John Clayton, the companion in tribulation of William and James, must not be lost sight of any longer.  He was owned by the Widow Clayton, and was white enough to have been nearly related to her, being a mulatto.  He was about thirty-five years of age, a man of fine appearance, and quite intelligent.  Several years previous he had made an attempt to escape, but failed.  Prior to escaping in this instance, he had been laboring in a tobacco factory at $150 a year.  It is needless to say that he did not approve of the “peculiar institution.”  He left a wife and one child behind to mourn after him.  Of his views of Canada and Freedom, the following frank and sensible letter, penned shortly after his arrival, speaks for itself—­

    TORONTO, March 6th, 1854.

DEAR MR. STILL:—­I take this method of informing you that I am well both in health and mind.  You may rest assured that I fells myself a free man and do not fell as I did when I was in Virginia thanks be to God I have no master into Canada but I am my own man.  I arrived safe into Canada on friday last.  I must request of you to write a few lines to my wife and jest state to her that her friend arrived safe into this glorious land of liberty and I am well and she will make very short her time in Virginia. tell her that I likes here very well and hopes to like it better when I gets to work I don’t meane for you to write the same words that are written above but I wish you give her a clear understanding where I am and Shall Remain here untel She comes or I hears from her.

    Nothing more at present but remain yours most respectfully,

    JOHN CLAYTON.

    You will please to direct the to Petersburg Luenena Johns or
    Clayton John is best.

CLARISSA DAVIS.

ARRIVED DRESSED IN MALE ATTIRE.

Clarissa fled from Portsmouth, Va., in May, 1854, with two of her brothers.  Two months and a half before she succeeded in getting off, Clarissa had made a desperate effort, but failed.  The brothers succeeded, but she was left.  She had not given up all hope of escape, however, and therefore sought “a safe hiding-place until an opportunity might offer,” by which she could follow her brothers on the U.G.R.R.  Clarissa was owned by Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Burkley, of Portsmouth, under whom she had always served.

Of them she spoke favorably, saying that she “had not been used as hard as many others were.”  At this period, Clarissa was about twenty-two years of age, of a bright brown complexion, with handsome features, exceedingly respectful and modest, and possessed all the characteristics of a well-bred young lady.  For one so little acquainted with books as she was, the correctness of her speech was perfectly astonishing.

For Clarissa and her two brothers a “reward of one thousand dollars” was kept standing in the papers for a length of time, as these (articles) were considered very rare and valuable; the best that could be produced in Virginia.