The Underground Railroad
man whom I am working for is name Myers; but I expect to go to
work for another man by name of Tinsly, who is a master workman
in this city. He says that he will give me work next week and
everybody advises me to work for Mr. Tinsly as there more surity
in him.
Mr. Still, I have been looking and looking for my friends for
several days, but have not seen nor heard of them. I hope and
trust in the Lord Almighty that all things are well with them.
My dear sir I could feel so much better sattisfied if I could
hear from my wife. Since I reached this city I have talagraphed
to friend Brown to send my thing to me, but I cannot hear a word
from no one at all. I have written to Mr. Brown two or three
times since I left the city. I trust that he has gotten my
wife's letters, that is if she has written. Please direct your
letters to me, near the corner Sarah and Edward street, until I
give you further notice. You will tell friend B. how to direct
his letters, as I forgotten it when I writt to him, and ask him
if he has heard anything from Virginia. Please to let me hear
from him without delay for my very soul is trubled about my
friends whom I expected to of seen here before this hour.
Whatever you do please to write. I shall look for you paper
shortly.
Believe me sir to be your well wisher.
JOHN H. HILL.
SECOND LETTER.
_Expressions of gratitude_--_The Custom House refuses to charge him
duty_--_He is greatly concerned for his wife_
TORONTO, October 30th, 1853.
MY DEAR FRIEND:--I now write to inform you that I have received
my things all safe and sound, and also have shuck hand with the
friend that you send on to this place one of them is stopping
with me. His name is Chas. Stuert, he seemes to be a tolerable
smart fellow. I Rec'd my letters. I have taken this friend to
see Mr. Smith. However will give him a place to board untell he
can get to work. I shall do every thing I can for them all that
I see the gentleman wish you to see his wife and let her know
that he arrived safe, and present his love to her and to all the
friend. Mr. Still, I am under ten thousand obligation to you for
your kindness when shall I ever repay? S. speek very highly of
you. I will state to you what Custom house master said to me. He
ask me when he Presented my efects are these your efects. I
answered yes. He then ask me was I going to settle in Canada. I
told him I was. He then ask me of my case. I told all about it.
He said I am happy to see you and all that will come. He ask me
how much I had to pay for my Paper. I told him half dollar. He
then told me that I should have my money again. He a Rose from
his seat and got my money. So my friend you can see the people
and tell them all this is a land of liberty and believe they
will find friends here. My best love to all.
My friend I must call upon you once more to do more kindness for
me that is to write to my wife as soon as you get this, and tell
her when she gets ready to come she will pack and consign her
things to you. You will give her some instruction, but not to
your expenses but to her own.
When you write direct your letter to Phillip Ubank, Petersburg,
Va. My Box arrived here the 27th.
My dear sir I am in a hurry to take this friend to church, so I
must close by saying I am your humble servant in the cause of
liberty and humanity.
JOHN H. HILL.
THIRD LETTER.
_Canada is highly praised_--_The Vigilance Committee is implored to send
all the Fugitives there_--"_Farmers and Mechanics wanted_"--"_No living
in Canada for Negroes," as argued by_ "_Masters," flatly denied, &c.,
&c., &c._
So I ask you to send the fugitives to Canada. I don't know much
of this Province but I beleaves that there is Rome enough for
the colored and whites of the United States. We wants farmers
mechanic men of all qualification &c., if they are not made we
will make them, if we cannot make the old, we will make our
children.
Now concerning the city toronto this city is Beautiful and
Prosperous Levele city. Great many wooden codages more than what
should be but I am in hopes there will be more of the Brick and
Stonn. But I am not done about your Republicanism. Our masters
have told us that there was no living in Canada for a Negro but
if it may Please your gentlemanship to publish these facts that
we are here able to earn our bread and money enough to make us
comftable. But I say give me freedom, and the United States may
have all her money and her Luxtures, yeas give Liberty or Death.
I'm in America, but not under Such a Government that I cannot
express myself, speak, think or write So as I am able, and if my
master had allowed me to have an education I would make them
American Slave-holders feel me, Yeas I would make them tremble
when I spoke, and when I take my Pen in hand their knees smote
together. My Dear Sir suppose I was an educated man. I could
write you something worth reading, but you know we poor
fugitives whom has just come over from the South are not able to
write much on no subject whatever, but I hope by the aid of my
God I will try to use my midnight lamp, untel I can have some
influence upon the American Slavery. If some one would say to
me, that they would give my wife bread untel I could be Educated
I would stoop my trade this day and take up my books.
But a crisis is approaching when assential requisite to the
American Slaveholders when blood Death or Liberty will be
required at their hands. I think our people have depened too
long and too much on false legislator let us now look for
ourselves. It is true that England however the Englishman is our
best friend but we as men ought not to depened upon her
Remonstrace with the Americans because she loves her commercial
trade as any Nations do. But I must say, while we look up and
acknowledge the Power greatness and honor of old England, and
believe that while we sit beneath the Silken folds of her flag
of Perfect Liberty, we are secure, beyond the reach of the
aggressions of the Blood hounds and free from the despotism that
would wrap around our limbs by the damable Slaveholder. Yet we
would not like spoiled childeren depend upon her, but upon
ourselves and as one means of strengthening ourselves, we should
agitate the emigration to Canada. I here send you a paragraph
which I clipted from the weekly Glob. I hope you will publish so
that Mr. Williamson may know that men are not chattel here but
reather they are men and if he wants his chattle let him come
here after it or his thing. I wants you to let the whole United
States know we are satisfied here because I have seen more
Pleasure since I came here then I saw in the U.S. the 24 years
that I served my master. Come Poor distress men women and come
to Canada where colored men are free. Oh how sweet the word do
sound to me yeas when I contemplate of these things, my very
flesh creaps my heart thrub when I think of my beloved friends
whom I left in that cursid hole. Oh my God what can I do for
them or shall I do for them. Lord help them. Suffer them to be
no longer depressed beneath the Bruat Creation but may they be
looked upon as men made of the Bone and Blood as the
Anglo-Americans. May God in his mercy Give Liberty to all this
world. I must close as it am late hour at night. I Remain your
friend in the cause of Liberty and humanity,
JOHN H. HILL, a fugitive.
If you know any one who would give me an education write and let
me know for I am in want of it very much.
Your with Respect,
J.H.H.
If the sentiments in the above letter do not indicate an uncommon degree
of natural intelligence, a clear perception of the wrongs of Slavery,
and a just appreciation of freedom, where shall we look for the signs of
intellect and manhood?
FOURTH LETTER.
_Longs for his wife--In hearing of the return of a Fugitive from
Philadelphia is made sorrowful--His love of Freedom increases, &c., &c._
TORONTO, November 12th, 1853.
MY DEAR STILL:--Your letter of the 3th came to hand thursday and
also three copes all of which I was glad to Received they have
taken my attention all together Every Time I got them. I also
Rec'd. a letter from my friend Brown. Mr. Brown stated to me
that he had heard from my wife but he did not say what way he
heard. I am looking for my wife every day. Yes I want her to
come then I will be better satisfied. My friend I am a free man
and feeles alright about that matter. I am doing tolrable well
in my line of business, and think I will do better after little.
I hope you all will never stop any of our Brotheran that makes
their Escep from the South but send them on to this Place where
they can be free man and woman. We want them here and not in
your State where they can be taken away at any hour. Nay but let
him come here where he can Enjoy the Rights of a human being and
not to be trodden under the feet of men like themselves. All the
People that comes here does well. Thanks be to God that I came
to this place. I would like very well to see you all but never
do I expect to see you in the United States. I want you all to
come to this land of Liberty where the bondman can be free. Come
one come all come to this place, and I hope my dear friend you
will send on here. I shall do for them as you all done for me
when I came on here however I will do the best I can for them if
they can they shall do if they will do, but some comes here that
can't do well because they make no efford. I hope my friend you
will teach them such lessons as Mrs. Moore Give me before I left
your city. I hope she may live a hundred years longer and enjoy
good health. May God bless her for the good cause which she are
working in. Mr. Still you ask me to remember you to Nelson. I
will do so when I see him, he are on the lake so is Stewart. I
received a letter to-day for Stewart from your city which letter
I will take to him when he comes to the city. He are not stoping
with us at this time. I was very sorry a few days ago when I
heard that a man was taken from your city.
Send them over here, then let him come here and take them away
and I will try to have a finger in the Pie myself. You said that
you had written to my wife ten thousand thanks for what you have
done and what you are willing to do. My friend whenever you hear
from my wife please write to me. Whenever she come to your city
please give instruction how to travel. I wants her to come the
faster way. I wish she was here now. I wish she could get a
ticket through to this place. I have mail a paper for you to
day.
We have had snow but not to last long. Let me hear from you. My
Respect friend Brown. I will write more when I have the
opportunity.
Yours with Respect,
JOHN H. HILL.
P.S. My dear Sir. Last night after I had written the above, and
had gone to bed, I heard a strange voice in the house, Saying to
Mr. Myers to come quickly to one of our colod Brotheran out of
the street. We went and found a man a Carpenter laying on the
side walk woltun in his Blood. Done by some unknown Person as
yet but if they stay on the earth the law will deteck them. It