Milton, O., June 18, 1848

Dear Douglass:—I have, since my last letter, held meetings in Hamilton, Dayton, Springfield, Troy, and Milton, the place from which I now write, all of which, with the exception of one place, (Springfield,) were well attended. In Hamilton, by some mistake, my notice did not reach the persons to whom it was directed, hence no meeting was in readiness when I arrived; but the colored citizens who had heard of my coming, although it was sun-set when I arrived, immediately got up a good meeting, several of whom subscribed for the Star after the lecture. They are few in number, but the most intelligent, industrious, and spirited people, for the size of the place, of any with whom I have met. Their taste and style of living, is worthy of example—the neatness and cleanliness of their handsome little cottages being among the most prominent features of their praiseworthiness. Of all things in this world, for heaven's sake, give me cleanliness. Let circumstances be what they may, I see no good reason why people may not be cleanly about their houses and with their persons; but it is a fact, much to be regretted and unsparingly reproved, that a great many families, of humble pretensions, and others, too, residing in many of those country towns and villages, almost entirely neglect the observance of both. There are a number of respectable farmers in this neighborhood, and some good mechanics round about the place.

From Hamilton, I went to Dayton, which place I reached at sunset of the day that I was to speak. It will be scarcely necessary for me to state that this is a very pro-slavery community, as it has been long known for the mobocratic spirit which in former days prevailed in the place. I could not, though intimated by a friend from whom I received a letter previous to my going, have expected a very general attendance.

On my arrival, I discovered handbills all through the streets, announcing the meeting, to be held at the Universalist Church; and on inquiring for the residence of Dr. Adams Jewett, to my astonishment, I found displayed on the centre column of the porch in front of his house, a notice of the meeting. This, of course, in such a place as Dayton, I did not expect, for the reason that Dr. Jewett is the same person against whom was directed the malignity of those infernal outrages, so frequent heretofore, perpetrated against the friends of freedom and the anti-slavery cause. The Doctor was four or five times mobbed—having had his windows broken to atoms—the medicines and a great deal of the furniture of his office and house destroyed by this species of insufferable villany. Like the gentlemanly ruffians who placed the rope around his neck, and dragged through the streets the non-resisting and lamb-like Garrison, of Boston, no doubt determined, had he not been rescued from their fiend-like grasp, on his destruction—so were those foremost in this work of infamy against Dr. Adams Jewett, also a non-resistant, though a Liberty Party man, composed of well-dressed miscreants of "property and standing."

I have it from his own lips, that there was nothing more common, when passing through the streets, than for him to be stigmatized with the epithet of "nigger"—casting, if I mistake not, frequently, stones at him. Not content with this mischief and insult, but to make the injury more complete, although he being the most competent physician in the place, the patronage of the artistocracy was withdrawn from him.

But notwithstanding all this, like a noblehearted and true philanthropist, as he is, he outlived this long-continued contumely, and they who in those days were the foremost in their boasting of deeds which should have made the most relentless endeavor to conceal, cannot be found who will admit that they even countenanced such insufferable deeds of daring. Dr. Jewett, notwithstanding the community in which he lives, is a practical as well as professing philanthropist, and carries out his principles, in every manner which duty demands. His family is equally excellent with himself, his lady being one of the best of women, and the foremost in almost all good and benevolent institutions among the ladies in this city. I have thus particularized Dr. Jewett and family, for the reason that they have stood almost alone in the midst of a large pro-slavery community, until, through their instrumentality, it is nearly prostrated.

Dayton is an inland city, of above thirteen thousand inhabitants, and was originally settled by wealthy Kentuckians, some of whom even brought slaves with them; hence, it was hard and difficult to overcome these human flesh-mongers. The preponderance, however, of the population are descendants of Pennsylvania Dutch, who are infinitely worse than Kentuckians. The interspersing of the population with New Englanders and New Yorkers, has made Dayton the place of civility that it now is.

I had a good meeting and attentive audience of ladies and gentlemen on this evening, but in consequence of the anxiety of the people to hear, the church being thought too small, the City Hall was proposed for the next evening, which was also filled with an attentive assemblage of intelligent listeners.

June 8th.—Lectured again in the City Hall, which was filled to the utmost capacity, vestibule and aisles, which, when thus filled, is said to contain about eleven hundred people. Like the former, this meeting was equally listful and attentive, breaking up in the best of order and apparent satisfaction. I have been since informed, that a very good impression has been produced in Dayton. Our good colaborer, Henry Bibb, lectured in Dayton one week previous to my coming—a place where he has several times previously spoken, and much admired; but whatever merit there is in Mr. Bibb, they have always found it very applicable to attribute it to his whiteness—that is, they say that his talents emanate from the preponderance of white blood in him. This it will puzzle them to say of me!

On Thursday afternoon and evening of the 8th. I held good meetings in the Hall, the meeting in the evening being a very jam.

On Friday evening, I lectured to the colored citizens in the True Wesleyan Chapel, the pastor of which, Mr. W. Clemence, is an amiable and intelligent gentleman, student of Oberlin. Baring the usual few exceptions made in all cases where the general will is applied, among whom Mr. Clemence is one, together with his and some other families, the colored people in this place are farthest behind the age of any I have yet met in my travels. This I much regret, and may yet have much to say about them in future.

Saturday morning the 10th, left Dayton for Springfield, where I arrived the same afternoon; and finding, on inquiring, that the people and clergy were rather too pro-slavery to obtain a church, I applied to the Sheriff, who very readily granted permission for the Court House; but the court being then in session, it could not be used, as the books, records and documents were then deposited in the Court Chamber. I remained here, endeavoring to get up a general meeting and obtain subscribers, holding two meetings among the colored inhabitants, four days, but without success, the court not adjourning until the morning I left the place. Here the colored people, with some exceptions, are still behind those of Dayton, being most indifferent to matters pertaining to their welfare and elevation of any with whom it has been my fortune to meet. In and about this place I could neither see nor hear of colored mechanics not farmers. This is sad, and I would that I could otherwise write, but it is even so, which was not the case in Dayton, as there are some colored mechanics there, however little use they may make of their trades. If I have misrepresented the good people of Springfield, they will do me the favor to correct it.

Monday 14th.—Lectured in Troy to a good assemblage of ladies and gentlemen in the Town Hall. This hall stands near the Court House, and on this, as is usual on such occasions, the bell in the cupola of the Court House was rung for meeting. But on the evening of Tuesday, having mentioned the name of Gen. Taylor in the course of my previous address, the Sheriff prohibited the ringing of the bell. Albeit, we had a large audience and a quiet meeting.

In and about this place, reside a portion of the Randolph people, driven by mob violence from the land purchased for them near Pickaway. Here resides the wife and daughter of the old and faithful groom of John Randolph, Juba Taylor—known as Juba. She is now married to a nephew of her former husband, Juba, who calls himself Rial Randolph, and who is evidently several years younger than his wife and aunt, Cecilia Taylor, the wife of Juba. She possesses that kind of intelligence that the wife of an illiterate slave, like Juba, might be expected to possess. Susan is the name of Juba's daughter, who is about 16 years of age, and said to be the image of her father. If so, Juba was a pure Guinean, small features and intelligent expression.—His wife informed me that he has been dead some six or seven years, and denies that he could either read or write, and all say that John Randolph would not permit a slave to be taught to read. These people generally are very ignorant, though some of their children have learned to read during the short time they have been in Ohio, and that, too, under the most disadvantageous circumstances.

I met here a rare genius in the person of a little boy, but fourteen years of age, by the name of Simon Foreman Laundrey, a natural Phrenologist, who examines heads, reads out the organs, and delivers lectures on the science. He has had but comparatively little schooling, and what his qualifications are I do not know; but he speaks properly, and his examinations compare well with experienced and competent professors of the science of phrenology. Of course he is defective yet, but if care be taken to give him an education, some day he will be at the head of his profession.

The little genius lectures also on Dentistry—the anatomy, physiology and disease of the teeth. He informed me that he is preparing a work of some 50 or sixty pages, which he expects to bring out "after harvest," on the "Geography of the Brain," which is to be the title of his work.

He offered his services to examine my cranium, and passed his little hands over the organs, reading them with as much facility as Fowler or Melrose. I advised this child to travel through the country, in company with his mother or some other adult relative, which from the novelty of his age and all the connecting circumstances, would secure him a patronage, from the proceeds of which, in a few months, he would gain sufficient to educate himself at Oberlin, or some other literary institution. His father resides at Harrisburg, O., a poor man, a blacksmith by trade, having a family of several children, none of whom, says Simon, save himself, appear inclined to literature, or manifest more than ordinary intellect.

On Friday, I held a meeting in the M. E. Church at Milton, according to previous notice, which was full and attentive. I lectured again on Saturday (yesterday) evening, the 17th, to a good audience. In the morning, I went out of Milton about three miles, to a settlement of the other part of the Randolph people, whom I addressed in a kind of bush meeting, in the woods, where a number of them, of all ages and both sexes, collected together with many of the white neighbors.—We adapted our discourse and language to their comprehension, speaking to them with the most childlike simplicity. Mr. C. H. Langston, a talented young colored gentleman, who volunteered his services to travel with and assist me for a while, was in company, and also spoke to them.

Here I met with a brother and uncle of John White, the old and faithful page of John Randolph, known as his man John. John White, becoming discouraged—as well he might—at the outrages perpetrated against himself and comrades in Ohio, left the State and went back to Virginia; but the laws or ordinances not permitting him to remain in that State, his people inform me, he has removed to Philadelphia, where, I have since been informed by a gentleman, who says he has good authority for saying that he is busily engaged narrating the Life of John Randolph, for some Virginia historian, who is preparing to bring out the life of this singular man—the "Lord of Roanoak." What John is to receive for his services, I have not heard, but hope he is to be properly recompensed.

These people generally appear much more intelligent than those at Troy, and several of their children also read. All, however, readily join in saying that John Randolph was a "good master." If these poor, ignorant, dejected and degraded people are—and they most surely are such—the evidences of a good master, or slaveholder, in the name of heaven, what must be the condition of those generally who claim no such character for the "mas-