y at $150 a year. It is needless to say that he did not
approve of the "peculiar institution." He left a wife and one child
behind to mourn after him. Of his views of Canada and Freedom, the
following frank and sensible letter, penned shortly after his arrival,
speaks for itself--
TORONTO, March 6th, 1854.
DEAR MR. STILL:--I take this method of informing you that I am
well both in health and mind. You may rest assured that I fells
myself a free man and do not fell as I did when I was in
Virginia thanks be to God I have no master into Canada but I am
my own man. I arrived safe into Canada on friday last. I must
request of you to write a few lines to my wife and jest state to
her that her friend arrived safe into this glorious land of
liberty and I am well and she will make very short her time in
Virginia. tell her that I likes here very well and hopes to like
it better when I gets to work I don't meane for you to write the
same words that are written above but I wish you give her a
clear understanding where I am and Shall Remain here untel She
comes or I hears from her.
Nothing more at present but remain yours most respectfully,
JOHN CLAYTON.
You will please to direct the to Petersburg Luenena Johns or
Clayton John is best.
CLARISSA DAVIS.
ARRIVED DRESSED IN MALE ATTIRE.
Clarissa fled from Portsmouth, Va., in May, 1854, with two of her
brothers. Two months and a half before she succeeded in getting off,
Clarissa had made a desperate effort, but failed. The brothers
succeeded, but she was left. She had not given up all hope of escape,
however, and therefore sought "a safe hiding-place until an opportunity
might offer," by which she could follow her brothers on the U.G.R.R.
Clarissa was owned by Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Burkley, of Portsmouth, under
whom she had always served.
Of them she spoke favorably, saying that she "had not been used as hard
as many others were." At this period, Clarissa was about twenty-two
years of age, of a bright brown complexion, with handsome features,
exceedingly respectful and modest, and possessed all the characteristics
of a well-bred young lady. For one so little acquainted with books as
she was, the correctness of her speech was perfectly astonishing.
For Clarissa and her two brothers a "reward of one thousand dollars" was
kept standing in the papers for a length of time, as these (articl
|