American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-07-26
From the N. Y. Tribune of yesterday.
Fugitive slaves at the Great Exhibi-

Lit is we'll known that there are at the present
time In Great Britain number OF fugiuve
Slaves, some of them OF no mean ceieDrity as
public speakers. VIM. Farmer, an English gen.
tleman, gives, in the Boston Lsoerator' an ac-
count of visit made by some OF these graduates
Of the upeculiar institution" to the Worlds
Fair. We will crafty the curiosity of our read
ers by presenting few extracts:
fortunately we have, at the present mo-
ment, in the British metropolis, some speci-
mems of what were once American chattels
personal in the persons Of William and Ellen
Craft, and VIM. W. Brown; and their friends
resolved that they should be exhibited under
the worlds huge glass case, in order that the
world might form its opinion of the alleged
mental interiority of the African race and their
fitness or unfitness for freedom. A small party
Of anti-slavery friends was accordingly formed
to accompany the fugitives through the Exhi-
bition. Mr.. and Mrs. Estlin, of Bristol, and
lady friend, Mr.. and Mrs. Richard Webb, of
Dublin, and son and daughter, Mr.. Melon
nell, Ia most influential member of the Execu-
tive Committee of the National Reform Asso-
citation J these ladies and gentlemen, together
with myself, met at Mr.. Thompson's house,
and, in company with Mrs. Thompson, Miss
Thompson, and Miss Amelia Thompson, the
Crafts and Brown proceeded thence to the
Great Exhibition. Saturday was selected, as o
day upon which the largest number of the aris-
tocracy and Weather classes attend the Chrys-
tai Palace; and the company was, on this oc-
casion, the most distinguished that had been
gathered together within its walls since its
opening day. Some $1,000, mostly of the up
per classes, were thus congregated, including
the Queen, Prince Albert and the royal children,
the anti-slavery Duchess of Sutherland, (by
whom the fugitives were evidently most favor
ably regarded) the Duke of Wellington, the
Bishops of Winchester and Saint Asaph, q
large number of peers, peeresses, members OF
Parliament, merchants and bankers, and distin-
guished men from almost all parts of the world,
SURPRISING, in variety of tongue, character, and
costume the description of the population of
Jerusalem on the day Of Pentacost-a season of
which it is hoped the Great Exhibition will
prove type, in the copious outpouring of the
holy spirit of brotherly union, and the conse-
quent diffusion, throughout the world, of the
anti-slavery gospel of goodwill to all men. In
addition to the American exhibitors, it so hap
pened that the American visiters were particu-
larly numerous, among whom the experienced
eyes of Brown and the Crafts enabled them to
detect shareholders by dozens.
''Mr. Mcdonnell escorted Mrs Craft and Mrs
Thompson: Miss Thompson, at her own re-
quest, took the arm of William Wells Brown,
whose companion she elected to be for the day
William Craft walked with Miss Amelia Thomp-
son and myself. This arrangement was pur-
posely made, in order that there might be no
appearance of patronizing the fugitives, but
that it might be shown that we regarded them
as our equals, and honored them for their he
roic escape from slavery.
"Quite contrary to the feeling of ordinary
visitors, the American department was the chief
attraction. Upon arriving at Powers Greek
Slave, our glorious anti-slavery friend Punch's
Virginia Slave was produced. The COMPARE
son of the two soon drew small crowd, in
Guiding several Americans, around and near US.
Although they refrained from any audible ex-
preston of feeling, the object of the COMPARE
son was evidently understood and keenly felt.
1t would not have been prudent in US to have
challenged, an scords, anti-slavery discussion in
the Worlds Convention; but every thing that
we could with propriety do, was done to in
duce them to break silence upon the subject.
We had no intention verbally of taking the
initiative in such a discussion; we confined
ourselves to speaking at them, in order that
they might be led to speak to us; but our
efforts were of no avail The gauntlet, which
was Enthusiastically thrown down by our party,
the Americans were too wary to take up. We
spoke among each other of the wrongs Of the
slave; it was in vain. We discoursed freely
Republic holding three millions of its popula-
ton in cruel and degrading bondage-you might
as well have preached to the winds William
Wells Brown took Punch's Virginia Slave and
deposited it within the enclosure by the Greek
Slave, saying audibly: AS an American fugi-
tive slave, place this "Virginia Slave" by the
side of the Greek Slave, as its most fitting COM
panion.' Not word of reply or remonstrance
from Yankee or Southerner. We had not, how
ever, proceeded many steps from the place
before the Virginia Slave was removed. We
returned to the statue, and stood near the
American by whom it had been taken up, to
give him an opportunity to make any remarks
he chose upon the matter. Whatever were his
feelings, his policy was to keep his lips closed.
We promenaded the exhibition between six and
seven hours, and visited nearly every portion of
the VI st ediice.
"Among the thousands whom we met in our
who dreamed of any impro- |
Driety in gentleman Of character and standing, |
ike Mr. Mcdonnell, walking arm-in-arm with a
,olored woman; or an elegant and accomplished
young lady like Miss Thompson, becoming the
companion of colored man? Did
the English peers and peeresses Not the most
among them. Did the representa-
tives of any other country have their notions Of
propriety shocked by the matter? None but
Americans. To see the arm of beautiful Eng
lish young lady passed through that of a mig
ger, taking ices and other refreshments with
him, upon terms of the most perfect equality,
certainly was enough to 'rile,' and evidently
did rile, the shareholders who beheld it; but
there was no help for it."
This thing was done with great effect; it had
been well arranged; the day was suspicious
the managers and actors were great and distin-
guished personages. Every thing conspired to
render the scene impressive. Every art was
used to provoke the Americans present to re-
sentment-to Grille" them "but there was no
help for it." The majesty and aristocracy of
England appear to have conspired to insult, in
cense, and enrage the Yankee Shareholders, who
were too discreet for resentment. and therefore