"Oh, how saddening to the better feelings of man-how shock. ing to the delicacy of nature, is the knowledge, that to the arbitrary policy of England, is attributable nearly all the immolations of my country women upon the shrine of prostitution, and consequent drunkenness, disease, and death. What will not starvation do? We have seen it sacrifice virtue and honor, to infamy, degradation, and vice-make the staid and sober citizen a robber, an incendiary! The moral man a monster in crime, a murderer! The bold, laughing peasant, a sneaking, villainous fiend! The loving husband, and fond father, a demon, a homicide! The patient, devoted mother, an unnatural being, a horrid infantricide! and a virtuous, intelligent, and benevolent community, is changed into a suspicious, illiberal, atheistical, degraded, and criminal band!"

After listening to the foregoing tales, or rather conversation, upon "woful subjects," I laid down to rest, upon my hard couch, inclined to murmur less, at what I too well deemed harsh treatment and ill fare; I was distracted with the idea that thousands of fellow-beings might be then vainly seeking a fevered rest on the bare ground, or expiring through want, within the same city. I could imagine I saw the distortion of their countenances, and heard their dying groans, though they were free, and ostensibly protected by that powerful government which held me in thraldom. I remembered, too, the dreary manner in which I had spent the night previous to the last anniversary, in making my escape from Canada, across the broad and sweeping current of the Niagara, on a log canoe, that would scarcely float, when I nearly fell a victim to frost and extreme cold. I slept soundly, and dreamed of all I had heard, and a thousand additional horrors, and awoke to a knowledge of my own unhappy condition, with a keen sense of the loneliness and unprotected

situation of my wife and child. And if I ever prayed with fervor, in my life, it was then, for their well-being, and exemption from want and misery. I more than ever deprecated the idea of Mrs. Wait's coming to England, and wrote positively prohibiting it; but that letter, too, was lost, with the Pennsylvania.

The time was now coming in which we were to embark for Portsmouth. I therefore made another effort to prevent, or, rather, show the fallacy of creating the distinction, and excluding a part of the prisoners from investigation. I explained to Mr. Waller, that I had great misgivings upon being sent to the hulks; assuring him, that I felt certain, that when placed on them, there would be no probability of leaving, until sent on the transport ship-that I had heard so much about the horrors of those "floating prisons," that I dreaded a residence there, more than immediate transportation. He was very anxious to convince me that it was "only nervousness," and we had no reason to be under apprehensions concerning the treatment we should receive; as he would take care that a proper agent should be appointed, in Portsmouth, to attend to our wants. In fact, one had already been employed; and he gave me the address of J. W. Greetham, Esq., barrister, &c.; then added, "if you find your abode less agreeable than you can reasonably expect, you have only to make it known to W. H. Ashurst, Esq., barrister, 137, Cheap side, London, and he will remove you by 'habeas corpus,' if there is the least probability of any benefit resulting." I said, I had no doubt but that the government, since our friends had admitted a

distinction, would avail themselves of it as a pretext for sending us away; for the fact of being sent to a hulk without protest, would, on our part, be an acknowledgment of its legality; and that we considered ourselves still in transitu," merely awaiting an opportunity of being conveyed on the voyage. Indeed, those prison ships were only regarded as receptacles for men whose cases were positively decided; therefore, being sent there, was significant enough of what the government designed doing with us; consequently, I felt it a duty to draw up a protest against a removal, intimating, that if we yielded at all, it would be on the ground of expediency. This paper was presented at the Queen's bench, when the Attorney general pledged his honor, "that, although the government views them as being in transilu, none should be sent away until each has his case thoroughly investigated." Mr. W. promised to do what he could, to effect a removal to London, of the whole number; but he feard it would be impracticable; "as the moment a man is placed under a habeas corpus, the expense of his support falls upon those who obtain it." Indeed! the secret was out, and I said no more. I had repeatedly been informed, the feeling was so strong in our favor, that should our liberation be offered on indemnity or bail, either would immediately be forthcoming. Then, it was not philanthropy, but political partisanship, that had dictated an interferance at all! I therefore made no farther struggle to prevent the removal; and twice, subsequently, refused to permit my name to be added to those going to London, and thus be separated from my fellows,

whose cases were so closely joined to mine by similitude.

The vessel, destined to convey us to Portsmouth, arrived; but a clashing between the orders brought by her, and some that had come by land, caused a short delay. In the mean time, many gentlemen of the city exhibited a great anxiety to administer to our comfort, or show their estcem, by some slight token; but all the Ministry would permit us to receive, was a supply of shoes, to all who needed them; but few, however, were required; consequently, the Niagara prisoners went away without having been much expense to these philanthropists. The debt of gratitude due to Dr. Buck, was augmented by the present of a volume of evangelical hymns, got up by himself, in a splendid style, most of them original. Mine was bound in a superb manner, and I still retain it as a valuable memento of his christian regard.

On the first of January, we were favored with sociable visits from various gentlemen; and many ladies made application, in vain, to be admitted. However, they were not to be utterly thwarted, and sent for me to the grated doo, having read or heard of Mrs. Wait's successful application at Quebec. I found a considerable number collected, and had the honor of a short conversation with one who had been a "Lady Mayoress." They were all very richly attired, and betrayed the utmost curiosity and sympathy, as well as an immense degree of ignorance upon Canadian matters and inhabitants. The conversation turned, of course, upon my wife's conduct; and I felt high plea

sure in listening to their comments. Indeed, they were extravagant; and promised "as great success to her endeavors, as the most ardent mind could anticipate, if she really did come to England;" and should she land at Liverpool, she should have their protection and assistance, in every possible shape; and I might be assured that would not be slight. They received my gratitude, with a few paper mementoes, and retired from the door, leaving me to return to the enjoyment of my prison associates.

But here I will close, and bid you adieu.
I remain, dear sir,

Yours, &c. &c.

To

LETTER XI.

ASHGROVE, near Oatlands, V. D. L.

February, 1841.

My Dear Sir: I believe my last letter ended with a scene at the door of the Liverpool borough jail, between some curious ladies, and your equally curious humble servant. The assurances they gave me, of extending the kind hand of protection and assistance to my bereaved wife, in case of her landing there, did my heart good; and made me regret having thus hastily written to her so disparagingly of the attempt; for these sympathetic feelings satisfied me, that the object of her mission, and the generosity and benevolence of her motives, would ensure her an enthusiastic reception.