went out near
dark, and between that time and attending my lecture, I was out
to supper in two homes. The people are living in the old cabins
of slavery; some of them have no windows, at all, that I see; in
fact, I don't remember of having seen a pane of window-glass in
the settlement. But, humble as their homes were, I was kindly
treated, and well received; and what a chance one has for
observation among these people, if one takes with her a manner
that unlocks other hearts. I had quite a little gathering, after
less, perhaps, than a day's notice; the minister did not know
that I was coming, till he met me in the afternoon. There was no
fire in the church, and so they lit fires outside, and we
gathered, or at least a number of us, around the fire. To-night
I am going over to Georgia to lecture. In consequence of the low
price of cotton, the people may not be able to pay much, and I
am giving all my lectures free. You speak of things looking dark
in the South; there is no trouble here that I know of--cotton is
low, but the people do not seem to be particularly depressed
about it; this emigration question has been on the carpet, and I
do not wonder if some of them, with their limited knowledge,
lose hope in seeing full justice done to them, among their
life-long oppressors; Congress has been agitating the St.
Domingo question; a legitimate theme for discussion, and one
that comes nearer home, is how they can give more security and
strength to the government which we have established in the
South--for there has been a miserable weakness in the security
to human life. The man with whom I stopped, had a son who
married a white woman, or girl, and was shot down, and there
was, as I understand, no investigation by the jury; and a number
of cases have occurred of murders, for which the punishment has
been very lax, or not at all, and, it may be, never will be;
however, I rather think things are somewhat quieter. A few days
ago a shameful outrage occurred at this place--some men had been
out fox hunting, and came to the door of a colored woman and
demanded entrance, making out they wanted fire; she replied that
she had none, and refused to open the door; the miserable
cowards broke open the door, and shamefully beat her. I am going
to see her this afternoon. It is remarkable, howeve