■;'.s a little boy, and keep them yet. I 
 have not learned any new ones. I was born in the 
 Catholic Cliurch, and I will die in it. I don't swear 
 much — a little sometimes, and I pray every Sunday," 
 &c. Poor map ! 
 
 There are many Catholics here, and generally they 
 
SUSPENSE TALK WITH JUDGE B. 357 
 
 are very strict to pray — every day, or at least, on Sun- 
 days — but they will get angry, swear, break the Sabbath, 
 &c. Tlie priest carne to see them, brought books, went 
 through his ceremonies, and they could have the sacra- 
 ment administered to them, while protestants plead in 
 vain for a minister to come, and break unto them the sa- 
 cred emblems ! 
 
 During the winter, when we could not keep warm by 
 wrapping our blankets around us, we covered up in 
 bed, so that we could read. I fixed our lamp, so that 
 we could go to bed, and read evenings. 
 
 20. We obtained permission to have a young man 
 cell with us, that we might do him good. Said Judge 
 B., " If you can make him any better, I have no objec- 
 tion." He was with us one night — prayed, and talked 
 well. But the next day Capt. G. took him away, and 
 put a small boy with us, who had just come, saying, 
 " Take this boy and teach him better morals." He re- 
 mained with us about a week, w^hen I hurt my back, 
 and not having room in our bed, he left. 
 
 About this time, we lived in considerable suspense, 
 having heard that Swartout had been here a month, 
 with a large petition from Marion Co. We expected 
 the Governor would do as he promised, but he did not. 
 Numbers spoke to us, saying, " You will go out in a 
 few days." We endeavored to be prepared, and then 
 left it all with the Lord. 
 
 This was the time Chase came, and wished me to sign 
 a renunciation of my principles, for my liberty ! I 
 talked with Judge B.* " Can you do it ?" " I cannot." 
 " Well, do not make any such pledge, unless you feel it, 
 and can live up to it. If you should renounce, Chase, 
 probably, would turn right round, and call you a hypo- 
 crite^ &c. I am willing you should go out. As to your 
 conduct and Burr's, it is known outside, as well as it is 
 in here. I think they can make no such requirement," 
 
 &c. 
 
 Penitentiary, Jan. 21, 184(;' 
 
 Dear Sir : 
 
 Is an American citizen, in thi ? day of light and lib- 
 
358 EXTRACT OF A LETTER TO GOV. EDWARDS. 
 
 erty, to be imprisoned, because he thinks differently from 
 others'? And has he not the lawful right to express 
 those thoughts, without fear of incarceration 1 Then is 
 it in accordance with the spirit of our free government, to 
 continue to hold a man in prison, till he shall renounce 
 his peculiar sentiments? 
 
 Suppose, sir, the Whig party should gain the ascend- 
 ency, and put you in prison, for advocating Democracy 
 — and at the end of four and a half years, should grave- 
 ly ask you if you would renounce those principles for 
 your freedom ! Would you not reject such a proposition 
 with disdain, and rather choose your dungeon ? Are 
 such arguments calculated to change a man's sentiments ? 
 But have my private sentiments anything to do with the 
 matter of releasement? 
 
 If, in this free country, and under laws which secure 
 to every man, the freedom of thought and speech, a man 
 is to be imprisoned, or held in prison, because he does 
 not think as some others do, we may as well, at once, 
 adopt the ancient. Papal mode — incarcerate, torture, and 
 burn all who differ from the party in ascendency ! If I 
 have broken the laws of a state, can more be required of 
 me, as a condition of pardon, than that I should keep, 
 and honor those laws in future ? Or, if I could not c'on- 
 scientiously comply with them, that I leave the State, 
 and no more interfere with them 1 Such I will do. 
 
 Can more be required of me 1 Should not every man 
 of reason and humanity be satisfied ? 
 
 George Thompson. 
 
 the secretary of state col. martin. 
 
 Jan. 26. The above named person came to see us. 
 " I came to have a free, candid talk with you, and I 
 want you to answer as in the presence of the Deity. I 
 am very much prejudiced against abolitionists. I am a 
 southerner — live in a slave State, and hold slaves. I 
 came of my own accord to know your feelings. W^hat 
 is the object of the Abolition Society — general emanci- 
 pation V " Yes sir — by moral suasion, light, and argu- 
 ments. They disapprove of carnal means, except some 
 
THE INQUISITIVE COL. MARTIN. 359 
 
 " hot-heads," who are for fighting — there is a great diffe- 
 rence between them." " What are your views 7" 
 " Slavery is wrong, and all lawful means should be used 
 to put it away, as soon as possible." " If you were re- 
 leased, and, in a meeting, should be called upon for an 
 expression of your feelings, what would you tell them?" 
 " I would tell them honestly, and correct their preju- 
 dices." 
 
 Other conversation occurred, not important to be 
 mentioned. He asked James nearly the same ques- 
 tions, and others in addition. "If you were free 
 now-, what could you do 7" " I would get into a 
 free State as quick as possible, and stay there." " But 
 that is not enough — we don't care so much about the 
 locomotive, as we do the influence. It is the principle 
 that does the mischief." " What I did, was in kindness 
 to the black man — he plead so hard." '' I don't doubt 
 that there are a great many abolitionists who are actuat- 
 ed by the purest motives." " I will leave the State, 
 and will persuade my friends not to do as I did." * 
 
 What right had they thus to pry into our private sen- 
 timents, and lead us to break the laws of Missouri, 
 which forbid the expression of such principles'? The 
 right was the might, in order to find some pretence for 
 detaining us still longer ! If, then, our enemies were at 
 any time deceived by ambiguous answers (we always 
 spoke the truth), we say to them as Paul said on a cer- 
 tain occasion, " Ye have compelled us." We told as lit- 
 tle as they would let us tell, till our tongues should be 
 loosed and unfettered. 
 
 If they considered us flnev(s, would they care nothing 
 about the locomotive ? So long as a thief keeps away 
 from them, they have nothing to fear. The reader can 
 carry out the reflections, and make the application. 
 
 JAMES PARDONED. 
 
 Jan. 30. In the forenoon James was suddenly snatch- 
 ed from me, leaving me alone — and yet not alone, for 
 
 * That is, no! to go into a slave State for slaves. 
 
360 JAMES RELEASED. 
 
 Jesus was with me. He was ready — took out with him 
 all his papers, but expecting to go myself, I had made 
 no arrangement for him to take mine, though I had but 
 little, having sent them away from time to lime. 
 
 His pardon is similar to Alanson's, except that it is 
 without conditions. I rejoiced to see him go. All the 
 prisoners were glad to see " old Burr," as they called 
 him, go out to enjoy liberty again. 
 
 DEPARTURE OF JAMES EXTRACT. 
 
 I. 
 First one, now the other has left 
 .M\ piirtners in gladness and woe : 
 Of all kindred spirits bereft, 
 For comfort to whom shall I go ? 
 i here's none here my burdens can sha'e. 
 To whom r can open my heart — 
 They pity, and wonder, and stare. 
 But none understandeth my smart. 
 
 n. 
 
 But glory to God and the Lamb ! 
 With freedom to Him I can go : 
 My case He doth well understand, 
 And each secret feeling doth know. 
 To Him I'll unburthen my soul. 
 For He will sweet comfort afford ; 
 And while the high waves o'er me roil, 
 1 humbly will trust in the Lord. 
 
 in 
 
 A pris'uer, they long may retain — 
 With locks, bolts, and bars, keep secure 
 This body — in toituring pain. 
 While reason, or life shall endure. 
 They cannot, no cannot they bind, 
 What God has created so free — 
 The spirit immortal — the mind — 
 A slave it disdaineth to be. 
 
 IV. 
 
 From dungeons it sallies abroad, 
 And visits earth's far distant shores. 
 Surveys the creation of God, 
 And earth, seas, and planets, explores — 
 
*X5ETR* IHF iVfINT> 361 
 
 From Arctic to Antarctic iiieiS) 
 Where mortals did never yet treau 
 From West, to behold the sun rise. 
 And view the life-giving beams spreai 
 
 V 
 It enters the churches so fair, 
 Where saints in devotion are bow'fj 
 And joins in importunate prayer, 
 Or harmonic praises aloud. 
 It hastes to the lovely fireside. 
 Where kindred and friends gather round ; 
 Or far where the heathen abides. 
 And Heralds in labors abound, 
 
 VI. 
 
 It soars to the heavenly throne, 
 Where angels and saints join in praise ; 
 Views pleasures to mortals unknown. 
 And glory that never decays — 
 Holds converse with Jesus the King, 
 And infinite blessings receives — 
 Returns to the dungeon to bring 
 Sweet comfort to him that believes. 
 
 VII. 
 
 Then bind me with chains, hand and foot - 
 My body with burdens crush down — 
 Or deep in foul dungeons be put. 
 And all men with enmity frown — 
 Yet let it to all men be told — 
 To all who with sorrows are bow'd. 
 In every condition, I hold, 
 In spirit, communion vnth God. 
 Penitentiary, January 31, 1846. 
 
 The Lord showed me that an arm of flesh was short, 
 and I sank into his arms, submissive to his will. I had 
 some inexpressibly sweet seasons, alone in my cell, 
 pouring out my whole heart before the Lord. He quiet- 
 ed my soul in himself ; I believed and was happy. I 
 felt that he had wise reasons for detaining me, and very 
 soon he showed me those reasons, and I blessed Him 
 that I did not go out. I soon found that my work was 
 not done in the penitentiary — but more of this shortly. 
 
 T am not certain that the officers did not use their influ- 
 16 
 
362 PRISON WORK NOT DONR. 
 
 ence to keep me, for the day after James left, two valua- 
 ble hands ran away. 
 
 NEW CELL MATK. 
 
 Feb. 1. A very wicked man was put in with roe — 
 one who had run away many times, and caused thorn 
 mufh trouble. I went to Captain G., and requested an 
 exchange, but he would not listen, saying, " I put hiia 
 there to keep him from giving me trouble." 
 
 This was the first time I had been locked up with one 
 who had no fear of God before him, and I sought wisd )m 
 and grace from above. But I soon found him a very 
 quiet man, willing that I should go on as usual with my 
 devotions. He listened while I read, and kneeled in 
 dme of prayer. Being very anxious to learn to read, I 
 f^ave him instruction. And as he was one who would 
 keep a secret till he died, and despised a traitor, I went 
 on without fear, with ray writings and plans, as when 
 James was with me. The change in his feelings was 
 wonderful and rapid. He had been a thief for seven 
 years, and before he came to my cell, was studying and 
 dreaming day and night about getting away and being 
 taken. But these feelings soon left him, and he could 
 sleep soundly all night. He frequently expressed him- 
 self as fully determined to live an honest life — became 
 reconciled to his lot — was very much engaged in his 
 book — and said he despised nothing so much as thieves 
 — to his mind they had become loathsome. He had 
 many questions to ask about religion. "^ havp hope for 
 him. 
 
 THE slave's request. 
 
 Soon after James left, a slave, with whom I haa long 
 been acquainted, came to me, and was very urgent that 
 I should write him a free paper. " I am about to leave 
 this place, and want a favor." I told him that I could 
 not do such a thing. He entreated. Said I, "Try 
 without." " T shall be caught." I told him where he 
 would find friends. And when I made his case known 
 to a wicked fellow prisoner, he said, " Do you havp 
 
bEsiRK ron librjrty. 363 
 
 nothing to do with it. I'll attend to him." He wrote 
 for the slave a " pass," and gave him all needful instruc- 
 tion. Whether he succeeded I cannot tell. 
 
 HOGS OUT. 
 
 Feb. 10. By order of the inspectors, the hogs were 
 all turned out of the yard. For nearly four and a half 
 years, we have lived in a hog-pen, disagreeable, filthy, 
 and abominable. We made complaints to the inspectors, 
 but till now, our requests had been unheeded ! From 
 twenty to forty, and even to two, four, and five hundred 
 of these filthy, condemned, and abominable creatures 
 have associated, fed, and slept, in the same pen and 
 building, which one hundred and fifty prisoners occupi- 
 ed. Well, it is just like slavery. 
 
 TALK WITH MR. STRINGFELLOW, THE STATe's ATTORNEY. 
 
 "I am very much prejudiced against abolitionists, and 
 have no sympathy for you. If you had done it out of 
 rascality, I would have felt for you, but you had no per- 
 sonal interest in view, and such meddling I despise. 
 Or if it had been some poor, ignorant, foolish fellow, I 
 could have sympathy ; but you are a sensible man, and 
 I have no sympathy for you. Work and Burr were re- 
 presented by Swartout as weak men, having little mind, 
 and led into it by you. I would not believe you if you 
 said you gave up your principles. You feel as you did 
 before, and if free, would you not turn round and say 
 that such laws (as make men property, and imprison 
 men for helping slaves), are not laws'? Do you not feel 
 towards the niggers as always'?" " I feel that they are 
 men." " And have as good a right to be free as any 
 body?" "Yes, by all lawful means. But I would 
 leave the continent." " Yes, and go right among the 
 niggers, which shows that your feelings towards them are 
 not changed. I saw one of your letters." " But I 
 would go to instruct them, as any other heathen." 
 " They are good for nothing but slaves — they never 
 could, and never can take care of themselves. I can- 
 not promise to do anything for you," &c. 
 
364 SYMPATHY KOR RASCALS. 
 
 No comment is needed. In addition, I heard from 
 him more oaths and profanity than I had heard in a long 
 time from the most depraved convict. 
 
 Again, to prove the truth of his assertion, he used his 
 influence, and plead one hour for the release of one who 
 " did it out of rascality" — who stole two slaves, sold 
 them, and pocketed the money. For him, he had sym- 
 pathy. Reader, put this down as a fair specimen of 
 Missouri justice. 
 
 14. Judge B. said to me, " I think you will have to 
 stay till next Legislature. I don't think the Governor 
 will take the responsibility (!) without a heavy petition.* 
 I told him, as to my part, I was perfectly willing you 
 should go, and can do no more. Take it patiently — the 
 time will soon run round." A prisoner who came about 
 this time, and knew something about public sentiment, 
 said, " All they are keeping Thompson here for, is be- 
 cause he will not give up his sentiments." 
 
 I have mentioned that one of Lovejoy's murderers is 
 here — I have also had two other prisoners confess to 
 me, that they were engaged in destroying Pennsylvania 
 Hall — one of them was a ring-leader, — here for seven 
 years. 
 
 TWO MORE CONVERTS. 
 
 After preaching, Feb. 22, two persons came forward 
 and professed to give their hearts to God. Here, again, 
 was work for me in which I rejoiced. Both talked well, 
 and expressed themselves as strongly determined to serve 
 the Lord. With one of them I frequently prayed. The 
 evidence of a genuine change was cheering. They 
 met with many sneers, but bore them patiently. I en- 
 deavored to instruct and strengthen them. 
 
 CRUELTY. 
 
 A man was whipped by Capt. G., first with a stick, 
 then with a cow-hide, and then with the strap, because 
 
 " The petition which took James out, was for both of us, and was a 
 "heavy petition." as Judge B., the inspectors, and others testified. 
 
THE LAST CONVERT. 365 
 
 he would not do what he could not — beam a chain in 
 fifteen minutes. It cannot be done with such chains as 
 we generally get. I know something about it. " Will 
 you do it 1" "I can't, ifyou should kill me." " Well, PU 
 kill you if you don't," &,c. A slaveholding Christian! 
 
 THE LAST CONVERT. 
 
 After James left, I become acquainted with a young 
 Scotchman, who seemed very steady, industrious, and 
 quite intelligent. As I was always looking out for 
 singers, he was recommended to me by some who 
 sat near him in meeting, and heard him, as a good sing- 
 er. I sought opportunities to converse with him — found 
 him open and frank, and desirous of Christian instruc- 
 tion. Learning the state of his mind, I selected books 
 suitable to his case, and lent to him — which he read with 
 attention and earnestness. The Lord blessed the truth, 
 and soon he was " sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed 
 and in his right mind." He adopted the words of Harlan 
 Page, " Resolved, that I will, the Lord being my helper, 
 think, speak, and act, as an individual — for as such I 
 must live — as such I must die, stand before God and be 
 damned, or saved for ever. I have been waiting for 
 others. I must act, as if I was the only one to act, and 
 wait no longer." He said, " Although I feel for you, 
 being here, yet I am glad to have such a one to whom I 
 can unbosom my feelings. I hate sin. I long to cease 
 from sin." "The profanity of my cell-mates, often 
 breaks in like an intruder on my best thoughts," &c. I 
 should be glad to give the correspondence that took 
 place between us, on blank leaves, sand-paper, and 
 boards, but my limits forbid. 
 
 I asked the Lord to let him cell with me — he went to 
 Captain G., trembling lest he should be refused, but the 
 Lord touched his heart. The Scotchman was not 
 familiar with many of our tunes, and this he urged as one 
 reason why he desired to cell with me — that he might 
 learn my tunes, and be able to sing in meeting. Capt. 
 G. consented, on one condition, namely, that I should 
 furnish bed clothing ! (which I gladly did). But how 
 
366 THE LAST CONVERT. 
 
 mean and unjust ! By law, they are bound to provide 
 these things, and yet it is not enough that I furnish my 
 own, — I must also furnish for others, and for those, too, 
 who are forced upon me ! (my wicked cell-mate). But 
 I was thankful that I was able, by the blessing of God, 
 to furnish a bed for myself and others too, in a peniten- 
 tiary. As J. A. came into the cell, he said " I feel as 
 if I had been set at liberty." I found him truly con- 
 verted — humble, teachable, prayerful, studious, consci- 
 entious, faithful, and desirous of knowing his whole 
 duty. Again I enjoyed the luxury of social reading, 
 singing, and prayer. 
 
 Our Sabbaths were delightful. His heart entered right 
 into all my feelings, and circumstances, and principles, 
 so that we were one. We took great comfort in singing. 
 He was anxious to learn all the tunes he could, before I 
 should be snatched away. 
 
 Many of our evenings were spent, in composing poetic 
 dialogues — each composing his part. Much of our 
 conversation was in poetry. His outward deportment 
 commended him to the consciences of officers and pri- 
 soners — being faithful in all that was appointed him. 
 
 Our hearts became united, like those of David and 
 Jonathan — and now", he seems as near to me as an own 
 brother. Having " begotten him in my bonds," my soul 
 yearns over him. 
 
 ! how often has my whole being blessed the Lord 
 that he did not let me go with James ! What would 
 have become of these precious souls? Soon after J. A. 
 came to cell with me, he remarked " I am bound to 
 acknowledge the hand of God, in my affliction, and in 
 coming into this cell. I remember the words you spoke 
 to me, when I was sawing — to consider why God con- 
 tended with me — I thought of it all night, reviewed my 
 life, and saw my state. I had entirely forgotten God, 
 and it is for my good that I am here." He renounced 
 all sin — liquor, tobacco, &c., and was a happy man. 
 
 March 3. I urged the chaplain to stay, after preach- 
 ing, converse and do good. Said he, " Yes, but there 
 
THE FUGITIVE MISMONAKY. 367 
 
 •are so many gag-laws^ here, I know not when I should 
 run foul of them." He lacked courage. 
 
 March 16. Said a slave to a prisoner, in my hearing, 
 " I have a much harder master than you have, and J 
 would not stay here five minutes, if I had any way to es- 
 cape." How " contented and happy !" Poor fellow. 
 
 March 18. A prisoner who had been an overseer in 
 the South, told me the following. A tyrannical overseer 
 took his place and undertook to whip Harry, an old 
 slave preacher. Harry ran, and went to C, about two 
 hundred miles, and told him his circumstances. He 
 took two horses and carried Harry to a tribe of Indians. 
 Some years after he went there and saw Harry, who 
 \vas preaching to the Indians. They thought every 
 thing of their preacher, and would not part with him on 
 any account. 
 
 May such fugitives be greatly multiplied. Amen. 
 
 March 21. Talked with the new inspector. He is 
 very kind — said, " As for my part I wish you was out — 
 you have been here long enough. I believe you are an 
 honest, virtuous man, and have a large circle of virtuous 
 friends. I wish you was out. I will speak for you 
 to >the Governor," &c. Such language was not com- 
 mon. 
 
 March 24. The southern overseer told me that sell- 
 ing unborn children was common in the South ! Price 
 from one hundred, to one hundred and fifty dollars ! ! ! 
 
 March 29. A slave said to a prisoner, " I would be 
 mighty willing to serve seven years here, and work hard 
 for my liberty, and so would the most of all that ever I 
 knew." Another slave made the same remark to one 
 of my cell-mates. 0! what a horrid insult to human 
 nature, is it to say that the '^ slaves are contented and 
 happy !" Lord, spare such blasphemers ! 
 
 April 12. At the table on Sabbath morning, Capt. 
 G. gave out, " I now give from eight to ten o'clock for 
 all who wish to wash or clean their cells!" And ! 
 what confusion and noise — bu some sweet was mingled 
 with the bitter. In this time \ collected the lambs with 
 
368 IHL LOKD L»EFJlNL>KD Mfc., 
 
 some of the impenitent, and had a precious prayer meet- 
 ing. The Lord blessed our souls. 
 
 Jipril 15. A slave came to me lor directions to liber- 
 ty — said " One word from you is better than gold." I 
 value the " blessing of those ready to perish." 
 
 April 20. A petition was presented to Judge B. with 
 eighty-five names, that 1 might preach to them when no 
 minister was here. Nothing was heard from it. 
 
 About this time Capt. G. for some cause, very earnest- 
 ly desired to glut his cruelty by punishing me — as he 
 had never enjoyed that sweet privilege. He watched 
 my steps, as a wolf would watch for a lamb, but God 
 encircled and shielded me from all his devices, cast back 
 upon him all his false charges, and brought me through 
 the battle unhurt. 
 
 April 27. At the table, Capt. G. said, " I have re- 
 quested — I have advised you not to talk, and now I say 
 you shan't talk, in your cell or out. I'll punish for 
 everv offence. There shall be no singing or whistling 
 in the cells." We sang and prayed as usual — no man 
 darino- " to molest, or make us afraid." And as to 
 talking, they may as well try to roll back the Niagara, 
 as to stop talking, while the prisoners work . nd lell to- 
 gether as they do. 
 
 THE LAST COMMUNION SEASON. 
 
 May 3. I broke the sacred emblems to my beloved 
 "son, in the Lord." It was sweet to feed the lamb — 
 and cheering to see him renew his strength, and burn 
 with more ardent love. It was a precious season to him. 
 We desired others to be present, but Capt. G. sneering- 
 ly refused. Said J. A., " I now feel doubly united to 
 you as a brother in Christ." 
 
 After dinner, others came, and we hail a melting sea- 
 son of jirayer and praise. 
 
 MISS nix. 
 
 15. The modern Howard, in feminine gender, made us 
 a visit. She fir'«t went round with the othcers, but she 
 had been in prisons enough to know that the truth could 
 
CAPT. G.'s SABBATH BREAKING. 360 
 
 not be obtained from them , and she talked with the priso- 
 ners, who opened the abominations before her. I had a 
 long, familiar, and very interesting talk with her. She 
 was bold, atfable, and sympathizing. She asked a great 
 many questions, to which I gave answers. An officer came 
 to me, and said, " There is a lady here, who has been 
 visiting ?W the prisons in the United States, and trying 
 to alleviate the sufferings of prisoners. She wishes to 
 talk with you." We talked as much as w-e desired. I 
 addressed a short poem to her, but saw her not, after- 
 wards. 
 
 18. The guard forgot to lock our cell, at night. I 
 waited till bed time, and, as I had a wicked man with 
 me, for " safe-keeping," I went down, in the dark, and 
 called a guard to perform his duty. 
 
 About this time, Capt. G.,on two Sabbath mornings 
 made all the prisoners go into the new building, for one 
 hour, where they ran, jumped, scuffled, and carried on 
 as if it were a fourth of July — the guards joining with 
 them, and Capt. G. looking on ! A reformer ! He will 
 meet all these things at the solemn judgment. 
 
 23. Talked with a sick convert. He said, " I feel 
 just as I wished to feel." " How'?" " Perfectly resign- 
 ed to the will of my Maker. Heretofore, death was a 
 terror to me. I prayed that God would give me to view 
 it in its true light ; and as I was reading " Saints' Rest," 
 (eightieth page), and thinking on death, I found peace, 
 and now I am willing to die here, or where my Maker 
 sees best. I felt as if I w^anted to tell you. Tell J. ' &c. 
 
 24. We were much annoyed, by the ringing shouts 
 of warriors, and their friends, cheering them to the work 
 of murder ' Strange Sabbath work ! : 
 
 26. Saw an account of Torrey's death — composed 
 some verses on the subject. I insert two verses. 
 
 I. 
 
 Our brother died — ' ut 'twas the victor's death. 
 Who in his tall, his greatest conquest won ; 
 
 And more accomplished with his dying breath. 
 Than he in all his life hefoie had done. 
 
 The shock was felt throughout the oppressor's camp — 
 
 It cooled their zeal, and did their courage damp. 
 
370 THE AGED FATHER^S VISIT. 
 
 Rage on ye haughty tyrants of our land — 
 Crush down the poor and needy, in the dust — 
 
 But know the day of vengeance is at hand, 
 
 When you shall feel ih' Almighty's withering thrust 
 
 In untold depths of woe to sink you down. 
 
 While bright shall shine the objects of your frown. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 RELEASE— PARTING REFLECTIONS, &c. 
 
 THE AGED FATHEr's VISIT TO HIS SON IN PRISON. 
 
 May. 28. My old father came to see me, and labor 
 for my release. When I was first brought into his pre- 
 sence, the father overcame him, and he wept, unable to 
 speak. I said, " Weep not, father, ' it is the Lord, let 
 Him do what seemeth Him good.^ " His mind became 
 composed, and we conversed together, some time. The 
 next day, we again conversed alone, and in the presence 
 of Judge B. Speaking of giving up my principles, the 
 judge said, '' It is like requiring a man not to eat," &,c. 
 He talked well. At that time, I learned that it was my 
 letter to the Governor, and my talk with the Secretary, 
 that kept me here. For such a cause, I glory to stay. 
 A number, speaking to father of the letter said, "■ If 
 those are his sentiments still, I will oppose him — but if 
 he renounces them, I will help him." I did 7iot re- 
 nounce a particle. For nearly a week, I talked with my 
 father every day — each saying what we desired. He 
 was allowed, during his whole stay, of four weeks, to 
 come and talk alone with me, just when he chose. On 
 the Sabbath, he was with me, in my cell — where we 
 once more united our voices in prayer and praise. O ! 
 delightful moments ! 
 
 I learned that great numbers of petitions, from free 
 States, had been sent here for us, couched in denuncia- 
 
THE PETITIONS. 371 
 
 tory language, calculated to exasperate the minds of 
 slaveholders— and in addition, that the Governor had 
 been obliged lo pay postage on them, to ihe amount of 
 three hundred dollars / Now, while I am confident that 
 the Lord v.ill overrule the x^hole for the advancement of 
 His cause, I must say, that in this thing — burdening the 
 Governor witn tlie postage on business communications 
 — my abolition friends acted very unwisely, and contra- 
 ry to all acknowledged rules of propriety. And, while 
 there can be no doubt that such petitions delayed my lib- 
 eration, I bless the Lord that they were sent. If we 
 were thieves, the Missourians must Lave seen we 
 had a large company of warm allies — and that what 
 they considered a crime^ was, by a large part of the na- 
 tion, looked upon as a virtuous act. 
 
 June 7. Learned that people outside are afraid of my 
 pen, if I should be liberated ; and that it is possible I 
 may be required to give a pledge not to use it against 
 them. No such pledge was required — and sooner than 
 give it, I would lay down ray life. 
 
 The chaplain said to father, "I don't know how I 
 could get along without George." But I left one to fill 
 my place — a worthy Christian. 
 
 June 10. Said a prisoner to Judge B., " Judge, I 
 wish you would permit George to preach once before I 
 go away ?" "Before you go away?" "Yes." "I 
 would if I thoug^lit it would do any good." '"I think 
 it would." '' Well I'll let him." He said, and did not. 
 
 Said father, " They look upon you as a Christian — 
 though in error." And for this " error," they have long 
 kept a " Christian" in prison ! 
 
 June 11. Father came in with the chaplain and Tho. 
 Miller — Judge B. present. " George," said father, " tell 
 these men how you feel respecting the act that brought 
 you here." " I would not do the same thing again ; 
 and I would try and deter others from doing as I did. 
 The step was rash and imprudent." 
 
 Chaplain — "You unqualifiedly regret it, and will ne- 
 ver do so again?" " I will never do so again." 
 
372 QL£SriO.N„^ iK.YAXK SE.NTIMEiVTS. 
 
 Miller — " You will deter others from it V " Res* as- 
 sured of that, it' I have any iriHuence."* 
 
 I promised to deter others from so doing. I have 
 done so in publii; and in private — and I now again warn 
 every reader against doing as we did. They now have 
 laws against it — not that it is wrong to break tiiose laws 
 — they are not worth a straw — they are not laics, nor is 
 there the least obligation to observe them — but — keep on 
 free soil. 
 
 June 13. The inspectors came, and introduced to me 
 the Lieutenant Governor, who was acting in Gov. Ed- 
 wards absence. He asked some questions similar to 
 those already given — was kind, andthre.s his influence 
 in my favor. 
 
 Ju7ie 14. For the last time, I collected the Iambs, and 
 had another prayer meeting. It was a blessed, reviving 
 season. Beloved, sweet, "■ hallowed cell !" Just before 
 I left, numbers of the influential men of Jefferson, said, 
 " It is inconsistent and absurd to require him, or any 
 man, to give up private sentiments in such a case — it is 
 something we have nothing to do with." Wlien they 
 found tliey could not keep me any longer, I suppose 
 they desired to smooth the matter over as well as jiossi- 
 ble. But it came too late. The contrary fact is too no- 
 torious, and cannot be tienied. 
 
 June 18. I was taken with ague again, and continued 
 sick till I left on the twenty-fourth. 
 
 The Governor returned, after a long absence — found 
 most of the people in favor of .turning me out — and he 
 sent my " diploma,''^ which is similar to Alanson's, except 
 
 * Let it l)e remembered, that when I said I would not do so again — 
 that I would deter others, &c., I did iioteont'css to them that I did morally 
 xcrmig. Tnis I never acknowledged, though they tried iiard to have me 
 do so. 1 he only reason, then, why I would not do so again, and why I 
 would deter others tVom going to a slave Slate, o$ we dii!, is the same that 
 would keep me Irom running into a lion's mouth, willi mv eves open — 
 the same that would keep you from thrusting yoursell" into' the midst ol' a 
 pack of wolves to rescue a poor l.'mb— the same that kept Christ from 
 casting Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple. lie who acts 
 presump/vonsh/, need not expect the protection of heaven. Before mv 
 capture, I knew nothing of the danger— now I know it, and knowing it, 
 it would be wrong to do the same again. Am I r ght? 
 
HfiAVY CHARGE AGAINST XHISSOURI. 3'i3 
 
 that there are no conditions expressed. My father waa 
 treated very kindly by all. The Secretary Martin, and 
 State's Attorney Stringfellow, refused to favor, though 
 they promised not to oppose. The father s grey hairs 
 excited sympathy, and his presence touched hearts, that 
 other means had failed to move. 
 
 Our library, bedding, under clothes, &c., I left for the 
 good of my fellow sufferers, who were rejoiced to see 
 me restored again to liberty. 
 
 After I had faithfully labored so long, I was turned 
 away with some old clothing, which scarcely covered 
 my nakedness till I got home. I believe this was the 
 case with Alanson and James. And it has been so with 
 many. 
 
 That evening the Governor came to see me, and 
 clasped me as would a father his long lost son. He 
 talked very kindly. Said he, " I have no doubt that all 
 the States will by and by see it to be for their interest to 
 do away slavery — for ?ifree man will work faster, strike 
 truer, bring it down harder, and work with more spirit 
 and zeal, than a slave who gets iiothing for his toils. 
 One man in the East, will do as much as ten of our men 
 (slaves) here," &c. He spoke very beautifully. 
 
 Again, speaking of their contentedness and good treat- 
 ment, he added, with emphasis, " But they are not/ree, 
 and every man who has a soul, ought to he free,^^ Sfc. 
 
 The next day, we took boat and bade farewell to the 
 prison, and the land of cruelty and oppression. 
 
 TIME OF IMPRISONMENT. 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 Months. 
 
 Days. 
 
 Alanson was a prisoner. 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 James, " " 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 17 
 
 George, " " 
 
 4 
 
 11 
 
 12 
 
 Total, 13 5 
 
 All this amount of time, labor, and suffering, stands 
 entered in high heaven's ledger against Missouri. — For 
 it she must account, and it she must repay — she cannot 
 cast off the \o id. 
 
374 FAREWELL KEFLECTIONS. 
 
 What we have given, .suffered, and done, we regret 
 not. We gave it to the slave and to God, and He will 
 make a wise and proper use of it. Yet Missouri must 
 meet it all, at the solemn reckoning day. 
 
 FAREWELL REFLECTIONS, ON THE BOAT WAPOOLA. 
 
 The time I have spent in Jefferson seems like a dream 
 of yesterday. How quickly the years have fled away ! 
 The good Lord forgive my misimprovement of them — 
 that I have been so dull to learn his lessons, and have 
 reaped so little profit from the kind dispensations of his 
 hand, which has meted out to us the whole in love. 
 
 Farewell ! rugged hills, over which I have so often 
 carried my heavy chain ; up and down which I have 
 drao-cred my weary limbs along, and whose blooming 
 herbao-e and refreshing groves have so long mocked my 
 seclusion ; farewell. 
 
 Farewell! ye huge walls, iron grates, doors, locks, 
 bars, dungeons, cells. Long did ye trifle with my mis- 
 ery, and deride my wishful looks, and ardent desires, for 
 sweet liberty. Long, long, ye held me fast, and would 
 not let me go, but now your power is broken ; your pris- 
 oner is free. 
 
 Farewell ! excessive toils which crushed me to the 
 earth. Farewell ! oppressors, cruel masters, tyrants : 
 farewell. 
 
 Ye fellow prisoners, farewell. With you I have 
 long toiled, suffered, groaned, bled. Many of you I 
 have warned, invited, counselled. Some of you I have 
 comforted, encouraged, cheered, strengthened, and led 
 to Jesus. Together we prayed, together tang. The 
 Lord has called us to part, perhaps to meet no more in 
 lime ; farewell. But, though I say farewell, I cannot 
 forget you. O no, 1 shall think, talk, and pray for vou. 
 I love you. I know the heart of a prisoner. But be 
 patient ; farewell. 
 
 Farewell ! ye who looked and pitied, but could not 
 help; who thought and wept, but could not relieve; 
 who loved and sympathized, but could not rescue ; who 
 talked and prayed and urged ; who gave a willing 
 
CONCLUSION. 
 
 375 
 
 shoulder with my aged father, and to your great joy saw 
 me come forth ^free man ; who tendered me the hearty 
 shake, the open doors, and the liberal supply of my 
 wants. The Lord reward you according to your " will- 
 ing mind," for all you have done, or would have done 
 for a " little one." 
 
 " The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we 
 are glad." " It is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous 
 in our eyes," — to Him be glory. " magnify the 
 Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together." 
 " The young lions may lack, and suffer hunger, but 
 they who seek the Lord, shall want no good thing." 
 " There shall no evil happen to the just." 
 
 O ! blessed promise ! to the righteous S'ven, 
 While up and down this cruel world they're driven. 
 It cheers their hearts, supports them in distress. 
 And as forme, let others curse or bless, 
 Believe this soul-reviving word, I must, 
 " There shall no evil happen to the Just." 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 Reader, I have written a book and told you many 
 things — but yet, " the half has not been told you." You 
 will learn the rest at the judgment, when all things shall 
 be revealed. 
 
 Now are you in prosperity ? Will you be thankful, 
 and improve your privileges and opportunities, before 
 they are taken from you, and you learn the worth, by 
 the want of them 1 
 
 " Work while it is day," and " walk while you have 
 the light." 
 
 Are you in affliction ? From what you have read, be 
 encouraged to put your whole trust in God, and earth 
 and hell united, cannot harm you. 
 
 Had I a voice so strong and loud, 
 To reach from east and west, 
 I'd say to all with sorrows bow'd, 
 " The will of Christ is best." 
 
 Whatever your affliction, submit to God, and He won't 
 
376 CONCLUSION. 
 
 hurt you. Friends may forsake — foes gather round, the 
 elements combine against you, and all nature threaten 
 your destruction — " Have fairh in God," and you shall 
 stand unmoved. " Be not afraid, only believe." 
 
 Are you in a state of impenitency 7 " Prepare to 
 meet your God." 
 
 Are you a slaveholder? " Break every yoke, and let 
 '.he oppressed go free." , 
 
 Are you an apologist for slavery ? " When thou saw- 
 est a thief, then tliou consentedst vvrith him, and hast 
 been partaker with adulterers." 
 
 Are you one who refuses to take an active part against 
 oppression in all its forms I " Open thy mouth for the 
 dumb, in the cause of all such as are appointed to 
 destruction. Ope7i i,ay mouth, and plead the cause 
 of the poor and needy," or God will hold you as an 
 enemy. 
 
 Are you a Christian 1 " Thou shalt in any wise re- 
 buke thy neighbor, and not suffer sin upon him." " Be 
 not partakers of other men's sins." "Keep thyself 
 pure." See that the blood of the souls of " the poor 
 innocents" is not on your garments. " Love thy neigh- 
 bor as thyself" " As ye would that men should do to 
 you, do ye even so to them." And remember, that 
 " whosoever stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, 
 shall also cry himself, and shall not be heard." 
 
 Are you a minister of the covenant? " Lift up thy 
 voice like a trumpet — cry aloud, and spare not — show 
 my people their sins." If thou refuse to warn the 
 wicked of this way, he shall die, but his blood will I 
 require at thy hands." 
 
 Wo to him who holds his peace, in such a day as 
 this ! 
 
 Wo to him who pleads for wickedness, iu this day 
 of light ! 
 
 Wo to him who calls good, evil — and evil, good, in 
 the nineteenth century ! 
 
 Wo to him who opposes the onward march of liberty 
 and righteousness ! 
 
 J f^i 
 
 z\m 
 
CONCLUSION. 
 
 377 
 
 Wo to him who will not " cease to do evil, and learn 
 to do well." 
 
 Wo, wo, to him who will not " remember them in 
 bonds as bound with them /" 
 
 Finally, whosoever has an ear, let it be open to the 
 truth — an eye, let it search for the truth — a heart, let it 
 receive and obey the truth. Whosoever has a pen, let 
 him use it — and a tongue, let him employ it in oppos- 
 ing Slavery — the '' Mother of Abominations" in our 
 land. 
 
 Reader, farewell, till w*^ meet at iht Judgment. 
 
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