Busbye, Esqs. Justices of the Peace. There was a large number of people
together--more than could obtain admission to the room, and a large
company of mobocratic spirits crowded around the door. Mr. Loring read the
writ, setting forth that I had been guilty of _delivering abolition
lectures in the State of Massachusetts_. He asked me whether I was guilty
or not guilty. I told him I did not know whether I had given abolition
lectures or not, but if it pleased the court, I would relate the course I
had pursued during my absence from Raleigh. He then said that I was at
liberty to speak.

The circumstances under which I left Raleigh, said I, are perfectly
familiar to you. It is known that I had no disposition to remove from this
city, but resorted to every lawful means to remain. After I found that I
could not be permitted to stay, I went away leaving behind everything I
held dear with the exception of one child, whom I took with me, after
paying two hundred and fifty dollars for her. It is also known to you and
to many other persons here present, that I had engaged to purchase my wife
and children of her master, Mr. Smith, for the sum of twenty-five hundred
dollars, and that I had paid of this sum (including my house and lot)
eleven hundred and twenty dollars, leaving a balance to be made up of
thirteen hundred and eighty dollars. I had previously to that lived in
Raleigh, a slave, the property of Mr. Sherwood Haywood, and had purchased
my freedom by paying the sum of one thousand dollars. But being driven
away, no longer permitted to live in this city, to raise the balance of
the money due on my family, my last resort was to call upon the friends of
humanity in other places, to assist me.

I went to the city of Boston, and there I related the story of my
persecutions here, the same as I have now stated to you. The people gave
ear to my statements; and one of them, Rev. Mr. Neale, wrote back, unknown
to me, to Mr. Smith, inquiring of him whether the statements made by me
were correct. After Mr. Neale received the answer he sent for me, informed
me of his having written, and read to me the reply. The letter fully
satisfied Mr. Neale and his friends. He placed it in my hands, remarking
that it would, in a great measure, do away the necessity of using the
other documents in my possession. I then with that letter in my hands went
out from house to house, from place of business to place of business, and
from church to church,