The weekly Anglo-African., 1860-02-18
LETTER FROM SARATOGA.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, Feb. 8, 1860

DAhAIoUA DPtlNGS TeD ., ICOU
Mr.. EDToR:-I have just been re-read-
ing speech of Mr.. Clay's, in the daily
Tribune" Of the 21st Of January. / had
laid it aside, as | saw some things in it
which, it struck me, were not correct, and
have not had time since until now to look
over it; Under the heading "About In
surectons," | read these words: "Wenow
and always have considered the poor Afri-
can an inferior race" What the native
African may be, know not, for / never
was in Africa. What an American color
ed-nay, jet dzack-gentleman as, l do
know; and ladies, though not quite SO dark
in complexion, yet ladies who are not above
being called 'black, also know.
It was my privilege few weeks since
to be one Of donation party given to my
friend the Rev. Henry II. Garnet, in the
lectureroom of Shiloh Presbyterian Church.
was greatly struck with the quiet ease
and lady-like department Of the young la
dies there present, and with the gentle
courtesy of the young men. AS handsome
men and women | saw in that gathering as
could desire to see anywhere; and have
seen some Of the most beautiful women in
my time, from the imperial Eugene and
my own countrywoman, who has been
called the "Koh-i-noor" of female beauty,
Her Grace of Sutherland, down to one
whom | think fit to take her place betweeas
these beautiful women-a young mulatto
woman Of my native Island (for although |
claim England as my country, l was born
in British colony.) | never can forget
the effect that young girls beauty produced
upon me. was young myself, and young
women are not often SO pleased with the
loveliness Of another; but / stood and
gazed after her as far as could see her,
and never rested till | found out all about
her. Those large and lustrous eyes; that
rich dark complexion, like the blush Of the
ripe pomegranate; those wavy tresses; that
1.-THE and elegant form Well, Mr.. Edi-
tor, all can say is, that neither Of those
noble women / have named Of paler
skin seemed to combine such wealth of
beauty IN form or face as that young girl
1t is not, then, physically, that they are
inferior. Many such, though perhaps not
quite so beautiful as my young country
woman, for she was indeed of rare love-
illness, ! see among my colored friends,
gentle and courteous in manners, grave
and dignifed in conduct, and afectionate-
oh what riches of heart are theirs7
Where now is their inferiority? In in
tellect | declare that / have of late
heard such words from the pulpit and the
platform, from men of color, that | have
again and again said to my white friends
"That nation will, like the fabled Minerva
spring into existence full grown in day
Yes, | feel, in solitude, in suffering, ir
watching, and in weeping, that God il
training up the poet and the statesman, the
preacher and the teacher, and soon men
will no longer say, "These men are our in
feriors," but, as have often thought, they
will be compelled to say, "They have more
understanding than their teachers" be
cause "the testimonies Of the Lord thei
God have been their meditations.' (Set
Psalms 115-99.)
There is among the colored people, ac
cording to nearly fifty years Of my expe
rience, powerful and constant reference
to God. have often said it must be that
in the brake and on the cotton-field
God manifested Himself to this afflicted
people in a manner in which He is
not known to the churches who are
not suffering. | find / am right 1t has
been my lot lately to see two who have es.
capped from slavery, Zone | rescued myself
With the assistance Of two able bodied
young men, and in both of these women
%NAd the realization of what / had long
,%ved ,,d concerning these things. They
a oad talked acath God. One met
c., ~ u New York, as she was going down
street Her lips were moving, and