or peace, and surely I have had
trouble enough. I never designed to injure you, and when all
were your enemies, I was your warm friend."

_Extract from a letter written by G. Thomas to Rev. Thomas F.
Norris, dated New York, July 12, 1833_.

"William Apes might by some be said to be an excepted case;
but when this is fairly explained and understood, this would
not be the fact. My good friends of Boston, and my active
little brother Ayres, are to blame for this, and not me. I had
no malice against him, I never had done other than wish him
well, and done what I hoped would turn out for the best; but
knowing he was liable to error (as) others, and the case being
placed in such colors to me, I awoke up; and being pressed to
give what I did in detail as I thought, all for the good of
the cause and suffering innocence; but I am sorry I ever
was troubled at all on the subject; I thought that brother
Reynolds was a fine catch; but time I acknowledge is a sure
tell-tale. And by the by, they have caught me, and eventually,
unless Apes will stop proceedings, I must bear all the
burthen. Reynolds has got his neck out of the halter, and
Ayres is away South, and may never return; and poor me must be
at all the trouble and cost, if even the suit should go in my
favor. Can I think that Apes will press it? No. I think he has
not lost all human milk out of his breast, and will dismiss
the suit; and, as to my share of the cost, if I was able, that
should be no obstacle. If he will stop it all, if my friends
do not settle it, I will agree to, as soon as I am able."

* * * * *

I hereby certify, that I have copied the foregoing passages
from the letters purporting to be from David Ayres and G.
Thomas, respectively, as above mentioned, and that said
passages are correct extracts from said letters. I further
certify, that, as the Attorney of said William Apes, I acted
for him in the suits brought by him against said Thomas and
Ayres for libel, that while said suits were pending, said Apes
manifested a forgiving and forbearing disposition, and wished
the suits not to be pressed any further than was necessary to
show the falsehood of the statements of said Ayres and Thomas,
and contradict them; and, that he expressed himself willing to
settle with them upon