ignorance of her character,
for the circumstance which he adduces as a proof of her shameless
depravity, and which I have omitted on account of its indecency, occurred,
it would appear, not less than _ten years ago_. Yet, notwithstanding her
alleged ill qualities and habits of gross immorality, he has not only
constantly refused to part with her; but after thirteen long years, brings
her to England as an attendant on his wife and children, with the avowed
intention of carrying her back along with his maiden daughter, a young
lady returning from school! Such are the extraordinary facts; and until
Mr. Wood shall reconcile these singular inconsistencies between his
actions and his allegations, he must not be surprised if we in England
prefer giving credit to the former rather than the latter; although at
present it appears somewhat difficult to say which side of the alternative
is the more creditable to his own character.

7. Her husband, he says, has taken another wife; "so that on that score,"
he adds, "he does her no injury."

Supposing this fact be true, (which I doubt, as I doubt every mere
assertion from so questionable a quarter,) I shall take leave to put a
question or two to Mr. Wood's conscience. Did he not write from England to
his friend Mr. Darrel, soon after Mary left his house, directing him to
turn her husband, Daniel James, off his premises, on account of her
offence; telling him to inform James at the same time that his wife had
_taken up_ with another man, who had robbed her of all she had--a calumny
as groundless as it was cruel? I further ask if the person who invented
this story (whoever he may be,) was not likely enough to impose similar
fabrications on the poor negro man's credulity, until he may have been
induced to prove false to his marriage vows, and to "take another wife,"
as Mr. Wood coolly expresses it? But withal, I strongly doubt the fact of
Daniel James' infidelity; for there is now before me a letter from himself
to Mary, dated in April 1830, couched in strong terms of conjugal
affection; expressing his anxiety for her speedy return, and stating that
he had lately "received a grace" (a token of religious advancement) in the
Moravian church, a circumstance altogether incredible if the man were
living in open adultery, as Mr. Wood's assertion implies.

8. Mary, he says, endeavoured to injure the character of his family by
infamous falsehoods, which were embodied in a petition to the House