The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-09-12
MARRIAGE OF An EX.sLAVE In
EN q LAND
Interesting Cerem ony NJ Brightsn..
The Bride q Native African.
We find the following story in the
Brighton (England) @ tie.

We find the following story in the
Brighton lEngland) G tie.
"This morning marriage is to be per
formed Mt the Parish church, Brighton,
to unite two persons Of color, whose pre-
vious history gives to the ceremony h
peculiar interest, chiefly to those who
have been long and dec y interested in
the African race, aud who have watched
the progress of civilization caused by
Christianity on the negro, and the cere-
mony viii ALEC tell our brethren on the
other side of the Atlantic that British
ladies and gentlemen consider it pleas
ure and privilege to do honor to those
OF the African race who have proved
themselves capable of approaching the
advantages of liberia education.
The lady supposed to be an African
Christians daughter, was presented, when
about the age OF five years, to the late
Capt. Frederick Forbes, R. ~, who Off
caIly visited the king of Dahomcy with a
view to aid the suppression Of the slave
trade in the interior of Africa, aud in his
book giving an account Of the mission he
thus describes the little girl: i have only
to add a few particulars about my extra
ordinary present. tie African child. In
a former portion Of these Journals have
mentioned the Okcadon war; one Of the
eaptives of this dreadful slave-hunt was
this interesting girl. 1t is usual to re-
serve the best born for the high behesis
of royalty, and the immolation on the
tomhs of the Decreased nobility. For one
of these ends she had been detained at
court for two years, proving by her not
being sold to the slave dealers, that She
was of good family. So extraordinary
present would have been at least bur
den, had not the conviction that 10 con-
sideration of the nature of the service /
had performed, the government would
consider her as the property of the crown.
TO refuse would have been to have signed
her death warrant, which probably,
would have been carried into execution
forthwith. Immediately on arriving, I
applied through the secretary Of the ad-
miralty, and received for answer that her
majesty was graciously pleased to arrange
for the education and subsequent fate of
the child.
OF her her own history she has only a
confused idea. Her parents were decap-
itated; her brothers and sisters, she knows
not what their fate might have BEEN
For her age. supposed to be eight years,
she is perfect genius; she now speaks
English we'll, and has great talent for
music. She has won the affections, with
but few exceptions, of all who have
known her, by her docile and amiabIe
conduct, which nothing can exceed. She
is far in advance Of any white, child of
her age in aptness of learning, spd
strength of MUD and affection; and with
her, being an excellent specimen of the
negro race, might be tested the capability
Of the intellect Of the hlack. -
Her majesty hos provided the means
for completing the education of Miss
Sarah Forbes Bonnetta, whose knowledge
and accomplishments make her an -orna-
ment for any society, and prove most
that the African mind is ca
pablo Of the highest intellectual attain
ments. Her majesty has taken great
interest in her marriage. and gives it hAr
full sanction. At the same time she has,
besides presents from the royal family,
herself provided the whole OF the outfit,
&c. Mr.. James Davis, the bridegroom
was originally aslave taken by one Of our
cruisers, and educated in the schools Of
the Church Missionary Society at Sierra
Leone. He afterwards commenced trading
on his own account, and is now pros
porous and influential merchant at Lagos,
upwards Of loo of his fellow
countrymen, and trying to improve their
moral and intellectual status. The. cerc-
mony is to be performed by tho Bishop
Of Hisrrs Leone and tho Rev. H. v sns;,
and Mrs. Thompson has lent the garden
II Wcsthill Lodge for the wedding
breakfast. We nndessfand thess will BE-
! large party including about twenty AZ
ricans. The. bride VIII be attended BY
the sixteen bridesmaids, Of whom four
will be- hides Of color.