what to do for my dear wife and child. She said she has been
threatened to be put in jail three times since I left also she
tells me that she is washing for the captain of a vesel that use
to run to Petersburg but now he runs to Baltimore and he has
promas to take her to Delaware or New York for 50 dollars and
she had not the money, she sent to me and I sent her all I had
which was 5 dollars dear sir can you inform me what to do with a
case of this kind the captains name is Thomas.

My wife is name lucy an morris my child is name lot, if you
please dear sir answer me as soon as you can posable.

HENRY JAMES MORRIS, Toronto C.W.

Henry James Morris in care of Wm. George Blunt, Centre st., 2
doors from Elam.

This sad letter made a mournful impression, as it was not easy to see
how her deliverance was to be effected. One feature, however, about this
epistle afforded much satisfaction, namely, to know, that James did not
forget his poor wife and child, who were in the prison-house. Many
months after this first letter came to hand, Mrs. Dr. Willis, one of the
first ladies in Toronto, wrote on his behalf as follows:

TORONTO, 15th June, Monday morning, 1857.

To MR. STILL, DEAR SIR:--I write you this letter for a
respectable young man (his name is James Morris), he passed
through your hands July of last year (1856), and has just had a
letter from his wife, whom he left behind in Virginia, that she
and her child are likely to be sold. He is very anxious about
this and wishful that she could get away by some vessel or
otherwise. His wife's name is Lucy Morris; the child's name is
Lot Morris; the lady's name she lives with is a Mrs. Hine (I
hope I spell her name right, Hine), at the corner of Duke street
and Washington street, in Norfolk city, Virginia. She is hired
out to this rich old widow lady. James Morris wishes me to write
you--he has saved forty dollars, and will send it to you
whenever it is required, to bring her on to Toronto, Canada
West. It is in the bank ready upon call. Will you please, sir,
direct your letter in reply to this, to a Mrs. Ringgold, Centre
street, two doors from Elam street, Toronto, Canada West, as I
will be out of town. I write this instead of Mr. Thomas Henning,
who is just about leaving for England. Hoping you will reply
soon, I remain, sir,

Resp