Cincinnati, May 20, 1848.

Dear Douglass:—Since my last, I have held meetings in this city in Harrison-Street Church, in Sixth-Street Methodist Church, in Union Baptist Church, Baker street. Addressed the Sons of Temperance in Sixth-Street Methodist Church on Sabbath evening last. Delivered an address in Baker-Street Church, before the members and trustees of the Colored Orphan Asylum, on which occasion a handsome collection of upwards of sixty dollars was taken up for the support of the Institution. On Wednesday evening lectured in Baker-Street Church; on Thursday evening, addressed the "United Daughters," a society having for its object the liquidation of claims against the A.M.E. Church. During the intervals, I have been engaged soliciting subscribers to the North Star.

I stated, in my last, the number of colored residents in this city to be about 5,000, among whom there is a great deal of real wealth. I consider the colored inhabitants of this place, so far as real estate is concerned, to be in as comfortable a condition as any place I have yet visited, either East or West. I speak intelligently and knowingly when I say there is a great deal of real estate possessed by colored people here. I had not the least idea of it until I investigated. Among the real estate holders in the city, many possess most excellent farms, and large tracts of land, in different counties, several of whom I know, who possess from one to eleven hundred acres of land each. With the wealth possessed by the colored citizens here, great things might be effected, if properly applied.

There are various mechanics among the colored people, some of whom are doing fine business. Among them I perceive extensive smithing establishments, many carpenters, shoe-makers, bricklayers, plasterers, and, indeed, most of the mechanical trades, amply demonstrating our capacity to take care of ourselves. There are among the respectable mechanics, none who stand more conspicuously than Henry Boyd, frequently spoken of, and whose name is widely known among abolitionists. His establishment is on the corner of Sycamore and Eighth streets, and is quite an extensive furniture manufactory. He gives constant employment to eight or ten hands in his establishment, and sells off his furniture as fast as they can make it. Bedsteads are the staple article, and these rate in price from $8 to $1[.]25. I saw in his furniture rooms some of the finest articles. Mr. Boyd, a few years ago, as you have noticed, was a slave; and now is not only able to take care of himself, but give constant employment to some five or six white men, (as well as a number of colored, there being both employed,) thereby enabling them (the white men) to "take care of themselves." Mr. Boyd, I believe, takes no active part among the colored people.—This I regret, as he might be very useful. He is a subscriber to the North Star.

There is one colored gentleman who keeps a fine confectionary and public saloon; several who keep smaller saloons and places of entertainment; several groceries of respectable dimensions; and many who sell and trade in market. This is what I desire to see—our people coming out of the old employments of domestic servitude and menial occupations. This must be done if we expect ever to be elevated to an equality with the dominant class.

Of societies, there are some six, among which the "United Colored American" stands foremost, now numbering some three hundred members. It has several branches, and a grand head, all of which are located in Cincinnati.

There are five or six churches among the colored people, some of which are of the independent denomination, and some are in connection with the white church governments. Of these, the Baker-Street Baptist Church, and New Street Methodist Church, stand so connected, the former having its own pastor, who is a colored man, the congregation possessing full ownership in the property, while the latter has a white pastor, and the church, if I mistake not, belongs to the white Methodist Conference. There are also several Sabbath schools; one, I believe, attaches to each of the churches, and I can bear testimony to the excellence of the one belonging to the Free Wesleyan Church, Harrison st. This school I found very interesting.

There is a fine school taught here by Mrs. Eleanor Thomas, (formerly Miss Henderson,) a young lady of acquired accomplishments, a student of Oberlin. Mrs. Thomas has some 50 or more pupils in her school, all colored, of course, and as she is herself of the proscribed race, does credit to it as a literary teacher.

The High School, formerly under the charge of Rev. Hiram Gilmore, I did not find in the condition I expected. Aside from the location and arrangement of buildings, I was disappointed in many respects. The principal school-room is above the True Wesleyan Church, a fine building of medium size, on Harrison street, entrance from the back yard. For the purpose of making room, an adjacent back building has been erected, but these, as well as the main apartment, have its access by a flight of high stairways from the yard, which reduces the story to a mere loft comparatively. I should have no objection to this arrangement, had it been the result of necessity; but knowing, as I do, that it was selected as a matter of choice, and that, too, in the neighborhood of so many preferable spots that might have been obtained, as the purchasers had ample means, I cannot but give my disapprobation to the selection of the place, as not at all being such as would have been made by any person who had in charge a High School for white children, instead of colored. The location is an out-of-the-way, back-ground place, and appears as though it were chosen to hide the pupils from public view. If it be argued that there would have been a difficulty in obtaining a more eligible spot for such a purpose, I answer, that the success would have been as probable as that of the colored Orphan Asylum, in a fine central part of the city, and many of the colored churches.

The former pupils of the Cincinnati High School are not what I expected to find them. I here most cheerfully admit that there has been some progress on the part of many, several little misses having learned music—an excellent accomplishment; and two or three youths, on whom particular pains has been taken, qualified to some extent in the useful branches of a business education; but the most of them have learned comparatively nothing. Instead of a substantial qualification, such as I expected to find in these pupils, a respectable knowledge of the elements of science generally, sorry am I to say it, that the most of those that I have seen and examined, know but little about those branches of education.

Composition, of the correct construction of sentences, appears to be foreign to the former pupils of this High School. Many of them now, after having "finished" (!) their education, as it is termed by many, when putting their hand to paper, write as though there was no such letter as a capital I. This I much regret, and it would appear as though the greater part of the time of the pupils was spent in preparing for exhibitions, which of course make great displays of seeming qualification, whether or not there be anything real. I am borne out in this opinion by the display of music on the part of many of the little misses, the whole of whom play the same pieces, and when done with these, go no farther. Besides, the parents of several of them quaintly observed, that their daughters were rather indifferent about music, although they had great talents for it, (and certain, I can say they have in reality,) but the secret of the matter was, that these misses had been taught for the purpose of exhibiting in the school, and so soon as they have done with their exhibition exercises, all is done in the main.

I expect here to meet a rebut on the part of the friends of the school, but cannot help it.—My mission is to assist in the elevation of the oppressed and downtrodden of our land, in order faithfully to do which we must speak the truth and expose error, and this I shall do, though the "heavens fall."

I wish it not to be thought that I would not award to Mr. Gilmore what is due him—far be it from me, and I disclaim all or any such intention. I thank Mr. Gilmore, most heartily thank him, for the motives which prompted him, but really think that he fell far short of attaining the object of his project, or even adopting the proper method for his attainment. In the estimation of Cincinnatians general, it was a very good colored school; viewing it in the light of a colored school, it probably was very good, not having it in my power to determine what qualifies a colored school; but one thing I do know—it was very far from being a good school.

Mary E. Miles, the accomplished young lady who was induced to leave the East by Mr. Gilmore, and come West to assist him, did not get an opportunity to make herself useful, Mr. Gilmore having withdrawn from the school shortly after her arrival, it falling into the hands of other principals. Miss Miles did not understand in coming to the West, that she was to hold an inferior position in the female department, but the arrangements appear to have been made, and she had but to leave her situation or act as a mere monitor! She is a noble girl—a faithful friend of the slave, and nobly has she sustained her position.

The High School at present numbers fifty pupils, and is under the charge of Dr. Child and lady, assisted by their daughter. I am in hopes they may teach their children something more substantial and useful than mere exhibition displays. They are very fine people, and no doubt will do their duty. There is another school here, taught by Rev. Mr. Clemens, pastor of the True Wesleyan Chapel, a very amiable gentleman. This is said to be in a prosperous condition.

I would call special attention to the Colored Orphan Asylum of this city. This is an institution got up through the industry of the colored ladies and gentlemen, in 1845, for the use and protection of orphans rejected from participation in the State institution of similar character. The ground and building cost considerable, and much expense was incurred in repairing and fitting it up. There are now fourteen of these little creatures, thrown by chance upon the cold charities of the world, are able to find a good and comfortable home. The present matron is Mrs. Bowler, the relict of a brother to the Mr. Bowler, who is at present, I believe a prominent citizen of Port-au-Prince, Hayti.

Although the institution is not in every particular complete, yet it is well kept, neat and clean, and vigorous efforts are now being made to establish a school department, book department, and in every other respect, make it what it should be. The white citizens of the place have been very liberally disposed toward the Asylum, and it has recently engaged Rev. W. P. Newman, a qualified and talented gentleman, to act as Travelling Financial Agent, who has recently returned from a tour, and reported very favorably. A donation occasionally from abroad may be the means of providing a home for some forlorn, motherless child, and I ask through this medium, the friends of humanity at a distance to remember the Colored Orphan Asylum of Cincinnati. This institution has claims upon the State, and it is a burning shame that the Legislature does not make an appropriation annually for its support.

The colored citizens of Cincinnati have a fine cemetery, which was consecrated with ceremony by Rev. Samuel Lewis, on the 8th inst. I was to have spoken also on the occasion, but by some mishap, did not arrive in time, but like the foolish virgins, found the "doors closed" when I arrived; or in other words, the ceremony over, and the people coming away. This truly is a lovely spot, two and a half miles from the city, on a beautiful Macadamised road, leading North. It was purchased by a company of gentlemen of the "United Colored American Association,"