y concurs with Mr. Hallock and
others in their friendly recommendation of Mr. Henry Bibb.
The undersigned has known him for many months in the Sabbath
School in this City, partly under his charge, and can
certify to his correct deportment, and commend him to the
sympathies of Christian benevolence.

ROSS WILKINS.

* * * * *

The task now performed, in preparing for the press and
introducing to the public the narrative of Henry Bibb, has
been one of the most pleasant ever required at my hands. And
I conclude it with an expression of the hope that it may
afford interest to the reader, support to the author in his
efforts against slavery, and be instrumental in advancing
the great work of emancipation in this country.

LUCIUS C. MATLACK.

NEW YORK CITY, _July 1st, 1849_.

AUTHOR'S PREFACE.

This work has been written during irregular intervals, while I have
been travelling and laboring for the emancipation of my enslaved
countrymen. The reader will remember that I make no pretension to
literature; for I can truly say, that I have been educated in the
school of adversity, whips, and chains. Experience and observation
have been my principal teachers, with the exception of three weeks
schooling which I have had the good fortune to receive since my escape
from the "grave yard of the mind," or the dark prison of human
bondage. And nothing but untiring perseverance has enabled me to
prepare this volume for the public eye; and I trust by the aid of
Divine Providence to be able to make it intelligible and instructive.
I thank God for the blessings of Liberty--the contrast is truly great
between freedom and slavery. To be changed from a chattel to a human
being, is no light matter, though the process with myself practically
was very simple. And if I could reach the ears of every slave to-day,
throughout the whole continent of America, I would teach the same
lesson, I would sound it in the ears of every hereditary bondman,
"break your chains and fly for freedom!"

It may be asked why I have written this work, when there has been so
much already written and published of the same character from other
fugitives? And, why publish it after having told it publicly all
through New England and the Western States to multiplied thousands?

My answer