“What if he is my son?” rejoined the Virginian.  “I’ve as good a right to sell my own flesh and blood as that of any other person.  If I choose to do it, it is none of your business.”  He opened the door, and beckoning to his friend, who was in waiting, he said, “Hopper admits this was all a trick to set the slave free.”  Then turning to Friend Hopper, he added, “You admit it was a trick, don’t you?”

“Thou and I will talk that matter over by ourselves,” he replied.  “The presence of a third person is not always convenient.”

The Colonel went off in a violent passion, and forgetting that he was not in Virginia, he rushed into the houses of several colored people, knocked them about, overturned their beds, and broke their furniture, in search of the fugitive.  Being unable to obtain any information concerning him, he cooled down considerably, and went to inform Friend Hopper that he would give a deed of manumission for two hundred dollars; but his offer was rejected.

“Why that was your own proposal!” vociferated the Colonel.

“Very true,” he replied; “and I offered thee the money; but thou refused to take it.”

After storming awhile, the master went off to obtain legal advice from the Hon. John Sergeant.  Meanwhile, several of the colored people had entered a complaint against him for personal abuse, and damage done to their furniture.  He was obliged to give bonds for his appearance at the next court, to answer their accusations.  This was a grievous humiliation for a proud Virginian, who had been educated to think that colored people had no civil rights.  In this unpleasant dilemma, his lawyer advised him to give a deed of manumission for one hundred and fifty dollars; promising to exert his influence to have the mortifying suits withdrawn.

The proposed terms were accepted, and the money promptly paid by the slave from his own earnings.  But when Mr. Sergeant proposed that the suits for assault and battery should be withdrawn, Friend Hopper replied, “I have no authority to dismiss them.”

“They will be dismissed if you advise it,” rejoined the lawyer; “and if you will promise to do it, I shall be perfectly satisfied.”

“These colored people have been very badly treated,” answered Friend Hopper.  “If the aggressor wants to settle the affair, he had better go to them and offer some equivalent for the trouble he has given.”

The lawyer replied, “When he agreed to manumit the man for one hundred and fifty dollars, he expected these suits would be dismissed, of course, as a part of the bargain.  What sum do you think these people will take to withdraw them?”

Friend Hopper said he thought they would do it for one hundred and fifty dollars.

“I will pay it,” replied Mr. Sergeant; “for Colonel Ridgeley is very anxious to return home.”

Thus the money paid for the deed of manumission was returned.  Forty dollars were distributed among the colored people, to repay the damage done to their property.  After some trifling incidental expenses had been deducted, the remainder was returned to the emancipated slave; who thus obtained his freedom for about fifty dollars, instead of the sum originally offered.