went out； and kindly brought in several of the leading abolitionists of the city； who gave us a most hearty and friendly welcome amongst them。 As it was in December； and also as we had just left a very warm climate； they advised us not to go to Canada as we had intended； but to settle at Boston in the United States。 It is true that the constitution of the Re… public has always guaranteed the slaveholders the right to come into any of the so…called free States； and take their fugitives back to southern Egypt。 But through the untiring； uncompromising； and manly efforts of Mr。 Garrison； Wendell Phillips； Theodore Parker； and a host of other noble aboli… tionists of Boston and the neighbourhood； public opinion in Massachusetts had become so much opposed to slavery and to kidnapping； that it was almost impossible for any one to take a fugitive slave out of that State。
So we took the advice of our good Philadelphia friends； and settled at Boston。 I shall have some… thing to say about our sojourn there presently。
Among other friends we met with at Philadel… phia； was Robert Purves； Esq。； a well educated and wealthy coloured gentleman； who introduced us to Mr。 Barkley Ivens； a member of the Society of Friends； and a noble and generous…hearted farmer； who lived at some distance in the country。
This good Samaritan at once invited us to go and stop quietly with his family； till my wife could somewhat recover from the fearful reaction of the past journey。 We most gratefully accepted the invitation； and at the time appointed we took a steamer to a place up the Delaware river； where our new and dear friend met us with his snug little cart； and took us to his happy home。 This was the first act of great and disinterested kindness we had ever received from a white person。
The gentleman was not of the fairest complexion； and therefore； as my wife was not in the room when I received the information respecting him and his anti…slavery character； she thought of course he was a quadroon like herself。 But on arriving at the house； and finding out her mistake； she became more nervous and timid than ever。
As the cart came into the yard； the dear good old lady； and her three charming and affectionate daughters； all came to the door to meet us。 We got out； and the gentleman said； 〃Go in； and make yourselves at home； I will see after the baggage。〃 But my wife was afraid to approach them。 She stopped in the yard； and said to me； 〃William； I thought we were coming among coloured people？〃 I replied； 〃It is all right； these are the same。〃 〃No；〃 she said； 〃it is not all right； and I am not going to stop here； I have no confidence whatever in white people； they are only trying to get us back to slavery。〃 She turned round and said； 〃I am going right off。〃 The old lady then came out； with her sweet； soft； and winning smile； shook her heartily by the hand； and kindly said； 〃How art thou； my dear？ We are all very glad to see thee and thy husband。 Come in； to the fire； I dare say thou art cold and hungry after thy journey。〃
We went in； and the young ladies asked if she would like to go upstairs and 〃fix〃 herself before tea。 My wife said； 〃No； I thank you； I shall only stop a little while。〃 〃But where art thou going this cold night？〃 said Mr。 Ivens； who had just stepped in。 〃I don't know；〃 was the reply。 〃Well； then；〃 he continued； 〃I think thou hadst better take off thy things and sit near the fire； tea will soon be ready。 〃Yes； come； Ellen；〃 said Mrs。 Ivens； 〃let me assist thee；〃 （as she commenced undoing my wife's bonnet…strings；） 〃don't be frightened； Ellen； I shall not hurt a single hair of thy head。 We have heard with much pleasure of the marvel… lous escape of thee and thy husband； and deeply sympathise with thee in all that thou hast under… gone。 I don't wonder at thee； poor thing； being timid； but thou needs not fear us； we would as soon send one of our own daughters into slavery as thee； so thou mayest make thyself quite at ease！〃 These soft and soothing words fell like balm upon my wife's unstrung nerves； and melted her to tears； her fears and prejudices vanished； and from that day she has firmly believed that there are good and bad persons of every shade of complexion。
After seeing Sally Ann and Jacob； two coloured domestics； my wife felt quite at home。 After par… taking of what Mrs。 Stowe's Mose and Pete called a 〃busting supper；〃 the ladies wished to know whether we could read。 On learning we could not； they said if we liked they would teach us。 To this kind offer； of course； there was no objection。 But we looked rather knowingly at each other； as much as to say that they would have rather a hard task to cram anything into our thick and matured skulls。
However； all hands set to and quickly cleared away the tea…things； and the ladies and their good brother brought out the spelling and copy books and slates； &c。； and commenced with their new and green pupils。 We had； by stratagem； learned the alphabet while in slavery； but not the writing cha… racters； and； as we had been such a time learning so little； we at first felt that it was a waste of time for any one at our ages to undertake to learn to read and write。 But； as the ladies were so anx… ious that we should learn； and so willing to teach us； we concluded to give our whole minds to the work； and see what could be done。 By so doing； at the end of the three weeks we remained with the good family we could spell and write our names quite legibly。 They all begged us to stop longer； but； as we were not safe in the State of Pennsylvania； and also as we wished to commence doing some… thing for a livelihood； we did not remain。
When the time arrived for us to leave for Boston； it was like parting with our relatives。 We have since met with many very kind and hospitable friends； both in America and England； but we have never been under a roof where we were made to feel more at home； or where the inmates took a deeper interest in our well…being； than Mr。 Barkley Ivens and his dear family。 May God ever bless them； and preserve each one from every reverse of fortune！
We finally； as I have stated； settled at Boston； where we remained nearly two years； I employed as cabinet…maker and furniture broker； and my wife at her needle； and； as our little earnings in slavery were not all spent on the journey； we were getting on very well； and would have made money； if we had not been compelled by the General Government； at the bidding of the slaveholders； to break up busi… ness； and fly from under the Stars and Stripes to save our liberties and our lives。
In 1850； Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Bill； an enactment too infamous to have been thought of or tolerated by any people in the world； except the unprincipled and tyrannical Yankees。 The following are a few of the leading features of the above law； which requires； under heavy penal… ties； that the inhabitants of the FREE States should not only refuse food and shelter to a starving； hunted human being； but also should assist； if called upon by the authorities； to seize the unhappy fugitive and send him back to slavery。
In no case is a person's evidence admitted in Court； in defence of his liberty； when arrested under this law。
If the judge decides that the prisoner is a slave； he gets ten dollars； but if he sets him at liberty； he only receives five。
After the prisoner has been sentenced to slavery； he is handed over to the United States Marshal； who has the power； at the expense of the General Government； to summon a sufficient force to take the poor creature back to slavery； and to the lash； from which he fled。
Our old masters sent agents to Boston after us。 They took out warrants； and placed them in the hands of the United States Marshal to execute。 But the following letter from our highly esteemed and faithful friend； the Rev。 Samuel May； of Bos… ton； 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 slaveschattels personal property。 But they nobly vindicated their title and right to freedom； two years since； by win… ning 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 temp… tation 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 indig… nation； 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 under… stood 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 sub… committees 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