friend, Punch's 'Virginia Slave' was produced. I
hope you have seen this production of our great humorous
moralist. It is an admirably-drawn figure of a female slave in
chains, with the inscription beneath, 'The Virginia Slave, a
companion for Powers' Greek Slave.' The comparison of the two
soon drew a small crowd, including several Americans, around and
near us. Although they refrained from any audible expression of
feeling, the object of the comparison was evidently understood
and keenly felt. It would not have been prudent in us to have
challenged, in words, an anti-slavery discussion in the World's
Convention; but everything that we could with propriety do was
done to induce them to break silence upon the subject. We had no
intention, verbally, of taking the initiative in such a
discussion; we confined ourselves to speaking at them, in order
that they might be led to speak to us; but our efforts were of
no avail. The gauntlet, which was unmistakably thrown down by
our party, the Americans were too wary to take up. We spoke
among each other of the wrongs of Slavery; it was in vain. We
discoursed freely upon the iniquity of a professedly Christian
Republic holding three millions of its population in cruel and
degrading bondage; you might as well have preached to the winds.
Wm. Wells Brown took 'Punch's Virginia Slave' and deposited it
within the enclosure by the 'Greek Slave,' saying audibly, 'As
an American fugitive slave, I place this 'Virginia Slave' by the
side of the 'Greek Slave,' as its most fitting companion.' Not a
word, or reply, or remonstrance from Yankee or Southerner. We
had not, however, proceeded many steps from the place before the
'Virginia Slave' was removed. We returned to the statue, and
stood near the American by whom it had been taken up, to give
him an opportunity of making any remarks he chose upon the
matter. Whatever were his feelings, his policy was to keep his
lips closed. If he had felt that the act was wrongful, would he
not have appealed to the sense of justice of the British
bystanders, who are always ready to resist an insult offered to
a foreigner in this country? If it was an insult, why not resent
it, as became high-spirited Americans? But no; the chivalry of
the South tamely allowed itself to be plucked by the beard; the
garrulity of t