great change in the mode of reasoning introduced by Lord Bacon.  We reason now from facts to conclusion; this is called the inductive method, to collect facts, then draw inferences.  The facts which I have collected on the subject of slavery, in my reading and hearing, lead me to a perfect theory on the subject, and my confidence in that theory is all which it could be if, like you, I were now seeing it verified with my own eyes.

I reason on this subject of slavery, just as our philosophers reason about the moon.  You have learned, dear Aunt, ere this, that there is no water in the moon.  Certain things are observed by our telescopes, in the moon, from which we are sure that there is no water there.  Now there are certain given facts in slavery.  Slavery is Barbarism.  It consists in holding men to compulsory servitude.  The human heart is avaricious; it gets all it can, and keeps all it gets.  Give it complete power over a human being, and there are no limits to its cupidity and wrong-doing, but the finite nature of the thing itself.  Hence, does it not follow that there can be no disinterestedness, no tender mercies in slavery?  Yes, dear Aunt, as we are perfectly sure that there can be no water in the moon, so are we sure, by the same unerring rule of reasoning according to the inductive philosophy, that there is not one drop of water in slavery for the parched lips of a dying slave.  I stated this to a member of our Junior Class who is a wonderful metaphysician.  He was kind enough to say that he could discover no flaw in the logic.  Your letter, which, I trust, is now on its way to me, I know will fully confirm my theory and conclusion.

This lady had probably been reading some miserable cant about Southern humanity, for there are people everywhere who take the wrong side of every subject, from sheer obstinacy.  What can disprove the laws of human nature?  They require that things should be at the South as our theories lay them down.

In our Institution I mourn to say there is much opposition to the principles of freedom.  Not only so, but the students, many of them, mock at us who stand up against oppression.

You may not be aware, dear Aunty, that I have a habit, in walking, of keeping my hands firmly clenched, and my thumbs laid flat and pressed down over the knuckles of my forefingers.  This, I am aware, gives the thumbs a flattened look.  One of our principal pro-slavery students delights to laugh at me to my face.  Perhaps I am wrong in connecting everything with this all-absorbing theme, but, truly, my thoughts all run in that direction.  Mother and you were accustomed to send me on errands when I was little, and you placed your money in my right hand and mother hers in my left, because, on my return to our house, your room was on the right hand of the entry.  So I used to go along, holding your respective moneys in my palms, with my thumbs stopping the apertures.  And now I am persecuted for the fidelity which led