Horatio gave him the character of being “a man of a hidden temper,” and after the election of Buchanan he considered him a great deal worse than ever.  Horatio told of a visit which his master made to Canada, and which, on his return, he had taken much pains to report to the slaves to the effect that he had been there the previous summer, and saw the country for himself, adding in words somewhat as follows:  “Canada is the meanest part of the globe that I ever found or heard of;—­did not see but one black or colored person in Canada,—­inquired at the custom-house to know what became of all the blacks from the South, and was told that they shipped them off occasionally and sent them round Cape Horn and sold them.”  In addition to this report he said that “the suffering from deep snows and starvation was fearful,” all of which Horatio believed “to be a lie.”  Of course he concealed this opinion from his master.  Many such stories were sounded in the ears of slaves but without much effect.

Lemuel, John and Josiah were brothers.  Lemuel was thirty-five, and might be called a jet-black.  He was uncommonly stout, with a head indicative of determination of purpose, just suited to an Underground Rail Road passenger.  He fled from James R. Lewis, “a tall, stout man, very wealthy and close.”  Lemuel said that he fed and clothed the slaves pretty well.  He had invested to the extent of twelve head.  No money or privileges were allowed, and for a small offence the threat to sell was made.  It was Lemuel’s opinion that his master’s wife made him worse than he otherwise would have been.

John was twenty-four years of age, of unmixed blood, and of a quiet demeanour.  He belonged to Miss Catharine Cornwell, of Viana.  John described her as “tolerable good-looking, but real bad.”  His sister and one other slave besides himself comprised her entire stock (of slaves).

According to John’s story, his mistress was in the habit of telling her slaves that she did not “intend that any of them should be free if she could help it;” this sentiment was uttered so “scornfully” that it “insulted” Jack very much.  Indeed, it was this that put the idea of Canada into his mind.  The more she kept the idea of perpetual Slavery before the slaves, the more Jack resolved to make her arrogance cost her one slave at least.

Miss Cornwell was not only a warm advocate of Slavery, but was likewise a member of the Methodist church, under the pastoral charge of the Rev. J.C.  Gregg.  On one occasion, when the minister was visiting Miss C., the subject of Slavery was introduced in John’s hearing.  The reverend gentleman took the ground that it was not right to hold slaves,—­said there were none in Pennsylvania, etc.  The young mistress showed little or no sign of thinking otherwise while he remained, “but, after he was gone, she raved and went on in a great way, and told her brother if he (the minister), ever married her, he would have to come out of his notions about freedom.”  It was John’s opinion that the subject of matrimony was then under consideration between them.  For himself, he was highly delighted with the minister’s “notions of freedom,” as he had heard so many high notions of Slavery.