Friend Hopper was too much accustomed to such epistles to be disturbed by them.  He put it in his pocket, and said nothing about it, lest his wife should be alarmed.  A few minutes afterward, he received a message from some colored people begging him to go to the assistance of the fugitives; and when the trial came on, he was at the alderman’s office, of course.  Richard Rush was counsel for the claimants.  The colored prisoners had no lawyer.  This examination was carried on with much earnestness and excitement.  One of the Virginians failed in proof as to the identity of the person he claimed.  In the case of several others, the power of attorney was pronounced informal by the magistrate.  After a long protracted controversy, during which Friend Hopper threw as many difficulties in the way as possible, it was decided that four of the persons in custody were proved to be slaves, and the other seven were discharged.  This decision greatly exasperated the Southerners, and they vented their anger in very violent expressions.  The constables employed were unprincipled men, ready for any low business, provided it were profitable.  The man-hunters had engaged to give them fifty dollars for each slave they were enabled to take back to Virginia; but they were to receive nothing for those who were discharged.  Hence, their extreme anxiety to avoid Friend Hopper’s interference.  When they found that more than half of their destined prey had slipped through their fingers, they were furious.  One of them especially raved like a madman.  He had written the anonymous letter, and was truly “a lewd fellow of the baser sort.”

Friend Hopper’s feelings were too much interested for those who had been decreed slaves, to think anything of the abuse bestowed on himself.  All of them, three men and one woman, were married to free persons; and it was heart-breaking to hear their lamentations at the prospect of being separated forever.  There was a general manifestation of sympathy, and even the slaveholders were moved to compassion.  Friend Hopper opened a negotiation with them in behalf of the Abolition Society, and they finally consented to manumit them all for seven hundred dollars.  The money was advanced by a Friend named Thomas Phipps, and the poor slaves returned to their humble homes rejoicing.  They repaid every farthing of the money, and ever after manifested the liveliest gratitude to their benefactors.

When the anger of the Southerners had somewhat cooled, Friend Hopper invited them to come and see him.  They called, and spent the evening in discussing the subject of slavery.  When they parted from the veteran abolitionist, it was with mutual courtesy and kindliness.  They said they respected him for acting so consistently with his own principles; and if they held the same opinions, they should doubtless pursue the same course.