ip prevented. Throughout
the year the committee continued to observe the practice of appointing
weekly visitors to examine into the truth of every statement made by
applicants for aid. In this way between 200 and 300 cases have been
attended to, each receiving more or less according to their
circumstances."[4] A night school opened in Toronto gave to the
younger men and women an opportunity to get a little education.

The Canadian Society, at an early date in its history, entered into
working relations with the anti-slavery societies of Great Britain and
the United States. At the first anniversary meeting, held in March,
1852, a letter was presented from Lewis Tappan, secretary of the
American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, enclosing a resolution of
the executive of the American society to the effect that the committee
had heard of the formation of the Anti-Slavery Society of Canada at
Toronto with much satisfaction, and that they would be pleased to
maintain correspondence with this society and unite their efforts for
the promotion of the great cause of human freedom on this continent
and throughout the world. At the same meeting there were read messages
of greeting from S. H. Gay, secretary of the American Anti-Slavery
Society, and from John Scoble, secretary of the British and Foreign
Anti-Slavery Society.[5] At this first anniversary meeting the society
was able to report a change in public sentiment toward its aims. At
the start there had been coldness and some prejudice but this had
largely disappeared and some who had formerly been hostile were now
supporters.

The colonization question was before the society in its early period.
In August, 1851, Toronto was visited by Rev. S. Oughten, a Jamaican,
and later by William Wemyss Anderson, also of Jamaica. The question
was also brought to the attention of the government of the province
and the Governor-General asked the executive of the society to tender
its opinion of the plan. Their decision was altogether unfavorable to
colonization whether in Trinidad or Jamaica. With regard to Trinidad
their opinion was that slavery in a modified form still existed there.
Jamaica, they thought, had nothing to attract the refugee more than
Canada, and the society was placed on record as approving the findings
of the Great North American convention of colored people, which had
met in Toronto the preceding September, to the effect that western
Canada was the most desirable plac