had my sleigh brought out, and we all went to
Middletown, before my friend, William Streets, who was then in
commission as a magistrate. It was now after dark of this short winter's
day. Soon after our arrival at the office of William Streets, Hardcastle
put his arm very lovingly around the neck of the colored man, Samuel
Hawkins, and drew him into another room. In a short time, Samuel came
out, and told me that Hardcastle had agreed, that if he, Hawkins, would
give up his two older boys, who belonged to Charles Wesley Glanding;
then he might pursue his journey with his wife and four children. I
asked him if he believed Hardcastle would keep his promise? He replied:
"Yes! I do not think master William would cheat me." I assured him that
he would cheat him, and that the offer was made for the purpose of not
only getting the two older boys (fourteen and sixteen years of age), but
his wife and other children to the office, when all of them would be
taken together to the jail, in New Castle. Samuel thought differently,
and at his request, I wrote to my wife for the delivery of the family of
Samuel Hawkins to the constable. They were soon forthcoming, and on
their arrival at the office, a commitment was made out for the whole
party. Samuel and his two older sons were hand-cuffed, amidst many tears
and lamentations, and they all went off under charge of the man-hunters,
to New Castle jail, a distance of eighteen miles.

William Streets committed the whole party as fugitives from Slavery,
while the husband (Samuel), was a free man. This was done on account of
the detestation of the wicked business, as much as on account of his
friendship for me.

On their arrival at the jail, about midnight, the sheriff was aroused,
and the commitment shown to him; after reading it, he asked Samuel if he
was a slave? He said no, and showed his pass (which had been pronounced
genuine by the magistrate). The sheriff hereupon told them, that the
commitment was not legal, and would not hold them lawfully. It was now
first day (Sunday), and the man-hunters were in a quandary.

The constable finally agreed to go back and get another commitment, if
the sheriff would take the party into the jail until his return;
Hardcastle also urged the sheriff to adopt this plan. Accordingly they
were taken into the jail.

The sheriff's daughter had heard her father's conversation with the
constable, accordingly she sent word on First-day morning, to my revered