YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Gift of A . G . Thomas THE Slaveholder Abroad; OR, BILLY BUCK'S VISIT, WITH HIS MASTER, TO ENGLAND. :txit% Jjf %ttttX% DE. PLEASANT JONES TO MAJOR JOSEPH JONES, OF GEORGIA. 'WITH -WHAT MEASURE YE JfETE, IT SHALL BE MEASURED TO yOU AGAIN." PHILADELPHIA: J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. 1860. Entered, according to Act of Congress, m the year 1860, by J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. YALE'« AS A TRIBUTE OP RESPECT TO OF COLONEL JOSEPH BOND, -WHO, BEING ONE OF THE'LARQEST SLAVEHOLDERS IN GEORGIA, AND AMONG HER MOST 'WOKTHY AND SUCCESSFUL PLANTERS, TET HAZARDED AND LOST HIS LIFE IN THE PROTECTION OF HIS SLAVE, BT ONE WHO' WAS TO HIM PERSONALLY A STKANGBB, STftts aSooIt fs JlRcifcatet). (iii) V PREFACE, The author of the following letters wishes it to be dis tinctly apprehended by the reader, that, as regards the personality of Dr. Jones and his servant, or their per sonal adventures and experience, as related in the follow ing pages, he does not desire it to be understood or be lieved that he sets up any pretensions to the accuracy of narrative. He acknowledges that he has used these only as a stock upon which to engraft some fruit-bearing facts; and that he has assumed to himself a license in these particulars, in order that he might render the statements of fact which he has made, more attractive to general readers. Let it be understood, then, once for all, that it is no part of the author's design that any credit should be given to the class of circumstances specified, aa influ encing the conclusions which he is anxious to have derived from the matter contained in these letters; and that (with one exception, which will be presently mentioned) the only statements which may be thought to affect the character of individuals, or of the British people, that he 1 * ( V ) VI PREFACE. would have received as credible evidence, are such as he has taken from some report made by authority, which, for the purposes he has in view, must be regarded as reliable : viz., an English book, periodical, or newspaper. The statements as to salaries, pensions, etc., of English officials, in the last letter but one, must be referred to as an exception. But these are facts which are so notorious, and which may be so easily verified by reference to the items of the English Civil List, that it was deemed un necessary to be more particular. I will add that the author has indeed endeavored to give his authority for all the material facts stated (excepting those which have been referred to), both in the body of the work and in the Appendix. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTORY LETTER. From Dr. Pleasant Jones to William T. Thompson, Esg 13 LETTEE I. Arrival in London — Buck visits the Crystal Palace — His description of it 23 LETTER IL Dr. Jones visits and describes the Great Exhibition 26 LETTER III. Buck's greeting of the Queen and Royal Family — Interview with an English Gentleman — Conversation as to Slavery. 32 LETTER ly. Anecdote of Dr. Jackson and the Georgian in London, whose Indians wouldn't show — Dr. Jones's Plough a failure in England, because he did not carry his Roots with him — A Frenchman's opinion of America — Anecdote of Captain Black —The Doctor con soles himself for his failure with ,a Scrap from the Tragedy of " Tom Thumb." 37 LETTER V. Dr. Jones and his Man. visit A Hall, in Yorkshire 41 LETTER VL Dr. Jones and his Servant join a Fox-hunt — Buck distinguishes himself on tbe Field — Ib in at the Death, and wins the Tail — Visit to C. Park — Recipe for cookiug " Possum and Pumpkin" — Buck's Story of Uncle Cudjo and the Possum 64 (vii) VUl CONTENTS. LETTER VII. British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, and 5Irs. Stowe — Speeches at thc meeting of this Society, by Prof. Stowe, and Rev. S. TTard (a Negro), and Comments of Buck there. upon — Buck amuses himself with a part of the .Audience 62 LETTER VIII. Social Profligacy of the British People — St. Albans Election — St. Albans Bribery Com mission 71 LETTEE IX. Proceedings of the Bribery Commi.^sion for St. Albans continued — Controverted Elections in 1852. 83 LETTER X. Buck attends the Southampton Election — His Report of it — His Story of his Grandfather and his old Master — Endeavors to comfort an emancipated Slave 92 LETTER XI. Specimens of various Election Bribery Commissions 101 LETTER XII. Passion of the English People for Betting and Ilorse-raeing— Queen's Visits to the R.ace- field— Queen's Plates — Doncaster Races — The Jlarquis of Exeter's, and Duke of Graf ton's " ^Vinuings" jig LETTER XIII. Passion of the English People for Betting and Horse-racing — The House of Commons adjourns for the Derby Day — Races at Goodwood, and at Epsom — Extraordinary Wa gers—Mr. Cobden plays the part of Wilkins Tlasher, Esq., and Gen. Brotherton emu lates that of Mr. Frank Simmery— Trial of a celebrated Turf-man for Forgery— Suicides by Patrons of the Turf 120 BETTER XIV. Want of Education among the Masses in this Country— The state of Crime in the United Kingdom — Number of Offences committed by Women and Children — Numbers of Women of the Town, and Illegitimate Children 146 LETTER XV. Social Profligacy continued — Court of Exchequer — Tees vs. Avis — Extraordinary In stance of Profligacy and Depraved Taste — Mahomet Abraham (a Black Beggar) and Eliza ; a horrible piece of London Romance — Profligacy in London 1^0 CONTENTS. IX LETTER XVI. Social Profligacy in Liverpool, and Manchester, and their Ticinity— Annual Report ofthe Chaplain of Kirkdale Jail , 159 LETTER XVIL Social Profligacy — Abandonment of an Infant by ita Mother— Horrible Depravity— Social Profligacy ia Scotland 163 LETTER XVIIL Social Profligacy — The late Lord Portarlington and Mrs. Dawson — Mormonism in the United Kingdom— The Agapemone, or Abode of Love 170 LETTER XIX. Juvenile Depravity in this Country — Murder by a Boy of Thirteen of another Eleven Years and a half old— Charge of Swindling against a little Girl, Thirteen Years of age — Singular Delinquency of a Boy — Charge of Stealing against a Boy aged Ten, an old Offender— A Youthful and Aristocratic Highwayman — A Candidate for Transporta tion, aged Fourteen— Murder by a Boy less than Ten Years old— A Youth left for Exe cution 178 LETTER XX. Brutality and Cruelty of the British People — A High Sheriff iu Difficulty, or a Hangman ¦wanted— The Chelmsford Executions 193 LETTER XXL Murder at Belper, in Derbyshire — Proceedings at the Inquest.. LETTER XXIL Dreadful Murder at Frome, Somerset — Violation and Murder — Shocking Murder near Lincoln — A Brother Killed by his Sister — Supposed Murder at Barnsley — Poisoning — A Woman's Head cut off by her Son 207 LETTER XXIIL Alleged Murder of a Gentleman by hia Housekeeper 217 LETTER XXIV. Murder on the Highway in Essex — Inquest on the Body— Confession of the Murderer- Dreadful Murder in Devonshire — Atrocious Murder at Wakefield 226 CONTENTS. LETTER XXV. ni-treatment and Murder of Wives — Suspected Murder of a Wife by Starvation — The Bath Starvation Case — Murder of a Wife in Marylebone — The Proceedings before the Committing Magistrate are attended by Dr. Jones and his Servant — A Witness who knew nothing of God, and had never heard of the Devil — Buck proposes to send a Missionary to this Witness' Neighborhood- Trial of the Murderer before the Central Criminal Court ^'^'^ LETTER XXVI. Murder of a Woman by her Husband in the City of Oxford — Attempted Murder of a • Wife, and Suicide of Husband, at Newcastle-upon-Tyne— Horrible Murder of a Wife by the Ilusbiind in the City of London — Execution of the Murderer, and remarkable Declaration made by him — Death of a Wife from brutal Ill-treatment — Brutal Murder of a Wife 249 LETTER XXVII. Murder of a Wife, and attempted Suicide of the Husband — Buck's Indignation thereat, aud Criticisms thereon 263 LETTER XXVIIL Murder of their Husbands by M;iria Cage, and Sarah Chesham — Fortune-telling and Poisoning — A Wife Poisons her Husband in Sussex — Dr. Jones and Buck attend the Trial, and find that Sauce for the English Goose is not always Sauce for the Gander 267 LETTER XXIX. Brutal Treatment of their wives by Englishmen— Malicious Stabbing of a Wife — Savage and Inhuman Conduct to a Wife by her Husband — Attempted Murder of a Wife, and attempted Suicide of the Husband — Ill-treatment of a AVife, and her refusal to Prose cute — Wife-beating, and Wife refusing to Prosecute — Threatening to Murder a Wife 276 LETTER XXX. Barbarous and shocking Ill-treatment of Women in England — New Christmas Sports, where the Noses of Women, only, get sm,ashed, and their Eyes knocked out — Atrocious Outrage upon a Woman — A young Girl Outiiiged — A AVoman Shot by her Lover — Buck finds the difficulty of understanding "the ways" of Englishmen increasing — A Lon don Magistrate certifies to the chivalric treatment of Women by Americans 285 LETTER XXXL Bill passed by Parliament for the better Protection of Women and Children— Lord Gran ville's Jest upon the subject — The White Slave in England — Illustrations of Karl Gran viUe's Jest — Price of Insulting and Assaulting a Lady — A Pugilist brutally Beats several young Women— Savage Assault upon aWoman— Attempt to Strangle a AVoman — An Editor discourses on Cruelty to Women 294 CONTENTS. xi LETTER XXXIL Cruel Treatment of Children in this Country — Charge of administering Gin to a Child of Seven Years — Mysterious Murder of a Boy near Plymouth — A Woman throws her Son, aged Six Years, from a third-floor Window — Buck's History of this Transaction — He is solicited to leave hia Master — Refuses, and sets forth some of the Advantages of Slavery in Georgia over Poverty iu England 306 LETTER XXXIII. Two Children Murdered by their Father at CamberweU — Murder of a Child by its Mo ther, and Deaib of the latter— Horrible Murder of two Children by their Mother at Loughrea — Murder of an Infant by its Step-father — Ill-treatment of a Child by its Father (a Clergyman) and his Sister, resulting in its Death — Murder of an Infant in the Neighborhood of the Bagnigg(i-wells Road— Buck Discourses on that Text 317 LETTER XXIV. Charge against a Farmer, of Murder, by throwing a Child to be devoured by a Sow — Cruelty to a Child three years old — Murder of a Child — Fatal Cruelty to a Child, by Burning it in the Hand with a Live Coal — Murder of Children for Burial -fees— Murder of a Child by Starvation, and Ill-treatment by Father and Step-mother — Cruel Treat ment of a Child by its Mother— Child-torture, by way of Christmas Sports 325 LETTER XXXV. Cruel Treatment of Servants by the English People — Charge of atrocious Cruelty to a Servant by Mr. and Mrs. Sloane 338 LETTER XXXVL Cruelty to a " Small Servant;" or, the " Marchioness" duplicated — Quere; Have Samp son and Sally Brass transferred their Abode to Great Carter Lane, Doctor's Commons? — Buck attends an Investigation, in which it is suggested that Mr. Kichard Swiveller, may have been interested- He (Buck) Discourses with a benevolent Englishman upon the Advantages of the relation of Master and Slave in Georgia over that of Master and Servant in England 348 LETTER XXXVIL Murder ofa Servant by her Master, at Thrandeston— Assault by a Military Officer on his Female Servant — A First-class Hand in a First-rate Milliner's 359 LETTER XXXVIII. Cruel Treatment of Lunatics, etc., and of Prisoners, by the British People — Death at Peckham Lunatic Asylum — A Witness against Bethlehem Lunatic 'Hospital — Dreadful Abuses in that Hospital, and Brutal Treatment of Lunatics there — Similar Conduc"; t^t Dunston Asylum — The Birmingham Jail Disclosures — Alleged Ill-trealment of the Poor in a Workhouse • 369 xii CONTENTS. LETTER XXXIX. What is the Social Happiness of the British People ?-Tho Paupers and the Beggars help to furnish an Answer - LETTER XL. The Inquiry into the happiness of the British People, as a Nation, continued — Stealing caused by distress- Increase of Vagrancy in the Metropolis — Street Begging — The Leicester Square Soup kitchen and Hospice— The very Poor of the Metropolis— Deaths from Starvation — The hungry Children in the Ragged Schools — Pauperism and Va grancy- Moro of the Leicester Square Soup-kitchen — Children Dying for want of Breast-milk — Another Death from Starvation — The common Lodging-houses in St. Giles — Attempt of two Maiden Ladies to commit Suicide by Starvation, on account of their Destitution 391 LETTER XLL Distress and Destitution in the Agricultural Districts of England — Adventure of Dr. Jones and his Servant ou the Eoad from London to Gravesend ; in which Buck emu lates the Character of the Good Samaritan 407 LETTER XLIL Buck witnesses a Meeting between St. James, and St. Gile.^ in -which the latter, as usual, is made to take the Kennel — Extent of Destitution in the Metropolis and its Ticinity —Death from Sttirvation, and shocking Destitution — Another Death from Destitution — Distressing Picture of Degradation and Destitution 413 LETTER XLIIL Unhappy Mental and Moral Condition of a large Proportion of the British People, as shown by various Facts, especially by the number of Lunatics and Insane Persons, and of Suicides 423 LETTER XLIV. Causes of the Suffering among the British People considered, in a Conversation between Dr. Jones and an English Nobleman 441 LETTER XLV. Continuation of the Conversation between Dr. Jones and an English Nobleman — " Let us hear the Conclusion of the whole matter." 45.3 . 466 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD. INTEODUOTOEY LETTEE. FROM DR. PLEASANT JONES TO WILLIA:M T. THOMPSON, ESQ. Cotton Cot (near Pineville), May 1st, 1859. Dear Me. ThoSipson : — I yield to your suggestion, and consent that my letters from England to Major Joseph Jones shall be published. I do so, relying very much upon your judgment ; for I am not conscious that I possess any special gift in the book-making line. In deed, I had supposed that there was enough of that sort of thing in the family when my cousin, the Major, took to the business. Not that I wish to be understood as intending to utter a word in disparagement of the Major's books, Mr. Thompson ; for I must confess that they have exhibited one of the most satisfactory tests of success — they have put, and are continuing to put, money into the pockets of their publishers. It cannot be denied, there fore, that there is something more of interest about the Major's literature than the grotesque infelicities of its orthography and syntax, hideously fascinating as these sometimes are. This feature, however, was intended, I suppose, only as a sort of bush to the wine that was within. Mr. Titmarsh Thackeray, nearly about the same time, I believe, was finding a similar expedient quite suc cessful in attracting attention to the entertainments of the admirable Mr. Charles Edward Fitzroy Yellowplush. 2 (13) 14 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OE, Still, I could not but feel that possibly there was some luck in the Major's success, and that, proceeding upon a calculation of the doctrine of chances. Fortune may have exhausted her favors in this line for the family. You seem to think otherwise. I am persuaded to submit, therefore, and so I consent to the publication of such of my letters as may be selected for that purpose. Some explanation, as to the how and wherefore of their being written, should precede them, I think ; and this I will proceed to give. I have had no higher ambition during my life, as you know, than to be a successful planter. It is true that, after coming to man's estate, I studied medicine, took a course of lectures, and graduated as M. D. But I pre ferred the occupation of a planter to the practice of my profession ; and, marrying early in life the girl of my heart, I settled down upon my little patrimony, near Pineville, and devoted myself to agriculture. In this pursuit I have thriven as well as could be expected, and have cause to be very grateful. Several promising chil dren have been born to us, all but one of whom tarried but a little while, when a Hand came out of the darkness and hurried them away. After some years, constant occupation, cares, and the loss of these little ones, so tried my health as very much to impair it. As it was with poor old Tobit in the times of the Apocrypha, and as it has been with thousands since, in all ages of the world, " I went to the physicians, but they helped me not." They advised me, however, to travel — to try a trip to Europe. The World's Fair, then in contempla tion, and in process of preparation in London, was excit ing an interest even among our piney-woods. I had just invented a new plough, having an attachment for cutting roots, which I thought merited a premium ; and, as I had acquired a taste for premiu.ms and silver cups at our own State Fair, through the aid of some fat calves and fatter pigs, I yielded to these suggestions, and determined to visit Europe for the benefit of my health and the grati fication of bringing back with me a gold medal for a prize plough. What to do for some one to go along with, and take BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 15 care of me, in case of increasing illness, was my greatest difficulty. Circumstances made it impossible for my wife to leave home. My cousins, and your old friends, Maj. Joseph Jones and Dr. Peter, were both in the same situ ation. The former, indeed, said that nothing would please him better than to go abroad, and perhaps write a book about what he saw there : " but it was impossible ; for at the first mention of the thing, dear Mary had taken on so, as almost to break her heart — she had been always so afraid of the sea, since the President wasn't heard of." Now the truth was, as I afterwards learned, that to this appeal, after the manner of the melting mood, "dear Mary" added more decidedly, that "it wasn't just to her, for him to go trapesing ofi^ to England, and leaving her with a house full of children, to take care of; to say nothing of the everlasting little negroes, and that he couldn't do it with her consent — that was/ai." And so she put her foot down upon it, and it was flat. This difficulty presented a serious obstacle for a time, but was -finally overcome by the suggestion of my wife, that I had better take Buck (my most trusted and efficient servant) with me. " The tiaith is," said she, " that next to myself and Sally [Buck's wife] " I had rather trust you in his hands, than in those of any one else." I thought the idea a good one, especially as Buck knew better than any one else how to operate my plough, how to give it that sort of a twisting jerk — a wire-dire he called it — which best served to snap the roots asunder. It was therefore arranged that Buck and I should voyage together. After resolution formed, our preparations were soon made, and we embarked for England, from the port of New York, in the summer of the year 1851. As the ser vant, who accompanied me, figures frequently in the letters, whose publication you recommend, I will tell you something more about him. His true name is Wil liam; but in upper Georgia, for some reason which I never understood, William is frequently changed into the soubriquet, Buck. It is by this convenient monosyllable my servant is generally called. He is my confidential 16 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD ; OE, servant — a negro of the negroes — born my father's property : his father and grandfather before him having been owned by the family. He is slightly older than myself, but was my playmate in childhood; when he was almost indispensable to my happiness — though he occasionally administered a threshing to me. On one of these occasions I informed my father of it. He in quired into the circumstances, found that I had been to blame in the quarrel, and decided, that it was wrong in Buck to strike me, and he must not do it again ; but that I had deserved all that I had got. After that, when I caught it too heavily from him, I made report only to his mother, "Aunt Becky ;" who occasionally gave him " brinjer," as she called it, when he was too hard on me. But the luxury of licking me he reserved to himself alone among the boy.s. If any others undertook the same thing, he pitched into them without delay. He has been always sincerely attached to me, I believe, and to my family. And for the matter of that, his regard is reciprocated. He has been loved by my little ones, too ; has guarded and protected them, and has wept over their beds of death. Thoroughly identified with my interests, he has felt himself about as much the proprietor of me and my estate as I was of him. In fact, neither he nor any others of my slaves seem to feel that I have any ex clusive right to what property I possess ; for they speak of it only as "ours;" as, indeed, it is, for most of the substantial comforts of life. I wish, truly, that they could share its cares and responsibilities with me some times, and shift the burthen of some of their own crea tion from my shoulders to theirs. Buck is decidedly "smart," as we say in Georgia, and, for a negro, has not a little vanity ; and, though not brought up regularly to house-work, he is very handy. Like most of his race, he is amiable and cheerful, and has an unusual talent for drollery and practical fun — perhaps by habit acquir ing some of that from his master's family, and Georgians generally. He speaks our language as well as many whites, except Avhen he chooses to do otherwise. When possessed of some droll conceit, or desirous of making some " divarsiou," as he calls it, he frequently resorts to a BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 17 sort of African patois, or broken speech, which he has acquired from some of the old .negroes with whom he associated in his earlier years — all of whom have now departed, I believe, except his grandmother, Mom. Dinah, now nearly a hundred years old, and for more than thirty years the superannuated slave of my father and myself. Buck is sometimes quite amusing in this imi tation — an instance of which, and of his drollery, oc curred in a scene on board our steamer after we had been sevef al days at sea. Among the passengers, there was a Quaker gentleman, a member of the Society of Friends in England, an ardent abolitionist and anti-slavery man. By the time referred to, I had become acquainted with many of my fellow- passengers, and with this gentleman among others. Buck had been at first quite sick ; and, as I was a some what better sailor, I looked after his comfort as well as I could until he grew better. When rougher weather came, and I went down in my turn, he was in condition to serve me, which he did with his usual faithfulness. These things, and the relations between us, had been observed by the Quaker ; and one clay, when we were enjoying the fine weather on deck, he said to me, " I per ceive, Doctor, that thou art attended and served by one who calls thee master. Is he thy slave?" I replied that he was. Quaker. "Art thou not afraid to take him with thee to England? Thou knowest that the law forbids slavery, in that country ; and that when he lands on British soil he ceases to be thy slave." Myself. "1 know, sir, that such is the theory of the thing ; but I' know, at the same time, that it will not prove to be true in point of fact." Quaker. (With an expression of much surprise.) "How so, friend? Ido not understand thee." Myself. " Perhaps I may say I mean generally that the oretical freedom and slavery, and practical freedom and slavery, by the laws of Great Britain, are very different things. But what I mean now specially to say is, that if my man be left free to choose and act whilst we are in England, all the laws in the kingdom cannot break those 2* B 18 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OE, ties of afi'ection, of thought, of habit, of nature,' by which he is bound to .me ; and therefore cannot sever the re lations which exist between us, nor prevent his clmgmg with unyielding tenacity to those relations. Of course, if he is not left free to choose, he will, to that extent, be enslaved by those who coerce him ; and there fact and theory will certainly clash." Quaker. "That, Doctor, is a view of the case which has not presented itself to me before. Thy servant seems much attached to thee : more than usually so, I suppose." Myself. " He is attached to me, certainly, and I to him. But so it is, though in a less degree, with my slaves generally. And I and my slaves are not exceptions to a rule. I think I may say the same thing of most of my neighbors. But there is my man. Suppose you talk with him on the subject. You may say what you please to him, and when you please, without offence to me. He is called Buck." Buck, who had been loitering near, and heard some portions of the conversation, I suppose, was addressed by the Quaker, and told to approach more closely. Quaker. " I understand thou art named Buck." Buck. (Taking off his hat, bowing, and scraping his right foot backwards, tivo feet.) "Billy Buck, massa — sem time, for short, da calls me Buck." Quaker. " Billy Buck, I understand thou art a slave, and thy master tells me that thou desirest not to be free, but art content to remain in slavery." Buck. " Me slave, massa? I sprise at my massa ! He know belly well, he been work heself 'mos to def at home for he nigger, an da bleege to sen him way wid me to save he life. He de slave — me de gemmon what keeps care of him. Dat trute, massa." " Come, come, Buck," said I, amid roars of laughter on the part of the bystanders, " Come, come. Buck, have done with your fun. This gentleman desires to under stand from you something about the way our slaves are treated, and their situation and feelings. Be serious ; answer his questions, and tell him what you know, and conceal nothing." Thereupon Buck at once changed what there was of BILLY BUCK'S VISIT TO ENGLAND. 19 the ludicrous in his face and attitude, and said, simply and distinctly, "As well as I can, mar ster." A conversation ensued, with which I will not trouble you, Mr. Thomp son — only adding, that it seemed greatly to impress the Quaker and some others present, and to give them views of slavery, which they had never dreamed of before. From what I have said, you may perceive that I had a travelling companion, who was a cau.se of no little amusement to me whilst in Europe ; and who was him self not unfrequently a source of interest and curiosity to others — sometimes to my annoyance ; but never did I have any trouble with him, from the cause suggested by the good Quaker. My first intention was to remain in England until the close of the Great Exhibition, when I proposed to make a short visit to the Continent, and then return home. But when that period arrived I was advised to remain longer where I was ; and thus my stay in Europe was indefinitely prolonged. My first letters, you will see, relate chiefly to my private affairs, and to such casual observation and personal experience as I thought might interest my family and friends. But during the year 1852 Mrs. Stowe's book, " Uncle Tom's Cabin," was pub lished, and it created a great sensation in England. It was soon in the hands, heads, and mouths of all classes ; and I, being from a Slave State, a slaveholder, and hav ing a black slave as my constant attendant, was continu-- ally made the centre of a little circle of excitement and discussion on the subject of slavery. In these conversa tions, the various features of our social polity in the Slave States of North America were frequently talked of, with me, or in my presence. This naturally excited my attention, and pointed it in the direction of the con trasted features of the social economy among that people with whom I was sojourning, and set my sharpened facul ties to the task of ascertaining in some degree what these accurately were. In a short time, and engendered by the excitement which Mrs. Stowe's book had created, appeared the following appeal by the Stafford^House ladies, (as they were called,) at the head of whom was the Duchess of Sutherland, to the women of America : — 20 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OE, " The Affectionate and Christian Address of many thousands of the Women of England to their Sisters, the Women of the United States of America. A common origin, a common faith, and, we sincerely believe, a common cause, urge us, at the present moment, to address you on the subject of that system of negro-slavery which still prevails so extensively, aixl, even under kindly-disposed masters, with such frightful results, in many of the vast regions of the Western World. We will not dwell on the ordinary topics — on the progress of civilisation, on the advance of freedom everywhere, on the rights and requirements of the nineteenth century. — . but we appeal to you very seriously to reflect, and to ask counsel of God, how far such a state of things is in accordance with His holy word, the inalienable rights of immortal souls, and the pure and merciful spirit of the Christian religion. We do not shut our eyes to the difficulties, nay, the dangers tliat might beset the immediate abolition of thatlong-established system ; we see and admit the necessity of preparation for so great an event : but, in speaking of indispensable prelimina ries, we' cannot be silent on those laws of your country which, in direct contravention of God's own law, 'instituted in the time of man's innocency,' deny, in eflfect, to tlie slave the sanctity of marriage, with all its joys, rights, and obligations; which separate, at the will of the master, the wife from the husband, and the children from the parents. Nor can we be silent on that awful system which, either by statute or by cus tom, interdicts to any raee of man, or any portion of the human family, education in the truths of the Gospel and the ordinances of Christianity. A remedy applied to these two evils alone would commence the amelioration of their sad condition. We appeal, then to you, as sisters, as wives, and as mothers, to raise your voices to your fellow-citizens, and your prayer to God, for the re moval ofthis aflQiction from the Christian world. We do not say these things in a spirit of self-complacency, as though our nation vs'ere free from the guilt it perceives in others. We acknowledge, with grief and shame, our heavy share in this great sin. We acknowledge that our forefathers introduced, .nay, compelled, the adoption of slavery in those mighty colo nies. We humbly confess it before Almighty God ; aud it is because we so deeply feel, and so unfeignedly avow, our own compliaty, that we now venture to implore your aid to wipe away our common crime and our common dishonor." BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 21 By this time I had seen enough to become satisfied that this, and all such interference, was grossly unjust. I had perceived, that a clever book, written by a woman of genius, founded on an exaggerated and distorted view of slavery — a view which presented the exception for the rule, and left out of sight everything which might tend to elucidate the true rule ; and which book abounded in ingenious appeals to the best sympathies of human nature against oppression, and in favor of helpless suflferers : — ¦ that such a book had succeeded in exciting excellent people of all classes in Great Britain, until.- they had become totally blind to the truth in connection with the subject, — blind to the corruption, rottenness, oppression, outrages, and wrongs, with which their own nation abounded, and which should have kept their sympathies where charity begins — at home ; at least until they had wrought such changes and reforms there, as might en able them to bring other nations into a court of conscience with clean hands. From my own observations, I had by this time become convinced, Mr. Thompson, that in Great Britain there was more of social profligacy than in our Slave States, among whites or blacks; more of suffering, destitution, crime, brutality, outrages upon the unoffending and the helpless ; more of cruelty and oppression in the treatment of women and children, and all inferior dependents : more of all these things, in a most painful degree, than in our Slave States. I could not, therefore, but feel how cruel, how sinful, indeed, was any such attempt to excite the women of our favored land on the subject of this feature in our social system, whilst wrongs and evils such as these, surrounded the homes, and ever lay along the pathways, of these virtuous ladies on every side. And I could not but think, that, even if slavery were sinful and wrong, and our system in this respect needed reform, such an exhortation to make it came with an exceeding bad grace from those who were members of a body- politic which was productive of more and greater evils. Under the influence of feelings and reflections such as these, I commenced to- take notes of such facts as were continually occurring around me, made memoranda of ? 22 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABROAD; OE, some that had previously come to my knowledge, and collected reports or notices of others from the public press. When I wrote, as I frequently did, to our friend, the Major, I communicated this information, as a method of giving form and embodiment to the contrast and com- arison of social institutions, which, as I have suggested, was anxious to have made. It is my wish that only such of my letters written from Europe as relate to, or have a bearing upon, this particular subject, shall be published ; unless an exception be made of two or three letters only, which have reference to the Great Exhibi tion. This may leave a considerable hiatus (or interval unoccupied with letters) during the year 1862 and early part of 1853 ; but the reason for this can be readily found in the suggestion which I have made.* I will add, that all the statements which I have made, as statements of material facts, unless it be such as are notorious among educated persons, and all the charges affecting the character of individuals, or of the British people as a nation, are based upon their own accounts of themselves, which accompany these charges, or distinctly refer to the authority upon which the statement is made ; and I have ventured to make such charges only where I could furnish some such evidence of their correctness. In the form of an Appendix, or of Notes to these let ters, I will submit such facts and statistics, as will serve the reader in the efibrt to compare important features in the social economy of our slaveholding community, with those of Great Britain as exhibited by these letters ; and will enable him, for himself, to contrast the conduct and character of our people with those of the British people, and so endeavor somewhat to ascertain the effect of slave-institutions upon the virtue and happiness of a nation. I am tempted to add, Mr. Thompson, that, if the public should ratify your opinion of these letters from Old Eng land, I may give them, one of these days, the benefit of similar missives from (and of a visit by Billy Buck and myself to) New England. * The Doctor's wisli has been complied with. BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 23 These are the explanations which I thought it proper to make ; and I am, dear sir. Very respectfully, Y'r ob'nt serv't, P. Jones. To W. T. Thompson, Esq. Savannah, Geo. LETTEE I. ARRIVAL IN LONDON — BUCK VISITS THE CRYSTAL PALACE — HIS DESCRIPTION OP IT. London, July Sth, 1851. Deae Majoe : — ¦ I have arrived safely in London. I came on after resting one night only in Liverpool : so anxious was I to reach the Great Exhibition as soon as possible, and have my plough regularly entered for the race. I had some difficulty in procuring lodgings, owing to the press of people brought here from so many nations by this great Fair ; and really I believe I should have had to sleep in the streets, or have taken up with lodg ings something worse, but for the aid of a gentleman whom I met by accident. My lodgings are upon a some what small scale, though comfortable; and I find the people of the house accommodating enough, though their manner of doing things is so different from that to which I have been accustomed as to keep me somewhat ill at ease. I have been otherwise unwell, too, ever since my arrival, and have not left my room, though it has been with difficulty that I have restrained myself from going out to the Crystal palace. Buck has made his visit there, however, and has given me the benefit of the impression which it created upon him. Finding it advisable for me to keep my room this morning, and having no need for his services, I gave him permission to " go out and see 24 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, the sights." He tricked himself off in his best apparel, and started. Soon after he left the room, hearing his voice below the window, I looked out upon the following scene : " Mister," said Buck to one of the waiters, taking off his hat quite politely, " Mister, can you tell me the way to the Christian Palace?" " Will you 'ave a cab ?" said the waiter. "No, thank you," said he, with a scrape of his foot; "it's the Great Exerbishun I'm axin' for, sir." " Oh, yer are, are yer ? How will yer take it — warm with, or cold without? P'raps yer'd prefer it iced?" "iSTo, I'm obleeged to you; I wouldn't choose any," said Buck humbly, and puzzled ; " I wants to- go to the Christian Palace, I say. Mister." "Oh, yer do, do yer? So I heerd yer say, yer ugly old lamp-post; and I asked yer if yer'd 'ave a cab. P'raps yer'd like me to get yer a 'ansom." [Hansom, you know. Major, is the name of a vehicle which is used in London for the transportation of passengers.] " Look here. Mister," said Buck, " don't call names. Ef I am ugly, I am as God made me ; and I shan't go to you to get handsome, I can tell you ; becase you haint got none of that ar article to spar. Mister." Buck strode away quite indignant, and worked his way, by hook or by crook, to the Crystal Palace. He returned after some hours, in a state of great excite ment. " How did you like the Crystal Palace ?" said I. " First-rate, Marster. But this here London town is curoser than it. I never spected to see sich a place in all my born days. Why, Marster, hits so big, tell you, can't tell you how big hit is — whar hit begins, nor whar hit eends. I sorter used to think that Pineville was some punkins, tell I seed Augusty, and hit tuk the shine out of it ; then I seed New York, and Augusty was no whar 'longside of it. But, Marster, you might take Pineville, an' Augusty, an' New York, an wrap 'um all up together, an put 'um all into one of the pockets of this big town, an' then you couldn't find 'um 'thout sarchin' mighty close." BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 25 What about the Crystal Palace ?" said I ; " What is it like?" " Well, Marster," said he, "hits a monstrous big glass house, fixed up with iron. 'Take it bye and large, sir, an' hit's bout as big as our rye pasture ; an' hit's sittiwated in a sort o' woods lot that they calls a park, 'bout the size of our brush-arbor field. Hit's as chock full of curosities as a egg is of meat, sir. Thar's trees grow ing in it 'bout as big as some of the trees in our grove, sir." "Are the trees in the park large and fine ?" said I. " Tell you what it is, Marster, we've got no sich houses as that in our country, an' no sich curosities in 'um as I seed thar ; but when hit comes to trees, sir, we've got 'um — them trees can't shine 'longside of our Georgy woods." " How did you find your way to the Palace ?" said I. " Kep etarnally axin, Marster, tell I found people gwine thar. God knows, thar was people enough in the streets to ax of — more people than ever I seed before, in all the days of my life, I raaly do believe, sir ; and some of the outlandishest folks at that. They didn't seem to talk good Inglish talk, nohow ; an' 'peared like they couldn't adzactly onderstand me. Ef what half on 'um said hadn't been a huckleberry over my persimmon to onderstand, I mought have found my way to the Chris tian Palace before I did." " I observed your failure to understand the waiter," said I, " when you first left the house, and the blunders you committed when talking to him. The man requested to know if he should call a cab (that is, a carriage) for you ; and then he asked if he should get a hansom for you (another name for a sort of carriage or cab), and you were quite impertinent in your replies to him." "Well, raaly! was that what he meant to say, sir? Why, I thought he was tryin' to make divarsion of me. I'll go right straight off, Marster, and ax the gen'l'man's pardon." A.s I told you. Major, my apartments are rather con tracted ; but, considering what the press is just now, I have reason to be thankful that I have done so well. 3 26 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD ; OE, Everything is neat and clean, and the servants are atten tive. It is the custom here, I find, to furnish the supply of accommodations according to the demand. A certain price must be paid for your apartments, and then you are charged separately for everything else. But for what I am informed are customary servants' fees, the prices would not be so very extravagant, considering the crowds who are now swarming into this city. My pro bable expenses by the week, as well as I can learn, will not exceed fifty-eight shillings, not reckoning servant's perquisites ; or about fifteen dollars in our currency. Not so very bad, considering the "jam." You shall hear from me again soon. Meantime, I am, dear Major, Your friend and cousin. To Majoe Jones, P. Jones. Pineville Georgia, U. S. of America. LETTEE II. DR. JONES VISITS AND DESCRIBES THE GREAT EXHIBITION. London, July 10th, 1851. Deae majoe : — I have visited the Great Exhibition, and hasten to write you an account rather of the general impression produced on my mind than of the details. To furnish you with an account of these details would re quire many days, and then I should have performed the task very imperfectly. You will find it sufficiently well done by the newspapers, which I send you by this mail. In this letter I enclose an excellent engraving, which I assure you presents an accurate picture of one front and end of the building, and gives you a very good idea of the whole. The building, you know, is chiefly composed of glass, supported by iron pillars, which spring from the wooden flooring. The roof, which is of glass, has been somewhat BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 27 darkened and protected by a canvass covering, and the water which falls on it is carried off through the centres of the many thousand iron pillars, which have been made hollow, and thus perform the double purpose of props and gutters. These pillar-pipes conduct the water into drains below, which communicate with sewers be neath the ground. A shower of rain came on whilst I was in the building, and the effect was very extraordi nary. A roaring sound in the direction of the roof was heard, as of the surf upon the sea-shore, whilst, by list ening attentively, the dashing of a thousand muffled water-falls might be detected within the pillars. The size of the building may be judged of by the fact that the roof comprises a space of about twenty acres. The banners which are ranged along the roof are the flags of all nations; and the prominent feature which you will observe in the centre of the building is the great transept. The main entrance is on the south. I was indebted to the assistance of a gentleman who had frequently visited the Palace in forming my first ac quaintance with it, and you shall have the benefit of somewhat that I saw and learned. When I had passed by that main entrance, my attention was first called to many narrow, dark-looking passages, branching to the right and left of this entrance. Here, I was told, presided the intellect which governed this vast piece of machinery. The main-springs which give it motion and regulate its action are here seated. In a number of small apartments, a few feet square, connected with each other, the members of the Executive Commit tee are accustomed to sit and administer the affairs of the Institution, as it may be called. Lieutenant-Colonel Eeed, of the Eiigineering Corps attached to the British army, assisted by a Mr. Dilke, here superintends the whole. A Mr. Cole regulates the allotment of space and the arrangement of articles in the building, and Mr. Digby Wyatt here looks after its plans and structure. Here are also the heads of various other departments, too tedious to mention. On the left is a room more sumptuously furnished than those I have just described, where the Eoyal Commissioners sometimes assemble. 28 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABROAD; OE, From this position I advanced into the body of the edifice, and was soon lost in the seething mass of life which stirred throughout the immense enclosure. It is said in the papers that more than fifty thousand persons visited the building on that day. I found people of all nations, apparently, and all tongues, encountering and jostling one another; and there was more that was im pressive to me in this mass of men, coming from the quiet of a country home, as I did, than in all that mag nificent and curious assemblage of the world's wealth which was ranged on every side of me. Something of the order in which this was arranged you will learn from the number of the Times which I send you. I will en deavor to give you an idea of the character of the arti cles by such general descriptions of them as I find fur nished. Of course, by far the greater number of speci mens supplied are by citizens of the United Kingdom of England, Ireland, and Scotland. I am sorry that our countrymen have occupied so small a space in the build ing. 'They have filled only a portion of that which was set apart for them, and so far, their contributions are uot very remarkable. The interest of an American who enters the building turns almost instinctively to the machinery exhibited. I mention, then, as first in the list, the splendid Speci mens of various Machines, Steam Engines, JRaihuay Car riages, and Naval Mechanism. The United Kingdom is almost unrivalled in this field, and the specimens fur nished are most admirable. Then come Civil Engineer ing, and Architectural and Building Machinery ; in which the preponderance is greatly in favor of Great Britain, but France and Switzerland compete hand somely. Next we have Naval Architecture, then Mili tary Engineering, Ordnance, Armor, and Accoutrements. In some of these branches the competition is very consi derable. Next in order I mention Agricultural and .Eorticidticral Machines and Implements. Here, again, there is considerable competition from the United King dom, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and, in a less degree, from our country. I expected many more con tributions in this line from our countrymen, especially BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 29 from the ingenious mechanics of New England. There is a reaping machine exhibited by a Mr. M'Cormick, from the United States, which is very much admired, and will receive a prize, I have no doubt. There is a fine speci men of a plough from the same quarter, contributed by Prouty and Mears ; and then there is the plough of your humble servant : both of which deserve success, if they do not obtain it. I was next attracted to Manufac turing Machines and Tools. Here the competition with the United Kingdom is very considerable, and here our countrymen enter the lists a little more extensively ; but new specimens from their hands are not as numerous as I expected to see them. Carriages of various sorts then drew my attention. The United Kingdom has it pretty much its own way here. Our people show some buggies, which may perhaps win favor. I next mention Philoso phical and Surgical Instruments. Here the competition is very great, and the specimens most wonderful. Fol lowing this, I should place Serological Instruments — clocks, watches, etc. ; in which the competition is very great. Among the clocks is one intended to run five hundred days. There are also many interesting speci mens of Musical Instruments from many nations. Our countryman, Mr. Chickering, will obtain a prize for his piano, I have no doubt. My attention was next given to the department of Cotton Fabrics. Here, perhaps, you naturaUy expect our people to shine ; but I am afraid it will not turn out so. The United Kingdom has a great preponderance in the articles exhibited, though there are some splendid specimens from other countries. France contributes some articles which, for originality and beauty of design, are unsurpassed. Switzerland sends splendid specimens of muslins and ginghams, and our New England manufacturers seud some coarse fabrics which are much admired- In Woollen and Worsted the competition is greater, and the display is most remark able. Our countrymen are "no where" in the race. So, again, with reference to Silk and Velvet, to manufactures from Flax and Hemp, and to Mixed Fabrics, Shawls, etc. Saxony sends very rich specimens of silk stuffs for tapestry, furniture, carriages, etc. Satins, laces, embroidery, broca- 3* 30 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE., telle, etc., rich specimens of velvet, silk, embroidered cam bric handkerchiefs, etc., are also sent from Geneva. In Leather manufactures there is also considerable competi tion ; and here, especially in the articles of harness and trunks, our people present some claims to rivalry. The exhibition of Skins, Furs, etc., is also very extensive, and very admirable. The department of Paper, Stationery, Printing, and Bookbinding next attracted my observation. In this department are 160 fine books, printed in the Ara bic, Persian, and Turkish languages, contributed by the Government of Egypt. Think of Abbas Pasha sending literature to the Great Exhibition ! There are innume rable specimens of Printing, or Dyeing, which I did not have time to examine. The Tapestry, Carpets, etc., ex hibited, constitute one of the most interesting depart ments in the Exhibition ; and in it there is remarkable competition among several of the European States. Here again we are far behind in the race. In Lace and Em broidery, Fancy Work, etc., the same remarks may be made. In Articles of Clothing for Domestic use the com petition is also very extensive ; and here some fine arti cles from our country are exhibited. In Iron and Hard ware there is very considerable competition between the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, and France; though I must confess the English seem to bear away the palm in this line. So, too, they have it very much all their own way in Cutlery and Edge Tools. In lewelry, Working in the Precious Metals, Articles of Virtu, etc., the competition is very remarkable among the European States. Here, in my opinion, the greatest number of prizes in proportion to the number of contributions will be borne away by citizens of France — their goldsmith work is indeed very beautiful. In Glass, the display is very remarkable, and the honors very much divided among European States, I thought. So, also, as to Por celain, Earthenware, etc. So, also, as to Decorative Fur niture and Upholstery, Manufactures in Mineral Sub stances used for Building or Decoration. So as to various Manufactures from Animal and Vegetable Sub stances, such as straw and shell work, ivory, combs India-rubber, gutta-percha, hair, feathers, brushes, etc! BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 81 Here, again, our people bravely enter the lists in the India-rubber and gutta-percha lines. In Sculpture, Mo dels, and the Plastic art, the competition is chiefly among the Continental European States, Italy, France, Austria, Bavaria, Belgium, Prussia, and other parts of Germany. The United States are represented by Powers and his Greek Slave. In Mining, Quarrying , etc., the specimens were very extensive, especially from the various States of Europe. And so in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Processes and Products. In the department of Substances used as Food, the display was truly remarkable and ex ceedingly interesting. And here our country is enabled very prominently and favorably to enter into the compe tition. Here Abbas Pasha, of Egypt, and Mr. T. Bell, of Genesee, in our country, are rivals in the article of wheat. Heath & Burrows, from Australia, refuse to ad mit the superiority of either specimen to that which they present ; Lepelletier, from Algeria, also claims the privi lege of entering the lists against them all. Here sugars from Siam, from Canada, from Cuba, from the United States, from Malaga, from India, from France (beet sugar), and from Austria (also beet sugar), are in gene rous rivalry. But I fear I shall grow tedious if I longer continue the subject. I will therefore only add that the collection of Vegetable and Animal Substances, Woods, etc., used in Manufactures as Implements, etc., or for Ornament, was most extensive and curious. It is, of course, from all parts of the world, and names of contri butors in this department very familiar to me, such as Mr. Bond, and James V. Jones, of our State, and Colonel Hampton and Colonel Seabrook, of South Carolina, are found alongside of St. Maur, of Algeria, M'Arthur, of New South Wales, Manuel, Cape of Good Hope, and Abdul Hamid, of Egypt. Perhaps I may return to this subject. In the mean time, I am, dear Major, Your friend and cousin, P. Jones. To Maj. Jones, Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. 32 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, LETTEE III. buck's GREETING OP THE QUEEN AND ROTAL FAMILY — IN TERVIEW WITH AN ENGLISH GENTLEMAN — CONVERSATION AS TO SLAVERY. London, August 1st, 1851. Deae Majoe : — One day last week I had the pleasure of seeing the Eoyal Family of this country. Under standing that they were to visit the Crystal Palace at or about a certain hour, and that they would probably enter by one of the private doors, which was pointed out to me, I determined to obtain a position from which I could see them. I repaired to the spot, but found myself pre ceded by qtiite a number of persons. I succeeded, how ever, in getting near enough to see them, though the view was not as satisfactory as I could have desired. The Queen appeared to be a ladylike but most plain per son, with amiable features, and rather under size in stature. The Prince, her husband, was a very fine-look ing gentleman, of about middle stature, I thought, and rather intellectual in his appearance. Of the children I did not get a good view. I was much interested with the enthusiasm of the people around me. They were evidently influenced not only by the sentiment of loyalty, but by a feeling more tender — a sentiment of affection for and sympathy with the good and virtuous wife and mother. I confess that my own heart warmed toward the august lady, as I saw her thus, not with the peculiar bearing of a mighty sove reign, but as the gentle patroness of industry and the arts, and with her husband and children about her, affording to her subjects and the world an example of those domestic virtues which shed so sweet and soft a light upon the hearthstone, as well of the humble home stead as of the royal palace ; and, republican as I was, I joined right heartily in the cheers which were given her BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 83 before she entered the building. As for Buck, by dint of pushing and elbowing, he managed to get nearer, and mounted on a curb-stone, or step of some sort, which rather raised him above the heads of most of the crowd. He joined lustily in the cheering, and then, turning toward me, and affecting the droll, he said, in his Afri can lingo, " God bress my soul, Massa, she nuttin but buckra folks arter all ! I been tink she engel from heb- bin, only got petticoat stidy wing." Some of those around him cheered this speech ; which observing, the rogue continued : " Well, if she no bin engel, Massa, she desarve to be engel ; she good sem like engel, dat trute. In my coun try, Massa," (addressing a portly gentleman, whose fine face, glowing with delight, was turned up to him,) " in Ebo country, dem queen de debbil." " You had better be careful. Buck," said I, for want of something better to say, "how you declare that the Queen deserves to be an angel. That is as much as to say she deserves to die ; and some of these loyal Eng lishmen, hearing you say that, may charge you with com passing the death of her Majesty." Buck. "No sir-ree, Massa! me no compuss nuttin — ¦ nairy time — me only say dat Queen good sem like engel — dat what make her people lub hear so, Massa." "So it is, my man," said the same portly and good- humored gentleman to whom I have referred; " so it is ; and I honor you for appreciating our Queen as you do." The gentleman shook Buck warmly by the hand. The latter returned the grasp with such a right good will as to bring tears into the Englishman's handsome eyes. "What is your name, my man?" said he. "Billy Buck," said Buck, taking off his hat and drop ping his African dialect, " sarvant to Dr. Jones, of Georgy, sir: this gen'l'man, sir, my Marster." " Sir," said the gentleman, turning to me with a bow, " I have been quite pleased with the humor of your ser vant, and his liking for our Queen." Myself. " He has been bred, sir, in a country where all classes honor those virtues which are so conspicuous in the Queen of England, and where the sex of your sove- c 34 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD ; OE, reign is always treated with respect by the opposite sex — even by the slave." Stranger. "You are from the United States, I suppose; and this man is your slave." Myself. "Yes." Stranger. " Yours is a remarkable country, sir ; and certainly such respect for the gentler sex is highly credit able to its people. I have heard it said that there was a chivalric regard for women in America. Does your ob servation in Europe serve to strengthen the belief that your people are peculiar in this respect ?" Myself. " I have been impressed with the conviction that a more delicate respect for woman, and tender regard for little children, is common among my countrymen, espe cially in the Southern States, than — if you will pardon me, sir — than among Englishmen." Stranger. "Why should this be so? And can you assign a reason for such a state of facts?" Myself. " Perhaps the subject, as a social problem, should be closely studied, to be thoroughly understood in all its aspects ; but I like to think of the fact of which I have spoken, as a blessing from the household and family gods of our people — the Lares familiar es, sir, as an ancient people once called them. My countrymen, espe cially in the South, as a general rule, live very much in families. The necessaries of Hfe arc sufficiently easy of acquisition to encourage our young men and women in the ready formation of family ties. In a country like ours, it is to the public interest that families should be increased as much as possible ; and therefore these rela tions assume a very high importance in the eyes of so ciety. In a community where the institution of slavery exists, the servants, as slaves, become a permanent por tion of, and are completely identified with, the family circle, and thus that circle is enlarged and widened in its sphere and influences. Depend upon it, sir, it was not with out a foundation in true knowledge of human nature that those ancient Eomans chose the " Decurions of their La res " in every family from among its slaves, and appointed slaves, not freemen, to assist the priests in their sacri fices to these divinities, as Cicero and Horace both inform BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 85 US was the custom. You may remember that, in your schoolboy lessons, you found a very pleasant picture, drawn by the latter, of the happy slaves sitting around the family Lares : ' Positos, que vernas ditis examen domus, Circum renidentes Lares.' It is in this way, sir, that I account, in part, for a gene ral prevalence among my countrymen, white and black, of those affections, sympathies, and sentiments which cluster around the homes of a people, and those who are identified with those homes.: viz., women and children." Stranger. " Sir, you put the subject before me in a strik ing and, to me, somewhat novel light. I have not been in the habit of thinking of your slaves as living under the influence of such relations between them and their owners." Myself. " In that, you and others have not rightly com prehended this institution as it exists among us. To a great extent, and as a general rule, our slaves regard themselves as a part of the family, and bound up with its interests. As a race, they are good-humored and affectionate, and they soon become attached to their owners, unless the latter are cruel to them, which does not as often happen as may be supposed ; for the interest of the owner generally forbids it (as the law does), when conscience does not. Your own eloquent Burke, in his letters to Arthur Young, has said that ' It is plainly more to the farmer's interest that his men should thrive than that his horses should be well fed, sleek, and plump, and fit for use, or than that his wagons and ploughs should be strong, in good repair, and fit for ser vice.' If this be right when spoken of free laborers, you will readily perceive how it must be so of those who are the property of the farmer. The attachment of which I have spoken is very often mutual, and strong and life long friendships are thus formed. Here is my man, for example, to whom I am indebted for the pleasure of this interview with you, sir. Next to my wife and child, I have no such living friend." * * See Appendix, K, § 2. 36 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, Stranger. " Truly, sir, I am happy to have met with you, and your man too. I shall be glad to make your better acquaintance, and will exchange cards with you with pleasure." I learned, during the day, that my newly-formed ac quaintance was a Mr. A , a gentleman of large landed estate and great wealth in Yorkshire; and that, though now confining himself very much to agriculture, he was highly respected, of considerable influence, and had a seat in Parliament. In the course of a few days, I received a visit from Mr. A , and I think our respect for each other was increased by the interview. Buck and he, too, had a long conversation, and he protested that Buck was "quite a trump of a fellow." He invited me cordially to make him a visit at his country seat, and by all means to brinCT Buck with me. I think he was sincere, and we parted almost as old friends. He has less of that unimpressible reserve which characterizes Englishmen generally than I have ever before met with in a gentleman of this na tion, and more of ready sympathy. I think I shall accept his invitation, and so learn somewhat of life in the country among the gentry of England. If I do, you may expect to hear something on the subject from Your friend and cousin, rr, ,;r T .. ^- JONES. To Maj. Joseph Jones, Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 37 LETTEE IV. ANECDOTE OP DR. JACKSON AND THE GEORGIAN IN LONDON, WHOSE INDIANS WOULDN'T SHOW — DR. JONBS'S PLOUGH A FAILURE IN ENGLAND, BECAUSE HE DID NOT CARRY HIS ROOTS WITH HIM — A FRENCHMAN'S OPINION OF AMERICA ANECDOTE OF CAPTAIN BLACK THE DOCTOR CONSOLES HIMSELF FOR HIS FAILURE WITH A SCRAP FROM THE TRA GEDY OF "TOM THUMB." London, October 20th, 1851. Deae Majoe : — It is true, as you suggest, that I have not, in either of my letters, said anything about the fate of my plough. I wish that the subject could be quietly put aside, and that you did not cause me to renew my grief by alluding to it. It " goes against the grain," as we say in Georgia ; but I might as well own up at once, and be done with it — my plough speculation has proven a bit of a failure here. Major. Before saying more about it, I will tell you a story which the late venerable Dr. Jackson was accustomed to relate. Many years ago, the Doctor was Secretary of Legation when Mr. Crawford, of Georgia, was Minister of the United States at the French Court. Whilst occupying that post, he had occasion to visit London ; and during that visit he was called upon by a citizen of Georgia, who had need for his advice and services. The Georgian had, a short time previously, taken with him to London a party of Creek Indians, with whom he had entered into an agreement for the purpose of putting them on exhibi tion in Great Britain. Very soon after they had reached London, and the profits of their adventure had com menced, the Indians obtained a taste of fire-water, and at once broke over all bounds of discretion. Eefusing to have their powers confined to the "pent-up Utica " of an exhibition-room, they stampeded, and roamed over the 4 38 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, city at large — thus gratifying the curiosity of the cock neys gratis, and utterly annihilating the Georgian's visions of golden guineas in prospective. He had spent his all in transporting thd Indians to England, and after this break-down of his plans, was in great embarrass ment. He went to the Doctor, as a brother Georgian, stated his distress, and obtained advice and assistance. I mention his case, because it reminds me of my own ad venture in one particular. He told the Doctor that he was ruined by having omitted only one little element from his calculation when embarking upon his specula tion. All his plans, he said, were well laid in every re spect, and the Indians and he were " as good for a for tune as a thrip was for a ginger-cake — only, when it came to the pinch, the d d creeturs wouldn't show." Now my case was somewhat similar in one respect, as I have suggested. I, too, had omitted one little element from the calculation. In every other feature my plans were perfect; but unfortunately. Major, my plough couldn't show. You know that the great and distinguishing feature in my invention was its adaptation to cutting up and break ing away roots and other such obstacles. Well, when I met the Committee of the Great Exhibition who were to decide upon the merits of the invention, whose claims I had lodged in the usual and regular manner, you may be sure that I dwelt eloquently upon this new and most im portant feature. I made a decided impression upon the members, I thought. It appeared to me very plainly that my point was gained, and that the long coveted medal was as good as won, when a great, bluff, beef-eating John Bull of a fellow, in a sort of cut-away coat, with an immense riding-whip sticking out of the pocket, — a perfect gentleman, though, in voice and manner, I must confess, — exclaimed, "Ah, yes ! It's all very well, with out doubt. But where shall we see it tried ? What do we know about cutting roots ? And where shall we find a bit of ground such as the gentleman describes?" Gracious heavens ! It had never occurred to me before, but it was too true — there were no new ground- roots in England. The Committee had no experience in billy buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 39 such matters; and my invention had about as much practical value in their eyes as if it had been designed to turn up the lava on the mountains in the moon. And here I had been, for several long months, rolling this sweet morsel of hope under my tongue, and spend ing so many dollars in "projectin'" with the thing, as Buck expressed it — and now to be defeated because they could not " go to the root of the matter," was too bad. Think of a country so "bad off" a^not to have any new grounds or clearings. Major ! The blow was a smasher ; and I felt very much like that little Frenchman who was landed for the first time on American soil, with a party of English or American sailors (the story does not say which), upon a barren spot in West Florida. He looked around at the dreary landscape, the gopher-hills, the black-jacks, the stunted pines, and palmettos, and shud- deringly exclaimed, "And dees is Amerique, eh? Vel, if dees is Amerique, ie suis perfectment disguust, God d n !" I confess that I was perfectly disgusted, myself. I did not care who knew it; and thereupon I vowed a vow something like that taken by that witty friend of our ^ youth, the late Captain Black — peace to his memory ! The Captain, (as we always called him, you know,) had once taken up several cases from the county in which he practised as a lawyer to the Supreme Court of Georgia. He had been accustomed to have his own way very much, when not gravelled by some point of law, before the juries of his county ; but meeting with indifferent success before the Court of Errors and Appeals, he left the chamber, shook its dust from his feet, and vowed that he would never take another case to the Supreme Court until he could carry his jury up with him. He kept that vow, too, I believe, and never did take up another case. Well, my vow was, that I would never again take a plough to an exhibition in England until I could carry my roots with me. Notwithstanding this disappointment, I consider that my plough has triumphed ; for no one has dared to enter the lists with me. 'The idea has been on all sides ad mitted to be a happy one ; and I clearly only needed " a 40 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, fair field" to insure favor and success. I may therefore exclaim with Lord Grizzle, in his campaign against Tom Thumb, " Thus far our arms with victory are crowned ; For, though we have not fought, yet we have found No enemy to fight withal." The fact is. Major, though I have been trying to put a good face on the matter, yet I am not a little taken down by it, I will confess to you. I know you are sorry for me ; but don't carry that sort of thing too far, and be as quiet about it as you can. I already hear your attempts at consolation. Yes, I know very well, that " it is useless to cry over spilt milk," and that "what can't be cured" — &c. There, you need not finish. I know, I know it quite as well as Poor Eichard ever did, or Sancho Panza, or any other grinder of the grist called proverbs. I know, besides, what you would say, but for your compassion at present, that I should have " stuck to my last," and not have been a suitor for favors in foreign lands, but have sent my plough to the Georgia fair at Atlanta. I confess that, if I had done that, the want of a few roots would not have been in the way of my luck. But never mind. It is not too late. I can do that yet. I can christen it for Mr. Peters, call it the " Peters' Eoot Eipper," and so overcome fate, vanquish destiny, and secure a premium. In the meantime, don't make any more fun or fuss about my temporary failure than you can possibly help ; or I shall not continue to subscribe myself Yr. friend and cousin, P. Jones. To Maj. Jones, Pineville, Geo., U. S. of America. BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 41 LETTEE V. DR. JONES AND HIS MAN VISIT A HALL IN YORKSHIRE. Hall, November 14, 1851. Deae Majoe : — I accepted Mr. A 's invitation, so cordially extended to me, as mentioned in my letter of August 4th, and repeated a few days since; and have been for two days his guest at this place. I came by rail of course, and had but a flying glance at the country, except the last eight or ten miles ; other wise I would give you something of a description of it. I could see enough, however, to excite my warmest admi ration for the signs of culture and of comfort which abounded on every side. The sensations which a journey for the first time through such a region excites in the bosom of an American, are of a very animated character. Much of that which is common-place to the inhabitants of older countries, impresses him with the freshness of originality. Antiquity itself, or rather that which results from it, is novelty to him. Eead as he may about these things, the native of our country can have no cor rect conception of the progress of the same people through many centuries of civilization, until he beholds the results with his own eyes. Prosperous as we are, and rich in so many kinds of resources in our country, our tastes are yet in their infancy, and we are almost unlearned in the great elements of architecture. The truth is, to one accustomed to our society, the beauty of the parks, and gardens, and public grounds here, the elaborate, substantial, and mas sive character of the architecture, and the lavish expen diture necessary to create these things, must always be objects of wonder. I found Mr. A 's carriage waiting for me at the station where I was to leave the rail ; and I then rode several miles through a country still more beautiful, I 4 * 42 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD ; OE, believe, than anv I had seen. My ride was for the most part along one of those valleys which abound, I am told, in this part of Yorkshire, and are remarkable for beauty and fertility. In it seemed to be concentrated all, or nearly all, of those features which are peculiar to English scenery. On either side were to be seen trim and accu rately clipped hedges; graceful slopes, dressed in that neat and tidy beauty, so distinctively English; elegant mansions, or picturesque cottages, surrounded by exten sive green crops, stacks of grain ornamentally put up, clusters of handsome trees, and grassy lawns. Occasion- allv I beheld a lordly' dwelling-place, of substantial gran deur, encompassed with parks and beautiful scenery ; and then I passed beneath the brow of a hill which was covered with a feudal ruin. From one elevated point the view was magnificent. I stopped the carriage, that I might enjoy it for a few minutes. In my immediate vicinity the pro.spect was such as I have just described. In the dis tance, on one side of me, were strange, greyish-colored hills, monotonous in outline, and which, I was told, are called the Wolds. In another direction could be seen the spire of what, the coachman told me, was York-Minster ; in another, the silver thread of a river was seen fiowing towards the sea; and in yet another lay a bright and sparkling lake, fixed like a jewel in the rich drapery of the landscape. In a short time we reached a more level country, and soon afterwards came upon the estate of Mr. A . About a mile from the Hall we entered the park-gates; which were opened for us by a young woman, who came out of the porter's lodge ; and we then advanced along an avenue bordered with splendid oak and beech trees. Presently Billy Buck, who was on the outside of the carriage, cried out in so much excitement as to forget his usual respectful address — " Marster, marster, Joe's dead, ef thar aint a deer." I had scarcely looked out, when he exclaimed — "As God is my judge, marster, thar's two on 'um — three — four — five — w-h-e-w-t, thar's a whole gang, sir — look, look, marster ! How on yearth do they git here, sir? BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 43 ''They are tame deer," said I, "and are kept in the parks here like cattle." " Well, raaly ! I thought it mighty cur ous, how wild deer could live here 'mong all the clarins we've been see- in, thick as the woods is jest here, sir. Well, tame or not, hits a beautiful sight, marster. I wish Mars. Joe was here to see hit. Hit 'ud give him the hystrikes, sar tain, ef he was to see 'um standin so fare, an he not 'lowed to bring ' Old Nance ' " [your rifle's name, I sup pose^ Major] " to bar on 'um. W-h-oo-pee, what would'nt he give jest to git a crack at one, an then turn Black- Jowler, an Kill-Buck, an Eock, loose on the balance. Now, would'nt ole Pi,ock be in town, with a pocket full o' rocks, an such easy work before him ? I 'member, that arter a good day's hunt once, an you had killed a fine buck, when you saw the old feller come in an stalk across Mars. Joe's yard so solemn an dignity like, with his long ears fioppin on his shoulders, like Mars. Joe's eperlettes, as you said, you made a bow to him, an called him — Major Pock Jones. I think the ole dog would soon git permoted to be a kurnel, ef he was here, marster." I was as much excited by the sight, I believe, as Buck was ; though, as we Georgians say, I did not " show my country " so much as he did, and rather tried to look as though I was used to it. In a few minutes more we came in sight of flocks of the finest sheep and herds of the hand somest and fattest cattle I had ever seen. Then, the grounds on either side of us became very beautiful. On my right I observed a vista in the forest, which seemed to terminate at the top of a gentle hill, on which was situated what appeared to be a Grecian temple or portico. On our left now appeared a scene of the most perfect sylvan beauty. Through the green foliage could be seen an occasional statue, and the waters of a fountain sparkling in the fading sunlight ; whilst a brawling brook, now burst into a lovely waterfall, now ran under a rustic bridge, and then spread peacefully into a quiet little lake, on whose bosom were floating some graceful waterfowl. As we came opposite to this spot, and it attracted the attention of my servant, he exclaimed — • " Marster, thar's a spring, sir — a raal spoutin spring, sir, comin out of some sort of a varmint's 44 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, mouth — did you ever ? " At that instant he caught sight of a statue — " Dont look, sir, dont look, marster ! '' said he, rapidly turning his head in the opposite direction,— " thar's somebody naked thar, sir — what on yearth is they gwine to do, naked thar, sir, this cool day?" " Its a statue. Buck ; a marble statue, nothing else." " AVell, raaly ! sure enough, sure enough ! " said he. The waterfowl on the lake next excited his admiration. " Goodness gracious ! marster, look at that gander, with a long neck," exclaimed he. " 'That's a swan. Buck," said I. " Is hit good to eat, sir ? " Here the turrets of the Hall appeared in view, and our attention was drawn thitherward, as they appeared above, and at times disappeared behind, the trees, according to the inequalities of the ground, as we approached. Now we came upon the lawn, and then among shrubbery so beau tiful as to beggar description ; anci then we rolled up before the house, which, I had just time to see, was quite imposing, when the carriage stopped, the steps were let down, and Mr. A came forward with a hearty greet ing and welcome to both master and servant. After a short time spent in conversation with him, a bell rang, which I was notified was the dressing-bell, pre vious to dinner. Everybody dresses for dinner in the houses of gentlemen here. Major. I was shown to my chamber, which I found to be a most luxurious apartment, lined with pink paper, and the windows and bed hung with rich silk curtains of the same color. My luggage had preceded me. A servant was in attendance to receive my orders, but almost every comfort had been anticipated. The straps of my trunk were unbuckled, a fire was burn ing cheerily in the grate, a candle was on the table, water in the richest china basins and ewers, and on one side was a writing-table, covered with paper, envelopes, wax, etc. About 7 o'clock I was summoned to dinner. I had the honor of a seat Ijy one of the young ladies, whom I es corted to the table at the request of my host ; and a very intelhgent and well-bred person I found her. The com pany consisted of Mr. A— — 's family (a wife and several daughters), together with several guests; among whom BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 45 were Lord B. (a relative of the family). Sir 0. C. and lady, 8.nd several ladies and gentlemen of the neighbor hood. The dinner was as sumptuous as wealth and taste could make it, and the company very agreeable. After the removal of the cloth, the ladies retired, aiid the gen tlemen drew nearer together, and talked over the wine longer than the state of my health made it desirable for me. We discussed the recent Great Exhibition, among other things, and this gave me an opportunity of amusing my neighbors with the fate of my plough. My descrip tion and imitation of the Squire, who put the final extin guisher upon my hopes, quite "brought down the house." When we went up to the drawing-room, I found the ladies very agreeable, and there was some sweet music. During the evening, Mr. A insisted upon my repeat ing the story of my plough for the benefit of the ladies ; which I did, apparently to their amusement. These ladies themselves enticed me into a conversation about my family and home, and seemed to feel an interest in learn ing from me details of this kind, so pleasant to me. I was sensible that it was very kind and courteous in them. About 11 o'clock, I saw that some of the company oc casionally left the room, took up a candle in the entry, where a number were placed, with alumettes, etc., for lighting, and departed, as I supposed, for their chambers. I followed, and retired to my room. A servant announced the breakfast hour of the house to me, and I lay down to rest, and to dream of a home and its inmates far away, as sweet to me as if it were surrounded and filled by the luxuries amidst which I was reposing. I was at the breakfast-table next morning a little after 9 o'clock — ^the breakfast hour being from 9 to 11; and there found all the family and two or three other persons. Each seated himself or herself, as he or she came in, with out ceremony. On the table were several kinds of bread, and nice fresh butter. Coffee or chocolate, if either was desired, was brought in a small silver ooffee-pot, with sugar-dish and cream-pot of the same material, and the person to whom it was brought helped him or herself If tea were preferred, a silver urn, heated by spirits of wine, was placed by the side of the person wishing it, together 46 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, with a small silver tea-pot, etc., and a little caddie of black and green tea, from which he or she helped him or herself, unless it was preferred that a servant should do it. On the side-tables were ham, cold chicken, cold game, etc., to which most of those present rose and helped themselves. By the side of my plate was a morning's paper. At the breakfast-table the plan of movements for the day was arranged. After consulting me on the subject, my host proposed to show me the grounds, crops, etc.; and, learning that I was capable of bringing down my iDird on the wing, he suggested that the keeper should meet us with guns and dogs, and that we should knock down a few birds on our way home. Into this segment of the circle of our operations Lord B. and two other gen tlemen begged that they might be taken. When I went to my room, in order that I might pre pare for my excursion, I found Buck waiting for me, and at once saw that there was . something on his mind. "What is the matter?" said I. "How long ai'e you going to stay here, Marster?" said he. " Two or three days, I suspect. Why do you ask ?" " Becase I wanted to know, my Marster, ef I could do 'thout eatin tell we went away. Fact is, Marster, I dont adzackly know what to do ; but as to eatin with them white ladies an gen'l'men, an with them silver forks, too, hit aint in me to do it, an its no use tryin. I couldnt do it ef I was gwine to die for not doin it. They tells me they's sarvants too, an so I says to myself when I sets down 'mong 'em ; but bombye one on 'em, he says to me, very perlitely, — for they's all mighty perhte ; I must say that, — says he, 'What will you ave, sir?' says he; ' what will you be elped to, sir ?' says he. An when I looks up, an sees all them nice white gals, dressed jest like ladies, lookin at me, I jest takes an chokes right down, Marster;- an so says I, 'No, I'm obleeged to vou, Marster,' says I, ' I wouldn't choose nothin.' I knowed how hit was, sir, but I couldnt help callin sich a gen'l'- man-looking white man ' Marster,' to save me; and then they all couldnt keep from laffin, though they tried I could see. One of the ladies, then, she tried to do some- billy buck's visit to ENGLAND. 47 thin for me, an first thing I knowed I called her ' Missis,' an off they all went agin, teU they was red in the face. I cant eat with them white people, Marster. I would do anything to obey or obleege you, sir, but I'll starve ef I stays here long." " Why, I supposed," said I, " that you were by this time accustomed to associating with white servants in London." " Tell you what, Marster, they wasn't like the sarvants here. Tbe men didn't have them long-tailed blues on, with lace, and buttons, and eperlettes, and the women didn't look so nice and spectable." " Never mind," said I, " I will arrange it all for you ; only do try and make yourseK as Uttle the object of ridi cule as possible." Thereupon I pulled the bell, and taking'the servant into my confidence, told him how unaccustomed to eating at the same table with white persons my servant had been, and how embarrassed he was by it, asked him to give my respects to the steward, and request in my name that Buck might have his meals apart from the other servants. The attendant readily promised that this should be done, and Buck was relieved. I cannot afford room for an adequate description of the park, gardens, and scenery around A Hall. Some pleasant winter night. Major, when the children have been snugly tucked away, and Mary and Lizzie have thrust their small gourds into the little stocking-feet, and are darning away against each other as if for a wager, and our cigars are lit, and the hickory fire, kindled with light-wood knots (they have no such luxury here. Major), blazes up cheerfully, I will tell you all about it. I can now only say that the park contains more than a thou sand acres, and that the slight sketch I have already given you of it has not done it half justice. I do not know of what architecture the house is, and if I did you would not care much about it ; but this I know — that the general effect is most admirable. We visited the stables, and there I was greatly inte rested. There were some fifty horses, many of which were hunters, exquisite in form, etc., and of very high 48 the SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD ; OE, value. The stalls are well ventilated, and as neat and clean as parlor fioors. The arrangements for feeding and grooming are very fine, and I learned something there by which I hope hereafter to profit. We next went to the cow-yards, and the dairy; and there I gathered some new ideas for the benefit of our wives. Major. We then pro ceeded to examine the tool-houses, the stack-yards, and the sheep-folds ; and taking horse here, we rode into the pastures and the fields. We visited scores and scores of acres of turnips and other green crops, and I received much valuable information from my host, which I propose to share with you one of these days. At a point which had been designated by my enter tainer we met the gamekeeper, and with him the gentle men whom I have mentioned. There were three or four fine dogs, and a gun for each of us. We first shot over some stubble-fields, and afterwards entered the preserves, where we soon filled our bags. I am but an indifferent shot, you know ; but I found myself knocking the sluggish game over, right and left, with great ease. The bird- shooting, especially, was very different from what you and , I are accustomed to, when hunting our partridge. Here we put up half-a-dozen coveys of partridge or packs of pheasants in an hour, and started scores of rabbits. The birds are almost double the size of our partridge or quail, and are not so swift in fiight. If, at home, you and I find tis many coveys in a day, and aftei' walking many miles, we deem ourselves lucky. And when our birds get up, they are off, like a shot, for the nearest swamp. A few separate shots may possibly be had after that, but it will have to be bush-shooting. One or two of the party killed more game than I ; but I had the satisfaction of bagging more than Lord B , though he had visited our country (as he said), and had shot upon our prairies. The truth is, none of my com panions in sport were very expert marksmen; and I could not help thinking, that, if our friends, Jennings and Daw son, of Augusta, (provided the latter can shoot as well as he can talk about it, of which I have my doubts, I con fess,) were turned loose here for a day or two, they would soon make deserts of Mr. A 's preserves. ( '. ^-^oM ;^ i'^ BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 49 We did not return to the Hall, from our morning's excursion, until the hour for luncheon had passed. We were not forgotten, however ; and, after we had refreshed ourselves, were notified, that that meal — which really takes the place of the dinner with us, though most of the dishes are cold — was ready for us. After our lunch, we adjourned to the smoking-room. We had just lit our cigars, when I observed that other gentlemen, who were tenants of the room and enjoying the same luxury, had been attracted to the windows by something which seemed greatly to please them. Pre sently I detected Buck's well-known voice, and perceived that he was amusing some one outside with an imitation of the banjo, as I supposed. The strumming by way of interlude, at which I knew he was something of an expert, came to my ear very plainly ; and then I could hear his " thrumb-te-thrumb-a-thrumb-te-thrumb-a - thrumb-te- thrumb" — so rapidly articulated, that I suspected he was giving an imitation of a negro jig. "Ah ! what is this ? " said my host, who also joined the group at one of the windows ; and his face at once assumed the pleased expression which appeared in the features of the other spectators. I went to one of the windows then myself, and found that the apartment was in a wing of the building which opened upon a parterre, rich with evergreen shrubbery, (and, I suppose, in due season, with brilhant flowers,) and lying between this and an opposite wing of the house, in which was situated a conservatory, that also opened upon the parterre. Near the conservatory, Mrs. A , her daughters, and other ladies, were seated; and on one of the gravelled walks, which bordered the parterre. Buck was in the midst of the maddest sort of a jig, scattering the gravel, and hurling some of it to a distance of many yards, with his broad feet. He made music for himself with the voice, accom panied with appropriate fingering on one of the young ladies' parasols, which he held in the attitude of a banjo. His performance was rapturously applauded; and then one of my host's daughters, a pretty young girl, with a merry twinkle in her eye, said to him — " Mamma is very 5 ¦ D 50 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, much obliged to you Mr. Buck, for the dance : but can't you sing for us, Mr. Buck ? " Buck. "To be sure an sartain, young missis, ef I only know'd what 'ud suit you. Do you like hymes, missis ? " Young Lady. (Looking at the other ladies, who ex changed glances of puzzled inquiry.) " What was it you said, Mr. Buck ? I am not sure that I understood you — hy-ems did you say." Buck. "No! hymes, missis : preachin songs — praisin God songs, young missis." Y. Lady. "Ah ! I understand. No, not sacred songs, Mr. Buck. We would prefer a sentimental song, if you please." Buck. (Puzzled in his turn.) "A what, missis ?" Y. Lady. "A song in praise of the ladies, Mr. Buck." Buck. "To be sure, to be sure, missis. But in course hits 'bout the black fair sect you 'spect a nigger to sing — aint it, missis ?" Y. Lady. " Of course, Mr. Buck." Thereupon Buck thrumbed his fictitious banjo, and sung as follows : My horse died in Tennessee, He sont his jaw-bone back to me. Wake, jaw-bone, Miss Sally is the gal ! Oh wake, jaw-bone, Miss Sally is the gal ! Dat jaw-bone same like banjo ring, When to Miss Sally gal I sing Wake, jaw-bone, &c. Miss Sally 's fat and mighty round ; The holler o' her foot make hole in de ground. Wake, jaw-bone, &c. Buck. " How you like 'um, young missis ?' Y. Lady. " Oh, thank you — very well, indeed; but can't you give us another, Mr. Buck ?' buck sings. I sing this song 'bout woolly har. Oh, the woolly har ! BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 51 The buckra gal is mighty far. Oh, the woolly har ! But still she no got woolly har ! Oh, the woolly har ! The buckra gal got long red har, Oh, the woolly har ! When she put on dress, she pnt on ar. Oh, the woolly har 1 The yaller gal got coal-black har. Oh, the woolly har I She tall, and straight, and mighty spar, Oh, the woolly har ! But my sweetheart 's got woolly har Oh, the woolly har ! An none can with that gal compar, Oh, the woolly har 1 I sleeps an dreams 'bout woolly har, Oh, the woolly har ! An on my heart I wars that bar. Oh, the woolly har ! The woolly har, the woolly har, 0 — h, the w-oo-l-l-y har ! This song was encored, and then one of the ladies asked Buck if he could not give them another specimen of a dance. " Sartain, Missis," said he, putting down the parasol. " Did you ever see Juba, Missis ?" " No," said the lady ; " we should Hke to have it, if you please." But when Buck commenced his preparations, she drew back timidly, as if suspecting that she had bargained for too much, and was about to witness some cannibal dance or other. He began by rapidly patting, or clapping the sides of his thighs with the palms of his hands, and at the same time patting his foot, as if to give himself the pitch, and then he pitched, feet foremost, into "Juba," accompanying himself with the voice. 0 Juba Reed, 0 Juba Reed, His seed and breed, M'Elhany turn and come I 52 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OB, I sint de coon, I sint de coon, T sint ole har, A skippin down To Lonnon town. To judge de banjo Thum de sound. I saw de rat Ruu round de flat, A busliel o' beans Upon his back, An ole Ben Dean His gander trot : Cant he git over I John-de-butter-in-de-fat, Cant you git over that ? Cant you git o — ver ? Oh, cant you git " Just at this point, the dancer, whose back had been towards the window where I stood, the sash of which was raised for the purpose of better witnessing his perform ance, who had not seen me, and did not know, probably, that I had returned to the house, turned in his movement, so as to catch sight of me, when he instantly brought up, as if struck with paralysis, exclaiming, "Boss!" and remaining with his mouth upon a wide grin, his right foot put forward, the heel thrust into the gravel, with the foot itself elevated at an angle of about ninety degrees. It looked, sure enough, as though he was answering his own question, and couldn't get over that. The immense roar of laughter which succeeded was either a testimony to his very ridiculous situation, or a tribute to his decided success. It was plain that my presence was as a wet blanket to his fun ; so I left the window, saying, "Ah, Mr. A , I am afraid that the ale at his lunch to-day has succeeded in lightening my man's heels at the expense of his head." " Why, you don't mean to say with Cicero, 'nemo so brius saltat,' do you. Doctor?" " No ; only that the sobrius never throws quite so much 'hfe and metal' into his saltat, Mr. A ." " 'Itaque Semproniam reprehendit Sallustius non quod saltare, sed quod optime sciret,' " said Lord B.; BILLY bucks visit TO ENGLAND. 53 which, being translated for the benefit of the country members. Major, is about equivalent to saying that " Sal lust found fault With Sempronius, not because he knew how to dance, but because he did it so elegantly." Very neat jest, was it not? Still, all this did not relieve me from the apprehension that Buck might be making a fool of himself in the eyes of these people." I was informed at dinner that he had been very enter taining, though all his performance after he had seen me was obviously under restraint, as if he suspected that I was observing him from some quarter. Mrs. A said that she asked of him the reason for his embarrassment, and what do you suppose the rogue answered ? " Why you see. Missis," said he, " I promised Miss Lizzie to keep good care of my Marster while he was in this country, an he's mighty onprudent sometimes. Missis, an keeps me oncommon busy puttin him through right ; an ef I was to let him see me playin the fool too much, he wouldn't think me so spectable like, an might refuse to mind me. Missis." Mrs. A informed me that, during the morning, she had sent for Buck, and had talked with him about our slaves, negro life, negro characteristics, etc. ; and that after lunch she had encouraged him to sing and dance for the ladies. This afternoon I spent in the library, and among the pictures, statuary, etc., in other parts of the house ; of which there is a very splendid collection. At night, I retired early to my room, that I might write this letter to you. To-morrow we are booked for C. Park, to witness a run with Sir C. C's hounds. This gentleman has been on a visit to this place for the last several days. He left this morning, first inviting Mr. A—— and his guests to the hunt, and to dinner to-morrow. If anything takes place there worthy of note, you may expect to hear from me on the subject. Apologizing for this long letter, I end it with the assurance that I am, dear Major, Eespectfully, Yr. friend and cousin. To Maj. Jones, P. Jones. Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. 6* 54 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, LETTEE VI. DR. JONES AND HIS SERVANT JOIN A FOX-HUNT — BUCK DIS TINGUISHES HIMSELF ON THE FIELD IS IN AT THE DEATH, AND WINS THE TAIL VISIT TO 0. PARK RECIPE FOR COOKING "POSSUM AND PUMPKIN" — BUCK'S STORY OF UNCLE CUDJO AND THE POSSUM." A Hall, November 6th, 185L Deae Majoe : — Yesterday morning, after quite an early breakfast, Mr. A and his guests, myself and Buck among the number, proceeded to the meet of Sir 0. C's hounds. Mr. A was so kind as to mount me on one of his swiftest and surest hunters, though I was quite willing to bestride a less splendid animal; for I had no idea of making an effort to keep up with the hunt. Though I account myself a tolerable horseman, yet, to say nothing of my health, which may have rendered it inexpedient, I had no desire for leaping hedges, ditches, etc., where there was any risk attending it. Every man to his vocation. I was not accustomed to the thing, and I knew how much of advantage there is in being famihar with whatsoever we undertake to accomplish. Buck, who was specially invited, made choice of a fleet mare, rather against my wishes ; for, though I knew he could ride like a wild Indian, yet I thought it seemly that he should be more modestly mounted, and I feared that he might be after making himself rather conspicuous — an apprehen sion which proved correct. At the place of meeting, we found Sir C 0. and his friends, with a large retinue of tenants and neighbors, ladies in carriages, etc. More than a hundred horsemen were present. The gentlemen generally were dressed in bright scarlet coats, white leather breeches, top-boots, silver-mounted spurs, and round hats. The master of the hunt was the baronet himself. The huntsman and the BILLY BUCKS VISIT TO ENGLAND. 55 whippers-in wore short red coats and jockey-caps, and the huntsman carried a horn. There was a large number of laborers and cottagers on foot. It was evident that the fox-hunt was quite an institution of itself in England, and I was greatly interested. A pack of fox-hounds was in attendance, numbering more than thirty couples. Sir C C, it seems, is celebrated for the excellence of his breed, and the condition of his kennel. His dogs have a superin tendent huntsman and assistants. They are fed on scalded oat-meal, I was told. The dogs were all under rigid and accurate discipline. The huntsman or whippers-in could call a dog by name, and he would come out at once from the pack. If any quarrelling and fighting occurred, a crack from the whip was instantly productive of peace. When all was ready, the signal was given, and we started. We penetrated into many thick copses, and the huntsmen beat about with their whips in various direc tions, until at last a fox was found, and started from his cover ; and then away the whole cavalcade went, helter- skelter, a scene of mad hurry-scurry and excitement. I stuck to Mr. A , who said that he was well acquainted with the country, and, by taking advantage of the ground, and steering skilfuUy, could sometimes cut off the chase, and thus save me some hard riding. This was just what I wished, and I was thus saved some ugly leaps ; though as it was, following Mr. A — — , I thought I did very well in that respect several times. At first the pace was rapid. The hounds ran well together, and the effect of their united voices was very fine. We had emerged from the coverts, and gone into the open, as they called it, and for some time we had a very exciting race. But presently we reached another covert, and here another fox was dis turbed, and the huntsmen missed the first, the fresh fox going off at right angles to our first chase, and leading us into other coverts, where other foxes were started ; and this caused us to go jolting around undecidedly for some time, and with the pack very much divided. Sir C man aged, however, in some way, to bring order out of this chaos, and away we went again, men and dogs well toge ther, upon one track. The fox this time was a fine dark- looking fellow, and Sir C almost lifted him off the ground 56 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD ; OE, with a fierce scream as he broke away. We followed in fine style for half an hour or so, when we came to some uneven ground, and Sir C, puUing up for an instant, cried out to the nearest whipper-in, " Where's he bound thereway, Dick?" " Over the river, sir, to the wood, I think. There is some open earth there." " We must be there before him, and stop that, if it costs our necks," said the baronet, as he rode off rapidly. But Dick seemed unwilling to go along ; and hanging back, he cried out, "Have a care, sir; the water's deep there, and too wide to jump." "Won't I try it, though!" we heard the baronet say, as he dashed the spurs into his horse and increased his speed. Buck, who had been riding along with this whipper-in, now sprang to the ground, rapidly slipped his saddle from the horse, tied it by stirrup-leathers and girth round his shoulders and waist, quickly mounted again, pushed the spurs into his mare, and away he went, the only person who followed Sir C We rode near enough to sec the baronet dash at the stream, and strike the water not more than three-fourths the distance across ; but his horse carried him gallantly through. Buck presently reached the bank, and pulled up short. He had not looked for that — but his blood was heated with the excitement, and he instantly turned his mare to a short distance, drove the spurs into her, and slap he went, into the swampy mud on the other side. A cheer from Sir C, who had turned his head to watch him, greeted the successful effort, and Buck scrambled through the meadows, and was soon at his side upon dry ground. The fox was headed, and turned up the stream, along which, on our side, we rode until we reached a bridge, which we crossed, and followed the chase. The fox doubled presently, and we were all brought together again. Buck continued to ride near Sir C, and took every leap which he did. After about half an hour, the fox was put into a thick hedge-row, and had us at fault for a few minutes, when out he came, on our side, and a " Tally-ho !" from Mr. A brought attention to him. BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 57 The baronet and Buck, who were on the other side, both put at the hedge. This time the baronet went clear ; but Buck's mare bothered, and down they went, rolling over together. They both quickly scrambled up, however ; and to my great satisfaction, I saw Buck swing his saddle round, it having gotten in front of him, and lightly mount again. We scampered away then- along the side of a hiU, into a thick wood, from which we soon emerged, and away we went, all very much together, through a pretty piece of open. Here the whole field cheered Buck, who was still riding near the baronet, and now without his hat, having lost it in his tumble, and being at the time under too much excitement to stop and look for it. We came again, after a little time, among the hedges and fields ; and again Sir C and Buck rapidly took the lead — Sir 0. occasionaUy trying the stuff of which his sable neighbor was made, as he subsequently informed us, by taking some rasping leaps. "By Jove, sir!" said the baronet, "I make no doubt but the man would have put his mare at the steeple of St. Paul's, if he had seen me preparing to try it. He is plucky, sir; plucky as the mare he rode." After an hour or so more of heavy pursuit, the fox was run into. The baronet and Buck were the first on the spot. A few others arrived in time to claim the honor of being in at the death. When Mr. A and I arrived, the crisis was passed, and the fox was given to the dogs — all except the tail ; which Sir C had insisted on wreathing as a trophy into the red bandanna handkerchief with which Buck had bound up his head in the absence of his hat. He was a comical figure to look at. He was covered from head to foot with mud and dirt, the saddle continued to swing from his shoulders, and the handkerchief and fox-tail were only needed to complete the picture. He gave effect to it by being apparently unconscious that he was such a figure of fun, and by showing his brilliant teeth in an ecstacy of delight. We had a long ride back to C Park, and I was very much fagged out by the time we arrived there. I must confess that I was fully satisfied never again to seek sport in an English fox-hunt. The chase, however, w§.s very 58 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, much enjoyed by all my companions. It was declared to be a famous good thing; and all united in laughing at Buck's riding, and in praising his pluck. The dinner was very much like that A Hall. There was a little more of display, and very much more of hilarity ; but the latter may have been owing to the exciting events of the day. After the ladies had retired, our host had Buck sent for, and proposed that he should join us in drinking a glass of punch to his health, first stirring his own with the tail of the captured fox. " You have been much accustomed to riding, my man," said the baronet. " Well you see, Marster, I been use to' ridin sense I was so high " (holding his hand about three feet from the floor). "I been use to breakin all Marster's colts, sir; and I is jest fool enough to think I can do what any other man kin on a horse's back, perwided I haint pestered with a saddle, sir. So, when I seed you takin the shine off of everybody in the hunt, and that none on um was gwine to take a brush with you, sir, I jest tuk the saddle off the mar, and put after you with a sharp stick myself sir, for the honor of old Georgy, Marster." " Well, the honor of old Georgia has suffered nothing in your hands, my man. But don't you join the hunt sometimes in your country?" " Our marsters sometimes hunts deers and foxes, sir ; but we black folks never hunts any varmints but rabbits and possums, Marster." "Opossums; aha!" said the baronet; and then, ad dressing himself to me, "they are abundant in your country. Doctor ?" "Not so much so," said I, "as in Australia; but stiU, in sufficient numbers to constitute quite an object of sport with our slaves, who hunt them at night, and by torch- Ught, and with whom they are quite a favorite article of food." " What do they taste Uke ?" said he to Buck. " Like fat pig, Marster ; only more piggerer than pig heself — cepin when they's cooked in a punkin, sir." " Cooked in a pumpkin ! How is that ?" "Why you see, Marster, that's one of the ways we BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 59 black folks haves of cookin possum; an powerful good way it is, too." " Pray tell us how that's done," said the baronet. "Well, Marster, you must ketch your possum, you know " "That, at all events," interrupted the baronet, "is be ginning according to Mrs. Glass. I have no doubt but that it is very good. Go on, sir." " Yes, sir. As I was sayin, when you have kotch him an cleaned him, jest take a punkin, bout big enough to lay him in comftably, Marster, thout dubUn him up too much, sir ; then take a knife an cut your punkin through the middle, aU round, in an out, sir, so that when you take it apart each half has sorter teeth like ; then clean your punkin out, sir, put your possum in, sprinkle some salt an pepper on him, — -raal kyan pepper, ef you's got it, sir, — then put your punkin together agin close, an Uke it was fore you tuk it apart ; then put it in the fire, an kiver it over with ashes an live coals, an let it stay an roast a good many hours — -the longer the better, so you don't let it burn. Arter it's done, sir, you kin take it out, an wipe it clean, an let it cool a little ; an when you open it sir, it's amost the nicest thing that ever you did eat. You see, sir, the possum's sorter sorbed the punkin, an the punkin's sorbed the possum, tell, I declar pint blank, sir, ef you shet your eyes, you can't say which is the pos sum an which the punkin." "I haven't a doubt in the world of it now," said the baronet, "and will maintain it against all comers." "Yes, sir. One Mars. Bob Martin larnt me how to cook it that way, sir. Some o' them Green County nig gers larnt him, he said." " But supposing you haven't got a pumpkin for your opossum, my man; what then?" said the baronet. " Then we jest roasts him dry so, Marster." "Aha ! dry so ; and is it really good, dry so ?" "So good, Marster," said Buck, "that the only time I been steal anything sense I was a child, was when I stole some roast possum-meat, sir. Ef you could ford to Usten to me, Marster, and the gen'l'men, I'd tell you bout it," said he, his tongue now wagging under the 60 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, stimulus of his fox-tail punch, though he looked distrust- ingly at me. "By aU means," cried the company, "let us have Mr. Buck's possum story." I glanced consent. "Well, gen'l'men," he said, "when Iwas bout a man grown, I staid in the same cabin with one o' Marster's ole niggers, named Uncle Cudjer." [Old Cudjo, whom you no doubt well remember. Major.] " Well, one night Uncle Cudjer he was gwine a possum-huntin, an he axed me to go long with him ; but I had some other fish to fry that night, an so I wouldn't go with him. But Uncle Cudjer he went an kotch a possum right soon, for he allers could do it. Somehow anuther, when he an ole Eing went out to hunt for um, the possums stood no more chance than a stump-tail b than a ole red fox with you arter him, I mean, Marster." [Bowing to the baronet.] "An so he brought his possum home, cleaned it, put his pepper and salt on it, put it in his little oven, made fire onder it, an then, bein he was sorter tired by this time, he went fast to sleep. Well, late at night I come home ; an when I went in, thar was the ole man, sound asleep. I raised up the led of the little oven, an piff — paff — out thar come sich a nice, rich, roast-pig sort o' smell, hit made my mouth farly water agin. The possum was done elegant ; an then close by the ole man's platter was a nice corn dodger, waitin for the possum. Hit was late sense sup per, I had had a long walk in the cool night ar, an waa raal hungry, an the sight was too much for my vartue, Marster. I tuk the ole man's possum, sir, I did, (hit warn't very big, sir,) an eat it aU up. Then I tuk some o'the grease, an sorter saftly rubbed it all over his mouth, sir, an over his hands, sir, an then I washed my own, an laid down an went to sleep myself. Bombye, Uncle Cudjer he waked up, he did, and looked for his possum, an sure enough hit warn't thar. Then he shuck me, he did, tell he waked me up. ' You Buck,' says he, ' you gran lascal, you been tiefy my possum — heh? Git up ; I gwine lick you, you infarnal tief, you !' "'Why what's matter. Uncle Cudjer?' says I. BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 61 " ' You tiefy my possum, I say — you been eat ray pos sum, sar." " Why Uncle Cudjer, what's matter ? Are you crazy ?" says I. " You been eat your possum yoMself. Jest look at your hands and your mouth," says I. Uncle Cudjer, he looked at his hands, then he drawed the back of one on um cross his mouth, then he put both on um upon his stomach. " Gor-a-mighty !" says he, "wat dis? Me harn say I been eat um, me mouf say I eat um, me tumach say he dam Ue !" Under cover of the applause which Buck's story elicited, I suggested to him that it was a good time to withdraw ; which hint he was not slow in taking. We had a merry evening, and joined the ladies at a late hour. These latter I found to be very gentle and at tractive. The truth is. Major, the nobility and gentry of this country, as a class, are perhaps the most refined and intellectual in the world. The concentration of immense wealth in, and the passage of it through, the hands of the same family for generations, affords opportunities of cul tivating tastes, and creating material comforts, which serve, in these respects, to place the class of which I am speaking far in advance of anything with which we are ac quainted. In extensive and magnificent luxury, in style, in arrangements for domestic and household comforts, in the beauty of grounds, and the grandeur of public works, we can bear no comparison with this country. But I am afraid that the concentration of wealth in the hands of the few, (by comparison,) which is the main-spring of all these results, at the same time causes more or less of an abstrac tion of it from the hands of the many ; and thus produces such a disturbance in the laws of harmony which regulate the body politic, as must in some way lessen the advan tages, and affect the happiness of the masses who com pose it. This seems to be the logical inference. I hope that experience may convince me of its inaccuracy. It will certainly give me great pleasure to find that there is no reason why I should regret the existence of a state of things which is productive of so many pleasant and excel lent persons — so many true ladies and gentlemen. 6 62 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, To-day I returned to A HaU. To-morrow, or next day, I shaU leave for London. Meantime, I am. Very respectfully, Y'r ob't serv't and cousin, P. Jones. To Maj. Jones, PinevUle, Ga., U. S. of America. LETTEE VII. BRITISH AND FOREIGN ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY AND MRS. STOWE — SPEECHES AT THE MEETING OF THIS SOCIETT, BY PROP. STOWE AND REV. S. WARD, (A NEGRO,) AND COMMENTS OP BUCK THEREUPON — BUCK AMUSES HIMSELF WITH A PART OF THE AUDIENCE. London, June Ist, 1853. Deae Majoe : — In a letter written last month, I gave you some account of Mrs. Stowe's movements, and of the excitement on the subject of slavery which her presence has caused in England and Scotland. She has now made her appearance in London, and has been honored by aU classes in the metropoUs. On Monday evening, the 16th of May, the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society held their annual meeting at Exeter Hall; and she and her staff, viz.. Prof. Stowe, (her husband,) Charles Beecher, (her brother,) and the Eev. Samuel Ward, (a blackamoor from Canada,) were the leading cards played upon that occasion. Owing to the expected presence of Mrs. Stowe, there was a very crowded assembly, and numbers were unable to obtain admittance. By making an early start, however, Buck and I were there in time to procure a convenient seat. I took Buck along, not only because I was in the habit of taking him with me very frequently to places of amuse ment in London,- but because I hoped that, if I found the demand for seats greater than the supply, his black face, on that particular occasion, might be of service in pro- BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 63 curing me admittance and a desirable position. Although we obtained rather a modest place in one of the galleries, yet Buck was put down, I suppose, by all who observed him, as having something to do with the occasion ; and this created such a sensation in his neighborhood as caused him to show his great white teeth with delight. I will furnish you with an account of the proceedings as they were published in the London Observer of the 23d of May last ; omitting, for brevity's sake, the rather long speech of the Earl of Shaftsbury, who presided over the meeting, and addressed it, so soon as it was organized. "BRITISH AND FOREIGN ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY. On Monday evening, the annual meeting of this Society was held in Exeter Hall. Owing to the expected presence of Mrs. H. B. Stowe, there was a most inconveniently crowded attend ance, and numbers of persons were unable to gain admittance. The Earl of Shaftesbury presided. The Secretary attempted to read the report, but, in conse quence of the impatience of the meeting, confined himself to briefly stating the income and expenditure of the Society for the past year. The Rev. J. B. Browne moved the adoption of the report, and the appointment of the Committee for the ensuing year. [Whilst lie was speaking, Mrs. H. B. Stowe entered one of the side galleries, and the assembly rose and cheered her loudly for several minutes.] The Rev. W. Arthur seconded the resolution, which was dnanimously adopted. Mr. .Joseph Sturge read the names of the Committee, and of the corresponding members of the Society : viz.. Professor Stowe, of Massachusetts [cheers], Charles Beecher [cheers], and Samuel Ward, of Canada [cheers]. The Rev. W. Brook moved the resolution that the mainte nance of slavery in a Christian community was a disgrace to humanity, a dishonor to civilization, and an outrage- upon reli gion ; and that Christians of all deuomiuations should raise their voice to condemn an iniquity so raonstrous, and " to em ploy all moral and pacific means to effect its removai." 'Tlie Rev. Samuel Ward, of Canada (a negro), seconded the resolution, and was received with applause. He argued strongly against a principle which had been laid down, that 64 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, money compensation should be made to slaveholders as a con dition of the emancipation of their slaves, and stigraatized it as a compounding of sin, and declared that a slaveholder who freed his slave was only a repentant sinner, and was no more entitled to be paid in raoney for his repentance than any other sinner. He maintained that the cotton trade of England nourished the slave labor of Araerica. He urged that slavery in Araerica was maintained more by the guilty neglect of the North than the positive acts of the South ; for the North had always had a raajority in Cougress, and had assented to all the laws relating to slavery which had been passed there. He then contended that this conduct of the people in the North arose from the feeling and prejudice against all negroes in the TJnited States ; and in speaking of negro pews in churches and chapels, said he knew rainisters who had lately been at meetings in that hall who had such pews in their churches. He related an anecdote of one William Harailton, a negro, who, being refused by a minister the administration of the commu nion before whites, becarae an atheist ; while, on the othep hand, he related an anecdote of the conversion of a negro woman by raeans of a lady who had no such prejudices, and declared that negro woman to have been his own wife [cheers]. He stated that, so great was the prejudice, that a negro who, at the battle of Bunker's Hill, had greatly distinguished him self was always placed in the b.;ckground, behind the whites, in all the pictures of that battle. lie stated also that, on his coming to England, Mr. Cunard had refused to allow him to take his meals with the other passengers on board the steamer, out of deference to the prejudices of Americans ; and stated that to be an illustration of the influence of slaveholders even upon Englishmen. The reverend gentleman raade altogether a very powerful and effective speech, and sat down amidst loud applause. Mr. Alexander here read apologies for absence from Lord Carlisle and from Count Lavradio, the Portuguese Ambas sador. The resolution was carried unaniraously. Professor Stowe, who was received with great cheering, read the next resolution, which declared it to be the duty of the opponents of slavery "to develop the national resources ot countnes where slavery does not exist, and the soil of which IS adapted to the growth of products— especially of cotton— aU or partially raised by slave labor; that, in all cuses where It IS practicable, a decided preference should be given to the BILLY BUCKS VISIT TO ENGLAND. 65 products of free labor, by all who protest against slavery." His (Professor Stowe's) health would disable him from ad dressing them at lengtli, but he had to make a few observa tions. At the close of the American Revolutionary War, all their States were slaveholding States. But the Bill of Rights declared all men free and equal ; and a slave in Massachusetts was advised, under the Bill of Riglits, to bring an action for wages ; and having obtained a verdict in his favor, slavery at once fell tc the ground in that State. In the Convention, Jefferson, Madison, and others from the South, were so sensi tive on the subject that they would not allow the word slave to appear in any of their proceedings, and Franklin participated in that feeling. Jay, Hopkins, and Edwards promulgated it frora the pulpit, aud no one then would support slavery. When he (Professor Stowe) was a boy, black children were in the sarae school with him in Massachusetts ; and, though sorae prejudice had existed, the state of things was not then as it is now. In 1820, the great assembly of the Presbyterian Church passed a resolution against slavery. But that feeling was now changed. What had changed it ? It was the pro fitableness of the cotton trade, and nothing else [hear]. It was that which spread the chain of slavery over the TTiiion [hear]. What right, then, had Great Britain to interfere, when she sustained four-fifths of Araerican slavery by taking four-fifths of the American cotton [hear] ? A Charleston newspaper had justly said that " the world depended on the cotton of America, and that cotton fought and conquered for Southern slavery." Here, then, was a great work for England to do I The price for cotton regulated the price of slaves, and slaves were worth from £100 to £200 each, and, in order to stock a cotton plantation, it took 100, 200, 300, and even 400 slaves. What an amount of capital was required ! Here was the point at which free labor, such as had been found in the importation of Chinese, could contend with slave labor ; and Great Britain should encourage the growth of free-labor cot ton. There were three ways by which slavery in the United States could be abohshed — first, by bloody revolution, which no one desired; secondly, by persuading slaveholders that the system was wrong, and that they should give it up ; and thirdly, by raaking slave labor unprofitable as compared with free labor. Let free labor be encouraged ; and if cotton con suraers did not get rich so fast by free as by slave labor, let thera practise a little of the self-denial which they ask slave holders to practise. He had visited England seventeen years 6* E 66 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, ago, and he found it now rauch iraproved, and a strong feeling of philanthropy existed araongst the higher towards the labor ing classes. He concluded by expressing his hope, though he did not expect to live to see it, that slavery would be soon abolished in Araerica. He would live and die laboring in the cause of abolition [cheers]. Mr. C. Beecher seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. 3Irs. Stowe and her husband and brother here retired amidst loud acclaraations. Colonel P. Thompson then moved a resolution deprecating the American laws in favor of slavery, — especially the "fugi tive slave law," — and recognizing the new spirit infused into the literature of the day, " holding up slavery to universal reprobation." The resolution was carried unanimously, and the meeting separated. Well, you may imagine. Major, that it was as much as I could do to sit stiU, and hear and witness aU that was there said and done. I doubt if I should have succeeded in doing so, but for the amusement which Buck's wag gish looks and comments afforded. By the time of this meeting, he had grown accustomed to going into pubhc assemblies with me upon something of equal terms with those present, and he did not have that air of embarrass ment which at first he wore when compeUed by the crowd to place himself immediately by my side. Even here he contrived to keep himself somewhat in the background ; not so much so, however, but that I could see the comi cal expression of his face occasionally, when enjoying, as I really do believe he did, the impression which he per ceived the whole affair was making on me. His running commentaries on the proceedings amused not only me, but all who were in hearing of him. When his reverence, the black preacher, was descant ing upon the prejudices of our Northern people against negroes, Buck exclaimed, sotto voce, but stiU loud enough to be heard all around him, yet with the utmost gravity, and looking fixedly at the speaker, " Dat first-rate gemmon say belly true — white buckra allers hate nigger till da git usen to smeU um." BILLY buck's Vir.IT TO ENGLAND. 67 And when the same reverend gentleman complained of the separate pews and galleries reserved for colored people in the churches, " Ki !" said Buck, " dat gemmon talk all sem like fool now. He no know dat cost too much for buckra to set longside nigger — dem brokee de- sef buyin smelUn-bottle." Again, when Mr. Stowe advised the production of free- labor cotton, as the most effectual method of overthrow ing slavery. Buck chuckled mightily, and exclaimed " Dat buckra gemmon talkee de fool now hesef. Wa da been gwine git anybody able to work in cotton-field, in brilin hot sun, but black nigger ? I want know dat ! An wa de debbil da gwine find nigger wid head to work wid out buckra man to show um ? or dat gwine be willin, cepin he druv ?" Notwithstanding the occasional play of Buck's drollery, when I heard it resolved by Englishmen and Scotchmen "that slavery was a disgrace to humanity, a dishonor to civilization, and an outrage upon religion," and thatit should be held up "to universal reprobation," I began to feel that this was getting rather personal, and I found myself repeating the old saw, that " those who live in glass houses should not throw stones," and to think that this nation should be slow to hold up any other people to reprobation on account of faults in their social system, as that was " a game which two could play at," and their side might not always have the "innings." I lingered near the outer doors of the hall after the meeting had adjourned, for the purpose of having a closer view of Mrs. Stowe. I somehow failed in this. But as we stood there, a party of several ladies and gentlemen stationed themselves near us, perhaps for the same pur pose, possibly attracted by Buck, whom they may have been observing, or whom they may have imagined con stituted a part of the " fire-works " of the evening. Buck's spirit of mischief was excited so soon as he dis covered that their attention was directed to him. Some one hard by spoke of pickpockets, and of the propriety of being on guard against them in such a crowd. " Massa," said Buck, taking off his hat, and speaking so as to be heard by the party to whom I have referred, 68 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, and casting a glance of alarm upon persons near him, n P3 1' ri 3 1" ' Myself. " Hear what. Buck ?" Buck. "Hear what dem buckra men say? Dem say de tiefs about." Myself. " It don't matter. I left my valuables at our lodgings, and have none with me." Buck. "Wat dat you say, Massa? You no call me valbles ? Ainty Massa nigger valble ? — what for da no tiefy me ? [Taking hold of one of my skirts, and turning to a lady who stood near him, and addressing her with great courtesy and earnestness.] " Missis, you tink da would tiefy dis nigger ?" Myself. " Pshaw, Buck, what do you mean?" It had occurred to me that Buck was attempting some very duU fun ; but at this instance I caught sight of his face, and I saw at once that there was something better in prospect, so I gave him an encouraging look. A pale and solemn gentleman standing by, with a white cravat, and otherwise looking like a dissenting minister, now said to Buck, " What would the thieves want with you in this country, my man?" This opening was precisely what Buck was wanting. Buck. [With affected surprise.] " Want wid me, Mas sa ? Ainty dis Inglis people been tiefy slave ? Ainty da fadder been tiefy my fadder, an sell 'um in Charlestown ? Ainty de fadder been tiefy de fadder for make him slave ? What for de son no tiefy de son, for make him free ? Heh?" This produced not a little merriment among the by standers, who had by this time increased; but they looked as though they were puzzled in the effort to comprehend Buck, and to tell whether he was jesting or not. The same solemn gentleman said, " You are a slave, then ?" Buck. " To be sure, to be sure, Massa ! An I want to stay slave. Missis," [again turning to the lady, in whose eye he now saw encouragement,] "Missis, you fadder tiefy my fadder for him to Uve in good country, me feared you people tiefy Massa nigger for him to live in dis mean country — mean aU sem as gar-broth — beg pardon. Missis, ef you blongs to hit." BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 69 Lady. " Why do you think this country so mean, my man ?" Buck. " Mean ! He mean for true. He mean. Missis, case he people talk so much bout sorry for poor nigger, all time da kiU.one anudder, an kiUee da wife, an killee da chile. How come, ef da so sorry for poor nigger, da no sorry for poor buckra ? How come da got no feelin for da wimmins, for poor pickininny, for da little chil'n ? How come dem buckra men killee da wife, dem wife kiUee da husband, an dem moser killee da chile ? I want know dat ! Heh ? How come da no gib ebely body nuff to eat ? Heh ? You come to Georgy, Missis ; ebely body got plenty to eat da, an nobody hurt wimins an chil'n. No, no ; da don't do dat much in Guinea country, cepin to eat um." Lady. [Forgetting, or not having noticed, that Buck had (in words) only attributed the paternity of his fathers to Africa.] " What ! were they cannibals in your country ?" Buck. " No, not Hannibals ; new nigger — Ebo nigger. Missis." Lady. " I mean, did they eat people there ?" Buiok. " Dat trute. Missis ; da eat people da for true ! An belly good eatin da is, too ; speshly dem lilly picki ninny nigger, — liUy baby nigger, — when da fat." Lady. " Oh, horrible ! Did they really eat children ?" Buck. [Smacking his lips, and looking voracious.] "Dat trute for true. Missis. You see, Missis, da's some sense for killin pickininny when you hongry, and eat um. But you people kill um an no eat um ; an I call dat great wase, in country wha so many people all time tarvin. Dat make me say he mean country. Missis, an tank God in my player dat me Uve in better country, wha we's better people." " But do you ever thank God in the right way, my man, for your blessings ? Do you ever pray to him in the right spirit ?" said the dissenting minister of whom I have spoken. Buek. "Ainty I been tell Missis, Massa, how I tank God in my player dat I no bad and hongry like you poor IngHs buckra?" 70 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, Here the burst of merriment on the part of all except the solemn minister was uprorious. That gentleman, nothing daunted, returned to the charge. Clergyman. "Ah, my friend, that is not the right spirit of prayer ; that is too much like the Pharisee in the temple — of whom, perhaps, you have heard. You should thank God for your blessings, but confess yourself a miserable sinner in his sight, and pray to be made better." Buck. " Ki, Massa ! What for me play dat Ue to God ? He know better — he know me no miserable sinner — me Clistian man." The solemn gentleman shook his head doubtfully and solemnly amidst the hearty laughter of the bystanders. "Ha!" said Buck, "you no tink me Clistian, Massa? Bible say, sarch me an know me heart, try me an know me tough ts. If you know do dat, how you been gwine tell me no Clistian, heh ?" And as the solemn minister moved away from his " hard customer," Buck cried out after him, with great earnestness, " Joe's dead, ef me aint Clistian, Massa !" On the next day there was a soiree at WiUis's Eooms, St. James Street, gotten up at the instance of thia same Anti-Slavery Society, for the purpose of presenting an address to Mrs. Stowe. I send you a copy of the pro ceedings, where you will see more of the bosh of which the Stowes, like true Yankees, have availed themselves in making a good thing out of their capital. Your friend and cousin. To Majoe Jones, P. Jones. Pineville, Georgia, U. S. of America. BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 71 LETTEE VIII. SOCIAL PROFLIGACY OF THE BRITISH PEOPLE — ST. ALBAN's ELECTION — ST. ALBANS BRIBERY COMMISSION. London, June 16th, 1853. Deae Majoe : — Buck was right when he- intimated, as you will perceive from my last he did, after his manner, that it is a great humbug, for a people so steeped in crime, in profligacy, in poverty and wretchedness, as are the in- haloitants of this United Kingdom, to set themselves up as critics and reformers among the nations. It is indeed ridiculous for a people, so overwhelmed with social evils, to talk loftily about "holding" our Slave States "up to universal reprobation " ; and to encourage their good and noble ladies in the attempt to excite the women of our States upon the subject of slavery. To show you how very unwise it is on the part of those who are hurling such missiles from that immense glass-house, the social system of Great Britain, I will proceed to furnish you, and through you such of our friends as you may permit (without printing) to read them, some of the results of my observation and experience during the last two years. One of the features in the character of this people, which has impressed me most painfuUy, is, what may properly be called social profligacy. I use this term in a very general sense : a sense which embraces corruption of moral principles, and looseness of moral conduct. So far as manners, personal habits, and chastity, are concerned, there has been a great improvement in this country, cer tainly, since the days of Tom Jones and Peregrine Pickle. And I would not be understood as meaning to say, that among the higher classes of society (and in this term I desire that the better sort of what is called the middle class should be included) in this country, there is to be found that license of speech and of morals which prevailed 72 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, in former years. That such looseness of morals among a very large portion of this society, and among some of the higher classes, does still prevail, to a most disgusting ex tent, I do insist, and expect to show in due time. On the other hand, I am free to admit, that there are no people on earth more refined in manners and virtuous in conduct, so far as regards the relations between the sexes, than, as a general rule, the nobility and gentry and a large pro portion of the middle class of society in this country are. But I wish to be understood now as plainly saying to you, that, whUst there has been an improvement upon the coarseness and the vice of the last century in certain directions, there still prevails a high degree of social depravity among the people of this country. It is mani fested in the corruption of their system of suffrage ; in the vice of betting or gambling, more especially upon horse races; in the ignorance ofthe masses; in the amount and character of the crimes committed ; in the number of abandoned women of the town ; the number of illegitimate children ; the profiigate intercourse of the sexes ; the de graded moral character, generally, of the lower classes, and the great number of juvenile delinquents. Let us begin with their elections — the source in a free government (which this professes to be) from which many of the streams that give life and character to the body- politic must fiow. The corrupt moral tone of large masses of this popula tion is indicated by the systematic bribery which is prac tised in their elections. The bribed, though not fhe very lowest of the low (because in sueh case they would not probably be electors) are not among the more elevated ranks of society. But who are the bribers, and whose is the money ? The immediate agents of the candidates are attorneys or solicitors, as the general rule ; and they em ploy subordinate agents, who again subordinate their instruments. At the top of this scale, those engaged are entitled by law to write themselves gentlemen, perhaps, and belong for the most part to the middle classes ; those at the other end are of the same class with the voters — ¦ possibly lower in the social scale. Yet aU of these per sons are, in fact and in law, but the agents and instru- BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 73 ments of the candidates, who come, as' the general r le, from the aristocracy of birth or of wealth. And the part these latter play is only the more despicable because of its hypocrisy. They are, in almost all instances, careful not to mix themselves up with bribery or illegal solicitations ; and it seems quite the fashion for them to insist, when coming down with the cash, which they well know will be employed in bribery (I dare say their tongues are in their cheeks the while), that it shall, by no means, be illegally employed. But they take very good care not to interfere with their agents, and not to inquire what is or has been done with the money. Thus all classes share the evil, and its consequent moral -degradation. Of course there are exceptions to this rule — highly honorable exceptions. Indeed, I do not mean to say that the practice is univer sal, but only that it prevails to 'such an extent in the kingdom as -greatly to affect its moral character. I will give you some of the proofs. In the year 1850, (I believe,) Mr. Jacob Bell was elected a member of Parliament by the borough of St. Albans. He was charged by his opponent with having procured his election by iUegal means. An Act was accordingly passed by the House of Commons, appointing commis sioners to inquire into the matter and report. On Mon day, the 27th of October, 1851, that Commission met, and entered on the investigation. It continued its session from day to day, for many days. The result was, a re port unfavorable, both to the candidate and to the borough. He was unseated, and it was disfranchised. I propose to send you some extracts, taken from the pro ceedings of that Commission, and published in a London newspaper, serving to show how the system to which I have referred is managed in this country. I can only send you a portion of the proceedings, as the whole would occupy too much time and space. "ST. ALBANS BRIBERY COMMISSION. First Day. Monday, Oct. 2T. — This raorning this long- expected inquiry was opened in the Town Hall, at St. Albans, by Messrs. F. W. Slade, W. Forsyth, and T. Phinn, Corarais- 7 74 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, sioners appointed by an Act passed last session, entitled 'An Act appointing Coraraissioners to inquire into the existence of bribery in the borough of St. Albans. Shortly before the opening of the court, Mr. Bell, the sitting member, entered, and took his seat near the Commissioners. The court was much crowded, and several jokes respecting 'Bell-metal' and ' Sovereign-alley ' w-ere occasionally audible. Mr. Slade said that this inquiry would, in the first instance, be limited to the proceedings at the last election ; but the" act gave powers to inquire into an almost unlimited period. All persons conducting themselves property would be allowed to be present during the examination of the witnesses ; but it was highly inexpedient to print and publish anything that might affect the character of persons, and it would be some what indecent that the evidence on which the Commissioners' report was to be founded should go forth before the Commis sioners had formed their own conclusions, and had reported to the Queen. If, therefore, this rule against prematurely pub lishing the evidence were infringed upon, it would be the Com missioners' duty thenceforth to conduct the inquiry with closed doors. Mr. Slade then stated that, under the 1th section of the Act, the Commissioners could compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents, and could compel answers to all questions ; in fact, the Legislature had conferred very extraordinary powers upon this Commission — more exten sive, indeed, than had ever before been conferred on any other Comraission ; and the penalties attendant upon refusing to comply with the requisition of the Commissioners were very severe ; but no penal consequence of a criminal or civil nature would attend the disclosure of the truth ; for, by the Sth sec tion, all parties faithfully disclosing all matters within their knowledge on the subject of this inquiry, were indemnified from all consequences whatever, whether civil or criminal, and certi ficates from the Commissioners would protect such parties for any act previously done by them in this borough. Mr. Bell, the sitting raeraber, was then examined on the sub ject of the money advanced for the purposes of the election, and as to the circurastances under which he came forward as a candidate. The first communication he received upon the sub ject of the election was from Mr. Coppock, the parliaraentary agent ; who told him there was a vacancy at St. Albans, and that if he becarae a candidate he was likely to be returned, and that the expense of it would be about £2500. Witness expressed himself rather surprised at the largeness of the BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 75 amount, and wanted to know what it was for ; to which Mr. Coppock replied that there were various expenses and a good deal to pay for agents, and that that would be about the amount ; and he thought he could secure him the election for that sum of money. Witness said that he himself, personally, would have nothing to do with it, but would refer him to other parties. Mr. Edwards was then called : being lame, he was seated during his examination. He gave his evidence in a frank and manly manner ; but when his testimony affected the honor or character of others, he was painfully affected. Mr. Slade asked, had Mr. Edwards any statement to raake ? Mr. Edwards said he was not a volunteer. He had been summoned, and would answer truly ; but in his position, it was preferable tliat his evidence should be drawn from him. In answer to questions, Mr. Edwards then stated that he had long resided in St. Albans. He had been manager of the St. Albans Bank, and a voter for the borough. He took part in the borough elections for twenty-five years. On the 16th of November he received a letter from Mr. Coppock, referring to Mr. Raphael's death, and sumraoning him to town. He saw Mr. Coppock on the 18th of November, in Parliament street, and Coppock asked witness to act with him. Witness con sented. Coppock asked about expenses, and said the Hon. Mr. Craven wished to be a candidate. Witness said £2500 would be the expense. Coppock said he would communicate with Mr. Craven, and would see witness next day. The ex penses were irrespective of a contest ; and witness said that, in consequence of a contract with the Conservatives, there would be no contest. The £2500 referred to the general ex penses of an election, contingent on circumstances. Witness would not, under any circumstances, embark without that amount. . . . ... Mr. Carden was brought to the field by a portion of the 'third party,' and was then supported by the Conservatives. The third party were 151. Bragg's Conservatives were 50 or 60. Mr. Gape and theEarl of Verulam were of that party. The 151 were polled to a vote at the last election ; there was no third party. Witness told Coppock he could poll two to one against Mr. Carden, and he had done so. He first heard of Carden in a letter in troducing Mr. Gresham, who said he had ' a candidate ' who had lots of mouey. The name was mentioned — Sir Fitzroy 76 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, Kelly. Gresham said he had come to reside near St. Albans, and wanted a ' slice,' as he wasn't going to be ' quiet.' Wit ness said, 'What do you want ?' Gresham replied, ' Ten gui neas a day.' Witness offered five. He ultimately decided to ask the friend who introduced Gresham. When Bell came down, Gresham was one of the first whora witness asked to aid his canvass; but, at a meeting to invite Carden, Gresham offered to draw up the requisition inviting Carden. Witness was surprised and hurt, and wrote to remonstrate. [Here Mr. Gresham interrupted the witness, hut was silenced.] Gre- shara wrote an answer (now produced), stating that he knew nothing of the Carden party. Soon afterwards, Carden ap peared. Witness saw Carden, and told him that he knew no thing of the town, or he would not disturb it, as Mr. Bell's return was certain. Mr. Carden bowed, and his friends talked 'fudge.' Carden came as a Liberal. Witness took all the packets to Chequers street. He never saw Bell in Chequers street. There was a sort of understanding — a custom — that the Liberals would vote for witness's candidate. Witness held out no promises. When there was anything to give, he always gave it. Head-raoney was alw.ays customary and notorious at St. Albans. Out of 321 Liberals, 250 always looked for head-raoney; and the opposite party always looked for it. They all looked for it. He should consider it strange if any one voted for Carden without getting money. At previous elections, witness had paid money to fifty of those who voted for Carden at the last election. At the last election, £5 was the lowest and £8 the highest sum paid to the light weights. There were heavy weights. The heavy weights got £15. The mode of business was this : — The town was canvassed all day. In the evening the voters came to him and got their money. That had been the custom for twenty years. The voters stopped below stairs. Witness's brother-in-law stood at the top of the stairs, and introduced the voters one by one. The sum to each person varied at different elections. Most of the voters were engaged at the elections as messengers, spies, and so on, and each one was remunerated as he deserved. Each was put on the footing of a servant. Some were actually and some only norainally employed. Those who got money under the color of work got least. Those who did work got most. The voter's visits to Sovereign Alley and the paying com menced on the SOth of Noveraber. Mr. Slade : Did you keep a list of the persons who came, and an account of the money you paid ? BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 77 Mr. Edwards : Yes. But I have destroyed the list. I don't want to mention names. I will tell everything else. Mr. Phinn : But the Act of Parliament renders it neces sary for us to know the naraes. Mr. Edwards : You see how painful is my position. Does the Act of Parliament compel rae ? Mr. Slade : The Act gives us power to corapel you. We feel for your position, but these naraes must be given. Mr. Edwards : Let me know, in the presence of those around me, my townsmen, what will be the consequences if I refuse to tell the names. Mr. Phinn : You wdll be imprisoned until you do M. Edwards : I have already been in jail eighteen weeks, and would go for another eighteen weeks, sooner than tell the names. Mr. Slade : But you may be imprisoned for life. Mr. Edwards : Then I am compelled. I will give the names. I will give every one of thera. I will take an alpha betical list of the electors, and will tell all I know of each of thero. I won't select names. I won't make fish of one and fowl of another. It shall all come out. Mr. Slade : You are traducing nobody here. You are to satisfy the supreme power in the state, and simply to tell the truth. Mr. Edwards : I wish to do so, and I hope it will do good. Great excitement , prevailed in court during this conversa tion. A scene was about to be enacted such as had never before been witnessed. Copies of the register were procured. The Commissioners took a copy, and began with the first name — Mr. Edwards being given to understand, when a name was called, that the question was, ' Did that man receive money from you ?' Many of the parties referred to were in court at the time, and the answers offered by Mr. Edwards were followed, in each case, by murmuring comments from the audience. At four o'clock about 200 names had been called ; these being electors resi dent in a single parish. For obvious reasons, we do not give the list of those reported by Mr. Edwards to have received bribes ; but we may state the results. Two out of three had received bribes, and nine out of ten had received the money direct from Edwards himself Some had received the money from Mr. Bragg, as the Conservative agent, acting with Ed wards, but not allowing Edwards to interfere with his own people ; and others had got their bribes through inferior 1* 78 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, agents employed by Edwards. A few had declined taking their bribes except through their wives ; and in those cases it was found that the parties had voted against Edwards's can didate, or had not voted at all. Neariy all had received their money before the day of the election. Those who had re ceived their money afterwards were parties who had forfeited their words in previous contests. ' But,' said Mr. Edwards, 'there is seldom a forfeit of word in these cases.' The usual sum given by Edwards was £5 — '£5 for his vote, by myself,' beine- the most frequent answer as the names were called. There were other suras, of £6, £8, and £10, paid ; but in those cases vote and actual service were paid for together. In reference to one name, the witness said, ' That was not for his vote. I had taken his room for a committee-room, and there was a bed-room. The price was high, but not too high for election times. Nothing whatever was said about the vote to him. That was quite understood. It was a matter of course that he would vote for ray candidate. ' In reference to another name, the statement was, ' The £8 was for his work as mes senger; and he worked very hard. It was understood he would vote for me. I never even asked that. It was a mat ter of course.' Another statement, respecting another party, was, ' He got between £10 and £20. But that was for goods supplied. The vote was a matter of course.' Of another the witness said, ' He got the £5 to keep the peace. He is a prize-fighter. I used to have a band of twenty prize-fighters at the elections, but at the last election I only employed one. I gave him £5 ; and he would have had that if he hadn't had a vote. He used to get it before he got a vote.' Fourth Day. Thursday, Oct. 30. — On Thursday morning the Commissioners resumed their sittings in the Court House, St. Albans. An immense crowd attended, all other business in the town being suspended by these unusual proceedings. Mr. Slade said that it had come to the knowledge of the Commissioners that threats had been used to one of the offi cers employed under this Commission. He now announced that the court was deterrained to protect, to the utmost of their power, not only their own officers, but all witnesses examined under the corapulsory powers granted to the Commission. And if, after this warning, any interruption was offered to the pro ceedings, the party so interrupting would be dealt with in the severest manner allowed by law. Mr. Edwards then resumed his seat in the witness' box. BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 79 He begged^ before beginning his evidence, to state a circura stance which had occured last evening. A person whom he had employed in 1850 on his farm, as a painter, had that even ing sent into him a bill for £5 8s. 6d. That person had received £5 or upwards at the late election, and on the bill now sent in was marked, 'Received £5 8s. on account.' This man had never sent in a bill to him before, but doubtless he had done work for it ; but the £5 odd given at the election was not given towards the settlement of the bill. The reading of the registry, and Mr. Edwards's answers respecting each man, were then resumed. There was a re reading of St. Albans' parish, the wrong list having been given on the previous day, and the corrections were now made. Ed wards's manner was less constrained than on the previous day ; he now gave not only the indispensable facts, but with easy unreserve he gossipped about his neighbors, and mentioned stories in extenuation or censure, which were superfluous. The novelty of his extraordinary position seemed to have worn away, and his revelations were tendered with a chatty air, which indicated rather a pleasant understanding with his ex aminers. At the same tirae, he affected no candor. He was clear, open, and truthful, and made it apparent that compul sion only could induce him to make the disclosures ; and that, being compelled, he related all his election anecdotes accu rately. The registry of St. Albans' parish having been gone through, the lists of St. Peter's and St. Michael's freemen were slowly called out. Edwards's comments seemed to be ready marked opposite each name; he did not hesitate for a moment, and it was very seldom that he was not positive in his state ments. On delivering his emphatic ' £5 by myself to himself for his vote,' no man eould doubt that he had told the truth. Fifth Day. Tuesday, Nov. 4. — On Tuesday, the Commis sioners, P. W. Slade, W. Forsyth, and J. Phinn, Esqs., at half- past ten, A. M., resumed their sittings (adjourned from Thurs day, the SOth ult.) at the Court House, St. Albans. The court was densely crowded, as Mr. Coppock was in attend ance. Mr. Heywood Edwards (son of the witness Edwards) was first called; and, being questioned as to the 'inducement' sug gested by Mr. Coppock to his father, said that his father had told him that Mr. Coppock had promised to get a Government situation for one of his (the father's) sons. Witness had four brothers ; none of them had yet obtained any public situation. Mr. Bond Cabbell had got one of the sons into the Bluecoat School. Edwards, Sen., had acted as Mr. Cabbell's agent. 80 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, Mr. Edwards, Sen., was now re-examined, and deposed that none of the ' head-money ' given by him at the last election had been returned since. Mr. Reding, a Dissenting minister, had been on Mr. Bell's coramittee, but was not very active, and was not, as witness believes, aware of the election prac tices as conducted by witness. His (witness') son's statement respecting Mr. Coppock's proraise of a situation was correct. But witness had not mentioned the word 'Government' to his sou. All that he said was, a 'situation.' Mr. Francis Edwards, another son of the last witness, said he also had acted as agent between his father and Mr. Cop pock. He had carried packets, and had, like his brother, acted as doorkeeper iu Sovereign Alley. Mr. James Coppock, solicitor and parliamentary agent, 40, Parliament street, being called, Mr. Slade asked wdiether Mr. Coppock had a statement to raake respecting the part he took in the St. Albans' election. Mr. Coppock said he was ready to answer any question the Commissioners might put, but that all he knew respecting the St. Alban's election was in his confidential capacity as solicitor to Mr. Bell. He applied for Mr. Bell's permission to give evidence, as, without Mr. Bell's permission, no power on earth would have induced him to utter a single word on the subject. Mr. Bell first gave a verbal authority ; but witness requested and ob tained a written authority, which he now produces, and Mr. Bell requested that Mr. Coppock would withhold no evidence that was necessary to carry out the inquiry. Witness' professional duties led him very much in connection with parliamentary matters, and had done so, for the last fifteen or sixteen years — indeed, ever since Sir R. Peel's celebrated ad vice, to 'register, register, register !' In 1835, an association, coraposed of 700 or 800 ofthe leading members of the Liberal party, was established, and shortly after its establishment wit ness was appointed secretary of the association. That asso ciation was called the Reform Association. Its object was to attend to the registrations throughout England, and assist in the Liberal cause generally. This had placed him in commu nication with almost every borough and county in England. From that time to this, he had, without hardly knowing how, been in sorae way or other consulted by the Liberal party whenever there was a vacancy anywhere, and he had been con stantly in the habit of watching vacancies. He thus knew something of most places in England ; and if he were to go through the list of boroughs and counties, as the Commission ers had done the list of electors in this case, and if he were BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 81 asked to state how the members had gained their seats, he believed he could make as extraordinary a statement with re spect to those boroughs and counties as Mr. Edwards had made with respect to St. Albans [applause from the audience]. He had not made that statement with a view to applause, but merely to show the extent of the system ; for he knew it well, and there was no man in the kingdom who had a greater hor ror of it than he had. When Mr. Thorley came, witness asked what were his friend's position and circumstances. Was he a producible man ? Was he an orator ? and many other ques tions, including what were his politics, as witness acted only on one side. Having been satisfied on these points, he said he would consider the matter. In three weeks afterwards, Mr. Thorley returned, and mentioned Mr. Bell's name, and witness requested Mr. Bell to call, which he did. Having inquired about his politics, and the expense he would be willing to incur, — for it was as necessary on such occasions to know the depth of a member's pocket as of his politics, — Mr. Bell frankly said that his only object was to get into Parhament to proraote certain views of his own with regard to the medical profession, which he had for years labored to bring forward, and which he thought he could better advocate if he were in Parliament. He had no ambitious views. .... There was at that time no other candidate in the field. The 'third party' were stiU in negotiation with Sir R. Carden, and were using every effort to get hold of him or some other can didate, without respect to politics, and simply for the sake of expenditure. This had always been the practice in St. Albans ; and witness read a letter which he had received from Mr. Geard, in 1836, showing that it was then the established cus tom of the ' third party ' to make the candidates ' bribe and bleed ' as freely as possible. Witness believed that the same custom had existed for 100 years. It had always been under stood that the great raajority of the electors of St. Albans could be bought and sold without respect to principle or any thing else. Bell having agreed to the terms proposed, a diffi culty arose as to how the money should go. It was ultimately agreed that it was to be sent through witness to Edwards. Witness never saw a farthing of the money ; he received it in sealed packets. He knew that the £2500 did go, in some way or other, and the result was the return of Mr. Bell by a large majority, as Edwards had promised. Edwards kept faith with witness on that occasion, as he always did when he got into the fight F 82 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, Mr. Forsyth : We wish to know, did you convey, or intelid to convey, that impression to Mr. Edwards's mind ? Mr. Coppock : I intended to convey the impression that, if he succeeded in returning Mr. Bell, I should consider myself under an obligation to him on behalf of the Liberals. I gave Mr. Edwards permission to tell every word of everything I promised ; and if I promised him anything, I shall not violate or alter the fulfilraent now. Mr. Forsyth : Have you been the means of recommending any persons to Government situations ? Mr. Coppock : Certainly. I have exerted myself to serve several parties who served me. The witness then stated that the Reform Club party owed its origin to the Reforra Associa tion, but had no connection with it — that association died four or five years ago. There was not now any organized system of finding candidates for boroughs. He was not aware who told him that Sir R. Carden's limit w^as £1500 ; but he heard it through somebody ostensibly acting forthat gentleman. The process adopted by the 'third party ' was this : they went to a dozen places, — to Westminster Hall and elsewhere, — trying if they could find any one to become a candidate. They asked each person what he would spend. He would say so much. They would reply that would not do, and would men tion some higher sum, promising to insure his return if he only found the means. Witness heard frora some of the persons so eraployed that Sir R. Carden would not go beyond £1500. Mr. Forsyth : What would be the legal exjjense of return ing a raember for such a borough as St. Albans, suppose there was nothing spent in head-money or bribery ? Mr. Coppock said that if he found he had to retain a dozen gentlemen of the legal profession, at ten guineas a day, he would put down £1200 for that; and here he begged to say that he did not see the difference between that and giving a poor raan 5s. for his vote. Mr. Forsyth : There is a touch of satire in that, Mr. Cop pock, aud I don't say but it may be a fair one ; but what we want to know is, suppose there was not a dozen attorneys at ten guineas a day, but merely the ordinary employment of pro fessional men, — clerks, raessengers, etc., — and supposing you were asked bona fide to enter into a contest in St. Albans without any bribery or head-money, what would be the re quired sum? Mr. Coppock said that Sir H. Ward, when he left St. Al bans and went to ShefSeld, told him that the St. Albans elec- BILLY BUCKS VISIT TO ENGLAND. 83 tion cost him £2400, and the Sheffield election only £160 ; and that when he dined with his Sheffield constituents they all paid their own bills even. Witness thought that £200 was more than any election at St. Albans ought to cost ; but he added that they never would prevent practices of bribery, or undue expenses, until they allowed the ballot. Mr. Slade reminded Mr. Coppock that there were differ ences of opinion on that point, and confessed that he (Mr. Slade) was one of those who tliought that the ballot would increase bribery. Mr. Edwards was then recalled, and repeated that Mr. Cop pock had distinctly held out to him the induceraent of ' a situ ation for one of his sons.' The promise was made quite volun tarily by Mr. Coppock, and, so far as witness remembered, not at all in the way stated by Mr. Coppock." — Observer, iSfov. Bd, 1851. Without too much trying your patience. Major, I can not send you all the proceedings of this Commission in one letter. I close this by repeating that I am. Very respectfully, Y'r ob'nt serv't and cousin, P. Jones. To Maj. Jones, Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. LETTEE IX. PROCEEDINGS OE THE BRIBERY COMMISSION FOR ST. ALBANS CONTINUED — CONTROVERTED ELECTIONS IN 1852. London, June 20th, 1853. Deae Majoe: — As I feel sure that you will be inte rested with the detail of circumstances connected with this bribery commission, and as it serves so well to illus trate what I have said as to the tone of morals in this' country, I shaU proceed to furnish you with a few more extracts from the proceedings of these Commissioners : 84 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, "BRIBERY COMMISSION AT ST. ALBANS. Ninth Day. Tuesday, Nov. Wth. — The ninth sitting of the commission was held ttiis day at St. Albans. The questions were of a routine character, and the answers were but little varied. Upwards of 100 electors were severally called to the "confessional," and acknowledged with the greatest noncha lance, and to tlie arauseraent of a crowded audience, having received £5 and £10 for their votes from Edwards, Blagg, Yass, and others. Most of thera admitted having been bribed at previous elections for Wilks, Craven, Raphael, and Repton ; but the majority professed that the money was in payraent of " services," not " bribes" for votes. One of the early witnesses was the house-painter, who had, as Edwards stated, received a £5 bribe, but who subsequently furnished his painting bill for £5 6s. 8d. due by Edwards, and who persisted in saying that the £5 was given not as a bribe, but in payment of the paint ing bill. Another witness was a blind man, with Avhom the coraraissioner held the following colloquy : Did you vote iu 1841 ? Ans. : I did. Commissioner : For whom ? Ans. : For some gent as is dead. Ques. : For Mr. Kaphael ? Ans. : I heerd so. Another man received £5 at the last election and £10 in 1841. He said both sums were for services. Ques. : Why did you receive more in 1841 than at last election ? Ans. : Oh, I had two votes (as a £10 householder and a freeman) in 1841. Ques. : Then the £10 could not have been for services ? Ans. : Yes, it was. Ques. : Were your services the same in 1841 as at last election ? Ans. : Yes, quite the same. Though pressed to explain the contradiction, the witness would not adrait that he had been paid for his "vote." On concluding his evidence he was asked if he wanted a certificate ; he replied that he should like one. The Commissioner said : But you are in a dilemma. If you did not receive money for your vote, you don't want a certificate ; and if you did, you have told us a falsehood. The witness then withdrew without making any further application. BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 85 Mr. George Sealey Waggett's name was called. " Here," shouted a bold voice ; and then, amidst great laughter, the long-missing Waggett appeared. He is a small, emaciated, ghastly pale man ; an Irishman, wdth a native accent, but slightly deteriorated by his long residence in St. Albans. His wife keeps a lodging-house there ; and he, Birchmore, and Skeggs, had levanted to Boulogne, and a royal proclamation offered £200 to recover the wanderers. In reply to questions, Waggett frankly answered that he had received £5 at the last election, and £5 in 1841, for his vote. Commissioner Forsyth : I hope, Mr. Waggett, your health is improved by the mild climate of France [laughter] ? Mr. Waggett : Thank you, sir, I'm much better [great laughter]. Mr. Graham here asked : Did you receive more than £5 for your vote at the last election ? Waggett : No ; no more Graham : Or since ? The Coramissioner said that their powers did not extend to embrace this question. Mr. Waggett then withdrew, and sat near Hayward, one ofthe corapanions of his continental trip. Hayward has adopted the foreign style of dress, and now wears a formidable beard and mustachios. Birchmore, one of the " missing witnesses," appeared iu the box amidst much merri ment. He was dressed as a farm laborer, and is about 60 years old. He admitted that he had been bribed by " Muster Ed wards," and had been lately "abroad." Skeggs, another of the " travellers," also about 60, dressed as a laborer, in answer to a question which he did not hear, said he was "no schol- lard," though he had boasted to his townsmen that he had learned " French." Another voter named Smith said he had received £61 for the band, and for his " services" to Bell's party, but he ultimately voted for Carden, on the purity prin ciple [laughter]. Commissioner : Why did you change sides ? Ans. : Because it was more to my interest. Ques. : Why so ? Ans. : All I can say is, that I found it so. On further question, the witness admitted that he had re ceived a notice to quit from his landlord's agent, Mr. Law (who was also Alderman Carden's agent). He had voted for Car den, and has not quitted his house, nor is he now likely to quit it. But there were no direct threats proved, and the witness did his best to serve his landlord and the landlord's agent. 8 86 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE. Another witness, who had received money from Edwards to vote for Bell, nevertheless, ultimately voted for Carden on the " purity principle," because on looking over his books he found that the balance of customers lay in the direction of Carden's party [laughter]. Another voter who, at the last election, received £5 for his "services," and whose juvenile appearance led the commissioner to question him on the subject, said he was not yet 21. He knew that he had no legal right to vote, and he knew it when he was voting. Mr. Graham, the solicitor, here urged to have questions put to the witnesses who had absconded, respecting the pecuniary supplies for their trip to the Continent ; but the commissioner decided that they had no power to go into that subject. Above 100 persons having been examined, the Court, at half- past three o'clock, adjourned to Wednesday. Tenth Day. Wednesday, Nov. I2th. — On Wednesday the Commissioners met at the usual hour, and ninety more of the electors were called, and put upon their defence, to answer or to admit the criminatory charges brought against them by Messrs. Edwards, Blagg, Yass, Harris, and others. On Tues day about 100 were similarly examined ; and on the preceding Friday 60 were heard. The general result, therefore, is, that out (if the 483 persons who are on the register for the borough of St. Albans, more than one-half havebeeu arraigned, and that ninety-nine out of a hundred have pleaded guilty to direct, tan gible bribery and corruption. On the first occasion of the Commissioners resorting to the unexpected and most effective expedient of summoning the individual electors, and compelling each man to speak, on his oath, for himself, there was very considerable difficulty in getting at the truth. The suramons came upon the majority like a thunderbolt ; and although there were many who, saturated with the St. Albans morale, care lessly regarded their offence as locally inoffensive, there were others, " influentials" and tradesmen, who were dismayed at all official exposure which risked their social position in the town and neighborhood among their own class, and who, not having had the repose for philosophical reflection accidentally afforded to Mr. Edwards, could not, all at once, resolve to make a " clean breast of it." The following are specimens of the cases elicited this day : Wm. Thompson voted for Sir R. Carden last election, but received no money. In 1841, he received £10 to vote for Raphael, but nevertheless he gave his vote for Craven. BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 87 John Cockington, cordwainer, said he received £3 from Edwards at last election. He voted for fifty years with the Liberals, and never voted on the other side except once. He would have voted for Bell whether he got money or not. He had never received money before. He understood that the £3 was to drink Mr. Edwards's health. The Chief Commissioner : Do you think you can make us believe that ? Witness : Yes, sir [laughter]. Mr. Commissioner Forsyth • Were you to spend the whole of the £3 for brandy and water ? Witness : I was to spend it as I liked. On my oath I don't think the money was for my vote. Never got £3 from Mr. Edwards to drink his health at any but election times. Mr. Commissioner Forsyth : We give certificates to all those who speak truly, and tell us they received money for their votes ; but of course as you say you were not .paid for your vote, you don't want a certificate ? Witness : No, sir. George Gooch, gunmaker, said that Edwards left £5 with witness' wife last election, but he did not know of it till two days afterwards. He wished her to return the money, but she would not. She spent it on her children. He voted after all for Sir R. Carden. Did not get any money from Sir R. Car den's party. Got £15 at the 1841 election from Mr. Blagg and Mr. Edwards. Mr. Commissioner Forsyth : You were paid rather high. Witness : Our trade always is, sir [laughter]. Henry Goodman received £1, in 1841, for promising to Mr. Wilkes, but he afterwards mistook the narae, and voted for Repton [a laugh]. W. Drayton said he received £10 from Repton's party, in 1841, to abstain frora voting. Mr. Blagg explained that the race was very close between Wilkes and Repton, and the object of Repton's party was to send away as many as possible of Wilkes's promisees. Mr. Commissioner Forsyth : And is it customary, then, to give the voters money to break their promises ? Mr. Blagg : Not to break their promises, sir. Yery few of the St. Albans voters ever break their promises ; but it is not unusual for a voter to find it convenient to go away on a "journey" at election times [a laugh]. I have known cases oo THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, of voters being sent away in coaches and four, and of coaches and four being sent after them to fetch them back again. The Court intimated that certificates would not be granted to any voters who did not come forward to give their evidence, and that such persons would, therefore, be subject to prosecu tions for having received bribes. The proceedings were then — four o'clock — adjourned to next day. Eleventh Day. Thursday, Nov. 13th. — This morning the Commissioners again resuraed their inquiries, and a few more witnesses were examined, each of whom, after his humble con fession, retreated into an obscure corner of the court, waiting for his certificate of protection from the Commissioners. Mr. Thoraas Blanks deposed that he acted as an agent for Carden at the election in December last, and voted for him. He was not paid for his vote. He did not think he was paid for anything. Before the election, Mr. Low, Alderman Car den's agent, authorized hira to draw a few pounds to pay flag- bearers, bandmen, &c. ; and if he had overdrawn a little, he was not aware of it. He paid no head-money at last election. He wished he had the power. Mr. Phinn : Why do you wish that ? Witness : Because we could then have fought on equal terms. Mr. Phinn : Oh 1 you objected to the purity principle ? Witness : To be sure I did. I never would have agreed to vote for Carden, if I thought he was coming forward on the purity principle. Because no one can get into any borough on. the purity principle [laughter]. Mr. Phinn : Well, did you go to Londou hunting for a can didate ? Witness : Yes, I went with some others, and saw a good many persons ; some we never asked, and others declined to stand. Mr. Phinn : Did you speak about money to them ? Witness : Undoubtedly. No one can get into any borough without it. We said, "A good sum will be required if there is an opposition : but come on the ground and see, and then you will not hke to leave it, perhaps." We mentioned £1500 or £2000, according to circumstances. Mr. Phiun : You were not particular as to a thousand, I suppose ?" Witness : Oh, no, sir [laughter]. Mr. Forsyth : Were you to have £250 of it ? BILLY BUCKS VISIT TO ENGLAND. 89 Witness : No, sir ; that was on another occasion. While they were searching for a candidate there was a meeting at my house. Like others, I took up the affair as a matter of busi ness, to get what I could out of it. We asked Mr. Norton, of Waterloo-place, to stand. We believed he had almost con sented to our conditions. Mr. Phinn : What were the conditions ? Witness : As I told you just now — £1500 or £2000. At the meeting at my house, Simpson, Webster, and three or four others were present. Simpson said, "Have you a candidate ?" We said, "No; but we expect to get one." He then said, " You had better compromise this affair." We asked in what shape ? He said, " Oh, there will be a certain sum to pay to Mr. Blagg, Mr. Debenham, Mr. Edwards, and myself, and there will be about £250 left. If you like you may take that, and whack it, or share it, between you" [laughter]. Mr. Simpson was a sort of middleman between us and the other party. We did not accept the proposal, however. We thought we could do better if we stuck to our own candidate. Mr. Forsyth : Well, did you do better ? Witness : No, we ought to have done better than we did. Mr. Forsyth : You said that the expenses at St. Albans were a mere milk score compared with other boroughs. How do you think so ? Witness : Well, I consider that in Maiden, in Essex, for in stance, they spend more money than they do here. I never received any there, because I was not a voter. I was not in St. Albans in 18f1. I have been about two years only in the borough. I took up the late election, as I have said, as a mat ter of business. There are few people in St. Albans who do not move at election times. I joined with the stream. Mr. Phinn : But Mr. Edwards was the stream, was he not [laughter] ? Witness : Yes, but he had the bag, and we wished to have one for ourselves. We wanted to fight Edwards on his own principles [laughter]. Mr. Forsyth : You have certainly made a most candid statement, Mr. Blanks. Mr. Phinn : Had you any agreement with Mr. Pocock or Tucker as to your destined share of the money ? Witness : Oh, no. The money was to pass through their hands, and of course they would take care of number one [laughter]. I heard nothing of purity when Carden was first 8* 90 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, taken up. When Carden came to town, I asked him several times whether he intended to win his election or lose it. He said he would very much like to win it, if he could. " Then," said I, " You must do as others do, and come out with the money." I did not mince the matter with him [laughter]. He said he could not do that, as he was pledged to the con trary ; but that if he had not been pledged, it would have been a different thing. As it was, he would not give a shilling for a hundred votes. Mr. Phinn : Did he say that if he had not been pledged, it would have been a different thing ? Witness : No, he did not exactly say it, but I inferred from what he did say, that the question would have been open if he had not been pledged. I suggested to Low that money should be spent ; but he was so jealous of Carden's reputation, that he would not hear of it. I cannot say who started the " purity" principle. It came from some of us " Puritans," as we are now called. Mr. Phinn : Oh ! do they call you Puritans ? Witness : Yes, sir. Mr. Forsyth : It must have corae upon you rather unex pectedly, Mr. Blanks, and been quite a shock to your feelings. Witness : My feelings were rather shocked, I confess, sir. I thought it no go [laughter]. I believe Mr. Joseph Bennett was the person who first started the purity principle. I voted for Alderman Carden, notwithstanding, because I did not Hke to run away from him after helping to bring him forward. I think Alderman Carden would have been elected for an ex penditure of less than £4000. I remember attempting to bet with Alderraan Carden that he would win his election. I offered to bet him £1000. Mr. Forsyth : And, supposing you had lost, what would you have done ?- Witness : I would not have paid him at all [laughter]. Mr. Forsyth : Something has been said as to your having settled in St. Albans for the mere purpose of acting at elec tions. Is that true ? Mr. Blanks : No, that is not true. I came here to get a living. There was great laughter in the court throughout this most extraordinary series of question and answer. Shortly before one o'clock, the examination of all the wit nesses who came forward was concluded, and the Commis sioners then announced that they had determined on adjourn- BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 91 ing the further proceedings to the 1st of December, to give time for the production of still absent voters, and the exarai nation of Messrs. Wilks, Craven, and Repton, the candidates at former elections. They had to thank the mayor, and all parties concerned, for the great assistance they had given them in the course ofthe inquiry ; and a general feeling of satisfac tion was expressed throughout the court at the urbane and considerate manner in which the Commissioners had discharged the very stringent duties and powers conferred on them by the act of Parliament." — Observer, November lith, 1851. That Mr. Coppock did no injustice to his countrymen, when, in the course of this investigation, he declared, that he could make "as extraordinary a statement," with respect " to the boroughs and counties" in "most places in England," if "he were to go through the list" as "the Commissioners had done the list of electors in this case," " as Mr. Edwards had made with respect to St. Albans," I found subsequently proven, in effect, by numerous pro ceedings in the shape of bribery commissions set in motion during the following year. In the spring of 1852, the conservatives, under the leadership of Lord Derby and Mr. Disraeli, came into power. A few months thereafter. Parliament was dis solved, and writs for new elections issued. The elections took place during the month of July, in that year. Both parties charged each other with bribery and corruption at these elections ; and following the example which had been set in the St. Albans bribery affair of the year be fore, disappointed aspirants, or their friends, flooded the House with petitions against the successful candidates, in the hope of unseating these, or of exposing the frauds by which they were elected. There were no less than 120 of these petitions. Thus, under the infiuence of party excitement, a mass of startling facts has been given to the world, serving to show the fearful extent to which corruption, in this direction, has tainted the population of Great Britain. A number of the members against whom petitions have been filed, have been already unseated; and others are still before the Commissioners. I will send you a few extracts, showing what has been proven in these cases. 92 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, But before doing this, I ought to teU you of Buck's expe rience at an English election, as he was present on one of these occasions, and gives quite a graphic account of it. This will have to be done in another letter : so I end this, with the assurance that I am, dear sir, Yr. friend and cousin, P. Jones. To Maj. Jones, Pineville, Geo., U. S. of America. LETTEE X. ptrOK ATTENDS THE SOUTHAMPTON ELECTION — HIS REPORT OE IT — HIS STORY OP HIS GRANDFATHER AND HIS OLD MAS TER — ENDEAVORS TO COMPORT AN EMANCIPATED SLAVE. London, June 25th, 1853. Deae Majoe: — In the autumn of 1851, Kossuth, the great Hungarian patriot, landed at Southampton, in this country. ^ Much excitement prevailed among the people generally in anticipation of his coming. I partook of the interest which was felt, and went down to Southampton for the purpose of being present at his reception. I took my servant with me, and remained several days. Whilst we were there. Buck became acquainted with a brother negro, who was a resident of that town, John Malachi by name. By occupation he was a waiter and jobber about the place, and had acquired means enough to make him an elector of the town of Southampton. He was quite polite and hospitable to Buck, and they became great friends and cronies. This man happened to meet with Buck in the summer of 1852, a short time before the elec tions, and insisted that he should go down and pay him a visit. At Buck's urgent solicitation, I permitted him to go for a few days ; and thus it was his destiny to be in Southampton on the day of the election (July 8th, I think). You shall have his account of what transpired. BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 93 "And so you witnessed the election at Southampton, I suppose," said I, when he had returned. " Tell me about it." " Marster," said he, " thar was a heap more fuss than at our 'lections, an more speechin, an 'bout as much drinkin; but I do think though, it was ginerly better liker than the knockneed whiskey that some of our gen'l'men qualifies themselves with at 'lections. First come Sir Sandy Coburn (I bleve that was what Jack Ma lachi caUed him, sir) an Mr. Wilcox an thar friends ; an they put up at one place ; an they had fine ribbins of one color, an flags of same color, an all sorts smart things writ on some on um. Then come tother side, Mr. Van- start an somebody else name Bailey or Bailiff, or some sich name, an they put up at another place, an they had ribbins of another color, an flags too. An sich a beatin of drums an blowin of horns, you never heerd the like, an sich a caUin o' hard names. You'd a thought the people would a font every minit,^ but they didn't ; leastwise, not much, though they got into a snarl with tother side heap o' times, that would a ended in a gineral sloshin around 'mong our suvrins. They had a law thar, they told me, that nobody should treat at the taverns, but Lord bless your soul, Marster ! thar wus plenty on it gwine on 'bout in places. WeU, in the mornin yearly, says Jack Malachi to me, says he, ' Come,' says he, ' an less go over an see Mr. Tucker; I wants to see ef they's a gwine to. stick up to thar promise to git me a place to sweep the pier-head.' 'WeU,' says I, 'I'm agreeable, Mr. Malachi.' So as we went along ^' Look thar, stag,' says he, 'look at them stoopid lookin men thar, inside Mr. Whatshisname's fence. Them's Wig voters,' says he ; ' them's reglar 'lectors — been drinkin all night — an now they's pumpin water on 'um, an givin 'um some bitter beer, to git 'um all right for duty to day. They's kep 'um locked up,' says he. 'Them's Wigs,' says he, a pintin at 'um, an laffin." " ' They looks more like pigs,' says I. "'Well, any how, them's Wigs,' says he; 'an to my notion, all Wigs is mighty nigh pigs,' says he ; ' only don't you go an tell 'um I says so, becase I've promised to give um one vote, perwiden they sticks up to their word,' says he. 94 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, '"Look here, Mr. Malachi,' says I, 'I don't like what you says 'bout Whigs,' says I, ' becase thar's Whigs in my country,' says I, ' though they is gittin sort 'o seedy now ; an aU our good ole revolutioners was Whigs,' says I, jest so ; ' an I don't like to hear 'um caUedbyno sich hard names. Ole Marster (that's Marster's father as was, when he was livin) was a raal Whig,' says I, ' an fit clean through the ole Eevolution war,' says I ; (' Marstlsr's got his cocked hat yit, up in the garret of his house ; leastwise, what the moths is left of it,' says I,) ' an I've heern him say a thou sand times, that the 'Tories was all gran-rascals and trai tors,' says I, jest so. An what's more'n that,' says I, ' I've heern my gran-father say same thing, an he allers called hisself a Whig,' says I,' ' down to his dying day, as mos all them ole revolution niggers did,' says I. " ' Was your gran-father in that war, stag ?' says Mr. Malachi,' says he — its the man's funny way of callin me, sir ; stag, stidy Buck. " 'Well, I reckin he was, horse,' says I. " 'An he fout 'long with your ole Marster ?' says he. " ' Yes sir ree — bub ! he done that,' says I. " ' Who did he fight ?' says he. " ' Them ole British and Injuns,' says I. " ' Whar did he fight ?' " ' In Ameriky,' says I, ' onder Gineral Morgan at the Cuppens, an at King's Mountain, an the Eutaws,' says I, ' besides heap o' other places. An I've heern ole Marster say he saved his life onct from the Injuns,' says I. " ' How was that ?' says Mr. Malachi. " ' Well,' says I, ' they was in some sort of a fort up on Broad Eiver, I think it was,' says I, ' 'long with Col. Clark, an the Injuns 'tacted the fort. They druv 'um off, but when ole Marster seed the red-skins runnin, he called out to his men to foUer him, he did, an jumped over the trenclime?ife, an tuk arter um, an first thing he knowed, a great many'more Injuns ris up from whar they was hid, an fired on our men, an killed so many on 'um,' says I, ' that ole Marster had to order his people to git back into the fort,' says I, ' quick as they could. As they was doin so, ole Marster was wounded, an feU down in a open place betwilt the woods an the fort,' says I. ' When our BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 95 people got back into the fort, they give the Injuns dozier, I tell you, an kep 'um off. But thar was a mighty grievin over ole Marster, for they could see him lyin on the ground jest like he was dead. But he wasn't dead though, only out of his senses from the hurt an loss o' blood,' says I. ' He had feU down,' says I, 'in a sort of a wet, marshy place, an bomby the water cooled him like, an he sorter come too,' says I, ' and raised himself on his elbow to try and git up. When the Injuns seed that,' says I, ' they sot up a mighty yeU, an fixed away at ole Marster ; an some on 'um run towards him to take his har — as grandaddy used to say,' says I ('that means to sculp him, Mr. Ma lachi,' says I), ' but our people poured sich a hot fire into 'um,' says I, ' that they gin that up as a bad job, an kep in the woods. Ole Marster was so weak, that he had fell back, but he tried to git up agin, an the Injuns they fired away on him agin, an whenever he moved the least bit in the world, rip — rap — ^rap — rap, fell the bullets all round him,' says I. ' When grandaddy saw that, says he, Joe's dead, says he, if I kin bar that any longer, says he, an with that,' says I, 'he Upped over the trenchments, an run down the hill, an tuk ole Marster on his back, an toted him up into the fort. I heern him say,' says I, ' that the bullets fell like hail round him, but nairy one teched him. One on 'um knocked off ole Marster's hat, an made a hole through it, you could put your thumb in — its thar to this day — an grandaddy, he went back,' says I, 'an picked up the hat,' says I, ' an got into the fort, 'thout so much as a scratch,' says I. 'An so, arter sich Whig doins as them in the fambly,' says I, ' you kin see why I take up for the Whigs so boldly, Mr. Malachi,' says I. " ' WeU, stag,' says he, ' your ole Marster must a been a good man, and your grandaddy too,' says he. ' But them Wigs in your country is Yankee Wigs, an them Tories is Yankee Tories. I spose your Wigs is good an spectable, but the Tories is the spectable ones here,' says he. ' I allers has voted for the Tories,' says he, ' becase they's honest. They don't go for no more liberty than they kin possibly help, an they says so,' says he, ' an you know whar to find 'um,' says he; 'whul them Wigs is aUers saft-soapin the people 'bout liberty an reform, an 96 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, aU that, an jest takes it out in talkin ; they never does nothin,' says he ; ' I'm gwine to vote this time for intrust, not for principul,' says he. 'I'll spUt my vote, one an one,' says he. " ' AVhat do you spect 'um to give you ?' says I. " 'They's promised to git me Parkins' place,' says he, 'to hand ropes an sweep the pier-head,' says he, 'an ef I thought they wouldn't be as good as thar word, I'd jest see 'um on tother side o' Jordan,' says he, 'fore I'd vote for 'um. They's promised more places than they kin fill, I know,' says he, 'but I hope they means to do far with this one,' says he. Presently we seed Mr. Tucker, an Mr. Malachi, he says, says he, ' I spose I shall have the place,' says he. ' How do you mean to vote,' says Mr. Tucker. ' One an one,' says Mr. Malachi. ' You must vote, then, for Sir Alexander and Mr. Van- start,' says he, an he writ the names down on a card for him. Arter a while, the percussions begun to form, an then I saw Mr. Andrews, the gen'l'man that was Mare, when we come down to see that Govner Koshoot, the great Hongry man. An Mr. Andrews he spoke up powerful fine for the Whig candidates, and called one on 'um ' a' larned gen'l'man,' an tother one, he said, says he, ' was dentified with a great company, whose intrusts was the intrusts of /the town of Southampton;' an then he said somethin 'bout 'Peninsular steamboats,' and somethin that sounded like ' go ahead ;' an when somebody put a question to him that he did'nt like, he said somethin bout 'dash his wig! an dash his folly.' Presently, he begun agin, an said somethin 'bout the slow rate Lord Darby's Goveiment had been travellin at, but ef the Whigs only could turn him out, ' they'd put the Govermeut train up to faster speed ; then they'd go in a express train with a ingin named economy.' Here a ole sailor in the crowd sung out, says he, /Blast your eyes,' says he, 'stick to your coaches Mr. Mare, you're too slow to get upon a ingin.' This sorter put the Mare out a bit, sir [you know he is a coachbuilder, sir] ; but he did mighty weU, I thought, for a coachmaker, sir. While this was a gwine BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 97 on, the strikers for the candidates was mighty busy can- wassin the voters, as Jack Malachi called it, though I did'nt see any canwass myself, sir, cepin on the ships, sir." "Did you see any money given for votes," Buck?" said I. " No, Marster, I did'nt. I heern people on both sides say thar was sich things gwine on ; but I did'nt see 'um. Bf you'd a heerd one side 'buse tother, you'd a made sure 'twas done. ' You're bought and paid for,' one man 'ud say to another. ' You're booked in the Mare's coach, you are,' says he. An tother one, he says, ' It's a lie,' says he, 'its you that's bought. You're a five punder,' says he. An so they went on ; but ef thar was any money paid for votes, it was onbeknowns to me. But I heerd lots o' promises made by the strikers, of what they'd do for the 'lectors, ef they'd vote with 'um. Bomby the percessions marched to the polling booth, an then sich cheers an yellin, as one side 'ud give for thar candidates, an tother 'ud groan at 'um, sir. Then tother side 'ud yell, an tother 'ud groan. An they 'ud make all sorts o' noises to keep from hearin each other. Nobody was perUte, but the candidates, an they was very much so, bowin and smiUn at the 'lectors. But the way that crowd yelled an shouted, sir, would a beat a camp-meetin, hoUer i Presently, when the crier got some silence, that everlastin Mare [I bleve it was] got ,iip, an perposed our candidates. I calls 'um our candidates, Marster, becase I allers could'nt help takin sides, when I seed two roosters a fightin, an I spose I would a jined one side any how, in my feelins ; but main thing was, thar was Whigs in our country, an the Tories was 'spised thar. Well, whoever it was perposed our candidates, he made out that the whole world was a lookin on, and would be turned topsa- turvy ef they was'nt 'lected. Then our side, we hurra'd an shouted mightly, an tother side they groaned and bel- lered, teU you'd a thought there was a|little yearthquake an heap o' big bulls in the crowd. T£at made our Mare mad, sir, sartain, an he turned so red in the face, tell he was almost black, an he said, ' dash his wig, ef that was'nt too bad.' But the madder he got, the more fuss they 9 G 98 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, made, 'teU they drownded his voice, sir, an all he could do was to grin, an make motions an shake his fists at 'um. Then somebody perposed the tother candidates, an he made out like all the world and the rest o' mankind was a lookin on, an would be turned topsaturvy tother way, ef thar men was'nt 'lected. The other side people they cheered an yeUed, an we hissed, an groaned an hooted with all our mights. But I dont think we done it as well as tothers did, becase we 'spected to,_ beat the , race, an we was'nt so spiteful like. Then come the time for the candidates to make speeches, an the way they was sweet on the free an independent 'lectors was the way. All on um agreed 'bout that adzacly, though they couldn't set horses together 'bout nothin else, sir, cepin that everything good was in thar party, an everything bad in tother, an that ef they was not all 'lected the country 'ud go to pot. " But to my mind, Ma,rster, the best speech was made by our Sir Coburn. I can't 'member it adzacly, but I know he told um what nice people they was, an how honest he was, an all§js had been, ef he had been a Tory onct (I was sorry to hear that), an how he had quit the Tories, becase they was gwine wrong, an how the Whigs was right, leastwise the present time Whigs. 'As for them first Whigs,' says he, 'them Walpul Whigs,' says he, ' they mought a been corrupt,' says he, ' but they was the old set,' says he ; ' the present Whigs,' says he, ' is the men what has made sweetenins cheap, an 'bolished slavery an corn-laws.' Oh, he, spoke up powerful fine, I tell you, Marster ! I didn't think so much of tother speeches. Still, tother ones done mighty well, an ricommended thar side powerful strong. Well, sir, then the 'lection come on, an our ca.ndidates they got in, an then me an Malachi went home. " When we got to Mr. Malachi's house, we found a ole nigger thar, name Johnson, who was waitin to see me, onderstandin I was from Amedky. He lived somewhar close by, he said, an had come from North Carlina. He blonged onct, good whUe ago, he said, to a Scotch gen'l' man, name McDaniel, who was a marchant in North Car lina, an was tuk with a gallopin kunsumtion, aji started BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 99 to come over to this country to see his kin, an git cured, ef he could ; but he died on the passage. The ole man said he come long with him as his sarvant, to nurse him; which when he died he give him a little property, an aot him free. An so he staid in this country; but he wouldn't a done so, he said, ef he hadn't a got married mighty yearly arter gitten here, an he allers had been powerful sorry he stayed ; for he was ' nuff happier as a slave in North CarUna,' says he, than he was here. We sot up mos all night, talkin ; for I knowed heap o' people that come from North Carlina to Georgy, what he knowed, or had heerd about ; an 'peared like hit done the man good, sir, to talk 'bout ole times in North Carlina. " 'Ah, Mr. WUUam Buck,' says he, (he was a mighty per Ute ole nigger, Marster,) 'ah,' says he, 'ef I could oflly jest see the ole North State onct more, an git some raal Macklenburg big hoimny, fried with midlin, an hear a good corn-song, an go to a camp-meetin, 'pears like I could die more happier,' says he. '"Did you have corn-shuckins much in your time,' says I. " ' That we did,' says he ; 'an I was much of a man round the pile, sir, I teU you ; an bless your heart alive, man, it would a done you good to a heern me give out the corn songs,' says he; 'speshly Stompin-down-my-Eiley, an Miss Aggy-puUed-the-whip-saw-^own. Ah me ! All that's past,' say» he, ' an I never shiU hear the Uke o' that agin, -I reckin,' says he. " ' Would you Uke to hear a corn-song now, Mr. John son ?,' says I. " ' Sartain,' says he. " So I started right off, Marster, into one on our ole shuckin songs." "What was it. Buck?" said I, quite interested in his story. " You've often heerd it, sir — ' Dis nigger am a mighty man. Oh, Bomba-lidg-a-bombala I M.j|head is made o' big bombshells. Oh, Bomba-lidg-a-bombala ! My tooths is made o' glass bottels, Oh, Bomba-lidg-a-bombala !' " 100 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, " That wiU do," said I ; " I remember it." " The ole man farly roared out the scorns, Marster, he did, teU I should a thought they mought a heerd him out to sea. ' Hurra !' says he, when I stopped, ' that's the raal grit, Mr. Buck. Give us another, Mr. Buck,' says he. Then I sot off in what Mars. Joe allers caUed his faverite : I went down to Shinbone Alley, Long time ago I An thar I saw ole Johnny Gladdin, Long time ago I' ' Fore I could git any further, Marster, the ole nigger he shouted an jumped up, he did, an kotch hold o' my hand, an shuk hit, an cried like a child, he did. Jest then somebody knocked at the door, an who should hit be but one o' the pleece ; an he gin us orders to ' shet up our infarnal noise, an go to bed.' Jest to think of the British tory callin sich songs as them a ' infarnal noise,' Marster ! Howbeever, we thought it best to mind what he said, an so we done it." This is -all I can afford to give you of Buck's narrative. Major. I wiU add that there was a petition against SU' A. Cockburn and Mr. Wilcox, the successful candidates at Southampton, and John Malachi (who never got Parkins's place, by the by, as he said) and others were witnesses before the Commission. But it has come to nothing, I believe. We must look elsewhere for strong evidence of that bribery and corruption which is so prevalent on such occa sions in this country. I wiU remark, further, that the ma terial facts stated by Buck as to this election were sustained by the evidence before the Commissioners. I attended the polUng in London, at one place, for a short time ; but, owing to the pecuUar character of this constituency, the proceedings did not present those features which are found in the smaller towns and boroughs, and more espe cially characterize elections in this country. In my next you shall hear more of these. For the present, you must rest satisfied with the assurance that I am, dear Major, Y'r ob't serv't and cousin. To Maj. Joseph Jones, P. Jones, Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. billy buck's visit to ENGLAND. 101 LETTEE XL SPECIMENS OF VARIOUS ELECTION BRIBERY COMMISSIONS. London, July 1st, 1853. Deae Majoe : — I comply with my promise, and send you extracts from the proceedings of various other bribery commissions, which were appointed by the House of Com mons, upon petitions growing out of the elections of 1852, to which I have referred. " KINGSTON-UPON-HULL. On Saturday this Committee renewed their inquiry at twelve o'clock. The merabers were the Hon. Mr. Labouchere (chair man), Mr. W. Bagge, Mr. Raikes Currie, Mr. R. Davison, and Hon. H. F. Berkeley. The examination of John Walker was continued. He stated that he had received several sums of money from Wilde, for the purpose of the election, and that he paid for refresh ment for several voters, Wilde told hira generally there was ' plenty of tin,' but he did not say where he got it from. Cross-examined : Was never called upon by Wilde to ren der any account, but received from Wilde altogether between £30 and £40. Witness had received £50 for his evidence before the Committee. Did not consider this bribery [laughter]. Rollett came to hira to get the information he had given in his evidence, and they talked together 'about the, baseness of the electoral system generally,' and this had been a standing opinion of witness for many years [laughter]. Prior to the passing of the Reform Bill, a freeman always got £2 for a split vote, and £4 for a plumper ; but since that system was abolished, the new voters were the most difficult to manage. They did not know their price. Witness was speaking of the £1 0 householders in the former case. Now the ' market price ' had dwindled down to 30s. a head. There was also the cus tom, on both sides, of giving refreshment. It was usual to set down a freeman as for six days' pay. Some did not get paid ; 102 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, and had it been otherwise, there would not have been the bother of this petition [laughter]. Out of between 4000 and 5000 voters polled at the last election, witness would say that 1000 were accessible by this means. The practice had existed less extensively at this election than at forraer ones. Yoters were ' set down ' as messengers, not for employment, but for their votes. There were none of the ' open houses ' of the old time, but voters were introduced by a member of the Comrait tee to the landlord of a tavern, and they were then allowed to order and have what they liked. Witness woufd say that be tween 400 and 500 voters were ' set down ' in this way at Sa ville street — the term ' setting down,' in Hull, meaning that they were to have 30s. each for the colorable employment of messenger, but in reality, for giving their votes. The mem bers of the district comraittees sent voters to Saville street with notes for this purpose, addressed 'XYZ,' ahas to Wilde, who told the bearer it was 'all right;' the voter's name was set down, and he knew he would be paid for his tirae. Charles Robinson, block-maker and freeman, said, on the night before the election, he was walking with other voters, and met Walker, who took them to 21 Saville street, and had their names ' set down.' They went in singly ; and afterwards to the Queen's Arms, where they were treated with drink. Walker gave witness the 30s. as they were going to the poll ; and the other raen subsequently received the 30s The Committee here adjourned to Monday. HUDDERSFIELD. The Coramittee in this case, which also met for the first time on Saturday, were. Right Hon. Spencer Walpole, Mr. Q. Toraline, Mr. Jaraes McGregor, Mr. T. A. Mitchell, and Mr. F. W. West. Mr. Edwin James opened the case for the petitioners, as one of bribery and general treating. Mr. Stansfield's Committee held its sittings at the George, which was one of the finest hotels in the West Riding, and the members of that Commit tee were charged with having taken an active part in the mal practices committed. Mr. Willan came forward in opposition to Mr. Stansfield, in consequence of a requisition signed by BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 103 500 voters, and at three o'clock on the day of the election Mr. Willan was actually at the head of the poll by a majority of fourteen votes ; but at this critical raoment, a volley of intoxi cated voters, who had been bottled up at the George, were suddenly uncorkscrewed, rushed to the poll, voted for Stans field, and gained the election [laughter]. The learned counsel continued to state he should show that treating of the most barefaced and unblushing description went on at the George, and that payment was made to publicans in respect of votes given in 1847 and votes at the last election. Evidence was theu called to show the existence of the Com mittee at the George, of the system of paying publican's bills, and that, out of sixty-five publicans on the register, fifty voted for Stansfield. The Committee adjourned to to-morrow Monday) GUILDFORD. This Committee, consisting of Lord Seymour (chairman), Hon. R. A. Christopher, Mr. R. B. Sheridan, and Hon. W. E. Duncombe, assembled at eleven o'clock. Mr. Serg. Kinglake opened the case, describing it as one of bribery and treating. Mr. Thurlow clairaed the seat, on the ground that, on a scrutiny, he would be able to prove a ma jority over Mr. Bell. The bribery and treating resolved itself into colorable employments, such as flagmen and alleged pro mises of appointments on railways, of one or more influential ones of which Mr. Mangles was director. Thomas Rivers, a sawyer, of Guildford, deposed that White, an active agent of Mr. Bell, promised him and his bro ther to get them places if they would vote for Mr. Bell. They were employed as flagmen, and voted for Bell. G. Causton deposed to having paid voters employed as flag men, and was particular in paying none who were not voters. Paid them 5s. a day, and had abundance of money from Wbite, from whom he received, in all, £15. Yoters Carpenter and Tilbury were examined, but their evi dence contained no point of particular interest, and the Com mittee adjourned till to-morrow. 104 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, RYE — MR. MACKINNON UNSEATED. Mr. Merewether and Mr. Rodwell appeared for the petition ers, and Mr. Edwin James and Mr. Welsby for Mr. Mackin- non, the sitting member. Prior to the commencement ofthe proceedings, Major Cur tis, who was standing in the body of the committee-room, ad dressing the chairman, said, ' I hope there will be no corapro mise of this. I believe it is going to be attempted. I will be no party to it.' The Hon. Chairman : We cannot entertain anything of the kind. Mr. Merewether then opened the case, stating that Major Curtis, the old member for Rye, having retired, Mr. Pomfret opposed Mr. Mackinnon at the last election, having received a requisition from 260 voters, out of the total constituency of 510. The result of the poll, however, was, for Mackinnon 240 votes, for Pomfret 208 ; and it would be for the Comrait tee to decide how it was that the 260 votes for Mr. Pomfret had been reduced to 208. A key, however, to this, would be found in the corrupt practices of treating that were carried out. Mr. Curtis, having retired, lent his influence and interest, and agents, in favor of Mr. Mackinnon, and gave a grand din ner at his place at Peasraarsh, to 300 voters, to celebrate his own retireraent from the representation, and Mr. Mackinnon's appearance in his place. Messrs. Butler and J. Smith, former agents of Mr. Curtis, carried on the arrangements of the com mittees on behalf of Mr. Mackinnon, and no fewer than thirty- four open houses for drink and dinners were to be noted in Rye alone, twenty of the landlords voting for Mackinnon. A witness named Parsons was under examination, when, Mr. Jaraes interposed, and said he was afraid that the din ner that had been given by Mr. Curtis would be found to be so mixed up with Mr. Mackinnon's agents, that the Comraittee would hold it to have been treating under the Act, and that Mr. Mackinnon must submit to a resolution declaring that bribery by treating, and through his agents, had taken place, but without his personal knowledge, or any imputation on his character. The room was then cleared, and, on the re-admission of the public, the chairman said he wished to know what course the counsel for the petitioners intended to take, consequent on the announcement from the representatives of the sitting members. Mr. Merewether said he proposed, on behalf of his cHents, BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 105 to adduce sufficient evidence before the Committee to prove the case of the dinner at Peasniarsh. The Hon. chairman said that the Comraittee had anticipated that would be so ; but it was their opinion, under the circum stances, that it was desirable they should take further time to consider the course the Committee ought to pursue, and they would therefore adjourn until Monday. Evidence was then adduced with reference to the dinner at Peasmarsh. Richard Lankester and J. B. Davey, voters for Mackinnon, deposed to having been there, and that they were regaled with meats and drinks, and the ' port of Rye,' for which they did not pay. Jeremiah Smith, land agent for Mr. Curtis, and election agent for Mr. Mackinnon, spoke to having ordered the dinner, which cost £220, but which Mr. Curtis had not yet paid him, though he kept an open account with Mr. Curtis. The room was then cleared, the Committee deliberated, and declared ' That W. A. Mackinnon was not duly elected to serve in the present Parliament for the borough of Rye — that it was a void election, and that he was, by his agents, guilty of treating. The chairman added, 'This resolution is founded upon a point that arose in an earlier part of our proceedings, and I therefore have to intimate that the Committee entertain doubts whether they shall not think it their duty to take further pro ceedings under the circumstances of this case ; and therefore adjourn until Monday, at twelve o'clock, when we shall expect to see the parties here ; but on that day we shall not expect you to be prepared with any witnesses.' The Committee then rose. CAMBRIDGE — MESSRS. MACAULAY AND ASTELL UNSEATED. On Tuesday the Cambridge Election Committee re-assem bled, and Mr. Sergeant Wrangham announced that, as bribery by the agents of the sitting members had been proved, he could not successfully contest the charges made in the peti tion. But the sitting members were anxious to state to the Comraittee that they were utterly unconnected with the acts of corruption, and had done their utmost to prevent them. The Committee then decided to hear the sitting members be fore the close of the case ; and as Blr. James, counsel for the petitioners, stated he had a list of 100 persons, bribed with 106 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, £10 each, it was agreed that he should confine himself to some of the prominent cases. Some witnesses were then examined, and several cases of bribery were proved. Blr. Macaulay then stated that Blessrs. Balls and Fawcett, of Cambridge, had told him that Blr. Astell had agreed to stand for the borough, and that £1200 would be the expense. Blessrs. Blacaulay and Astell advanced that sum, and also a further sum of £200 ; but they specially insisted that no part of the raoney should be expended in an illegal wa}'. They had never since deraanded or received any account of how it was expended, but they were both quite unconnected with, and ignorant of, any acts of bribery or corruption. Blr. James, in remarking on the acts of bribery, said it could hardly be denied that the Carlton Club had supplied money for the purpose ; but the Reform Club, and the Carlton Club, and the members of the House of Coraraons would be doing themselves a great injustice if they wished to screen such doings. It was all very well to say that the accounts of the Carlton Club were audited and published. He (Mr. James) did not mean to say that nioney for electioneering pur poses was supplied from the eight or ten guineas a year sub scription paid to the club, but from the private resources of the members. Blr. Hildyard : Blr. James, you must confine yourself to a statement of the facts. I cannot sit here and permit myself to be addressed in this manner, as I know the accounts of the Carlton are regularly audited. I also state that no sum is subscribed by that club in any way for the purposes of elec tions, and I beheve you are making a false statement when you state that. Blr. James said that, with reference to the courteous manner in which Mr. Hildyard had told him he was making a false statement, he of course received it as a counsel discharging his duty. Mr. Hildyard explained that he meant nothing personally offensive. After sorae discussion, the Coramittee consulted together on the evidence ; after which, the chairman read the following resolutions of the Committee : ' That Kenneth Blacaulay, Esq., and John Harvey Astell, Esq., were not duly elected as burgesses to serve in the pre sent Parhament for the borough of Cambridge. That the last election for the said borough of Cambridge was a void elec- BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 107'^ tion. That Kenneth Macaulay and John Harvey Astell, Esqs., were, by their agents, guilty of bribery at the said election. That it was proved that Charles Nurrish was bribed by the payment of 410 ; Joseph Dealtry, by the payment £6 10s. ; Henry Blansfield, by the payraent of £10 ; George Richard son, by the payment of £10 ; John Sharman, by the payment of £10 ; Thomas Butcher, by the payment of £5 ; W. Baker, by the payment of £4 ; John Hawkes, by the payment of £19 ; Thomas Lee, by the payment of £7, and £1 in furni ture. That Samuel Long, Joseph Sterne, William Taylor, William Peake, and William Gilbert, were guilty of bribery at the last election for the said borough of Cambridge ; but it is not proved that such bribery was committed with the know ledge or consent of the sitting merabers. That there is reason to believe that corrupt practices have extensively prevailed at the last election for the said borough of Cambridge. " DERBY. On Saturday, the select Committee appointed to try the merits of this petition met in committee-room No. 2. Sir .lohn Pakington; chairman ; Col. Knox, Mr. Bloncrieff, Mr. Tudway, and Blr. Corbally. This Committee re-assembled yesterday, Blr. Robert Ingham in the chair. The other raembers of the Committee were Mr. W. Stirling, Mr. W. M. Milner, Mr. J. B. Stanhope, and Hon. A. Kinnaird. The committee-room was much crowded Sergeant Pern, of the Derby police, deposed to having, on the morning of the election, gone to the County Tavern, in con sequence of instructions from the last witness. Certain signals were communicated to him. Pie went up stairs, and at the top met Kallow, who attempted to stop hira, but witness put his finger to the side of his nose [laughter], upon which Kallow said, "That's allright." Witness also said, "It's a^i rightg Radford sent me." Kallow allowed witness to go into the room, where he found Morgan before a table with a small book and two or three pieces of paper. He took Morgan into cus tody and searched him. Iu Morgan's pocket he found one £10, and six £5 notes of the Bank of England, and in his trousers' pockets a bag containing £134 in sovereigns and half soverei.gns, and the celebrated " W. B." letter. He also found four cards on Morgan ; two of these cards had on them, " Mr T. Morgan," and the other two, "Mr. T. Morgan, Chester." 108 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, The pieces of paper he found on the table turned out to be bank notes [laughter]. Witness lodged Blorgan in the lock up. Asked him his name, and where he came from, and he replied it was on his card. Next day Blorgan tgld witness he carae frora Shrewsbury, and not from Chester. Witness asked him why he put Chester on his card, and Morgan rephed, be cause Frail had expressed a wish to him that he should do so. Morgan also stated to witness that the night before the elec tion a raan had brought him a bag of gold, and in the morning another and some notes. The man who brought the money was a tallish thin man, dressed in drab clothes. It was nearly dark when he brought hira the first money, and he therefore thought he should not know him again, unless he had some conversation with hira. Witness knew Thomas Lund, who an swered this description. Morgan told witness he paid the money away to persons who brought checks. He entered the numbers of the checks in his book, and the suras he paid for each, adding that " if they had not found his book they would have been bothered." Morgan said he did not know that the persons he gave the money to were voters, and that when he was coming from Shrewsbury he thought it was to act as a poll-clerk, and that if he had really known what they wanted him for he would have seen thera hanged first [laughter]. Blorgan also told witness that if he had been in the roora two minutes earlier, he would have seen a man in a brown coat, who had paid away twice as much money as Blorgan. Blorgan also said Derby was a poor place ; that they gave as much money for one vote at Shrewsbury as they gave at Derby for twenty [laughter]. The money the Derbyites had given him would not have lasted him two hours at Shrewsbury. Cross-examined: Did not pump Morgan ; Morgan' indeed did not require pumping [laughter], for he had been imbibing that which was calculated to make him loquacious, i. e., brandy and water [laughter]. On their way to the lock-up they had two quarts of ale. The magistrates who took Morgan's state ment were of both political parties ; Morgan was confused and excited, and on hearing the noise outside the court said, " tell 'era if I get free I'U give them a few barrels of ale." When witness arrested Morgan he fell apparently stupefied over the fire-place, and exclairaed " Lord deliver us" [laughter] ! J. W. MeUor and G. Hervey, constables of the Derby police, corroborated the previous evidence, and produced the book spoken of by Fern as being before Morgan on the table. BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 109 Charles Bird, messenger to Mr. HorsfaU's committee, was engaged by Mr. Simpson at the last election, at 4s. a day. Mr. Webster was there frequently, on the occasion of canvass ing for Mr. Horsfall. Mr. Webster directed letters in the committee-room, and Mr. Gillam assisted him. Saw the Coxes there. Saw Mr. Walker, Mr. Ackerman, Mr. Lewis, and Mr. Mosely, and witness voted for Horsfall. On cross-examination witness said he was not kicked down stairs by Mr. Horsfall for being drunk, but he was shoved down [laughter]. Was not drunk, neither was he sober, but a little amidships [laughter]. The Comraittee then at four o'clock adjourned to twelve to morrow (Monday). During the proceedings a list of from 120 to 130 voters, stated to have been bribed, and upwards of 100 persons who were stated to have bribed them, was handed in to the Com mittee." — Observer, March 1th, 1853. Here is what the editor of the Observer says of these proceedings and others like to them: "THE ELECTION COMMITTEES. The cause of the Ballot comes on apace. Bribery seems to be more rampant ; at all events, it is more bold than ever. Fourteen election petitions, terminating in unseating the mem bers on the grounds of bribery and treating, and that, too, when fifty others yet remain to be disposed of, are strong evidences that the present system, with all its guards and contrivances against the offence, is very little better than a raere sham. The detection of the ofFence has been much facilitated of late ; but detection is not enough ; it is prevention which is required. Now, as long as men hope that bribery will not be discovered by an opponent, or will not be betrayed by a supporter, they will practice it. Nothing but the assurance that though they may practice it, they will practice it in vain, will ever restrain them. An effective ballot would produce this result, and is the only thing that will produce it. While you know that if Hodge takes your money, he will in 999 cases out of 1000 give you his vote, you will (or at least your agents will, for now no candidate ever perpetrates bribery I) ofi'ei' him money for his vote. But if it was once thoroughly understood, that though Hodge might take the money, he might not give the vote, and that there were no means of knowing whether he did give it or 10 110 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, not, the money would not be ofi'ered. Who is there that ever thinks of giving payment to a stranger to go and deliver a message a mile off, when he is well aware that, though he raay afterwards find the message has not been delivered, he can never hope to discover the rogue who took his money but did not perform the service for it ? And the case is still stronger as to the giving of the vote than as to the delivery of the mes sage ; for while the latter is a lawful, the forraer is an unlawful thing, and therefore the promise to perform it is a promise not only not binding in morals or in law, but is one of which morals permit and law coraraands the disregard." — Observer, March 1th, 1853. Allow me to present you with a few more rich speci mens, in the foUowing : — " COCKERMOUTH. The proceedings in this Committee directed against General Wyndham, the other member, possessed no features of parti cular interest. The general tenor of it was, that a number of flag bearers, employed by the " yellow party" were paid after the election by Ratley, and were billetted in bodies of 12 to 20 at different public houses, the landlords being voters. Evidence was also called to prove agency, and one witness deposed that his employment was to 'take off his hat and shout ' for Wyndham, for which he was paid. " — Daily News, 18th, 1853. " THE CANTERBURY BRIBERY COMMISSION. The Commissioners, Messrs. Slade, Chisholra Anstey, and Bircham, reassembled on Monday, and Mr. Alderraan Brent, on being called, said he could produce no colored tickets for any elections, except for the year 184'7, transcribed in Mr. Rutter's book. Witness had always been a liberal at the elec tions. A place was given to one of his sons 17 years ago, and to a second son 14 years ago ; to the third son three years, and to his fourth son just as the Whigs were going out, before the Derby Government carae in. He believed be never gave Thomas Adams raoney. One of his sons is in Somerset House, with a salary of £150 a-year, to be further advanced, and his two other sons have £90 to £100 a-year, also advancing. Witness sometimes used his influence successfully in obtaining appointments for supporters of the Liberal members. BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. Ill Mr. Jonathan Rutter said : He is a Liberal. He kept the accounts of the Liberals in 1847, and he voted then for Co nyngham and Smythe. He, on that occasion, received £900 from each of the two candidates, and spent it all in the elec tion, except £14 8s. lOd. Part of the money supplied by the Liberals was given to one Goodwin, who distributed it amongst about 30 voters. Goodwin distributed the money, partly in bribery and partly in treating. Jacobs, a broker, and Cobb, were similarly employed. Witness never bribed a voter him self. But he gave other men money, knowing that it was to be used in bribery [sensation]. £1600 was spent at the elec tion for Conyngham and Smythe, £100 of which was spent at the Fountain in good things [a laugh]. I (said the witness) paid the money for the color tickets on the occasion, and a very tedious job I had of it [a laugh]. The sarae system of color tickets was adopted at the election previous to 1847. Mr. Bircham : I ara a member of the Reform Club, and my experience. Colonel Romilly, is the same as yours. I know ofthe existence ofa private fund from general rumor, but who are the parties into whose hands the money is paid, or through whose hands it passes, I know nothing [applause]. Colonel Romilly here said he had to contradict an imputa tion that the object in not resorting to corrupt practices on his side was because it was contemplated to unseat the opposite party on petition. No such idea was entertained. They thought they had good prospects of success. Mr. Alderman Brent was here recalled, and said that £450 was paid to his account, and which appeared in his banker's book. He paid £200, the balance of it reraaining, to Mr. Cop pock, and nothing passed between them on the subject beyond a joke by Coppock, to the effect that "the sraallest donations were thankfully received" [laughter]. Blr. Alderraan Pluramer, deputy chairnian of the elections' comraittee, deposed that he had known of the existence of the color system at Canterbury since 1845, and he had always opposed it. He was the only person that did so. George Goodwin, brewer, said he took an active part for Conyngham and Smythe in 1847. He got a list of 30 voters from Rutter, with instructions to give them £5 a-piece for their votes after they had polled for Conyngham and Smythe. The rumor that he had put any of the money in his pocket was false. He gave the names of three or four of the thirty per sons, but " if it were to save his life," he could not give the 112 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, remainder. (The chairman admonished him that he must give them at a future period). He had no account of the way in which the money was distributed. Edward Southey deposed that he assisted Goodwin, but had none of the money. The witness gave a droll account of his having occasionally shifted from the " Blues" to the " Reds," and he repeated, amidst the derision of the audience, that he had none of the money, but that the contract having been made with the voters, he took them to the poll. The Hon. Blr. Smythe deposed that he was successful in 1841 at a single election in Canterbury. He can't admit that he carae forward as a Conservative, or as a " Pink," or a " Red ;" nor can he adrait that when he stood in 1847, it was a "Blue" [laughter]. His election in 1841 cost him £6000 or £7000. He had no agent. He cannot tell who had the dis tribution of the money, but he knows that the money went out of his pocket. His election in 1847 cost £1000. It was on a less liberal scale than in 1841. The witness, before answering further questions, wished to ask was he to be exempted from criminating himself? The Chief Commissioner said that who ever gave his evidence there satisfactorily, would be entirely exempted from penal conseciuences. Mr. Smythe then pro ceeded to state that in 1841, a very large issue of color tickets occurred, viz., to the value of £2000. He has no documents of them, as they were burnt by the advice of Mr. Lushington, formerly governor of Madras. Witness' opponent was Mr. H. Wilson, on whose side color tickets were also issued, the two together being £4000. At the election for 1847 he handed over £900 without reference to whether it was for legal expenses, and knowing the character of the borough, he asked no questions ; at any rate it was comparatively cheap [laugh ter]. The number of the names in the accounts connected with bribery was 60. In 1841 the expenditure was larger on the "Red" than onthe "Blue" side. The money on the Blue side is more dexterously managed and goes further [laughter]. The Canterbury people, like the people in other boroughs, are very backward in promising. Witness opposed bribery, but is not prepared to say what he should have done in reference to color tickets. He thinks that Mr. Gurney Crowded, the chair man of what is called the Conservative Club, received some of the £6000 or £7000, of which £2000 was paid before the elec tion, and the remainder afterwards. Ofthe £7000, £400 was paid in respect of a petition. The Canterbury petition was paid off against the St. Albans [laughter]. I don't think BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 113 (said Mr. Smythe) it was done by Brown or Coppock, but by the " whip" of the party. I was very much astonished and gratified at it. The Hon. Butler Johnstone deposed that he and Mr. Gipps were successful candidates at the late election, but were after wards unseated. He and Mr. Gipps had coalesced, and each paid £300 into Mr. Kingford's bank. During his canvass the freemen used to come up to him and ask him favors, and he said to thern, " Do you know who you are talking to — do you want to ruin me ?" He had heard that the " Blue" party were trying to lay a trap for him to bring about a petition, and he suspected it. Had paid £1300 in all as the expense of his election. Wished it included in the expense of the petition. He understood that there were a great many color tickets du ring the election. He was told that the freemen of Canterbury were legitimately entitled to it. He understood that both sides always had colored tickets, and in his unsophisticated inno cence he thought they had [laughter]. After he had paid the last £300, Dr. Lochee said something about a further sum being required, and he was fully prepared to advance it ; but Dr. Lochee said, "You have paid £1000, and I do not think you ought to be called upon to pay any more ;" but he was afraid of Alderman Brent, and what in Canterbury was called "the Bifron's purse," that was the purse of the Marchioness Conyngham [laughter]. The marchioness had a very large income, and it was rumored that when she saw the election going against her son. Sir William Somerville, she would come down handsomely with her thousands, as she was understood to have done [lond laughter]. When he heard this, and that the mar chioness' purse was to be opened against him, he felt fairly in the fight, and that he would not be beaten even by her [laugh ter]. He understood also that the other side were prepared to have recourse to bribery, but he was anxious there should be no act of bribery committed by either him or his friends. Heard of the vacancy at Canterbury, through Brown, the par liamentary agent, and became a candidate from wishing to serve Lord Derby's Government. Understood that the color ticket system had been in existence half a century in Canter bury on both sides. The Committee then adjourned to next day. Tlie Commissioners sat again on Thursday, and a witness named George Davey deposed that he paid three voters named White £6 each for their votes, and to prevent them from voting forthe "Reds." 10=^ H 114 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, James Godwin named eleven other voters whom he had bribed in 1847. Witness was exchequered that year for £1 900, and Government had called on him to pay £100. Lord A. Conyngham agreed to use his influence with the Excise for witness, if witness supported him at the election, and they both - performed their proraises. Mr. Kelson, builder and surveyor, deposed to having dis pensed bribes in 1847, by order of Bennett, when the election was " getting desperate." In 1852, Blr. Pont gave him £160, with which witness bribed forty voters. There was a body of electors in Canterbury, called the " Butter Blarket Troop," led by Mr. Mathews, a magistrate. Pont gave witness £10 to go away to the Isle of Man, when the Coraraittee sat on the Can terbury election, and sent another £10 after him. F. Cobb deposed that he got £35 from Rutter, and he gave Beale £5 for a pair of " straps" [laughter], as a blind for his vote. Southey was re-called, and denied having received any money, but said that he paid £50 of his own for treating, in 1841. He had always been foolish with his money at elections, but never had received any recompense. J. Yincent, of the Builders' Arms, got £60 from Pont at the last election. He kept £15 for himself, and bribed voters with the remainder. G. F. Smith, manager of the color ticket department, said nearly £1600 was spent in tickets in 1841, and £365 in 1852. There were color tickets at Sir B. Brydge's election, and at the county election. The last election for Canterbury was the poorest he had ever known ; he had spent thousands before, and only hundreds then. Samuel Blint was eraployed to ascertain the price of the voters, and found that they ranged from £5 to £10 each. The Commissioners then adjourned to next day. " — Obs'r, May 2M, 1853. Here follows some specimens of the manner in which these elections are managed in the land of the shiUalah : "CLITHEROE. The Committee on Monday came to the following resolution by which Mr. M. Wilson is unseated : That the Committee had unanimously determined that Mat thew Wilson, Esq., was not duly elected as a burgess to serve BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 115 in the present parliament for the borough of Clitheroe. That the said election for the borough of Clitheroe was a void elec tion. That Matthew Wilson, Esq., was, by his agents, guilty of bribery or treating at the last election for the said borough ; but that no act of bribery or treating was proved to have been committed with the consent or knowledge ofthe said Matthew Wilson, Esq. That it was proved that Henry Taylor was bribed with the payment of £30. That extensive and syste matic treating, together with other corrupt and illegal prac tices, prevailed at the last election for the said borough. That violent and tumultuous proceedings appear to have taken place at the said election ; and that hired bands of men, armed with sticks and bludgeons, were introduced into the said town for purposes of undue influence and intimidation. Mr. Sergeant Wrangham applied to have the opposition to the petition de clared frivolous and vexatious ; but the Chairman stopped him, and said there was no chance of the Comraittee acceding. The learned counsel then withdrew the application, and the proceedings terminated." — Observer, March 1th, 1853. " MAYO. The inquiry before this Committee proceeds on the petition of Sir Robert Lynch Blosse, of Alhavallee, Mayo, and of W. Kearney, of Bullenville, and other electors, alleging that the return of Mr. Ouseley Higgins and of Mr. Moore, the sitting members, was obtained by intimidation, violence, and outrage, exercised towards electors in the interest of Colonel M'Alpine, the unsuccessful candidate, who, with his agents and friends, was by large bodies of persons, riotously assembled, and incited by Messrs. Higgins and Bloore, forcibly detained in their hotel at Castlebar on the nomination day, and prevented from attend ing the nomination until the arrival there of a troop of cavalry and the police, under whose escort they had to be conducted to the Court-house. It is also charged that for several days before the election, riotous and turaultuous assemblages took place, and that the supporters of Colonel M'Alpine were assailed, beaten, and injured. The petitioners were represented by Mr. O'Malley, Q. C. and Mr. Bovill. Counsel for Blr. Higgins were Mr.' Edwin James, Q. C, Mr. Meagher, Mr. W. P. Hale, and Mr. James C. O. Dowd. Mr. Moore had retained on his behalf Mr. Ser geant Kinglake, Q. C, and Mr. Wells. 116 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, The committee-room was crowded during the day, and amongst those present was a sprinkling of Roman Catholic priests, who are alleged to have taken a conspicuous part in promoting the return ofthe sitting members. The allegation of want of sufficient qualification against Mr. Moore is abandoned. Mr. O'Malley opened the case for the petitioners at consi derable length. After a discussion as to the admissibility of the poll-books, on the ground of their not having been tendered for seal and signature to Mr. Higgins, which the Committee overruled. Captain Archdall was sworn and examined. — He deposed that he was a captain in the 52d regiment at Swinford, one of the polling places, during the interval from the 19th to 28th July. On the 23d, there was a great mob and disturbance, and the violence of the raob was so directed against the voters of Col. BI'Alpine, that he had to escort them from a house where they were shut up. Was of opinion that it was not safe for these Voters to go to the place of polling without a mili tary escort. The mob disregarded the bayonets, which knocked off their hats and passed across their faces before they made way through the raass. Was engaged in escorting the voters the whole of the first day. The voters were threatened with sticks and stones. Witness ordered his raen to load, and the Riot Act was read three tiraes. The house in question was shut up, with police inside and out, and the windows were shut up. In the night witness was awoke by a noise, and saw a man from the window with a gun, and the mob attacking him. Several young poplars were cut down and thrown up into bar ricades with stones on the Castlebar road. The military cleared these barricades. Cross-exarained by Mr. James. — Was an Irishman of the county of Mallow. [Laughter.] Had not been at many elec tions. The proceedings of elections at Mayo were generally rather lively. The escort he took on the 23d consisted of thirty soldiers and three voters. [Laughter.] Did not know that when he took them to the poll nearly the whole of the con stituency had been polled out ; but he believed it was so. Witness was not frightened. [Laughter.] Was not aware that there was a little pelting on both sides. Witness remained in the neighborhood of the court-house, and remained there to escort voters. Did not know that the voters were Roman Catholic voters retained by Mr. Jackson, who was a Protes tant, in his house, thereby raising z, furore. Was not suffi- BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 117 ciently versed in election tactics to know what the " cooping" of voters meant. Witness escorted on the 24th about fourteen or fifteen voters altogether. Understood that many of these had been up on the 23d, so that they might probably have polled twice. They could not have been much frightened on the 23d, if they went again on the 24th. The barricades were about the height of the comraittee-table — [laughter] — and his men cleared them away in about ten minutes. There were a few boys and women behind them, as at Paris. [Laughter.] There were no omnibuses to form the barricades, but they were chiefly young poplars and stones. The poplars were eight or eleven inches in diameter. The keepers of the barricades did not resist the " charge." Bivouacked with his men in an erapty house. Did not in the process of escorting the voters see one that was hurt. By the Comraittee. — Some of the voters I escorted were struck, but not injured. On the second day there was compa rative tranquillity. Mr. E. Day, a private gentleman in the neighborhood of Swinford, was next examined. He deposed to having taken four voters in the interest of Colonel M'Alpine to Swinford at the last election, where he arrived at about three o'clock in the morning. Thought it better to travel all night so as not to encounter the mob. When they arrived at Swinford, the mob collected about the cars, and carried away three of the voters. Witness jumped down from the car to recognize the assailants and rescue the voters, and the mob took the gun he carried from him. There was a good deal of violence and disturbance. One of the voters returned the next morning, but the third dis appeared altogether, and did not vote. There were stones tlirown, and threats held out against the voters. All the county tenants who came to support M'Alpine took refuge in his house. It was a difficult matter to get any voters up ; they were so much alarmed. The Roman Catholic priests were very active on the occasion ; and when M'Alpine's voters came up, they interfered with them, and urged thera to vote for those they called "the two raost popular candidates." Cross-examined. — Was not aware that there was any system among Roraan Catholic landlords to compel tenants to give their votes. Three of these voters were tenants of properties of which witness was the agent, and in his absence, when away from one of the four voters he took, he voted for Moore and Higgins. The voters had as much as they liked to eat, bnt he did not know about drink at Swinford. Stones were thrown 118 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, by the mob at the voters. Did not know that they were as large as the tumbler on the table before counsel, but stones in Ireland grew larger than that. [Laughter.] Sir Robert Arbuthnot was under examination with reference to intimidation at Ballinrobe, when the Committee adjourned to this day." — Daily News, April 18th, 1853. I am afraid that I have overtasked you. Major, with the matter that I have furnished you in relation to elec tion bribery and corruption ; but I was anxious that what I had said on the subject should be found to be fully borne out by the facts. You will see that I have sent you only comparatively small portions of the proceedings in a few of the many Commissions before which bribery and cor ruption were proven. But my aim has been to furnish just enough for you to form something of an opinion as to the whole — enough for you to be satisfied that the re mark of Mr. Coppock before the St. Albans Commission, which I have quoted, was weU-nigh, if not wholly, cor rect ; and that the moral character of the people of this country, as a whole, in the matter of the precious and in estimable right of suffrage, is tainted, foully tainted, with fraud and corruption. Eespectfully, your friend and cousin, P. Jones. To Maj. Jones, Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 119 LETTEE XII. PASSION OP THE ENGLISH PEOPLE FOR BETTING AND HORSE- EACING — queen's VISITS TO THE RACE-FIELD — QUEEN's PLATES — DONCASTER RACES — THE MARQUIS OF EXETER'S AND DUKE OF GRAFTON'S " WINNINGS." London, July Sth, 1858. Deae Majoe : — I have intimated that the passion of the people in this country for betting and horse-racing seriously affects their moral character. This habit is in dulged in by aU classes ; and the horse-race receives direct encouragement from all — even from the Queen upon her throne, to the ragged and crippled beggar, who stumps his weary way to the Derby, and, as he proceeds, begs for pence, which he will stake upon the event of the race. When I said that the horse-race received encouragement from the Queen, I meant that it was sanctioned as weU by the royal presence upon the race-field as by the more substantial aid of the royal and national exchequer. You wiU find both these statements confirmed by the following extracts from EngUsh papers : "The Queen and Prince Albert went to Ascot races on Thursday, accompamed by the whole of Her Majesty's illus trious guests staying at the Castle. Her Majesty returned at half-past five o'clock, and the sarae evening gave a grand din ner, which was served on the magnificent service of gold plate in the Waterloo Gallery. Her Blajesty had afterwards an evening party." — Hull Packet, June 11th, 1853. (imperial PARLIAMENT.) " On the vote of £221,361 to defray the expenses of admin istration of the Poor-laws, a desultory conversation took place, in which Sir H. Yerney, Sir J. Trollope, Messrs. Baines, Hindley, and W. WiUiams took part. The vote was agreed to. 120 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, £1700 were voted for certain offices in Scotland, and £6464 for officers of the Lord Lieutenant's household in Ireland. On this latter vote being proposed, Blr. W. Williams pro tested against a portion of it : viz., £1574 16s. 2d. for fifteen Queen's plates. Public opinion was outraged by plates being given for horse-racing. Blr. Stanford supported the vote, as it had a tendency to improve the breed of horses. In connection with tliis subject, he called attention to the betting-houses, which were now the foci of all the blackguardism in London. Sir De L. Evans said he had received several letters com plaining of betting-houses. Sir W. Joliffe, in the absence of Blr. Walpole, said that betting-houses were under the most serious consideration of Government, and measures were anxiously contemplated to remedy the evil." — Observer, January Ith, 1852. Conveniently blind, Mr. Stanford " supported the vote, as it had a tendency to improve the breed of horses ;" and yet, though in the same breath he calls attention to the facfi that the betting-houses were foci of all the black guardism in London, he shuts his eyes to the effect of these foci (receiving so much of their light as they do from the encouragement of the great, the powerful, and the rich, who indulge in horse-racing) upon the breed of men. The subject did, indeed, attract the attention of Go- vernm-ent, and a biU has been passed with reference to the reformation of these houses. But is this anything more than skinning over of the wound? The betting-houses were but one of the ulcers by which the great social canker manifested itself on the surface, if I am not very much mistaken. If I have rightly observed this people, the passion of which I speak has incorporated itself, as it were, with their very social constitution. Betting-houses, Uke betting-books, are but instrumentalities by which the great scheme of horse-racing, steeple-chase riding, etc., is operated. I never found time to attend the races at Goodwood, or at Epsom, which are the two most celebrated in England, I believe ; but I did make a visit to Doncaster, another, though a less famous, EngUsh stadium in Yorkshire. At the instance of Mr. A , of A HaU, whom I have BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 121 already introduced to your acquaintance, I met him at these races in the autumn of 1852. The races com menced on Tuesday, the 14th of September; but I did not get there until Wednesday, the St. Leger day, as it is called. I wept by train, of course, and was reminded of the throng which is found on our roads when our people are repairing to mass-meetings, or to State agri cultural fairs. Though Doncaster, as a race-course, be not so fashionable or so famous as Goodwood or Epsom, yet we have the authority of Southey for saying that "A greater number of families are said to meet each other at Doncaster races than at any other meeting of the same kind in England." My fellow-traveUers were as much excited, apparently, by these races, as ever you saw our people agitated on their way to a mass-meeting which constituted part of the machinery of a presidential cam paign. I must own, in passing, however, that we were much more comfortably provided for, and protected in our seats within the carriages, than are the passengers upon our roads on the occasions to which I refer. I was met, very soon after my arrival, by Mr. A , who had kindly taken care that I should be provided for as to lodgings, etc. In the course of the day, I was intro duced by him to several notabiUties. Some noblemen with distinguished names, members of the House of Com mons, and gentlemen of eminent position, were either thus introduced, or pointed out to me. So many people have written about the race-courses in England, that the subject is threadbare; and as my purpose is rather to give you an idea of a system than to amuse you with detaUs, I shaU not dweU upon these details now, but wiU content myself with sending you a condensed statement of what I witnessed. The following contains such a state ment: "DONCASTER RACES. Doncaster fully maintains its position amongst the most im portant race-meetings in the kingdom. And whilst retaining a fair portion of aristocratic patronage, its popularity with the million is fully upheld, notwithstanding the great and in creasing rivalry of the numerous meetings in other parts of the 11 122 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, country. On the present occasion, the stewards were the Earl of Derby, R. G. Lumley, and Lord Ribblesdale. The clerk of the course was Blr. R. Johnston ; judge, Blr. (lark ; starter, Blr. Hibburd. On Blonday the Great Northern Station at King's-cross was a scene of continual bustle, nearly all the trains being heavily freighted, chiefiy by the professionals of the sporting world. The hunt after lodgings produced the usual results — exorbitant prices. Nothing under eight or ten guineas was talked of for even decent accoramodatiou. Wednesday. — The town was alive at an early hour, and crowds poured in frora all parts of the surrounding district, in coaches, omnibuses, gigs, and other vehicles. The throng was increased later by tlie arrival of monster trains from Sheffield, York, Lincoln, Blanchcstcr, and other large towns, besides a great influx of Londoners. The weather took an unfavorable turn, and a heavy rain continued throughout the whole of the afternoon, to the inconceivable mortification of the multitude, especially those who had ventured forth without waterproofs or umbrellas. There was, however, as numerous an attend ance as usual upon the St. Leger day. The following is a list of some of the fashionables present : — The Blarquises of Nor manby and Exeter, the Earls of Glasgow, Scar))orou,gh, Ches terfield, and Calcdon ; Lords Blaidstone, Clifden, Exraouth, Milton, Bolingbroke, Anson, Galway and lady, P>,. Clinton, W. Powlett, John Scott, D. Kennedy, F. Kennedy, G. Man ners, Wenlock, F. G. Leveson Gower ; Sirs G. Armitage, T. Wichcote, C. Blonk, C. B. Houston, S. Blane, Robert Bell, J. Trollope, R. Bulkely, Tatton Sykes, E. Baker, G. Boswell, W. Booth, Robert Pigot and lady ; Hons. G. Anson, Colonel Stanley, Captain Rous, F. Yilliers, G. W. Fitzwilliam, F. Lawley, A. EUis, H. Forester, Courtenay, Blajor Needham, Admiral Paulett, Major Pitt, W. E. Duncombe and lady ; Ge nerals Hunter and Rietter ; Colonels Taylor and Wyndham ; Captains Ramsden, Little, W. Peel, Haworth, Key, Cookson, White, De Horsey, Ives, Hepworth, Thoroton, Lowry, Wal lers, Archdall, Cunningham, etc. ; Blessrs. G. II. Boswell, W. Bosville, Bowes, E. Denison, J. E. Denison, Drinkald, C. L. Fox, G. Fitzroy, F. Fitzroy, Gregory, Greville, F. Foljambe, Sandford Graham, W. E. Hughes, A. Heathcote, Honeywood, A. Johnstone, Jaques, R. Newton, G. Littledale, R. G. Lum ley, Bleiklara, Blagenis, Blilner, Osbaldiston, R. E. Oliver, Payne, Portman, Rarasden, R. Read, J. BI. Stanley, Skip- worth, B. Stanhope, Thornhill, Thelluson, Yernon, Webster, Wauchope, G. Wentworth, etc., etc. BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 123 The Cup-betting in the evening was confined to Kingston, Teddington, and Stilton — the two first named being so close together that it was difficult to say which had the call ; Stil ton's party did not ajipear to be at all sanguine. For the Ce- sarewitch several lots of twelve were taken against the field, Lady Evelyn — who at one time was quoted at as little as eight to one, but left off weak at eleven to oue — and Le Juif head ing the selections in every instance. It was mentioned in the course of the day that the Blarquis of Exeter had accepted the stewardship vacant by the close of Lord Derby's term of service. The first event was a match for 200 sovs. between Lord Clifden's Pelion against Lord Glasgow's Conspiracy, which was won in a canter by the former. The St. Leger stakes for three-year olds; the second to receive 100 sovs. out of the stakes; the winner to pay 100 sovs.towards expenses, 25 to the judge, and 25 to the starter ; St. Leger Course ; 116 subs.; six started : Lord Exeter's Stoolcwell Norman 1 Duke of Eichmond's Hai-binger Flatman 2 Mrs. Bowes's Daniel O'Rourke F. Butler 3 Mr. Pedley's Trousse.iu Templeman 0 Mr. J. Scott's Songstress '.....A. Day 0 Mr. Duncombe's Alfred the Great Basham 0 Betting at starting : seven to four against Stockwell, five to two against Daniel O'Rourke, three to one against Songstress, seven to one against Harbinger, and ten to one against Trous seau. The start took place a few minutes before three. Alfred the Great jumped off with a decided lead, followed, in rotation and at wide intervals by Harbinger and Stockwell, Scott's two next, nearly abreast ; the pace as good as Alfred the Great could make it. No change whatever took place until near the Red House, where Alfred the Great was joined by Harbinger and Stockwell, the latter immediately after giving way. Har binger then showed in front, but was headed in a few strides by Stockwell, who went on by himself, and won in a canter by ten lengths. Harbinger beating Daniel O'Rourke by a length. The Municipal stakes, of 200 sovs. each, for two-year olds ; second to save his stake ; Red House in : Lord Derby's Umbriel Norman 1 Mr. Payne's Warwhoop Flatman 2 Mr. W. H. Brooker's Incense Templeman 3 Lord Glasgow's Doublethong J. Marson 4 124 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD ; OE, Betting : five to four on TTrabriel, five to two against In cense, and three to one against Doublethong. Won very easily by a length. Thursday.— The day was beautifully fine ; the course bene fitted by the rain, and was in capital order, and the attend ance good. The sport excited considerable interest. The opening event was a handicap sweepstakes of ten sovs. each, with twenty-four subs., for which Blr. Blorris's Charity added a fourth victory to the previous successes of the Stebbing stable. Mr. Worthington's Jaquenetta and Blr. Stephen's Ace of Trumps were second and third. The Scarborough stakes, of twenty sovs. each, were won in a canter by Captain Scott's Allegro. The Eglinton stakes, of ten sovs. each, with 100 added, presented the largest field of the day, there being forty-eight subs. Lord Clifden's Pelion (Charlton) was the winner. Lord Derby's Longbow (Butler) being second, and Lord Caledon's colt by Siraoora third. The Cleveland handicap of twenty sovs. was won cleverly by a neck by Mr. Bleiklara's Evadne, beating Blr. Coombe's Brawn and Mr. Fhntoff's The Reaper. The sweepstakes of ten sovs. each, with fifty added, had twenty-five subs. Was won in a canter by Mr. Merry's Lambton. Friday. — This was a lovely day. The stand was crowded ; and there was a greater show of the fair sex than on any of the previous days. The Doncaster Cup, value 300 sovs., was a magnificent con test, and was won by a neck by Blr. Stanley's Teddington, Mr. Blorris's Kingston b'eing second, and Hungerford a bad third. The Doncaster stakes, of ten sovs. each, had 80 subs. ; only two were placed — Lord Derby's Longbow first, and Mr. Dun combe's Alfred the Great second. The Town Plate of seventy sovs. was carried off by Blr. Dawson's Lerrywheut. " — 06seruer, Sept. 2()th, 1852. The Earl of Derby, who, as you will see, was one of the stewards of this meeting, and was the successful compe titor for some of the stakes, is, perhaps, you know, one of the most eminent men in England. He was recently Brime Minister. The Marquis of Exeter was the fortu nate owner of the horse which won the St. Leger, and is to succeed Lord Derby in the stewardship. This noble man is descended from WiUiam CecU, Lord Burghley, the BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 125 statesman of that name so celebrated during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. He is the head of one of the. most dis tinguished families in England, a Knight of the Garter, a D.C.L., and Lord Lieutenant of two counties, &c. As far back as 1836, Sou.they, in his " Doctor," copies a para graph from a Sunday newspaper, containing the foUowing reference to this noble Marquis : "Pleasures and Profits of the Turf. — We stated in a former number, that Lord Exeter's turf profits were for the previous season, £26,000." I might as well copy the rest of the paragraph, as it serves to illustrate this subject. It is as follows : — ¦ " But we have now before us a correct and consecutive account ofthe Duke of Grafton's winnings from 1811 to 1829 inclusive, taking in merely the value of the stakes for which the horses ran, and which amounts to no less a sum than £99,211 3s. 4d., or somewhat more than £5000 per annum. This, even giving in a good round sum for training aud outlay, will leave a suffi ciently pleasant balance in hand ; to say nothing of the betting book not often, ¦ we believe, light in figures. His Grace's greatest winnings were in 1822 and in 1825 : in the former of these years they amounted to £11,864 5s., in the latter to £12,668 16s. 8d." By this account you wUl perceive that the profits of the first of these noble lords, earned by horse-racing in one season, were $130,000, and that the latter for a long series of years was in the receipt of a larger annual income in the shape of "winnings" by horse-racing than the annual salary of the President of the United States. Horses belonging to the Duke of Beaufort, and other distinguished noblemen and gentlemen, were competitors in these races at Doncaster ; and many such persons were present sharing the sport. One of the stakes was contri buted by the town of Doncaster, and we are told by the author whom I have last quoted, that the corporation buUt a "grand stand upon the course," and contributed " annually a plate of the value of £50 to be run for." I find that I cannot dispose of the subject within such 11* 126 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD ; OE, limits as should be aUotted to one letter. I_ shaU there fore conclude this here, and call your attention again to the matter in my next. UntU which time I shaU remain Your obedient servant and cousin, P. Jones. To Majoe Jones, PineviUe, Ga., U. S. of America. LETTEE XIIL PASSION OF THE ENGLISH PEOPLE FOR BETTING AND HORSE- RAOING — THE HOUSE OE COMMONS ADJOURNS FOR THE DERBY DAY — RACES AT GOODWOOD AND AT EPSOM — EX TRAORDINARY WAGERS — MR. COBDEN PLAYS THE PART OF WILKINS FLASHER, ESQ., AND GEN. BROTHERTON EMULATES THAT OF MR. FRANK SIMMERY — TRIAL OF A CELEBRATED TURF-MAN FOR FORGERY — SUICIDES BY PATRONS OF THE TURF. London, July 14th, 1853. Deae Majoe : — Besides the celebrated race-courses which I have already mentioned, there are many others in all parts of the country. There are races and steeple chases at Liverpool, steeple-chases at Oundle, races at Newmarket, at SaUsbury, at Malton, at Chester, at North ampton, at Stockbridge, at Winchester, and at various other places in England and Ireland. But none are so fashionable, nor attract so much of admiration and inte rest, I believe, as the races at Goodwood, and Epsom. The Derby stakes, of which you have often heard, are run for on the latter course ; and the House of Commons itself suspends business and adjourns for the Derby day, as you wiU see from the following which I clipped from the Observer a few weeks since : "Derby Day.— Lord J. Russell gave notice that on Monday next he should move to adjourn the house over Tuesday next, as Tuesday was the Queen's birthday ; and, as there was but one order for Wednesday, he should raove the further adjourn- BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 127 ment untU Thursday, as Wednesday will be the Derby day (cheers)."— O&seruer, May 23, 1853. I enclose you extracts from the Observer, in which you wiU find parts of an account of these races at Goodwood, and Epsom. If you find them too much for your patience, you have my permission to skip them. But they, or others Uke them, are necessary to a comprehension of the subject, as I have brought it to your attention : "GOODWOOD RACES. Stewards : The Earl of Zetland, and the Hon. H. F. Lawley. Judge : Mr. Clark. Clerk of the Course and Starter : Mr. Hibburd. This meeting — the greatest of our racing festivals — opened on Tuesday last with brilliant success. Notwithstanding that the weather had borne a rather threatening appearance, all the trains from London Bridge on that day left the station with monster freights ; and Brighton, Worthing, Bognor, Chiches ter, and Southsea received an extraordinary influx of visitors. Tuesday, July 27. — In the morning there were some heavy showers, but suddenly the wind veered to the east, the sun shone forth brilliantly, and all was joyous anticipation. On the Grand Stand the nnmber of fashionable visitors was greater than is remembered to have ever been seen before on a first day. There was a large and distinguished party from Goodwood House (the Duke of Richmond's seat), which included Duke Bernard of Saxe Weimar, H. R. H. the Duke of Cambridge, Prince George of Mecklenburgh Strelitz, Prince and Princess Edward of Saxe Y^eimar, the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort, Duke and Duchess of Bedford, Marquis of ^Vaterford and Drogheda, Earl Derby, and a long list of aristocratic noblemen and gen tlemen. The day's proceedings passed off with the 'greatest quietness and order. Owing to the high class ofthe company, the duties of the police were comparatively easy, and a lucky descent made by the London detectives upon a body of no less than fourteen well-known ' professionals ' among the light- fingered gentry — all of whom were seized at the same time, and coraraitted by Mr. Henry, the magistrate, for three months to the House of Correction — no doubt tended greatly to lessen the fatigues of the police during the remainder of the meeting. The usual official return of the sport will be found below. The first race on the card was the Craven Stakes (Handi- 128 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, capl of 5 SOVS. each, with 50 added, a mile and a quarter, 13 subscribers — a fine race from tlie distance home, was won by Blr. Downey's Lamartine (A. Day) beating Blaria by a head, Lithograph third, and six not placed. Sweepstakes of 300 sovs. for four year olds, the second to save his stake, 3 miles and 5 furlongs, 11 subs., by Mr. Nicholl's Newminster (Tem pleman) beating Harpsichord easily by two lengths, Phlegcthon tliird, and Blidas. Fifty Pounds Plate, added to a Sweei)stakcs of 5 sovs. each, the winner to be sold for 100 sovs., with allow ances if to be sold for less, T. Y. C, 13 subs., by Blr. Y. King's Gold Dust (Bundy), beating in a canter by four lengths Yivan- diere, who beat Blustang by half a length. The Levant Stakes of 50 sovs. each for two year olds, the second to save his stake, half a mile, by Blr. Osbaldeston's Sister to Blountain Deer (Hiett) beating in a canter Lascelles, AVilliam Rufus third, and five others. "The Gratwicke Stakes of 100 sovs. each, h-ft.,for three year olds, the second to receive 200, and the third to save his stake, one mile and a half, by Earl Derby's Longbow (F. Butler) beating Father Thames by a head. Nabob, a bad third, aud Houlakin, King Pepin, Claverhouse, and Red Hind. The Ham Stakes of 100 sovs. each, h-ft., for two year olds, the se cond to receive 200, T. Y. C, by Duke of Richmond's Refrac tion colt (Templeman), after a very close race with Defiance, winning by a head, Phrygia, Belgravia, and Kitty of Coleraine filly close up. Sweepstakes of 50 sovs. each, for three year olds, one mile and a half, by Lord Exeter's Stockwell (Norman) beating Harbinger by a length and a half The Gup Day— Thursday.— The extreme fineness ofthe weather, tlie number and rank of the visitors, and the excel lence of the racing, combined to render this one of the most successful cup days ever witnessed. The racing commenced with — The Sussex Stakes of 25 sovs. each for two year olds, T.Y.C., which was won by Blr. H. Drewe's Defiance (Rogers) beating Belle Sauvage filly (Flatman) in a canter by flve lengths. The First Year of the Bentinck Blemorial Stakes, for two year old, T. Y. C, by Duke of Richmond's Refraction colt beating Sit tingbourne by half a length, Auld Acquaintance third, and Bel gravia, Y'ilHara Rufus, and Talfourd. The Racing Stakes of 50 sovs. each, for three year olds, one raile, by Lord Exeter's Stockwell (Norman), (the favorite at 5 to 4), beating in a canter by a length Blaidstone, Father Thames, and Lucio. A Sweepstakes of 200 sovs. each, for two year olds, T. Y. C. Mr. BILLY buck's visit TO ' ENGLAND. 129 Greville's Exhibition and Mr. W. H. Brook's Incense divided the stakes. Incense walking over The Molecombe Stakes of 50 sovs. each, for two year olds, by Mr. Howard's Elmsthorpe (A. Day), beating Estrella in a canter by two lengths, and Margaret of Anjou. The Goodwood Cup, value 300 sovs., the rest in specie sub scriptions of 20 eovs. each, with 100 added ; the second horse to receive 100 sovs. out ofthe stakes, the third 30 ; two miles and a half. Mr. Morris's Kingston, 3 yrs., Tst. 41b. (carried Tst. 61b.) Flatman 1 Mr. Howard's Little Harry, 3 yrs., 6st. 131b Cowley 2 Mr. J. M. Stanley's Teddington, 4 yrs., 9st. 31b F. Butler 3 Mr. Merry's Hobbie Noble, 3 yrs., Tst. 41b Knott 4 The following' also started, but were not placed : Newmin ster, Frantic, Stilton, Buckhound, Hervine, and Allegro. Betting : Y to 4 against Stilton, 5 to 1 against Little Harry, 6 to 1 against Kingston, 6 to 1 against Hobbie Noble, 10 to 1 against Teddington, 12 to 1 against Newminster, and 20 to 1 each against any other. Hobbie Noble took the lead tUl the turn out of the course, when Buckthorn went three or four lengths in advance of Hobbie Noble, the latter being twice as many before Allegro, who was in the van of the ruck. Buck thorn carried the running to the half-mile post, and there gave way, and Hobbie Noble again obtained the lead, which he held to the distance, where he was passed by Little Harry, leading, Kingston, and Teddington. A fine race home with this trio ended in favor of Kingston by half a length. Little Harry beat ing Teddington by three parts of a length ; Hobbie Noble a bad fourth. Frantic fifth, and the others beaten off. This race was followed by the Second Year of the Third Bentinck Memorial Stakes for three year olds, Gratwicke Stakes Course, won by Duke of Richmond's Harbinger (Flat- man), beating easily by a length the Nabob and Longbow. Longbow went on the wrong side of the post at starting. The Duke of Richmond's Plate of 100 sovereigns. New Mile :— Mr. Jacques's Vivaudiere, 4 yrs., 6st. 101b Wells 1 Mr. E. Parr's Sanita, 3 yrs., 6st. Tib Hiett 2 Mr. W. Hale's Merry Peal, 4 yrs., Tst. 41b T. Smith 3 The following also started, but were not placed : — Land grave, Radulphus, Catalpa, Newport, Miss Hayes, Timid Fawn, No-Chance, Alfred the Great, The Bishop, Sagacity, I 130 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, by Yeiiison out of Passion, ch. c. by Birdcatcher out of He cate, Plumstead, and Knavery. Betting : G to 1 each against Alfred the Great, Catalpa, Radulphus, and Plumstead, 9 to 1 against Timid Fawn, and 10 to 1 each ao-ainst Sanita and Bliss Hayes. Won by a head, a length and a'half between the second and third, and Timid Fawn a bad fourth. The Anglesey Plate of 50 sovs., gentleraen riders, Craven Course ; won by Capt. Lane's Agis, aged, list. 121b. (owner), beating Roller, Caloric, St. Patrick, and John of Berwick. Friday.— The 50th anniversary of this unrivalled meeting was brought to a conclusion with one of the best day's sports ever remembered. For the various races to-day, G6 horses started, and the amount of the prizes realized if:2535. The gross total for the week is as follows : — Number of starters, 256 ; value ofthe stakes, £16,135. Lord Ribblesdale and the Hon. P. Lawley have accepted the stewardship for 1853. After the races were over, a great number of betting offices in London closed their establishments. It is said that twenty of the owners have shut up shop. Up to ten or eleven o'clock ou AVednesday night, many hundreds were received to back diff'erent horses for the cup, one man in the neighborhood of the British Museura having received nearly £500, after the re sult of the stakes was published, with which sum, as well as the immense amount which must have been deposited on other events, he has decamped. It is reported that the sum wanted from another party of Camden Town is over £80,000, one in- dividu.al alone losing £20,000."— Observer, August 2d, 1852. "EPSOM RACES. This annual sporting festival comraenced on Tuesday, under the most propitious influences ; bright skies and pleasant breezes compensating in some degree for the dreary weather wdiich attended the early meetings ofthe season. The 'open ing day,' never attractive to the masses, did not draw more than an average attendance to the Downs — the majority being, as usual, composed of that class who havc a direct interest iu the sporting business of the day. BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 131 THB DERBY DAY. 'Wednesday, May 25. — The attraction of the Derby has this year surpassed all precedent. Never, perhaps, was so vast a multitude collected upon any similar occasion on the Downs as on Wednesday last. From an early hour in the morning the trains continued to arrive in quick succession, each adding its numbers to the crowds that poured into the town and blocked up the streets. Besides the immense number of visitors who preferred the ready and rapid mode of transit by the rail, hundreds of per sons, tempted by the extraordinary fineness of the weatiier, came by the road, which was thronged with vehicles of every grade and fashion — from the costermonger's donkey-cart to the aristocratic barouche or four-in-hand — recalling the almost forgotten glories of the highway on the Derby day. The brilhancy of the sun produced, however, its invariable conse quence, in the clouds of dust with which the outsiders were completely enveloped. Praise is due to the officials at the London Bridge Sta tion for the arrangements by which the public were adrait ted to the trains without the slightest difficulty or confusion, and for the order and regularity with which the transit of so vast an assemblage was effected to and from Epsom. The first race (the Carew stakes) being over, the excitement commenced in earnest, as the time for deciding the great event of the day approached. At length, after an anxious interval, the telegraph boards in the enclosure announced that twenty- eight of the thirty-two horses named on the card were pre pared to compete for what Mr. Disraeli has called ' the blue riband of the turf The horses soon afterwards cantered up the course frora the paddock, which, for the accommodation of owners and trainers of horses, was again thrown open by Blr. Arthur Heathcote. After due time had been allowed for the inspection of the horses, Blr. Hibburd, the starter, took charge of the troupe, and conducted them to the starting-post, and at the first signal got them away in beautiful order. At this moment it would be difficult to imagine a more animated and exciting scene than the course presented. The Grand Stand was resplendent with summer fashions, and the private stands were crowded with the members and friends of the stewards and gentlemen of the 'Jocky Clnb — in short, a more brilliant meeting, both as regards the nuraber of visitors and the fineness of the weather, has never been seen on Epsom Downs. 132 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, It is some years since the Derby was invested with so much mystery, interest, and importance — a circumstance chiefly attri butable to the Cineas and Honeywood moveraents. They, how ever, who, with an unprejudiced regard, scrutinized West Aus tralian aud Sittingbourne when they pulled up after the race for the Two Thousand, had never any doubt of their being first and second for the Derby. Through good report and evil report. West Australian firmly maintained the lead in the ring, and fully did he justify the confidence of his backers. It doubtless will be well remembered that. Blr. Bowes achieved a similar triumph last year with Daniel O'Rourke ; in 1835 he won the Derby with Mundig, and in 1843 with Cotherstone. The sport came off as follows : The Derby stakes, of fifty sovs. each, h. ft. for three-year olds; colts 8st. Tib., fillies 8st. 21b.; the second to receive 100 sovs. out of the stakes ; New Co'urse (one mile and a half) ; 195 subs.: Mr. Bowes's West Australian, by Melbourne F. Butler 1 Duke of Bedford's Sittingbourne, by Chatham S. Rogers 2 ¦ Mr. Powney's Cineas, by Touchstone or Epirus Bumby 3 Mr. Howard's Rataplan, by The Baron 4 The following also ran : — Baron Rothschild's Orestes, Lord Londesborough's Blayor of Hull, Count Baithyany's Stone Plover, Blr. E. R. Clark's Blr. Sykes, Blr. Blare's Pharold, Lord Exeter's Filbert, Blr. Perren's Ionic, Lord Derby's Dm- briel, Duke of Richmond's Pharos, Captain Lane's Ninnyham- mer. Lord Clifden's Cheddar, Lord Caledon's Prince Leopold, Mr. B Way's Brocket, Blr. Knowles's Talfourd, Blr. J. BJ. Stanley's Orinoco, Blr. Howard's Lascelles, Blr. Oliver's Ethel bert, Blr. Surteeson's Honeywood, Blr. Rowan's Finn ma Coul, Blr. J. Aylingen's Rattle, Blr. Thompson's Coomberland Stathes- mon. Lord Glasgow's Barbatus, Lord Eglinton's Yander- decken, Blr. Wilkins's Peggy. An excellent start, all getting off in a cluster except Coom berland Stathesmon, who was some lengths behind. Cheddar and Cineas started in front, but they had scarcely proceeded half-way up the hill when IJrabriel took up the running, with Cheddar, Cineas, Orestes, Ethelbert, Ninnyhararaer, and Rattle well laid up ; and directly in their wake were Pharos, Honey wood, and Filbert; AVest Australian, and Sittingbourne in close attendance upon him, being the next two. No material BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 133 change occurred until they arrived at the turn into the straight, when Drabriel began to drop off ; Rattle iraraediately •yent on with the lead, but at the road was passed by Cineas, and at the same time West Australian, with Sittingbourne at his quarters, was seen to draw forward. At the distance, these two singled themselves out, and a very exciting race horae ended in favor of West Australian by a neck. Rataplan, who left the ruck in the last quarter of a mile, and gradually im proved his position, finished about half a length behind the third. Honeywood and Rattle were the next two. Barbatus pulled up larae. Run in 2rain. 665 sec. Amount of the stakes, 5425 sovs. Jerry Kent was scratched at 10-30 A. M. The Epsom Town Plate of 55 sovs. (handicap) for all ages ; one mile : Mr. Drinkald's Snarry, by Sleight of Hand Aldcroft 1 Mr. Reeves's Abdallah Bartholomew 2 Mr. Magenis's Sandhurst Oliver 3 The betting opened at six to four against Telescope, but closed at two to one against him ; two to one against Snarry. A fine race with Snarry, Abdallah, and Sandhurst. AVon by a neck, the second beating the third by three-quarters of a length ; Telescope a bad fourth. The Great Exhibition Plate of 100 sovs. (handicap) for all ages ; one mile and a quarter : Mr. Magenis's Clair de Lune, by Laneroost Oliver 1 Mr. Wiggan's Forrester (h. b.) Wells 2 Mr. Y. King's Narcissus Charlton 3 Betting : Six to four against Narcissus, three to one against Clair de Lune, five to one against Forester, six to one against Puritan. Won cleverly by a length, a neck only between second and third. Sweetheart and Iresine were fourth and fifth. THE OAKS DAY. Friday, May 21th. — The anticipations of a numerous and fashionable attendance for the Oaks were fulfilled by the re sult ; for, although the Downs were not encumbered with an enormous mass of human beings, as on Wednesday, the com pany was far more select. The large proportion of private carriages with fashionable parties on the hill, and the number of ladies on the grand stand, rendered this a most successful termination of the meeting. The private stand and the en- 12 134 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABROAD; OE, closure exhibited the usual array of leaders of the turf and business men. The morning, though fine, was exceedingly close and sultry, and certain indications of an approaching thunderstorm were observed. No change, however, took place in the weather until after the Oaks race, when the rain began suddenly to descend, accompanied by thunder and lightning; and so violent was the storm, that it caused a general rush of the company to every available place of shelter. The grand stand and all the booths ou the course were instan taneously filled to suffocation; but numbers, unable to get under cover, were thoroughly drenched in a very few minutes. For nearly an hour the rain fell incessantly, and the last two races were run in a perfect deluge. The following are the details of the day's sport : The Blembers' Plate of fifty sovs.; the winner to be sold for 200 sovs. if demanded ; one mile and a quarter. Lord J. Scott's Young England Whitehouse 1 Mr. J. Dawson's Honesty Barker 2 Mr. Cooper's Desdemona Wells 3 Mr. Vickers's Psaltery Castleman 4 Betting : Even on Desdemona, five to two against Young England, nine to two against Honesty, and five to one against Psaltery. Honesty made play, and, after the first half-mile, was joined by Young England, who waited to the distance, when he went in advance, aud finally won very easily by a length and a half; a good race for second place Honesty, beating Desdemona by a head, and a neck only between third and fourth. The winner was claimed." — Observer, May SOth, 1853. In what I have sent, you have seen enough, I am sure, to convince you that this practise is not only intensely fascinating to the English people, but that it may be said to constitute a prominent feature in their social sys tem. It obviously affords a common ground of interest, on which the Sovereign and the Chartist, the Peer and the Eadical, do often meet and sympathize. Here, whilst their inmates are absorbed in the same engross ing speculation, the donkey-cart jostles the duchess' chariot. And here the cripple on crutches looks up into the face of the splendid horseman for a factor of thought, which may enable him also to solve that problem of BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 135 chances upon which they each propose to stake, or have staked, their money, and on which the brains o'f each are at work. Is it any wonder that the passion of betting, and its results, are so aU-pervading ? What are some of those results ? Southey, in the same work to which I have referred, teUs us that " horse-races excite evil desires, caU forth evil passions, encourage evil propensities, lead the innocent into temptation, and give opportunities to the wicked. And the good which arises from such amusements, either as mere amusement (which is, in itself, unequivocally a good, when altogether inno cent), or by circulating money in the neighborhood, or by tending to keep up an excellent breed of horses, for purposes of direct utility, these consequences are dust in the balance, when compared with the guilt and misery that arise from gambUng." It is easy to see how such a practice, thus pervading aU ranks of society, and receiving the sanction and encouragement of — ^nay, fostered and sustained by — the great and powerful of the land, will nurture, as one of the " evil propensities " above referred to, a fondness for betting, or gambUng in chances gene raUy, among aU classes of people. That ingenious and gifted author, Mr. Charles Dickens, saw it when he sketched the foUowing scene : " ' I see there's a notice up this morning about Boffer,' observed Mr. Sinmiery; 'poor devil, he's expelled the house.' ' I'U bet you ten guineas to five he cuts his throat,' said Wilkins Elasher, Esquire. 'Done, 'rephed Mr. Simmery. ' Stop ; I bar,' said WUkins Elasher, Esquire, thought- fuUy. ' Perhaps he may hang himself.' ' Very good,' said Mr. Simmery, puUing out the gold pencil-case again. 'I've no objection to take you that way — say makes way with himself.' ' Kills himself, in fact,' said Wilkins Elasher, Esquire. 'Just so,' said Mr. Simmery, putting it down. ' Flasher, ten guineas to five Boffer kills himself— within what time shajl we say ?' 'A fortnight,' suggested Wilkins Flasher, Esquire. 136 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, 'Confound it, no,' rejoined Mr. Simmery, stopping for an instant to smash a fly with a ruler ; '.say a week.' 'SpUt the difl'erence,' said Willdns Flasher, Esquire; ' make it ten days.' ¦ ,, 'WeU, ten days,' rejoined Mr. Simmery. So it was entered down in the little books, that Bofi'er was to kiU himself within ten days, or Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, was to hand over to Frank Simmery, Esquire, the sum of ten guineas; and that if Boffer did kUl him self within that time, Frank Simmery, Esquire,.. would pay to Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, five guineas. instead. ' I'm very sorry he has failed,' said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire. ' Capital dinners he gave.' ' 'Fine port he had, too,' remarked Mr. Simmery. 'We are going to send our butler to the sale to-morrow, to pick up some of that sixty-four.' ' The devil you are !' said Wilkins Flasher, EsqtUre. ' My man is going, too. Five guineas my man outbids your man.' 'Done.' Another entry was made in the little books," etc. That persons of some distinction in this country might have sat for the original of this picture, you will see from - the foUowing extract : "EXTRAORDINARY WAGERS. Mr. Cobden has not hitherto been ranked amongst the class called 'sporting men,' and yet he has made a 'sporting bet.' We doubt if he would find a recognition amongst the ' swells' of the Turf Club, or be able to establish a locus standi with the 'legs' of Tattersall's. And yet he has laid a wager that tops some of those fast-uns. In a speech to the merabers of the Peace Society at Manchester, the Honorable member for the West Riding talked of any probable invasion of England as a raoral impossibility : it was all Lombard street to a China orange, in sporting parlance. He then and there offered to forfeit £10,000 down — to the Editor of the Blanchester Guar dian, in the event of an invasion of Great Britain and Ireland — we hope Ireland is included this time — on condition that the editor aforesaid would pay in the meanwhile Is. a week, or £2 12s. a year to the Manchester Infirmary. This was BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 137 certainly long odds, as they say in the Ring. Still there were no 'takers.' The editor was not terapted by the 'capital prize' of £10,000 to take a ticket in this 'peaceable' lottery, and for a while there was to be found no one courageous — or humane — enough to ' book' the proposed venture. At length a man- of-war — a regular believer in ' guns and drums and wounds' — ¦ heaven save the raark ! — comes boldly forward, and declares his resolution to pay the £2 12s. a year to the Manchester Infirmary. Lieut. Gen. Brotherton is the happy raan, that looks upon himself as the destined lucky recipient of the ' great national sweep' of full £10,000 — no bad prize money for the comraenceraent of a campaign. In reply to the challenge of the soldier, Mr. Cobden names his solicitor, and desires that the bond should be proraptly prepared. The full ' pound of flesh' — the warrant and the forfeiture of the bond — is to be nominated after the true and regular forms of law. The court awards it, and the law approves it. We have in our minds a great many such 'bubble bets,' that have come to nothing, and all without the aid of draraatic incident or effect. Instances are numerous enough of such extravagant and baseless wagers, full of sound and fury, sig nifying nothing. There is one at hand, so apt and appropri ate, that we shall quote it here entire^ the more so, as it is not entirely foreign from the question at issue, and that it re produces, in the language of the learned Chief Justice Lord EUenborough, who was moved for a new trial, the soraewhat apposite statement that in those days French invasions were annually threatened, and were deprecated weekly in every church. The following is an accurate abstract of the case, which will not be read without interest in the present day. The time is 1812, and the scene the York Assizes, and the Court of King's Bench, at Westminster. Before proceeding any fur ther, however, it is but fair to inform the reader that General Brotherton has declined to 'take the odds,' as will be seen by his last letter, also subjoined ; and that, therefore, the affair, as regards the parties, is virtually at an end. The raoral, of the case, however, remains the same, and is held fully to bear out these observations. 'Case on a Bet — Gilbert v. Sykes. — At the York Assizes in March, a trial came on in which the Rev. B. Gilbert was plain- 12* 138 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD; OE, tiff, and Sir Mark BI. Sykes, Bart., defendant. It appeared that the baronet, at his own table, in a dinner party, during a conversation respecting the hazard to which the life of Bona parte was exposed, had offered, upon the receipt of 100 gui neas, to pay a guinea a day as long as he should remain alive. Blr. Gilbert suddenly took up the offer; but, finding that the sense of the company was against making a serious matter of a bet proposed at a moment of conviviality, he said, ' If you will submit, Sir Blark, to ask it as a favor, you raay be off.' This the baronet refused to do ; the 100 guineas were sent by Mr. G., of which Sir Bl. acknowledged the receipt, and he had continued paying the guinea a day for nearly three years. At length he cleclined further payment, and this action was for the recovery of the sum still due upon the contract. Blr. 'I'opping, for the defendant, contended, first, that there was no serious intention of betting upon the part of Sir BI. Sykes, but that he was surprised by the hasty acceptance of the offer of the clergyman. He then, on the supposition that it was regarded as a real bet, advanced an argument that Blr. Gilbert, having thus a beneficial interest in tbe life of Bona parte, might be induced, in case of his invading this island, to use means for protecting from personal danger an inveterate enemy of his country. The judge, after stating the evidence to the jury, with his observations, left them to decide the fact whether there was an intention of betting on the part of Sir BI. Sykes, aud reserv ing the point of law. The jury returned a verdict for the de fendant. On April the 16th, the case was brought before the King's Bench, wdiere Blr. Park moved for a rule to show cause why tlie verdict for the defendant should not be set aside, and a new trial granted — the verdict having been found against all the evidence produced. He recapitulated the circumstances of the transaction, and said that Baron Thompson, in his charge to the jury, had treated the contract rather as for an annuity than a wager ; and, however hastily it had been adopted by the plaintiff, put it to them whether it had not been persisted iu by the defendant. It was no wager that Bonaparte would come to his end by violent means. Lord Ellinborough, in granting the rule, said that he was very sorry this question should corae to be argued in a court of law ; but unless there was, in the nature of the bet, any thing of an immoral or impolitic tendency, it was a legal con tract, and must be supported. He would not declare what BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 139 relief might be obtained elsewhere, under all the circum stances ; but, as the defendant went on paying for three years, the fact of the contract seemed to be clearly estabhshed, and the jury had certainly gone beyond their province in finding for the defendant. The case was again brought under consideration before the Court of King's Bench, on June 11 and 15. After the coun sel had held their argument respecting the nature of the con tract, and the interest of the parties in the event which was its subject. Lord Ellinborough said, that although the Court might differ as to the grounds of their opinion, they all con curred that no new trial ought to be granted in this case. The objection to this wager was its tendency to produce public mischief At a time when the enemy's threats of invasion were annual, and deprecated weekly in every church, could it be said that, in the event of Bonaparte's landing, the interest of 365 guineas per annura to preserve his life was too reraote ? Besides, one great object of the nation ought to be to obviate the suspicion of atterapting the assassination of Bonaparte, with which it had (he hoped unjustly) been charged ; and to prevent a war of assassination, with wliich any attempt of that kind would not fail to be revenged. He could not say that the verdict for the defendant was proper on the ground that the bet was not deliberately entered iuto ; but, looking into all the circumstances of the conversation upon which this contract was founded, and the contract itself, he thought the rule for a new trial ought to be discharged. The other three judges delivered a sirailar opinion, and the rule was accordingly discharged." — Observer, February 1th, 1853. The " evU propensities " which this practice encourages are thus partially indicated. In the following report you have further evidence of the same sort, and of " the op portunities" which it afi'ords."to the wicked," as well as of " the guilt and misery " which arise from such gambling. "CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT, OCT. 29. Before Mr. Justice Gresswell. Forgery.— lgna,tma Francis Coyle, who has been long con nected with the turf, and was mixed up with the celebrated ' Running Rein ' case, surrendered to take his trial on a charge of feloniously uttering a forged promissory note for £1150, 140 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABROAD; OE, with intent to defraud Henry Yiscount Clifden ; another count charged an intent to defraud Alexander BI'Eachey Alleyne. Viscount Clifden deposed that the promissory note now pro duced for £1150 was not written or authorized by him to be written. He never was under any obligation to the prisoner. Cross-examined : The signature is not hke witness' hand writing. AA'itness knew the prisoner as a betting man. He betted with him, and had wou and lost. Captain Alexander BI'Eachey Alleyne (the prosecutor) de posed that he was formerly in the 89th regiment. He is now 26 years of age. After returning from Canada, iu 1846, he for the first time had bets on the turf, on race-horses. In 1849 he knew the prisoner, and betted with him. In June, 1849, he lent the prisoner about £200, and from that time to June, 1850, he lent him other sums, in all about £2000. In January, 1850, he owed him £1'700 for money advanced, &c., and he (prisoner) came to witness' lodgings on the subject of the debt, and said he had Lord Clifden's note for £1150, which was a perfectly good security. The prisoner handed witness the note, and witness gave him a check for £350. He afterwards lent the prisoner £150. At the Derby, in 1850, witness had transac tions jointly with the prisoner, and lost between £8,000 and £10,000, partly on the prisoner's account, and partly on his own. The prisoner's share of the loss was nearly £3000, but witness charged Mm only £2300, and actually paid that sum for hira. After the race, he applied to the prisoner, who re- Cjuestcd witness to meet him at Furuival's Inn, and witness, with his brother (Captain Holder Alleyne), went to Wood's Hotel, Furnival's Inn, where he saw the prisoner and his friend, Blr. Charles Coghlan. The prisoner said something about his time being come, and was leaving the room in despair, when Captain Holder Alleyne followed, and they both returned to gether. The prisoner then said to witness that he had forged Lord Clifden's name on the note, in order to raise money to send to his brother in Austraha ; that if witness would not prosecute, he would do all in his power to repay hira ; that he was wholly rained, but that if let off, he would work for wdtness all his life, and would never forget his kindness. He threat ened to throw himself from the monument, and all sorts of things, and at last prosecutor consented to take his promissory note, payable on deraand, for £4300, and a memorandum, pro duced, stating that this promissory note was for cash advanced and other liabilities incurred, including Lord Clifden's note. BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 141 and that said note was not genuine. The note was never pre sented to Lord Clifden for payment. In January, 1851, wit ness instituted proceedings at the police court against the pri soner, but the proceedings were withdrawn, and in July last the present indictment was preferred. Cross-examined by JMr. James, Q. C. : Witness had retired from the army. He became acquainted vrith the prisoner in 1847. They were on intimate terms. He never lodged with him. He had dined with him after the bill was said to be a forgery. Witness was not a defaulter at the Derby in 1850. The proceedings at the police office were withdrawn on Coyle's promising to pay the money. Mr. Clarkson was witness' counsel at the police ofiice. He did not recollect hearing Mr. Clarkson say that the charge was withdrawn because it was believed that prisoner had uttered the forgery without a guilty knowledge. After that, witness went before the grand jury. During the interval a malicious prosecution had been got up against prosecutor, in which prisoner was a witness. AV'itness and his brother. Captain Holder AUeyne, were indicted for de frauding Blr. Kennedy of a large sum of raoney. The case was removed, at witness' instance, to the Court of Queen's Bench. AVitness was in America at the time the alleged offence occurred. He never received £2700 of the raoney of Kennedy. His bro ther did win £7000 of Kennedy on a bet, and that was the subject of the indictraent against witness and his brother. AA'it- ness never received a shilling of it. His brother made him a present of £500, and lent him another £500 shortly after win ning the bet, but this was no part of the money won. Mr. Kennedy was a lieutenant in witness' regiment. AVitness' brother had placed £1600 to witness' account, but it was no part of the proceeds of the bet He does not believe it came from that money, but he does not know from what source it did come. His brother promised to give him raoney when he won the match. He had a celebrated trotting mare which he matched with Kennedy to do a certain number of miles in au hour, and in ten days after the match carae off, witness received the money. This was in January, 1847. Kennedy left the regiment and went to India. Kennedy took proceedings in Chancery, but withdrew them and instituted the mahcious pro secution. Witness left the turf, he is happy to say, in 1850. He never plays. [A letter was here shown to witness.] That letter is in ray handwriting. Blr. James : I see that in that letter reference is made to something about 'borrowing a house to do a plant,' and there 142 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD ; OE, is also something about some 'nice young fledglings.' Can you tell us the meaning of those expressions ? Y'itness : I don't know the meaning of them. This letter was sent to a person who was my intimate friend. I don't know the meaning of 'borrowing a house to do a plant.' I suppose it means making bets, or that sort of thing. Blr. Jaraes : Is it play ? AVitness : No, I never play. Blr. James : AVhat is the meaning of a ' fledging,' upon the turf? [Liuigliter.] AMtness : I suppose it means a man who bets. I can give no other explanation. Btr. James : Upon your oath, do not the expressions in the letter mean to get inexperienced persons in sorae place for the purpose of robbing them ? AVitness : No. A man may go to a place, and people maj bet with him. Blr. James : Do you know a person named Flower ? AA'^itness : I have seen him, but I don't know him. I don't recollect hearing that he was a man of considerable wealth. Blr. James: AVas he a 'fledgling?' [A laugh.] AVitness : I should say he was. Blr. James : Did he ' get it over the head and ears ?' AVitness : I should say he did. Blr. James : Pray what means ' getting it over the head and ears ?' Witness: It means what I had at the Derby in 1850 [a laugh]. I heard that Kennedy lost about £8000 by betting [a laugh]. AVitness proceeded : After 1850 witness repeatedly betted with the prisoner. Witness was not excluded from the betting ring at Newmarket. In autumn, 1850, prisoner made a bet for witness in Cambridgeshire, and witness asked him to pay Mr. Lutt £100 out of the money he owed. Witness dined with prisoner during the present year, but he only saw hira on the subject of his debt. Witness paid his losses on the Derby with his own money. He did not say in a letter, ' I want money badly, and I want some nice fledglings to do a plant.' Re-examined : My mother is a lady of fortune, and she has assisted me. I have sold some property which reahzed £5000 or £6000. The transactions with Captain Kennedy took place in 1847, and I never heard of any criminal proceedings until the prisoner was charged with this offence. I do not know how the prisoner became acquainted with the affair of Mr. Ken- BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 143 nedy. There was no inquiry before a magistrate, but they went behind my back and preferred a bill. The expressions relating to ' doing a plant' and ' fledghngs' were not my own expres sions, but were reported by me as a message from another person. Captain Holder Alleyne, elder brother of the prosecutor, de posed to the admission by the prisoner, at Furnival's Inn, of the forgery of Lord Chfden's name. Cross-examined : He does not consider himself a defaulter. He owed £12,000 after the Derby, in 1850. He does not know that he was posted as a defaulter on the settling day. He liad won about £3000. He left the army solely because he wished to leave it. In Canada he formed an acquaintance, he was sorry to say, with Mr. Ken nedy. Witness added : I won 7000 guineas of him, which he paid me. He was not an old man. I don't know that he was at that time not more than 19 years of age. The money was won upon a trotting mare, called in America ' Fanny Jenks.' I altered her name to ' Pigeon' [a laugh]. She was a very good Pigeon [renewed laughter]. The terms of the match were — £100 that she did not trot 12 miles in the hour, £200 she did not do 14, £4.00 she did not do 15, £800 she did not do 16, and the amount was increased to £3200 that she did not trot 18 miles within the hour ; and there was also a bet of a thousand guineas that she did not do 15 miles in the hour. The mare had trotted several matches in America, and was well known by the name of 'Fanny Jenks.' Mr. Kennedy might have heard of her as being a fast trotter in America, but I can't tell whether he knew it was the same mare I brought to England. I did not tell Mr. Kennedy that the mare was fit to trot for a man's life at a time when she was lame. I am not aware that Mr. Kennedy left England entirely ruined by his losses. I first heard of an indictment being preferred against me about two years ago. There was an arrangement that the trial should take place, but my solicitor withdrew the record. I believe that my brother, who is a clergyman, also occasionally made bets on the turf through my brother Alexander. I at ]Dresent stand in the position of a gentleman at large. [A laugh.] Re-examined : I have had the good sense to quit the turf altogether. Mv. Humfrey : What occupation do you follow now ? Witness : A married man [much laughter]. My brother has not betted since he has been ordained as a clergyman. The bets were made for him while he was at college. 144 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, Blr. James then addressed the court on behalf of the pri soner, in an eloquent speech, and said that the offence charged occurred two years ago, and that the subsequent conduct of the prosecutor showed that he did not believe the prisoner to have had a guilty knowledge of the forgery. Counsel then commented upon the betting transactions of Mr. Alleyne, and said that this was a dispute between betting men, which ought rather to have been settled at Tattersall's than in a court of justice. This prosecution was instituted in order to prevent the prisoner from giving evidence in Kennedy's case. The learned judge then summed np, and said that if the charge of forgery was true, the jury had nothing to do with the motives of the prosecutor in preferring it. The jury, after a brief deliberation, returned a verdict of guilty. Sentence was deferred." — Observer, Nov. 3d, 1851. I can afford room for two more cases only, which still more strikingly illustrate "the guUt and misery" that arise from this fashionable and popular EngUsh practice and pastime. " suicides. An inquest was held by Blr. AV. Payne, at the Barley Blow, Upper Thames street, on the body of William Bliniraack, aged 59, who committed suicide on the Oth inst. About 7 o'clock in the evening of Friday week, deceased went into a coffee house ill Upper Thames street, and having engaged a bed for the night, about a quarter past seven he was, at his request, shown to his roora, and nothing more was heard of hira until ten o'clock on Saturday morning, when he was found hanging by a rope round his neck tied to the post of the bedstead. He was lying flat on the ground, frora which his head was not sus pended raore than frora seven to eight inches. A doctor was sent for, who, on his arrival, declared that life was extinct, and had been so for some time. During his absence from horae his family received from him a letter posted in Knight Ryder street, conveying his intention to commit suicide. A book was found in his pocket in which were made the follow ing entries : — ' Thames street, six o'clock — I now fly in the face of my friend and Blaker. Horse-racing has killed me. It would be a good thing if it was made felony to bet on any of them.' Another was dated March 5, 1852. — 'Another miserable day, and yours has been the same. God's will be BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 145 done. I am a poor wretch. This punishment I deserve.' The last was a scrap of paper, on which was wiitten the following : ' My poor brothers appear so happy, and I am so miserable that I must join them. The little money is left in my bureau at home, if I have any. The Lord have mercy on me. It is a rash act. Everything is against me — even the elements." The jury returned a verdict of ' Temporary insanity.' — Obs., March 15th, 1852. Betting and Suicide. — On Tuesday, Mr. Langham, deputy coroner for Westminster, held an inquest at St. James's Work house, Poland street, Oxford street, on the body of Geo. Bear, aged 42. Deceased was in the service of Lady Charlotte Dundas, and that lady having been out of town for sorae time, he had been residing at the George the Fourth public house, Leicester street, Regent street, with the landlord of which he had been long acquainted. Mr. Pope, the landlord, said de ceased was never cheerful or communicative, but a few days ago he told him that if one of two horses he mentioned won the Derby, he should be ' all right;' and on Wednesday last he went to see the race, in company with a gentleman's servant named Johu Davis, who could not be produced at the inquest. On Saturday last deceased went as usual to the Earl of Zet land's to know if there was any communication for him from his mistress, and he then appeared in his usual spirits, and went to bed about his usual time that night in a double-bedded room. About seven next morning he was seen in bed alive and well ; but about eleven he was found lying in the bed quite cold, with a large incision of an obhque direction across the bend of the left arra, dividing the arteries and tendons. Frora the absence of witnesses who could give material evidence, the inquiry was adjourned." — Observer, June 1th, 1852. With these cases, I take leave of the subject, and am, sir Very respectfuUy, Your obedient servant, &c.. To Majoe Jones, P. Jones. Pineville, Georgia, U. S. of America. 13 146 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, LETTEE XIV. WANT OF EDUCATION AMONG THE MASSES IN THIS COUNTRY THE STATE OE CRIME IN THE UNITED KINGDOM NUMBER OE OFFENCES COMMITTED BY WOMEN AND CHILDREN — NUMBERS OF WOMEN OF THE TOWN, AND ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN. London, August 1st, 1853. Deae Majoe : — I next call your attention to the general prevalence of ignorance, or rather the absence of educa tion, among the masses in this land of boasted civilization. In that useful book known as " Chambers's Information for the People," published by William and Eobert Cham bers, of Edinburgh, I find it stated that " Probably from a tenth to an eighth of the people of England and Wales are now receiving school instruction " — [ Vol. I, p. 459, Phil. Ed.] At page 460, I also find it said that " Edu cation is actively conducted in America, and it is calcu lated that about a sixth of the population are at school." But there are some tests of the absence of education among this people which are truly surprising. It is said that the Eegistrar General's returns for England and Wales, for the three years 1839, 1840, and 1841, show that, out of 367,894 couples who were married during those years, 122,457 men and 181,378 women signed the register with their marks. That is to say, not very far from one-half (very nearly one-half the women, and a few more than one-third of the men) were unable to write their names. This seems to be confirmed by what I find in " (Chambers's Information for the People,'' to the effect that " Of the 121,083 couples married during the year ending June 30th, 1839, there were 40,587 men, and billy buck's visit to ENGLAND. 147 58,959 women, who, being unable to write their names, were obliged to sign by marks. The proportion of men unable to write was thus thirty -three per cent.; of women, forty-nine per cent.; medium, forty-one. The trustwor thiness of this test was confirmed by the registration of the ensuing year; when, amongst the 124,339 couples, 41,812 men and 62,523 women were found to sign with marks ; and the proportion in various districts was also nearly the same." In the " British Almanac " for the pre sent year, I find that the total number of marriages re gistered in England and Wales for the year 1850 were 152,783 ; that of this number 47,570 were men, and 70,601 were women (more than one-third) ; who signed the register with their marks. Eeferring to the rural population, the " British Alma nac " for 1851 says that " Generation after generation has vegetated on the soil, from time immemorial, without re ceiving, for the greater part, any school or book educa tion — just like the produce of the fields, which grew up, and was cut down in its season, hs they were. They have been left as much alone as though the country had still been in a savage state. Civilization has, in fact, only been extended to them by reflection from those above them, whose numbers in proportion to their own are one to four or five." You wiU scarcely be surprised at this when you shaU have read some of the instances and ex amples of this imperfect civUization which I have in re serve for you. And now I ask, is it any wonder that crime ventures to stalk abroad in the dark night of igno rance which envelopes this people ? For no blessing conferred upon our country does a kind and beneficent Providence more deserve our gratitude than for our exemption from crime, as compared with other lands, and especiaUy with this United Kingdom. I will state a few facts for your information on this head : In the " British Almanac " for the present year, I find the foUowing table. A similar statement is contained in the " Companion to the Year Book of General Informa tion." 148 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD; OE, "ABSTRACTS OF PARLIAMENTARY DOCUMENTS. Number of Persons Committed for Trial or Bailed in the Year 1851. ENGLAND AND WALES. 1 Convif^tions. CSa 10 19 11 10 11 1 1 1 24 -3 a hll 761490 4651 155 93 309 6369 246 192 344 153676 907 Kxecut'n of Car pital SentencBP. .a 7i a40 28 2 70 1 1 a o 1.1. m H« p. af„g 121 ¦d 1 .li U Is <2 rsa ft •11 2 1 3 o ¦Sl^!fa 1 1 2,218 2,060 21.906 306 808663 144714 17S2 94 6736 1,263 827 16,664 64 647318 10 ! 30 Offences against property with vio- ) 25 1 Malicious offences against Property- Forgery and offences against the) Currency J Total * SCOTLAND. Offences against the Person Offences against Property with vio- ) 27,960 2836 1S,C73 10 66 981666 1,923 64 126252 36 177270 2 15 690 290 1,29S 3674 173 2.667 1 1 Ditto without violfnce Malicious offences against Property- Forgery and offences against thei Currency J Total t 4,(J01 602 * Of the total commitments, 22,391 were males, and 5569 femak-s. t Of the total commitments for Scotland, 2892 were males, and 1109 females; of the whole, 509 were not more thau sixteen years of age, and forty-nine were above sixty; 830 could neither read nor write, 2398 rould read and write imperfectly, and seventy- seven had bad a superior education. Under the headof insiine, etc., are included seven teen persons who were outlawed — that is, who had escaped. Offences in Ireland. — In the year 1851, there were 25,369 persons committed for trial, of whom 14,415 were convicted and sentenced — nine to death, 1985 to transportation for vari ous periods, 10,818 to imprisonment for various periods, and 1543 to other punishments." The sum total of offences here is large ; but that which is more especially remarkable is the great number of atro cious offences,* and the number of offences committed by * See Appendix, A, | 11. for a comparison with the state of crime in Georgia. Also, §^20, 21, 22, 23, 29. Also, App., 0, |? 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16, 17, 25, as to crime among the slaves. BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLA-ND. 149 women and children. Of the crimes committed in Eng land and Wales, twenty-four in a hundred, or about one in four, are committed by women ; and of those com mitted in Scotland, thirty-eight m a hundred, or about one in every two and two-thirds, are committed by women.* And in Scotland, in every 100 offenders there were 12/5%, or just one in eight, who were under sixteen years of age. But in connection with this last feature of the table, I shall have more to say to you hereafter. The extent to which Ulicit relations between the sexes prevails among certain classes of this people, is also shown by figures and statistics, which they themselves report. In the " British Almanac " for this year, I find it stated that, in the year 1850, there were born, in England and Wales, 593,422 children, 302,834 of whom were males, and 290,588 were females; and that of these, 40,307, or nearly seven per cent., were illegitimate — that is to say, about one in every fourteen. All accounts agree that the number of women of the town to be found in the cities is enormous ; and one writer says, " In the principal streets [of London], I verily believe, during the evening, if you stand still, you will be passed by one every minute." {Cole man's Letters, p. 11.) This author is an American, I believe, but one by no means prejudiced against the Bri tish people, as his book shows. I remain, dear Major, Eespectfully, Y'r ob't serv't and cousin, P. Jones. To Maj. Jones, Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. * See App., A, ^J 12, 24, 29, for the proportion of crimes committed by women in Georgia. Also, App., B, §|4, 7, 13; App., C, 33 2, 8, 9, 21. 13* 150 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, LETTER XV. SOCIAL PROFLIGACY CONTINUED COURT OP EXCHEQUER^ TEES VS. AVIS EXTRAORDINARY INSTANCE OF PROFLIGACY AND DEPRAVED TASTE — MAHOMET ABRAHAM (A BLACK beggar) AND ELIZA ; A HORRIBLE PIECE OF LONDON ROMANCE — PROFLIGACY IN LONDON. London, August 15th, 1853. Dear Major : — I propose now to submit for your con sideration some facts which have been brought to my attention, showing the profligate relations of the sexes among a portion of the population of this country, and the degraded moral character of the lower classes. iSTot long since, I paid a visit to the Court of Exche quer, as it is called, and I will tell you what I heard there. But first, let me suggest that they have many courts here, held at an immense expense, of which you, as an Ameri can, and accustomed to cheap justice, can form no con ception. This much, however, must be admitted — that the article is comparatively good here, when paid for; except, perhaps, where men are tried for violence to women. In other cases, it may be said that there is something like accuracy in the administration of justice by the courts ; and this cannot always be said of our courts. But it must be confessed that the expense of demanding one's rights in a court of justice here, or of defending them, is frequently ruinous ; and that this ope rates in many instances, to prevent a redress of wrongs. One of these days, I may give you the benefit of some information I have obtained here on this subject. In the mean time, I will introduce you to the Court of Exchequer. It was my first visit, though I had previously been to the Court of Chancery, and the King's Bench. I found the judge and the lawyers in wigs and gowns, and getting on with much more of routine and less of bustle BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 151 than with us. The-judge was courteous and patient, but ruled the proceedings with decision and firmness.' The case which was tried whilst I was present was brought by a person for the recovery of certain articles of household furniture, plate, and jewelry, which it was alleged his wife had carried away from him, when deserting his bed and board, into the possession of the defendant. The wife had died, and the suit was brought after her death. During the progress of the evidence, it transpired that the plaintiff' had married the woman whilst he had an other wife living ; the woman (last married) had eloped from him with a Mr. Taylor, whom she deserted, in his turn, for Mr. Avis, the defendant ; that this Mr. Avis had four daughters, the oldest of whom was twenty-one years old, and the youngest fifteen; and that the father, his paramour, and one of these daughters, together occupied the same bed. You wid agree with me, I am sure, that such a story would shock the lowest of our slaves ; and that such a rare bird as this Avis is entirely unknown in our country. Think of such a state of facts as here set forth, taking place in London in the year of Christ, 1853 ! Not among the very lowest dregs of the population, either, but among per sons having some means, and possessed of furniture, plate, &c. In order that you may see that I have accurately reported the facts,' I send you an extract from the Observer newspaper, where you will see that the case seems to have been treated by the Court in a matter-of-fact, every-day sort of way, and not as anything unusually shocking : " SOCIAL PROFLIGACY. In the Exchequer Court, on Wednesday, the case of Tees v. Avis, was Iried before Mr. Baron Platt. Mr. Hawkins, in stating this case to the jury, said the plaintiff was the foreman of a tailor carrying on business in Little Earl street, Soho, and the defendant was an auctioneer, upholsterer, and undertaker^ in High street, St. Giles's. The action was brought to recover a quantity of liousehold furniture, plate, jewelry, &c. In the year 1836 the plaintiff became acquainted with a Miss Diana Wales, a person of considerable beauty, and married her at St. Martin's church. They lived together for two years, when Mrs. 152 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, Tees attracted the attention of a Mr. Taylor, a tailor, in Bond street. He induced her to leave her home, and she lived for some time under his protection, during which he made her a great many valuable presents. She, however, proved unfaith ful to Mr. Taylor. The defendant, having been called to make some articles of upholstery, was struck with the attractions of thc then " Mrs. Taylor," and he induced her to leave the tai lor's and go to the undertaker's shop, where she lived with the defendant until August last, when she died Upon her death, Mr. Tees, the plaintiff, demanded the furniture, plate, jewelry, and effects belonging to his late wife, which she had taken to the defendant's house, of the value altogether of about £150. All these things she had when the undertaker took her, and he refused to give up possession of a single article to the plaintiff, in consequence of which the present action had been brought. The learned counsel then proceeded to call witnesses to prove the foregoing facts. A woman called Harris, who had been an intimate friend of Mrs. Tees, and was present at her mar riage, said that she believed Mr. Tees had another wife then living who had left him. Avis, the defendant, was present at the wedding. He had four daughters — the eldest ^1, and the youngest 15 years of age, living with him when he took Mrs. Tees into his house. This witness spoke of several articles of furniture and other things which she had seen at the defen dant's belonging to Mrs. Tees, and said that the defendant had enlarged one of Mrs. Tees's bedsteads to enable her, his daughter, and himself to occupy it together. Other witnesses were called to complete the plaintiff's case. Mr. M. Chambers addressed the jury on behalf of the defendant, contending that the plaintiff did not come into court with clean hands, seeing that in the first instance he had married a second wife during the lifetime of the first, about whom he appeared to have taken uo interest from the day of their separation. Then, again, the expenses of the funeral of this poor woman had been paid by the defendant, and he considered, therefore, that he had a rea sonable claim upon the few effects which she had left behind. Mr. Baron Platt told the jury that the morality of the case was uot a question for their consideration; for, whilst it appeared that the plaintiff had married a second wife during the lifetime of the first, the defendant had thought proper to take one of those wives into his keeping. The law of the land was, that when a. wife died, the husband was entitled to any property she might have, unless it was otherwise settled. The jury found for the plaintiff, with eighty-five pounds damages." — Observer, January 21 Ih, 1853. BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 153 When I returned to my rooms, I related to Buck what 1 had heard and witnessed of the trial at Court. We were now in the frequent habit of interchanging remarks upon the novelties with which we met ; and for my amusement as well as interest, I encouraged him to talk with me about such things. When I had given him the story of the undertaker and his broad bed — - "Marster," said he, " who is undertaker? What do he undertake ?" "He makes coffins and attends funerals and burials," said I. "As God is my Judge, Marster," said Buck, " I had rather live forever, than be buried by sich a villian of an undertaker." I witnessed a stiU more extraordinary instance of pro fligacy, if that be possible, some time during the last sum mer. Being near the Bank of England, in CornhiU, I ordered the coach in which I was riding with my servant, to stop near the Eoyal Exchange, where I got out, told Buck to do the same, and to wait for me there a short time, as I desired to look into the Bank for a few minutes. I left, and proceeded to the Bank ; where I had been a very short time when Buck made his appearance, panting and steaming with excitement. "Mass Pies— Mass Pies — " (he frequently thus, when much excited, called me as he had been accus tomed to do in our childhood), "Mass Pies — come quick. I have got the oncommonest sight to show you, that you have seen sence you come to this country;" and he rapidly hurried me out, saying as we went, " "We must make haste, and git to the Mansion House, Marster, jest over thar," pointing in the direction of that building. '¦' That is the residence of the Lord Mayor," said I. "Adzackly, Marster, and he is going to have the outen- est set before him that ever I seed in my born days." He then informed me that immediately after I had left him, he saw approaching, a bUnd black man and a white giri in the custody of the police. " They had been tuk up for something nuther," Buck said, "but he didn't know what adzackly." As they were being taken towards the Mansion House, 154 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, he said he had approached the party and learned some thing of the circumstances, and where they were being carried, and then he scampered off for me, that I might have a chance of " seeing the show." " He was a raal greasy ole nigger, Marster, and the young white oman said she was his wife, and w-ould foUer him to the world's eend, said she, and would live and die with him, said she," spluttered Buck, as we fairly ran across CornhiU in the direction of the Mansion House. "And he was blind at that, Marster, and ugly as a har- ricane." We reached the place a very little time after the arri val of the prisoners ; and there, sure enough, I witnessed one of the most remarkable cases of depravity and degra dation that I had ever seen. You shall have the facts from the police report, as it appeared in a London paper of the time; for I feel that you might suspect me of " romancing" with you, if I left you to trust my statement alone. Here is a statement from the Observer of June 7th, 1852: " POLICE INTELLIGENCE — Saturday, June 5. Mansion House. — Extraordinary Instance of Profligacy and Depraved Taste. — Mahomet Abraham, a jet black blind beggarman, who is usually led through the streets by a brown dog, and Eliza , aged 23, the daughter of a gentleman who resides in London, were brought before the Lord Mayor by Henry Major, an officer of the Mendicity Society. The male prisoner was a peculiarly revolting object, his head being covered with long matted hair, and the covering upon his limbs being tattered and filthy in an extreme degree. The female was a small-sized, pretty-faced girl, presenting a remarkable contrast to the wretched creature who accompanied and was cherished by her. The Mendicity officer said : At twenty minutes past eleven o'clock, I saw the two prisoners together in Bishopsgate street. They had come from Hahfax street, where they live together, and the girl fastened a petition to the man's breast, and placed him and his dog near the Sir Paul Pindar public house, in an attitude of supplication. As soon as she had deposited him to her satisfaction against the wall, she retired from him. I soou saw him receive a penny, and I apprehended them both. BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 155 The following is a copy of the petition, which was stitched round with black tape : — " The humble petition of Mahomet Abraham, a native of Calcutta, East Indies. He was brought to this country in the barque Diana, Captain Brown ; was kept ashore in the Infir mary, Liverpool, for fever and inflammation in the eyes, where he was deprived of his precious sight. Being a stranger, far, far away from home, he is forced to trust to the kind, benevo lent, and humane, who feel for the misfortunes of others. Gold is much, The loss of health is more ; The loss of light is such God only cau re^ore. The Lord loveth a cheerful giver." The Lord Mayor: Is it possible that those two persons have been living together ?. The Mendicity Officer : I have traced them to their very bed, and have been particularly informed of their habits. Captain Wood, of the Mendicity Society : The case is cer tainly the most extraordinary I have met with in all my expe rience, and discloses not only a singular instance of perverted taste, but other peculiarities calculated to excite surprise, and illustrate the begging system. Perhaps the most explicit way of informing your lordship of the circumstances of the case is by reading a letter which I received from the young woman's father, who is present in this justice room : — ' To the Secretary Meridicity Society, Red Lion Square. Dear Sir : — I beg to submit the following distressing case to your sympathies, and to solicit from you the advice and assist ance which I am led to understand is kindly afforded by your society in extraordinary cases out of the pale of parental au thority. By birth and education a gentleman, I married in the year 1829 a lady in the same sphere of society, by whom I had issue two daughters, the eldest of whom (the unfortunate subject of this application) now 23 years of age, was from the age of three months brought up and educated in the first style by her maternal grandfather and grandmother. At their de cease, about seven or eight years since, she became an unwill ing inmate of her parent's dwelling, from which she contrived to get away with a married man, and was not heard of (having eluded the efforts of the police to trace her for many mouths) until the receipt of a letter in the Times newspaper, from Mr 156 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, D'Arcy, our solicitor, at Newton Abbot, in Devonshire, in which paper a detailed and humane account of the distressing condition of a young lady then lying at St. Luke's workhouse, appeared under the assumed name of Elizabeth Allen. This account, as regarded my daughter, abounded with the most atrocious falsehoods, as detailed by herself to the Board of Guardians of St. Luke's. My wife (having a cousin of the name, to whom the solicitor suggested it might apply) went to St. Luke's, and found our daughter to be the person whose case had been detailed in the Times, and on her being brought before them and her mother, was there and then convicted of deliberate falsehood and fraud, and handed over to her mother. E.xcrtions were then successfully made to get her cured of a complication of loathsome disorders at Bartholomew's Hospital, from whence, after being brought to a state of convalescence, and robbing some of the nurses of small sums of money, she escaped, and again was lost sight of for many months, when a gentleman, a friend of the family, saw and gave her into cus tody of the police, who restored her once more to her afflicted parents. Her conduct from this period was infamous in the extreme, and, on her coming of age, she threw off all restraint, aud having a small house property in Devonshire, subject to her parents' interest, but which was waved in her favor, she left us, nor did we know of her whereabouts, until about ten months since, I met her in the streets of Whitechapel, in the last stage of destitution, filth, and rags, singing ballads. JUy humanity once again led me to speak with her and to remon strate, the result of which was that we took her home, cleansed, clothed, aud cared for her. This lasted but a short time, and her recurrence to her former habits again precluded all know ledge respecting her, until, a few days since, we received a letter from our solicitor, saying he had heard from our daughter, as the wife of a 31r. Abraham, desiring the sale of her property, and requesting him to take the necessary steps — one of these and the preliminary step, being our signatures and consent. My first impulse was to visit the locality specified in the solicitor's letter, ' 1 Little Halifax street, Whitechapel,' and there, iu one miserable room, cohabiting with a black, blind beggar, who perambulates the street with a brown dog, this wretched girl is to be found. The parties who live in the same house say that she has been cohabiting with this monstrous loathsome being for two months, and that they live most luxu riously. Her mother, who has had an interview with her, states that she boasts of this man's bringing her home from the west BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 157 end frequently 1 5s. per day, and on an average Is. or 8s. per diem. She stated herself to have been married to him seven months since at Whitechapel church, which, on careful inquiry, I find to be false, having examined the church books and seen the officials on the subject. These latter circumstances induce me to think that the humanity and exertions of your society may be made available for the suppression of so much vice, and the salvation ofthis unfortunate child.' The Lord Mayor : Certainly this is the most horrible piece of London romance I ever heard of, and it would be quite in credible if I had not here before me all the parties concerned. Is it possible, young woman, that you can have any respect or affection for the miserable creature at your side ? The Female Prisoner : Yes, I have both respect and affec tion for him. I have no idea of leaving him. We can do very well together (and she laid hold of the tatterdemalion's greasy black paw). The Mendicity Officer : The man has been begging about for several years, and I have no doubt is well able to keep a woman in great luxury. I am convinced that the girl has been attracted by the excellent living with which he indulges her, They have been in the habit of getting the best, and she does not deny it. The Female Prisoner : Well, I can't go home, and I won't go home. The black said he had been dog-led through the streets of London for eight years, that there could be no mistake about his blindness, and if any one knew how a blind man was to sup port himself, except upon the kindness of those who were not blind, he would be much obhged to be informed in what way. The Lord iVfayor then communicated privately with the father ofthe girl, and both prisoners were remanded." "Tell you what 'tis, Marster," said Buck, when we were again in the street, " hit do seem to me like that ole nigger been usen some conjure trick on that gal. Why, Marster, there ain't a yaller gal 'mong all them lazy, good-for-nothing Goings free niggers that hve thar in the outskearts of Pineville what 'ud take up with sich a scarcrow as that ole nigger. Sal Goings herself, low down as she is, wouldn't do it, much more any of our slave people, Marster. Poor gal ! poor gal ! I must think thar's some conjuration 'bout it, sir. Howbeever, sir, I 158 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD ; OR, don't know arter aU, why we should be so conflumuxed about it, Marster. These English people seem tereble fond of niggers, any how. The quahty (what they call the rastocracy, sir) take on about niggers monstrously, and set a heap by 'um. The poor people here love to foller arter the quality, and hits no wonder that they fall in love with niggers some." There is no telling how long Buck would have conti nued in this strain of moralizing on the shocking scene we had witnessed, if I had not abruptly checked him, and ^ told him I desired to be left to my thoughts. The case just referred to. Major, may be deemed very horrible by the Lord Mayor, as it undoubtedly is, but it is by means a solitary instance on the part of English women, of a taste for black men. On the contrary, you will find from the following, that hybrids are increasing in London, and I suppose you will join Buck in agreeing, that all things considered, it is not very wonderful. " William Fortinie, a man of color, was charged with refn- sing to support his illegitimate child. Margaret Mackey said she was engaged by M. Robin, the great conjurer, in Tich borne street, to do work, and there met with the defendant, who was also employed to assist in the tricks and conjurations at the theatre. The defendant contrived to become intimate with her, and the result was the little copper-colored /ac simile of the father. The defendant, notwithstanding the prima facie proof of paternity presented by the child, stoutly declared he was not the father. The complainant had no other corrobo rative proof than that which was afforded by the unraistake able resemblance between child and putative father. Mr. Har- wick was hardly inclined to think that this kind of proof was the corrobative evidence contemplated by law. It was just possible that defendant was not the father, as there were other black men in London. He should therefore remand the case, to see if the complainant could bring some kind of corrobora tion other declaration. The case was remanded." — Observer, Feb. lith, 1853. I will return to the subject of social profligacy hereaf ter. And in the meantime, I am, dear Major, Your friend and cousin, m T(/r T ^- Jones. To Maj. Jones, Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 159 LETTER XVI. social PROFLIGACY IN LIVERPOOL AND MANCHESTER, AND THEIR VICINITY — ANNUAL REPORT OP THE CHAPLAIN OP KIRKDALE JAIL. London, September 1st, 1853. Dear Major : — Such profligacy as I have been de scribing is not confined to London. To show this, I wiU send you accounts taken from other parts of the country. Here is one from Liverpool, exhibiting to some extent the state of social morals in that city, in Manchester, and their vicinity. Kirkdale Jail is in the neighborhood of Liverpool, and is used for the surrounding country to a considerable extent. "ANNUAL REPORT OP THE CHAPLAIN OP KIRKDALE JAIL. I have the honor of presenting my thirteenth annual report to the magistrates. The period which it embraces has been marked by few oc currences that call for any peculiar notice. The total uumber of prisoners admitted within the building, from the 20th of October, 1851, to the 20th of October, 1852, has been 2141, showing an increase of 355 over that of the preceding year. Of this number, 312 are found amongst the summary convictions, 43 alone being the excess of the other two classes together. This increase will not, however, be in considerably reduced by subtracting the number of the Wigan borough prisoners, who have, for the last few months, been brought to this jail, instead of, as formerly, to Preston. I am happy to state that, although the calendars for the year contain the names of nine prisoners charged with wilful murder; besides two with attempts to commit that dreadful crime, and five for infanticide, we have again been spared the painful scene of an execution. Sentence of death was, indeed, passed at the last assizes upon two sisters, for attempting to poison the illegitimate daughter of one of them, with oxalic 160 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, acid ; but the sentence was subsequently commuted to trans portation for life. On turning to the assize calendars, we find that the follow ing are the material differences in the committals for the two years : — ¦' 1851. 1852. Decrease. Charged with manslaughter ¦.•• 45 33 12 " " burglary and house-breaking 83 56 27 " " base coin transactions 12 5 7 " " forgery 20 9 11 " " rape 15 9 6 On the other hand, we have the committals for street and highway robbery increased from 52 (in 1851) to 100 (in 1852). The great majority of these cases have occurred in the borough of Manchester, and have been in very many instances accom panied by severe violence to the throat. The judges have thought it right to express themselves in very strong terms upon the prevalence of this crime in that town ; and, de termined to do all in their power to repress it, have in almost every case of conviction sentenced the offender to ten or fifteen years' transportation. I do not know that I have any novelty to notice in the motives or causes which have supplied us with somewhat more than our usual aggregate number of offenders during the past year. There certainly have been comparatively few cases in which want of employment has converted the honest man into a felon. I must once more reiterate what I have, year after year, felt myself obliged to remark, that drunkenness is, in nine cases out of ten, the parent of the crime which you are called upon to punish, and that I despair of seeing any great reduction in the number of criminals in this country, until this blighting curse of our laboring population, in all its various classes, has been eradicated. I wish I could see any improve ment in this respect, but I grieve to state that the experience of the past year has been only too like that of its predecessors ; and my journal abounds, as usual, with such notices as the fol lowing, which I extract almost at random : — Dec. 29. I had an interview with four boys, all under 20 years of age, for robbing a man in Dryden street, Liverpool, on Christmas night. All of them had been drinking spirits at some neighboring vaults. Feb. 3. A man named Patrick M'D , for the assizes, charged with the wilful murder of a man with a stone, after a BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 161 drunken quarrel. They had both, according to his statement, been up drinking all the night. He names three vaults at which lie had been himself drinking, in and near Deansgate, after twelve o'clock that morning. The man was killed between seven and eight, A. M. March 30. Forty-nine prisoners from Manchester came be fore me this morning, for the ensuing assizes, almost all for street robberies. I have again to remark that from the state ments of these prisoners Manchester appears to be in a fearful state during the whole night : any quantity of spirituous liquors is procurable, they say, at all hours. It seems that several of what are called night houses are allowed to be open throughout the night, some for the convenience of the market people, others for the cab-drivers. At these places drinking goes on throughout the wdiole night, to a lamentable extent, according to the statements of numbers of prisoners to myself. April 12. A man named James Dowd, for the assizes, charged with a murder in a drunken brawl, at Liverpool. The party had heen drinking until one o'' clock in a whisky cellar. November 20. Visited two men in dark cells ; one of them named P is one of the most refractory prisoners we have ever had in the jail He has been many times before, and was once whipped. He bears a very bad character outside, as well as many others of his family. His father, I am told, was a very drunken man, and at the time of coming of age, of the present owner of the Speke estate, he was seen by my inform ant lying on a form, with upturned mouth, calling out to a man who stood over him with a can of liquor — ' Now teem it into me as you are a Christiani' Another son of this man, in company with some others, found a cask of rum in the river, on one occasion, and they drank the whole of it amongst them ; after which he died himself, and the rest very nearly shared the same fate. Nov. 4. John A , for the assizes, a respectable farmer at Kirkby, under the Earl of Sefton, charged with the man slaughter of another of the Earl's tenant farmers, by throwing him over a pailing — both being in a state of intoxication. Both 60 years of age, and with large families. The following extract shows the mischievous effects which such books as Jack Sheppard are calculated to produce : — Dec. 13. Conversed with two Stockport boys, 15 years of age, each convicted and sentenced to six calendar months, at the present assizes, for stopping a lady on the Manchester road, 14* L 162 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, and demanding her money or her life. The story they both tell is in substance this : — 'We have for some time past been reading the lives of Dick Turpin, Jack Sheppard, and Claude Duval, placed in our hands by the man under whom one of us works in the factory. We both of us at length determined to try if we could not ourselves perform some of their exploits, and, for this purpose, got a pistol aud loaded it with powder, paper, and a small stone ; and on the night of Saturday last, sallied forth in the direction of Manchester, to watch for a favorable opportunity. A lady met us, and we rushed up to her and demanded her money. She declared she had none. We then presented the pistol and said : — 'If you do not give us something, we will blow out your brains.' At this instant a young man came up, and we were prevented from making any further attempt, and apprehended ' We have had nine deaths iu the jail during the year — one tliat of an Irish youth, which is thus alluded to in my journal of March 17. Before he died, he begged that he might not be buried in the shirt which he had brought into the jail, be cause it was a stolen one. He also expressed a wish that his mother, who lived in the county Longford, might be inforraed of his having died in jail ; and be at the same time told that absolute want could alone have driven him to commit the bur glary of which he had been convicted, and for which he had been sentenced to four calendar months' imprisonment. Poor fellow! he was throughout his illness as patient as a lamb, and most grateful for any act or word of kindness frora any one. He said before he died, that he hoped his brother would take warning by his fate, and never be induced, by any motive what ever, to commit a crime. Another death was that of a man named Metcalfe, who cut his throat fatally with a razor in his separate cell. He had been brooding over the loss of his little property, which had been sold to pay the expenses of his trial at the last assizes. There has been no alteration in any respect in the jail during the past year. Everything continues to go on with the same admirable regularity ; and no stranger ever leaves the building without speaking in the highest terms of the excel lent discipline, the uniform cleanliness, and the perfect order which prevails throughout. The same occupations are still followed that I remarked upon last year; the principal of which, cloth and mat weaving, and shoe-binding, keep several hands constantly, and, I hope, profitably employed. BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 163 It is very painful to me to have to add to my tables so long a list of recommitments during the past year. I must allow, it is very discouraging to find that our labors are so often all but fruitless. All, however, is not dark ; for 1 have before me now several letters from those to whom their imprisonment has proved a blessing, and who express in the warmest terms the gratitude they feel for the instruction they have here received, and the good they have derived from this visitation of an all- gracious Providence. E-iCHARD Appleton. November, 1852." [^Liverpool Mercury, December 3d, 1852. I have more to say on this subject, but must put it into another letter ; and only add now, that I am, dear sir. Your friend and cousin, P. Jones. To Maj. Jones, Pineville, Geo., U. S. of America. LETTEE XVII. SOCIAL PROPLIGACY — ABANDONMENT OP AN INFANT BY ITS MOTHER — HORRIBLE DEPRAVITY — SOCIAL PROPLIGACY IN SCOTLAND. London, September 16th, 1853. Dear Major : — On the 17th or 18th of November last, I attended the Middlesex Sessions, and witnessed another case of awful depravity — one which excited the most pro found emotions among the bystanders. I send you a report of the same, published a few days thereaftei'. "DISTRESSING CASE. Elizabeth Bromwich, twenty-one years of age, was indicted for unlawfully, wickedly, and cruelly deserting and aban doning her infant child, aged seven weeks, and exposing 164 the slaveholder abroad; or, it in the open air, whereby its life was endangered. Robert Lester, inspector of the C division of police, stated that the prisoner, at a little past two on the morning of the 25th of last month, was brought by police constable 199 C to the Vine street pohce station, charged by Alfred Stroud with child-murder some months back. The prisoner said she wished to speak the truth. She had nothing to hide, and threw her self on their mercy. She then stated that she was delivered of a female child on the 14th of April last, at a house in King street. Regent street. It was ill from its birth ; and on the 2Tth of May, it appeared to be dying, and she took it to Mr. Harding, a surgeon in Silver street, who had attended her in her confinement ; and he told her that it would not live over the day. She was advised by Ellen Davis to put the child near some gentleman's house ; and that then, if it was found, and it did not live, it would have decent burial. She went to Hampsted and put the child near the Well-walk, and left it there. It was alive then. She also said that she had since seen bills in a window about a child having been found, and asked Stroud to let her inquire about it ; but he told her not to go, as she might get punished. On this story being told, the prisoner was detained, and a constable was then sent to Hampsted, and brought back the child's clothes, which she said were those the child had on when she left it. He (wit ness) told her that the child was alive, and she exclaimed, ' Oh, thanks ! Shall I have it again ?' She said that Davis and herself had bought two pennyworth of laudanum at two shops, and that she had received a certificate from Mr. Hard ing that the child died on the 2Hh, of infectious disease. She said that she got this certificate to show to Stroud, with whom she had been living, and who was in the hospital at the time. Davis was originally taken into custody, but the magistrate admitted her subsequently as a witness. In cross-examination, the witness said that Stroud was the man who brought her to the station, charging her with murdering her child some months ago. He (witness) knew that she lived with him. He had seen her in a fearful state, covered with bruises ; and when she was brought to the station she was covered with blood, her eyes bloodshot, and both sides of her face black and blue from bruises. She explained that she had been living with Stroud for some months, and that he had been living on the wages of her guilt. Latterly her earnings were small, and she was obliged to .pawn some of his clothes to enable them to live ; and he became jealous, and charged her with BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 165 spending the money she got on other men, and beat her in this way. He came out of the hospital about two months after the birth of her child, and they lived together since and before. She walked the streets to support him for many months. Police constable 199 C stated that, on the mormng in question, he was called in, and Stroud gave the prisoner in charge for the murder of her child. The prisoner went into hysterics, and Stroud told him that she had given the child two pennyworth of laudanum, and took and left it at Hampstead heath. When she recovered, she said, ' Oh 1 Alfred, how can you say that ?' EUen Davis deposed to having gone with the prisoner to Mr. Harding's to get a certificate of the child's death. The prisoner told her that it was dead, and she believed that she told Mr. Harding what was said to her. She went with the prisoner and her child to Hampstead, where she said she had another child with her mother. This was about the middle of the day, and when there the prisoner went away with her child, and was absent about twenty minutes, and returned without the child, saying that she had left it at her mother's. At this time she (witness) was supporting her and her baby, for the prisoner was very badly off. Mr, Harding, when they went there with the baby, told the prisoner that the child could not live many hours. Mr. Harding stated that he was called in to the prisoner in her confinement, and had attended her since. On the 2'7th of May the prisoner and Davis brought the child to him. He told them it appeared to be dying, and the pri soner said she was going to take it to her mother's. The pri soner always seemed to him very attentive to the child, but she was in a state of great misery and want. Charles Satterth- waite stated that he was playing cricket on Hampstead-heath, at about a quarter past 6, on the afternoon of the day in ques tion. The ball went through a hedge, and he followed and picked it up. He saw a parcel, apparently lying under a bush, and found that it was a child. This was about 300 yards from any house, and about 100 yards from any public road. Mr. Aldrich, the master ofthe workhouse, said the child was brought there about 1 o'clock. It was placed in a warm bath, and had a wetnurse provided, and he thought it was now likely to live. Mr. Payne, in his address to the jury, commented on the brutal conduct throughout of the man Stroud, and noticed the credit that was due to the parties by whose instrumentality the child 166 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, had been rescued from death. His client never had, nor did she now deny that she deserted her child, but under all the circumstances she did not think they would come to the con clusion that she did so maliciously, and with intent to endanger its hfe. He wished that Stroud, who was the cause of all the misery and degradation that this poor woman had endured, could have been placed at the bar — he who had accused her because she did not bring him sufficient wages for support, and who dragged her in the middle of the night, bruised and beaten, to a police station, and made a charge against her that might have perilled her life. The learned counsel then drew the attention of the jury to the different points in the prisoner's conduct which would justify them in acquitting her. The Assistant Judge having summed up, the foreman of the jury said that they considered that the prisoner was guilty of placing the child where it was found, but without any malicious intent. Mr. Payne said that was tantamount to a verdict of not guilty, and the jury accordingly returned a verdict of acquittal" — Weekly Dispatch, Nov. 21st, 1852. The verdict of the jury was waited for with great in terest, and the audience were much gratified when the prisoner was acquitted. In this excitement my servant, who had accompanied me to the Court, largely shared, and I was forced to interfere and prevent his breaking out into an exuberance of joy which would have drawn down the displeasure of the Court. As it was, he reheved himself as much as he could by soundly abusing the man Stroud. " He is meaner, sir," said he, " than any free nigger in Georgia, and I bleeved 'fore 1 left home that they was 'bout the meanest people on yearth. But whoever heard of a nigger livin on his 'oman's sin, and beatin her at same time, and clappin chmax by perwailin on her to 'stroy her child, and then swarin agin her for doing it, and tellin hes at that ? Is thar no chance to hang him, Marster ?" In the same paper from which I have given you the above extracts. Major, I found the following article: "SHOCKING DEPRAVITY. Two persons, residing in Pheasant court, Gray's Inn lane, were charged with having more lodgers in one room than are BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 167 allowed by law. It appeared from the evidence of Police-ser- jeant No. 4 of the E division, that he had visited the rooms rented by the defendants, who are Irishmen, and in one apart ment he found sixteen adult males and females, nearly in a state of nakedness and swarming with vermin, lying or squat- ing indiscriminately on the bare boards. There were two children likewise in the same wretched place. In the room of the other party, the same witness proved a like filthy scene in language (necessary in the case) which occasioned a sickening sensation. Mr. Tyrwhitt said the testimony was certainly of a most revolting description, and unhappily too true ; and he told the defendants if the nuisances were not at once ended, he would commit them to the House of Correction for a length ened period. They had slipped out of a country which evi dently had tolerated such iniquitous goings on ; but, while he would administer the law mercifully, every means that he could adopt should be taken to put down the vile practices described. — Weekly Dispatch, Nov. 21st, 1852. The following extracts furnish us a leaf from the chap ter of social profhgacy in Scotland ; and, together with other statistics which have been furnished by me, serve to throw light upon the state of morals and of civihzation in that part of the United Kingdom : " OPPENCES BY PUBLICANS. On Tuesday, at the termination of the ordinary business at the Central Police Court, a number of cases of offence by publicans were brought up under Home Drummond's Act, among which were the following : — Mrs. Russell, Old Wynd, for having her premises open and entertaining company between the hours of two and four o'clock, on the morning of Sunday, the 22d of May. She denied the charge in strong terms. The officer deponed that, after three o'clock, he got admis sion by a back door, and found five women — some of them prostitutes — and eight or nine men in the house, and Mrs. Russell serving them with liquor at the bar. This was cor roborated by a second officer, who characterized it as a very bad house, that kept a watch for the police. The magistrate found the breach of the terras of certificate 168 THE ^SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD ; OR, clearly proven, and the case was aggravated by the flat denial of the charge. However, he was inchned to view it leniently, solely on account of the time that had been allowed to tran spire since the discovery had taken place. Mr. Burnet explained that the delay had been occasioned by the difficulty in getting the offender's name and designation correctly. Anthony Reynolds, Bridgegate, was accused of selhng spirituous liquors without a certificate, and with having his premises open on the morning of Sunday the 19th of June. An officer deponed that, at nine o'clock, on the morning in question, he obtained admission into Reynolds' house — in plain clothes — where he counted no less than twenty-seven men and women at the counter being served with liquor. Reynolds himself came in and exclaimed — ' Danger approaches, Annie, douce the glim' (put out the light), and he sprang on the counter, screwed out the gas, and cried — ' Bring me the rasp berry.' The woman, who acted as saleswoman at the counter, then got flustered, and spilled some whisky from a pewter stoup, which he found to be- whisky from dipping his finger into it and tasting it. A hustling was then got up in which he was forcibly ejected. His object in going in was to see what had attracted a crowd that lingered about the close. A second policeman corroborated this statement, with the addition that Reynolds was standing outside looking out while the selling was going on. Reynolds pleaded that he sold only raspberry cordial ; but Bailie Gilmour said this was too sour an argument, and fiued him in £3 10s., or thirty days' imprisonment. A number of other cases were departed from in consequence of some irregularity in the terms of the charges." "CRIMINAL JURY TRIALS. On Friday a court was held in the Court-house. Sheriff Smith occupied the bench. The prosecution was conducted by J. M'Donald, Esq., P. F., and Mr. Cross, writer, Air- drie, watched over the cases on behalf of the prisoners. The first produced for trial was an Edward Morrison, a young man of twenty-one or twenty-two years, charged with theft from lockfast places. He plead guilty, and was sent to prison for four months. The next arraigned was an Elizabeth Inglis, a young girl from Glasgow. She was charged with utter ing base coin in the town of Airdrie, on the 1st and 2d of June. BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 169 She plead guilty to the charge of uttering, but not to the charge of knowing it to be base. The court not being satisfied with this plea, a jury was empannelled, and the case went to trial. On the evidence it came out that the girl had come to Airdrie on the May Fair day with a barrow and nuts, or some such thing. While here with her father she passed the money for which she was charged with uttering. The father is evidently a person of the worst class in society. In her declaration too, she stated that he fraternized with one notorious coiner. The jury found her guilty, but, on account of her youth, recom mended her to the leniency of the court. She was sentenced to four months' imprisonment. Through her agent, Mr. Cross, who made for her an able defence, we inquired if she could read or write. She answered that she could do neither.- It was so with the one that was tried before her. Surely if society expects its members to perform their relative duties, it ought, at least, to see that they are trained to know what its laws are ; unless it believes that all know these intuitively. From the frankness with which she went about the uttering of the bad money, we fear the girl learned only on her apprehen sion that she had been guilty of a serious offence. Instead of being let off at the end of four months, she should be sent to school, or trained within the prison walls, if need be. The heavy sobs that she gave on hearing her sentence, showed that though steeped in a worse than Hottentot's ignorance, she was uot lost to a sense of shame from going into prison. District Court. — During the week, Denis Helly and John Connorton, two boys, were sent to Hamilton, to receive, the former twenty, and the latter fifteen stripes, for breaking trees in a plantation on Woodhall estate. It strikes us that in this instance the justices acted more with the feeling of proprietors, than that of fathers. Daniel Fisher, a rogue and vagabond, was sent to prison for sixty days, for taking a bite out of a loaf He should have got the wheel to turn to cure him of his laziness. Bernard Cunningham, for assault, got thirty days." — Glasgoiv Examiner, July SOth, 1853. I will resume the subject in my next, and am, mean time, dear Major, Your friend, &c.. To Maj. Joseph Jones, P. Jones. Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. 15 170 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, LETTEE XVIII. SOCIAL PROPLIGACY — THE LATE LORD PORTARLINGTON AND MRS. DAWSON' — MORMONISM IN THE UNITED KINGDOM THE AGAPEMONE, OR ABODE OF LOVE. London, September 29th, 1858. Dear Major: — It would seem from the following, that social immorality is not confined to the lower classes of the people in this country. It is the report of an in vestigation had before one of the Aldermen of London. I leave the case to speak for itself : — "the late lord portarlington AND MRS. DAWSON — CHARGE OF PERJURY. At the Guildhall police office, on Tuesday, Mrs. Dawson, alias Phosbe Blakeney, residing near Maida-hill, appeared for re-examination before Sir Peter Laurie, on a charge of having committed wilful perjury under the following singular circum stances. The charge was that in the year 1833 the prisoner swore, in the Prerogative Court, to documents purporting to show that Mrs. Elam, widow, died intestate in September, 1833, and that the prisoner was her only daughter and next of kin, and thereby she obtained abont £5000, there being a JMiss Georgina Elam, a daughter of Mrs. Elam, in existence. The registry of Mrs. Elam's burial at Kensall Green stated Mrs. Elam's age to be 48, whereas the prisoner had nearly reached that age when Mrs. Elam died, and therefore the prisoner could not have been Mrs. Elam's daughter. Miss Georgina Elam (the prosecutrix) deposed that she first discovered that her name was Elam, and not Dawson, on a legacy being left to her in 1845 by Lord Portarlington, in the name of Elam. A clerk in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury produced an administration bond dated Oct. 12, 1833, and signed ' Phoebe Blakeney,' and also the administration act book, stating that BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 171 on Oct. 15, 1833, administration of the effects of Eliza Elam, late of Curzon street, May Fair, widow, deceased, was granted to Phcebe Blakeney, spinster, ' daughter and only child of the deceased.' The property was sworn to under £5000, and re sworn in 1835 at under £4000. Miss Elam proved the priso ner's signature to the bond. Dr. Curteiss, surrogate, also proved the administration by Phoebe Blakeney, and the oaths taken on the occasion. Certificates were put in of the burials of Mr. and Mrs. Elam, and also of the baptism of Georgina Elam, who was born Jan. 26, 1828. Mr. Ballantine, for the prisoner, said he was instructed to admit that the administra tion had been taken, and the oaths sworn by his client, and that he could prove his client to be, as she had sworn, the only natural and lawful daughter and next of kin of Mrs. Elam, de ceased. He should produce a certificate of marriage between Robert Blakeney and Eliza Wood (afterwards Mrs. Elam) in 1798, and the prisoner was her child by that marriage, and thus the prosecutor, Georgina Elam, was not the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elam, for at the time of her birth Mrs. Elam had been long separated from her husband, and was Hving as mis tress to Lord Portarlington, Mrs. Elam being then 54 and his lordship 62 years of age. She then palmed the girl off on Lord Portarlington as his child by her, and, under this impres sion. Lord Portarlington left the girl a legacy. He would prove that neither Mr. Elam nor Lord Portarlington was the girl's father, but that she was purchased from a peasant by Mrs. Elam, to be passed off on Lord Portarlington as his. He would produce the person who purchased the child, and Mrs. Elam's own letters admitting that the child was not hers, but merely passed off as such on Lord Portarlington. Sir Peter Laurie asked was there any such person as Mr. Dawson, or why was the prisoner called by that name ? Mr. Ballantine : My client took Lord Portarlington's family name of Dawson, because she lived with him as his mistress. Mr. Huddlestone : Do you mean that Lord Portarlington hved with both mother and daughter ? Mr. Ballantine : Shocking as it may appear. Lord Portar lington hved first with the mother, then with the daughter, and afterwards with the mother again. Sir P. Laurie : Does the present Lord Portarlington know of this extraordinary case ? I hope that out of regard to his uncle's character, he will send some solicitor to watch it on his accouut. 172 the slaveholder abroad; or, Mr. Ballantine said that whatever annoyance it might cause to the family, the vindication of his client required the proof to be given tliat the prosecutrix was not Mr. Elam's daughter. Mr. Palmer, the prisoner's solicitor, said that he vvas sure the case was put forward by parties whom he well knew, and that the prosecutrix had no knowledge of this attempt to extort money. The case was then remanded. On Saturday, the further hearing was renewed. Sir Peter Laurie intimated that on the last examination he threw out a hint that as the late Lord Portarlington was mixed up in this affair in a very peculiar way, it would be advisable for the pre sent lord, if he had any respect for the memory of his uncle, to instruct some respectable attorney to watch the case, and, for the honor of the family, protect the reputation of his lordship. He (Sir Peter) therefore wished to know if any person was present on Lord Portarlingtou's behalf? No person respond ing to this inquiry, the case was proceeded with, and Miss Georgina Elam vvas called, aud cross-examined at considerable length, with a view to elicit circumstances injurious to her character, and that might tend to weaken her evidence. The object, however, entirely failed. Mrs. Mary Ann Bobinsou was next examined, and stated that she kept a young ladies' school at Ealing, and, in 1833, Mrs. Dawson having placed her own daughters with her, in troduced Mrs. Elam, who brought Miss Elam, then a child five years old. Mrs. Dawson said Mrs. Elam was her mother ; but witness very much doubted it. Miss Elam was under her care for six months in 1833, and Mrs. Elam took ' her child,' as she called her, away, and paid the half-year's bill. Subsequently witness heard Mrs. Elam speaking of Miss Elam in Mrs. Daw son's presence as ' Iier darling child, her own dear child.' About one month after the midsummer holidays. Lord Port arlington, Col. Damer, and Mrs. Dawson called and informed witness of Mrs. Elam's death. Miss Elam shortly after re turned for a few weeks, and called Mrs. Dawson ' Mamma,' and Mrs. Dawson directed that the child should be called ' Georgina Dawson,' which name she went by ever since. Mrs. Dawson was equally kind to Miss Elam as to her own daugh ters. At Christmas the children were taken home, but were brought back on the same evening by Lord Portarlington, as Mrs. Dawson was then in her confinement with her youngest daughter. Mrs. Dawson had told witness she was within a 15* BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 173 year or two of her age, which was not 65, and she beheved Mrs. Elam was not more than a year or two older than herself Sir Peter Laurie said it had been alleged that Lord Port arlington lived with mother aud daughter, and that the child was purchased by the former, and palmed off as his lordship's, but no evidence had yet been offered with regard to that cir cumstance. Mr. Ballantine said he had a witness present to prove that. Mr. Huddlestone said he had not yet completed his case, and for that purpose he was about to apply for a crownal sub poena to ensure the attendance of Colonel Close, who was a witness to the marriage of Lieut, and Mrs. Elam, and positively declined to appear in the matter unless compelled. Sir Peter Laurie expressed a determination to hear all the evidence he could arrive at on this occasion, whether it was for the prosecution or defence. Mrs. Eliza Simpson, called for the defence, said she married Mrs. Elam's nephew, who was brought up by the former, with Mrs. Dawson. In 182*7, Mrs. Elam was living in Mrs. Daw son's house in Park street, Grosvenor square, and they were both introduced to witness and her husband as mother and daughter. She had heard Mrs. Elam call Mrs. Dawson ' her beautiful, her darling child." At that time she thought Mrs. Elam to be about fifty-five years of age, and Mrs. Dawson not more thau twenty-five. She had seen Mrs. Elam undressed several times, and could swear she was not in the family way then ; indeed, she beheved such to have been impossible. Mrs. Dawson and Mrs. Elara were both most beautiful women, and the former hved with Lord Portarlington, while the latter only intrigued with him. She believed she first saw Mrs. Elam in Curzon street — but (recollecting herself) she thought it was in Half Moon street, and was in 1832. Mrs. Elam told witness that she purchased the child to impose upon a nobleman as his child. She afterwards said it was Lord Portarlington. Mrs. Dawson knew nothing of the child until Mrs. Elam's death, as it was always sent out of the way, and locked in a bed-room when she called. The intriguing between Lord Portarlington and Mrs. Elam was carried on in Mrs. Dawson's house at the tirae the forraer was living with her (Mrs. Dawson). Mrs. Elara looked much younger than she really was, and endea vored to make herself appear still younger. She did not actually know that Mrs. Elam intrigued with Lord Portarling ton, bnt she suspected it. She never mentioned the purchase 15* 174 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD ; OR, of the child to Lord Portarlington, or her particular friend, Mrs. Dawson, but allowed the imposition to go on until after the death of Mrs. Elam, when she advised Mrs. Dawson to advertise and offer a sum of money for the parents of the child. Mrs. Dawson refused, as it would deprive the child of many comforts it then enjoyed. Mrs. Robinson here stated that a woman, refusing her name and address, had called upon her since the last examination, and tried to intimidate her, and prevent her appearing against Mrs. Dawson. Mr. Palmer, of the firm of Palmer and Nettleship, the soli citors to the late Lord Portarlington, said that during a con versation with Him (the Hon. Lionel Dawson), his lordship's younger brother remarked, in allusion to the intercourse be tween Lord Portarlington and Mrs. Elara, that 'his brother was fool enough to believe he had had a child by her, and that he had the clearest proofs of it.' He had also been informed by a Mr. Francis Harvey, who knew Mrs. Dawson from a child, that Miss Elam was palmed off upon his lordship as his, when, in fact, it had been bought of a peasant for a particular purpose. Mr. Huddlestone objected to the evidence being taken in such a loose manner, and wished it to be undi'i'stood by the alderman, that in allowing Mr. Palmer to state anything he liked, without regard to the law of evidence, was altogether illegal Sir Peter Laurie said he would not be bound by the rules of law in any case ; he would allow every witness to tell his tale in his own peculiar way, and take the responsibility upon himself, for he was convinced that more was proved by such a course than by a cross-examination, which only bothered the witness. Mr. Huddlestone said it did not always follow that proof was evidence. Sir Peter Laurie said it did not signify to him ; he would pursue the course that he thought would raost readily elicit the truth. Mr. Palmer continued, and stated he could only account for the age of Mrs. Elam being entered on the burial certificate as forty-eight years, by the fact that it was some extraordinary whim of Lord Portarhngton, who had the sole direction of Mrs. Elam's burial At his lordship's request, he afterwards acted for Mrs. Dawson, in taking out letters of adrainistration to Mrs. Elam's property, sworn at under £5000, and Mr. Francis BILLY BUCK S VISIT TO ENGLAND. 175 Harvey became co-security with him for that amount in the administration bond, he having previously satisfied himself that Mrs. Dawson was the daughter of Mrs. Elam. Sir Peter Laurie said the case had taken a very different turn to what he expected, but it was his intention to remand it, to afford Mr. Huddlestone an opportunity to complete the case for the prosecution. Mrs. Dawson was then allowed to depart without renewing her recognizances, on Mr. Palmer pledging himself that she should be forthcoming at the next examination." — Observer, Nov. 2ith., 1851. After what we have now seen of morals and habits in this country, we can understand how it is that its people take to Mormonism with such facility. It was only a short time since I saw an article in an English newspaper embodying a ihng at our country because of this impos ture existing within our territories, and declaring that nowhere else but in a state of society like ours could such a system have its origin, or be tolerated. I strongly felt the injustice of this remark, knowing, as I did, that Mor monism, on account of its degrading vices, had always met with the most decided hostihty from the people of our country, had been driven by them from place to place, until it had been finaUy forced beyond the confines of civi lization, and into the fastnesses and deserts of the Eocky Mountains ; and would probably long since have shrunk into insignificance, but for the aid and comfort which it has received from foreign nations, and especially from England, Scotland, and Wales. During all the time to which I have referred, a steady supply of converts coming from among the people of this kingdom, has recruited the ranks of this sect, and afforded a body of emigrants who brought with them money and means, and thus assisted to sustain and build up this " Zion" of imposture. You have evidence of this in the following extract : "THE MORMONS. A sraall but continuous stream of Mormon emigrants has since 1840 continuously flocked from the north of England, from Wales, and Scotland, to join the Latter Day Saints estab- 176 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD ; OR, hshed at Kirtland, in Ohio, in Jackson county, in the state of Missouri, also on the river ^Missouri, at Nauvoo, on the Mis sissippi ; and finally on the Great Salt Lake, in the Rocky Mountains, near the eastern boundary of (California. Originally a gross and clumsy imposition, and which notwith standing its success, must be characterized as a bungling swin dle introduced by a person of bad character, the Mormonito movement has nevertheless become an important popular fea ture in the United States ; and, after suffering many reverses, has achieved high temporal and industrial prosperity. Most people believed the Mormons to be a handful of miserable fanatics, who wandered into the far west beyond the bounds of civilization, on which they are a blot. In 1831 there were but five Mormons in the world, including Joseph Smith, the founder of the faith. Pour of these were his father and brothers. In twenty years they increased to upwards of 300,000 persons, of wliich a large nuraber are now settled as an independent state, vsdth a regular charter, organ ized local government, and not only the sovereignty, but the fee simple of a fertile tract as large as England, situated on the best trail frora Eastern America to California and the Pacific. The state is called Deseret or Utah, and will proba bly soon be added to the group ofthe American Union. Salt Lake City, which sprung up like magic in the wilderness, is its capital, a large and flourishing town. They have agencies and missions in every capital in Europe, and in every large town of the United Kingdom. Their object is to ' gather the saints' to Deseret. Since 1848, upward of 14,000 persons have in clined to the doctrines of Mormon, and have gone forth to join the settlement. The Mormon emigration, in 1849, passing through Liverpool, amounted to 2500 persons, all of the better class of emigrants ; and it is calculated that 30,000 Latter-day Saints then remained behind. In June, 1850, there were in England and Scotland, 2Y,863 3Iormonites, of whom London contributed 2529; Manchester, 2187; Liverpool, 1018; Glas gow, 1846; Sheffield, 1920; Edinburgh, 1331; Birmingham, 1909 ; and Wales, South Wales principally, 4342. And the Mormonite census was taken in last January, giving in the entire nuraber in the British Isles as 30,'74T ' Saints.' During the last fourteen years more than 50,000 had been baptized in England, of which nearly 11,000 had eraigrated from her shores 'to Zion.' We have said that Mormon emigration is of the better class ; but there are poor Mormons as well ; and BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 177 for behoof of these, and in order that they may, as well as their more prosperous brethren, be ' gathered to Zion,' there is now amassed in Liverpool more than three and a half tons of Cali fornian gold belonging to the sect, and destined for the pur poses of emigration. Thus, then, in twenty years, the sect of five poor men has become a compacted body of 300,000 indi viduals, bound together by rehgious, social, and industrial ties, firm in their faith, as well as in its propagation, and professing a creed which, whatever may be its monstrosities, seems at all events to have in it nothing adverse to the wordly prosperity of its members." — Observer, August ISth, 1851. If any fact serves more than these to show the profli gacy of the masses, from whom is derived this perennial stream of polygamists, it is the existence among them of such a delectable institution as that which is referred to in the following extract, which is taken from the Observer newspaper of May 10th, 1852, and copied from the Bristol Gazette ; # " THE AGAPEMONE, NEAR BRIDGWATER. Some curious stories are current respecting this place. It is said that Mr. Prince, the founder, on a recent occasion drove up to the Castle Inn, at Taunton, in the carriage and four which belonged to the late Queen Adelaide, and which he has purchased for his own private use. A servant at the door of the inn warned off some idlers standing in the way, with the words, ' Take care, here's Mr. Prince coming.' He overheard the expression ; and, on alighting from the carriage, said to the servant, in a soleran tone, ' Mr. Prince once — Jesus Christ now.' After uttering this blasphemy, he entered the inn, con sumed a cigar and a bottle of wine, and returned to the Abode of Love. Among other strange regulations observed in the institution is the election of 'Mrs. Prince,' or 'The Bride.' This is a distinction which every week falls to the lot of one out of fifteen women, who, with their husbands, are members of the sect. A large stage is erected, on which are placed a number of seats according with the number of candidates for the espousal. This stage revolves round a chair, in which Mr. Prince seats himself At a given signal the husbands of the women enter, and each, stationing himself at the back of his better half, begins to force the stage round. This is continued until it has attained a pretty good speed, when, at a sign from M 178 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, Mr. Prince,. the husbands retire, and the stage is left to itself; when it stops, the woman opposite to ^!r. Prince becomes the ' Bride' for a week, at the end of which time the ceremony is repeated. On one occasion, Mr. Prince happened to catch a ' Bride' as she was being kissed by her husband. As a punish ment for this unfaithfulness, she was divorced from her hea venly consort and put to menial labor, and the husband was sentenced to wheel a barrow full of stones up and down the yard for three days." — Bristol Gazette. It is time that I had brought this letter to a conclusion. I therefore at once subscribe myself, Eespectfully, Yr. friend and cousin. To Maj. Jones, P. Jones. Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. LETTEE XIX. JUVENILE DEPRAVITY IN THIS COUNTRY — MURDER BY A BOY OP THIRTEEN OP ANOTHER ELEVEN YEARS AND A HALP OLD — CHARGE OP SWINDLING AGAINST A LITTLE GIRL, THIRTEEN YEARS OP AGE SINGULAR DELINQUENCY OP A BOY — CHARGE OP STEALING AGAINST A BOY AGED TEN, AN OLD OPPENDER — A YOUTHFUL AND ARISTOCRATIC HIGHWAY MAN A CANDIDATE POR TRANSPORTATION, AGED FOUR TEEN MURDER BY A BOY LESS THAN TEN YEARS OLD A YOUTH LEFT FOR EXECUTION. Loudon, October 1st, 1853. Dear Major : — The moral character of a people dis tinctly declares itself in their children. Offspring that are the object of tender solicitude on the part of refined or educated Christian parents, from their earliest years will exhibit more or less of that loveliness which appeared in those of whom it was sweetly spoken, " Of such is the kingdom of heaven." But children who are born and bred in infamy and ignorance, very soon grow to be but BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 179 imps of the social heU in which they have their habita tion. Wide-spread juvenile depravity, therefore, may be regarded as indicating- extensive social profligacy. That such juvenile depravity abounds in this kingdom, and to an extent which is as surprising as it is painful to the citizen of more favored moral regions, cannot be de nied. It is shown by figures about which there is and can be no doubt, and it is to be inferred from the many extraordinary instances which are met with on every hand. In the same work alreaady quoted by me, — " Cham bers's Encyclopedia," — I find that, in the year 1838, there were, in every 100 offenders, 1/jfo juvenile delinquents under twelve years of age, and in every 100 offenders there were 9ffjy (nearly ten) between the ages of twelve and sixteen, and 29jjj% between the ages of seventeen and twenty-one — more than ten in a hundred of these offences, therefore, having been committed by children less than sixteen years old, and more than forty (almost one-haK) in every hundred having been committed by persons less than twenty-one. In the " British Almanac " for 1845, I find that, in the year 1843, there were, in every 100 offenders in England and Wales, 5x0 5 under fifteen, and 22y^o between fifteen and twenty. From the table which I sent you in my letter of August 1st, last, and taken from the " British Almanac " of the present year, you will find that, in every 100 offenders in Scot land in the year 1851, there were 12-fo''5, or just one in eight, less than sixteen years old. Now if, with aU this, you wiU compare the report of the principal keeper of the Georgia Penitentiary, a copy of which you have kindly sent me (and for which I thank you), you will see that in our State there are, in every 100 offenders, only 19f^% who are between the ages of fifteen and twenty-one; ISyVc of whom are between eighteen and twenty-one, 5j\% only under eighteen, and none under fifteen. What a striking contrast is thus pre sented ! In England and Wales, one in about every ten of all offenders is less than sixteen years old, in Scotland one in eight is less than sixteen, in Georgia 7ione less than fifteen.* * See Appendix, A, ?§ 16, 27, 28, 29. Also, App., B, §? 5, 8. 180 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, Let US come down somewhat more to particulars. By the " British Almanac," it appears that there were in Parkhurst prison, on the first day of January, 1851, 616 boys. During the year, 270 others were received. Of these, three died, one was pardoned, and one removed to Mihbank prison ; seventy-seven were sent to Van Die- man's Land, fifty-nine to Western Australia, sixty-three to Portland prison, and twenty-four to the Plulks — total, 228 ; leaving 656 on January 1st, 1852. The expendi tures for the year were £10,952, the amount of earnings £1441, and the average annual expense of each prisoner was £16 8s. Here, then, you will perceive, in one prison, — a large one, it is true, and probably a general receptacle for such offenders, — are nearly 800 juvenile criminals; out of whom, in the whole year, one only is found worthy of pardon. They are confined at an annual expense of more than $50,000. If you ask me what sort of crimes are committed by these juvenile delinquents, I must answer, not mere vio lations of good order, or, at the worst, petty thefts, as you would suppose, from your knowledge of children in our part of the world ; but crimes of all grades of enor mity, from murder to simple swindling. You can best judge of this by a few examples which I will send you. The first is a case which occurred in the spring of 1851:"MURDER BY A BOY OP THIRTEEN, OP ANOTHER BOY ELEVEN YEARS AND A HALP OLD. Lynn, Norfolk, Ajudl 13. — The dreadful tragedy which occurred at Castle Risl|g, four miles from Lynn, on Sunday last, has been folio wed''by intelhgence of another murder on the previous day at Outwell, a village ten miles frora Lynn, and midway between Wisbeach and Downham Market. It appears that on Saturday last three boys were in a field near the village, where they were eraployed in 'crow-scaring,' the eldest boy having a gun in his possession, to fire occasionally, in order to frighten the. birds frora the seed-wheat. This boy, whilst conversing with his two companions respecting some thing which he had told them on the preceding day, said, ' If BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. , 181 he knew they mentioned it to any one he would kill thera.' The youngest boy, frightened at this, rephed in a tearful mood, 'What shall I do, then? I told my mother last night.' On this the eldest boy reared his gun to the child's forehead, pulled the trigger, and by the explosion, shattered his skull, spread ing his brains over the field. The gun, it is said, contained no shot, but the wadding passed completely through the child's head. Frightened at the act which he had committed, the murderer prevailed upon his surviving companion to promise secrecy, and to assist him to dispose of the dead body, which was done by dragging it to a dry ditch, where it was carefully buried. The two boys then returned to the spot where their companion had been shot, and gathering up his brains, and the shattered fragments of his skuU-boue, they threw thera into his cap. After this they kindled a fire of turf (the field being in the furze), upon which they placed the cap, which they watched, with its contents, until it was entirely consumed. Upon their return home, inquiry arose concerning the murdered child, when the corapanion of the murderer confessed to the par ticulars above narrated, and was with the murderer himself taken into custody. The body was found as above described." — Observer, April IWi, 1851. The next is a case of swindling by the little daughter of a retired officer in the British army. You will find it an instance of expertness in crime, and indifference to its results, truly wonderful, in a girl less than 13 years old. ' "CHARGE OF SWINDLING AGAINST A CHILD. Ellen Marian Watson, an interesting looking girl, aged thir teen, daughter of a retired officer in the army, residing with her parents at No. 3 James street, Comraercial-road, Camber well, was charged before Mr. EUiott, with obtaining, on false pretences, property of considerable value from Miss Anne Hatt, fancy stationer and Berhn wool dealer. Anne Hatt, of Church street, Camberwell, deposed, that on Friday week, the prisoner purchased a shilling's worth of Berhn wool, and on the following Monday repeated her visit and selected sixpence worth. She then entered into conversation with witness, stated that she was on intimate terms with the Rev. Daniel Moore, clergyman of the parish, and that she was working 16 182 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, something as a present for hira ; and that her name was John ston, and that slie lived with her parents at the Grove. During the conversation, she selected three patterns for sofa pillows to take to her mamma to choose one. Witness beheving her to be connected with iMr. Moore, allowed her to take the articles, but requested them to be returned the next day. The prisoner said that as her papa did not dine until six o'clock, it would be inconvenient to return them until the day follow ing. She then left the shop and did not return until Thursday, when she came with two of the patterns, and apologized for not sending them back on the appointed day. The fact was, her mamraa had gone on Wednesday to dine with a colonel and his lady in Berkeley square, and the footman was ordered to bring them, but had forgotten his orders. She requested the wool for the pattern, chosen by her mamma, to be packed up, and said she could not pay for it then, as she had not known how much it would come to, but her mamma would pay for it all at one time. She then selected a hymn book, and said she would like to have a church service. Witness thought it strange for her to purchase such things without some one being with her, but packed them up, and then sent a servant after her to see where she went to, that she (witness) might call on her parents for some explanation. The servant returned and said, ' Oh, miss, I think tlie young lady has deceived you. She entered a small cottage near the vestry hall, and remained there.' Witness did not think much of that, she seemed so respectable, and supposed she called there through motives of charity. On Friday evening the prisoner called again, selected a writing desk and two books, which she took with her, saying that her mamma wished to see them. On Saturday last she brought back a Bible, saying that her mamma did not want it; and she vvas to select something in its stead. Witness then suspected her, but aUovved her to select them. Whilst they were being tied up, witness dressed herself, and after the prisoner quitted the shop, she followed. After walking a little way the prisoner tore up something, a.pparently the invoice, and then unfastened the parcel and threw away the paper. Finding that she did not go to the Grove, witness stopped her, and asked what she was going to do with the property. The prisoner was much confused, and said all was right ; that she could refer to Mr. Moore, Mr. Lackington, and Mr. Jenner. Witness asked where she lived, and wished her to go home. She refused to tell, or to go home, and witness took her down by the vestry hall, when she refused to go further. On this BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 183 witness took her to the Rev. Mr. Moore's, who said he had no knowledge of her. He took her into a private room, and ascer tained where her parents lived. Witness then took her back to the shop, and gave her in charge to a constable. She had been so artless in her behavior that witness had been quite de ceived, and had believed her story that she was the daughter of Mr. Johnston, who had resided at the Grove for many years. The whole of the property was recovered. A portion was found at her parents' residence, the remainder at Mr. Taylor's, where she had left it. — Sergeant James Head, P. said, that when he was called into Miss Hatt's shop, the prisoner asked, was he Mr. Robinson or Sergeant Quinnear ? He asked the reasou of the question, and she replied that her father's house in Wells street had been robbed lately, and those officers went there. He said, are not you Captain Johnston's daughter ? She answered, ' No ; I'm Captain Watson's daughter, of 3 James street, Commercial-road.' — Mr. Elliott asked were her parents in court ? — The mother, a respectable looking lady, stepped forward, seemingly much afflicted. She said that the girl had told her that the Rev. Mr. Moore had presented the things to her. She told the prisoner that she should work a pair of slippers for him in return for so handsome a present. She thought that the girl was so infatuated with Mr. Moore, that she (witness) had set her down as a,n idol of Mr. Bloore's family. She was but thirteen, and was well educated. When ever she went out, she said she was going with Mr. Moore's children. She brought home other things, saying that they were presents from the same gentleman, and witness made her write a letter of thanks to him for his kindness. She believed that was the letter which Miss Hatt saw her tear up. She thought it was monomania. — The prisoner, during the exami nation, stood firm as a statue, and apparently indifferent. — The mother said she had been very eccentric for sorae time past, and constantly talked of Mr. Moore. She actually in duced her father and raother to leave an Independent place of worship, to enter Mr. Moore's church. In reply to questions from Mr. Ehiott, who said that he had some recollection of her at this court, witness said that three months ago she acted in a similar way to a neighbor, but witness paid for the things, and she was not taken into custody. — Mr. Elliott : Is her father as weak as she ? He ought to have corrected her, and pre vented her from committing herself again. — Witness: The article she obtained then was only a smelling-bottle. — Mr. Elliott : I remeraber something about her. A medical gen- 184 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, tleman complained that she obtained goods from him on false pretences. — Prisoner (laughing) : It was not me, sir ; mine was all settled. — Mr. Elliott : I am not at all satisfied in this case. Gross neglect appears on the parents' side, and I shall remand the prisoner for further inquiries. — Remanded." — Observer, November 11th, 1851. It might be predicted, perhaps, of this young girl, that she would in time come to be a very appropriate bride for the thief in petto whom we find figuring in the following police report, were it not, that as her villanies were partly in the literary line, and as we have it certified that she was "weh educated," she would probably turn her nose up at the author of such a letter as you will find below : "SINGULAR DELINQUENCY OP A BOY. At the Thames police court, on Tuesday, Edward Ludditt, a lad about seventeen years old, was charged before Mr. Yard- ley with embezzling various sums of money he had received for and on account of Mr. Dean, manufacturing druggist, of Sidney street. Commercial-road East. On Monday pight pri soner saw Sergeant Manners, K 36, in Arbor street. Stepney, and said he had been guilty of embezzlement and wished to give himself up to justice. He gave the narae and address of his late master, and the particulars of his offence, which the sergeant found was correct, and he was detained on the charge. Mr. Dean said the prisoner had been between three and four years in his service, and absconded on Saturday fortnight with £3 Is., which his mistress gave him to pay a bill, and that since then he had discovered other defalcations. But the worst of all was, that the prisoner had taken away a reference-book of the tradesmen he dealt with, and which would occasion a loss to him of £100. He asked the boy what he- had done with it, and he replied he had burnt it. He was now only prepared with one case. The prisoner had been directed to purchase a large quantity of phials, and had obtained the money for them, which he had not paid, although he had actually got a receipt for the money from the person who sold the phials. Mr. James Harper said the prisoner called on him and asked for the receipt produced, and promised to return with the money, which he did not do. He signed the receipt at the prisoner's request. Mr. Dean said a few days after he BILLY BUCKS VISIT TO ENGLAND. 185 absconded he received the following letter from him, posted at Windsor : — ' Suttoniver 13 Nov. 1851 Sir i dont think that prosecution will not be of any avail upou me for i dont care for the Devil Himself Money Will Be far preferable to punishment when i say punishment i dont think it so because they you a Belly full of wittles and find you in Bed of sorae sort to lay upon and if sposed that it would come to a few years transportation what of That i should have the pleasure of seeing a foreigne couutry and another thing i got to tell You when a man is sent out the country he is called a Convict But he is a man for all that and is as much in Gods eye as the Best man their is on the face of the earth so remember this how i am able to send you your money what i Hav robbed you of read the lists of acts of dishonesty by rae to you.' [Here followed a list of the various sums the prisoner had embezzled, and the naraes of the parties of whom he had received it, and it concluded as follows:] — 'This money I have robbed you of you will receive every month for I am thank God able to do it now. You will in about a fortnight have £1 10s. ; so no more at present from your high born and spirity thief E. Ludditt. ' Mr. Tardley said the letter was the most extraordinary one ever penned iDy a boy, and asked if it was in the prisoner's own handwriting ? The prosecutor : I am sure of it, sir. I know his handwriting well. The prisoner was remanded for a week." — Observer, November 2Uh, 1851. You may deem the boy mentioned above of sufficient age to have fahen in with evil companions, and thus have acquired such early habits of wickedness. But the follow ing cases wUl convince you, I think, that this juvenile delinquency may be said to be imbibed with the mother's milk among some English children : "JUYBNILE DEPRAVITY. At Lambeth, on Thursday, Edward White, aged ten, was charged before Mr. Norton with steahng a penny biscuit from a little girl iu the public street. The prisoner's mother, who appeared deeply grieved, said that for three years he had been a confirmed thief She and her husband had iu vain endea vored to reclaim him, and the boy himself said that his wish to thieve was so strong that he could not resist it. When punished, and even tied up for weeks together, he said it was 16* 186 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, of no use, and that he was a regular Jack Shepherd, and should pursue the same course. He had been frequently in custody before, but was let off", owing to his youth and his mother's in terference, and he had been brought home at ah hours for being found in different premises, and he had stolen everything he could lay hands upon at his mother's place. Mr. Norton : Weh, prisoner, what have you to say to this ? Thc prisoner (coolly) : I wish I cotdd leave it off, but I can't. Mr. Norton : Indeed ; and so you wih be a Jack Shepherd ? Prisoner : Yes, sir. Mr, Norton : I must try to cure you, and shall begin by seeing what ten days' solitary imprisonment and a sound whip ping will do. The boy went away quite unconcerned." — 06- server, April 12th, 1852. "a YOUTHFUL AND ARISTOCRATIC HIGHWAYMAN. A most alarraing case of highway robbery took place at Penrith, in Cumberland, on the afternoon of the 23d inst. The facts were as follows : — Mrs. Williams, the wife of the Rev. Mr. Williams, of Dacre Vicarage, was returning from Penrith iu a gig with a female servant, where slje had been on a visit to the Countess Oassinski, when she was overtaken by a youth uf gentlemanly appearance, mounted on a valuable pony. He rode past her vehicle, and kept in front till he got to a lonely part of,the road, shaded by trees, between Dalmain and Dacre. He then turned round, met Mrs. WiUiams, and presented a pistol, at the same time demanding her money. Mrs. WUliams at first refused to give it to him, when her assailant said he would count three, and, if she did not deliver her money before he had finished, he would shoot her. Terrified by his threats she surrendered her purse, which contained a considerable sum in gold and silver. Having made an ineffectual attempt to obtain money from the servant, he asked Mrs. Williams her name and residence, and the lady having told him, ' Well,' said the highwayman, ' I'll see if you are Mrs. Williams. I'U foUow you ; and, mind, if you have told me a lie, I'll shoot you from behind, both you and your servant ; and if you speak to any one on the way as to what has happened, I'll shoot you.' Mrs. WiUiams then drove on, the highwayman riding behind as foot man. She met several persons, but did not speak to them, being afraid that her unwelcome attendant would make good his threat. After following her for some distance, her pursuer turned his poiiey and rode away. Mr. Scott, the high constable, on hearing of the circumstances, went iu quest of the highwayman, and found that he had gone , 1 - 1 fc ' •«¦;. " « '^A ^ BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 187 to the Castle Inn, at four o'clock on the day of the robbery, and had his horse fed. He then went out and returned at seven in the evening, and requested to stay all night ; but the land lord, Mr. Robertshaw, sent him to the Fish Inn, where he stayed all night. Next day he told Mrs. Hodgson, of the Fish Inn, that he was son of the Hon. Mr. C— — , that he was low of funds, and if he could get to Keswick and see Mr. Strange he would be able to procure a supply. He asked Mrs. Hodg- feon to lend him 30s., which she did. He then left by express train for Kendal, saying he would go by coach to Keswick from Kendal. Mr. Scott went to Keswick and waited there, but the highwayman did not appear. Subsequently it appeared that a young man came by the express train frora London to Carlisle two days before the robbery, and put up at the Bush Hotel, and asked for a hack horse to go to Mr. Howard's, Corby Castle. Mr. Birch sent him to 31r. Brockbank, of Carlisle, who furnished the pony, with which he coraraitted the robbery, and which he left at tlie Fish. As he did not return, Messrs. Birch and Brock- bank concluded that 4;hey were 'done,' and Birch opened the portmanteau left at the Bush. The marks on the linen verified his statement that he was the son of the Hon. Mr. C , and it appears from subsequent inquiry that he has broken loose from the Military School, where he was in training for the army. He has been trying his hand at a profession of his own choosing. He has not been heard of since he left Penrith." — Observer, November 1st, 1852. "MIDDLESEX SESSIONS. Monday. — Before Mr. Serjeant Adams. A Candidate for Transportation. — John Morris, fourteen, pleaded 'guilty' of having stolen a tiU, and 2s. b^A.., the pro perty and money of John Hicks. It appeared, from the prison returns, that the prisoner had been summarily convicted no less than eleven times. The Assistant-Judge made some observa tions on the fact that the prisoner had been convicted five times by one magistrate, Mr. Broughton, and four by another, Mr. Long, and not once sent for trial. He did not, in the least, intend to cast blame on the magistrates, or to say that they had not done right, but at the police courts they might not have the means they had at the Sessions of identifying the pri soners, and the young thief knew that, by pleading guilty, he would be sentenced by the magistrate to three months' impri sonment, and in that way escape the punishment that court 188 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, could award wheu previous convictions were within its cogni zance. In this case he had not the power to sentence the pri soner to transportation. The prisoner—' I want to be trans ported.' The Assistant- Judge — ' I dare say you do ; but I am sorry to say you cannot be gratifled at present.' Prisoner — ' Oh very vvell, 1 shall go ou the same garae again when I'm out, tiU I do get transported, though.' The A.ssistant- Judge — 'WeU, I promise you that the next time you come here you shaU be transported, if guilty. Now, raind that.' He then* sentenced the prisoner to nine raonths' hard labor." — Weekly Dispatch, November 21st, 1852. In some of the cases thus cited, you have examples of offenders not more than ten years old, who afford evidence of consciences the most callous, and of characters already, as it were, coated with the prison rust of guilt. In the following case you have an example of cool and deliberate murder by a boy less than ten years old ! "murder by a boy TEN YEARS OP AGE. Considerable excitement has been created in the village of Keynshara, near Bristol, by the apprehension of a boy under ten years of age, named Edwin Hucker, on the serious charge of murdering a companion of his, WiUiam Saunders, the son of a copper worker, residing in Milk street, Bristol, by wil fully pushing hira into the river Avon, at or near the Swinford copper-mills, and drowning him. The accused is the son of an operative liine-burner, residing at Longwell Green, in the parish of Bitton. The deceased had been living with his grandfather and grandmother, by whom, owing to the death of his mother, he had been taken when about elevcu months old, and he was brought up at their residence, Willsbridge, Gliiucestershire. It appears that on the 26th of April last, about nine o'clock in the morning, the deceased left liis home for the purpose of going to school ; and, on wishing his grand mother good-bye, he said he should be home again at half- past four; but she never again saw hira ahve. Search was made ; and, it being supposed that he might accidentally have fallen into a part of tlie river Avon, it was dragged, but, as it sab.sequently appeared, not the part where he was drowned. It seems that tlie accused, Hucker, and a lad named Evans, witnessed the ooeration of dragging ; but, though they were BILLY buck's' VISIT TO ENGLAND. 189 both cognizant of the fact, they said nothing as to where the body was. No tidings were gleaned of the poor child for three days, when Hucker and Evans (the son of a carpenter) stated that he fell into the river accidentaUy. This statement, made at so late a period, naturally caused sorae suspicion, and this was strengthened by another statement raade by Evans, who told his relations that he was in the meadow, and saw Hucker there, lying down on the grass, and that the little boy , Saunders came up and jumped on to his neck; at whicli Hucker got into a passion, and said he would hit his head off. Evans further stated, that about an hour aftervvards he saw Saunders on the bank of the river picking some sorrel which grew on its edge, aud that Hucker, who was behind hira, pushed him into the river, and said, ' Hang it, he's in the river.' Evans hkewise stated that the copper-mills were a little way off, that there were people there, and he was running to get sorae one to pull out Saunders, whora he saw struggling for five minutes, but that Hucker would not let him do so, but, on the contrary, held him down by his pinnafore, and said that, if he offered to go, he would push him in also, and jump in himself After this, Hucker followed hira nearly as far as Stoates Hill, and told him not to say anything about it, and he would give him something on the Friday ; which was the reason why he did not tell where Saunders was when he was missed at first. This statement having becorae known to the police authorities, police sergeant 134, of the county consta bulary, questioned Evans ; and finding him adhere to his state ment, he deeraed it right to apprehend Hucker, and he was taken before Mr. Hughes, raagistrate of Downend, and re manded (on bail) for further examination. At this time the body had not been recovered ; but on Wednesday last it was found in the river, close to the hatchway of the Keynsham mills, to which it must have been carried by the floods. The body, on being got out, was found to be in such a state of de composition that recognition of either features or figure was impossible. There were, however, some peculiarities in the little fellow's boots, and in a little bag he had with him, by which his grandfather was enabled positively to identify the corpse. Information of these circumstances was conveyed to Mr. Bruges Fry, coroner for North Somerset, and he at once issued his warrant for the prosecution of an inquest at the Lamb and Lark Inn, Keynsham. The accused was likewise apprehended by the pohce sergeant, and was iraraediately brought into the inquest-room. Both the grandfather and 190 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, grandmother of the deceased were examined, and likewise a girl who, on the day of the occurrence, saw the three boys together crossing a bridge and going in the direction of Swin ford miUs. The boy Evans repeated the statement he had before made. After a deliberation of about three-quarters of an hour, the jury returned the following verdict : — 'That the deceased child, Saunders, met his death by being pushed into the water by Edwin Hucker. The Coroner : You consider that he wilfully pushed him into the water ? Foreman : That is the opinion of the jury, and I beUeve that amounts to a verdict of wilful murder. A most distressing scene here ensued between the father, mother, and child ; who, on hearing that the coroner had no power to take bail, and that the child must be taken away from thera to prison, burst into tears, and were led away in the ut most distress, while a great raany of the jury and spectators were much affected. The coroner then made out the warrant for the committal of the prisoner for trial at the next Somer setshire assizes." — Observer, May 20th, 1858. From the following, which I met with in a Liverpool paper a few weeks previous to the publication of the last case, it appears that " stabbing cases have become alarm ingly frequent " not alone among the bowie-knife ruf fians of our frontier States, but that they so abound in England as to make it necessary, for example's sake, that a victim — of not more than eighteen years — who kills his companion in a drunken brawl, should be offered upon the altar of justice. All the circumstances of the case seem to indicate a very depraved state of society in Liverpool. "A YOUTH LEFT POR EXECUTION. To the Editor of the Daily News : Sir : — WiU you permit me to call the attention of your readers to a case which has just been tried at Liverpool? A youth named TerreU, eighteen years of age, has beeu tried for stabbing a companion. There is no doubt that stabbing cases have become alarmingly frequent, and that some measures must be taken to repress as weU as to punish them. Acting, I presume, on this ground, the jury found the miserable boy BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 191 guilty of 'wilful murder.' Sentence was pronounced, and he is accordingly left for execution. On examining the evidence given on the trial, it seeras to me that this is exactly one of those cases in which au appeal may be fairly made to the Crown for the exercise of clemency. The youth of the prisoner could not be pleaded by itself; but, taken into consideration with the circumstances of the case, it should have some weight. There was no Ul-wUl between the parties ; they, with many others, — idle and disorderly enough, it is true, — were together at a beer-house. A good deal of what such persons call 'chaffing' took place, and Terrell showed a pocket-knife, which he boasted had 'done for' raany, and had yet one more to do for. After this there was some quarreUing, and it was proposed that they should leave the house and ' fight it out.' The evidence after this becomes very defective, and the princi pal witness was not in court. It appears, however, that the deceased threatened the prisoner, and some 'sparring ' ensued, during which Terrell stabbed the deceased with the knife, which he seems to have had in his hand aU the time. The wound proved fatal, and the verdict of the jury is 'wilful murder.' Now, I do not complain ofthe verdict, though I think man slaughter would have been more strictly correct. It is ad mitted that the chief provocation was on the side of the pri soner, and that he kept his hand on the open knife iu his pocket, refusing to show his hands when required to do so. But, sir, can it be even-handed justice to visit this wretched boy with the same penalty as that with which the law visits a Rush, a Greenacre, or a Good ? I have no sympathy with him, — at least no morbid sympa thy, — nor, indeed, with his equaUy disorderly and dissipated victim. They were all, it would seem, soinewhat under the influence of drink, nor would I have said one word had the penalty been anything short of death. But surely this is a case in which the Home Office might be urged to interfere— not to screen the prisoner from punishment. but to advise a commutation. The whole affair takes much the appearance of a drunken brawl. A foolish, boasting youth, talks of his murderous exploits — uo one imagines that these boasts had any foundation in fact — heated with beer and 'chaffing,' the deceased allows hiraself to be drawn into a quarrel, and we see the result. Had it not been for the fre quency of stabbing cases, the verdict would undoubtedly have 192 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, been different. As to any mahce prepense, there appears not a shadow of evidence to support it. The penitent and terri fied criminal, who accused drunkenness as the cause of his fall, and who expected to be severely punished, shrieked out with surprise and dismay when he found that his life was to be for feited. As to what is to be done with hira, and such as he, that is a problera which I have no doubt the wisdom of Parliament will ere long solve. I should be sorry to see the churches in Liver pool employed as those at Exeter were a short time ago, and the whole town caUed on to take part in a great religious fes tival, because an unhappy youth, who certainly did not intend to murder his feUow-creature, was about to be hurried into eternity. I reraain, sir, your obedient servant, A Reader op Trials." \_Liverpool Mercury. From the following extract, you may form some opinion of these stabbing cases, which have become " so alarm ingly frequent." " Three young men at Garstang quarreUed over their drink. One professed an intention to 'do' for the others. His threat was held to be a joke. He went out, and presently came back, saying he had killed two of them, and gave up a knife. His story was but too true. He had killed one and seriously wounded the other. His name is Wilding." — The Leader, 1853. These cases are sufficient for the purpose which I have in view in bringing them to your attention, and I must pass to other matter, after concluding this letter, and as suring you that I am, as ever. Very respectfully, Yr. friend and cousin, P. Jones. To Maj. Jones, Pineville, Georgia, U. S. of America. BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 193 LETTEE XX. BRUTALITY AND CRUELTY OP THE BRITISH PEOPLE — A HIGH SHERIFF IN DIFFICULTY, OR A HANGMAN WANTED THE CHELMSFORD EXECUTIONS. London, October 15th, 1853. Dear Major : — ^Another feature in the social character of the British people, most remarkable to me, is their fierce brutality and cruelty. It may be said, speaking generally, that this characteristic manifests itself in the perpetration of awful murders and deeds of violence by m-en, women, and children. But it may be said more spe cially that it exhibits itself most shockingly in the num ber of murders of women by men, of wives by husbands (and the large proportion of both these), of husbands by wives, of children by parents, of parents by children ; in cruelty to, and ih- treatment of, helpless women, children, paupers, insane persons, and prisoners, by those who should be their protectors ; and in like cruelty on the part of mothers to their offspring, and on the part of both men and women to their inferiors and dependents. These are strong allegations ; but I make them after careful observation and reflection, and I will furnish the proofs of all that I charge. By consulting the " British Almanac," pubhshed in London by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Know ledge, and " Darton's Statistical Tables," you wiU find that, for several years previous to the year 1851 (the year at which my observations commence), the number of capi tal sentences passed for the crime of murder was about twenty annually, in England and Wales ; and for attempts to murder, not quite half that many. The number of executions was something more than ten annually. In" the year 1849, there were fifteen executions for murder ; in 1848 there were twelve, in 1847 there were eight, and in another year there were thirteen ; of which three were 17 N 194 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, of females for the murder of their husbands, two of males for the murder of their wives, one of a man for the mur der of his child, and one of a son for the murder of his father; seven, or a majority of the thirteen, being for offences in violation of what are elsewhere, certainly, con sidered natural instincts and affections.* If you pause here to ask me, " What became of the other convicts receiving sentence of death during these years, it appearing that not one-half of those sentenced were executed?" I answer, "Be patient, and you wih learn something about this before I have left the subject." In the same publication, — the "British Almanac," — I find that forty persons were sentenced to death in the year 1851 for offences against the person, and twenty- eight for offences against property, loith violence to the person. Of these, ten were executed according to this report ; though it would appear, from an account which I derive from another source, and send you, that the demand for executioners that year considerably exceeded the supply. "A HIGH-SHERIFF IN DIFFICULTY; OR, A HANGMAN WANTED. It will no doubt be in the recollection of many persons that the High Sheriff of Suffolk, in March last, was placed in no very pleasant position in consequence of the services of a hang man not being obtainable to carry into execution the last sen tence of the law upon Maria Clarke, for the murder of her illegitimate child, by bur3dng it alive in the parish of Wingfield. The high-sheriff, however, on that occasion, was spared an un pleasant duty by a reprieve coming down for the condemned woman two days before that on which her execution was to have taken place. At the assizes held at Ipswich, on the 2d inst., Maria Emily Cage was found guilty of the murder of her husband, James Cage, at Stonham Aspel, by administering to him a certain quantity of arsenic. Her execution was ordered to take place on Saturday (Aug. 16), in front of the Ipswich county jail, but the same difficulty was again presented as in March. Calcraft, the hangman, on being appUed to, could not attend, as he had promised to perform a simUar office the same morning at Norwich. An application was next made to * That such crimes as these may be said to be entirely unknown in Georgia, see App., A, |J2I, 22. BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 195 the hangman at Warwick jail, but that functionary could not attend, as he would be similarly engaged at Shrewsbury on that day. A messenger was then despatched to the Secretary of State's office, who explained the unpleasant position in which the high-sheriff of Suffolk was placed, and requested that the execution of Mary EmUy Cage might be postponed. The answer from the Secretary of State was to the effect that no alteration as to the day named could be made ; thus leaving the high-sheriff to get out of the difficulty in the best way he could. To have had the law carried into effect on Saturday would, in all probability, have been repugnant to the feelings of the high-sheriff, for, as no person could be found to supply the place of Calcraft, the high-sheriff must have performed the horrid duty hiraself To avoid doing that, the high-she riff has, on his own responsibility, ordered the execution to be delayed until an early day in the ensuing week. The con demned woman's demeanor is becoming her awful position. She appears to be resigned to her fate, but protests that she is innocent. The unpleasant position of the high-sheriff, not only on this but on a former occasion, may be attributed to the usual co.urse«not being adopted — the making sure that Calcraft can attend before any day be appointed for the execution. " — The Times, August 11th, 1851. You must be furnished with examples of some of the shocking murders to which I have- referred ; otherwise, the whole truth of the case cannot be realized ; for such horrible occurrences are seldom or never heard of in our Southern States. I send you, first, an account of the execution of two notorious murderers, whose offences were committed early in the year 1850. "the CHELMSFORD EXECUTIONS. On Tuesday morning Thomas Drory and Sarah Chesham expiated their crimes, by an ignorainious death, in front of the county jail, at Springfield, near Chelmsford. The revolting details of their crimes are too fresh in the recollection of the public, to need more than a brief allusion to them. Drory was convicted, on the clearest evidence, of having strangled a poor girl, whom he had seduced, and who was far advanced in pregnancy by him. His motives, it is difficult to conjecture, for he had no immediate object to attain, reconcileable with the strength of those influences which forbid men to ' break 19G THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD ; OR, into the house of life.' Her disgrace, and his share in it, were known, and he had no secrecy to secure. His position in life would soon have exempted him from her importunities ; and his ordinarUy mild deportment, effeminate looks, and small person appear in strange contrast with the horrible detaUs of his crime. The physiognomist might in vain search his fea tures for indications ofthe cruel and relentless disposition dis played in the murder of Jael Denny, and those who speculate on the motives actuating great criminals, may in vain endeavor to explore the impulses which led to this dreadful tragedy. Happily no doubt can be entertained of his guilt. He him self has set that point at rest. The visiting magistrates, com plying with his father's wish, proraised that if a detailed state ment were made by him, it should not be published. It is beheved, too, that Drory himself desired to spare his faraily this last humihation, and nothing beyond a general confession of his guilt has been committed to paper. He wrote it on Monday night. It is clearly the composition of a very UUter- ate person, but it betrays some traces of penitence. Official etiquette forbids the publishing of a verbatim copy, which would throw full light on the amount of Drory^s education. It is dated ' Springfield Jail, March 24, 1851,' and is in the form of a petition addressed to the High Sheriff of the county of Essex.. Drory began it by alluding to ' that grievous offence' for which he acknowledged that he was 'justly con victed,' and dreadful as it was that he was about to forfeit his life according to law, as an example, he hoped and trusted, to deter others from committing so wicked and horrid a crime. He prayed God that it raight, and that his poor unfortunate victim, that he ' so barbarously and maliciously' deprived of life, was now in heaven at rest — for with God all things are possible, and might the Lord in his goodness have mercy on his soul. His humble petition and request was, that the sheriff might order, if possible, that the money (£8 lis. 4d.) that was found on his person and taken frora him by Mr. Coulson, superintendent of the Brentwood police station, might be given over to the poor unfortunate deceased's mother, Louisa Last, of Doddinghurst, ' part restitution for the grievous in jury' he raight have done her. As he desired to die at peace with aU mankind, this would greatly obUge him (the unfortu nate criminal). Such is the purport, and, as nearly as the in direct form of speech can convey it, the language of Drory's only written confession. But though no complete statement ot his crime was committed to paper, the natural desire to un- BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 197 burden his heart was constantly at work, and at different tiraes to the turnkeys and governors he verbally communicated the manner in which the murder was accomplished. The substance of these statements is, that he met Jael Denny by accident, as far as he was concerned, at half-past five on the evening of the murder, but he thought that she purposely put herself in his way. He said he could not talk to her then, but he would in an hour's time have sorae chat with her. They met accord ingly, but meanwhile he had gone to a cellar in his father's house, and taken part of a rope, left a fortnight before by a person who had brought it to tie up baskets of damsons which he had bought, and who had left that portion of the rope be hind. He said, on one occasion, that he had carried the rope for several days in his bosom ; on another, that he carried it in his coat pocket ; and lastly, that he took it from the cellar immediately before the act. These statements, though ap parently inconsistent, may be all true. On raeeting her for the second time, he said that he and Jael Denny talked and walked about, after which, at her suggestion, they sat down on the bank. She had come to urge him to marry her. He passed the rope gently round her as they were sitting, and had got the end into the loop before she perceived it. She jumped up at once and put up her hands to save her throat (which is proved by the marks on her fingers), but he puUed hard and she fell without a struggle. He then left her lying in the field, and went to Brentwood. In his last moments Drory admitted that he was the father of the child that Jael Denny was preg nant with. His aspersions upon her character were not credited by those most competent to judge. He had repeated inter views with his friends, who were, allowed free access to his cell, but on his side and theirs a dead silence — raore expressive per haps than words. — -was observed as to the crime of which he had been convicted. He showed little eraotion in the presence of his friends, and they generally occupied the time in reading the Bible, or sermons, or in casual conversation. Mr. Neale, the governor, used a remarkable expression in describing his first interview with his old father. Being asked how they be haved, he rephed, ' They looked astounded at each other' — well they might ! Turning to Sarah Chesham, we find her crime of even a deeper dye than Drory's. She was forty-two years of age, and repute had raised her poisoning art to the dignity of a professional murderess. Twice had she stood a trial for her life, and, as often, escaped from justice. On one occasion she 17* 198 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, owed her safety to the scruples of a Quaker, opposed to capital punishment. Amongst the crimes charged were the poisonings other own children, and to crown her enormities, and to show that no perUs could turn her from her guilty purposes, she de stroyed her husband's life by small doses of arsenic. From the raedical evidence adduced against her on her first trial, she learnt and put in practice the art of poisoning, and now she has met the extreme penalty of the law without a sign of I'e- pentance, an acceptance of religious consolations, or an ac knowledgment of her criraes. From tirae to tirae she has made statements asserting her innocence, and charging other people in incoherent terms with the offence for which she had been condemned. It has gone the round of the papers that she had admitted poisoning her children, but that turns out to be untrue ; and at the last moment, on leaving her ceU, her protestations vi'ere as firm and decided as they have been throughout. 'I ara innocent,' she said, 'though my neck is put into the halter for it. ' Since her conviction she has steadily refused to move out of her ceU, either for the purposes of exer cise or religious devotion at the chapel. Drory also dechned attendance there at first, but on Sunday last, the 23d, he inti mated his desire to be present. Speaking of the spiritual con dition of both the condemned, the Rev. George Hamilton, chaplain to the jail, with great sorrow expresses his conviction that they displayed no satisfactory proofs of genuine penitence and faith. He states that Sarah Chesham appeared constantly occupied in thought, and seemed perfectly to comprehend every argument and scriptural passage put before her calculated to awaken the mind. Drory, the Rev. chaplain stated, seemed little able to comprehend the enormity of his crime, and its accompanying circumstances of cruelty and treachery. And now it is requisite to give sorae account of the manner in which these guilty wretches bore the last trying and awful moments of then fate. Drory slept tiU half-past four o'clock, after which he rose and prepared himself by devotional exer cises for the execution of his sentence. Chesham passed such a night as the guilty who are about to die impenitent might be expected to endure. Her mental sufferings were extreme. She never closed her eyes in sleep, and could taste no food. When nine o'clock, the hour appointed for execution, arrived, Drory was first taken across an open court-yard, to the foot of the gateway tower, on the top of which the black scaffold, dismal and bare, was reared. He quivered in every limb and joint of his body, and was obliged to be supported as he pro- BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 199 ceeded, while the chaplain, avoiding the usual practice, on such occasions, of repeating the burial service, read, instead, prayers suitable to the soleran occasion. Arrived at the foot of the staircase ascending the gateway tower, Drory was pinioned in a cell set apart for that purpose, and thence he was conducted in a state of extreme agitation and debility up stairs to the drop. In the meantime Sarah Chesham was with some little difficulty removed frora her place of confineraent. At first she seemed disposed not to raove, but on being told that she would be carried to the place of execution if she persisted, she consented to walk there. Nature, however, and tfie terrors of a violent and disgraceful death were too strong for her, and she required the assistance of two persons as she moved for ward. Drory appeared first on the fatal platforra, and as soon as he presented himself, with drooping head and pinioned arras, and faint and trembling limbs, the vast crowd of spectators assembled below were hushed into solemn and affecting silence. To the number of 6000 or 7000 they had been slowly gather ing there from six o'clock in the morning ; their behavior throughout was very orderly and sedate, though the shrill voices of boys at play, and the calls of orange venders might be heard at intervals. From all parts of the surrounding coun try the assemblage had come : it consisted principaUy of smock- frocked laborers, their highlows and gaiters spattered with mud, and their steps heavy with the number of miles they had travel led to 'the hanging.' A few farmers were present, eyeing askance the dismal implement above the jail gateway, and thinking of the minutes, hours, untO the conderaned made their appearance. There were hardly any respectable people observ able in the crowd, but a most disgusting number of women, Sorae of these had gay flowers in their bonnets, and evidently set up for rustic belles ; others were mothers, giving suck to infants whom they carried in their arms ; others were elderly matrons, presiding at the head of their famiUes, and frora the elevation of the domestic spring cart pointing out to their young daughters how they could best see the execution. With these exceptions, the great asserablage in front of the jail be haved itself with much propriety. Not more than half a dozen pohce were visible, though Captain M'Hardy prudently had a large body in reserve. The jail and the cliief police station stand opposite each other, with a wide roadway and a piece of open ground intervening, and it was here that the spectators were chiefly assembled. Drory, when placed on the drop, was dehvered over to the hands of Calcraft, the executioner, who 200 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, quickly drew on the white cap and adjusted the rope, whUe the miserable wreUh ejaculated in broken accents, 'This is a faithful saying, and worthy of aU acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the worid to save sinners — of whom I am the chief— of whom I am the chief — and he stUl kept repeating that last significant acknowledgment untUthe drop fell. After a delay of several minutes, during which many began to fear that there was something wrong, Sarah Chesham was with difficulty placed under the fatal beam, supported, hke the other prisoner, by two attendants. Without an instant's delay Cal craft completed his simple but dreadful preparations ; and then, while with bated breath the thousands of spectators below looked on, the bolt was drawn ; a faint murmur of horror spread among the crowd as they saw the sentence of the law carried into effect, which was prolonged as the convulsive struggles of the dying man and woman were painfully visible. In Drory aU sign of animation was extinct in four or five minutes, but Chesham struggled for six or seven' They were both light figures, and they 'died hard.' The crowd almost immediately after dispersed, aud few remained to witness 'the cutting down.' As they began to separate, hawkers of ballads and ' true and correct account,' of the execution, and all kinds of edibles, appeared among thera, and the assemblage was a sort of moving fair on its way back to town. The long pent up excitement relaxed itself, it is to be supposed, in the same manner as the spectators of a tragedy love to close the even ing with some lighter entertainment. The last woman hanged at Chelmsford was Anne May — ¦ her crime also that of poisoning. Mrs. Chesham was said to have been intimate with her ; but she denied this stoutly, and they appear to have lived in totally different parts of the county. In little more than an hour after the bodies were cut down, that of Drory was buried within the precincts of the jail All applications for a cast of his head were rigidly re fused, and the sarae with the other sacrifice to justice also. The strictness of the authorities in this respect is much to be commended, for such facilities, instead of being turned to any useful purposes, are warped to feed the morbid curiosity of coarse and ignorant minds. The body of Sarah Chesham was not buried within the precincts of the jail, having been claimed by a relative. It appears that having been indicted for poison ing, and not expressly for murder, the statute was not con sidered binding in her case." — Observ.er, March 31st, 1861. BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 201 All this is very horrible. Major, It is awful, indeed, to think of that scoundrel of an English Thugg, caressingly gliding his arm around the poor girl, as she sat confidingly by his side, shpping the fatal noose over her head, and then, with fierce energy springing to his feet, and strang ling the strugghng creature, together with his child in her bosom. The writer of the above article, you will perceive, ex presses himself at a loss " to explore the impulses which led to this dreadful tragedy." If he would place himself on the stand-point which we are about to occupy, and survey the dread array of crimes continually occurring around him, he would be compelled to see that the im pulses which lead to such dreadful tragedies raust have their origin in a passion for blood-shedding — in a blood- lust intuitive with and native to his countrymen. Observe how strongly this is exemplified in the other case. That culprit, more exquisite in her tastes than the worshipper of Thuggee, was not content to put her victim to death by any vulgar and commonplace process — she had no idea of bolting the rich repast ; but, with a luxu rious gratification of her appetite, she, as it were, leisurely sipped the life-stream as it flowed slowly forth. She ad ministered small doses of arsenic to her husband, and, with an epicurean satisfaction which Petronius Arbiter might have envied, enjoyed the pleasure of his death by slow degrees. Previously, it seems, she had had the com fort of disposing of her children in a similar manner. Can we wonder that she shrank from death, as it is said she did, at the foot of the gallows, when she reflected that she was presently going where there were no more hus bands and children to be slowly poisoned? But I must bring this letter to an end ; and so sub scribe myself Yr. friend and cousin, P. Jones. To Maj. Jones, Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. 202 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, LETTEE XXI. MURDER AT BELPER, IN DERBYSHIRE — PROCEEDINGS AT THE INQUEST. London, October 29th, 1853. Dear Major : — In the early part of the year 1851, an awful murder of a lady was perpetrated in Derbyshire. Here is an account of it : "MURDER AT BELPER, IN DERBYSHIRE. A most daring and cold-blooded murder was committed on Saturday, the 2^th ult., at Belper, eight miles from Derby. It appears that a raan, named Anthony Turner, of Lane's End, near Belper, had for some years collected rents for Mrs. Barnes, a widow lady, who lived with a relative, Mr. Bannister, a clergy man of the Church of England, at Field House, Belper. Tur ner having become defaulter to a considerable amount, Mrs. Barnes sent him a letter discharging him from his situation. On the Saturday evening he went to Mr. Haslara's, grocer's shop, and borrowed a large carving-knife. After the knife was given to him, he said that he would do something that would cause him to ' be spoken of,' and walked quickly away. As he was in a very excited state, and had been speaking of his dis missal by Mrs. Barnes, Mr. Haslam ran out and called to him to come back, and he heard Turner call out in reply ' I will not ;' but the night was so dark that he could not see Turner. This was at eight in the evening. Turner then went to Mrs. Barnes's house, to which, however, Mr. Haslam had previously proceeded, and had acquainted the servant of Turner's threats. On Turner's arrival at the house the servant said that Mrs. Barnes could not be seen then ; but Turner rushed up stairs, and the door of Mrs. Barnes's room being fastened, he broke it open, and perpetrated the murder. Meanwhile the servant had ruu to call Mr. Bannister, who, in proceeding up stairs, met Turner with the knife in his hand. A struggle ensued, and Mr. Bannister threw Turner down stairs, and then proceeded to Mrs. Barnes's room, where he fouud her in a dying state. Turner, on leaving the house, attempted to strike the servant with the knife, but she evaded the blow. He then ran out, and BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 203 for the tirae escaped. He is married,, and, having no chUd, he adopted a female infant. He is a tailor by trade, and was for merly a preacher in the Wesleyan Methodist connection. He, is about forty-five years of age, five feet eight inches in height, black eyes, and rather a forbidding appearance. The pohce were immediately _on the alert in pursuit of the raurderer, and Mr. Jedediah Strutt, the magistrate of the district, caused the river to be dragged in order to ascertain whether he had com mitted suicide by drowning himself The Inquest. — On Monday an inquest was opened upon the body at the New Inn, Belper, by Mr. H. Morley, the coroner. The jury, having viewed the body, returned to the inn, and the foUowing evidence was given : — Mr. John Haslam, of Belper-lane, grocer and druggist, said : I knew Turner for twenty years. On Saturday night, about eight o'clock. Turner came to me in the room behind my shop, and sat down. He seemed full of hquor, and I said, ' "Turner, you are full of liquor. ' He said he was drunk, and I told him to compose himself and take a pipe. I then gave him tobacco, and he smoked it and became talkative. He said he had re ceived a notice from Mrs. Barnes that he was discharged frora her service. He read it to rae and my wife. He had received it that morning. I then had to go to a customer in the shop, and Turner, in passing out through the shop, took from the counter a large knife used for cutting cheese, and said, as he went out, ' Excuse my taking this knife. ' I immediately went to the door, and shouted ' HaUoo, Turner, I want to speak to you, come back.' The night was dark, and I could not see him, but I heard him distinctly say, ' I won't.' I then got my hat and stick and foUowed as fast as I could to Mrs. Barnes's lodge, which I reached in about seven rainutes. I saw Mrs. Toralinson at the lodge door, and told her that Turner was in a drunken, excited state, and was coming to Mrs. Barnes's house to do something that 'would be talked of I told Mrs. Tomlinson to go and prevent his being admitted into the house. She went, and returned in a few minutes, saying 'AU is right,' and that Turner was quietly standing in the kitchen. At that instant the alarm bell of the house was rung, and many persons went down to the house. I did not go down myself, but I heard afterwards that Mrs. Barnes's throat was cut. I have not seen Turner, or the knife since. Mary Tomlinson, daughter of the lodge keeper, at Field House, said : Turner had frequently called on Mrs. Barnes on business. My father gave Turner a note from Mrs. Barnes on 204 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, Saturday afternoon, at three o'clock. Turner asked had my father read it, and he replied ' No.' Turner then went away. Mr. Haslam called that evening at eight o'clock, but I did not hear what he said to my mother. I went to the kitchen door of the house, and saw Turner standing against a table. I told him that a gentleman wanted him. He asked who it was, and I said ' Corae and you will see.' Turner said he could not come just then, as the servant had gone up stairs, and he would wait till she came down, and that he would then come. I replied, ' Now be sure. Turner.' He said, ' You go, and I wiU follow you in a few minutes. ' I then went to the lodge, and told my mother what he had said. Turner appeared calm, and spoke in his usual manner to me. As soon as I told my mother the alarm bell was rung. I then ran towards the house, and met Turner running very fast towards the lodge gates. I seized his left arm and said, ' Oh, Turner, what have you been doing ?' He replid, ' You hold off me ; go back ;' and he went towards the lodge, pushing me away from him with great violence with his arms. It was so dark that I could not see whether he had anything in his right hand. I then went to the house, and forced the back door open. Miss Harmer, a lady on a visit there, sent me for Taylor, a constable. Harriet Storer said : 1 have known Mrs. Barnes for the last twenty years. I was in her service ten years as cook. Turner had been in the habit of coUecting rents for her at Derby since April last. Mrs. Barnes was sixty-four years old at the time of her death. Turner had frequently occasion to visit Mrs. Barnes's house. I knew that Mrs. Barnes gave him a discharge on Saturday last in consequence of his not having paid up his arrears. She prepared a notice, which she read over to me ; it discharged hira from receiving any raore rents. I gave the notice to John Tomlinson, the lodge-keeper, to give to Turner. This was about one o'clock on Saturday. I did not see Turner myself until the evening. He came to the house by the back door about a quarter past eight in the evening. He knocked at tbe door, and tl;en came in without the door being opened to him. I met him in the passage as I was going to open the door, having heard his knock. He looked wUd and bad-tem pered, and appeared to me as if he was drunk. He said to me, ' Can I see Mrs. Barnes ? — I want to see her ;' and I repUed, ' If you wiU go into the kitchen, I will go and see. ' He then went into the kitchen, and I went up stairs into Mrs. Barnes's room, and which is caUed 'the nursery.' It is the roora in which Mrs. Barnes transacted her business, and occupied a good BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 205 deal. I found Mrs. Barnes sitting by the fire writing, as I pointed out to the jury this raorning. I told her that Anthony Turner wanted to speak to her below, and that I thought she had better not see him, as he appeared drunk. She replied, 'I won't see hira,' and fastened the door on the inside. She got up, and as I went out she bolted the door behind me. I then went down stairs, and found him in the little room, stand ing in the centre of it, by the dresser. I said to him, ' Turner, you must excuse Mrs. Barnes to-night, she can't see you ; she will see you on Monday.' He then said, ' D you, 1 will see her,' and threw me down with my head against the corner of the table. He then ran up stairs. I heard Mm try to open the door and shake it, and kick it with his feet. He kicked it for about two minutes, and then I went to the Rev. Mr. Ban nister, who was in the dining-room, and requested him to stand about, as Turner was up stairs drunk. I ran up stairs before Mr. Bannister came out of the dining-room, and found Mrs. Barnes's room-door open. I went in and found Turner stand ing before her, with his left knee on her knee, and his left hand on her right shoulder, and a large knife in his right hand, but I could not tell whether or not he was cutting her throat. He was evidently holding it to her throat, but I could not see him cutting, as his back vvas between me and deceased. She had rang the bell before Turner forced his way into the roora, and screamed ' Harriet' twice. She never spoke afterwards. I then rushed down the front stairs. I had previously come up the back stairs. I sent the other servant girl, Hannah Ashton, for Taylor, the poUce constable, and as I turned round at the bottom of the back stairs, I raet Turner coming down thera in great haste, as if he had been thrown down. Two steps from the bottom he recovered his legs. He took hold of my right arm with his bloody hand, and swore he would murder me. I could feel his hand tremble. It was his left hand. He flou rished a large knife over ray head, and made a cut at my face, but I threw my head back, and sprang away from him, and he let go of me at the same moment. The knife did not reach my flesh, but so near was it, that it cut a piece of my cap. I got away into a dark passage, and thence into the breakfast-room. He hstened to find out which way I was gone, and followed me up two steps into a dark passage, but he could not see me. I heard him say, 'D — n you, I shaU see you yet and finish you.' I then heard the alarm-bell ringing loud, and I never heard or saw anything of him afterwards. I remained in the breakfast- room until I heard he was gone. I then returned to Mrs. 18 206 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, Barnes's room up stairs, and found Mr. Bannister there. Mrs. Barnes was sitting on the sofa supported by Mr. Bannister. She was not capable of speaking, and was bleeding very fast. She could not speak, but seemed sensible. I put cold water to her Ups ; she seemed to see it, and squeezed my hand. She soon afterwards ceased to breathe. We laid her down on her back, and after one gasp, she died. Mr. Evans and Mr. Lomas, surgeons, had arrived just before she died. "The Rev. J. Bannister, incumbent of Bridge HUl District Church, Belper, said : The deceased lived with me in the same house ; she was my wife's aunt, and was sixty-four years of age. The first intimation I had ofthe transaction was Harriet com ing to the dining-room about eight o'clock. Miss Harmer and Miss Harrison were in the room. Harriet caUed me to the door, and told me to stand about, as Turner was drunk up stairs with Mrs. Barnes. Mrs. Bannister was in the breakfast- room with eleven of the Sunday School girls. I was at the top of the two steps leading to the little haU, when I heard a great noise up stairs in Mrs. Barnes's roora. I rushed ujJ, and found her room-door open. I saw Mrs. Barnes standing in the middle of the roora motioning with her hands, but I could not teU for what object. I had no idea that she had been mur dered. I at first thought she had a red comforter round her neck, and hanging down her body. It was dark, and I did not at first distinguish the blood. I turned round, and saw Turner in the doorway waving a knife above his head, and looking at her and me. He said nothing, but appeared to be triumphing over what he had done. Imagining that Mrs. Barnes had been insulted, I said, ' Begone ; get out of the house ; I wUl fetch a constable to you.' I then gave another glance at Mrs. Barnes, and, as Turner got to the top of the stairs, I laid ray hands on his shoulder, and threw him down the stairs. I then shouted, ' The constable ! the bell, the bell I' MeanwhUe Miss Harrison and Miss Turner had entered the room. Miss Harrison led Mrs. Barnes to the sofa. Miss Harrison put a handkerchief to the wound in the neck, and we appUed various things. Mrs. Barnes, just before she died, said, ' "Take care of Patience and Louisa,' meaning my wife and my wife's sister. The proceedings were here adjourned to Wednesday morn ing." — Observer, January 5th, 1851. You shall hear more from me on this subject. Mean time, I am, Eespectfully, yours, etc.. To Maj. J. Jones, P. Jones. Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 207 LETTEE XXIL DREADFUL MURDER AT FROME, SOMERSET — VIOLATION AND MURDER — SHOCKING MURDER NEAR LINCOLN — A BROTHER KILLED BY HIS SISTER — SUPPOSED MURDER AT BARNSLEY — ^POISONINGS — A woman's HEAD CUT OFF BY HER SON. London, November 15th, 1853. Dear Major : — In the month of October of the year 1851, a poor girl was murdered in Somersetshire under circumstances of the most shocking brutality. Three men were accused of the crime, arrested and tried for it ; and here follows an account of the trial : "THE FROME MURDER. At the Assizes held at Taunton, on Tuesday, Wilham Spar row, 30, WUliara Maggs, 44, and Robert Hurd, ahas Frorae Bob, 31, were indicted for the wilful raurder of Sarah Watts, at Woodlands, Frome, on the 24th of September last. The very comphcated circurastances of this case, to which no fewer than forty-three witnesses deposed, wdll more clearly appear if given in a narrative form. The unfortunate deceased, Sarah Watts, was a child of 14, the daughter of a small farmer at Woodlands, near Frome. On the 24th of Septeraber, her father and mother left home to attend Frome market, as they were in the habit of doing, leaving the chUd alone in the house. On their return about four o'clock, the father, on going into the mUk-house, discovered his unfortunate child lying dead, with her clothes torn, and her person bruised and bloody. At flrst he had no suspicion of foul play, and, after acquainting his wife that the child was dead, he very quietly went into the fields to drive in some cattle. Upon a surgeon being sent for, it was found that the unfortunate child had been ravished as well as murdered, and that death had been produced by stran gulation arising frora pressure on the windpipe. Upon the wall there were raarks of the girl's shoes, which indicated that she had been taken up by the heels and forced headforemost into a whey tub, the milk in which was afterwards found to be 208 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, discolored, apparently by blood. Upon the waU near the door was found the impress of a left hand, and from the thumb had trickled down some drops of blood. It was also found that the room upstairs had been ransacked, and a watch had been taken, but no money had been left there. There was a silk handkerchief left on the kitchen table. Although the deed was committed in broad daylight, within one hundred yards of the road, and near some houses, there was no eye-witness to any part of the transaction, and the girl had not been heard to cry out. An inquest was held on the body, and an active officer of the detective force was sent to Frome. Shortly after his arrival his suspicions rested upon the prisoners, and he in quired of thera separately where they were on the day of the murder. They all answered with wiUingness, but gave what turned out to be false accounts of their doings on that day. The direction they had taken from hour to hour was traced, and it was proved that Maggs and Sparrow had been seen within half a mile of the house where the murder was commit ted, and they had afterwards come from the direction of the house, and had joined Hurd, who was left some distance off. They then went on to Frome market, where they stood in the market-place, apparently to attract public attention, and they were again iu the evening at a public house. Whilst talking together in the market, a person who was passing, caught the words, 'Watch, but no tin.' These circumstances, the finding of a watch upon Sparrow, and the prior reputation of the prisoners, led to their apprehension, when it was found that Sparrow had a bad thumb, apparently produced by a bite, which he said had been produced by a chap in a fight on Brad ley Fair day ; but persons who saw his hand two days after, and the surgeon who examined it, positively stated that it was such a wound as could not have been done so recently as three days, for that matter had formed beneath it. In addition to this, the handkerchief — the only article left behind by the mur derers — was spoken to, but not very positively, by three wit nesses as having been in Sparrow's possession. On Monday, Sept. 2.9, a fair was held at North Bradley, seven miles from Frome, and when a woman named Watson, asked him had he heard of the murder, he said he had, and that he had seen the dead body on the day after the murder. That she had blows on her head from a stick, and that she had been put in a whey tub, which was covered with blood from her head. It appeared, however, that the discovery of the deceased having been put iuto the whey tub had not been made at the time of this con- BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 209 versation, and, therefore, the prisoner Sparrow's knowledge of the fact seemed unaccounted for. Against Maggs, the evi dence, in addition to the connection with the other prisoners in the movements of the 24th, was of a conversation be tween Maggs and an unknown man in a lane to the foUow ing effect : ' Hast heard any news ?' ' Yes, I've heerd that the London police officer has been to Bill Sparrow, and said to he, 'Ah, my good feUow, I'm glad 'wasn't you committed this murder, for you'll get the free pardon and £50.' To this Maggs replied, ' He'll neither have the pardon nor the £50, for he's the man that killed her.' It was, however, shown that the witness who spoke to this conversation had been in prison for a trifling offence. This witness had been much maltreated since he had given evidence. His windows had been broken in, and he had been obliged to leave the neighborhood. In deed, a system of terrorism appeared to have prevaUed — the witnesses spoke for the most part as if in great fear of the prisoners, whose attempts at intimidation obliged his lordship more than once to interfere, and to order the jaUor to see that they kept their places. The court was occupied for eleven hours in hearing the case for the Crown, and the jury were then locked up at 9 o'clock, P. M. On Wednesday morning, Mr. Edwards addressed the jury for the prisoners, and commented on the fact that Sparrow had been apprehended merely because a watch was found upon him, which, however, turned out never to have belonged to Watts. He also complained of no attorney having been allowed by the magistrates to be present at the previous investigations ; and he further complained of the raanner in which the detective officer had suddenly and abruptly questioned the prisoners on the subject. He also remarked on the fact, that counsel for the prosecution had not produced the statements which the prisoners had made. Mr. Justice Erie then summed up ; the tenor of his charge was in favor of an acquittal. The jury then retired for two hours, and returned a verdict of not guilty. On this, Hurd exclaimed: 'My lord, we are all innocent. Providence has done this.' Maggs said, 'I declare to God, we are aU innocent' Sparrow : 'We were not within a mile of the spot. God has done it.' Hurd: ' My lord, it wiU be all found out within a month. Let me speak to Mr. Smith ' (the detective officer). They aU said, ' Let us see Mr. Smith.' " — Observer, April 12th, 1852. 18* 0 210 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, You will perceive from this report that these men were acquitted. The case was not fuU made out against them, perhaps. But some vian or inen murdered and mutilated the poor child in this horrible way. And what do you think of the civihzation of a place where such a deed could occur, and go unpunished ? And what of a place where a father is to be found, who, returning to his home, finds a daughter (whom a short time previously he had left in health) lying before him a bruised and bloody corpse, and who is yet capable of going off immediately and " quietly into the fields to drive in some cattle ? " Here is an account of the murder and violation of an other poor child in the spring of 1852, exhibiting circum stances of horror, over which the fiends in hell might rejoice with exceeding great joy : " VIOLATION AND MURDER. On Thursday, a lengthened inquiry, adjourned from Tuesday evening last, was resumed and concluded before Mr. Baker and a respectable jury, at the Fisherman's Boat, Bromley, relative to the death of Sarah Ann Smith, aged 14, whose body was found in the River Lea, near Three Mill-lane. The inquiry had been adjourned for a post mortem examination of the body. Emily Smith, a married woman, residing in Frederick street, MUe End New Town, said that the deceased lived with her mother at Bow. Ou Friday morning last, she came to witness to assist in cleaning her rooms. She was with witness the whole of the day, and left about eight o'clock at night to re turn to her mother. She was very cheerful all the time she was with witness, and, on leaving, observed that she would soon be home. S. Edells, in employment at the Corn Mills, Bromley, deposed to finding the body in the river. The raother of the deceased, who resides at Chapel House, Bow, stated that her daughter was a steady girl, and that she had never on any previous occasion been absent from home. Mr. C. E. Garman, surgeon, Albert Place, Bow, said that he vvas directed by the constable on Saturday week to see the body of the deceased, when, on examination, he found suffi cient evidence to convince hira that the person ofthe deceased had been very recently abused. He had since made, by order of the coroner, a post mortem examination of the body, and BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 211 was fuUy confirraed in the opinion that her person had been violated within a short period before her death. On open ing the chest, he discovered that the second, third, and fifth ribs on the right side were fractured. The whole of the internal organs were healthy, with the exception of the brain, which was very much congested, the effect of sufibcation. Foreman : Would not a violent blow by a stick have caused the fracture of the ribs ? Witness : Not in this case, as there are no external marks of violence, which is extraordinary. Besides, a blow frora a stick would not have left an intermediate rib unfractnred. In my opinion, the fractures were occasioned by some violent pressure. The Coroner reraarked that there could be but little doubt in the minds of the jury that the unfortunate child had been violated by some villain or viUains, who, in order to avoid de tection, had destroyed her life. They might safely come to the conclusion that wilful murder had been committed. Yerdict, wilful murder against some person or persons un known. A reward has been offered by the Secretary of State on con viction ofthe atrocious ruffians." — Observer, April 5th, 1852. Early in the same year, I met with the following report of a barbarous murder : "SHOCKING MURDER NEAR LINCOLN. On Thursday week a shocking murder was discovered to have been committed by a man upon his mother. The scene of the tragedy was a sraall house at Scotherne, near Lincoln. The name of the murdered woman was Sarah Webster, a widow, about sixty-seven years of age ; aud the name of the murderer is John King, a farm laborer, her iUegitimate son, with whom his victim had resided since the 21st ult. The unfortunate de ceased was well known at Lincoln, where she had resided for the last twenty years, the greater part of which period she kept a house of ill-fame, where her own daughters resided with her in a state of prostitution. She was married some time after the birth of the prisoner, and had several children by her husband, whose name was Webster. It appears that the pri soner is a married man, and has a son twelve years of age, and a daughter seventeen. He has been subject to fits ; and his wife, who is in the habit of going out to work, had sent for 212 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, her to take care of him in her absence. On the day preceding the murder he struck his mother a blow as she was giving him some tea, and from that tirae she appeared terrified at his vio lence. On Thursday week the murdered woman was left alone with the prisoner, his wife and daughter having gone to a funeral in the village of Scotherne. The person who Uves next door to the prisoner was returning home about four o'clock, when the prisoner beckoned at her from the window ; and, as she approached, he put out his hands, and said, ' Come on, I have had a spree, and am ready for you again.' On entering the house she discovered the unfortunate woman seated in a chair, and weltering in her blood. Her head was hanging on her right arm, and she was bleeding from the mouth and face. An alarm was made, and several neighbors were soon on the spot. They discovered that the deceased was quite dead. It is beheved that the prisoner had beaten his mother with his fists about the head and face, and that she had fallen on the edge of the chair, breaking her jawbone in the centre. The blood had spurted through the spindles ofthe chair, and stained the wall underneath the window. The prisoner's right hand was covered with blood. An inquest was held on the body immediately afterwards by Mr. Hitchens, the coroner ; and after the examination of a number of witnesses, and a post mortem examina.tion of the body, the jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against the prisoner, and he was forthwith committed to the assizes at Lincoln." — Observer, March 1th, 1852. You will observe that this was the murder of a mother by her own son. He was an illegitimate son, it is true, and his mother was an infamous woman; but in other countries, certainly, the natural instincts are not oblite rated from such people. As another example of that moral ossification of the heart which seems to abound in this country, take the fol lowing case, which occurred between brother and sister, also in the spring of 1852 : "A BROTHER KILLED BY HIS SISTER. On Wednesday last an inquest was held at Coleford, on the body of Edwin Gwyn, 26, laborer, of Lane End, residing with his mother and sister. It appears that on Friday, the 27th BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 213 ult, deceased asked his mother for money to go to Coleford with. She refused ; his sister, Ann Gwyn, saying, ' Edwin, you cannot expect mother to be always giving you money.' Deceased then commenced striking and kicking her about the body and head. She was at this time ironing clothes ou a table. She then ran out of the house with the flat-iron in her hand, deceased following her. When she got out of doors, she turned around and threw the iron at him, which struck him on the right side of his head, causing the blood to flow from his ears, nose, and mouth. Mr. Batten, surgeon, of Coleford, was sent for immediately ; but, deceased still getting worse, in about half an hour he went up stairs to bed, became insensible, and never spoke or moved afterwards, and on Sunday he died. Mr. Batten made a post mortem examination of the body, and on opening the head, found the skull fractured about an inch above the ear, extending to the ear, and into the base of the skull. There was a slight indentation to the fracture, which corresponded exactly with the heel part of the flat-iron. He also found some coagulated blood under the skull, on the brain, caused by the rupture of a blood-vessel and the fracture of the skull. The jury returned a verdict of excusable homicide — deciding thatthe act was done in self-defence." — Observer, March 15th, 1852, A few days afterwards, the two cases foUowing were reported by the same paper : "SUPPOSED MURDERS AT BARNSLEY. On Wednesday morning, some colUers, who reside on the premises formerly occupied as the Woodman Inn, near Barns- ley, started for their work. When about twenty yards from their own doors, they found a female named Annie Laycock, aged twenty-three years, lying with her daughter Emily, aged ten raonths, in her arms, both of whom had their throats cut. The head of the child was nearly severed frora its body. De ceased was married about three years ago to an excavator named Thomas Smith ; but, in consequence of Smith having another wife, Laycock left hira, and has since been cohabiting with a person named James GledhiU, a poacher. They resided in a batch of houses adjoining to Sheffield and Walie- field turnpike-road, about 200 yards from the place where the bodies were found. It is stated that he was in the habit of Ul-using the poor woman. On Monday he was drinking at 214 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, Barnsley, and when he went home he beat her so much that the neighbors interfered ; but he continued his ill-treatment. GledhUl has been taken into custody." — Observer, March 2Qth, 1852. " POISONING. At Bury St. Edmunds Assizes, on Thursday, William Ro binson, aged eighty-two, was convicted of the murder of Ann Cornell, at Great 'Thurlow, in August last. The prisoner, who appeared in the dock almost in a dying state, lived at Great Thurlow, near Newmarket, with his daughter-in-law, Mary RoUinson, the widow of his son, who died in 1850. In 1851, one Jermyn courted Mrs. RoUinson, and the old man strenu ously opposed the match, but without effect — it being deter mined by the lovers that they would marry, and remove Mrs. RolUnson's furniture from the prisoner's house. Under these circumstances, it was shown that one day in August, when Ann CorneU, the sister of Mary RoUinson, came to dine with her, tliey were both taken ill immediately after eating some pud ding made of flour kept by Mary RoUinson in an open trough, and eventually Ann CorneU died and was buried — it being then supposed by the medical man attending her that she died of Enghsh cholera. Before this, similar but not fatal symp toms arose after Mrs. RoUinson had partaken of dinner ; and some time afterwards Mrs. RoUinson was again taken ill after eating dumplings raade from the same flour. Inquiries were then made, whieh left no doubt that the prisoner had put arsenic into the flour. Ann Cornell's body was exhumed, and it appeared she had died from taking arsenic. The prisoner, whose aim appeared to have been to destroy Mary RoUinson, was sentenced to death." — Observer, March 22th, 1852. Here is another report of a mother's murder by her son about this time. I shudder whilst I enclose the ghastly picture which it presents. "HORRIBLE MURDER IN LAMBETH. A Woman's Head cut off by her Son. A sensation vvhich it would be diffioult to describe was caused yesterday (Saturday) afternoon, throughout the neigh borhood of Kennington Road and Lambeth, in consequence BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 215 of the following frightful murder, committed by a young man upon his mother, a respectably connected female, of the name of Elizabeth Wheeler, a widow, of about forty-four years of age. The following particulars connected with this dreadful tragedy were obtained on the spot a few minutes after the melancholy occurrence : The house in which the tragedy took place was No. 1 Dur ham Place, Kennington Road, and immediately facing Beth lehem Hospital for lunatics. The buUding was occupied by Mr. Wickens, a dyer and scourer, a famUy named Toms, and the unfortunate woman who has been thus prematurely hurried into eternity, and her son, a young man about twenty-eight years of age. Yesterday afternoon, at a few minutes before one o'clock, Mrs. Toms, who was in the house at the time, had her atten tion directed to a loud scream proceeding from the upper part of the building, which was succeeded by a heavy fall of some thing on the floor. She immediately went to ascertain the cause, when the son of the unfortunate woman made a hasty retreat out of the buUding, carrying in his hand a stick and a knife. Mrs. Toms, having entered the apartment occupied by the poor creature, was horror-struck at finding the trunk of the woman lying on the floor in a pool of blood, and the head, which was corapletely severed from the neck, was lying on a table in the same room, the flesh still moving to and fro. Mrs. Toms instantly hastened down stairs, and informed her hus band that the young raan had raurdered his raother. By that period, he had proceeded some distance up the Kennington Road, in the direction of the common. Mr. Toms, however, never lost sight of him, but foUowed his track until he got within a' few yards of Chester street. At that point police- constable Lockyer, No. 135, came along, and having had his attention directed to the alleged murderer, he forthwith secured hira. He at once admitted that he had murdered his poor mother, and informed the officer that he first struck her on the head with an iron, and afterwards cut her head off by means of an axe and a knife. The constable at once took the man to the station-house in Kennington Lane ; and on his way thither he told the officer he was now sorry that he had com mitted the murder, but the fact was he could not help it, for his mother and other persons were continually torturing him and foUowing him about. He also informed the same officer that he had been confined in a lunatic asylum, and had not 216 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, been liberated long. The murderer, when arrested, did not offer the least resistance, and, to all outward appearance, did not feel the awful position he had placed himself in. From the state of the room, there is no doubt entertained but the unfortunate female was in the act of leaving the apart ment with a saucepan of greens in her hand, in order to strain off the water, when her son gave her a violent blow on the head, which felled her to the floor ; after which, he must have knelt upon her body and performed the act of decapitation. The saucepan was lying near the door, and the steam was stiU ascending from the greens therein. In the midst of the pool of blood was lying a pillow, which it is believed the murderer had placed there to prevent the gore frora flying over his clothes. When apprehended by Lockyer, not a spot of blood was perceptible upon his clothes, and his hands were perfectly clean — leading to the supposition that after perpetrating the dreadful deed he had washed his hands. In the afternoon, the prisoner was examined before the Hon. Mr. Norton, at Lambeth police office. The prisoner, on being placed at the bar, looked wildly around him, and ap peared to be either unconscious or indifferent to the position in which he was placed. He was dressed in a black frock- coat, black waistcoat, and light woollen trowsers. He had a black scarf, or neckerchief, twisted rather than tied round his neck. He is a well-made man, with large black eyes, regular features, and an intelligent countenance." — Observer, April 12th, 1852. I doubt not but that this wretched young man was insane ; and I refer to the case for the purpose of showing, not that a sane man committed this unnatural and savage crime, but as an illustration of the way in which insanity tends to develop itself in this blood-stained land. In an other country, where the lunatic had not been all his hfe familiar with deeds of blood, by hearing of or witnessing them, and where he had not, as it were, inherited this taste for blood, his insanity would have manifested itself, I have no doubt, in some milder form ; and at all events (especiaUy if he was not a raving and raging maniac, as this man was not), would never have urged him to the perpetration of such a crime upon the person of his BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 217 own mother. The case thus serves to show, in another aspect, what manner of men this English people are. I wfll resume the subject in my next; and am. Very respectfully, Yr. friend and cousin, P. Jones. To Maj. J. Jones, PinevUle, Ga., U. S. of America. LETTEE XXIII. ALLEGED MURDER OP A GENTLEMAN BY HIS HOUSEKEEPER. London, November 22d, 1853. Dear Major : — On Wednesday, the 2d of February, in the present year, a housekeeper was charged before the Lambeth Police Court with the murder of an aged and infirm gentleman, of whom she had the charge. I fur nish you with a report of the case from a paper of the 6th of February. You wUl find it both curious and shocking. "ALLEGED MURDER OP A GENTLEMAN BY HIS HOUSEKEEPER. On Wednesday, Elizabeth Yickers, a middle-aged and well- dressed female, was charged at Lambeth Police Court with having by violence caused the death of Mr. William Jones, an aged gentleman of considerable property, with whom she had lived for many years as housekeeper. The death of Mr. Jones was discovered on the 10th ult., two days after it occurred, and its causes were investigated by a jury, who attributed the event to a fall. The facts detailed below, however, led to the prisoner's apprehension, notwith standing the verdict of the inquest. The first witness called was Mr. David Key, a surgeon, of Brixton, who said : I attended Mr. Jones, who lived at Spring field Cottage, near Acre lane, at intervals, for several years. On the 10th of January I was called to Mr. Jones' house about 19 218 THE slaveholder abroad ; OR, about half past 5 or 6 o'clock in the morning, and went there a little after 8. I found Mr. Jones dead, lying upon a sofa in the back parlor. He was dressed as usual, aud tying on a blanket which was wrapped round him. The prisoner was in the room at that time. I asked her how long he had been lying there. She said she could not get him up to bed the night before ; that he asked her for a httle water, which she gave him, and that he died at half past 3 o'clock in the morn ing. She said she could not get him up stairs, because he was so helpless, and that he had expressed a wish that she should sit up with him. I asked her vvhat time he was down on the Sunday (the day before), and she said she could not tell me the exact time, but that he had dined up-stairs, and after that he came down. I asked her if he had had any spirits, and she said he had had a little gin and water, bnt could not teU the exact quantity. She said he had lain on the sofa frora the time he came down until he died. I asked her if he had made any snoring noise, and she said no. I asked lier if he was insensi ble, and she said no. She said he died directly after taking the water. I asked her if he had swallowed auy. It appeared to me to be a very confused account that she gave. I theu examined the body, and found several wounds on the forehead. The witness here described the wounds with considerable mi nuteness ; they were contused wounds, and seven or eight in number, but the tvvo principal were one ou the forehead, and the other on the right temple. The lower cartilage of the nose was also broken. The injuries could not have been inflicted more than five days before, but might have been of much later date. Corresponding with the bruise on the right temple, there was a sufficient effusion of blood between the dura mater and the skull-bone to press upon the brain, by which death was caused. The prisoner told witness the injuries had been caused by falls The old man was decidedly a healthy subject. No single fall would produce such wounds, nor, in witness' opinion, could they be accounted for by a succession of faUs. Witness added : I have been to see the deceased several times, when I could not get in, but not for a month or tvro before his death. I saw him once in August last ; he had then two black eyes and a slight scratch or two upon the nose, and hkewise upon the chin. The prisoner was present at the time, and I asked him, in her presence, if he had faUen down stairs. He made no answer ; but the prisoner, before he had time to do so, exclaimed, ' Don't answer,' and he did not. Miss Susan Allen, of No. 5, Springfield Cottages, Acre-lane, BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 219 Brixton, said : The deceased resided next door to me. On New Year's-day last Mr. Jones came to the fence of the garden and spoke to me. He was then in excellent health and very cheerful, but he had a very large bruise, as big as a walnut, ou the right side of his head, near the temple, and a large bruise above that as large as a middle sized teacup on the right side of the head. He had his nightcap on at the time, and it was much stained with blood. It was put on so as not to cover the injuries, so that I could plainly see them. I have frequently seen bruises on him before this, and he has complained to me about them. I have seen the prisoner beat him violently and pull him about by his grey hair. I have seen her pull him from the garden fence to his own house by the hair, beating him on the head and shoulders with her clenched fists. I have seen her beat him with both her fists about the head. This was in the course of last spring. I have seen violence used by her in the autumn before. She pulled him in then by the hair of the head, and beat hira with her fists on his head ; and she said then she would make hira remember going out, as she had desired him not, while she was out. For the last twelvemonth not a week had passed without my hearing her beating him. I can hear it from outside the house. I had listened at his re quest. The prisoner frequently came home intoxicated. I believe she has scarcely been seen sober for an entire day for a year. She told me that Mr. Jones had made over £1000 in their joint names, and she wished it in her own name, but Mr. Key had persuaded Mr. Jones not to do so ; but she would make him reraember going from his promise as long as he lived : that she would let him know tliat she was a Leon re solved ; and as he had caUed upon Mr. Key unknown to her, he should never go out of the house by himself again ; aud, if Mr. Key came there, she would kick him out. On the Sunday foUowing, Mr. Jones came to me and showed me bruises on his head._ His eyes were blackened and his head bruised and bleeding. I have repeatedly heard her drive him up stairs, and lock him up, then go out, and come home drunk. On the Friday night before he died, at about 11 o'clock, the prisoner came home drunk and lay on the ground outside their door for about three-quarters of an hour, abusing Mr. Key, and call ing out, 'Old Jones, come and let me in.' Then the door opened, but was shut again, for the policeman was then with her. When the policeman went away, the prisoner went in and shut the door, and in two minutes after I heard a heavy fall in the passage or on the stairs. It appeared to me that 220 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, the prisoner had fallen on Mr. Jones at the door. I went in side then, and went to bed. The next morning, at 1 o'clock, heard the door of the house shut. At 9 o'clock I found the shutters still closed. At 1 o'clock in the day I saw the pri soner, and was going to speak to her about Mr. Jones, but she shunned me. I listened the whole of that day and night, but could not hear Mr. Jones. He had a cough, which I heard generally, but on that day I could not hear it. On the Sun day morning I looked for the prisoner, but could not see or hear anything of her, and at 11 o'clock I went to church. When I returned, at 1 o'clock, I still found the shutters closed. I then looked at Mr. Jones's window, and saw the blind up, and the prisoner stood at the side of the window. She looked very agitated, and I nodded to her, but she did not return it, and seemed much confused. I repeated my nod to her, but she did not notice it, and I then went to the back of the house, and found it fastened. I watched the house, but saw no one go out. At 5 o'clock I heard a cab drive away from the gate, and some person speaking. At that raoment the prisoner came out and picked up the papers that had been thrown into the garden by the postman at 9 o'clock in the morning, and had been lying there aU day. I watched the house all day, and saw no light or heard any person until the Monday, when I saw Mr. Key come with the undertaker. On the New Year's Day, when she came home in the evening, the prisoner beat him, and threatened that if he showed himself out again, she would kick his life out. I distinctly heard the prisoner say, ' I'll tear your eyes out, you old devU,' and then I heard blows and a sound as if a stick was being used. The deceased fell on the floor and cried and groaned. She beat him so violently that I think he was past doing anj'thing. She then made him lie down on the sofa, and said she should leave hira, and he begged her uot to do so. She went out at half-past six, lock ing hira up, and then she was intoxicated. Mrs. Annie Gray, a respectable married female, said : The house I lived in was next door to the late Mr. Jones's, but that house was left on the 6th of December last. I knew Mr. Jones well, but never had a conversation with him but twice. The first time, in July, I told him I was sorry to see him so poorly and infirm, and added that it was a pity to see him in the state he was in. liis reply to me then was, ' I ara a miserable man.' I told him that if he wanted anything, and tapped at the wall, I would render him all the assistance in my power. I have often heard cries iu the house of the deceased. Mr. Jones and BILLY BUCK S VISIT TO ENGLAND. 221 the prisoner used to have serious disputes about money raat ters. I have heard the latter say, ' Give me the money and let me go.' At other tiraes I heard her beat the old man. The deceased used to say to her, 'Don't leave me.' I distinctly heard the sound of a slap on the face which the prisoner gave the deceased. I have frequently heard them cpiarrel, aud heard the deceased utter the cries of ' raurder ' on two or three occasions. The first time I heard these cries was hi the month of July, I think, and on that occasion my husband heard them as well as myself, and he spoke to a policeman about it. The next time I heard the cries of ' murder ' was in the latter end of November. About that time they were quarrelling almost daily, and I then heard the sound of blows. In one of these quarrels I heard the prisoner say ' Give me the money and let me go,' and his reply was, ' Don't leave me ; I cannot lose you.' She then asked him how he dared to go to Mr. Key ? The old man not answering her, I heard several blows and groans, as ifthey came from a person in intense agony. I have seen gentlemen apply for admission, but refused. I have let gen tlemen over the wall of my garden, on their telling me that the prisoner would not let them in, though I knew she was in at the time. This was in the month of October. They rang the beU, and Mr. Jones came out to speak to them, and said he could not admit them. They were nephews of the deceased, and said they particularly wished to take Mr. Jones away, as they understood his life was in danger. Miss Maria Hammond, who also lived next door to the de ceased, detailed at some length the particulars of what she saw and heard of the prisoner and the deceased. She said that on the night on which Mr. Jones died, she was much disturbed by the quarreUing between the prisoner and the deceased. In the course ofthe night she was awoke by one of these quar rels. From the voices she could distinctly tell that there were ouly the prisoner and the deceased in the room (the back parlor) at the time. Distinctly heard the prisoner talk angrily, and heard the deceased say, ' Oh, what do you say ?' Imme diately after this she heard a heavy fall on the floor, and this was followed by a perfect death-like silence, during which wit ness did not hear even a breathing or whisper. This wag broken by the prisoner opening the door and admitting, as the witness believed, some persons to her assistance, as she could distinctly hear several voices ; and, for the reraaining part of the morning, the noises from the room appeared to be most unpleasant. 19* 222 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD ; OR, Mr. EUiott : ' What did this noise resemble ?' Witness : ' The scratching and scraping of the floor with a shovel' PoUce constable, John Grant, 170 P, said that on the morn ing of the 10th of January, he was on duty in Acre-lane, Brixton, and at about five o'clock in the morning he saw the prisoner come out of the house of Mr. Jones, and go in at the gate of a person named Evans, which was three doors off. He wished her ' good morning,' but she made him no reply. She appeared to him to have been drinking, and seemed much frightened. He saw no more of her that raorning. Mr. Wm. Jones, 155 Tottenham-court-road, said — ' The de ceased, Mr. Wm. Jones, was my uncle. In the month of August last, I visited at his late residence, and on my entering the house I found him shaving hiraself, and could see that he had marks of serious violence on his face. I asked him how he had received them, upon which he exclaimed, ' Hush, hush, she's in the next room ; I can't teU you now, but wOl presently.' The door of the next room was opened, and the prisoner, who must have heard my question, entered the room where we were, and my uncle seemed so nervous about it that I did not press the question a second time, as the prisoner took care not to leave us alone, or give us an opportunity. I have made four or five attempts to see my uncle, but could not, as the prisoner would not admit me inside the house, or to his presence.' Mr. EUiott having announced his intention of sending the case before a jury, the witnesses were bound over to prosecute, but the prisoner was remanded. She left the bar with a care lessness amounting to levity. The police officers, in searching the house of the late Mr. Jones, found the will of the deceased, frora which it appears that the property amounts to £3000, and that, after bequeath ing £200 a piece to two of his nephews, £100 to a third, and £300 to Mr. David Key, his medical adviser, he left the resi due, with his furniture, to his housekeeper, Elizabeth Yickers — at present in custody ; so that, after paying the funeral and other expenses, she would be entitled to over £2000. The reports of the inquest having disclosed that Yickers was a legatee, last Monday's post brought a letter addressed to her (now in the hands of the police), of which the follow ing is a copy : — ' Coventry, January 29. ' Madam, — I have taken the Liberty of writing these few lines hoping that It will not give any offence. I have applied BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. • 223 to you has I am In want of a good domesticated Wife, and no doubt has you have lost your Master No doubt but what you should Like a good home and a good partner and If you think any thing about It Please to let me know by the return of Post and Please to let me know Particulars I mentioned that his to ask you your age To Se If they wiU correspond with mine for My Age his 40 Though I have seen you once or twice. And you Perhaps dont know Me But if you answer this immediately you wiU Soon Se me If you are not engaged with any one. ' I Remain yours RespectfuUy, C. H , Coventry. ' My address his this Mr cutler Street Coventry War.' "—Weekly Dispatch, Feb. Uh, 1858. Is it not enougji to try the nerves of as stout a man as you are. Major, to think of what that aged and helpless sufferer endured during those dreadful days and nights when he was piteously, and like a child, trembling, cry ing, and begging, under the torments of that she-devil? Uncle Tom and his persecutors are fictions ; and this peo ple, men, women, and chUdren, are weeping over these fictions, supposed to have happened in the far-off valley of the Mississippi, whilst they have no tears to shed over the /acfa here related, and which expose the hell of tor ture to which this old gentleman was subjected in this city of London, by a monster as odious as Legree. In deed, if he thus called Legree were anything but a fig ment in the imagination of a shrewd Yankee woman, I should certainly apologize to him for the comparison I bave made. His victim had no such claims upon his mercy as had this old man upon his destroyer. His vic tim, though represented as innocent and inoffensive, was not, from years, infirmities, and habit, so entirely depend ent upon him as was this sufferer upon his persecutor ; nor had the slave-master been indebted to his victim for striking benefits and favors. Such are the thoughts that passed through my mind when I read this account; and I think you will agree with me that they were natural and reasonable. On a subsequent day, this woman was again brought before the magistrate, and I send you a report of what transpired then and there. 224 • THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, " THE ALLEGED MURDER AT BRIXTON. On Tuesday, Ehzabeth Yickers, late housekeeper to Mr. WUliam Jones, of Springfield cottages, Brixton, and who stood remanded for the willful murder of her late master, was again placed at the liar of the Lambeth police court, before Mr. Elliott, for final examination. Mr. Ebsworth, from the office of Messrs. Scadding and Son, Gordon square, who were for many years solicitors to the de ceased, and are at present employed by his nephew, attended for the prosecution ; and Mr. Solomon for the defence ; the court was much crowded. Sergeant George Quinnear, P. 1, deposed that, since the prisoner's last examination, he, accompanied by his super intendent, Mr. Lund, visited the late residence of the deceased (Mr. Jones), for the purpose of making a more minute search of the things in the house. On examining the couch in the back parlor, on which the deceased was represented to have died, they found stains of blood on the lining at the top, or head part. Mr. EUiott : How came you to see the hning ? Sergeant Quinnear : The horsehair covering, your worship, vvas worn away, and the stains of blood were visible on the canvass that reraained. There was a small bed placed on this couch, and on two places in this bed marks of blood were quite visible. The prisoner here, in a most vehement and violent manner, exclaimed, ' No, no ! I say no.' Sergeant Quinnear : On removing a colored cotton case from a pillow used on the couch, and turning it inside out, we found evident marks of blood on it, which it had been endeavored to remove by washing, but which were, notwithstanding, stiU quite observable. Prisoner (vehemently) : They are not stains of blood, but of porter. Quinnear : On searching among the dirty linen, heaps of which were in all parts of the house, we found another sheet with stains of blood on it, and this we have taken away with the pillowcase. We searched the house very carefully, and could find no money, though, from inquiries I have made, I have reason to believe that a short time before, the deceased, Mr. Jones, had received £28 odd, the amoimt of his dividends. The only sum found was £1 6s. 6d., which was on the person of the prisoner when she was taken into custody. Since the BILLY BUCK'S VISIT TO ENGLAND. 225 last examination I have seen a man named CoUins, a gardener, who had been examined before the coroner's jury, and who, on being so examined, swore that he had seen the deceased fall in his own garden, when his head came with some violence against the wall I have asked this person to point out the spot where he saw the deceased fall, and he has done so ; but it is my opinion that, from his description, it is quite impossible, if he even had fallen there, that he could have bit his head against the wall or injured himself Mr. Solomon objected to this hearsay evidence, and the opinion founded upon it being placed on the depositions. Mr. Elhott admitted that it was not strictly evidence, and, therefore, would not appear on the depositions. The solicitor engaged for the prosecution might call Collins if he thought proper. To Sergeant Quinnear : Have you anything further to say? — Quinnear: Only this, your worship; that the pri soner bears a shocking character in the neighborhood, and has been frequently led home quite drunk by diff'erent and strange men. Mr. Solomon : That forms no part of the charge against her. Sergeant Quinnear : Well, I have only to add, that we found the hou'se in a shocking state. In fact, it stank most offen sively—heaps of soiled and half-washed clothes were in every part of it, and in my opinion not a single article had been washed there for five or six months. Prisoner : How do you know that ? Quinnear : I was told it by Miss AUen, who informed me that for several months she has not observed a single article hung out to dry. Prisoner : Miss Allen had better mind her own business. John Neale, shopman to Mr. Fillmer, pawnbroker, in Ken nington road, opposite Kennington common, deposed, that the silver snuff-box, the silver watch, and other articles he then produced, had been pawned with him at his master's, on the 13th of last month, for £3, by the prisoner. She then gave the name of Elizabeth Yickers, and her residence in Acre lane, Brixton. Prisoner: I did pawn the things, and the property is my own, though Jones may swear to it, if he dares. 'The articles were purchased for and presented to me. (The prisoner here became so vehement and violent, that her own solicitor had to beg of her to be quiet, assuring her that by her conduct she was doing herself much mischief). p 226 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OH, Mr. William Jones, the nephew of the deceased, next got into the witness box, and, wheu sworn, said that, to the best of his belief, the watch and other articles produced belonged to his uncle. Prisoner : Then you have sworn to a lie. They are mine ; and therefore you have taken a false oath. The snuff-box was given to me by your uncle, and also the watch iv d other things. The prisoner was here asked in the usual manner if she had anything to say to the charge, and Mr. Solomon rephed in the negative. Upon which Mr. Elliott committed her to take her trial at the Central Criminal Court, for the wUful murder of her late master, Mr. WiUiam Jones." — Observer, February lith, 1853. I will continue the subject in my next; and in the mean time, am, Eespectfully, Yr. friend and cousin, P. Jones. To Maj. J. Jones, Pineville, Ga., U.S. of America. LETTEE XXIV. MURDER ON THE HIGHWAY IN ESSEX INQUEST ON THE BODY CONFESSION OF THE MURDERER DREADFUL MURDER IN DEVONSHIRE — ATROCIOUS MURDER AT WAKEFIELD. London, November 29th, 1853. Dear Major : — On Tuesday, the 8th day of February, in the present year, at about nine o'clock in the morning, a foot passenger was murdered on one of the high-roads of one of the metropolitan counties, within nine miles of the heart of London, and under circumstances of shock ing barbarity. The murdered man was on his way to the raiUoad station at Ilford, it seems. There were at least BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 227 two witnesses of the deed, and yet, to use the language of a paper from which I shall presently send you an ac count of the murder, " Strange to say, though the ter rible crime was perpetrated in open day, the murderer did not escape, only, as it were, by a miracle. For a full hour, the criminal was missing ; and then he was arrested only by an accident. If he had passed by the direct road to the metropolis, he would in that period have attained the outskirts of town, and would have soon been lost to pursuit in the streets and alleys of "Whitechapel. As it was, it would appear that he missed his road, and, like a doomed man, made a rotary or circular movement, which brought him back again to the presence of the corpse of his victim. Then he was secured." Here is a report of the case : "DARING MURDER ON THB HIGHWAY IN ESSEX — APPREHEN SION OF THE MURDERER. A most appalling murder was committed on Tuesday morn ing, on the turnpike road between London and Romford. The unfortunate victim was a very respectable and worthy man, named Toller, a commission agent, who resided with his wife and four children on Chadwell Heath, near Romford, for several years. Mr. Toller was in the practice of visiting London almost daily on business. He left his horae on Tuesday morning at eight o'clock, with the intention, it is believed, of walking to Ilford, and taking the train for London. About fifteen or twenty minutes before nine o'clock, he was met on the high road by an Hi-looking tramp, whose intention, no doubt, was to rob the unfortunate man. 'The fellow struck Mr. Toller a vio lent blow on the head with a stick, which caused him to stagger. Mr. Toller called out for assistance, and his cries attracted the attention of a man and his wife at work in an adjoining field, who saw the murderer strike Mr. ToUer repeatedly with the stick. They called out to the man to desist, and hastened to wards the road ; but, before they could reach the end of the field, they saw the ruffian take a clasp knife from his pocket, with which he deliberately cut the throat of his victim, and nearly severed his hea'l from his body. The murderer imme diately fled. The man and his wife in the field were, to use their own words, so horrified at the deed they had just wit nessed, that they made no effort to pursue the murderer, who 228 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, made his way towards London. They, however, gave imme diate information to the first police constable they met with, and soon afterwards Mr. Howie, the superintendent of the K division of police, rode into Ilford, and, on being informed of the murder, gave directions to a number of mounted and dis mounted police officers to pursue the murderer, who, singularly enough, after the commission of the horrible act, lost his way, and being unacquainted with the road, made a detour and came back to within three hundred yards of the spot where he com mitted the murder. He was immediately pointed out by the man WiUis, who saw the murder committed, and was at once taken into custody by Metcalf, 142 K., who handcuffed hira, and proceeded with him to the station-house at Ilford. A few hours afterwards Mr. Howie procured the attendance of Mr. Octavius Mashiter, a county magistrate, and the prisoner, who gave the name of Charles Saunders, was formally arraigned before the justice, and charged with the wilful murder of Mr. Toller. WiUis and his wife identified Saunders, and detaUed the circumstances of the murder. Metcalf also gave evidence of the prisoner's apprehension, and Mr. Mashiter remanded him to Ilford gaol until Saturday (yesterday). It appears from inquiries made by Mr. Superintendent Howie that Saunders is a native of Mortlake, in Surrey, where he is well known. He is a heavy-looking, repulsive feUow, about 32 years of age, and 5 feet 4 inches in height. The deceased would have proved more than a match for him if he had not first struck him with a stick on the back of the head. The scene of this tragical occurrence is 8^ miles from White chapel Church, and 3 miles from Romford." — Observer, Feb. lith, 1853. Eevolve in your mind for a moment the awful brutality of this bloody scene, and you will readily agree with the following remarks, made by the editor of the " Observer," (and in the same paper from which I have taken the above account,) viz.: " That it is a remarkable fact that in a country so highly civilized as England, with a police and with a priesthood which costs an enormous annual sura to maintain, such a crime could not only be conceived but committed, within haU of at least two workingraen, in the fuh hght of day, and upon the high way of perhaps the most populous road leading into or out of this metropolis. The culprit it seems made a sort of confes- BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 229 sion that he murdered his victim not through the cravings of want, but with the object of revenge — to avenge himself for some real or fancied wrong on a forraer occasion long past — a wrong, even on his own admission, of the slightest character. How little this speaks for the Gospel teaching of the State Church, with its cloud of parsons and its bands of missionaries, the reader must and wiU easily imagine. No doubt crime has existed, and it is possible that crime will continue to exist, though wise and good men hold to the contrary ; but hitherto it has been associated with motives of cupidity on such occa sions as this, and the introduction of the principle of vengeance is a new feature in the common criminal annals of this couutry. It cannot be questioned, however, that if the Church spent its revenues, not upon the shepherds, but upon the flock — if, in a word, education was raade general — such a scene of barbarity as that which took place on this occasion would never have been coraraitted." On one point, however, I must take issue with this writer. I refer to his assertion that " the principle of vengeance is a new feature in the common criminal annals of this country." I think what I have shown, and have yet to show you, will prove this declaration to be a pro digious error. In the same paper from which I have taken the last report, I find the following account of a terrible murder in Devonshire : " DREADFUL MURDER IN DEVONSHIRE — CONFESSION OP THE MURDERER. On Sunday morning a shocking murder was committed near a little viUage caUed Clayhidon, about ten miles from Honiton, in Devonshire, and about five miles from WeUington, in Soraer set. The victira was a respectable land surveyor and railler, residing at Clayhidon MiUs, naraed WiUiam Blackmore. He was also the collector of taxes for the parish, and was much esteemed in the neighborhood. He was 53 years of age, was married, and had one grown-up son. He had been out col lecting tithes on Saturday, and in the evening he went into a roadside public house, called the White Horse, near Clayhidon, where he drank freely in company with three laboring men. They all left the public bouse together about one o'clock on 20 230 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, Sunday morning, and at four o'clock the body of Mr. Black- more vvas found about a quarter of a mile from his own house by his son and a servant man, stretched across the road in a dreadfully mangled state. The head was severely fractured, and there was blood scattered about the road. His purse, containing two five-pound notes, was found in the road by his side. The three raen who left the house with the deceased were laborers, naraed George Sparks, Edraund Sparks, and Jaraes Hitchcock. They were taken into custody. An inquest was held on Monday, at the Half Moon Inn, Clayhidon, before R. H. Aberdein, Esq., coroner for the district. Ann Redwood, the landlady of the White Horse public house, stated that between seven and eight o'clock on Satur day evening, the deceased came into her house, and called for a pint of beer. The three prisoners and tvvo other men were there ; but the latter two left shortly afterwards. The deceased sat by the fire, and coraplained that he had been drinking sorae ale at farmer Warren's, and it had upset his stomach. He then drank three pints of Mrs. Redwood's ale, and said it was much better than farraer Warren's. The three prisoners asked the deceased to treat them, and he did contribute towards a quart of cider, saying he had only half a crown iu the worid. (In the pockets of deceased two five-pound notes were found, and it was known that he had other money, the produce of his tithe collection). Subsequently the deceased played at cards vvith George Sparks, and beat him. After that the prisoners and the deceased drank several quarts of ale, with brandy and sugar in it. When the deceased said 'he had only half-a-crown in the world,' James Hitchcock said, ' You needn't be afeard of us, maister — I won't rob he.' George Sparks said, 'Master isn't afeard of us, I know.' The deceased answered, ' No, be gums !' Just before leaving the house, James Hitchcock and George Sparks went ont of the roora ; and after staying a few minutes returned again. About one o'clock on the Sunday morniug, they all left together. J. Marks, a laborer, deposed to having met the three pri soners and the deceased between one and two o'clock ou the Sunday morning in the road leading to their house — the pri soners lived in the same direction as the deceased. After a salutation they passed on. Edmund Sparks was walking by the side of the deceased, and George Sparks and Jaraes Hitch cock were walking behind. George Braddick, a constable, apprehended the prisoners the same morning, just before daylight. George Sparks lodged BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 231 with his brother, about half a mile from the deceased's resi dence ; and when he went to him he was in bed. He denied any knowledge of the crime at first. The witness then re quested hira to put on the same clothes as he wore that morn ing, and he did so. Ou the waistcoat were spots of blood. On searching the house ten sovereigns and a half were found wrapped up in a rag. WhUst the witness was engaged in searching the house, several people carae in and put sundry questions to the prisoner. At last he exclaimed, ' It's uo use to care, nor to think any more about it; for I would as soou tell the whole of it as not.' The prisoner then got up from his seat, took up a pair of tongs, and showing the position iu which he stood, said, ' I struck him back-handed, and I think I killed him the first blow, but I struck him twice after that.' He further said he struck hira with a part of a pair of fire- tongs which he brought away vvith hira from the White Horse, and which was subsequently found in the water at the spot in dicated by the prisoner. The prisoner, George Sparks, fully exonerated the other pri soners in his confession ; and they severally declared that they left the deceased by a French nut-tree, and vv^ent to their homes. The only suspicious circumstances iu respect to Hitchcock were, that on his great-coat, which he wore, there were spots like blood ; but there was difference of opinion as to whether it really was blood. Footmarks, corresponding with his boots, were also discovered near to where the body was found. There was no evidence against Edmund Sparks, further thau his being in the company of the others at the public house, and being seen with them on his road home. Mr. WUUam Buncombe, surgeon, described the nature of the injuries inflicted on the head of the deceased. In his opinion the injuries were such as were hkely to have been produced by the instrument aUuded to, viz. : the part of the tongs which George Sparks confessed to have taken from the White Horse. The jury returned a verdict of wUful murder agamst George Sparks aud James Hitchcock, and they were at once committed for trial." — Observer, February lith, 1853. You have, in this case, an exemplification not only of that thirst for blood so remarkable in this country, but specimens and illustrations of m'anners, language, and CivUization in no wise superior to what is met with in 232 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD ; OR, wild and lawless frontier regions. And all this, you will observe, occurs in one of the most highly favored coun ties of England — in "rich and fruitful Devonshire." About the same time, an atrocious murder of a woman by a man was committed at "Wakefield, in Yorkshire. Here is a statement of the particulars : " ATROCIOUS MURDER AT WAKEFIELD. A murder has been committed at Wakefield. The perpe trator of the crime was speedily apprehended, and unhesita tingly confessed his guilt. The victira of the foul deed is a girl named Catherine Sheardon, a dissolute person, living in the house of Ann Clough, generally known as ' Farmer Ann,' and the murderer is a man named Henry Dobson, a cabinet maker, about 24 years of age. For a considerable time past Dobson has cohabited with the deceased, whom he has latterly treated very Ul Deceased applied to the raagistrates for pro tection, and on the 10th inst. he was bound over to keep the peace. Exasperated by this, he had been heard several times to threaten deceased with raurder, and on Thursday night he was observed by sorae of Sheardon's companions to be anx iously watching for her. They being alarraed kept Sheardon in their company. On Friday night, however, soon after 11 o'clock, he managed to obtain admission into deceased's room, during the temporary absence of Clough, the occupier of the house, and, on Clough's return, she found the unfortunate girl tying on the floor of the room in the basement of the building, quite dead and weltering in blood. A razor covered with blood was found on the fioor, and in one of deceased's hands was the street-door key. On her right arm was the mark of a violent blow, but on no other part of her person was there any evidence of violence having been used towards her. It is sup posed, from the position in which the body was lying, that the murderer had knocked at the door and been admitted by the deceased without her knowing it was him, for she had kept the door locked for the purpose of preventing his adraission. The tragedy must have taken place within a very short time, as Clough asserts she was not absent from her house more than twenty minutes. Within an hour Dobson was apprehended in Jacob's Well-lane, about, a quarter of a mile frora the sceue of the murder. His left hand was covered with blood, and a slight cut of about au inch in diameter was discovered on the BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 233 second joint of his thumb, evidently made by some extremely sharp instrument. On the right side of his coat were marks of blood ; and these circumstances corroborated the supposi tion that the prisoner had his arm round deceased's neck when he inflicted the wound on her, and it is believed the same struck his own hand. The marks on the right side of the coat are accounted for by his hand faUing after his purpose was accom phshed. His apron also bore marks of blood. The prisoner, while on the way to the station-house, asked repeatedly if the girl was dead, and, on being told she was, replied, 'And I have it — what more do you want ?' He further added, ' You are a pretty set of devils, you police ; I have been within twenty yards ofthe place all the tirae.' He also stated that he had kicked deceased violently. Prisoner was much excited, and appeared to have been drinking ; he was not, however, drunk. He appeared to have no idea of the awful position in which he had placed himself, and passed his time in his cell in singing, &c. The girl was about twenty years of age, and, we hear, was a native of Doncaster. She was smaU in stature even for a woman, and extremely thin. She was principally known to the police under the soubriquet of 'Kitty.' The deceased had been drinking with the prisoner often since she had him bound over to keep the peace towards her, but she had not Uved with him for some short time. Dobson is the son of Thomas Dob son, landlord of the Coach and Horses Beer House, Union street. He was by trade a cabinet-maker. He is slightly buUt, about flve feet five inches in height, and his face is rauch marked with the small-pox. He was a man of vicious propen sities, and had been raarried to a girl of the town, who died about six months since. An inquest on the body of the mur dered girl has been held, at which a verdict of ' wilful murder ' against Henry Dobson was returned. The prisoner's demeanor continues hardened and careless. Two oificers have been in the cell with him ever since his arrest, and during the night it appears he kept np, when awake, a continued conversation in reference to the bloody deed. After awaking from one of his sleeps he said, in reference to the bench or forra upon which he was laid, ' This is a very hard bed ! if Kitty' (meaning the deceased) ' has not a softer, she wiU be d badly off.' And in a few minutes he said, in an affectionate tone, 'Ah, bless. her; I hope she is now in heaven and happy.' At another time he said, with much bravado, 'Well, I know my fate, and I suppose I have not above another fortnight to live.'" — News ofthe World, Feb. 21, 1853. 20* 234 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, This man was subsequently tried, convicted, and hanged at York for this offence. But I must allow you a breathing-spell, or you wiU never be able to go through the ghastly gallery which we have yet to traverse, and to inspect. So I write myself at once, Eespectfully, Yr. friend and cousin, P. Jones. To Maj. J. Jones, PineviUe, Ga., U. S. of America. LETTEE XXV. ILL-TREATMENT AND MURDER OP WIVES — SUSPECTED MURDER OF A WIPE BY STARVATION THE BATH STARVATION CASE MURDER OP A WIFE IN IMARYLEBONE — THE PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COMMITTING MAGISTRATE ARE ATTENDED BY DR. JONES AND HIS SERVANT — A WITNESS WHO KNEW NO THING OF GOD, AND HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE DEVIL — BUCK PROPOSES TO SEND A MISSIONARY TO THIS WITNESS' NEIGHBORHOOD TRIAL OP THE MURDERER BEFORE THE CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. London, December 1st, 1853. Dear Major : — As early as the year 1851, my atten tion was called by the paper which I daily read, to the great prevalence of violence on the part of men towards women in this country, and especially to the number of murders committed by husbands upon wives. I furnish you with an extract of the editorial article to which I have referred. It contains, as you will see, a condensed state ment of several cases which had then recently occurred : " ILL-TREATMENT AND MURDER OP WIVES. In his recent charge to the grand jury at the opening of the Central Criminal Court, the Recorder said — 'He was sorry BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 235 that he could not congratulate them on the Ughtness ofthe calendar ; for, although it did not contain any charge of raur der, yet he w^as sorry to see that there were several charges of manslaughter, and also a great number of cases of personal violence ; and it was very rauch to be regretted that, in a great majority of the cases, the violence was committed by men upon the persons of those whom they were bound to love and protect — namely, upon their wives.' It is weU that Mr. Wortley should have said thus much — little though it was . — on this disgraceful subject ; and it is to be hoped that the feel ings which dictated his brief remarks will still be in operation when, in the course of the next few days, it may become his duty to pass sentence on cases of this description. But he need not have confined his observation to the present sessions ; for every sessions, every assizes, afford proof of the lamentable prevalence of this class of crimes, and of the impunity, or next to impunity, with which they are passed by. Within these few days we have recorded, alraost simultaneously, four cases of men tried, or committed for trial, on the charge of kilhng their wives ; and among these the case of Edraund Curtis stood con spicuous, both in atrocity and in the flagrant inadequacy of the punishment. The wife, an industrious woman, had passed the day in working as a charwoman, to earn money for the hus band. In the evening, according to the testimony of the woman for whom she worked, he came to the house, and the wife 'spoke to him, desiring him to come home. He refused. She said his place was at home, and he said, ' So is yours.' They then both left the room. He was sober. After they left the house — about three minutes after — I heard a violent shriek. I went out, and saw her lying across a low iron raUing in my garden. He had hold of her over the left shoulder with his right hand, and was striking her on the head with his clenched fist. When I got out the shriek had ceased. I heard no noise after. I told him he would kill her, if he had not done so, and desired him to loose her. He did not do so. I called out William Kirkland, who pulled him from her, and she fell on her left side on the ground, apparently lifeless. I told hira he had kiUed her. I called assistance. She was lifted up and put in a chair. She fetched three sighs and died.' These were the facts; and now for 31r. Baron Martin and his judg ment. He said that nothing could justify a raan in striking a woman ; that the prisoner ' indulged in a very violent degree of passion,' but that he could ' weU beUeve' that he ' did not mean to kiU her ;' that 'no doubt, when this result occurred,' 236 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, he was 'sincerely sorry for it;' and that, 'considering aU the circumstances,' tlie 'justice of the case' would be satisfied by impri.-ioning him for si.x months with hard labor ! Such are the judgments which are to protect all the women of the coun try agaiust domestic ruffianism ; and such is the caprice wliich presides overthe apportionment of penalties in English criminal justice. The day aftervvards, in a case not more atrocious, the culprit vvas sentenced by the same judge to transportation for life. If Curtis had killed, in any similar manner, some other man's wife instead of his own — -instead of the woman whom, as .Mr. Wortley said, he was bound to protect — there can be little doubt that he would have been indicted for murder, and probably hanged. The vow to protect thus confers a license to kiU. Two of the cases adverted to in the Recorder's charge have since come on for trial before Mr. Justice Wightman. In one, the prisoner vvas acquitted on the ground of insanity. In the case of Andrew Maclean, also, the culprit was acquitted. The report says, 'Early in the raorning of August 4, the persons lodging iu the next roora were disturbed by the cries of the prisoner's children, and their caUing out, ' Oh, father, let raother down.' They got up iu consequence, and went into the pri soner's room, where they found his wife hanging by the neck from the cupboard, and the prisoner was sitting upon the bed. The body of the unfortunate woman was quite suspended, and she was nearly black in the face. Upon the prisoner being told that he was a good-for-nothing vUlain for attempting to hang his wife, he replied that he would do it eft'ectually the next tirae ; and one of the witnesses answered that he would have done it effectually this tirae, if his wife had not been cut down. The prisoner was sUghtly intoxicated, it appeared, at the time of the occurrence. Ihe prisoner, in his defence, as serted that his wife had hanged herself The wife was not caUed as a witness, the reason of which appears from the previous examination before the magistrate — ¦ on which occasion the unfortunate creature, either from habitual f.;ar, or from the expectation that she would be given back into his power, excalpated the man, stating that she had spoken provokingly to him, and also that he had hanged her only in jest. Her dread of appearing against him was not sur prising : for what would have been the consequence to her of havin.ii- given strong evidence against hira, in the event of his acquittal ? But her testimony was not needed to show the slate of the case, after proof of such facts as those contained BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 237 in the above extract. Yet ' Mr. Justice Wightman, in sum ming up, said that the case was undoubtedly left in some ob scurity by the absence of the wife's testimony. If she had been caUed, she could have proved distinctly how the matter occurred ; and in the face of the prisoner's declaration that his wife had hung herself, it was for the jury to say whether the other evidence was sufficient to justify them in convicting him of so serious an offence.' On this encouragment the jury returned a verdict of not guilty ; and consequently the woman is again given into the power of the man, that he may, as he threatened, ' do it effectually the next time. ' We scarcely be lieve that there is an offence in the whole criminal code of which a prisoner would have been acquitted, in the face of such evidence, except that of an atterapt at wife raurder. In default of the judges, it is for the Legislature to apply vigorous measures of repression to this growing evil" — Ob server, September 1st, 1851. I think you will discover from the exhibits which I shaU make before leaving the subject, that this disease is too deeply seated in the constitution of the English people, to be remedied by those " vigorous measures of repression by the legislature" to which this writer referred. In the early part of the same year, some cases of wife- murder from starvation, enforced by their husbands, were reported. Can you by possibility conceive such a devilish fact ? Below you will find in a succinct form some refe rences to such cases : "SUSPECTED MURDER OF A WIPE. Gloucester, Thursday. — A man named Daniel Jlundy has been brought to the Gloucester county jail, under the warrant of W. J. EUis, Esq., coroner for the county, on a charge of the wilful murder of his wife. The deceased and the prisoner lived atWotton-under-edge, in this county, and the former had for some time past been in a delicate state of health. Her husband had been in the habit of crueUy beating and kicking her, and keeping her on a miseralUy short allowance of food, and whUe he himself Uved weU ; bread and water was the poor woman's principal diet. The deceased died on the 24th of February last, rather suddenly, and an inquest was held on the body, as a matter of form, on the 28th, when no suspicion of foul conduct being entertained, a verdict of ' died from natural 238 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD ; OR, causes' was returned. The prisoner refused to bury her, and that circumstance, together vvith the rumors which now began to spread through the neighborhood respecting his cruel con duct towards her during her lifetime, led to further inquiries, which resulted in the re-opening of the inquest. At the last inquiry several ofthe neighbors were examined. Some deposed that the prisoner beat his wife ' in common with other hus bands ;' but the niece ofthe deceased proved that Jilrs. iMundy had complained to her of her husband's cruelty, and had shown her her arms and legs, which were black and blue with bruises. She also told her that she was nearly starved, having nothing to eat but coarse brown bread, without anything with it. Daniel Workman, another of Mundy's neighbors, spoke to the fact of the prisoner having beaten his wife with a stick. On the day of her decease this witness saw Mrs. Mundy near her own house, in a stooping position, with her hands on ber bowels, and on asking her what vvas the matter, she said it was where he kicked her — meaning her husband. Jane Dyer, who laid out the body, found bruises on the neck and bowels. Mr. Adams, surgeon, also deposed that he found an injury of the neck, attended with congestion of the brain of very recent date. Also an extensive injury of the abdomen, as if from a blow or kick, either of which was sufficient to cause death. The jury, after a short deliberation, returned a verdict of wilful murder against the husband. " "THE BATH STARVATION CASE. The husband of Harriet Sparing, who died from starvation at Bath, has been apprehended and lodged in the Bath jail, to await his trial at the ensuing assizes on the charge of wilful murder. The prisoner, on hearing that an inquest was to be held on his wife, absconded, and succeeded for sorae time in evading the vigilance of the police. It appears that he went to Bristol and for some days lodged with Mr. Bence, a publi can, under the name of Edward Woodman, but was very re served, and kept himself reraarkably quiet. He then enlisted in the thirtieth Regiraent of the line, and on Wednesday was sent off to Kent, vvith other recruits. Mr. Beuce having sub sequently seen a description of Sparing in the Hue and Cry, suspected his late lodger- to be the man, and iramediately gave information to the chief of the Bath poUce. An officer, ac companied by Mr. Bence, was despatched in search of the pri soner, whom they found enjoying his dinner in Walmer Bar racks Kent, but on seeing the officer he became much frightened BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 239 and trembled violently. He vvas at once brought back, and lodged in the Bath jail, under the coroner's warrant." — Ob server, March lith, 1851. I perceive that in the first of the two cases above men tioned, personal violence was resorted to, and might have been in part the cause of death, Do you not feel it a mor tification, that you should belong to a common humanity with the atrocious scoundrel who could so treat that help less and forlorn sufferer ? And are you not thankful that you are not the countryman of the cowardly miscreant ? Observe, if you please, the matter-of-fact way with which the witnesses deposed that the prisoner beat his wife only "in common with other husbands!" It was truly not without reason that the editor whom I have quoted above, declared that in this country " the vow to protect confers a license to kUh" On Tuesday, the 11th day of November, 1851, I left my lodgings for the purpose of visiting the Eoyal Botanic Gardens, in the Eegent's Park, taking my servant along with me. As we were passing in the vicinity of the Mary lebone poUce-station, our attention was drawn to a vehicle in which a prisoner was being placed, and which was sur rounded by a noisy crowd of men, women, and children. We soon learned that the accused was charged with hav ing murdered his wife, and was about to be taken before a magistrate for examination ; and that the excitement which we observed grew out of the strong indignation which the circumstances of his case created. The mob were uttering terrible denunciations of the prisoner, and their fury rather surprised me (knowing, as I now did, how common wife-murder was in the country, and how much tolerated), and I could only attribute this result to the stimulus which was imparted by the circulation of petticoats among them pretty freely, whose owners were very ardent in their cries for vengeance. Lynch law was also threatened ; but there seemed to be no spirit present daring enough to ta.ke the lead in a demonstration of that kind, and the police took very proper measures for the prevention of any such attempt. We joined ourselves to the crowd which accompanied the cab in which the pri- 210 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD ; OR, soner was placed, as I was anxious to see the end of the affair, and to hear more of the cu-cumstances. "With some difficulty, we obtained a position in the court from which we could witness the proceedings. I send you a report of the case,' taken from a news paper, published shortly after. "murder in MARYLEBONE. On Tuesday, Thomas Bare, of 33 North street, Manchester square, aged fifty, a pipemaker, was charged before Mr. Broughton with the wilful murder of his wife, Louisa Bare. The circumstances detailed exhibited features of pecuUar atrocity, the deceased having received sixteen stabs in different parts of her body with a sharp-pointed file. At an early hour in the morning the rumor of the event caused crowds to col lect around the Marylebone station house, where the prisoner was confined, and the numbers increased to such an extent that several constables were required to keep the thoroughfare clear. Iu consequence of the extraordinary excitement prevailing, the prisoner was conveyed in a cab, in which were Inspector Jack son, and two other officers. Whilst getting into the vehicle he was hissed and yelled at by the mob, and the utmost efforts of the police were necessary to protect him from summary ven geance. Hundreds foUowed the cab to the court, vociferating that 'there was a murderer in it,' and, on arriving at the court, to avoid the eft'ects of the indignant feeling, the prisoner was hurried through the passage, and closely watched by two officers, prior to the case being called on. At two o'clock he took his stand in the felon's dock, the court being then crowded to excess. He is of sallow complexion, and was dressed in a black coat, waistcoat, and drab trowsers. He betrayed no emotion, and stood erect while the charge was stated to him by the magistrate. The first witness called was — George Nott, a furnishing undertaker, of No. 23 Cornwall road, Lambeth. He said : Deceased was my -sister. She mar ried the prisoner about twelve or fifteen years ago. They have tvvo children living. The deceased frequently complained to me of her husband's ill-treatment. I last saw her alive about a month ago, in Warner street, ClerkenweU, where she then lived. Between ten and eleven o'clock yesterday morning, Inspector Jackson sent for me, and I went to her room iu 33 North street, where I found her dead, lying upon the floor. She had several punctures in the face, from some very sharp instrument. She was about forty years old. BILLY BUCKS VISIT TO ENGLAND. 241 Mr. Broughton (to the prisoner) : Do you wish to put ques tions to this witness ? — Prisoner: No, I don't seem to care much about it, but I'll ask you this, did she ever coraplain to you in my presence of any iU-u%age on my part ? Witness : No, but she has often complained to me in your absence, and has said that you were addicted to drinking and neglecting your home. — Mr. Broughton : Where are her two children ? Witness : I do not know. — Inspector Jackson : One, the daughter, is outside. She is, I am sorry to say, upon the streets. — Prisoner to witness : How long is it since your sister first complained of my bad behavior ? Witness : Ever since I have known you iu London. The last time I saw her she said you were never at horae tUl one or two in the morning. — Prisoner : And a good reason why. I generally worked till that time. Do you know Mr. Thompson, a gasfitter ; and did you bury his wife ? Witness : Yes ; about twelve months ago. — Prisoner : How came you to do that ? Witness : I was re commended to the job by my sister. — Prisoner : I do not wish to ask you any more questions. Edward Brastou, aged seventeen, deposed that he lived with his parents in Brook's-gardens, Bagnigge Wells road. The magistrate questioned him as to his knowledge of the nature and obUgation of an oath, and the repUes which he gave evinced a most lamentable degree of ignorance. He knew not where God was, could not tell where people went to when they died, if they had lived a wicked life, nor had he ever heard of the devil. Mr. Broughton expressed pain and astonishment at the neglect of this boy's education, and said that his evidence could not be taken. Mrs. Sarah Abrahams, raother of the lad above mentioned, said : I am a widow, and the lad is my son by a former hus band. A woraan naraed Hands and another woraan lodged four nights at my place, and both left on Friday fortnight. My son carried some boxes away. On Monday last, the pri soner at the bar came to me, and asked if I had a little woraan lodging up stairs ? He could not tell her name, but said his wife was with her. I said, 'Yes, there were two.' He ex claimed, ' Then that's my wife, and the boxes are mine ; she took them away from me, and they are up stairs in your room.' He asked to go up stairs to see them, but I said he could not, as Mrs. Hands had gone off with all the things on Friday night. The prisoner then went away, and soon after returned with a woman, who said that the prisoner's wife had behaved very ill 21 Q 242 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, to him, and that there was something wTong between the wife and a gasfitter. The prisoner then said, ' You must know where they are gone to ' I rephed that I did not ; but he per sisted in coming every other day afterwards up to last Satur day night, pressing me to teU where his wife was, and he said that he was afraid his wife would come to a bad way, as his daughter had ; and rather than see her in the same ' emaciated' state as his daughter, he would die in Newgate, for ' he loved her after all' This was on Saturday. I then said that I was going to send my son to the place where he left the boxes for the door-key, which Mrs. Hands had taken away, and that he might accompany him. He said he was much obliged, and would pay my sou for his trouble, and they went away together. This was at twenty minutes past six. Prisoner : Did you ever see Mrs. Hands and my wife drink together ? — -Witness ; No. Prisoner : At what tirae did they generaUy come home ? — Witness : I never knew them to stop out late. George Lanning, landlord of No. 33 North street, where the deceased had lodged, said : That at half-past seven on Saturday night last, a lad caUed on him and asked for the two females for wdiora he had brought the boxes a fortnight before. They were not then at home, and the boy left. At eight o'clock the prisoner carae and asked was Mrs. Bare there ? Not knowing her by that name I said that she did not lodge there, and in teUing the names of ray lodgers I mentioned that of ' Miss Nott,' and he said, ' That's she ; that's my wife ; that was her maiden name.' He was very violent, and threatened to break open the door unless I gave up the boxes. I said that would not be a legal proceeding, aud asked him to sit down in the parlor, which he did. I said that Miss Nott (his wife) would be sure to be in by nine o'clock, as she was so very regular. After conversing for an hour and a half she came in, and walked through the passage, and I said, ' That's the good lady you came for.' The door being open he could see her as she passed, and I gave him a candle and he followed her up stairs. I left the boy in the parlor, and went to seek a policeman to guard against any disturbance. In half an hour I returned, and found the deceased lying on the floor, upon which was a great quantity of blood. My wife was bathing her face with water. A box lay on the pavement outside, and I took it into the house. The policeman ran for a medical man, who speedily arrived. Prisoner : Did not I teU you what sort of characters you BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 243 had got in your house ? — Witness : You said that I had two bad characters, no better than common prostitutes, who were able to deceive any one, and that your wife had repeatedly robbed you in yonr business, and absconded with your pro perty. The deceased was a well-conducted woraan, and both she and Mrs. Hands, the deceased's fellow-lodger, I beUeved to be serious and religious women. You told me several times that your wife had sold up your home, taking the property with her. Prisoner : You, sir, seem to be very warm on the subject. I have no more questions to ask you. Mrs. Hands, deceased's feUow-lodger, was caUed, but was so affected by the awful occurrence, that she was unable to undergo examination. Rebecca Lanning, the landlady, said that when the two women came to lodge at her house, one represented herself as a single woman, and the other as a widow. They took the apartments e-a Friday fortnight, when the boy brought the boxes thefe. On last Saturday the boy called to inquire for them, when they were not at home, and the prisoner afterwards came. He was much excited, and very noisy. She told him to be quiet, as there were other lodgers in the house, and he, at her request, went into the parlor. After his wife came, the prisoner went up stairs, and I heard some loud talking. The prisoner called up the boy, who was in the parlor. The boy went up, and immediately I heard the poor woman screech most awfuUy, and cry out, 'Oh! you're murdering me;' the boy came down flrst with one box, and theu with the other. The screeching lasted about three minutes. The prisoner came down after the boy, and tried to open the front door, but could not, and I opened it for him. I saw blood on the back of his hand. While he was in the roora I heard a noise like the throwing down of a chair. After he left, the ' screeching' ceased, and I ran up stairs into the room and found a chair lying across the fender. The deceased was lying upon it, with her hand up to her face. She could not speak. Her bonnet and cap were off, and her hair, which was hanging over her neck, was smeared with blood. She breathed ; but when the doctor arrived shortly afterwards, she was dead. I saw a great deal of blood upon her, and in the apartment. Other lodgers gave evidence corroborative of the preced ing, and one of them said she saw the prisoner beating his wife, and begged of him, for God's sake, to desist frora Ul- treating her. The boy was in the room while he (prisoner) 244 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, was attacking the poor creature who had fallen a victim to his violence. It was further proved that the prisoner was apprehended at the Bedford Arms, South street, near North street, where he had a glass of gin at the bar. He vvas the worse for liquor, but not drunk. He was conveyed to the station by Gott, 338 D, and on the way thither he said that his wife had taken a chisel or something of that sort to strike him with, and that he snatched it from her hand, and 'gave her the contents.' His right hand was covered with blood, and upon his chin were also spots, as if blood had spurted out upon it. He in quired frequently how his wife was, and on being told that she was dead, he exclairaed, ' Christ Almighty ! who'd have thought I'd the heart to do it ? I have a daughter on the town, and a little boy in bed at a beer-shop. He Uttle thinks that I have kUled his mother, and I wish I was going to be hung this very moment.' Church, 129 D, produced a triangular saw file about six inches long, very sharp at each end, and it appeared to have been recently ground and pointed. There were on it marks of blood. The implement was found between the bars of the grate, and the handle was broken in two, and picked up in dif ferent parts of the room. The portions of the handle had also blood on them. Mr. Dickenson, surgeon, 15 Charles street, Manchester square, deposed that he was called in, and found the furniture and other things in the roora in great disorder. The woman was lying upon the floor, to all appearances dead, and blood was flowing from various wounds. Witness described the wounds, which were sixteen in number, and they had been inflicted upon various parts of her person. One of thera was on the left side of the chest, over the second rib, which was fractured about an inch and a half frora the breast-bone ; aud on tracing that wound, upon making a post mortem examination, he found that it had penetrated two important blood-vessels to the cover ing of the heart. The wound alluded to was of itself sufficient to cause death. The wounds were all of a triangular shape, and the file produced was just the kind of instruraent with which the fatal injury might have been inflicted. The prisoner, when asked had he anything to say ! replied, 'Nothing.' He was then removed, and conveyed to the House of Detention. The proceedings did not terminate tiU six o'clock." — Observer, November 11th. 1851. BILLY BUCK S VISIT TO ENGLAND. 245 When the case had terminated, and we had left the room, I said to my servant, " Buck, what do you think of that Bagnigge "Wells lad who was called as a witness-, and who, though seventeen years old, knew nothing of God, and had never heard of the devil ?" *- Buck. " I was never so 'stonished, Marster, in all my born days. Ef I live to git home, I'll git up a surscrip- tion 'mong the niggers to send a mishunnary to them poor Bag-in-the-weUs people — a raal Methodist mishunnary, Marster — some o' them shoutin' Bonarges fellers, as Mars Joe calls 'um ; for hit '11 take sich a preacher, Marster, to maul the grace o' God into their ignorant souls. None o' them nice smooth pairsons, with their frocks on " Myself. "Gowns, you mean, Buck." Buck. " Well, 'pears like hit's pretty much the same thing, Marster — leastwise they aint coats and breeches, like our preachers wars. But, as I was a sayin', Marstep, none o' them nice gen'l'men will do, no way you can fix it. They aint gwine to put themselves to no trouble for no sich people ; an ef they did, p'raps the people wouldn't onderstand 'um.* Ef we could only git Pairson Duncan, now, or Mars George Pearce, to come over here, sir, they 'ud soon larn 'um who God is ; and then they 'ud run the devU out of 'um, sartain and sure." Myself. " I really do think they need some such in struction. Buck. And I confess myself greatly surprised at finding such specimens of a low civilization in the me tropolis of Great Britain." Buck. "After sich doins as we've jest been hearin about, Marster, 'mong these people, I don't know that we ought to be sprised that that boy didn't know nothin 'bout God — but hit raaly do seem sorter strange, sir, that he shouldn't know nothin 'bout the devil, don't it ? Howbever, they say hit's a wise child that knows hit's father, an I spose he aint wise." * This was before the present Bishop of London and a few other emi nent ministers of the Church of England — roused to the task, perhaps, by the example of one of those Boanerges sort of fellows, as my servant styles them, Mr. Spurgeon — had made those efforts which have been put forth in the last few years to preach to such people. 21* 246 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD ; OR, I could not but smUe at Buck's condeit ; but, notwith standing his fun, I found that he was graver than was usual with him. " Marster," said he, " I couldn't help feelin sorry for that poor man. He desarves to be hung, I spose; but I couldn't help to do it, nohow." Myself. " Why what is the reason ? It was surely one of the most wicked and revolting murders of which I have ever heard any account — the murder of a woman, the man's weak, unhappy wife ¦ — in such a savage way, too !" Buck. " Well, maybe hit was, Marster ; maybe hit was. I don't say it warn't. But when they told us 'bout what he said consarnin that poor little boy in bed in a beer- shop, and 'bout his darter, I couldn't help thinking 'bout little Billy, an my other chil'n at home, Marster ; an that, but for the goodness of God, they mought a been as bad off as them poor chil'n, sir ; an I sorter growed sorry for the man, sir ; though I know very well his wife warn't to blame for his misry, and he no business to kill her for it. But, poor feller ! I reckon he was so onhappy he didn't care much what he done, nor what come of him." I saw at once. Major, that the mention of that poor " little boy in bed in a beer-shop " was the " touch of Na ture" which had asserted the kindred of that man of blood even to my kind-hearted slave, and had enlisted his sympathies. The truth is, the whole evidence, and all the circumstances of this case, presented a picture as touch ing as it was wicked and shocking — a picture which serves as another illustration of the extent to which social pro fligacy prevails among the English people. Group for a moment, if you please, in one " night scene," that wretched mother, dying under the bloody blows of the infuriate father, whilst in the- street beneath, their fam ished and outcast daughter wanders in darkness and guUt, and hard by, in the hell of a drinking-shop, their infant boy sleeps, unconscious of the hell of passions which is flaming around him. And when you have done so, you wiU admit that it is diificult to gaze steadily on such a scene with clear head and undimmed eyes. About the beginning of 1852, this man Bare was BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 247 brought to trial in the Central Criminal Court. Here is a condensed account of the trial, taken from the " Ob server " of that date. The heathenish boy, Braston, in the interval, had been instructed in the obligations of an oath, and you will find his testimony in the record. "CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT — THE MURDER IN MARYLEBONE. On Thursday, Thomas Bare, aged 43, pipe-maker, was in dicted for the wilful murder of Louisa Bare, his wife. The detaUs of the evidence in this case have been already fully given in the Observer, in the reports of the proceedings before the police magistrates. He was well dressed, and of respectable appearance. He betrayed no emotion. Fanny Nott, the mother of the deceased, deposed that her daughter had been twenty years married to the prisoner, but had for some time lived separate from him. Sliortly before the murder the prisoner called on witness and asked after his little boy, and where his wife lived. Witness refused to tell hira, and he then said that he would be revenged, and would do soraething to sorae one, but he did not say to whom. Wit ness, on cross-examination, admitted that this was the first tirae she had made this statement. Sarah Abrahams, of 5 Brook's Gardens, Bagnigge-wells, repeated the evidence previously given by her. Edward Braston, aged 18, the last witness' son, deposed to having gone on the day of the murder with the prisoner to No. 33 North street, Marylebone, where the deceased lodged. They did not get there till near seven o'clock in the evening, as the prisoner had drink at three houses on the way. The deceased was not at horae when the prisoner and witness came, but the prisoner waited in the parlor, and on the deceased coming home and going up stairs, the prisoner followed her, and went into her room. Shortly after he called up witness to fetch the boxes, and the witness went up, and found the prisoner and his wife talking quietly together. The prisoner said to witness, 'Here, ray lad, take this box down stairs.' Witness did so, and as he was leaving the room, he heard the deceased scream ing 'murder,' and the prisoner hitting her three or four times, but witness saw no instrument. Witness put the box down in the parlor, and went up again to fetch the other box. He met the prisoner on the stairs, and he told him to fetch the other 248 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEuAD; UR, box down. When witness returned to the room, he found the deceased lying by the fire-place. There was blood upon her face, but he did not hear her groau or make any sound. He then carried down the box, and found the prisoner in the street. He told the prisoner to come back, for he had killed his wife. He denied it, and said, 'If I have, do you call a policeraan.' Witness did so, and gave him in charge. The prisoner and the deceased appeared to be friendly when the witness first entered the roora. Sarah Beckett, who lodged in the adjoining room, deposed that she heard loud quarrelling in the deceased's roora, and then screams of ' murder.' She rushed out and saw the pri soner and deceased standing by the window fighting. They both fell down together, the deceased appearing to be holding the prisoner. She did not see the prisoner use any instrument but his clenched fist. Not a word was said by either of them whilst they were fighting. Witness requested the boy to in terfere, but he said he should not, as ' it served the woman jolly well right.' She saw the deceased on the ground, and the floor covered with blood. The witness Braston said he could not recoUect having used the above expressions. From the testimony of other witnesses, it appeared that the prisoner had suspected and accused his wife of infidehty, and of frequenting low public-houses with prostitutes. On being taken into custody, and being told that his wife was dead, he said, ' Christ Almighty ! who'd have thought I had the heart to do it !' It was also proved that, previous to the murder, he had purchased a file ; and the sur gical evidence showed that sixteen wounds had been given upon the face, trunk, back, and ribs, one of which had been broken, and the pulmonic artery severed, the wounds being triangular, as if given with a file. Mr. Ballantine, iu defence, submitted that it was clear that the prisoner's original object was merely to obtain possession of the boxes ; and that if he had intended to use violence, a file would not have been the instrument purchased for the pur pose, but a knife. The evidence of the lodgers also showed that the parties had quarrelled, and that, iu the midst of the altercation, he said, 'AU I want is my property.' Several witnesses deposed to the general humane, quiet, and good conduct of the prisoner. The judge then suramed up, and the jury retired at twenty minutes to five o'clock, and at six returned with a verdict of guilty of manslaughter. BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 249 Mr. Justice Platt immediately passed sentence. He said that, upon what grounds the jury had rested their verdict, it was not for him to inquire. It was their province to decide upon the facts ; and, whatever might be the opinion of the great majority of the hearers of the evidence in this case, the court must act upon the verdict of the jury alone. Under the circumstances he should sentence the prisoner to be transported for the term of his natural life." You perceive that the prisoner was found guilty of manslaughter only, to the surprise of the judge and of the audience. It wUl equally surprise you, I do not doubt. The verdict was supposed to furnish another instance of that toleration of wife-murder to which I have referred. I am making this letter too long, and must forthwith vflrrite myself, Eespectfully, Yr. friend and cousin, P. Jones. To Maj. Jones, PinevUle, Ga., U. S. of America. LETTEE XXVI. MURDER OP A WOMAN BY HER HUSBAND IN THE CITY OP OXFORD ATTEMPTED MURDER OP A WIPE, AND SUICIDE OP HUSBAND, AT NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE HORRIBLE MURDER OP A WIFE BY THE HUSBAND IN THE CITY OP LONDON — EXECUTION OF THE MURDERER, AND REMARKABLE DECLA RATION MADE BY HIM DEATH OP A WIPE FROM BRUTAL ILL-TREATMENT BRUTAL MURDER OP A WIPE. London, December 3d, 1853. Dear Major : — I will send you, in this letter, other notices of wife-murders in England. Here, for example, is a case occurring in the city of Oxford : 250 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, "MURDER OP A WOMAN BY HER HUSBAND. Considerable excitement was manifested at the city of Oxford on Monday, in consequence of the death ofa woman named Eli zabeth Noon, vvho had been stabbed in the back with a sword by her husband Elijah Noon, on the previous Saturday night. An inquest was held on Monday afternoon, when the foUowing evidence was adduced : On Saturday evening, the husband, who is a plasterer, went to a public house in St. GUes's, caUed the North Star, to receive his wages from his brother, Mr. T. Noon, builder, who usually paid his men at this house. In consequence of his not coraing horae at twelve o'clock, his wife went to fetch hira, and met him on the way, when it appeared that she continued to upbraid him for his conduct, until they reached their house. On reaching home, the wife told her hus band in the presence of their daughter, thirteen years of age, who had been sitting up, that he was a good-for-nothing villain for stopping out so late. He made no observation, but appeared to be greatly annoyed, although he was tipsy at the time, and shortly after he emptied his money out of his purse on the table, when his wife told him that he could go out and treat other people, but he could not treat her. This put him in a passion, but he spoke not a word, and he went to a shelf in the roora and took off an old sword which was kept there. He drew it out of the sheath, which he threw on the floor, and then struck his wife across the back with the flat part of the sword. The daughter unlocked the door of the sitting-roora leading into the street, and tried to pull her mother out by her right arm, but she wonld not go, and while she was doing this, the father, who held the sword in both hands, ran it into his wife's left side, and she fell partly in the street and partly in the house. She aftervvards got up and went to a neighbor's next door but one to her own house, and there, she fell again. With the assistance of her daughter she returned home, wheu she found her husband putting the sword back on the shelf; he afterwards took a seat by the fire, when his wife fell on her knees and begged him to take her hands, for she knew she should die. The husband sent his daughter to get some brandy, and on her return she found that her father had carried her mother up stairs to bed, and undressed her. A neighbor was fetched, and in answer to her inquiry what she was suffering from, she pointed out a wound in her side, which she said her husband had inflicted vvith a sword. The husband was pre- BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 251 Bent at the time, and did not deny it, but said, ' Oh, dear I' and left the room immediately. During the whole of Sunday the poor woraan was attended by her neighbors, and her hus band carae into the room to see her several times. Theywere reconciled to each other, and she told him that she freely for gave him all things, and hoped that the Lord would forgive her. She also begged him to avoid passion. A post raortera examination was made by Mr. Godfrey and Mr. F. Symonds, when it was ascertained that the sword had passed between the seventh and eighth ribs, through the pleura, wounding the left lung ; it had also passed through the dia phragm and penetrated the small curvature of the stomach, wounding the coronary artery, and gone through the stomach to the opposite side. The sword had penetrated from ten to eleven inches. The jury returned a verdict of wilful murder." — Observer, May 10th 1852. The following terrible tragedy occurred in the latter part of 1852, in the city of London. I invite your atten tion to the comments of the press upon the case, to a remarkable feature in the case itself, growing out of a declaration of the criminal, and to the observations of Lord Palmerston (induced by the case), in proof of all that I and others have said as to the toleration of bar barous cruelty to the weaker sex, and of wife-murder in this country, which boasts of its civUization, and which ventures to hold up our slaveholding States to reproba tion. "horrible MURDER IN THE CITY. A murder of a most horrible character, which produced the greatest sensation in the eastern portion of the city, was per petrated at an early hour on Tuesday morning in Sun street, Bishopsgate street Without. The unfortunate creature who perished was a young married woman, naraed Mary Horler, aged twenty-five, and the party who has been apprehended on suspicion of destroying her life is her husband, Henry Horler, a journeyman shoemaker, who is about the sarae age as his un fortunate victim. They had been married about twelve months, and occupied an apartraent at No. *r6 in the above street, but in consequence of his intemperate habits, they do not appear to have hved happily together. 252 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, In the course of the morning, the prisoner was charged at the Mansion house with perpetrating the deed, and after some brief evidence, he was remanded, as it was evident he was then laboring under the excitement of drink. After a slight deten tion in the cells, he was removed to the Compter in a cab. Oa Wednesday Horler was re-examined before Alderman Finnis, at the Mansion house. Dixon, the poUce serjeant, gave the foUowing stateraent :— ' I conveyed the prisoner, when he was remanded on Tuesday, to prison. In going along, he said — 'After mother left the night before, I had talked with my wife respecting her leaving me in the morning to go home with her mother, which, I be lieved, she did not want to do, and we then agreed to destroy each other. She took a knife, and I took one also. I then was on the bed with her, and said to her, ' Reraeraber, this will be the last tirae.' I was then on the point of cutting her throat with the knife I had in ray hand. She then said, ' Henry, stop, I will tell you where your razor is, by which you can do it quicker.' I (the ofiicer) said to the prisoner, was she un^ dressed ? ' No,' said he, ' we were not undressed, either of us He also said it occurred before day, early in the morning. When I first discovered the body it was dressed. The pri soner, upon being asked whether he wished to ask any ques tions of the witness, said, ' Oh, not at all, not at all.' Wit ness, in continuation, said — ' Ou the evening before I was sent by the inspector to the prisoner's house. I saw the deceased and her mother sitting in the room. We came down stairs together, and there raet the prisoner, and the mother said she had come for her daughter. The prisoner said he had worked very hard to keep her and make her happy and comfortable, and he should do so still, and they would be very happy to gether, if the mother would not interfere with them. The de ceased said to hira, ' Henry, if you ill-use me I certainly shaU not stop with you.' I said, ' It's a pity you cannot settle your affairs ; if your husband ill-uses you, you know where to ap ply.' She said, ' It's not the first or second tirae he ill-used rae.' He made no reply to that observation.' The pri soner : ' It's an untruth to say I iU-used her ; but she said so, I know.' Tliomas Balcher (city police, 618): 'I accompanied Ser jeant Dixon to the room in which the body of the deceased lay. A counterpane was thrown over the body, and covered it completely. I turned down the counterpane, and saw the corpse of a female with her throat cut.' BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 253 Alderman Finnis : ' Was there any appearance of a strug gle in the room ?' Witness : ' Not the shghtest. I then went to the station to report. The prisoner was in the cell at the time. He asked me for some water, which I gave him, and he said, ' I can teh you more than ah the world can. I have done it. I know I must die for it. I know I must be hanged, but her mother has been the cause.' 0. Saunderson (station serjeant), said : ' On Monday even ing, at a little after five o'clock, the prisoner came to the station house, and said he wished for advice. He said that he and his wife hved exceedingly comfortable, and were going on as well as any man and wife could go on, but her mother and aunt were at his house, and were inducing his wife to leave him and to go with them to Bath. He stated that his wife's mother was a fortune-teUer, and earned a great deal of money, as much as £5 a day ; that she had several other mar ried daughters, all of whom had children, and that his wife being without children, her mother was the more anxious for her to keep the door of her fortune-telUng room. He asked me what he was to do, and I asked him whether his wife was inclined to leave him, to which he answered that they had so worked upon her that he believed she would leave him. He intimated that he had £40 or £50 in the savings bank, and that they wished to have it. He left the station apparently satisfied. At a little before six o'clock he returned to the station-house and mentioned that he had been home, and that they had treated him roughly. After nine o'clock he came again, accorapanied by a young man, to whora he said he wished to deliver over his book and money. He was perfectly sober and coUected during the whole time. On Tuesday morn ing I was in the station-house when the prisoner was brought in, at half-past ten o'clock, on the charge of being drunk. He said that his mother-in-law charged him with doing away with her daughter, and he was very drunk and foolish at the time. He was asked repeatedly by his mother-in-law what he had done with his wife — the daughter. He always evaded answer ing the question, and talked in a foolish manner about her being a fortune-teller. He afterwards said his mother-in-law, the fortune-teller, had brought him to that. I asked him what had become of his wife, and he said she was right enough, and that he had slept with her last night.' Mr. G. B. ChUde, surgeon to the police force, said : ' I was sent for by Dixon to attend at 16 Sun street, Bishopsgate, and I saw lying on a bureau bedstead in the attic the corpse of a 22 254 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, young woman, apparently twenty-two or twenty-three years of age.' The prisoner : ' Older, older.' Witness: ' She was dressed in a claret-colored gown. Her right hand was raised towards her throat. Her left hand was lying straight by her side. She was lying on her back, with her chin slightly in clined towards the right shoulder. An extensive wound was in the throat on the left side. The muscles and windpipe, to gether with the principal nerves and arteries on that side of the neck, were cut through, as also was the tube leading to the stomach, aud the vertebrae at the back of the neck were exposed. She must have been dead several hours, the body was quite cold and stiff, and the muscles were rigid. I believe that, at the tirae the act was committed, she was either stupe fied by drink or sleeping. There was no appearance of strug gling having taken place. The hand had been raised too late to arrest the fatal weapon.' Mr. Henry Shaw, surgeon, of Bishopsgate street, said : ' I saw the body at about 1 1 o'clock yesterday. I beUeve the act was committed when the deceased was asleep, and my impres sion was, that from the coldness and rigidity of the body, life must have been extinct ten or twelve hours.' Ann Rogers, mother of the deceased, said: 'I am the wife of a mason who resides at Bath. The prisoner married my daughter Ann on the 10th of June, 1851, at St. James's church, Bath. I came to London on Monday last, in consequence of a letter which I received from Ann. I went with my sister to her lodging, at 16 Sun street, Bishopsgate, and had not time to speak a dozen words to her when he came in. In answer to my inquiry after his health, he said he was very poorly. I said I did not wonder at it from his usage of poor Ann, and I told him I was corae to fetch her away. ' After a few words, expressive of the determination of the witness to take away her daughter, the prisoner went away, and soon afterwards re turned with a police-sergeant, who told her she was breaking the peace in forcing the man's wife away from hira. To that she replied by stating that it was the wish of her daughter to go ; and the deceased confirmed the statement, at the same time acknowledging that she had no objection to Uve with him if he would keep his hands off her. ' I said to my daughter (continued the witness), 'Are you ready to come with me, Ann ? I have got a return ticket to Bath at 9 o'clock.' She said, ' Yes, I shall, but I hardly think I am going.' She then began to pack her things in the trunk. The prisoner then said she BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 255 should not go that night, but she should go with me at 10 o'clock in the morning. I told him that I did not consider her safe with him. He then took her by the hand and puUed her npon his knees, saying to her, ' You are not afraid of me, Ann, are you, dear 1' She replied, ' No, provided you keep your hands off me.' After some further conversation, he said he would next morning get her clothes out of pawn, and she should be ready to go with me to the country. She then wanted me to sleep in the room, but the prisoner objected, and told me I should have some coffee in the morning, and that my daughter would be ready to go with me. I told him I did not think she was safe with him, and I asked him what I could think when he strove to strangle her last week, and her neck was bruised ? He said, ' Was your neck bruised, Ann ?' ' Yes,' said she, 'it was bruised ; I'll never run from my word.' AU this took place whfle she was sitting on his knee, I got a lodging in the neighborhood, and in about a quarter of au hour afterwards I returned and got a bed-gown frora her, and I told her to be in readiness to corae with me next day. They both replied that, she would. I did not see either of thera that night again. Next morning, at a little after 10, I went up stairs, and caUed 'Ann' at their door, about five minutes. I heard him say, as if speaking to somebody, ' Oh, that's Mrs. Rogers.' I said, ' Why don't you open the door to me, Henry ? where is Ann ?' He said, ' She is all right.' The witness then proceeded to state her suspicion of the desperate nature of the prisoner's conduct, and the fact of alarming the police, as had been represented in effect in the other evidence. Other witnesses, from the evidence of some of whom it ap peared that the prisoner had contrived to get into a beastly state of intoxication, were examined, and the Alderman stated that he would commit the prisoner for trial for the murder of his wife. The prisoner was again placed at the bar on Thursday, and the depositions having been formally read over, he was fully committed for trial" — Weekly Dispatch, Nov. 21st, 1852. In December, 1852, Horler was tried and convicted, and I send you an account of his last moments, and of his execution. In this account you will find the observation of Lord Palmerston and tbo declaration of the criminal, to which I have referred. 256 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, "execution op HENRY HORLER — REMARKABLE DECLARATION OF THE CRIMINAL. This wretched man, who was convicted at the December sessions of the Central Criminal Court of the murder of his wife, Anne Horler, under circumstances of great atrocity, suf fered the extreme sentence of tho law yesterday morning, at eight o'clock, in front of Newgate. About ten days since the sheriffs, Messrs. Aldermen Carter and CroU, accompauied by the reverend ordinary of Newgate, waited upon Lord Palmer ston at the Home-olfice, for the purpose of urging the royal clemency in the case. 'The sheriffs dwelt particularly upon the fact of mercy having been extended iu simUar cases. Lord Palmerston hstened attentively to the application, and ex pressed an opinion that the sheriffs had only done their duty in laying before him certain facts that had not transpired at the trial, but his lordship added that, after conferring with the judge who tried the prisoner, he saw no reason to recommend the exercise of the Queen's prerogative ; in fact, he was not sure that the frequency of crimes simUar to the prisoner's had not arisen from the clemency referred to. The unfavorable result of this apphcation was communicated by the ordinary to Horler, who appeared little affected by it. He evidently still clung to the hope that his life would be spared. His mother and his father and his wife's aunt visited him subsequently, to take their last farewell. The interviews are described to have been very painful, but it is feared the prisoner exhibited little sign of true repentance. The sheriffs have been exceedingly attentive to the wretched man since his conviction, and the reverend ordinary has used the most un ceasing efforts to bring him to a state of mind becoming his awful position. In the course of conversation with the Rev. Mr. Davis on Saturday, he made a remarkable admission, which wiU probably shake the faith of some of those gentlemen who are just now loudly urging the propriety of abolishing the punishment of death. After expressing the great fear he had of undergoing the actual pain of a violent death, he stated that he did not think his crime would have cost him his Ufe — that he expected he should have been imprisoned for life or trans ported ; but that if he" had looked forward to the punishment of death as a probable contingency, he should not have com mitted the crirae. The remarkable statement made by the prisoner, that if he BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 257 had known his oivn life would have been the penalty, he would not liave committed the crime, wiU scarcely surprise those who remember that the foUowing capitally convicted raurderers, tried at the Old Bailey, have had their sentence commuted to transportation during the last ten years : WiUiam Stolzer, October, 1843; Edwin Dwyer, November, 1843; Mary Far ley, AprU, 1844 ; Augustus Dalmas, June, 1844 ; John Smith, August, 1846; Williara Newton AUnutt, December, 1847; Mary Anu Hunt, August, 1841 ; Annette Meyers, February, 1848 ; WiUiam Tomkins, May, 1848 ; George M'Coy, Decem ber, 1849 ; S. A. Jordan, October, 1849 ; Anne Merrett, AprU, 1850 ; and William Smith, November, 1851." — Weekly Free man's Journal, Jan. 15th, 1853. In the latter part of 1852, the following was reported as occurring at Newcastle-upon-Tyne : "ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE. On Tuesday morning, at the borough pohce court, New castle-upon-Tyne, Robert Knox, a tailor, was brought up for further examination ou the charge of attempting to murder his wife. Mrs. Knox, who was disinclined to appear against her husband, but had been summoned by the magistrate to attend, said that, on the evening of Saturday, the 28th of November, her husband came home very tipsy, and a quarrel took place between them, but she lost all reeoUection of what happened, until she found herself wounded, and pohce officers in the room. They had been married twenty-eight years, and had nine children. , Mrs. Brennan said she hved iu tlie room adjoining the prison er's. About one o'clock in the morning of Sunday, the 29th of November, she heard a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Knox screaming on the stair-head, and on going to their roora, she found the prisoner and his wife lying on the floor. Both were bleeding. The prisoner said, ' I have done it, and want to die in peace.' Mr. Brennan, the husband of the last witness, said that on the morning in question, he followed his wife into Knox's room, assisted to lift Mr. and Mrs. K/iox from the floor, and then went for policemen and medical assistance. Mr. Finnigan, clothes dealer. Dog Bank, said that at one o'clock on the morning of the 29th ult., he heard the prisoner's daughter shout, ' My mother is stabbed — he had a knife to my mother. ' He ran into their room, and saw Mrs. Knox lying on her left side, near the window. The prisoner was lying 22* R 258 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, close to her, and a large carving knife was sticking in his breast. Witness inquired who did it, and the prisoner then drew the knife from his body, threw it upon the ground, and said, ' You see you I have done it myself Mrs. Knox screamed and said, ' Oh my heart — I am dying ;' to which the prisoner rephed, ' Die hard, you .' Mrs. Finnigan, wife of the last witness, said that when she entered the room on the morning in question, she heard the prisoner, who had beeu told that his wife would recover, say, ' I wish I had done it more effectually, and I wish to die in peace.' She unloosed Mrs. Knox's stays, and found that she had been stabbed. Mr. J. L. Miller, surgeon, said that between one and two o'clock in the morning of the 29th ult., he was sent for to the prisoner's house in Dog Bank. Mrs. Knox had a womid two inches in depth over the eighth rib, which must have been in flicted with great violence by a sharp knife. For several days she was dangerously ill, but was now out of danger. The pri soner had a wound two or three inches deep immediately over the breast bone, but it was not a dangerous one, the knife having been arrested in its progress by the bone. Several other witnesses were exarained, after which Mr. Stoker, solicitor, who appeared for the prisoner, said that Mrs. Knox had no wish to prosecute, but if the magistrates considered that that was not sufficient reason why the prisoner should not be sent for trial, he could say nothing after the evidence that had been given. Dr. Airey, the sitting magistrate, said that the case must undoubtedly be sent for trial. The prisoner was fully com mitted for trial at the next assizes." — Observer, December 21th, 1852. In the early part of this year, I attended a trial at the Old Bailey, which I think you will admnr seems to show that those " vigorous measures of repression " which the Parliament has been invited to adopt for the prevention of such savage treatment of their wives, and of women generally, by Englishmen, are likely to prove but a shabby remedy, whilst the courts and juries who try the offenders are composed of persons who sympathize with the criminal. But possibly we should not be hard on these gentlemen — possibly they .really feel, in all humihty, that they are not sufiiciently "without sin " in this respect BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 259 themselves, to "first cast a stone." This conclusion would seem to be justified by the testimony of the wit nesses quoted in my last letter, who deposed that one of these wife-murderers beat his wife only " in common with other husbands." Here is the trial to which I have referred : "DEATH OF A WIFE FROM BRUTAL ILL-TREATMENT. At the Old BaOey Court on Thursday, John Parrott, forty- five, was indicted for the wilful murder of his wife, Sarah Par rott. Mr. Bodkin, counsel for the prosecution, opened the case in a temperate address. He said that, although it had been deemed advisable for the ends of justice to prefer the pre sent charge agaiust the prisoner, yet he thought the jury ought to be informed that the matter had been previously inquired into by a coroner's jury, and that they were discharged with out returning a verdict. It was, however, thought that a case of this description ought not to be allowed to pass without fuU investigation ; and after they had heard the evidence he should lay before them, they would have to say whether it established the fact that the deceased met her death from vio lence inflicted upon her by the prisoner, and, if so, whether the act committed by him amounted to the crime of wUful murder, or was an offence of a less aggravated character. Three or four witnesses were then examined, and from their evidence it appeared that the prisoner got his living by hawk ing meat about the streets, and that he and his wife lodged in a garret at No. 6 Spicer street, Spitalfields, and that they were in a most wretched state of poverty. The deceased woman was in a very weak and emaciated state of body, and nearly blind ; and it appeared that during nearly the whole of the time the parties occupied this lodging they were con tinually quarreUing, and the deceased was repeatedly heard to scream for assistance, and to call 'murder.' It would seem that in the evening of the 1th of December the deceased and the prisoner were heard quarrelling upon the staircase of the house by some of the other lodgers, and the prisoner, in answer to something that was said by the deceased, told her that he would do something for her the next day. On the following morning, between seven and eight o'clock, a woman named Merrett, who occupied a room directly under the prisoner's garret, heard screams and cries of murder come from his room, which continued for nearly half an hour. During this time 260 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, prisoner was heard to swear at deceased and make use of very foul language, and deceased repeatedly called out that her hus band was murdering her. This witness went out of her room and caUed to the prisoner, and said, ' Parrot, what are you doing to that poor creature ?' and he made some answer vvhich she did not cleariy hear. She then said that she should go for the police, to which the prisoner replied, '• ¦ the police.' Shortly after this the prisoner went out, and did not return uutil between nine and ten o'clock, and he then went into his own roora, and immediately afterwards the deceased again began to scream and call raurder, and there was the sound of a scufflo, as though some person had fallen, and that some struggle vvas taking place upon the floor. After a short time had elapsed, the prisoner left the house a second time, and when he was gone, all vvas quiet in his room. He carae home again about five o'clock ; immediately after he got into his room he alarmed the lodgers, and on going to the garret he occupied, the deceased was found lying ou a straw mattress quite dead, and frora the rigid and cold state of the body it was evident that death had taken place for several hours. When the pri soner was informed that his wife was dead and cold, he said, 'nonsense,' and that the persons who said so were mad; he added that he had spoken to her ten minutes before, and asked her to havc some tea, and he said that she answered him by saying that she did not know where she was. These were the main facts of the case ; and it appeared that when the prisoner was apprehended, he at first denied that his name was John Parrott, but afterwards, upon the policeman teUing him that it was no use his doing so, he adraitted the fact ; and when he was told that he vvas charged with causing the death of his wife, he said that he had got over all that by the coroner's inquest. Dr. Godfrey, the surgeon who was caUed in upon the occa sion, said that, upon examining the body of the deceased, he was unable to discover any mark of external violence, but on the 11th of December, he, by direction of the coroner, made a post-mortem exaraination. He then discovered that the body was in a dreadfully emaciated condition, every portion of fat in the intestines being entirely absorbed. One of the lungs vvas very much compressed, and full of venous blood, and from this and other appearances that presented themselves, he was of opinion that the death arose from suffocation. Upon examining the head of the deceased, he found a quantity of BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 261 hair had been torn out completely by the roots, and there was some coagulated blood inside the head corresponding with the place whence the hair had been takeu. He expressed an opinion, from all the circurastances, that the deceased had died through some person having seized her by the hair and pulled her head forcibly forward upon her chest, and this, in her at tenuated condition, he said was very likely to have caused suf focation. He also expressed an opinion that the death might have been occasioned by the pressure of a person kneeling upon the chest of the deceased, and he was rather fortified in this opinion by the condition of the lungs ; and he added that the pressure might be sufficient to cause suffocation, and yet not leave any external mark. Mr. Sleigh, in his address to the jury for the prisoner, urged that the evidence as to the cause of death was not sufSciently conclusive to justify them in finding a verdict of guilty upon so dreadful a charge ; and that, from the evidence of the medi cal gentleman, starvation might have had quite as much to do with the death, as any act of the prisoner. Mr. Justice Cresswell having sumraed up, the jury, after a very short deliberation, found the prisoner Guilty of man slaughter. The learned judge said the prisoner had been found guilty of a very dreadful crime, and he entirely concurred in the ver dict of the jury. He thought it was very probable that he did not intend to kill his unfortunate wife, and, therefore, he had been properly acquitted of the crirae of wilful murder ; but, at the same time, it was quite clear that her death was the re sult of his savage and brutal violence. The offence had been clearly made out, and he should sadly fail in his duty to the public, if he did not pass a severe sentence, which was, that he be transported beyond the seas for his natural life." — Weekly Dispatch, February Gth, 1853. Pray notice that the coroner's inquest was unable to agree as to the character of the crime in this case ; and the jury, upon the final trial, convicted of manslaughter only — the learned judge agreeing to the correctness of the verdict, but admitting that it was quite clear that "the wife's death " was the result of the husband's " savage and brutal violence." And yet, though this savage and brutal violence was the cause of that poor, helpless, starv- 2G2 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, ing, emaciated creature's death, both judge and jury find and say that she was not murdered. How can such a conclusion, by possibility, be accounted for, but upon the supposition of a controlling sympathy with the brute mur derer ? Again I repeat it, that Englishman spoke truly who said that, in this country, " the vow to protect con fers a license to kill." Another case occurred in London during this year, which also serves as an illustration of what I have just said. The report is entitled " Brutal Murder of a Wife ;" but of course the jury did not find it to be more than manslaughter. "BRUTAL MURDER OF A WIFE. On Saturday week, a raan naraed Francis Mead, a shoe maker, residing in Henry street, Marylebone, beat his wife to death. The principal witness against hira was his own son, a lad fourteen years of age. It seems that, on Saturday week last, the prisoner beat his wife, until her face, head, and arms, were bruised and swollen ; then kicked her, and hurled her about the roora, until he had broken tvvo of her ribs, which, penetrating her lungs, brought on infiammation of those organs, of which, on the following Monday, she died. Mary Wynn, an acquaintance of deceased, said that she visited her on Mon day, when she saw her husband sitting at deceased's bedside. Witness asked how she met with the injuries. The husband rephed that ou Saturday night his wife had been drinking, and that on running away from him she fell down stairs and fractured her ribs. He then asked deceased if she wished to say anything in witness' presence. She replied, 'What do you wish me to say ? I forgive you, and may the Lord for give you. I have nothing to say; I die in peace.' After a pause, she further said, ' Francis, I am dying ; take care of my children, and don't beat Prank.' About an hour after wards, she died. The jury found a verdict of ' manslaughter' against Francis Mend."— Hull Packet, June 11th, 1853. Poor, poor creature ! Well might she feel that it was peace to be free from such a state of existence — peace to go where there were no more husbands ; although, in so BILLY BUCKS VISIT TO ENGLAND. 263 doing, she had to leave that poor little Frank to the tender mercies of the savage who had had no compassion on her. I wiU return to this subject in another letter; and will close this with the assurance that I am, as ever, Eespectfully, Yr. friend and cousin, P. Jones. To Maj. Jones, PineviUe, Ga., U. S. of America. LETTEE XXVII. MURDER OP A WIPE, AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE OP THE HUS BAND — buck's INDIGNATION THEREAT, AND CRITICISMS THEREON. London, December Qth, 1853. Dear Major: — In the latter part of August last, I visited the Eoyal Mint, taking my servant with me. We started to return, during the afternoon, on foot, and were Ungering somewhere in the (to me) interesting neighbor hood of the Minories, when our attention was attracted by a cry of distress. I looked in the direction from which it proceeded, and beheld a spectacle which I sometimes still see in my dreams. A woman was running towards us, her arms thrown wildly about, and her clothes covered with blood, which was flowing f'rom a frightful gash in her throat. She soon fell to the ground. We and others ran to the spot, raised her, and, at the instance of some one present, carried her to a surgeon who lived at no great distance. She was evidently in a dying condition, and I left her and returned to the scene of the catastro phe, that I might learn something of the particulars. As we proceeded, I said to my man that I thought it very probable this was another case of a wife murdered by her husband. "As sure as a gun, Marster," said he, "hit is 'nuther one o' them bloody family frays, which I bleve in my soul 264 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, these Inglish people raally loves. In our country, you know, sir, when husbands git oudacious mad with their wives, they cusses and quits, and thinks they's done their worst ; but here they kills 'um. But, Marster, what's too much for this nigger to onderstand is, the way they most allers does it. 'Pears like hit's the natur of Inglishmen to stick their wives in the throat. In Georgy we does hogs so, and cuts the throats of beasts, becase we wants to blood the meat well ; but why these Inglishmen should want to do their wives so, beats me. Hit raally do seem like they loves to see blood run." " It does indeed. Buck ; and there I suspect you have hit the naU upon the head," said I. " They seem to be gratifying two passions when they are thus acting — one of anger, the other, love of blood. The number of such cases is truly wonderful, as you have suggested. But what is this?" The last observation was induced by the approach of a crowd of person, in the midst of whom a man was borne along, who seemed also to have received a wound in the throat. I asked a Jewish-looking person who stood near me for an explanation, and was told that the wounded man was the husband of the woman we had seen ; that, after cutting her throat, he had endeavored to perform the same office for himself, and that the neighbors were now taking him to the surgeon also, but that he was not as dangerously hurt as his wife. " Bound for that !" said Buck. " Bound for that ! be case, mister, hit was one thing to stick his wife in the gullet, and another thing to stick hisself. He pushed the knife into his poor critter of a wife hard enough, God knows ! But in course he cut hisself sorter more gra dual. Nobody but a coward would hurt a 'oman, and a coward is allers mighty clar of bein much in arnest when he comes to hurtin hisself. AU I hope, mister, is, that the doctor won't sew the hole up, but let the bloody var mint die, ef thar's any chance for it." " Buck, Buck," said I, " this is going too far. You are forgetting yourself" " Beg pardon, Marster, but I was sorter ryled, from seein that poor sufferin creetur of a 'oman, who I spect is BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 265 dead 'fore now ; and I couldn't help thinkin that ef the man that kUled her didn't take his own life, nobody would do it for him in this country, an a mighty bloody crime would go onpunished, Marster." The woman died, as I supposed she would, in a short time after I left^her, and an inquest was held over her the next day. From a report in a paper of the day, you will get the facts of the case. I send it, as foUows : " MURDER OP A WIPE — ATTEMPTED SUICIDE BY THE HUSBAND. On Wednesday afternoon, Joseph Mobbs, residing at Enoch court, Goodwin's-yard, Minories, murdered his wife, and then attempted to destroy himself Since Easter he had lived in the house of an industrious man naraed Riardon, and his four chil dren, by a former wife, lived with him. He was intemperate in his habits, and, when intoxicated, behaved so brutally in flogging and ill-treating his wife, that he latterly acquired in the neighborhood the cognomen of ' General Haynau.' In the course of Tuesday night he quarrelled with his wife, and she ran to a neighbor's in the same court, where she remained all night. On Wednesday morning he caUed for her, and com pelled her to go home, when he resumed his ill-treatment, load ing her with curses and execrations. About the middle of the day the landlady of the house left home to obtain frora the Lord Mayor an ejectraent suramons, to get rid of Mobbs and his family. The landlady returned at three o'clock, and heard Mobbs and his wife talking in a subdued tone in their roora on the first floor, and shortly afterwards she heard a screara, and Mrs. Mobbs rushed from the room with a frightful wound in her throat, and ran about one hundred yards from the house, when she feU exhausted, and faintly exclaiming, ' Murder ! he has cut my throat.' A crowd coUected, and she was taken to a surgeon, and then conveyed in a cab to the London Hospital, but was a corpse before she reached it. Meanwhile the neigh bors had proceeded to the room of the murderer, and found hira weltering in his blood from an extensive wound in the throat. On his way to the hospital he used incoherent excla mations respecting his wife. It seems that he was very jealous of her, but the jealousy appears to have been unfounded. He was seen in the morning industriously sharpening a table-knife, which was found on the floor of his room when his wife was 23 266 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, murdered. He is a jobbing wine cooper, and is about 40 years of age. The wife was about the same age." — Observer, Aug. 29Wi, 1853. You will perceive, Major, that his neighbors caUed this man Mobbs " Gen. Haynau," because of his cruelty to his wife. After all the facts which appear in my last two or three letters, you may think it surprising that English men — and that class of Englishmen, too, who so contemp tuously and insultingly treated this woman-flogging Aus trian general — should have been so excessively indignant at the conduct of " General Haynau." Can it be that they desire a monopoly of the article of brutality to woman ? Seriously, though, whilst I truly sympathized with those who so flouted the brutal soldier^ and rejoiced at what they did, I cannot but think that the proceeding was very much of humbug — I cannot but feel that this English people have a strong leaning towards the practice of humbugging themselves. The case before us, and the slavery agitation, are both illustrations ; for surely they cannot be so prodigiously blinded in vision and blunted in sensibility by the beams (some splinters of which I am pointing out for your inspection), though I admit that these are huge, which are in the eye of their social system, as to be entirely ignorant of theu- presence. It is impos sible, therefore, not to think and talk of humbug, when we witness these outbreaks of virtuous effort to pluck the mote out of the eyes of their neighbors. It would be easy for me to continue this catalogue of wife-murders. But I have too much else to write for your consideration, to spare more time and space to this class of crimes. Enough has been 'shown you to authorize the inference which I have pressed upon your attention. I will continue to send you evidence of the terrible cru elty with which the women of this country are treated by its men. But first, and in my next letter, I wUl show you how the wives serve the husbands here occasionaUy. In the meantime, I am. Very respectfuUy, Yr. friend and cousin. To Major J. Jones, p. Jones. Pineville, Georgia, U. S. of America. BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 267 LETTEE XXVIII. MURDER OP THEIR HUSBANDS BY MARIA CAGE AND SARAH CHESHAM FORTUNE-TELLING AND POISONING A WIPE POISONS HER HUSBAND IN SUSSEX DR. JONES AND BUCK ATTEND THE TRIAL, AND FIND THAT SAUCE POR THE ENG LISH GOOSE IS NOT ALWAYS SAUCE FOR THE GANDER. London, December 31st, 1853. Dear Major : — It is reasonable to expect that, in a country where the men are bloodthirsty and savage in their tempers and conduct, the women will partake more or less of the same characteristics. It would be strange, too, in such a country, where husbands are in the constant habit of murdering and otherwise maltreating their wives, if the latter were not sometimes driven to acts of despe rate wickedness. Accordingly, it is true, as you may have inferred from the facts which I have already fur nished you, that the women of England have a share in the cruelties and crimes, and more especially in the horrid murders, which abound there. It is true, and must be confessed, that, if domestic Tarquins do abound in this land, and frequently make victims of their wives, an Aruns here occasionally finds his TuUia. After the long list of ferocious murders of wives by their husbands which you have been reading, it will, per haps, be almost a gratification to be reminded that the wives " turn the tables " on their husbands here some times. Before proceeding with other remarkable illustra tions of the cruel treatment of women which prevaUs in England, and by way of somewhat diversifying the gloomy interest of the subject, I will call your attention to a few cases of the murder of husbands by wives. In my letter of October 15th, last, I mentioned to you the case of Maria Cage, who poisoned her husband with 268 THE slaveholder abroad; or, arsenic. In the same letter, I referred to the remarkable case of Sarah Chesham, who was executed for a similar offence. Here is an interesting case, taken from the "Ob server" of September 1st, 1851, and by that paper copied from the " Ipswich Express." " FORTUNE TELLING AND POISONING. At the petty sessions for the Wisbech division, Catherine Dancock, of Wisbech, was committed for seventeen days for pretending to tell the fortune of Hannah Neale, of Outwell, the unhappy woman who now stands coraraitted for the murder of her husband. The case was proved by her sister-in-law, who accompanied the prisoner to the house of Dancock on the 11th of July last. Dancock gave Hannah Neale a pack of cards to shuffle, and desired her to cut thera three times, which having done, she returned the cards, and Dancock then placed nine of them upon the table with their faces upwards, and in read ing from thera said, ' Your husband won't live long, for all the dark cards lay before hira ; you will be married to Cater, have two children, and keep a public house.' Upon hearing this, the infatuated woman desired Dancock to write a letter for her to Cater in the following words : ' My husband has been very ill, and I thought he would have died. I wish you to come home at Michaelmas, as I want to see you.' The letter was signed with the initial letters H. N., and addressed Church Cater, Sheffield. Neale paid 3d. for the prediction, and was to pay 3d. raore for the letter writing when she next went to the house. It was their second visit, they having been there about six weeks previously, when Mrs. Dancock pretended to reveal to them the future. They had also visited a Mrs. Mudd, at Upwell, for a similar purpose, and she was also summoned, but for want of sufficient evidence was discharged. As it appeared from the evidence against Hannah Neale, on a charge of poisoning her husband at Outwell, that she had purchased two quantities of arsenic at the shops of John W. Feast and Henry Whitaker, these parties were on Monday charged before the magistrates, at Downham, with having sold to Hannah Neale a quantity of arsenic, without having com plied with the provisions of an act recently passed for the sale of poisons. This act renders it imperative that before the arseuic is deUvered to the purchaser, the seUer shaU enter in a book kept for the purpose the date of the sale, the Christian name and surname of the purchaser, the purchaser's place of BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 269 abode, the condition and occupation ofthe purchaser, the quan tity of arsenic sold, and the purpose for which it is required ; and also, that before the arsenic is delivered, it must be mixed with soot or indigo, in certain proportions. In neither ofthe above cases had any of these stipulations been complied with ; and each of thc parties rendered themselves liable to a penalty of £20 ; but this being the flrst case which has occurred since the passing of the act, and the object of the inforraation being rather to give publicity to its provisions than to punish the offenders, the magistrates allowed the information to be with drawn, upon the parties paying the costs incurred, expressing a hope that it would act as a caution to other dealers in poison ; but it is lamentable to reflect that the life of a fellow-creature was probably sacrificed by this neglect of the provisions of the law." — Ipsicich Eapress. A sim lar murder occurred last year, the report of which I send you. It is almost as atrocious as any of the crimes with which I have made you acquainted, and cer tainly affords evidence of shocking social depravity. "A WIFE POISONS HER HUSBAND IN SUSSEX. On Monday, a second inquest was held at Chiddingley, eight miles from Lewes, before Mr. Gell, the county coroner, on Wil liam French, an agricultural laborer, aged 35 years. The de ceased had been married nine years to Sarah Ann French, and was generally considered sound and healthy ; but a couple of days before the 1th ult. he took suddenly ill, and died on that day. There was no suspicion entertained of unfair treatraent, and an inquest was held on the body, and a verdict of ' Died frora natural causes' was returned. But circumstances subse quently led Mr. Flanagan, superintendent of constabulary, to institute inquiries, which led to the apprehension of deceased's widow, and the coroner re-opened the inquiry. Ou this second inquest it appeared that a couple named PeUing resided in the same house with the Frenches, and on the morning of Wednes day, the 1th (the day ofthe death), Mrs. PeUing caUed in to see Mrs. French. She asked French how he was, and he said he was better. At eleven o'clock that night, Mrs. French rapped smartly at the partition dividing her apartments from those ofthe PeUings, and said, 'Make as much haste as you can.' Mrs, PeUing got up and hastened in to Mrs. French, who said, ' I think my husband is gone ;' and that he had been 23* 270 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, taken ill, aud had vomited after Christraas Eve, and that he had suffered from a rupture. A young man, named Jaraes Hickman, had often been at French's house, but it did not appear that French complained of Hickman's visits. A variety of evidence was given as to the treatment of the deceased, and it appeared that at Christmas medicine had been suppUed to him by IMr. Holman, the surgeon, for pains in the bowels ; but his death was nevertheless sudden, for his brotlier, who worked with him, was unaware of his indisposition, until he was called up at one o'clock on the morning of his death, and on going in, found him dead. He had not heard untU then that he was ruptured. He asked Mrs. French how he ' went off?' She said he turned in his bed, and said, ' You are my wife, haint you ?' and then died. On the Monday previous to his death, Mrs. French was met by a woman named Sale, and said, ' I have been that way (meaning the way that led to the church) once too often.' Sale asked was that when she went to be married ? She an swered, 'Yes.' This, however, was said in a joking mood, and the general evidence showed that she and French lived on good terras together. With respect to her applying for and procuring arsenic, some rather strong and probably conclusive evidence was adduced. On the day before French died she is described as having visited the shop of Mr. Uriah Clark, of Dicker, and asking him whether he sold arsenic. She stated she wanted it for a farmer. She, however, was told that it was not kept there, and she went away. Naomi Crowhurst, the wife of Owen Crowhurst, a farrier, at Horsebridge, deposed that about three weeks ago, in the be ginning of the week, she recollected seeing Sarah Ann French, the widow of the deceased, come into her kitchen to see her servant, Harriette Wilmshurst. When she came in, she asked for two pennyworth of arsenic. The witness (Mrs. Crowhurst) at first said she had not got any, and then asked her what she wanted it for. Mrs. French replied she was overrun with mice. After some further inquiries, however, and being cau tioned as to how she left it about the house, she was served with a small parcel of white arsenic. Mrs. Crowhurst did not weigh it, but wrote the word ' poison' upon it, and told her to be very careful, as many people might mistake it for magnesia, and that several people had been poisoned by it. She rephed, ' Oh 1 has there ?' She tendered Is. in payment. She was charged 3d. for the pa.cket, and received back the change. On the 28th iust., Mrs. Crowhurst saw Mrs. French at a public- BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 271 house called the Gun. At that time she was dressed as a widow, and it was suggested, in order that there should be no mistake about her identification, that she should dress herself in the apparel she had on when she procured the poison. She did so, and Mrs. Crowhurst recognized her as the person who had purchased the arsenic, as she had stated. Mrs. French remarked that she had never seen her before, but the servant, Harriette Wilmshurst, was called, and she confirraed in every re spect the testiraony of her mistress. She also had no doubt of Mrs. French being the person who was supplied with the packet of arsenic. On being apprehended, she stated to Su perintendent Flanigan that she never purchased any arsenic in her life, but that at Christmas her husband had bought two separate halfpennyworths to kill mice ; and that if any poison were found in him, he must have taken it himself, as he was very low at Christmas about some bills coming in. She said he was not attended by any medical man, that he took ill on Sunday night, was better on Monday, worse on Tuesday, and died on Wednesday. Mr. Holman, surgeon, deposed to the result of a post mortem examination. Mr. Alfred S. Taylor, professor of chemistry of Guy's Hos pital, deposed to making the usual analysis of the contents of the stomach, and finding arsenic in sufficient quantities to cause death. James Hickman, whose appearance was very youthful, de posed that he had known Mrs. French for twelve months, and that he used to visit her house, as he was courting her sister, Jane Piper. He said that Jlrs. French was very fond of him, but that he had no improper intiraacy with her during her hus band's hfetirae. She had often kissed him, and she said she loved him, but he refused to have any intimacy with her during her husband's lifetime. She then asked him would he marry her if her husband was dead, and he rephed, ' Yes, as her sister, whom he was courting, had got another man.' She said she expected a little money, about £100. On Christraas Eve de ceased ate onion pie for supper. No one else tasted it. Mrs. French gave witness a ring a month before Christraas to keep in remembrance of her, and she said she would expect him to give her a ring when they were married. He repeated that he never was improperly intimate with her during her husband's lifetime. The prisoner, after being duly cautioned by the coroner, said 272 iTHE SL.WEHOLDER ABROAD) OR, she was quite innocent, and that she never bought arsenic in her life. The coroner sumraed up, and the jury returned a verdict of wilful raurder agahist Sarah, otherwise Sarah Ann French. She vvas committed to the county jaU for trial at the next assizes. On arriving at the jaU she was seized with alarming illness, but was restored in about two hours by medical aid." — Observer, February 2th, 1852. As Lewes, where I was informed the trial of this woman would take place, was comparatively a short dis tance from London, being situated in Sussex, but little more than an hour's ride by rail, south from the metro polis ; and as it was an ancient historical locality which I desired to see, I determined to attend the sessions of the court there. I went down, therefore, in time for the trial. The evidence submitted was very much the same as that which was before the coroner's inquest, and which I have already furnished. I shall not repeat it, but will send only a succinct report of it, from a number of the " Observer." " HOME CIRCUIT. — LEWES. — SATURDAY. \^Before Mr. Baron Parke.] Sarah Anne French, aged twenty-seven, was indicted for the wUful murder of W. French. The particulars of this case have already been reported in The Observer. The trial was commenced on Friday, and terminated last night. John French, a brother of the deceased, said that the last time he saw his brother alive was on Christmas Eve, when he was in very good health. On the morning of the 1th of Janu ary, he saw him dead. The prisoner was crying when he got to the cottage, but he expected to see her hurt a good deal more. A witness proved that the prisoner" had arsenic in her possession. Mr. H. Holman, a surgeon, said he had made a post-mortem examination of the body, but discovered no cause from which death could have proceeded. At that tirae there was no sus picion of the deceased having been poisoned. — Dr. Taylor, who had examined the contents of the intestines, proved the presence of arsenic. — Mary Bennett stated that when the body of the deceased vvas taken up for examination, the prisoner said all she wus afraid of was that they should find poison in BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 273 him. — James Hickman, a young man, about twenty, was then examined, and said he had been in the habit of visiting the de ceased aud the prisoner. He had first gone to the house while he was courting the prisoner's sister. He was often in the cot tage while the deceased was absent, and the prisoner had more than once told him that she loved him, and she had often kissed him. After detailing many familiarities which had taken place between the prisoner and himself, the witness acknowledged having had guilty intercourse with her. He denied ever hav ing purchased arsenic, or having any in his possession. On cross-examination, the witness said that the prisoner had told him that she had got as much as £500, and if she were to marry hira she could keep him without his being obliged to work. The deceased had bought some arsenic to kill mice with the day before Christmas Day. The night after the funeral of the deceased, witness was called out of his bed to go aud see the prisoner, and he went to the cottage and staid the re mainder of the night with her. They had sorae conversation about the death of her husband, and the prisoner said that if any poison was found in his body he must have taken it hira self. After some further evidence had been given, Mr. Rodwell addressed the jury for the prisoner, and begged that they would not find her guilty, unless they were of opinion that no other hand than hers had administered the poison, from which the deceased had evidently died. He then commented upon the conduct of Hickman, who, he said, from the gross crimi nality of his conduct, was as Ukely as the prisoner to have given the poison. Mr. Baron Parke, in summing up, said that if the jury thought the poison was administered by any other hand than that of the prisoner, stiU if they carae to the conclusion that she was cognizant of the fact, she was equally guilty of the crirae of murder. The jury, after being absent about two hours, returned into court vvith a verdict of Guilty. The learned judge then put on the-black cap, and in a brief but impressive address, sentenced the prisoner to death, ob serving that the enormity of her crime left no hope of mercy in this world." My servant was with me, as usual, when I attended this trial; and after its close, he was very bitter in his denunciations of the witness Hickman. s 274 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, " The low-Uved rascal !" he said ; "why, he aint worth shucks. Praps the 'oman desarves to die — I reckon she do; but maybe I wouldn't rot, ef I was a jurorman,' 'fore I'd hang anybody upon sich a feller's evidence. TeU you what, Marster — that gen'l'man with long har, an a frock on, that spoke up so mighty smart for the 'oman, was right when he said that feller was bad as her. He was woser 'en her, to my mind; for 'peared like he wanted her husband pisened, though he was too big a coward to help her do it ; an arter hit was done, he got skaad, turned round, an let the cat out o' the bag. That's the way to tell it, to my mind, Marster. Then whar was the use o' his tellin 'bout her kissin him an lovin him so ? My Lord I heap o' these Inglishmen too mean. Even poor nigger wouldn't let a 'oman kiss him an then tell on her." Myself. " I agree with you. Buck, that he was a very despicable witness; but there can be no doubt of the woman's guilt." Buek. "Looks so to me, Marster; but that Judge Melud oughten to let the juror put any confidence in that villain, but told 'um to hang him with her. Nuther thing sorter puzzles me, sir — Judge Melud told the 'oman " Ml/self " Who, Buck ? Who told her ?" Buck, " Judge Melud, sir. Didn't them lawyers call the Judge ' Melud,' Marster ? Aint that his name, sir ?" Myself. " Pshaw, Buck ! They said, or meant to say, 'my lord.' That is the title by which a judge is called in England." Buck. " My lord, Marster ! I didn't know, sir, they was tryin to say ' my lord.' Well, as I was a sayin, sir, the judge told that 'oman that the 'normity o' her crime left her no hope for marcy in this world ; an I coiUdn't help thinkin that hit was not adzackly so in them cases we been seein an hearin of whar the husbands murdered thar wives in this country. "The 'normity o' them crimes didn't forbid hope o' marcy in this world. I heap o' times hear say, my Marster, that what is sarce for the goose is sarce for the gander. But 'pears hke 'taint so with Inglish gander." Myself. " There is much force in what you say, Buck." BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 275 Buck. " Then whar was the use o' the judge puttin' ou that 'bominable black cap to skaar the poor critter with, when he was gwine to say what he did to her. God knows he was ugly 'nuff before." Myself. " The putting on of the black cap by the judge, when about to pass sentence of death upon a cri minal, is a very ancient custom, established in the English courts, when they were less refined in their tastes than they are now, and more addicted to form and ceremony ; and was intended, I suppose, to be symbolical of the mournful duty which that officer was about to perform. It is a form in which the improved taste of the age should not see much to admire, in my opinion. But the English people are slow to change their venerable forms, for fear that respect for the matters of substance of which they are usuaUy the type, or drapery, should rashly undergo a change." Buek. "Fact is, Marster, more I see of this Inglish eople, more it raaly does 'pear to me I never shill git the .ang of thar ways, no way I can fix it." — ^ You shaU hear from me again soon. Major; until when, I am, Eespectfully, Your friend and cousin, P. Jones. To Maj. J. Jones, PinevUle Ga. U. S. of America. 276 the slaveholder abroad; or. LETTEE XXIX. BRUTAL TREATMENT OF THEIR WIVES BY ENGLISHMEN — MA LICIOUS STABBING OF A WIFE — SAVAGE AND INHUMAN CONDUCT TO A WIPE BY HER HUSBAND — ATTEMPTED MUR DER OP A WIPE, AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE OP THE HUS BAND — ILL-TREATMENT OF A WIFE, AND HER REFUSAL TO PROSECUTE — WIFE-BEATING, AND WIPE REFUSING TO PRO SECUTE — THREATENING TO MURDER A WIPE. London, January 30th, 1854. Dear Major : — I have not informed you of half the remarkable instances of brutal violence committed by the men of-England upon their wives, with which I have been made acquainted during the last three years. I will now send you some reports of cases less fatal in results than the murders to which I have called your attention, bat scarcely less atrocious in character. In the year 1851, a man by the name of McLean was tried before the Central Criminal Court at the Old Bailey, for attempting to murder his wife by hanging her. He was acquitted. I have not the record of his trial, but you will find a reference to it in an article contained in my letter of December 1st, last, and headed "Ill-treat ment and Murder of Wives." You will there find an English editor's opinion of the case, and of the way in which, to use Buck's figure of speech, the sauce is sup plied to the English gander. Early in 1852 , the following case occurred. It fur nishes another illustration of that trait in an English- lishman's nature, of which Buck has spoken : viz., a strong propensity, when in a passion with his wife, to thrust his knife into her throat. BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 277 " ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE — MALICIOUSLY STABBING. At the assizes held at Winchester (Western Circuit) before Mr. Justice Talfourd, Edwin James Harris was indicted for maUciously stabbing his wife, Mary Harris, with intent to mur der her, at Southampton, on the 21th of December. It ap peared that these parties, who seemed to be decent kind of people, had been married twenty years. Differences at last arose between them,'which ended in a separation ; but they had so far become reconciled as to meet and walk together, and shortly before Christmas Day they arranged to dine together on that day, and he gave her Is. 6s. to purchase the dinner. They met again the next day, and he then wanted some of the money back again, and she returned him sorae part of it. He was in liquor, and she went to his lodging with him to take care of him. He kissed her many tiraes and cried very rauch. She begged him not to cry, and said she would come and see him in the morning, when he would be better. She left him and went home. 'They met again on the 21th of Deceraber. She went to his lodging and made his tea. He cried and kissed her. They saw his landlord, who said he wondered he would be seen with his wife after what he had called her. His coun tenance instantly changed. She said he dared not repeat the word in her presence, and she became angry, and said if he repeated it, she would slap his face ; she had always been a faithful and virtuous wife to him, and had supported herself by stay-making during the time she Uved separately frora hira. After the words had passed in the public house, they left, and walked together sorae distance without speaking a word. At length the prisoner said, ' What did he say ?' alluding to what the landlord had said. He then said, ' There's no knowing the heart of any man ;' and he began to push his wife. She told him not to do so. He laid hold of her, aud she thought he was going to kiss her. She remonstrated with him, and she then saw him draw a knife from his pocket, and he attempted to cut her throat. She screamed, and they feU — he was still endeavoring to cut her throat. The cuts went through her shawl, bonnet, and ribands, and five wounds were inflicted on her face and neck. At the instant a young woman came up and seized the hand in which was the knife, and puUed his head back. She contrived to hold his hand and the knife for some time, till he got his hand away, and again cut at his wife, who screamed ' Murder,' and said, 'My dear, don't cut my throat. ¦¦ 24 278 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, The other woman said, 'You bad man, you've kiUed the woman,' and she ran and procured assistance. She returned and took the prisoner by the coUar. He said, 'I am not going to run away.' She said, 'I'U take care you don't, you bad man ;' and she gave him into the custody of two policeraen. The wife was confined to her bed for some time ; the wounds did not heal for nearly a month, and were still at times very painful. When the prisoner was sober, he was very kind to his wife, but he was given to drink, and was then very excita ble ; he would change in a moment. When the prisoner was taken he said his wife was a brute, and had taken the knife out of his pocket and tried to cut his throat. The knife was a common pruning knife. There was blood on the ground. Mr. C. Saunders addressed the jury with considerable force for the prisoner, contending that there was not a deliberate in tention to murder the wife. Two days before the man had treated her with the greatest kindness and affection ; he had cried, he had kissed her, he was anxious to forgive and forget ; but on the unfortunate day when this had happened, the land lord had made use of an expression which touched that chord which had been wounded. His countenance altered in a mo ment, his whole feeUngs became changed, his jealousy was again roused, but still he did not intend to murder. He walked with his wife ; not a word passed for some time ; the expres sion of the landlord was rankling in his heart, and he asked what words the man had used ; the wife would not answer, and in a moment of uncontrolled jealous, drunken passion, he had drawn the knife from his pocket, and had acted in the manner which had been related to them. Mr. Justice Talfourd having suramed up, the jury returned a verdict of guilty, with intent to do grievous bodily harra, and the prisoner was sentenced to be transported for life. The learned judge told the young woraan who had rendered such assistance, that he could not let her go without saying how much they were all indebted to her for the great courage she had displayed ; he had never heard of any one acting so well He had the power of awarding a small sum to a person for apprehending a felon, and he should, therefore, in this case, award her £5, and he hoped she would purchase some trifie that raight be kept by her and her family in remembrance of her courageous act." — Observer, March Sth, 1852. The following case was before one of the magistrates' sessions in the city during the last month ; and it affords BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 279 you another fine specimen of a cowardly and ruffian wife- bruiser : "At Worship street, on Thursday, George Snowden, a cabi net-maker, was charged with brutal conduct to his wife. The wife, a pale, delicate woman, said she had been ten months married, and during that tirae her husband had so continually iU-treated her, that she sank underdt, and was seized with brain fever and sent to an hospital. Typhus fever supervened, and after being in the hospital six weeks, she was slowly recovering, when the prisoner called and promised to treat her kindly if she returned home. He so strongly entreated her that she consented, and left the hospital, against the advice of the sur geons, a week before she ought to have been discharged. The prisoner, however, continued his ill-treatment, and on the pre ceding evening, at her father's house iu Boston street. Hack ney, he made himself so disagreeable as to cause a few words, and in a violent passion he demanded the key of his house, and said that if she set a foot in doors that night, he would break her neck down stairs. She refused to give the key, and he left ¦ her father's without it, but immediately returned and ordered her to look for something he had left behind him. She looked for it, but could not find it, and on telling him so at the door, as he would not come in, he struck her senseless to the ground with a violent blow in the eye, and the back of her head was injured by falling on the floor. From his constant threats her life was not safe. Richard Barnfeather, the wife's father, a respectable, grey headed man, aged 60, said that, bad as his wife's account was, she had concealed the worst part ; for, when witness, on hear ing her screams, went to the parlor, he found her prostrate on the floor from another blow from the prisoner. Witness inter posed to protect her, and the prisoner pulled off his coat and challenged hira to fight, although he knew that witness labored under many infirmities. ' My wife and an aged mother,' said the witness, ' are quite ill frora his conduct ; his conduct is most cowardly and outrageous, and any means you could de vise for putting a stop to it would be a boon to us. For ten months we have had no peace ; he has destroyed his wife's clothing, driven her to the hospital with inflammation aud typhus — Ulness occasioned entirely by his provoking conduct, and, although she had always before her marriage, been strong and healthy, she is now so weak that her feet would scarcely 280' THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, support her to this court. In fact, he has almost worried her to death.' John Richardson, complainant's brother-in-law, and a much less man than the prisoner, said that when the prisoner struck his wife senseless he ran away, and witness stepped over her body, pursued him, overtook him at a baker's shop, and took him by the collar. The prisoner immediately put up his hand, and said, ' I will go quietly anywhere with you, if you will not strike me.' Witness held hira till a constable came, and then gave him in charge. The prisoner pleaded aggravation, and treated the matter very Ughtly. Mr. Hammill said : Your whole conduct has been what might be expected from such a man, and only proves that cowards who practise such brutality upon their wives always shrink from the sUghtest injury to themselves. It is a very bad case, and you will go to the House of Correction for six months, with hard labor, and at the expiration of that time, you must put in two substantial bail in £20 each for your peaceable behavior for the further term of six months, or remain committed in default." — Observer, December 12th, 1853. If you should suspect, as I did at first, that such dis graceful violence is confined to the very lowest classes among this people, you wiU have your mind disabused of this impression by the following, among other cases. You will find the, throat-cutting passion as strong in this per son, who was probably entitled to write himself gentle man, as in some of the laborers and artizans whom we have had under review. "ATTEMPTED MURDER OF A WIFE, AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. At Bow street, on Wednesday, WiUiam Entwistle WiUis, a law writer, 61 years of age, was brought up in custody from King's College Hospital, charged with stabbing his wife in the throat, and subsequently attempting to commit suicide, on Christmas day last. 3Iary WilUs, the prosecutrix, of 5 Lee's buildings. Chancery lane, stated that she had been married to the prisoner about twenty-three years, and within twelve months after her marriage, he was committed for seven days from the Hatton Garden police court for assaulting her with a poker. They had lived together very unhappily ever since, and had had six children. For the last three or four years they had slept in separate beds, and for more than eleven months past BILLY BUCKS VISIT TO ENGLAND. 281 he had not contributed a penny towards her support. She had worked for her own living, and had paid the rent of the lodgings herself On Christmas Eve she went to bed shortly after twelve, and about two hours afterwards was aroused from her sleep by her husband, who came into the room without a hght, and got into her bed. He said, ' PoU, I am come to yon, for I am so cold.' She rephed merely, 'Then, why come to me if you are cold V In the next moment she received a vio lent stab from a sharp-pointed knife, which severed her ear and entered her throat ; and, in raising her hand to resist him, she received a severe cut upon her fingers. She then called, as loudly as she was able, to a Mr. Hyatt, who lived at the bottom of the house, exclaiming, 'My husband has stabbed me.' Hyatt and his son came to her assistance, the prisoner, in the meantime, having gone back to his own roora. A sur geon was sent for, and her wounds were dressed under his direction. The next moming her daughter found the carving- knife produced in her (witness') bed, stained with blood. Hyatt deposed that, on finding Mrs. Willis's bed linen satu rated with blood, and a pool of blood on the floor, he sent for a surgeon, and then went to the room of the prisoner, whom he found wrapped up in some bed clothing, with, several wounds in the throat. The prisoner said, ' If she is not dead, my hand must have been nervous.' They had lived in his house five years, and quarreUed on account of the man's drunken habits. He latterly spent ah his money in drink. The wife was a well- conducted, hard-working woman, although occasionally indulg ing in a glass. The prisoner : Have you never seen her lifted upstairs drunk by her own children ? Witness : Never ; but I have often seen you in that predi cament. The prisoner here accused his wife of infidelity. His wife denied this, and Hyatt said her conduct had been most proper while lodging at his house. Mr. Jones, surgeon, deposed that the wound in complain ant's throat was close to the artery, and if deeper, it would have been fatal. Mr. Taylor, surgeon of the King's CoUege Hospital, said that the wounds in the prisoner's throat were skin wounds from a razor ; none of them dangerous. The prisoner reserved his defence, and asked to be allowed a glass of beer, as he had had nothing in the hospital for eleven days but rice-water. 24* 282 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OB, Mr Henry said the raedical men knew best what to give him, and their order must be attended to. He was committed for tria.\."— Observer, Jan. 10th, 1854. In the same paper from which the above is taken, I find the two cases following : "BRUTAL TREATMENT OF WOMEN — REFUSAL OF A WIPE TO PROSECUTE. At Guildhall, on Monday, Adolphus Johnson was charged on remand with having assaulted his wife. The officer said the wife had been in the hospital, but was now able to attend if she chose. The defendant's master here stated that he had seen the wife, who had received a severe injury on the forehead, apparently inflicted by a poker. The wife told hira that she was letting her husband in at one o'clock in the morning in a state of intoxication, when he assaulted her, as he had fre quently done before. Witness therefore felt it his duty to state these facts, as the wife persisted in not attending. The defen dant said that as his wife had forgiven him, he hoped the magistrate would forgive him also. Alderman ChalUs said that though the wife was satisfied, he was not. Such a case should not be dismissed merely because a wife wished to screen the raan who ill-treated her, and in every such case he was determined to send the offender to prison for six months. He should, therefore, remand the ease, and order the officer to suraraons the wife, and if she refused to attend, he would issue a warrant. Defendant : May I give bail in the interim ? Alderman ChaUis : Certainly not. You raust go to prison. " WIFE BEATING — WIFE REFUSING TO PROSECUTE. At Worship street, on Monday, ilichael Regan, bricklayer's laborer, was charged on remand with assaulting his wife, and thereby placing her life in danger. Mr. D'Eyncourt said that it vvas a most brutal outrage, but as it appeared perfectly mani fest that the prisoner would altogether escape punishment, from the afl'ectionate and forgiving feeling which vvas now displayed towards him by his unfortunate wife, if he sent him before a jury, as he had originally intended, he should deal summarily with the case, and sentence him to six months' hard labor in the House of Correction." BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 283 A paper of to-day furnishes the following reports ; " ILL-TREATMENT OF WOMEN — THREATENING TO MURDER A WIPE. At Westminster, on Y''ednesday, Henry Hill, of 41 Yincent square, formerly clerk to Mr. Draper, solicitor, was charged with threatening to murder his wife. jMrs. Mary Hill, the wife, said that on Sunday morning, the defendant took up a knife, and said he would stab her if she interfered with him that day. She had not spoken to hira before he used the threat. He had frequently threatened her before He had never struck her, but had repeatedly twisted her arms round in the sockets, so as to cause much pain. She is nine years married to hira, and has four young chUdren. He has no reason for such conduct to her. He never complains of her conduct. On Sunday morning he caUed her niece, and because she did not answer iramediately, he said it was through her (witness') tuition. The other morning, at three o'clock, when witness was in bed, he threatened to murder her, because when he came up, after sitting two hours by himself in the kitchen, the candle was nearly out. In defence, the defendant expressed sorrow for his conduct, and said it was the effect of his having been drinking on the night before. The wife : He was certainly tipsy on the Saturday night ; but one day, when he was perfectly sober, he told me that sometimes at night he thought of getting up and cutting my throat. This so alarmed me, that I refused to sleep with him, and had my mother in the house, and he came to my bed-room and demanded admittance. I was so terrified that I called the pohce, but they would not interfere. Mr. Arnold to defendant : If you use such threats, your wife must be protected. The defendant : There is no danger now, we are going to separate. Mr. Arnold to complainant : Is it so ? Complainant : I very much wish it. Besides his threats I have had for a year and a half to support myself and children by my own exertions. I was never brought up to anything of the sort. I had money when I married, but he soon ran through it. I now support myself by dressmaking, through the assistance of some kind ladies. The defendant was bound over to keep the peace." 284 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, "At Southwark, on Wednesday, John Finnigan, a respect able looking man, was charged with beating_ Ellen Finnigan, his wife. The wife, a middle-aged woman, whose face was dreadfully lacerated and swollen, said she had been married to the prisoner about four years, and had had two chUdren by hira. They resided in Chapel-court, Southwark, and, until within the last twelve months, they had lived very comfortably together, but since then his habits had greatly changed, and he had often struck her, but she had hitherto refrained from making any complaint against him, in the hope that he would return to his former good conduct. On Tuesday he went, as usual, to his work, and between twelve and one o'clock in the morning he returned home in a state of intoxication, and im mediately began to abuse her. She raade no reply, but placed his supper before him, wheu he struck her a violent blow in the face, and, on her making an attempt to leave the room, he locked the door, and knocked her down, and, while she was lyin,g on the fioor, he kicked her repeatedly with great force, on the head and body, till she becarae insensible. Sorae per sons who lodged in the house called a policeraan, who carae and rescued her frora her husband's violence. — Defendant : I am willing to allow her a separate maintenance, if the charge be withdravv^n. — Mr. Combe : What, after you have nearly murdered her ? You must first suffer six months' hard labor in the House of Correction, before you can be allowed to talk of such an arrangement. — The defendant : I hope you will not send me there. What will become of my children ? — Mr. Combe : You are a cowardly feUow. Your wife and children shaU be taken care of — He was reraoved." You will observe that these cases are placed under a general heading, entitled "Ill-treatment of Women." This is precisely as it stands in the paper from which they are taken, and it appears to have been adopted as a sort of standard or stationary title in that paper, under which all such reports are ranged. This fact sufficiently shows the frequency of this wife-butchering, woman-beat ing system in England. It speaks volumes of itself. But the editor shall stiU further enlighten you on the subject in my next. Continue to believe me. Very respectfully, Yr. friend and cousin. To Maj. J. Jones, P. Jones. Pineville, Georgia, U. S. of America. BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 285 LETTEE XXX. barbarous AND SHOCKING ILL-TREATMENT OF WOMEN IN ENGLAND — NEW CHRISTMAS SPORTS, WHERE THE NOSES OP WOMEN, ONLY, GET SMASHED, AND THEIR EYES KNOCKED OUT — ATROCIOUS OUTRAGE UPON A WOMAN — A YODNG GIRL OUTRAGED — A WOMAN SHOT BY HER LOVER — BUCK FINDS THE DIFFICULTY OP UNDERSTANDING "THE WAYs'' OF ENGLISHMEN INCREASING A LONDON MAGISTRATE CERTI FIES TO THE CHIVALRIC TREATMENT OF WOMEN BY AME RICANS. London, February 18th, 1854. Dear Major : — The savage violence to which I have been calhng your attention is not perpetrated upon their wives only by Enghshmen. It manifests itself in the treatment which the weaker sex generally receives at the hands of those who should be their protectors. I will make it my business now to send you some specimens of as brutal and inhuman treatment of the women by the men of this country as ever occur in the most barbarous nations of the world. Indeed, I know not that any re ports of the most degraded and barbarous tribes on our globe furnish such evidence of revolting and shocking inhumanity to the women of the land. I am afraid. Major, that I shall weary you with so many horrible pictures of savage and bloody deeds ; but I have used strong language in the charge which I have brought against this Enghsh people, and I must make out my case, and sustain my assertions, at the risk of a trial to your nerves. That I have not been infiuenced by prejudice in making these charges and assertions, is sufficiently proven, I hope, by the facta which I have submitted for your considera tion. To prove that I have not been so influenced, and that I have kept within the bounds of moderation in the language I have emuloyed, I further call as a witness an 286 the SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, EngUshman, the editor of a London journal; and I fur nish you with what he says, in even stronger terms than I have used, on this subj ect. During the early part of last year, appeared the follow ing editorial article in the " London Observer." It was the honest outburst of a just indignation, excited by some of the shocking cases of barbarity and cruelty which had been reported as having occurred a short time previously, and during the Christmas holidays. To some of these I shall probably hereafter call your attention. "NEW CHRISTMAS SPORTS. In ancient days, when wassail ruled the land, it was the Christmas custom for our ancestors to belabor one another in their cups, until the victor and the vanquished lay insensate beneath the table ; in these days, however, we have changed all this. Our men of mettle now get drunk as of yore — that seems a condition inherent in Anglo-Saxon humanity ; but they go on safer grounds of quarrel, for at present they belabor only defenceless and unoffending women. In fact, as regards what Winifred Jenkins terms ' the fair sect,' the London of this day, especially in seasons of general rejoicing, is even worse than the London of the days of the Spectator ; for if the town had then its Mohawks, who ' pinked' the passers by secundem artem (always be it understood, only those who wore breeches), it has now its brutal ruffians, who, too cautious or too cowardly to 'ruffle' with their fellow-raen, vent all their vUlanous instincts upon the weaker portion of the creation, sraashing their noses, knocking out their eyes, and breaking their limbs ad libitum. What is worse, these ferocious scoundrels — more brutal in this respect than the wild beast — commit those atrocities, which, it is no exaggeration to state, are unparaUeled even in the annals of savagery, with comparative impunity. A rascal in broad-cloth, for example — he cannot be called a man — is brought before a police magistrate for defacing the features of a poor young woman whom he encounters in the streets for the first time, as he, staggers along, reeling under the weight of strong drink, with which he is gorged to repletion. JPor this he pleads drunkenness as an excuse ; but there stands the poor creature, disfigured for ever — her nose broken, her eye BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 287 smashed ; and all his apologies cannot restore her the sight of the one, or the symmetry ofthe other. Of course the magis trate is all virtuous indignation, and he reads, belike, a homily upon the vice of intoxication, which the scarcely sobered scoundrel in broad-cloth probably does not comprehend ; and the victim of his brutaUty sobs and cries as if her heart would break, even for her butcher — ' sweet sensibility of woman's nature,' &c. ; and every one, even the callous jailor of the court, is prepared to hear the maximum punishment awarded as sentence — and ' serve the fellow right,' as they all say. But lo and behold, it all ends in furno — 'words, words, words' — 'Pay a fine of 40s., or go to prison for two months,' is the magisterial alternative offered to the scoundrel at the bar ; and as the scoundrel at the bar, quite delighted with the option, clinks his cash upon the counter of the shop — begging the magistrate's pardon, it must be a shop, where justice is sold, and passes out of custody into a condition of undeserved free dom, he chuckles at the police, probably ' tips' them ' a little sixpence,' and leaves the shop — or court — in triumph, without even casting a remorseful glance at the cowering creature, who, in the expressive language of the poor, helias ' made an object of for life." You wUl not wonder at this strong language, when you come to learn something of other cases than those aUuded to by this writer, as well as something more of the details of some of the "New Christmas Sports" to which he does refer. What, for example, do you think of the following ? If the fiends from the bottomless pit were unchained and turned loose upon earth, do you think they could get up a scene more strikingly in character ? "most atrocious OUTRAGE. At the Chester Assizes, on Friday, before Mr. Baron Mar tin, Richard Kear, twenty-four, Jaraes Jaraes, eighteen, George Charles, twenty-two, Thomas Stephens, twenty-one, and Thomas James, twenty, colliers in the Forest of Dean, were indicted for having violated the person of Mary M'Carthy, on the night of Tuesday, the 29th of July, at the parish of Lyd- ney. This case was peculiarly atrocious. The prosecutrix, 288 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD ; OR, an Irish woman, aged thirty-five, and not at all handsome, left Ireland seven years ago, and had lived as a servant for some time in London, and fately went to Cardiff and Bristol to look after a brother, who, she was told, worked on some of the rail way lines, and as she travelled alone, she subsisted by some times working at needle-work for the country people, and oc casionaUy by haymaking. WhUst going from Chepstow to Gloucester, on the 29th of July, passing through the Forest of Dean about two o'clock, A. M., by a bye road leading to the main road, she was very weak and ill ; and not knowing her way, got benighted in the forest, and went towards a fire, which turned out to be in an uncovered hovel near the mouth of a coalpit. Exhausted with fatigue, cold, and hunger, she lay down near the fire, and shortly afterwards two of the pri soners came and spoke to her. She told them she was very iU, and asked for a drink of water. They told her to go to the Nag's Head public house, one hundred yards off, where she could get water in the yard. She got up and struggled to the yard, but could find no water there, and, being a stranger, wdthout money, she did not like to go into the house, and turned back towardsthe fire. In returning, two raen and a woman met her. They said that if she went down the road she could get some water. She was going down, wheu Kear came up, pretended to compassionate her, put a shawl round her neck, and told her that if she went back he would bring her some water. Beheving that he pitied her, she went back to the fire, and Kear returned with another man, vvho brought sorae water to her in a pitcher. It appeared that a club of colliers was that night drinking at the Nag's Head, and when she drank the water, they all came about her, and asked, was she better ? She was frightened, and said, ' No.' Kear then said, ' There is a house here ; I am master of it ; nobody shall inter fere with you.' She said she would rather stay at the fire, being cold and ill. George Charles then jumped up and said she should go. She saw them whispering. Kear said she should go. She refused as often as twenty tiraes. Kear and Charles then ordered the two men beside her to take her into the cabin. One of the men was James, the other was not in court ; he fetched the water. Charles took a shovel, held it over her head, and said he would burn her in the fire if she did not go in, and that one person was burnt there before. An other said there was. There were nine or ten men there. They then took her in like a prisoner. There was a large fire in the cabin. Charles brought in two shovels of red coals. BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 289 Kear opened the door. Charles walked out when he put on the coals. Kear stood outside, and some one locked the door. James and the man who fetched the water reraained inside. That man then came opposite to her. James sat by her side and held her arms behind her back. The prosecutor then de taUed her sufferings from the nine men, wdiilst they ill-used her. She cried out 'murder,' and he and those outside laughed at her. Jaraes James acted with peculiar barbarity, the revolt ing detaUs of which the witness described. Stephens and Tltiomas James acted with a Uttle more mercy. Only five of the men are yet arrested. James James was such a brute, that not content with the outrages by himself and eight others, he went to the Nag's Head, and endeavored to rouse up another collier to assault her, but who was so drunk that he could not be awakened. He afterwards deposed to that fact. By this tirae day was dawning, and she was scarcely able to move. She sat against a form, and Kear carae in and said she might stop in the cabin tiU seven in the morning, and he wonld give her the key, and she might lock the door on the inside, but George Charles came in, seized a shovel, and said he would 'kill her if she did not leave.' She went out dftwn the road. Thoraas Stephens and three others carae up aud said, 'WeU, missus, what is the matter with you V She said, ' You know well ; you have alraost killed me.' She went towards a house, and Stephens said he would kUl her if she went towards it. She met a woman, and afterwards went to a hayrick and lay down ; she was afterwards taken to the Westburn-on-Severn Workhouse. — Cross-examined : Has a child ; is not married ; was six or seven weeks in Bristol. Has a brother on the rail ways, and was going to look for him. — Anne Jenkins deposed that she met the prosecutrix on- the road about five o'clock in the morning, with her hands on her stomach, crying dreadfully, and saying she had been almost torn to pieces. — 'William Elli son, policeman, found prosecutrix at three or four in the after noon of that day lying on a hayrick, and so weak as to be un able to stand. . A woraan gave her a Uttle vvine, and witness had her removed to the workhouse. — The surgeon of the work house deposed to her exhausted state, and to the shocking lacerations she suffered, especially from James James using his hands in a brutal manner. — For the defence, Mr. Cooke ad dressed the jury, and called a witness who knew one of the prisoners for three months, and gave him a character for that period. — The judge summed up, and the jury, after one minute's deliberation, found all the prisoners GuUty. — The 25 T 290 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, judge said the offence was the most abominable he had ever heard proved in a court of justice. Had not the law been altered, he would have left them all for execution,- except Stephens aud Thomas James, who, bad as they were, treated the woman with some little kindness. Richard Kear, James James, and George Charles, were then sentenced to transpor tation for life, and Thomas Stephens, and Thomas Jaraes, to transportation for fifteen years." — Observer, August ISth, 1851. A few days later, the following case, of similar, if not of such intense atrocity, occurred. The ruffian was tried and convicted in the Central Criminal Court. "CENTRAL criminal COURT. A Miscreant. — On Tuesday, in the Third Court, Thoraas Spurrier, twenty, a glass-blower, was indicted before Russell Gurney for unlawfuUy inflicting on Sarah Elizabeth Brown, grievous bodity harm, by violently assaulting and beating her. The prosecutrix, a young woraan apparently about eighteen years of age, having been sworn, staled that she was a nursery maid, and resided at No. 6 Anne place, Ball's pond. On the evening of the 22d of July, at about five o'clock in the after noon, she vvas going along the broad path near Hornsey Wood House. She saw the prisoner and two other young men in a field close by. There were two young women ahead of her on the same path. After she had passed down the lane in the wood, she stopped to look round, when some one came up and struck her a violent blow on the ear. She turned round and saw that it was the prisoner, and he iraraediately struck her another and raore violent blow on the eye, which knocked her down. The prisoner then fell on to her with great violence, sticking his knees on her stomach so as to nearly deprive her of her senses. He then continued to behave in the most in famous manner. She struggled as much as her exhausted con dition would permit of to prevent the prisoner from accom plishing the purpose for which he had evidently attacked her. Prisoner had by this time dragged her some short distance into the wood, holding her all the tirae by the throat, and en deavoring to stifle her cries by squeezing her tightly. Find ing that she stUl resisted him he drew a large clasp knife from his pocket, and with the most violent and disgusting language said he would cut her head off if she did not submit to h's billy buck's visit to ENGLAND. 291 desires. Sorae boys coming up at the tirae, the prisoner re linquished his hold of her and ran away, throwing away the knife before he was secured. Her nose bled very profusely ; her eyes were svvoUen, and she was in great pain from the treat ment she had experienced, and since that period she had been subject to fits arising out of the fright and ill-treatment, and was still very unwell. In answer to Mr. O'Brien, the prose cutrix said that she had not been drinking with tlie prisoner, nor was he known to her in any way. Two other witnesses having deposed to similar facts, the jury found the prisoner Guilty, and he was sentenced to two years' imprisonment.^ — The prisoner shed tears on hearing his sentence."' — Observer, September 1st, 1851. In the course of the year 1852, the following curious case occurred : "A WOMAN SHOT BY HER LOVER. A crime was perpetrated on Friday week at Newport, which, it is feared, will terrainate in the deatli of the victira — a middle- aged, handsome woman, named Etheridge, who has been shot at by her sweetheart, named Samuel Greening, formerly the guard of a coach, and latterly the assistant of Miss Etheridge's blind father, who keeps a public house and a large market- garden a short distance from the towu of Newport. It appears that Greening had long paid his addresses to Miss Etheridge, who is his cousin, and being a resident in the same house, fre quently gave her occasion to remonstrate with him on his dis sipated habits, he being a raember of a band, from whose per forraance he frequently came home drunk. She refused, it is stated, to be married to him on the ground of these habits. This would appear to have caused a fit of jealousy, under the effects of which he resorted to drink. For two or three days last week he is stated to have been intoxicated. A continuous quarrel between hiraself and Miss Etheridge was the result. On the day previous to the shocking occurrence he was ob served examining a pistol, which Miss Etheridge kept by her, in consequence ofthe garden being sometimes visited by plun derers, whom she (being a daring woman) would have shot at, it is supposed, had any come within reach of the house. Green ing was seen trying a cap on the pistol, and pretending to fire up the chimney. 'The pistol was afterwards found to be missing from the place where it was usually kept. On the evening in 292 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD ; OR, question. Greening, still under the effects of intoxication and jealou.sy, was again quarrelling vvith his sweetheart, and for a moment or two was niis.sed frora the room where Miss Ethe ridge and an assistant gardener were seated at a table. On Greening's return, he walked up and down the roora again, StiU bickering with his cousin, when suddenly he rushed up to where she was sitting, presented a pistol at her, and fired. The unfortunate woman's slirieks, as she fell down, awoke her father, who had retired to rest ; and when assistance was procured, she was taken up insensible, bleeding profusely from the mouth, ear, and cheek, on the left side of the face ; the contents of the pistol, which were supposed to be shots or hard wadding, having entered just below the left ear, fractured the left jaw, and smashed some of the teeth, passing aftervvards through the mouth. . She was at once conveyed to bed, and Mr. Wool- lett, surgeon, one ofthe borough magistrates, was called frora Newport. Greening still remained about the house in a half- drunken, sullen humor, till he was apprehended by the borough police, and lodged in the station-house cell. The prisoner has since stated that he was not aware the pistol was loaded, though this does not agree with the fact of his snapping and trying it in the chimney on the previous day. He is also stated to have told his victim that, if she did not have him, but mar ried another, it should be no good to her — he would prevent her happiness. The woman, when consciousness was in some measure restored, in the course of the night frequently expressed a desire to see Greening, and appeared to feel deeply from the consideration that he would have to suff'er in prison for what he had done. Both her father and herself, it was thought, would further avoid giving evidence against the prisoner, if possible. On Saturday the prisoner was brought to the bar of the police. Evidence was taken to estabhsh the charge of wilfully shooting, but the case had not concluded when our despatch left." — Observer, September 21th, 1852. I wish you could have seen Buck's face when I read the last case, above quoted, in his hearing. No deep-sea line can be found, on a thousand British decks, long enough to fathom the unutterable disgust which was de picted in his honest face. Buck. " Lead me into the light of that a little, ef you please, Marster. Did I onderstand you to say hitisj^s a onmarried man that did that thing, sir ?" Myself "Yes." BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 293 Buck. "Well, raaly! An he shot his sweetheart 'thout bein married to her ?" Myself. " So this report says." Buek. " Well, well, well 1 I been all along sorter per- suadin myself thar was some sense in these Inglishmen killin thar wives, becase that made way for new ones. But how a man with breeches on, 'thout sich a temtation, could shoot a 'oman, an she his sweetheart, too, is a huckleberry over my persimmon. I give it up." Accustomed as we are in Georgia to treat the sex so differently, I think that you will heartily join in Buck's honest indignation, and agree with him that such a case presents a moral puzzle to any one brought up in our State. It is difficult for such an one to express the intense contempt and disgust he must feel for the great lubberly coward who could so treat a woman. About three months subsequently, a man named Ga- ball, who caUed himself an American citizen, was charged before one of the magistrates of the city with having committed an assault upon a young woman; He may have been an American citizen, but I strongly suspect he was only a naturaUzed citizen — being, as I should sup pose from his name, a foreigner by birth ; hence, perhaps, he was jeered (as he said he was), when he claimed to be an American citizen. Certain it is, as you and I could almost swear. Major, he was not a native of our Southern States. What the magistrate says as to the feelings of our countrymen towards women, I believe to be true, as a general rule, in all parts of the country. I know it to be especially true in the slaveholding States. "AN AMERICAN CITIZEN. At Marlborough street, on Wednesday, Jaraes Gaball, who described himself as an American citizen, was charged before Mr. Bingham, with coraraitting an unprovoked assault on Miss Mary Gray. It appeared that a party of five friends and rela tives, araongst whom was Miss Mary Gray, of 103 Regent street, were on their way home from the play, wheu defendant came up to her and addressed some filthy language to her, and then laid hold of her ; but her brother came up and interfered for her protection. Defendant then struck her with his stick 25"^ 294 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, a violent blow on her head, which hurt her much, and cut her head, rendering her almost insensible. The defendant, in answer to the charge, said he was first accosted Ijy the party, and on his saying he was an Araerican, he was jeered by them. Finding he was attacked by five persons, he defended himself with his stick, and in doing so might have struck Miss Gray. It was said he was not sober. JMr. Bingham would by no means allow that excuse to have any weight, for it vvas a known fact that quite a chivalrous feeling towards females was dis played by Americans. He should inflict the highest fine the law aUowed, £5, or two months' imprisonment. The fine was paid." — Observer, December 21th, 1852. I will resume the subject; but must now conclude, with the assurance that I am, dear Major, Yr. friend and cousin, P. Jones. To Maj. J. Jones, Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. LETTEE XXXI. BILL PASSED BY PARLIAMENT FOR THE BETTER PROTECTION OP WOMEN AND CHILDREN LORD GRANVILLe's JEST UPON THE SUBJECT— THE WHITE SLAVE IN ENGLAND— ILLUSTRA TIONS OF EARL Granville's jest — price op insulting AND assaulting A LADY A PUGILIST BRUTALLY BEATS SEVERAL YOUNG WOMEN SAVAGE ASSAULT UPON A WOMAN ATTEMPT TO STRANGLE A WOMAN AN EDITOR DIS COURSES ON CRUELTY TO WOMEN. London, March 27th, 1854. Dear Major :— This brutal ill-treatment of women by Englishmen had reached such a pitch of horrible infamy as to force the matter upon the attention of the British Parhament, and to call for some attempt by legislation to curb the devUish tempers, and restrain the appetite for blood, m which it has its origin. Accordingly, early in BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 295 last year, leave was asked to bring in a bill for this pur pose, some account of which you will find in the following extract. You will also find in it a condensed statement, by a member of Parliament, of some of the disgusting barbarities which the bill is intended to restrain, and it wiU save me the work of sending them to you. "ASSAULTS ON WOMEN AND CHILDREN. Mr. Fitzroy, in moving for leave to bring in a bill for the better protection of women and children, said that no one could read the public journals without being alraost daily struck with horror and araazement at the cruel and brutal injuries in flicted upon members of the weaker sex by persons whom one blushed to call Englishraen [hear, hear]. Nothing but the most ignominious punishment could adequately mark the man ner in which every right-minded individual would regard such outrages ; but, unfortunately, the summary powers granted to magistrates to punish such off'ences were conflned to a penalty of £5, or in default of payment, to two months' imprisonment without hard labor, — a punishment which in such cases it would be absurd to look upon as in any degree a sufficient retribution [hear, hear]. He would quote a few cases in proof of this remark. On the Sth of December, Thomas Ben nett was brought up at Bow street, charged with assaultino- his wife. He was Uving separately from her, and, meeting her in the street, he called her an opprobrious name, knocked her down, and beat her. The next day he went to her residence, beat her, and, pulling out a knife, attempted to cut her throat. In defending herself, her fingers were severely cut. The magistrate, doubting whether the wife would appear at the sessions, fined the defendant £5, or in default, committed him for two months, but without hard labor [hear, hear]. In an other case the defendant's wife, fearing that her husband would be enticed away to a public house, went out to him, and beg ged hira not to go. Shortly aftervvards he went in and beat her in a most brutal manner, alleging that she had made hira appear little in the eyes of his companions. He, too, was fined £5, or two months' imprisonment. In December, 1851 a man was charged with beating his wife with a poker; and in another case a husband was charged with having grossly beaten and ill-used his wife, because he had missed a small piece of cloth, of the value of three pence. On the 23d of November, Susannah Preston appeared against a man with 29o THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD ; OR, whom she had beeu living as wife. He had beaten her with the buckle end of a strap, until her head and face, her arms and shoulders were one mass of bruises, and covered with blood. A ring on her finger was actuaUy beaten into the flesh quite to the bone, and when she vvas taken to the hospital it had to be cut out [s'ensation]. In all these cases the same fine of £5 only was inflicted. He would ouly mention one other case. About half-past twelve one night, the attention of the police, in a street in MUe End-road, was attracted by cries of murder. They went to the room whence they proceeded, and found a woman sitting in a chair, and attended by several other women. She had a large cut over her left eye, both her eyes were blackened, and she had sustained such severe internal injuries from her assaulter having juraped upon her, that she was obliged to be taken to an hospital. Both parties were sober. When she appeared at the poUce office, she represented the assault as having been a very slight one, and the magis trates, thinking it would be very difficult to induce her to pro secute him at the sessions, committed tlie defendant for tvvo months. Such proceedings could only have the effect of bring ing the law into contempt, and of producin,g a prejudice against the magistrates, as if they could have inflicted heavier penal ties [hear, hear]. Nothing could be less satisfactory than the power of coraraitting the parties to the sessions ; because, in addition to the natural placability of the sex, woraen were liable to be coaxed, or intiraidated, and even forcibly withheld from appearing in court ; besides which, as the raarks of vio lence would be in a great measure obliterated, the courts might be disposed to take a less serious view of such cases than if the adjudication was prompt and on the spot [hear, hear]. Novv, the first object of the bill would be to give the magis trates power to inflict a fine of £20, or six months' imprison ment — a no greater power than they already possessed to avenge the wrongs of a tortured poodle or an ill-used cat [hear, hear]. It was also proposed to take away the power of removing indictments for this species of misdemeanor by certiorari, except on affidavits stating that a fair trial could not be had in the court whence the indictment was attempted to be removed. He anticipated great opposition to this clause frora the members of a learned and powerful profession. A sirailar proposed enactment had been introduced by the late Attorney-General into the Metropolitan Grand Jury Bill last year, but by the pressure of the bar he was induced to with draw it. He (Mr. Fitzroy) felt bound to press the clause, not- BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 297 withstanding the objections of the legal profession, because now that there was a court of criminal appeal, he thought that the power of reraoval by certiorari vvas useless and mis chievous [hear, hear]. Another clause would place the for feited recognizances for not appearing to answer indictments on exactly the sarae footing as those for appearing and refusing to give evidence. Lastly, he should propose a clause to enable the Secretary of State to order a prisoner to be brought up in order to give evidence, and thus avoid the expense of a writ of habeas corpus [hear, hear]. He hoped that all these im provements would meet with the approbation of the house, and in conclusion he begged to move for leave to bring in the bUl [cheers]." — Observer, March lith, 1853. When this bill reached the House of Lords, Earl Gran- vUle moved the second reading, as foUows : "aggravated ASSAULT BILL. The Earl of Granville moved the second reading, and cen sured the cruelty at present observable — a cruelty which it was necessary to repress, although the old proverb said that "A woman, a do,g, and a walnut tree, the more they are beaten, the better they be" [a laugh]. The punishraent on conviction of aggravated assaults by this bill will be six months' imprison ment or £20 fine."— O&seruer, May 30th, 1853. I have learned to entertain sentiments of high respect for Lord Granville, as well as for several other noblemen in that venerable assembly, the House of Lords. But that respect was not increased by this miserable jest of the noble earl, and the evident relish with which the per siflage was received. It was worse than frivolous, it must be confessed. It was too much in the jaunty, devil-may- care vein of Lord Palmerston — this sorry sporting with so serious a matter — this dance, as it were, upon the brink of a volcano. It serves, however, as another proof of the prevailing tone of sentiment in England, when senators, in the highest ranks of her nobility, thus trifle as they legislate upon this horrible subject. The 4ull couplet, too, so enjoyed by these noble and reveren'S' legislators, is itself an exponent of the disgrace ful wife-bruising, woman-beating characteristic which we 298 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD ; OR, have been considering ; and it is but a poetic expression, I suppose, of a great national proclivity and passion. There are Englishmen, however, who not only are wit nesses to the magnitude of this great social evil, but with passionate eloquence denounce it, and (unlike the House of Lords, but like to Mr. Fitzroy and others in the Com mons), when dealing with the subject, treat it in a man ner worthy of its importance. 'Take, for example, the following, from the " Observer " of March 14th, 1853. "the white slave in ENGLAND. The white slave has been often heard of in this country, but it is only novv that the general public is coming to any know ledge of that erewhile apocryphal entity. Recent facts have indubitably proved that the white slave in England is woraan. In no country in the world — araong no people, however im bruted — in no state of society, howbever savage — are the weaker sex treated with more inhumanity than in this, the highly-civi lized. Christian capital of that highly-civilized Christian- aggre gation of nations, known as the United Kingdom. If proof of this fact be needed, it is amply furnished in the bill just laid before Parliament by ^Ir. Fitzroy for the protec tion of females against the frightful outrages to which they are daily subjected — one tithe of vvhich be it said in passing never come to the ears of the general public. The increase in this form of crime has been so steady and so progressive — it has assuraed of late such a violent and aggravated character — that even the executive, slow as it ever is to lead, has been com peUed by the magnitude and enormity of the evil to take the initiative for its suppression. It is perfectly po.ssible that even at the best times there was always a good deal of coarse bru tality about the boasted true British character, and it is patent to all persons that savage doraestic tyranny is no new pheno menon in Euglish legal annals ; but it cannot be doubted that cruel crimes upon women, chiefly perpetrated by their husbands and paramours, are daily augmenting, and that these unhappy creatures are every recurring year reduced to a lower and still lower condition in the social scale, for the want of adequate protection against such outrage. That this protection should be proposed by a meraber of the Government is therefore highly to his credit. Lest, however, it should even for a moment be supposed that billy buck's visit to ENGLAND. 299 the object did not demand legislation, a few facts, in addition to those which will be found enumerated in Mr. Fitzroy's speech on introducing the biU in question to ParUament, are herewith furnished to the reader. They are, one and all, derived from the police reports of the metropolis ; and they refer, one and all, to the brief period of time included between the 1st of De cember, 1852, and the 16th of February of the present year. The first is that of a fellow who beat his wife brutally, after keeping her in a state of starvation. Then follow, in rapid succession, an Irishman, who stabs his wife with a table-knife in the arm, having previously attempted the life of one of their children ; a pugilist, at Hammersmith, who is convicted of a most ruffianly assault on a pubUcan's wife ; a ruffian, who kicks his wife brutally on her body, until she is a mass of wounds ; a blackguard, who beats his mother with a heavy hammer ou every part of her person; a scoundrel, who makes indecent proposals to a poor little girl of eleven years of age, and when the innocent cJiild refuses his sohcitations, knocks her down with a heavy stick, and cruelly beats her ; a rascal who ham mers his wife on the head with a hammer, inflicts several wounds, and fractures five ribs ; a 'Protestant,' who beats his wife because she is a 'Catholic,' constantly tearing her clothes and assaulting her, and infiicting blows on the face and head untU she is covered with blood ; a brute, who in broad day light commits a filthy act of indecency, accorapanied by an assault on a young lady, and upon being remonstrated with, immediately knocks her down by a violent blow on the face ; a savage, who assaults his wife, whom he nearly murders with a thick stick, because his supper was not ready (on a previous occasion his brutal violence had kept the woman in the hospital for thirteen weeks) ; a knave, who assaults a poor prostitute, without the sUghtest provocation, walking up to her, and knocking her down with great violence, aud regretting that 'he had not done for her,' as he 'had often threatened to do ;' a monster, who thrusts his tobacco-pipe into the eye of a poor woman who came to fetch her husband home from the public- house ; the keepers of a brothel in Wych street — a man, and the woman with whom he cohabited, who brutally assault the servant girl of the house, nearly beating her to death, aud who are fined £5 each — the fine being paid by the man, who produced a bag of sovereigns ; and, finally, a fellow who throws a poor girl, with whom he had cohabited, into the Regent's Canal." It is in view of such facts, statements, and confessions 300 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, as these, that I say, when I find this people favorably inclining towards the perpetrators of such disgraceful enormities, or, at best, but turning indiff'erently from them, and concentrating their sympathies on the slaves three thousand miles away, that it can only be accounted for by putting it upon the broad basis of humbug. Any attempt to explain it otherwise involves me in inextricable perplexity. It is now almost a year since that law was passed. During this time I have been watching its operation and effects. As I expected, the disease has proved to be too deeply seated to be reached by such a remedy. The same blood-red flag, inscribed with the words " Brutal Treat ment of Women," or " Ill-treatment of Women," etc., is still kept flying by the journals of the day, as you will see by those I send you. Under these inscriptions is still to be found an awful and apparently undiminished list of these cruel and disgraceful crimes. The woman -bruisers and butchers still continue to maim and to slay, and the magistrate still goes on to sermonise about it. Occasion ally he regrets that the clause which allowed flogging had been omitted from the bill, as in the following case, for example : "BRUTAL TREATMENT OP WOMEN. At GuildhaU, on Wednesday, James Barrett was charged with the following savage assault: — Margaret Tubbs, whose eye was frightfully blackened, and the side of her face contused and swollen, said she lodged in the same house with the pri soner, and went to his room on Saturday night to call out hor husband, who was drinking with him and his companions. The prisoner, with a filthy expression, said, ' He shall not corae ; I have known your walking the streets more than once, and I'U raake your husband leave you altogether.' My husband then tried to get me away, and pushed me out ; but the prisoner immediately rushed towards me, and dragged me by the hair of my head into the room. He then struck me on the eye, knocked me down and kicked me with his heavy boots repeat edly about the face and body, while I was lying on the ground. I screamed for assistance, and had it not been for Mrs. Finni gan, who rescued me from the prisoner's violence, I believe he would have murdered me. I am so dreadfully bruised ah over BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 3(^1 my body, that I can neither stand nor sit without experiencing great pain in all my limbs. Sir. R. W. Carden : ' Who gave you that black eye ? ' Complainant : ' That gentleman, sir (the prisoner)'. Sir R. W. Carden : ' Gentleman 1 Don't call him even a man. Call hira a brute. Such conduct to a woman deserves no better title.' Tvvo witnesses corroborated the complainant. Prisoner : ' It's all false. I never struck her. It was her husband that gave her the black eye.' The complainant : ' He did not ; he only pushed me out of the room.' The prisoner caUed his father and mother, but they rather confirmed the complainant's story. John Carr was then called for defendant, but his evidence was so palpably false, that he was ordered to quit the court. The jailor said that defendant was a tailor, who for the last twelve years had been frequently in prison for assaults, and he had been in the Compter for six weeks for beating his wife. Sir R. W. Carden regretted that the clause in the act allow ing such persons to be flogged had not been passed by the House of Comraons. Had he the power, he (Sir William Car den) would have ordered him to be tied to the cart's tail and flogged through the town, and he would have placed the scourge in the hands of his victira. He sentenced hira to six months' iraprisonraent and hard labor." — Observer, December 19th, 1853. I send you the following, as another beautiful specimen from the same paper, of what this attempt at reformation has effected : "At Bow street, on Wednesday, Henry Bennet, a carpenter, was charged with assaulting his wife. The coraplainant, whose face was sadly disflgured, said she had not lived with the pri soner since his last previous assault, but now contrived to maintain herself and her children without his aid. On Wed nesday raorning she accidentally met him in Drury lane. Her face was tied up at the time, and he asked her what was the matter ? She said she had a face-ache, and was passing on to avoid him, when he exclaimed, ' I'll make your cheeks ache a little more,' and he gave her a blow in the face which knocked her down, and raising her head from the ground, he struck her 26 302 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD ; OR, a succession of blows on the head with his clenched fist. She crawled into a shop, where she was protected frora further violence. Mr. BilUngton, of WUson street, Drury lane, deposed to the incredible brutality of the assault, and having sheltered the woraan in his shop. The prisoner : It was all her own fault. Mr. Heury said this was the seventh time within a short space of time that the prisoner had been charged with assaulting his wife, and, even now that she had separated herself from hira, she was not safe from his inhuman treatment. He committed him to prison with hard labor for six months, and at the expi ration of that time to find sureties to keep the peace for six months. The prisoner, on leaving "the dock, said, vvith a ma lignant leer at his wife, he would settle the matter yet by mur dering her when he got out of prison." What a charming picture is presented by the above cases in illustration of the poetic proverb so felicitously quoted by Lord Granville, and to the delectation of their lordships ! How vastly delighted they must be at such striking ap plications of their poetry, fun, and sentiment ! I add a few more such illustrations, which at the same time serve to disclose what this bill was worth in afford ing protection to helpless women from the brutality of these sanguinary Englishmen. "ill-treatment op WOMEN — PRICE OF INSULTING AND ASSAULTING A LADY. At GuildhaU, on Tuesday, James Tracy, commercial tra veller to Mr. Robert Wild, of Houndsditch, was charged as foUows : — Mrs. WaUis said she had been spending the previous evening with some friends, and was returning horae with her daughter at a late hour. At the end of a court on Ludgate- hill she directed her daughter to fasten her boot lace ; whUst so engaged, the defendant came and pulled up witness' dress. She instantly pushed Mm from her, and told him to go away. He then struck her violently in the face, and she gave him in custody. The defendant was sober, but the person with him was very drunk. Witness' eye was bloodshot, and she was very ill during the night. On leaving the witness-box, cora plainant fainted, and was carried out of court. The defendant said he never touched the lady's dress. He was very drunk. BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 303 and when she slapped his face he certainly did strike, but he had off'ered to apologize. The complainant said that at the station she offered to accept an apology, but the defendant refused to make one. Sir J. Musgrove said it was a very serious case. It was not because ladies are sometimes compelled to go home alone at a lute hour that they should be assaulted or interfered vvith. An apology should be made to the lady, and the defendant must pay 40s. fine, or suff'er one month's imprisonment. The fine was paid. "COWARDLY ASSAULT. At Worship street, on "U'ednesday, John Anderson, an artist, of Church road, De Beauvoir square, was charged as foUows : Miss Martha Baker, daughter of a tradesman at Hoxton, who was dressed in deep mourning, and had her face severely bruised, said that on the previous evening she and her sister proceeded by omnibus from the house of some relative in Cara den Town, to Ishngton, and then by another omnibus to the bridge in the City, road, not hking to take a cab at that hour, past eleven o'clock. They were walking the remainder of the distance, but when half way down Myrtle street, the defendant came up after them, and invited them to take his arm. They made no answer, but he endeavored to force his conversation on them, and at length forcibly thrust himself in between thera. Y'itness said that if he persisted she would give hira in charge to a constable, and she and her sister ran to the other side of the road, but just as she reached the foot paveraent, he knocked her down with a blow, and she feU, by which her face was in jured, as it now appeared. On getting up, she claimed the protection of a gentleman who passed. She never saw the prisoner before. Miss Lavinia Baker, complainant's sister, corroborated the above. Mr. George Tanner said that when passing through the street, he heard loud screams, and, on turning round, he saw the complainant lying partly on the road and partly on the footpath. The defendant was walking off quickly, and on witness asking what was the matter, he carelessly rephed, ' Oh ! they are drunk,' and passed on. The complainant, however, came up, and claimed witness' protec tion, and a policeman coming also, he gave the prisoner in charge. He was somewhat intoxicated, but knew well what he was about, and at the station he said he wonld give any compensation that would be accepted. The prisoner, in an effeminate, mincing tone, expressed his regret, and said the 304 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, the only impression he had of the matter was, that he had been first struck by one of the ladies, and he gave a blow in reta liation. This stateraent was confuted, and Mr. D'Eyncourt sentenced him to £5 fine, or two months' imprisonment. The money not being forthcoming, he was locked up." " WORSHIP STREET. A powerful fellow named Daniel White, who was recognized as a notorious pugilist, was charged with having savagely assaulted and ill-used several respectable women iu the White- chapel-road. It appeared frora the evidence that the prisoner had brutally attacked the coraplaiiiants, and had struck them violently, and abused them in the most disgusting language. No reason could be assigned for his conduct. The only excuse the prisoner had to make was that he was drunk. He wii^; sentenced to four months' imprisonment in the House of Cor rection, and required to find bail for his good behavior for the further term of six months." — Observer, January 2d, 1854. The two cases following afford similar illustrations of the workings of this biU in other parts of the kingdom : "SAVAGE ASSAULT. John Kidd, a laborer, was coraraitted for trial at the assizes, charged with a most savage assault on Catherine Sherry, an unfortunate woman with whom he cohabited. The brute, meet ing her in Bannastre street, knocked her down, kicked her repeatedly on the head as she lay on the ground, then went to a piece of waste ground for a brick, and, returning, struck her repeatedly with it on the head. How she escaped death under his hands seems a marvel. At Leicester, James Bull, aged 19, a farm servant, was in dicted for having attempted to strangle Ann Clarke, the house keeper in the same service, a comely-looking personage, about forty years of age. The prisoner had pressed her repeatedly to marry hira, and, because she refused, went to her bedside and got a rope round her neck. He repeated the attempt twice the same night ; and, in the intervals between courtship and attempted murder, the parties were engaged saying prayers and singing hymns. He was convicted and sentenced to fifteen years' transportation." — Liverpool Journal, March25th. 1854. BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 305 It seems to be generally admitted that this bill has proven to be a failure, and that something else is needed as a remedy for this terrible evil, as in the following extract : " CRUELTY TO WOMEN. There can be no question that the new law, making cruelty to women, in the shape of aggravated assault, a misdemeanor, has practicaUy issued in failure. The records of the police courts of the metropolis present an increasing number of cases of this degrading offence, which not even the horrors of the treadmill, for six months, have been found sufficient to modify, stiU less to repress. Indeed, it may be doubted whether, any where on the face of the globe — in the lowest kraals or the most savage cav^ -—the same disgraceful and inhuman brutality is committed on woman, which is of daUy and hourly occur rence in this, the first city of the world, where monsters, who miscall themselves men, smasli their wives with pokers, kick them till they are senseless, blacken their eyes, break their rilis, and vent all the bestial furies of drunkenness in the shape of blows, curses, and unmanly and indecent violence. Nor is this brutality confined to the class of husbands or the class of ' fancy men,' as they are designated, who may consider themselves in the Ught of ' chartered wantons,' and act accord ingly ; neither does it seem necessary that the victim of man's brutality should be his chattel, and the sharer of his bed and board. Maddened with beer and lust, another class of savages rage through the streets at nights and attack aU manner of women they meet : modest or wanton, all are looked on as their proper prey. If a woman resists an insulting overture, she is smote in the face, disfigured in a moment, and then is knocked down and trampled on, as a reward for her pudicity ; nay even the poor outcasts of the streets are regarded as fair game for these murderous scoundrels. Neither honor nor dis honor protects a female ; wife or prostitute, all are the prey of the strongest arm, the heaviest foot, the bloodiest license of intoxication. The worst feature in the case, however, is the fact that among the poorer classes, this brutahty has come to be regarded as a matter of course, even by those who do not themselves practise it ; and how bad soever may be the case, as far as bystanders of these classes concern themselves in the raatter, the perpe trator enjoys perfect impunity. Men ill-use their wives and mistresses as systematically and regularly, and in as cold blood, 26* D 306 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD ; OR, as they take their meals, so that savage assault has got to be an element in their natural life. It has become to be part of the systera of their being — it is a recognized economy iu their existence ; and 'the neighbors' never think of interfering. Hinc nice lachrymce." — Observer, September 12th, 1853. I am afraid that I have exhausted your patience with this long letter. Major, and must hasten to subscribe myself, Eespectfully, Y'r ob't serv't and cousin, P. JoNES. To Maj. J. Jones, Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. LETTEE XXXII. CRUEL TREATMENT OF CHILDREN IN THIS COUNTRY CHARGE OF ADMINISTERING GIN TO A CHILD OP SEVEN YEARS — MYSTERIOUS MURDER OP A BOY NEAR PLYMOUTH A WO MAN THROWS HER SON, AGED SIX YEARS, FROM A THIRD FLOOR WINDOW BUCK'S HISTORY OP THIS TRANSACTION — HE IS SOLICITED TO LEAVE HIS MASTER REFUSES, AND SETS FORTH SOME OP TIIE ADVANTAGES OP SLAVERY IN GEORGIA OVER POVERTY IN ENGLAND. London, March 31et, 1854. Dear Major : — If I added nothing to what I have already furnished, I think you would be satisfied that I have fully proven all that I have asserted in relation to the sanguinary character of the British people. But if I paused here, you would form but an imperfect idea of that blood-lust, as I have termed it, awful as may be the proportions of those developments in and by which it now appears to you. To know it in all its horrible aspects, you must be furnished with proofs of the cruelty with which children are treated by the men and women of this country. BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 307 Such cruelty is altogether unexampled in our country, as the causes which there favor and protect our women, also protect our children — and I might add, indeed, all inferior dependents, to a great extent. Such instances, then, as I shall bring to your attention, from their novel and ex traordinary character to you, cannot fail to interest ; and when you have read them, you will fully appreciate the truth of what my servant said on this subject, in his pe cuhar way, to the lady whom he was addressing on the evening of the demonstration in favor of Mrs. Stowe, made by the British and Poreign Anti-slavery Society, at Exeter HaU, and mentioned in my letter of June 1st, 1853. I begin with the foUowing : "CHARGE OF ADMINISTERING GIN TO A CHILD, SEVEN YEARS OLD. At Marylebone office, on Thursday, Hannah Maria Evvens, a widow, about 50 years of age, was brought up in custody, and placed at the bar before Mr. Broughton, charged under the following extraordinary circumstances ; and it will be seen frora the subjoined evidence that the conduct of a police-ser geant in reference to the affair was of a most inexplicable and unsatisfactory nature. Police-constable Ramsey, 51 D, said : I live with my family on the first floor of No. 13, Upper Dor chester-place, and the prisoner lives on the second floor. After going off night duty I returned home and went to bed at seven this morning, and at eight o'clock I heard what I thought to be a loud knocking over head, which proceeded from the prisoner's room. I sent my little girl Elizabeth, who is not yet seven years of age, up stairs, to say that I could get no sleep for the noise, and in the course of a few rainutes I heard something roUing on the floor. I shortly afterwards sent up my son to fetch down his sister, and he brought her in his arras to rae, and laid her down in the roora. She was quite insensible, and was incapable of moving either hand or foot. She was perfectly well when I sent her up. I put her to bed, and I smelt that she had had gin. After the lapse of an hour, finding that she did not get better, I got up and dressed ray self, and took her to Dr. Guy, in Dorset place, by whose advice I conveyed her instantly in a cab to the Western General Dis pensary, New road. We arrived there at half-past ten. The 308 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, stomach-purap was appUed, and the child was put into a hot bath. I left her at the dispensary, and then repaired to the station-house iu Molyneiix street, where I reported to Sergeant Pearce, the acting inspector on duty, what had occurred ; and the remark he made vvas, ' It's not a proper charge ; you can't take her into custody, for no person saw her give the child the gin.' The child vvas then in a most dangerous state, which I mentioned to the inspector. John Ramsay, complainant's sou, proved that he found the child as described by the father. Prisoner vvas in bed, and a bottle was standing by. Mr. Bux ton, resident surgeon to the General Dispensary, said : On the previous day the child of prosecutor was brought there insen sible. The stomach-pump was appUed, and nearly a quart of lightish fluid drawn off. The child continued extremely iU all the afternoon, and he was obUged to open the jugular vein. He still regarded the child's situation as dangerous. But for the apphcatioQ of the stonlach-pump death must have over taken the child. Osborne, 280 D, said prisoner had admitted to him that she had given the 'child something which would make it all over with her. He took her to the station house, as she vvas drunk and incapable of taking care of herself, but Sergeant Pearce would not take the charge. Mr. Broughton remanded the prisoner till Thursday next. The poor child has passed from this mortal world, having died early on Friday morning." — -Observer, February 2itli, 1851. The next extract refers to the murder of a boy near Plymouth, and is as follows : "MYSTERIOUS MURDER OF A BOY NEAR PLYMOUTH. Great exciteraent has prevailed in the village of Brixton, near Plymouth, owing to a rumor that a boy, naraed John Bunker, who was found hanging on a tree in an orchard, had been murdered by the son of his master, Mr. Henry Rowe, a respectaljle farmer. W Rowe, the accused, was arrested on Saturday week ; and Mr. Bone, the coroner, opened an inquest on that day, which was resumed on Monday. The following i^ the substance of the evidence given : — John Lavers, a lad in Mr. H. Bowe's employ, said th:it on Friday morning at a quarter to six o'clock, he saw tho deceased leave the court-yard of the farra house, with a cart drawn by two horses. He was in a great hurry, and appeared to be BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 309 well, and in good spirits. He had a whip, but no rope in his hand. About noon the same day Mr. llenry Rowe left his work in one of his fields, having heard that something had happened to the deceased. Thomas Froude, a policeman, said that he had been informed that there was a charge of a horrible crirae against W. Rowe ; and on Saturday receiving information that he was suspected of having murdered John Bunker, he arrested him on both charges. The prisoner denied all knowledge of the acts - charged, and said that the deceased had fetched from the house the rope which had been found round his neck. There were marks of coagulated blood on the back of the deceased's right and left hand, a scratch on the temple, and blood coming from the nose and mouth ; that from the mouth fresher than the rest. In the orchard where deceased was found, he saw foot marks corresponding with the prisoner's boots. The prisoner's handkerchief and vest had blood marks, some of them fresh, and five bullets were in his waistcoat pocket. He said he used bullets to kiU rabbits. The clothes and the blood marks were exhibited to the jury. Mr. W. Pattison Mould, surgeon, knew Rowe's family many years. At about ten, P. M., on Friday week, the prisoner's brother, John, called witness to see deceased's body. It at first seemed as if deatli had been frora suffocation. On examin ing the body, he saw on the back of the knuckle of the right hand middle finger a streak of dry blood an inch long, and three or four spots of blood on the back of the left wrist, such as might have been produced by chaps in the hand. The boy had been to ' lime,' and the backs of his hands were in a bad state ; the right hand very dirty, the left clean. There was very little mud on the boots. A mark, as of a blow, was on the left teraple. There was a blood raark under the division of the nostril on the upper Up, and a streak of blood on the mouth, extending an inch and a half down the cheek. The knees of the trousers were soiled with mud. On minutely ex amining the body, no further external violence was perceptible, excepting a slight blood mark under the left ear, proceeding frora a small chap, and the lobe of the ear was bruised. No blood had effused from the ears, and on wiping the blood from the upper lip no wounds were visible. The blood had evidently escaped from the nose and raouth, and dried on the skin. The cheeks were slightly swollen. The eyes were not suff'used with blood. Anne Couch, Mr. H. Rowe's servant, said the deceased ap- 310 THE SLAVJMIOLDER ABROAD; OR, peared pale and poorly, and wished, on that morning, to go 'liming' (i. e., to fetch lime) frora the kiln. W. Good said that on Friday week, whilst in a field half a mile from the orchard, he heard a loud ' screech' from the wood adjoining the orchard. It was as if a man were strangling a youngster with his hands. This was shortly after nin& o'clock. Richard Scoble, when in the field on Friday week, heard a cry in the direction of the wood. His brother was on horse back, and they proceeded towards the wood, but saw nothing. Jaraes Ellis spoke to deceased respecting the other horrible crime charged against the prisoner, and deceased said that the charge was true, and that the prisoner had offered him money not to say what he knew concerning it. After the examination of sorae other witnesses, the jury con sulted for two hours, and returned a verdict that ' Deceased died of strangulation, and that he was wUfuUy murdered by sorae person or persons unknown.' The prisoner, who remains in custody, was to be exarained by the raagistrates." — Observer, March 11th, 1851. A month or so after my arrival in London, my servant obtained permission one day to go out and see the " curos ities," as he expressed it. Guided by aJad who ran on errands for the house where we were staying, he wan dered in the direction of St. Paul's, and into the heart of the city. During their stroll they met with an adventure, which you must have as Buck gave it to me. "We was gwine 'long, Marster," said he, "lookin at the curus sights, an the things in the shops, an the boy he said, says he, ' Thar's the Post Hoffice, Mr. Buck,' saye he, 'whar people gits letters from,' says he. Why, Mars ter, that Post Office in Augusty can't hold a candle to them bildins, sir. You can almost put hit into one o' them big rooms. 'Well,' says I, 'Tom,' says I, 'to my notion, hit must cost a power o' money,' says I, ' to carry the mail from one part o' that big house to 'nuther. I spose they must keep a railroad in thar to do it with,' says I. The boy laffed at me, sir, he did, becase he thought I didn't know no better — all time I was divartin myself with him, sir. BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 311 ' Come 'long, now, Mr. Buck,' says he, ' an I'll show you the Chartrus,' says he. So, arter we had seen the Chartrus " " 'The Charter-house, I suppose you mean. Buck," said I. " Well, I spose that was what the boy meaned, Mars ter ; for you know he can't talk very plain, sir, no how. He perposed then, sir, that we should go to the — the — what-do-you-call-um ? — the big-gun ground, sir." " The Artillery Ground," said I. "Adzackly so, Marster. 'An to Bunhill Fields,' says he, 'whar thar was a buryin-ground,' says he, 'an hit wasn't far off,' says he. I thought it mighty curus, Marster, how thar should be any fields right thar in London, an a buryin-ground, too ; for you know, sir, that in Georgy we allers has 'um on the outskearts of the town. Howbeever, thinks I, I'U go an see them fields, an maybe 'mong them all I'll find a patch of new ground, an we'll git a showin for Marster's plough yit, 'fore the Great Exerbishun's over." [Here the rogue turnfed his head away, but I plainly saw that he was grinning.] "Well, Marster, as we was passin along, an takin a nigh cut as the boy said, to them fields, sir, we heerd a scream from the up-stars winders of a house, but we couldn't see whar it was, adzackly, sir. Presently we seed people runnin to the place, an we foUered, an then we seed a poor little boy lyin on the ground bleedin. There was a mighty jabberin an gwine on over him, an I couldn't 'zackly larn how hit was ; but, as well as I could tell, he was flung out of a winder, an by his own mother, too, everybody said, sir. Arter a while, I sees a woman 'mong the crowd that they said was his mother, an done it. She was sorter drunk, an cavorted round mightily, tell a pleeceman come an tuk her off to jail, an had the chUd tuk away to a doctor. ' Marster,' says I, to a gen'l'man that was tellin the crowd about it, ' hit aint true, now, that the child's mo ther flung him out the winder, sir. Hit must a been somebody else, musn't it, sir ?' says I. ' No, blackamoor,' says he, ' hit mustn't. Hit was her, an nobody else,' says he. 312 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, ' What could have made her gone an done it ?' says I. ' Gin,' says he; ' gin an the devil.' 'Well raaly!' says I, ' I think the devil must a had somethin to do with it ; for all the gin in the world, and knock-kneed whiskey to boot,' says I, jest so, 'couldn't make a mother kill her own child, 'thout the help o' the devil — leastwise, that's the way with the mothers whar I comes from, Marster,' says I. ' Whar do you come from ?' says he. ' Georgy,' says I. ' What sort o' Georgy ?' says he ; ' not whar they breeds gals for Turkey ?' says he. ' Come, Marster,' says I, ' for I wasn't in a humor for funnin with the gen'l'man, ' come, Marster, you're arter pokin fun at this nigger. 'They don't breed no gals in my country for turkeys, you know very well,' says I; "but I must say, Marster,' says I, ' ef they did, an cooked one on 'um every day for dinner,' says I, jest so, 'thar would be more sense in hit than the way the people has here, of killin thfer children for nuthin, an puttin 'um to no use at all,' says I. The gen'l'man seemed to think what I said was power ful funny, Marster, for he laffed mightily. ' You goose,' says he, ' who talked about turkeys ? I asked you ef you was from Georgy in Asia,' says he, ' whar gals are bred and trained as wives for the Turks,' says he. ' No sir-ree !' says I. ' Ef thar's any sich Georgy as that, Marster, I'm not from thar. I'm from Georgy in Ameriky, sir,' says I, 'whar we has as pretty gals, too,' says I, ' as any in the world, sir,' says I. ' But we takes mighty good care, Marster, that they corniffies in the breasts of our own men the dexterity of their charms,' says I, jest so. You see, Marster, I sorter talked what you call hyfer- lutin at the gen'l'man, becase I wanted him to see that this nigger knowed a thing or two hisself when he thunk about it, and becase I was determed to stand up for my country when it was insaulted. ' Oh, that's hit, is it?' says the gen'l'man. 'An so you are from Georgy in Ameriky,' says he, 'whar they have slaves, don't they ?' BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 313 ' Yes, Marster,' says I. 'Why, ef we bleeve half what we heer,' says he, ' ef the slaveholders thar don't fling thar children out o' win ders, they makes nothin o' whippin thar slaves to deth, any time. How 'bout that ?' says he. 'Aint that so ?' ' Nairy time,' Marster,' says I. ' Leastwise I hardly ever heerd o' sich a thing,' says I. 'An hit don't stand to reason, Marster,' says I. 'People ginerly don't part with thar money so easy,' says I. ' Mggers is mighty high,' says I ; ' an ef a man kills his nigger, he flings his money away. Your people,' says I, ' can 'ford to fling thar children out o' winder,' says I, ' becase they aint worth much, ef anything ; but they's mighty clar of doin thar money so,' says I, jest so. 'Fact is, Marster, to my no tion, we aint so serui^rous, no how, no way you can fix it,' says I, jest so, 'as you are in this country.' ' Were you a slave, old boy, whar you come from ?' says he. ' Yes, Marster,' says I. 'An yit you call it your country, as ef you was free,' says he. ' How come it any country of yourn,' says he, ' ef you was a slave ?' ' Marster,' says I, ' that's whar I was born an raised, that's whar my wife an chil'n is,' says I ; ' an we's alL mighty happy thar, an I think I has a right to call it my country,' says I. 'Besides that,' says I, 'my grandaddy he fout for the country in the IndepencZenee War ; an, for the matter o' that, I sorter done somethin o' that kind myself — leastwise, my Marster he went out agin the Semi noles, an fit through the Fluridas, an I went 'long with him as his sarvant. It's true, we didn't git much chance to extinguish ourselves, an killed more alligators than In- Sns; but we done the best we could, an you know, arster, nobody could do no more,' says I, jest so. ' How did you git here ?' says he. ' I come with my Marster, sir ; who I left this mornin at his lodgins in the Strand,' says I. 'An you're gwine back to him ?' says he. 'Sartain,' says I, 'ef I live.' ' You fool,' says he ; ' what ! go back to slavery ? You 27 311 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, shouldn't think of it. Come 'long with me, an I'll git you em-plojmetit.' ' What will you git me ?' says I. 'Let me see — I will git you,' says he, 'I will git you ten pence a day,' says he ; 'an that's big wages for a hod man, for carryin brick,' says he; 'but bein you're a slave,' says he, ' an wish to git away from your Marster, I'll do that for you,' says he. ' Marster,' says I, ' ef hit was ten shillins, hit wouldn't begin to pay. I should be givin up a sartainty for a on- sartainty,' says I, jest so. 'Why, hit's as much as the workin people kin do here, Marster, to keep soul an body together — an a great many on 'um don't do it ; for I meets 'um everywhar 'bout, sufferin for somethin to eat,' says I. ' Us slaves in Georgy, Marster, has got a plenty, an to spar. An then our marsters has to tote all our cares an troubles, au the troubles o' our families,' says I; 'they aint on ohr backs. Our marsters is bound to do it ; an ef we git's sick, we's nursed, Marster, at our marster's expense. We's his money, an he wants to turn us over soon as possible,' says I, jest so. ' For same reason, sir, our marsters couldn't 'ford to let thar sarvants drown thar cares, ef they ever has any, — which ef they has is onbeknowns to me, — in gin, or any sich pisin, as your poor people do. An so we is decent, an sober, an God fearing people, Marster,' -says I. 'When we gits old,' says I, 'an can't do anything for ourselves,' says I, 'he's obleeged to take care of an support us ; an he'll love to do it, becase marsters ginerly, in my country, gits to likin thar sarvants,' says I, jest so.* 'An that aint all, * See Appendix, D. Whilst these pages have been passing through the press, events have occurred at Harper's Ferry, which have afforded a striking illustration of much that has been said by Dr. Jones and his servant in these letters, a^ to the relations of master and slave in the Southern States. As lias been remarked by Governor Wise, when speaking of this H irper's Ferry affair, it seems impossible for Northern men to understand tlie patriarchal character of the relation between master and slave in our caiiiitry — that is to s*y, the nature of the strong family tie which, as a general rule, exists between them. It is to be hoped that this affair has by this time taught them something on this subject. That it has at least satisfied the viper of abolitionism, that in attempting to excite our con tented and comfortable slaves iuto rebellion against their masters, it bites against a file. BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 315 Marster,' says I : ' to tell you the truth, ef I was sure of gittin plenty to eat here in this country, an bein tuk care of v/hile I lived, an ef I didn't like my marster too well to desart him,' says I, ' I wouldn't live in a country whar The author of these letters passed through a portion of Virginia and Maryland, attended by a colored servant, about the time ofthe occurrence to which he has just referred, and had thus some opportunity cf forming an opinion as to the amount of sympathy with the movement on the part of slaves, and of the impression made upon them by it. He was thus eniibled to ascertain (what is everywhere now well known) that even in the border States it met with no encouragement from slaves, and was, indeed, treated by them with contempt. This fact is so well understood at the South, and our people are so conscious that there is no materiel of disaffection among our slaves, out of which insubordination or insurrection can arise, that, notwithstanding all the excitement which has been evented by this affair, and the increased vigilance which has been exercised in looking after strange visitors among us, little or no change has been made in our police regulations with reference to our slaves, and the value of these slaves, as property, has been in no wise affected. There can be no better tests than these of security and confidence among our people, on this subject. When the circumstances to which I have referred first occurred, the people of the South were disposed to regard them as overt acts of the treason which fanatical Aljolitionists of the North had been so long talk ing and writing; and we repeated to ourselves the trite, but classic senti ment, that "Whom God wills to destroy, he first makes mad" — almost rejoicing in the confident expectation, that this outrage, which was but the practical working out of Abolition doctrines, was so dangerously and shockingly evil, that the friends of our Constitution and of the Union in the Northern States would now be enabled so to speak and act, as effec tually to overwhelm all who were concerned in, or responsible for the treason, with infamy and disgrace. In this, great and general disappoint ment has been experienced and expressed. And now, in the opinion of moderate and reflecting men of all parties in the South, of men who are by no means mixed up with the manceuvres of politicians, there has been so much of sympathy with the perpetrators of this mad treason mani fested at the North, without efl'ective rebuke or denunciation from those whom we have been accustomed to regard as the conservative members of society there, as greatly to lessen our confidence in these persons, and very much to loosen the hold of our affections upon the Union of these States. I see very plainly what the result will be unless the remedy be applied without delay. That remedy must be taken in hand by ihe people (not &e politicians) of the Northern States. If these people desire a con tinuance of the Union with us, they must bring to bear upon the crisis a power before which politicians bow down and grovel, and fanatics stand stricken with awe — ihe power of well-defined puhlic opinion. Unless that opinion be speedily manifested in some energetic and decisive form, (and I know of none so effectual as the ballot,) another republic, in a few years, will be added to the roll of nations upon the North American con tinent. I shrink from the contemplation of its baptism. 316 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, the women flings thar children out o' the winders,' says I, jest so. I think, 'bout this time, the gen'l'man didn't like the way the sugnment was a gwine, Marster, an so drapped it, and put out." On the next day, I attended the police court at the Guildhall, where I was informed that the woman who had maltreated her child in the manner stated by Buck would be examined. Below you have an account of that exami nation : " POLICE INTELLIGENCE. — Saturday, August 23. Guildhall. — Margaret Raymond, aged thirty, was charged before Alderman WUson, with throwing her son, aged six, from the third-floor window of a house in Sun court. Golden lane. Policeman, 140 D, said he received information on the previous evening that a child had been thrown out of a window, and proceeded to No. 9, Golden lane. The prisoner was coming out, and she exclaimed, 'I have done it now !' The child was sent to the hospital, and the prisoner taken into custody. The child afterwards said that his mother had thrown him out of the window because he would not let her take off his boots. The prisoner: ' I was very drunk, yonr worship.' Alderman Wilson : ' Do you think that to be a justification of your con duct ?' The police officer : ' She knew very well what she was doing. The child fell on his head on the shed below the window, and rolled thence to the ground.' The surgeon's cer tificate was produced. It stated that the child's head was much injured, but the skull was not fractured. Mary Ann Regan, an intelligent girl, aged eleven, who said she never read the Bible, but always told the truth, deposed that she lived in the house (No. 9), and was looking through the second- floor wdndow. She saw the prisoner holding the child out of the upper window ; he exclaimed, ' Oh, mother, don't chuck me out !' The mother then took him by the heels and dropped hira out of the window. At the same time a little girl in the mother's room exclaimed, ' Oh, mother, don't throw him out 1' The prisoner was committed for trial. She subsequently ad mitted that she had wanted the boy's boots in order to sell them for gin." — Observer, August 25th, 1851. The scene described in this report has reminded me somewhat of one of Hogarth's famous pictures, known as ) ° BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 317 " Gin Lane," and suggestive of manners and morals in this metropolis more than a century ago. The principal figure in that horrible picture is a loathsome woman, so drunk that she lets her child fall from her arms into a ceUar, situated in the area, above which she is seated. She is surpassed by her modern successor in the gin lanes, however ; for the latter does not wait until her child falls by accident from her arms, but throws it from the win dow, that she may exchange its boots for gin. A catas trophe so shocking was not imagined by Hogarth. I sup pose he would have rejected it, as too unnatural for probability — another illustration of the hackneyed phrase that "truth is strange — stranger than fiction." I bring this letter to a close by assuring you that I remain, dear Major, Eespectfully, Yr. friend and cousin, P. Jones. To Maj. Jones, Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. LETTEE XXXIII. TWO CHILDREN MURDERED BY THEIR FATHER AT CAMBER WELL — MURDER OP A CHILD BY ITS JIOTHER, AND DEATH OF THE LATTER HORRIBLE MURDER OP TWO CHILDREN BY THEIR MOTHER AT LOUGHREA MURDER OP AN INFANT BY ITS STEP-FATHER ILL-TREATMENT OF A CHILD BY ITS PATHER (a clergyman) AND HIS SISTER, RESULTING IN ITS DEATH MURDER OP AN INFANT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OP THE BAGNIGGE-WELLSROAD BUCK DISCOURSES ON THAT TEXT. London,. April 4th, 1854. Dear Major : — I hasten to furnish you with other matter which I have in hand relating to the subject which I was considering when I last wrote to you. I send you, first, the account of the murder of two children, and the injury of another, by a father, perpe- 27* 318 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, trated in this city during the faU of 1851. It presents a curious chapter in the bloodthirsty history of cruelty to children on the part of Englishmen. " TWO CHILDREN MURDERED BY THEIR PATHER AT CAMBER WELL. — SUICIDE OF THE MURDERER. The Discovery. — On Tuesday morning, about eight o'clock, one of the most horrible murders that has been committed for some years was discovered in the Wyndham road, CamberweU, which threw the whole of the neighborhood into a fearful state of excitement, when it became known that a respectable trades man in that vicinity had cut the throats of his three young children, and destroyed himself The name of the father is Anthony Fawcett, aged forty-three, and on Monday he took possession of a grocer's shop at the corner of Queen's place, Wyndham road, lately occupied by Mr. Stockham. He brought with him his wife and three children — Emily Fawcett, six years and a half old, deceased ; Frederick, one year and seven months, deceased ; and Mary Ann, who is badly wounded. He seemed to have been greatly disappointed with his purchase, and grumbled very much to his wife respecting it ; but nothing in his appearance indicated any symptoms of insanity. A little after seven o'clock the family got up, and his wife dressed the two elder children and took them down stairs to breakfast, leaving the baby in bed up stairs. While the children and father were partaking of their morning meal in the back par lor at eight o'clock, the wife ran otit to convey two letters to the Post Office, which is only two or three hundred yards dis tant, and during her absence the man cut the throats of all his chUdren. On her return she was horror-stricken at finding her two elder children with their throats cut ; and on proceeding further she perceived her husband cutting his own throat in the back kitchen. She immediately ran out and alarmed the neigh bors, when police constable 115 P, Edward SharvUl, who was on duty near the spot, entered the house, and instantly pro ceeded to the back kitchen, where he found the murderer tying under the sink, quite insensible, with blood gushing from his neck. He took him up, and found a large table knife in his grasp, which he had cut his throat with, and at the time he was not dead. A doctor was directly sent for, and Mr. King, surgeon, of CamberweU, attended, but Fawcett's death took place a few minutes after. He had cut his throat from ear to ear. On the constable entering the back parlor, he discovered BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 319 EraUy, aged six years and a half, lying dead, with her throat dreadfuUy cut, under the window, and Mary Ann, sitting nearly opposite, with hers also cut, but not effectually. Mr. King, as well as other surgeons, who had been called in, attended to tlie latter, and there is every likelihood that the poor httle girl will recover. On going up stairs, the constable perceived the younger chUd with its head hanging out of bed, quite dead, whh its throat cut, and the bed deluged with blood. There can be no doubt that the father committed the murders with three knives, as a large bacon knife, covered with blood, was found in the bedroom, a table knife in the back parlor, and another in the man's hand. They all appeared to have been recently sharpened. Superintendent Lund, of the P division, was shortly after on the spot, when information was forwarded to the coroner of the horrible circumstance. The news soon spread and thousands of people assembled." — Observer, October 6th, 1851. Here foUow two most unnatural and distressing cases : "MURDER OP A CHILD BY ITS MOTHER, AND DEATH OF THE LATTER. An inquest was held at Durham, on Friday last, on the bodies of Catherine Sraith and her infant child. It appeared that the deceased woraan had been married three weeks to a shipwright when she gave birth to a male child, which she destroyed by dashing its head against the wall, and then ex pired for want of proper attendance after delivery. Her hus band had accused her of being in the famUy-way, but she had denied the fact. He had given her some medicine when she complained of being ill, and had gone out to work. It was during his absence that she effected the above murder." — Observer, December 15th, 1851. "HORRIBLE TRAGEDY AT LOUGHREA. This town has been thrown into great excitement in conse quence of the murder of two children by their mother. The unfortunate perpetrator of this crime is a Mrs Colgrave, the wife of the head-constable of police here. On Thursday night week, her husband being absent, she sent her maid on a mes sage from the police-barrack, in which she lived. Having secured the door, she proceeded to the bed where her children 32(.) THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD ; OR, (two boys), aged respectively four years and a half and nine months, were sleeping, and murdered them by cutting their throats with a razor. Tiie head of the elder child was nearly severed frora the body, and the wound upon the neck of the other was such as miist have produced immediate death. She then attempted to put an end to her own life by the sarae means, but did not succeed in doing so. Her husband has be come insane since the fatal occurrence. She was of a morbid, melancholy temperament, but until this occurrence an affec tionate raother and wife." — Obsei'ver, January 20th, 1852. The next case to which I call your attention is the murder of a poor little child by its step-father, vUio threw it into a well. The annals of desperate wickedness seldom furnish a more revolting case. "MURDER OP AN INFANT IN SURREY. A raost tragical event has just come to light. A raan named Keene, who was formerly for some time in the employment of the South-Eastern RaUway Company, at Shalford station, as an engine cleaner, was married to a native of Albury, whose maiden name was Jane Broomer. While single, about May, 1848, she was confined of an illegitimate child, the putative father of which was stated by her to be a policeman. It was after this period she was married to Keene, and one day, when walking out together on the Downs, he took the child away from her and walked away with it, being absent from her about three quarters of an hour, when he returned, bringing the shawl the child was wrapped in, and giving it to his wife, stating that she would never again want it for the same pur pose it had been used for. This happened about ten months ago. She made frequent inquiries of him what he had done with the child ? which she at last elicited from him ; for about a week since she disclosed to her mother the sad secret that her husband had tlirown the child down a well, situate in the Warren, in the parish of Guildford. The poor old woman, in the anguish other mind, communicated the facts to one-of her sons, who soon made it known to the proper police authorities at Guilford, who took Keene and his wife into custody. Superinteudent Radley and one of his men went to Shere, on Tuesday afternoon week, and procuring some well tackle, pro ceeded wuth proper assistance to the well pointed out by the woman Keene. A man of the name of WiUiam Edser, who BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 321 was accidentally passing at the tirae, and who had formerly assisted in digging this well, undertook to go down. The depth is about 187 feet ; when he reached the bottom he was horror-struck at seeing the skeleton of a chUd lying on its back — one foot across a small beam. On trying to hft it, it fell to pieces. He gathered up the bones, put them into a ' basket, and brought them to the top with him. An inquest was held on the body, but adjourned. On Tuesday Keene and his wife were examined at Guildford before the magistrates, when evidence was given proving that the female prisoner had confessed the crime of which her husband had been guilty. She said that she would have made the confession before, but her husband had threatened to raurder her if she said anything about it. In order to give the police the fuUest opportunity of collecting all the facts relating to the horrible affair, as also to learn the result of the coroner's investigation, the bench remanded the prisoners, and they were despatched to Horse- monger lane jail." — Observer, February Qth, 1852. The last case is bad enough, truly, but worse are to fol low. Take, for example, the following, which is the de struction of a child from continued ill-treatment and starvation, by its aunt, who was aided and abetted by its own father. I grieve to say, too, that that father was a clergyman, and that the insensate brutality which seems to characterize this British people extends even to those whose mission it is to preach "peace on earth, good-wiU to men." It is true that the perpetrators of this crime resided at the time in India ; but they were from this country, as you will perceive, and the case only proves that " ccelum non animum viutant, qui trans- m,are currunt." "the charge against A CLERGYMAN AND HIS SISTER IN INDIA. A previous mail stated that the Rev. J. M'Kay and his sister were charged with inflicting such an amount of ill-treat ment on the chUd of the male prisoner as to cause its death. The following is the indictment. The first count charged Miss M'Kay, with having, on the 4th of October last, and five fol lowing days, in Beleepoorah, at Benares, on one Helen M'Kay, the cMld of the prisoner, John M'Kay, maUciously and felo- V 322 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, niously made divers assaults with a whip and hempen cords, giving her mortal wounds and bruises in different parts of her body, of which she languished from the 4th to the 9th of Octo ber, aud then died. And it further charged the male prisoner with having been present at the commission of this felony and murder, aidiug and abetting the feraale in it; and alleged that both did thus kiU and murder the child. The second count aUeged that both the prisoners, contriving and intending to starve and murder the child, made several assaults npon her from the 4th to the 9th of October, and confined her in a room, aud neglected, omitted, or refused to give or suffer to be given sufficient meat and drink for her sustenance, in consequence of which she died, and the prisoners did thus feloniously murder her. They were found guilty of aggravated manslaughter, and sentenced tobe transported for life to Yan Diemen's Land." Observer, February 10th, 1852. Early in the year 1852, we had another specimen of .what civilization was doing for the metropolis in the neighborhood of the Bagnigge- Wells Eoad. A mother and wife in that neighborhood murdered her infant, and endeavored to hang herself, as you will see by the foUow ing account : "MURDER AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. On Monday morning last, considerable excitement was created throughout the neighborhood of Bagnigge WeUs-road, by the discovery that on the previous day a young woman named Barbara Goodwin, aged 26 years, the wife of a car penter in the employ of Mr. Greenend, builder, in the Caledo nian road, living at the house of her parents with her husband. No 18 George street, in that locality, had murdered her infant chUd, Thomas Goodwin, aged seventeen months, and also raade a most desperate atterapt on her own life by cutting her throat with a razor. From inquiries made on the spot, it appears that for some time past she had been observed to be very low- spirited, and to express a wish that she was in the grave. Her friends frequently urged her to cheer up, and not give way to such dulness, but without avail. She was dotingly fond of her chUd, 16 raonths old, and was constantly caressing it. On Saturday night last, about half past six o'clock, she sent for a female relation, who came to her house, on which she found BILLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 323 ner in a very depressed state of mind, when she repeated her wish to be in the grave. At about ten o'clock on Saturday night, she retired to rest with her husband and child. At an early hour ou Sunday morning, a young woman, residing in the same house, had her attention attracted by a gurgling noise, and shortly after, Mr. Goodwin, the husband, was awoke out of his sleep by the same noise, when he fouud his child in the struggles of death ; his wife having administered to it a quantity of deadly poison, and the mother was lying ou the bed bleeding profusely from a wound in her throat, which she had inflicted with her husband's razor. He instantly made an alarm, and Dr. Wicker, a neighboring surgeon, vvas sent for, and he promptly attended and rendered every assistance. He administered antidotes to the child, and sewed up the wound on the throat of the unhappy mother, who now lies at her resi dence in a dangerous condition. The poor child, which was a handsome little creature, died shortly after the poison had been adrainistered to it. No reason is at present assigned for the rash acts. She is kept very quiet, and all that she has been heard to say, with reference to the deceased child is, that " the dear child is in heaven, where she hopes soon to be with it." On Wednesday, Mr. Wakley, M.P., opened an inquiry into tlie circumstances at the sign of the Britannia, Britannia street, Gray's Inn road, when it appeared that Mrs. Goodwin had always tUscharged her domestic duties with every affection and propriety, never betraying the sUghtest aberration of intellect until the death of her father, to whora she was fondly attached, aud who died eight months ago, since which period she had becorae melancholy. It also appeared that when Dr. Wicker had dressed the wound in her throat, and restored her to con- ' sciousness, in answer to questions put to her, she said that when she brought the child into the roora adjoining the bed- roora on the Sunday morning, she gave it a teaspoonful and a half of laudanura, and drank herself the reraaining contents of two phials, which she bought at different shops in pennyworths. After taking the laudanura she brought the child agaiu to bed, when she voraited up the poison, and fearing that the child would die, and she would live, she cut her own throat with a razor, which she then wrapped in her pocket-handkerchief aud placed under her pillow. The coroner having been informed that the raother was in a hopeless state, ordered her immediate removal to the hospital, and adjourned the inquiry uutil it was aseertained whether the mother survived or not. The unfor tunate creature is under the surveiUance of the police." — Observer, Feb. Oth, 1852. 324 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, When I had read this report, I called Buck's attention to it, and remarked that it afforded further evidence of that need of the missionary in the Bagnigge-Wells Eoad which he had suggested. " May depend upon it, Marster," said he, "the devil has got persession o' them people. But fact is, I begin to find so many other places here, 'bout as bad, that I'm sort o' jubous ef it's worth while to send a mishunnary to them people while so many in other places in this country is starvin for the bread o' life. We can't 'ford to send preachers an Bibles to all on um, sir, you know. Hit's a thousand pities, too ! But, Marster, I'm beginnin to larn that heap o' the bad doins here is owin to gin. The devil is behind the- gin-barrel, I do suppose ; but gin is at the bottom of so much villany here, that I think some o' them 'postles o' temperance is needed 'bout as bad as the pair- son. I do bleeve, Marster, ef we could git Mars. George Pearce to come over here, he would knock the hind sights off o' some o' old Satan's big guns ; but hit 'U take Uncle ])abney, or some o' them temperence fellers, sir, to spike 'um." I will recur to the subject of this letter in my next; end now beg leave to add only that I am, sir, Eespectfully, Yr. friend and cousin, P. Jones. To Major J. Jones, Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 325 LETTEE XXXIV. CHARGE AGAINST A PARMER, OF MURDER, BY THROWING A CHILD TO BE DEVOURED BY A SOW CRUELTY TO A CHILD THREE YEARS OLD MURDER OF A CHILD — FATAL CRUELTY TO A CHILD BY BURNING IT IN THE HAND WITH A LIVE COAL MURDER OP CHILDREN FOR BURIAL-FEES MURDER OP A CHILD BY STARVATION, AND ILL-TREATMENT BY PATHER AND STEP-MOTHER — CRUEL TREATMENT OP A CHILD BY ITS MOTHER CHILD-TORTURE, BY WAY OP CHRISTMAS SPORTS. London, April 6tb, 1854. Dear Major: — Continuing the subject which I was treating when I last wrote to you, I send you other in stances of brutal cruelty to children' on the part of this British people. And the next to which I call your attention is so shocking, and disgusting in its details, as almost to deter me from dwelling on it long enough to enclose it to you. Eead it, if you can, and agree with me, that never, even when struggling with the heaviest nightmare, did it enter into the brain of an American to dream of anything half so horrible. "CHARGE OF MURDER AGAINST A PARMER BY THROWING AN INFANT TO BE DEVOURED BY A SOW. The Brecon county magistrates were engaged for several hours on the 28th ult., in investigating a charge preferred against 3Ir. Thomas Phillips, of Pentrenaboth, in the hamlet of Senny, Brecknockshire, by a discharged servant of his, named Hugh Williams. It appeared that upon Williams de manding an arrear of wages due to him about three weeks back, a quarrel ensued, when WiUiams accused his master of having raurdered his illegitimate child by throwing it ahve to a sow, who devoured the infant. This report having obtained 28 326 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD ; OR, circulation, PhiUips felt anxious to retrieve his character, and caused an attorney at Brecon to demand a retraction of the charge. Instead, however, of doing so, Williams at once de nounced his master before the magistrate as a murderer, and brought a lad, who with himself was in Phillips's employ, to prove the fact. Mr. PhUlips voluntarily appeared before the raagistrates, and declared his wish to meet the charge at once. Hugh WUhams was then sworn, and deposed that iu the month of March, 1850, he was in the employ of Phillips. One day as he was coming up towards the fold, he saw PhU lips. An infant lay on the ground before him, being devoured by a sow. He saw the child in the sow's mouth, and heard it cry. The so