, joined with fervent prayer to
God that He may smooth your rugged way, lighten your burden, and give a
happy issue out of all your troubles, I must bid you adieu.

Your son and brother,

JAS. P.

_Alias_ J.W.C. PENNINGTON.

TO COLONEL F---- T----, OF H----, WASHINGTON COUNTY, MD. 1844.

DEAR SIR,

It is now, as you are aware, about seventeen years since I left your
house and service, at the age of twenty. Up to that time, I was,
according to your rule and claim, your slave. Till the age of seven
years, I was, of course, of little or no service to you. At that age,
however, you hired me out, and for three years I earned my support; at
the age of ten years, you took me to your place again, and in a short
time after you put me to work at the blacksmith's trade, at which,
together with the carpentering trade, &c, I served you peaceably until
the day I left you, with exception of the short time you had sold me to
S---- H----, Esq., for seven hundred dollars. It is important for me to
say to you, that I have no consciousness of having done you any wrong. I
called you master when I was with you from the mere force of
circumstances; but I never regarded you as my master. The nature which
God gave me did not allow me to believe that you had any more right to
me than I had to you, and that was just none at all. And from an early
age, I had intentions to free myself from your claim. I never consulted
any one about it; I had no advisers or instigators; I kept my own
counsel entirely concealed in my own bosom. I never meditated any evil
to your person or property, but I regarded you as my oppressor, and I
deemed it my duty to get out of your hands by peaceable means.

I was always obedient to your commands. I laboured for you diligently at
all times. I acted with fidelity in any matter which you entrusted me.
As you sometimes saw fit to entrust me with considerable money, to buy
tools or materials, not a cent was ever coveted or kept.

During the time I served you in the capacity of blacksmith, your
materials were used economically, your work was done expeditiously, and
in the very best style, a style second to no smith in your
neighbourhood. In short, sir, you well know that my habits from early
life were advantageous to you. Drinking, gambling, fighting, &c., were
not my habits. On Sabbaths, holidays, &c., I was frequently at your
service, when