William Wells Brown to Frederick Douglass, June 3, 1852
"British and American Institute, for the Education of Fugitive Slaves and Indians."
Dear Douglass:—
Can you give me any idea of where the above school is situated in Canada? For my own part, I must confess my entire ignorance of the existence of such an institute. However, the Rev. "Father Henson" is here collecting money for the above school, which he represents to be in "a healthy condition, only that it wants a little funds to put it on sound basis." For fear of misrepresenting him, I give you the following account of a meeting held in Weigh House Chapel, which I copy from the London Morning Advertiser, of May 24th:
"After an excellent sermon from the Rev. W. Brock, the Rev. Josiah Henson ascended the pulpit and made a brief, but graphic statement of the position and necessities of the fugitive slaves in Canada, who had gathered to the number of thirty or forty thousand, penniless, friendless and ignorant. He had seen oftimes as many as ten thousand of them congregated at one place, and had done his best to try to preach to them; but not one of them could read, even he, himself, could not read then. Now, what they wanted was, to see their children able to read God's holy book, before they descended to the grave, and for this purpose he had worked for twenty years, almost night and day, and had now been sent to England to raise funds. A benevolent man had given one thousand pounds, and he wished to raise another thousand from the public."
I need not inform you that at the close of the service a large contribution was taken up.
There seems something very mysterious about this new project, and many here are not satisfied. I have been asked a dozen times where the school was situated, and who were its managers. To all of which, I had to plead ignorance. However, it appears that as newspapers sometimes make their appearance in a "new dress," so has the "Dawn Mill School" come out under the very inviting name of the "British and American Institute;" and, as there are not fugitives enough, it is to accommoate "Indians." I will not dwell upon the absurd assertion of Mr. Henson, that he had "oftimes seen as many as ten thousand fugitives together in one place;" for all who know anything about Canada are aware that the colored people are in a scattered state, and it would be difficult to find three thousand in one town, much less ten thousand, to hear Mr. Henson "try to preach." And of the ten thousand, "not one could read, not even he, himself." These must, indeed, have been instructing meetings.
All who know anything of the Dawn School, know very well that Father Henson's connection with it, as financier, has been anything but satisfactory to fugitives and to their friends. From Mr. Henson's representation of the colored people in Canada, they seem to be in the same uneducated state in which he found them twenty years ago. He thinks there are no colored men fit to teach school, and has already made arrangements by which a man is to go from England to
Canada to overlook the new school. Of course the idea of taking a man from this country, at a heavy salary and expense, is not mentioned in the meetings, or to those who are asked to contribute. A greater insult to the intelligence of the people of Canada, and the young colored men and women in the States, who are well qualified for teachers, could not have been given than this move of Mr. Henson's, in taking a teacher from England. I heard, with the utmost indignation, of the rejection of that most accomplished young lady, Miss Mary Buchanan of New Bedford, upon the grounds of her being colored. Had she been white, she would now have been teaching school. Where could be found young ladies better qualified to teach school, than the Putnams of Salem? Or, if Mr. Henson did not wish to encourage our colored young women, he could doubtless have secured the services of Wm. C. Nell, Charls H. Reason, or Prof. Allen. Any of these could have been obtained (if at all) for a much less sum than it will cost to take a teacher from this country. I have just read your remarks, in your paper of the 13th inst., on finding a colored young man in a newspaper office in Cleveland, and I feel the more indignant at the fact that while colored men and women are debarred from teaching in white schools, and cannot find employment for their talents, and so many
men and women, well qualified to become teachers, have been driven to Canada by the Fugitive Slave Law, that a colored man who boasts of having been a slave forty years can consent for a single moment to disregard the interest of his own people as Mr. Henson has on this instance. Who can read, without the greatest indignation, the account given of a pro-slavery white man being installed as preacher over the colored congregation in St. Philip's Church, New York? But, what can we expect of pro-slavery white men, when our own people are not willing to encourage those that they should. But, as Mr. Henson is here collecting money for the benefit of fugitive slaves, and has asserted again and again that it should be "spent to a good purpose," he has no right to make foolish engagements with men in this country. In a few weeks he will sail for Canada with the two thousand pounds which has been contributed by benevolent men and women here for the cause of education, and I hope that the colored people of Canada will demand of Mr. Henson an account of his stewardship, and let them see that he redeem his pledge to the English people to spend the money for a good purpose.
Yours, right truly,
Wm. Wells Brown.
No. 22 Cecil Street, Strand, London, June 3, 1852.