Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-05-30
CORRESPONDENCE.
LETTER FROM REV. J. c. AspENwALL.
LONDON, CANADA WEST, )
Man Sd I9d5


- [CoNcLUDED.]
LONDON, CANADA WEsr.)
d is May Sd, 1s45
Since my last, have passed through Woowich,
Waterloo Berlin, Preston, Gault, Paris, Brant-
ford, Burford, Woodstock, SC. sc. ! started
from the neghborhood of Qneensbush on the LIST
day of May, and found the plumb trees in full
bloom. Before arrived at this place, found the
cherry trees also mostly covered with blossoms,
and apple tree buds beginning to appear and the
lruit trees nearly covered with; leaves. The LIST
day of May was Ascension day, and was observed
BY the Dutch, whose settlements passed through
as holiday. met large numbers of them dress
ed up in their finest clothes going to weddings, OF
to visit their friends, and the like For people
SO very wealthy as they are, they make singular
appearance to be sure Their team generally
consists of span ofvery fine, fat horses (for they
keep the finest horses | ever saw and a wagon
which they use for hauling potatoes. manure, &c.
with sometimes seat, but more frequently with
only narrow strip of board laid across the edge
Of the side boards. This will accommodate
larger or smaller numher of ladies and gentlemen,
as the case may require. The gentlemen's clothes,
| believe, are almost invariably cut and made in
the family. The cloth is made of the very coars-
est wool (for have not seen fine wooded sheep
in the province) well lulled but not sheared at all,
and colored with heuIock bark, blue dye, or
! sometimes mixture of white and black wool to-
gether. The fiji Of their clothes, the coats espe-
cially, are very much like blanket thrown over
Il horse bIock shall not u;Ienipt description
of the fine fx-up of the ladies', who on ordinary
occasions handle the spade, the hoe, and some
times the gtad stick, with astonishing dexterity,
and appear healthy aud rugged many
bears. A. they passed, chalering their
Dutch lingo they seemed remarkably happy, and
/ j nave 30 doubt they entertained II much worse
opinion ol zoe Yankee than he did of Them.
At Brantlord found something of coored
population, but as my stay was short ! could not
ascertain their number very definitely. | stopped
nearly half day with Mr.. Peter Banion, former
" The slave of William Breckenridge of Lexing-
ton, KY. His master was Young man when he
left, attending college at Princeton, and think
preparing for the ministry. His master wrote
home to his brother, Robert j. Breckenridge then
Il lawyer, bu, since, IA Presbyterian minister, ant
the unfortunate antagonist OF George Thompson
in Dr. Wardlaw's church in Scotland, who had
charge Of his slaves, to have this and two
others sold He was then hired out, and earned
his master $3.50 I.er year. Mr. Banion was
Christian, but he could not believe that his duty
to God or man required him to stand on the suc-
, tion block aud be sold like brute. After praying
and weeping over the subject for some time, ne
came TO the fnaI conclusion that it was his
painful duty to leave his wife and child, and all
,hot was dear to him and make his escape to Can
ada. He accordingly prepared himself, and en-
ploych his Christmas holidays in making his way
there and the 1st day of January, the day APP
Iponed for the sale, instead of standing on tho
auction block, he stood on tho shore Of Lake Erie
in Canada God has greatly prospered him since
he has been here. He is now in very inderen-
dent circumstances, has small, hut beautiful fam
lily, and is highly valued a citizen and Christian.
Should the Rev. j. Breckenridge, D. d., who
would have sold this man but for his hasty escape,
come here, and hold discussion upon the righe-
business of slavery with Mr.. Banion, he would
come off worse than he did in his discussion even
, with George Thompson. Mr. B. has heard of the
death Of his wife, but his daughter, now young
lady nearly % years old, is still in bondage. He
would he wtngto make any sacrifice or meet uI-
most any expense in order to secure her liberty.
Mr.. Daniel CHM, formerly the slave Of Rich
ard NJ johnson, Elk. Vice President of the United
States, has, within few minutes handed the
letter from Newton Cruig, keeper of the pcniten-
tiary at Frankfort, which ! am sure will be very
interesting to the readers Of the Freeman. Twill
furnish you with copy of it, and some other mat.
tiers in my line things, soon.
j. C. ASPENWALL.