to the present subject: in reference to the latter, I shall
merely observe that he was not, in regard to ordinary
matters, more severe than the ordinary run of slave owners;
but, if seriously offended, he was not of a disposition to
be easily appeased, and would spare no cost or sacrifice to
gratify his vindictive feelings. As regards the exaction of
work from domestic slaves, his wife was probably more severe
than himself--it was almost impossible for the slaves ever
to give her entire satisfaction.

"Of their slave Molly (or Mary) I know less than of Mr. and
Mrs. Wood; but I saw and heard enough of her, both while I
was constantly employed on Mr. Wood's premises, and while I
was there occasionally on business, to be quite certain that
she was viewed by her owners as their most respectable and
trustworthy female slave. It is within my personal knowledge
that she had usually the charge of the house in their
absence, was entrusted with the keys, &c.; and was always
considered by the neighbours and visitors as their
confidential household servant, and as a person in whose
integrity they placed unlimited confidence,--although when
Mrs. Wood was at home, she was no doubt kept pretty closely
at washing and other hard work. A decided proof of the
estimation in which she was held by her owners exists in the
fact that Mr. Wood uniformly refused to part with her,
whereas he sold five other slaves while she was with them.
Indeed, she always appeared to me to be a slave of superior
intelligence and respectability; and I always understood
such to be her general character in the place.

"As to what Mr. Wood alleges about her being frequently
before the police, &c. I can only say I never heard of the
circumstance before; and as I lived for twenty years in the
same small town, and in the vicinity of their residence, I
think I could scarcely have failed to become acquainted with
it, had such been the fact. She might, however, have been
occasionally before the magistrate in consequence of little
disputes among the slaves, without any serious imputation on
her general respectability. She says she was twice summoned
to appear as a witness on such occasions; and that she was
once sent by her mistress to be confined in the Cage, and
was afterw