Although safely under the protection of the British Lion, George’s heart was in Virginia, where his wife was retained.  As he could not return for her deliverance, he was wise enough to resort to the pen, hoping in this way to effect his grand object, as the following letter will show: 

    TORONTO, January 25th, 1855.

DEAR FRIEND STILL:—­George Walker, of Petersburg, Va., is now in my office, and requests me to write a letter to you, and request you to write to his wife, after or according to the instructions he gave to his friend, John Brown, in your city, with whom he says you are acquainted.  You will understand, of course, his reason for wanting the letter wrote and posted at Philadelphia.  You will please attend to it and address a letter to him (Walker) in my care.  He and Beverly Good, his comrade, tender much love to you.  Send them on; we are prepared for them.  Yours in great haste, J.B.  SMITH.

    P.S.—­Be sure and follow the directions given to Brown.

ADAM BROOKS, alias William Smith.  Hardtown, Montgomery county, Maryland, lost a rather promising “article of merchandise,” in the person of Adam.  The particulars of his going are on this wise:  John Phillips, his so-called master, believed in selling, and practiced accordinglv, to the extent at least of selling Adam’s mother, brother, and sister only two years before his escape.

If Adam had known nothing else against Phillips, this was enough in all conscience to have awakened his deadly hate; but, added to this, Phillips was imprudent in his habit of threatening to “sell,” etc.  This kept the old wound in Adam’s heart continually bleeding and forced him to the conclusion, that his master was not only a hard man, as a driver on the farm, but that at heart he was actually a bad man.  Furthermore, that it was his duty to break his fetters and seek his freedom in Canada.

In thus looking at his situation, his mind was worked up to fever heat, and he resolved that, let the consequences be what they might, go he must.  In this promising state of mind he started, at an appointed time, for Pennsylvania, and, sure enough, he succeeded.  Having the appearance of a desirable working-hand, a Pennsylvania farmer prevailed on him to stop for a time.  It was not long before the folly of this halt was plainly discernible, as his master had evidently got wind of his whereabouts, and was pretty hot in pursuit.  Word reached Adam, however, barely in time for him to make his escape through the aid of friends.

In coming into the hands of the Committee he needed no persuading to go to Canada; he was occupied with two interesting problems, to go back or to go forward.  But he set his face hopefully towards Canada, and had no thought of stopping short thereof.  In stature, he was small; color, black; countenance, pleasant, and intellect, medium.  As to his fitness for making a good citizen in Canada the Committee had no doubt.