New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-12-12
NEW PUBLINA WONG


and entertaining record Of foreign travel, its pc
,,iisr origin makes il q novelty in literature
vortiy the attention OF our modern D'lsraeDs
II WAS written by a fugitive slave, who tnI the
are oftwenty was held to labor In one OF the
Southern States, and who never enjoyed the ad-
vintage Of days schooling in his life.
The name of the author is familiar to those who
Arc At all conyersant with heAnti. Slavery move
uent. He was born in Kentucky, where be re-
sided on plantation until he was FIVE or six years
.l5 His master then removed to Missouri, occu-
,,ipes farm in beautiful and fertile valley near
he Missouri River. Here the slaves were put to
work under wretch Of an overseer, whose harsh
ness and cruelty made their lives intolerable. At
IN early age, William was separated from bis
mother, who was retained az one Of the field
hands, while he was employed as servant in the
medical Office of his IN ,ster, who was a physician
a. we'll as q planter. When about ten years Of
age, he had taste of the bitterness of Slavery,
which he never forgot. He heard the cries of
his mother, as she was fogged by the negro.
driver for being few minutes late iu reaching
the field His blood ran cold at the sound, and
Ae wept aloud; but he could, of course, afford
no aid to the helpless victim. When he was
twelve years old, his master removed to st.
Louis and having more slaves than he wanted
for his own use, he let out William 70
sporting tavern keeper. This man was
real specimen of "the fancy"-a horse.
racer, cock fighter, gambler, and drunk
- A. No ell fam
II impossible TO stand the treatment which he re-
ceived, and ran away. He fled to the forest
few miles from St. Louis He had been in the
woods but short time when he heard the bayng
Of blood hounds. Aware Of their ferocOus ns-
ture, he took refuge in tree, to save himself
from being torn to pieces. The hounds were soOp
Ut the trunk of the tree, where they remained
bowling and barking until the pursuers came up.
The slave was called down. tied, and taken home.
On his arrival, he was fastened up in a smoke
house, whipped till the vindctive spirit of his
master was satiated, and then smoked with to-
bacco- stems. This process was called Virginia
play" Sometime after he was hired by a slave
trader named Walker, and was made superintend-
ent of the gangs Of slaves that were taken to the
New Orleans market. In this capacity he made
one or two voyages down the Mississippi, gaining
fresh experience of the h0rrOrs of slavery. He
was at length induced to run away, in hope Of
reaching the free States. But after travelling ten
nights and hiding in the woods during the day,
he was secured by a gang Of negro-hunters,
chained and handcuded, and taken back to st.
Louis. Changing owners once or twice. he again
resolved to become free. He was assisted in his
attempt by benevolent Quaker, whom he fell in
with after his escape, and from whom he took the
aame by which he Is now known.
Having gained the freedom for which he long
cd, he made rapid progress in intellectual and
moral Improvement In the spring of 1874, he
became an agent Of the Western New-York Anti
Slavery Society, and in l849 embarked for Eu-
rope as delegate to the Paris Peace Conference.
"Tbe reception of Mr.. Brown at the Peace Con-
gress, in Paris, was most Hattering. He admira-
bly, maintained his reputation as public speaker.
His brief address upon that war spirit of Amer
lea which holds in bondage nearly four millions
Of his BRETHREN produced profound sensation.
At Its conclusion the speaker was warmly greeted
Girardin, Richard Golden, and every man Of note
in the assembly. At the soiree given by NJ. de
Tocqueyille, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and
the other fetes given to the members Of the Con
sress, M Brown was received with marked at
tention." Returning to England he was met
with hearty welcome by some Of the most emf
nent phlsnthropists of that country. Here he
decided to maintain himself by public lecturing
and other literary labors. In this course he was
highly successful. He remained in England five
years, "snd during his sCjourn there travelled
above twenty FIVE thousand miles through Great
Britain, addressed more than one thousand public
meetings, lectured in twenty three mechanics
and literary institutions and gave his services to
many Of the benevolent and religious societies on
the osAsion of their anniversary meetings"
Th(Ulume before us is filed with notices of
his - tours, sketches of celebrated people,
and remarks ON English society in general. From
tAe extracts which we are about to give, it will
be seen that he holds ready pen, keeps his eyes
open on his travels. and knows as well how to
Bear himself on all occasions ii only the purest
Caucasian blood ran in his veins. Without re.
spect to its authorship the volume is far superior
to the ordinary run of books Of foreign travel.
Let our readers judge from few specimens:
a FUGITIVE SLAVE AT NJ. DE ToCoUEyILLE's
SOIREE.
The day after the close Of the Congress. the dele
gates and their friends invited 10 a soree by NJ.
de Tocquevie, Minister for Foreign Affairs, to take
place on the next evening Saturday; and, as my
colored face and curly hair did, not prevent my getting
an invitation, was present with the rest Of my peace
brethren.
Had been in America, where color is considered
crime would not have been seen at such gather
ing, unless as a servant. In company with Several
delegates We left the Bedford Hotel for the mansion
of the Minister Of Foreign Affairs; and on arriving
We found file Of soldiers drawn up before the gate.
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