s efforts thus far in striking for freedom.

James was twenty-seven years of age. His experience had been quite
different from that of Peter's. The heel of a woman, by the name of Mrs.
Ann McCourt, had been on James's neck, and she had caused him to suffer
severely. As James recounted his grievances, while under the rule, he by
no means gave her a very flattering character, but, on the contrary, he
plainly stated, that she was a "desperate woman"--that he had "never
known any good of her," and that he was moved to escape to get rid of
her. In other words she had threatened to sell him; this well nigh
produced frenzy in James's mind, for too well did he remember, that he
had already been sold three times, and in different stages of his
bondage had been treated quite cruelly. In the change of masters he was
positive in saying, that he had not found a good one, and, besides, he
entertained the belief that such personages were very rare.

Those of the Committee who listened to James were not a little amazed at
his fluency, intelligence and earnestness, and acknowledged that he
dealt unusually telling blows against the Patriarchal Institution.

Matthew was twenty-three years of age, very stout--no fool--a man of
decided resolution, and of the very best black complexion produced in
the South. Matthew had a very serious bill of complaints against Samuel
Simmons, who professed to own him (Matthew), both body and mind, while
in this world at least. Among these complaints was the charge of
ill-treatment. Nevertheless Matthew's joy and pleasure were matchless
over his Underground Rail Road triumph, and the prospect of being so
soon out of the land and reach of Slavery, and in a land where he could
enjoy his freedom as others enjoyed theirs. Indeed the entire band
evinced similar feelings. Matthew left a brother in Martin county.

Further sketches of this interesting company were not entered on the
book at the time, perhaps on account of the great press of Underground
Rail Road business which engaged the attention of the acting Committee.
However, they were all duly cared for, and counselled to go to Canada,
where their rights would be protected by a strong and powerful
government, and they could enjoy all the rights of citizenship in common
with "all the world and the rest of mankind." And especially were they
advised to get education; to act as men, and remember those still in
bonds as bound with them, and that they mus