sitive danger. [_Yet it is
well known that the city is full of incendiaries_.]

Perhaps you are aware that any colored citizen is liable at any
hour of day or night without any show of authority to have his
house ransacked by constables, and if others do it and commit
the most outrageous depredations none but white witnesses can
convict them. Such outrages are always common here, and no kind
of property exposed to colored protection only, can be
considered safe. [I don't say that _much liberty_ should not be
given to constables on account of numerous runaways, but it
don't always work for good.] Before advertising they go round
and offer rewards to sharp colored men of perhaps _one or two
hundred dollars_, to betray runaways, and having discovered
their hiding-place, seize them and then cheat their informers
out of the money.

[_Although a law-abiding man_,] I am anxious in this case of
_innocence_ to raise no conflict or suspicion. [_Be sure that
the manumission is full and legal_.] And as I am _powerless_
without your aid, _I pray you_ don't lose a moment in giving me
relief. The idea of waiting yet for weeks seems dreadful; do
reduce it to days if possible, and give me notice of the
_earliest possible time_.

The property is not yet advertised, but will be, [and if we
delay too long, may be sold and lost.]

It was a great misunderstanding, though not your fault, that so
much delay would be necessary. [I repeat again that I must have
the thing done legally, therefore, please get a good lawyer to
draw up the deed of manumission.]

Yours Truly,

J. BIGELOW.

Great was the anxiety felt in Washington. It is certainly not too much
to say, that an equal amount of anxiety existed in Philadelphia
respecting the safety of the merchandise. At this juncture Mr. Bigelow
had come to the conclusion that it was no longer safe to write over his
own name, but that he would do well to henceforth adopt the name of the
renowned Quaker, Wm. Penn, (he was worthy of it) as in the case of the
following letter.

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 10th, 1855.

DEAR SIR:--Doctor T. presented my card last night about half
past eight which I instantly recognized. I, however, soon became
suspicious, and afterwards confounded, to find the doctor using
your name and the well known names of Mr. McK. and Mr.