Virginia statesman. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1828-1829, 1828-05-21
AN AFRICAN PRINCE

no doubt of the fact, an African IrihCc,
who was taken prisoner in his youth, and
has been nearly forty years a slave M the
neighborhood of Natchez, in the State OF
Mississippi. We have just been furnish
ed with am interesting letter from a gentle
man of Natchez, who was mainly lnstru-
mental inrestoring the captive tohberty) to
alady of this city, containing the parucu-
lars of the liberation from slavery, Of lbra-
him, an African Prince, who arrived here
ON Saturday, or his way to Washington,
from whence he VIII be sent to his native
country.
Letter from a gentlemca Of Natchez, to
lqdV Ia Cjucjmatd.
Natchez, April 9TH, 1878.
This letter viii be handed to you by a
very extraordinary personage-no less
than your old acquaintance, Prince, Tor
Ibrahim) who Is now free, and on his way
to his own country, where he was captur-
ed In battle about forty years ago, and has
been IN slavery nearly the whole OF that
long period, upon the plantation of Mr..
Thomas Foster, of this county. l am
much gratihed to have been the instrument
of his emancipation-although from ms
advanced ace lsNty-siX years. he can but
possess merely a glimpse Of the blessings
towhich he was entitled from his birth.
As ] happen to have a leisure half hour,
/ viii GIVE YOU a sketch of the manner in
which his liberation has been brought a
bout: YOU may reconect, that | frequently
suggested to him, that if he would write
"a letter to his country, / would have 1t con-
yeyed for him TO his own country. /
think it was early IN IN the Spring Of 1926,
that he wrote his letter In my Office, which
/ directed to the care of our Consul Gen
eral at Tangicr, Capt. John Mulowny,)
Thomas b. Reed, Esq. one of our Seua-
tors took charge of the letter to Washing
ton. from whence 1t was sent by the De
partment of State. to its destination. Du-
RING the last Summer, / received a letter
from the Department of State, informing
me that the letter had been forwarded, and
q translation of it returned, and | was re-
quested TO inquire ON what terms Mr.. Eos
ter would Iiberate Prince, to the intent that
he might be returned, to his own country
On applyinglo Mr.. +. he agreed to give
him up without any compensation, cOndi-
toned that he should not ENJOY his llber-
y m this country. Informed the Presi-
dent of the result of my inquiry, and afew
weeks ago, received a letter from MIR.
Clay. asking of me to complete the ageu-
cy, and to send Prince on to Washington
City: for which purpose was authorized
to draw for a sum of money necessary to
deiray the expenses Of his Journey, and
TO clotho him if necessary. But the poor
old man, when the news was commUnlca-
ted to him that he was to be free, and re-
turn to his country, where lac is, we have
no doubt a lawful king, (of a country
called Tlmboo,) he looked at the old com
Daulon of his slayery-the mother of his
nine chill ren-he could not agree to part
with her-she too-how could she part
with himl-she wished to follow him TO the
end of the world. What was to be donel
| had mo- authority TO interfere as to her,
and / telt almost grieyed that / had taken
o. solitary step IN the business, believing
that the separation of theol couple would
mo- doubt accelerate the death of both.
However, It reioices me to tell YOU lsa-
bella Is with Prince; they viii both call
aud see "NLss Jane, - as the old man YOU
recoIIect always called YOU. | applied
again TO Mr.. Foster. WHO'S a truly anna
be and worthy man; he could not find in
his heart TO separate his old and faithful
servants. and for a very small sum, com
pared to the value of Isabella as a servant
he agreed to give her up. So soon
as his intentions were known, requested
a Young gentleman Of the bar to head
subscription paper for Prince, asking his
friends to assist HIM to purchase his wife.
Two hundred dollars was tie sum re
ouired. Ina very few days hehad sur
plus ofninety-three dollars. Several gen
tlemen gave him ten dollars, one gave
him fifteen dollars, many gave five, and
very few less than one dollar.
Prince has also several certificates,
voluntarily given to him, of his uncom-
mon GOOD conduct for twenty-four years.
IL. A. Ware, Esq. has kindly undertaken
to see him safe to Washington City. l
expect he will remain three or four days in
Cincinnati, and as he viii call on YOU in
all his inery, q have had an elegant Moor
ish dress made for him and perhaps at
tract some attention, | write you this long
history, thatyo may be enabled to give
some account Of your distinguished visit
er.