Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-11-03
Gbe Antt- 9louerp Blt9lr.
From the Philadelphia correspondence Of A. g. Standard
ROBERT PURvIs AND HIS VOYAGE FROM
ENGLAND.

In the wear 1884 Mr.. Purvis, being then In
delicate health, was induced by his physician to
90 on a VOYAGE to Europe. 1t was proper before
stnrtiht that he should have a passport and to
this end he solicited the Offices of his friend ana
counsellor, Horace Binney, Esq who was then at
Washington, member of Congress from the Sec
ohd District of this city. Mr.. Binney procured
for him. not a passport in regular form, but more
IL . ttotection, This was not pleasing to Mr..
Purvis, and, though he fOrbore complaint to his
friend he was free to express his dissatisfaction TO
sthers. Roberts yaux, ESQ. father of our late
M.yor); cot to hear of the circumstances, and was
10 indignant that he offered Of his own accord to
write to Washington to procure regular passport
executed in due form. He was just the man to
do this, for he was Democrat in politics. ana IN
relations Of personal favor, besides, with tue aa-
ministration General Jackson's) then IN power
He was as good as his word and in due time re-
ceiyed and handed over to Mr.. PurVis regular
paper, in the usual form, describing the appear
ance and color of it's subject declaring MS cH'zeh
ship, and claiming for him all the rights and I'M
munties that such instruments are designed to pro-
tech ,u,., ,;r
This difficulty; however, was hardly settieu I'LL
another arose, having the same origin. Mr. Fur
Wis had engaged passage on board one OF Cope's
sailing packets--it was before the day OF ocean
eteamers-but before the time to start had come
one of the owners, Mr.. Henry Copel came to him
and stated that objection was made to his gong
out in the cabin, the ground of his color. The
ohief-perhaps the only-objector, was Mr.. Ber-
n.rd Garter, of Virginia, who, hearing that col
.ored man was to be Of the passengers, declar-
ed that he would not 60 out in the same vessel
with q negro. Mr.. Cope was embarrassed. lie
would not ask Mr. Purvis to give up his place, but
II was evident that he would be very glad It he
should Voluntarily do so. lie was not kept long
in suspense. Mr.. PurVis gave up his berth, and
went to New York, where, without difficulty, he
found ship ready to receive him, and in which
he crossed the ocean in the enjoyment of all the
courteses awarded to other passengers. From
his departure till his return, neither by word nor
sign was he ever once insulted by an invidous al
lusion TO his color or the class with which he stood
identified. |
When the time came for him to reembark for
America, Mr.. Purvis went down to Portsmouth,
whence he was to SAIL and whom should he find
there, on the same errand, and at the same hotel,
but the identical Bernard Carter who would not
sail from Philadep pha in the same vessel with
negro! The ship would not be ready to start for
a few days and, as was natural, the two Ameri-
cans being in the same house, with similar pros
poets before them, became mutually acquainted.
Mr.. Carter though vulgarian in the matter of
American prejudice, in other respects, at least
in outward manners, well-bred gentleman. He
took quite fancy to Mr. Purvis, and begged that
he would get seat beside him at the ships table,
urging as an argument that he had some choice
wines of which he should like him to partake.
Though this was before the days of temperance, it
is NOT likely that the argument had much weight
with one Of our friends absen1ious habits; but be
that as il may, the arrangement was consumma-
ted, and the two came home together, cheek by
iowl, on terms of the heartest good friendship 1t
was Mr.. Carter's custom, in good weather, to
promenade the deck, and he invariably selected as
his arm in arm companion--he was an elderly
man and needed support--hs dark-skinned coun-
tryman. .
There was quite number Of Americans aboard
Gmong them, David Hoffman, Esq, and lady of
Baltimore, and Arthur P. Hague and family OF
Charleston, South Carolina. Among those who
were mot Americans was an English Judge oi
some distinction, who, with large family, was
coming out to Canada. Mr.. Purvis was treated
by all with the utmost courtesy. If any of the
company had any suspicious of his cOlor-that is
Of the class with which he was connected-lhey
showed no signs Of il. In actual complexion there