Nine months I was trying to get away.  I was secreted for a long time in a kitchen of a merchant near the corner of Franklyn and 7th streets, at Richmond, where I was well taken care of, by a lady friend of my mother.  When I got Tired of staying in that place, I wrote myself a pass to pass myself to Petersburg, here I stopped with a very prominent Colored person, who was a friend to Freedom stayed here until two white friends told other friends if I was in the city to tell me to go at once, and stand not upon the order of going, because they had hard a plot.  I wrot a pass, started for Richmond, Reached Manchester, got off the Cars walked into Richmond, once more got back into the same old Den, Stayed here from the 16th of Aug. to 12th Sept.  On the 11th of Sept. 8 o’clock P.M. a message came to me that there had been a State Room taken on the steamer City of Richmond for my benefit, and I assured the party that it would be occupied if God be willing.  Before 10 o’clock the next morning, on the 12th, a beautiful Sept. day, I arose early, wrote my pass for Norfolk left my old Den with a many a good bye, turned out the back way to 7th St., thence to Main, down Main behind 4 night waich to old Rockett’s and after about 20 minutes of delay I succeed in Reaching the State Room.  My Conductor was very much Excited, but I felt as Composed as I do at this moment, for I had started from my Den that morning for Liberty or for Death providing myself with a Brace of Pistels.

    Yours truly

    J.H.  HILL.

A private berth was procured for him on the steamship City of Richmond, for the amount of $125, and thus he was brought on safely to Philadelphia.  While in the city, he enjoyed the hospitalities of the Vigilance Committee, and the greetings of a number of friends, during the several days of his sojourn.  The thought of his wife, and two children, left in Petersburg, however, naturally caused him much anxiety.  Fortunately, they were free, therefore, he was not without hope of getting them; moreover, his wife’s father (Jack McCraey), was a free man, well known, and very well to do in the world, and would not be likely to see his daughter and grandchildren suffer.  In this particular, Hill’s lot was of a favorable character, compared with that of most slaves leaving their wives and children.

FIRST LETTER

ON ARRIVING IN CANADA.

    TORONTO, October 4th, 1853.

DEAR SIR:—­I take this method of informing you that I am well, and that I got to this city all safe and sound, though I did not get here as soon as I expect.  I left your city on Saterday and I was on the way untel the Friday following.  I got to New York the same day that I left Philadelphia, but I had to stay there untel Monday evening.  I left that place at six o’clock.  I got to Albany next morning in time to take the half past six o’clock train