end, the Rev. Samuel May, of Boston, to our equally dear
and much lamented friend, Dr. Estlin of Bristol, will show why we were
not taken into custody.

"21, Cornhill, Boston, "November 6th, 1850.

"My dear Mr Estlin,

"I trust that in God's good providence this letter will be handed to
you in safety by our good friends, William and Ellen Craft. They have
lived amongst us about two years, and have proved themselves worthy, in
all respects, of our confidence and regard. The laws of this
republican and Christian land (tell it not in Moscow, nor in
Constantinople) regard them only as slaves--chattels--personal
property. But they nobly vindicated their title and right to freedom,
two years since, by winning their way to it; at least, so they thought.
But now, the slave power, with the aid of Daniel Webster and a band of
lesser traitors, has enacted a law, which puts their dearly-bought
liberties in the most imminent peril; holds out a strong temptation to
every mercenary and unprincipled ruffian to become their kidnapper; and
has stimulated the slaveholders generally to such desperate acts for
the recovery of their fugitive property, as have never before been
enacted in the history of this government.

"Within a fortnight, two fellows from Macon, Georgia, have been in
Boston for the purpose of arresting our friends William and Ellen. A
writ was served against them from the United States District Court; but
it was not served by the United States Marshal; why not, is not
certainly known: perhaps through fear, for a general feeling of
indignation, and a cool determination not to allow this young couple to
be taken from Boston into slavery, was aroused, and pervaded the city.
It is understood that one of the judges told the Marshal that he would
not be authorised in breaking the door of Craft's house. Craft kept
himself close within the house, armed himself, and awaited with
remarkable composure the event. Ellen, in the meantime, had been taken
to a retired place out of the city. The Vigilance Committee (appointed
at a late meeting in Fanueil Hall) enlarged their numbers, held an
almost permanent session, and appointed various subcommittees to act in
different ways. One of these committees called repeatedly on Messrs.
Hughes and Knight, the slave-catchers, and requested and advised them
to leave the city. At first they peremptorily refused to do so, ''till
they got hold of the niggers.' On complaint of differe