matters were getting no better, but, on the contrary, were growing worse
and worse, Eliza thought she would seek a more pleasant atmosphere in
the North. In fact she felt that it would afford her no little relief to
allow her place to be occupied by another. When she went into close
quarters of concealment, she fully understood what was meant and all the
liabilities thereto. She had pluck enough to endure unto the end without
murmuring. The martyrs in olden times who dwelt in "dens and caves of
the earth," could hardly have fared worse than some of these way-worn
travelers.

After the rest, needed by one who had suffered so severely until her
arrival in Philadelphia, she was forwarded to her anxiously waiting
husband in New Bedford, where she was gladly received.

From the frequent arrivals from Virginia, especially in steamers, it may
be thought that no very stringent laws or regulations existed by which
offenders, who might aid the Underground Rail Road, could be severely
punished--that the slave-holders were lenient, indifferent and unguarded
as to how this property took wings and escaped. In order to enlighten
the reader with regard to this subject, it seems necessary, in this
connection, to publish at least one of the many statutes from the slave
laws of the South bearing directly on the aid and escape of slaves by
vessels. The following enactment is given as passed by the Legislature
of Virginia in 1856:

THE PROTECTION OF SLAVE PROPERTY IN VIRGINIA.

A BILL PROVIDING ADDITIONAL PROTECTION FOR THE SLAVE PROPERTY OF
CITIZENS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH.

(1.) Be it enacted, by the General Assembly, that it shall not
be lawful for any vessel, of any size or description, whatever,
owned in whole, or in part, by any citizen or resident of
another State, and about to sail or steam for any port or place
in this State, for any port or place north of and beyond the
capes of Virginia, to depart from the waters of this
commonwealth, until said vessel has undergone the inspection
hereinafter provided for in this act, and received a certificate
to that effect. If any such vessel shall depart from the State
without such certificate of inspection, the captain or owner
thereof, shall forfeit and pay the sum of five hundred dollars,
to be recovered by any person who will sue for the same, in any
court of record in this State, in the name of the Governor of