“Peterboro’, New York, March 1st, 1853.

“Miss Mary E. King,—­
“Dear Friend:—­

“You will not be offended that I should address you by this title, though I never saw you, to my recollection, until last July at Mc.  Grawville; I then felt an interest in your welfare—­an interest which has been deepened by your recent insults and trials.  I am not one of those who can censure you for your attachment and engagement to Professor Allen.  He is a man—­a noble man—­a whole man; a man, in fine, of whom no woman need be ashamed.  I am aware, you are aware, that the world will severely condemn you; so it did Luther, when he married a nun; it was then thought to be as great an outrage on decency, for a minister to marry a nun, as it now is for a white young lady to marry a colored gentleman.  You have this consolation, that God does not look upon the countenance—­the color of men; that in his eye, black and white are the same; and consequently, to marry a colored person of intelligence and worth is no immorality, and in his eye, no impropriety.  It is probably the design of Providence in this case, to call the attention of the public to the fresh consideration of what is implied in the great doctrine of human brotherhood.  Is it true or not, that a colored man has all the rights of a white man?  Is this a question still mooted among Abolitionists?  If so, then we may as well settle it now as at any other time, and though the controversy may be, and must be a very painful one to your feelings, yet, the result will be a better understanding of the great principles of our common nature and brotherhood.  Professor Allen is with me in my study, and has detailed to me the whole of this outrage against yourself and him, and has also made me acquainted with your relations to each other.  I extend to you my sympathy, I proffer to you my friendship.  You have not fallen in my estimation, nor in the estimation of Mr. Smith and others in this place.  Lay not this matter to heart, be not cast down; put your trust in God, and he will bring you out of this crucible seven times purified.  He in mercy designs to promote your spiritual growth and consolation.  Keep the Saviour in your heart.  My good wife sympathises with you.  We would be glad to see you at our humble home, either before or after your marriage.  We would try to comfort you; we would bear your burdens, and so ‘fulfil the law of Christ.’

“Yours, with fraternal and Christian affection,
“TIMOTHY STOWE.”

On the day after Miss King left for Pennsylvania, I received the following note from a friend in Fulton.  It is significant, and certainly corroborative of the opinion which I have expressed of the Fulton people—­that they had determined to leave nothing undone by which to make their tyranny complete:—­

“Fulton, March 5th, 1853.

“Dear Friend:—­
“Yesterday I heard from you by a friend

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