New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-08-15
NEW PUBLICATION
LIFE IN BONDAGE AND FREEDOM

II success in life is any criterion OF ABILITY,
Frederick Dou glass has fairly won his Claim 70
Tho title Of en- uncomnonly able man. He has
o,ercome obstacles which no one in his position
has ever before been called to encounter.
Doomed by his birth 10 bondage, ignorance, aud
DEGRADATION, he has literally broken the letters
Of Slavery, secured his place as an equal in the
ranks Of freemen, attained distinction as
writer, public speaker, and member Of an intel
lectual profession, and gained possession of an
influence which he has molly exerted in behslf
of human rights. The life of such person be-
longs to history. The truthful narrative of its
events must be full Of insti uction as well as Of
exciting interest. Confined to plain matters
of fact without the embellishments Of fancy,
il would present a study equally significant t.
the phllanthropitt and the student of human na-
ture. The author has wisely taken this view OF
the subject, and endeayored to give merely
literal transcript of his past experience. He
claims tn Il there is not ctitious name or place
in the whole volume, aud that every transaction
occurred as therein described We know no
reason to mistrust the accuracy Of this state
IL exhibits all the natural marks of probability.
Nothing is related to which a parallel may
not he discovered in other yera;ious accounts
Of Southern life. At the same time the start
ling revelations which abound in his volume,
give it The glow and often the pathos of high
wrought fiction.
Douglass was born in TuckahOe, barren,
famine stricken, and unhealthy district on the
eastern shore of Maryland. Like other slaves
he is ignorant Of bis age, though from certain
events, the dates Of which have come to his
knowledge, be sUppOses that bis birth took place
about the year 1917 His earliest RENE mbrauces
were of tie family of his grandmother and
grandfather. They were advanced Ia life, and
had long lived on the tpot where they then re-
sided. HIS old grandmother was distinguished
parsonage among the blacks and was even held
by the whites in unusually high esteem she
was q good nurse, capital hand at making nets
for shad and herring, aud successful amateur
in the cultivation Of sweet potatoes. In this
way she became universal fayOrte, and re-
ceived so many presents that she enjoyed GER
tain degree of luxury. Her dwelling was log
hut built of clay, wood, ard straw. The pos
session Of separate cabin was privilege OF
negro aIistOcracy, accorded either to her faith
full services or her iDfrm old age. Living thus
with the happy old couple, 1t was long time be-
fore Frederick discovered that he was slave. The
Inevitable fact dawned upon his mind by degrees,
ana he learned the existence of a mysterious
individual who bore the ominous title of " old
master" This was the chief clerk and butler
on the home. plantation of Col Lloyd, owning
himself several farms in TuckshOe. Col.
LlOyds plantation was situated on the Wye
River, some twelve miles from TucSahOe.
Frederick fret experience Of Slavery was his
removal from the CABIN of his grandmother to
the house Of cold MASTER" on the great bafonial
domain of Col. Lloyd. This was long brick
building, plain, but substantial, standing IN the
center e plantation lite, and constituting an In
dependent establishment on the premises Of the
loIdly proprietor. The plantation was dotted
over with dwellings of various sizes, occupying
every nook aid cOrDer not devoted to cuitlva-
ton. Beside these there were barns, stables,
sto,ebouses, and tobacco houses, blacGsmlths'
Il OPP, wheew rights shops, coopefs' shops, and
ali the sppurtenances of industry on d large
scale. The "Great House" ia which lived Col.
LLOYD and his family, was the object of wonder
10 ali eyes. alt wss surrounded by Numerous
and variously shaped out-build'ngs. There
were kitchens, wash houses, dairles summer
boute, green-to uses, hen houses, turkey. houses,
pifecn.l ouses, and arbors, of mary sizes aud de-
vices, all neatly painted, aud altogether inter-
spersed with grand old trees, ornamental ald
primitive, which afforded de ignttul shade in
Summer and impaired TO the scene high de-
gree of stately beauty. The geeat house itself
was large, VIII te, wooden building with wings
on three .ides OF il. Ia 'front.' large pDrtico,
extending the entire length of the building aud
supported by . long rauge o. columns, gave 10
the Whole establishment an air of seleUn gram
deur Ii was treat to behold this elaborate ex-
hibtion of wealth, power, and vanity. The
carriage entrance to the bouse was a large gate,
more than quarter Of mile distant rom ii;
the ieterme date space was beautiful lawn, very
neatly trimmed, and watched with the greatest
care. 1t was cotted tbcsly over with delight
full trees, shrutbeTy, and flowers. The road,
or lane, from 'he gate to the great house was
richly paved with white pebbles from the beach,
snd, in its course, formed a complete circle
around the beautiful lawn Carriages going in
and retiring fom the great house, made .ae
circuit Of the lawn, and their passengers were
permitted to behold a scene of almost Eden-lise
beauty. Outside this select in,losure, we're
parks, whereas about the residences Of the
En-, lisb nobilty-rabbits. deer, and other wild