o their needs, before
forwarding them still further. The time and attention required for so
many left but little opportunity, however, for the Secretary to write
their narratives. He had only evening leisure for the work. Ten or
twelve of that party had to be sent off without having their stories
recorded. Daniel Robertson was one of this number; his name is simply
entered on the roll, and, but for letters received from him, after he
passed on North, no further knowledge would have been obtained. In
Petersburg, whence he escaped, he left his wife, for whose deliverance
he felt bound to do everything that lay in his power, as the subjoined
letters will attest:

HAVANA, August 11, 1856, Schuylkill Co., N.Y.

MR. WM. STILL--Dear Sir:--I came from Virginia in March, and was
at your office the last of March. My object in writing you, is
to inquire what I can do, or what can be done to help my wife to
escape from the same bondage that I was in. You will know by
your books that I was from Petersburg, Va., and that is where my
wife now is. I have received two or three letters from a lady in
that place, and the last one says, that my wife's mistress is
dead, and that she expects to be sold. I am very anxious to do
what I can for her before it is too late, and beg of you to
devise some means to get her away. Capt. the man that brought me
away, knows the colored agent at Petersburg, and knows he will
do all he can to forward my wife. The Capt. promised, that when
I could raise one hundred dollars for him that he would deliver
her in Philadelphia. Tell him that I can now raise the money,
and will forward it to you at any day that he thinks that he can
bring her. Please see the Captain and find when he will
undertake it, and then let me know when to forward the money to
you. I am at work for the Hon. Charles Cook, and can send the
money any day. My wife's name is Harriet Robertson, and the
agent at Petersburg knows her.

Please direct your answer, with all necessary directions, to N.
Coryell, of this village, and he will see that all is right.

Very respectfully,

DANIEL ROBERTSON.

HAVANA, Aug. 18, 1856.

MR. WM. STILL--Dear Sir:--Yours of the 18th, for D. Robertson,
was duly received. In behalf of Daniel, I thank you kindly for
the interest you manifest in him. The letters that have gone
from