or the Church. You look astonished;
but in the States we have clergymen of our colour, as well as white
ones; looked down upon and despised, I grant, although they do teach the
Word of God; but I was very unfit for that profession, as you may
suppose. I was very proud and haughty; I felt that I was as good as a
white man, and I very often got into scrapes from my resenting injuries.

"However, my education went on successfully, much more so than that of
my brothers, who could not learn. I could, and learnt rapidly but I
learnt to hate and detest white men, and more especially Americans; I
brooded over the injuries of people of colour, as we were called, and
all my father's advice and entreaty could not persuade me to keep my
thoughts to myself. As I grew up to manhood, I spoke boldly, and more
than once nearly lost my life for so doing; for most Americans think no
more of taking the life of one like me than of a dog in the street.
More than one knife has been directed to my heart, and more than once
was I then up before the judge, and sentenced to imprisonment for no
fault; my evidence, and the evidence of those of my colour, not being
permitted to be received in a court of justice. Any white villain had
only to swear falsely--and there is no want of that class in America--
and there was no appeal. At last I was sentenced to be whipped; then my
blood boiled, and I vowed a vengeance which I have fearfully adhered
to."

"I do not wonder at that," said I; "I would have done the same."

"The man who had sworn falsely against me in this last instance had come
up from the South; I obtained what money I could from my father, and
went away in pursuit of him. I found him--dogged him, and one evening I
accosted him, and plunged my bowie-knife into his heart. I fled that
State, and crossed the Mississippi.

"I had not been long in Arkansas before a man--a cotton-grower, who
owned about a hundred and fifty slaves--inquired who I was, and whether
I had a pass; I replied that I was a free man, born in Pennsylvania, and
was there on my own affairs. The next day I was taken up, brought
before the magistrate, and this scoundrel swore that I was his slave,
and had absconded from him ten years before.

"My defence--the proof which I offered to bring, was not listened to. I
was made over to him, and the rascal grinned as the constables brought
me away with him. His plantation was at the Red River. It was
difficult to escap