The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-10-17
WHOLE NO.. 666.
Marriage of an Ex Slave in England.


We find the following story in the Bright.
on (Engl land) Gdzettc
"Ths morning q marriage to be per-
formed at the parish church, Brighton, 70
unto two persons Of color, whose previous
history gives TO the ceremony o peculiar in
terost, chiefly to those who have been long
and deeply Interested ia the African race,
and who have watched the progress Of civil
ization caused by tho influence Of Chris
tisaity on the negro and the ceremony will
also tell our brethren on the other side OF
the Atlantic. that British ladies and gentlo-
men consider it a pleasure and privilege
to do honor TO those OF the African race who
have proved themselves capable Of oppre-
ciating the advantages OF liberal education,
The lady, supposed TO be an African
cbieftain's daughter, was presented, when
about the age of FIVE years, to the late Cap
tain Frederick Forbes, r. NJ, who officially
visited tho King of DahOmey, with q view
to aid the suppression of the slave trade in
the Interior Of Africa, and in bis book giving
an account of tho mission, be thus describes
| the little girl: have only to add o few
particulars about my extraordinary present.
the African child. 10 a former portion OF
! these journals | have mentioned the Oke-
adeu war ono Of the capiives OF this dread
full slave. hunt was this interesting girl. 1t
is usual to reserve the best born for the
high behests of royalty, and the immolaiion
on the tombs of the deceased nobility. For
one of these ends she had been detained at
court for two years, proving, by her not
having been sold to the slave-deslers, that
she was of good family. So extraordinary
a present would have been at least . burden,
bad not conviction that, iu consideration
of the nature of the service had performed.
the government would consider her az the
property of the crown. To refuse would
J have been to have signed her death warrant,
! which, prut6ztbiy, would have been carried
into execution forthwith. immediately on
} arriving. I applied through the Secretary o'
the Admiralty, and received for answer that
her Majesty was grsciously pleased to ar
O range for the education and subsequent fate
8 of the child
q "Of her own history she has only q con
0 fused idea. Her parents we're deca2itated
her brothers and sisters, she knows not wha'
their fate might have been. For her age
D supposed to DO eight years. she is perfect
genius she now speaks EuglisE well, ant
n has a great talent for music. She has woI
O the affection, with but few exceptions. Of a.
O who have known her, Ivy her docic ant
amiable conduct which nothing can exceed
n She is far in advance Of any white child o
her age in sptness of learning, aud strength
n of mind and affection and with her, beinI
!. an excellent specimen of the negro race
might be tested the capajility Of the in
tellect of the black.
n Her majesty has provided the means 70
n completing the education of Miss Sars'
Forbes Bonetta, whose knowledge and &C
n com plishments make her an ornaWent 70
any society, and prove most satisfactoril
n that the African mind is capable OF IN
highest intellectual attainmeuts. Her ma.
M esty has taken great interest 10 her NAL
~ riage and given it her full sanction. At th
,o Same lime she has besides presents from tt
~ royal family. herself provided the whole {
N the outfit, &c. Mr.. James Davis, the brid'
groom, was originally slave, taken by on
N of our cruisers and educated in the schoo
" of the Church Missionary Society at Sierr
M Leone. He afterwards commenced tradin
~ on his account, and is new prosperous an
n influential merchant at Lagos, employ in
" upwards of one hundred of bis fellow cour
N tryuon, and trying to improve their NOR
n and intellectual status. The ceremony
~ to be performed by the Bishop o: SerI
~ Leone and the Rev. II. Venn; and MIR
N Thompson has lent the garden at Westhi
~ Lodge for the breakfast We understan
N there will be large wedding party includiu
~ about twenty Africans. The bride will
\, attended by sixteen bridesmaids. Of who's
~ four will be ladies of color" .