took the ground that he could not be a truly Christian minister, who would purchase his bread and cheese at the expense of denying his own belief, or suppressing his own convictions.

“My host inquired whether I would sit at table with colored people; and he seemed much surprised when I answered, ’I do not judge persons by their complexion, but by moral worth.  At my own table I sit with colored people, and I shall with these.’

“The South, however, is much more free from prejudice against color than the north; provided the distinction between the classes is understood.—­A gentleman may seat his slave beside him in a stage coach, and a lady makes no objection to ride next a fat negro woman, even when the thermometer is at ninety degrees; provided always that her fellow travellers understand she is her property.

“At Shelbyville the stage was likely to be crowded with new passengers, when I said to some young men who were about to get in, that I had a family with me who must not be turned out of the seats they had occupied.  Samuel and his family took their accustomed seats, and those who could not find room rode on the roof of the coach; among them was a member elect of the Legislature.  As we started, a well dressed man, among the crowd at the tavern-door, called out, ‘Go it abolition!’

“A crowd at this place attracted my attention, and I found it was an executor’s sale; comprising ’lands, houses, furniture, horses, cows, hogs, and twenty likely negroes.’  Slaves must, however, be more of a cash article than other commodities; for they were to be sold on four months’ credit; real estate, on twelve and twenty four months, and all other property, six months’.

“At Louisville, we fell in with Elisha, brother of Samuel Worthington, on his return to Arkansas, where he had a cotton plantation.  He manifested much openness and good will, and pressingly invited me to visit him, should I ever go down the Mississippi.  After considerable conversation on slavery, he asked me what I thought would be the effect of my late visit.  I replied, it was a subject I had often contemplated myself, but I did not know whether it had entered the heads of others.  For my own part, I thought I had taught the slaveholders a lesson.  They maintained that the slaves did not want their freedom; yet here was one, well fed and well clothed, and in fact living in clover, as far as a slave could do so, ready, without my asking him, to go with me among strangers.  If he would leave such a kind master, what might not be expected of the oppressed field hand?

“’Perhaps a quotation from Latimer would furnish you with a more direct reply to your question,’ said I, ’You know he said at the stake—­“We shall this day light such a fire in England, as I trust, by God’s grace, will never be put out.”  And I believe my visit has kindled a flame of