Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-05-23
CORRESPONDENCE,
LETTER FROM REV. ]. c. AsPENWALL.
TOWNSHIP OF PEEL, QUEEnBUsH, }
CANADA WEST .ADrfl 2Slh 1915 {

CANADA w EST, .fDfft 2oth, lS40. !
.NessrS. Editors:- In my last, gave you some
description of Toronto. Ny next call was at
Hamilton, which is situated at the head Of Lake
Onlpro, and contains about six thousand inhabt-
ants. 1t has many advantages, and but for intern
perance, would prosper beyond any place have
seen. An attempt was made last year by the
sheriff and ministers of the place, TO have the
number Of licences reduced to SIXTY; but probably
Rev. Mr. Lunton, that they sell spirits, upon an
average, in every eleventh house.
There are twelve different denominations of
protesting christians here, all of whom have scpa-
rate places Of worship. have already found six
different sects of Methodists in this province, and
am informed that there are several more. There
are TWO congregations of colored people in Hamil-
ton, but one Of them is quite small, and some of
the colorod people attend at other places. met
with them on the Sabbath, and was much pleased
with their devotional appearance. In singing,
they excel any thing ever heard. The preacher
reads two lines at time, and all join in with per-
feet harmony. 1t requires Il more unfeeling heart
than possess, to sec house full of this despised
and abused class OF men, nearly all of whom have
once worn the iron yoke of slavery, unite in pras-
ing God IN the sweetest strains of melody to which
ever listened, and not be melted to tears. In
deed, what | have seen since have been here,
has made me perfectly ashamed that have done
and sacrificed so little in the cause of tho slave,
and do not believe there is man in Vermont
who could witness what | have seen and heard in
this Province, and not be an abotionst.
During my stay at this place heard the nara
tive of many extremely interesting escapes from
slavery. think never enjoyed an interview so
much as the one had at the house Of George and
Emily Webb, the family claimed by Bushrod Tuy-
lor, on whose account brother Torrey is claimed by
the Governor of Virginia. 1t is one of the most
interesting families saw, and they are pros
pering finely. Several years since, Mrs. Webb
bought her freedom, and afterwards that of two
sons, who have been in Canada for some years.
She afterward obtained money to buy two daugh-
tiers, and was induced to run in debt for another
lest it should be sold TO the extreme south, and
mortgaged those she had paid for, back as securi-
ty for the pay for the third This mortgage wa:
soon sued, and before she could obtain means tc
redeem them, they were all taken back into slave
ry. Mrs. Webb was then advised to use wha
she had obtained in paying the passage of hel
family to Canada, instead of wearing herself ou
in buying them over again; and she now has the
pleasure of sitting down at her own table with hel
husband and seven children. A better regulated
family have seldom seen, and am sure neve
saw a more happy one. Could she obtain her two
sons who are yet in slavery. she says that, like
Simeon, she could depart in peace.
From Hamilton, came through fine ccuntr,
of land to Queensbush, a distance offfty miles,
Several townships next to it are settled with Dutch
either from Germany or from Pennsylvania. The.
are not very favoraby disposed towards the color
ed settlers, especially as they wish TO get tn
land they occupy for emigrants from their owl
country. find among this people several reli