The slaveholder abroad; or, Billy Buck's visit, with his master, to England. A series of letters from Dr. Pleasant Jones [pseud.] to Major Joseph Jones, of Georgia

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Preface

The author of the following letters wishes it to be distinctly apprehended by the reader, that, as regards the personality of Dr. Jones and his servant, or their personal adventures and experience, as related in the following pages, he does not desire it to be understood or believed that he sets up any pretensions to the accuracy of narrative. He acknowledges that he has used these only as a stock upon which to engraft some fruit-bearing facts; and that he has assumed to himself a license in these particulars, in order that he might render the statements of fact which he has made, more attractive to general readers.

Let it be understood, then, once for all, that it is no part of the author's design that any credit should be given to the class of circumstances specified, as influencing the conclusions which he is anxious to have derived from the matter contained in these letters; and that (with one exception, which will be presently mentioned) the only statements which may be thought to affect the character of individuals, or of the British people, that he 1* (vl

VI PREFACE.

would liave received as credible evidence, are such as he has taken from some report made by authority, which, for the purposes he has in view, must be regarded as reliable : viz., an English book, periodical, or newspaper. The statements as to salaries, pensions, etc., of English officials, in the last letter but one, must be referred to as an exception. But these are facts which are so notorious, and which may be so easily verified by reference to the items of the English Civil List, that it was deemed unnecessary to be more particular. I will add that the author has indeed endeavored to give his authority for all the material facts stated (excepting those which have been referred to), both in the body of the work and in the Appendix.

Contents

INTRODUCTORY LETTER.

Wioai Dr. Pleuant Jones to William T. Thompson, Esq ^^^ 18

LETTER L ArriTal in Losdon— Back TisiU tlie Crystal Palaoe^His dsscrlptlon of it 28

Letter I. Arrival In London — ^buck Visits The Crtstal Palace

HIS DESCRIPTION OP IT.

London, July 8tb, 1851.

Dear Major : — I have arrived safely in London. I came on after resting one night only in Liverpool : so anxious was I to reach the Great Exhibition as soon as possible, and have my plough regularly entered for the race.

I had some difficulty in procuring lodgings, owing to the press of people brought here from so many nations by tnis great Fair ; and really I believe I should have had to sleep in the streets, or have taken up with lodgings something worse, but for the aid of a gentleman whom I met by accident. My lodgings are upon a somewhat small scale, though comfortable; and I find the people of the house accommodating enough, though their manner of doing things is so diflferent from that to which I have been accustomed as to keep me somewhat ill at ease. I have been otherwise unwell, too, ever since my arrival, and have not left my room, though it has been with difficulty that I have restrained myself from going out to the Crystal palace. Buck has made his visit there, however, ana has given me the benefit of the impression which it created upon him. Finding it advisable for me to keep my room this morning, and having no need for his services, I gave him permission to " go out and see the sights." He tricked himself off in his best apparel, and started. Soon after he left the room, hearing his voice below the window, I looked out upon the following scene :

'* Mister," said Buck to one of the waiters, taking off his hat quite politely, " Mister, can you tell me the way to the Christian Palace ?"

" Will you 'ave a cab ?" said the waiter.

''No, thank you," said he, with a scrape of his foot; " it's the Great Exerbishun I'm axin' for, sir."

*' Oh, yer are, are yer ? How will yer take it — warm with, or cold without? P'raps yer'd prefer it iced ?"

"No, I'm obleeged to you; I wouldn't choose any," said Buck humbly, and puzzled ; "I. wants to go to the Christian Palace, I say. Mister."

" Oh, yer do, do yer ? So I heerd yer say, yer ugly old lamp-post; ana I asked yer if yer'd 'ave a cab. P'raps yer d like me to get yer a 'ansom." [Hansom, you Know, Major, is the name of a vehicle which is used in London for the transportation of passengers.]

'' Look here. Mister," said Buck, " don't call names. Ef I am ugly, I am sis God made me ; and I shan't go to you to get handsome, I can tell you ; becase you haint got none of that ar article to spar. Mister."

Buck strode away quite indignant, and worked his way, by hook or by crook, to the Crystal Palace. He returned after some hours, in a state of great excitement.

" How did you like the Crystal Palace ?" said I.

" First-rate, Marster. But this here London town is curoser than it. I never spected to see sich a place in all my born days. Why, Marster, hits so big, tell you, can't tell you how big hit is — ^whar hit begins, nor whar hit eends. I sorter used to think that Pineville was some punkins, tell I seed Augusty, and hit tuk the shine out of it ; then I seed New York, and Augusty was no whar 'longside of it. But, Marster, you might take Pineville, an' Augusty, an' New York, an wrap 'um all up together, an put 'um all into one of the pockets of this big town, an' then you couldn't find 'um 'thout aarchin' mighty close."

BILLY buck's visit TO BNGLAND. 25

What about the Crystal Palace ?" said I ; " What is it like?"

" Well, Marster," said he, " hits a monstrous big glass house, fixed up with iron. Take it bye and large, sir, an' hit's bout as big as our rye pasture ; an' hit's sittiwated in a sort o' woods lot that they calls a park, 'bout the size of our brush-arbor field. Hit's as chock full of curosities as a egg is of meat, sir. Thar's trees growing in it 'bout as big as some of the trees in our grove, sir."

"Are the trees in the park large and fine ?" said I.

"Tell you what it is, Marster, we've got no sich houses as that in our country, an' no sich curosities in 'um as I seed thar ; but when hit comes to trees, sir, we've got 'um — them trees can't shine 'longside of our Georgy woods."

" How did you find your way to the Palace?" said I.

"Kep etarnally axin, Marster, tell I found people gwine thar. God knows, thar was people enough in the streets to ax of — ^more people than ever I seed before, in all the days of my life, I raaly do believe, sir ; and some of the outlandishest folks at that. They didn't seem to talk good Inglish talk, nohow ; an' 'peared like they couldnit adzactly onderstand me. Ef what half on 'um said hadn*t been a huckleberry over my persimmon to onderstand, I mought have found my way to the Christian Palace before 1 did."

" I observed your failure to understand the waiter," said I, " when you first left the house, and the blunders you committed when talking to him. The man requested to know if he should call a cab (that is, a carriage) for you ; and then he asked if he should get a hansom for you (another name for a sort of carriage or cab), and you were quite impertinent in your repUes to him."

"Well, raaly! was that what he meant to say, sir? Why, I thought he was tryin' to make divarsion of me. I'll go right straight off, Marster, and ax the gen'l'man's pardon."

As I told you. Major, my apartments are rather contracted; but, considering what the press is just now, I have reason to be thankful that I have done so ^<ilL 3

Everything is neat and clean, and the servants are attentive. It is the custom here, I find, to furnish the supply of accommodations according to the demand. A certain price must be paid for your apartments, and then you are charged separately for everything else. But for what I am informed are customary servants' fees, the prices would not be so very extravagant, considering the crowds who are now swarming into this city. My probable expenses by the week, as well as I can learn, will not exceed fifty-eight shillings, not reckoning servant's perquisites; or about fifteen dollars in our currency, i^ot so verv bad, considering the ''jam."

You shall hear from me again soon. Meantime, I am, dear Major,

To Major Jones, P. Jones.

Pineville Georgia, U. S. of America.

Letter II

DR. JONES VISITS AND DESCRIBES THE GREAT EXHIBITION.

London, July 10th, 1851.

Dear major : — I have visited the Great Exhibition, and hasten to write you an account rather of the general impression produced on my mind than of the details. To furnish you with an account of these details would require many days, and then I should have performed the task very imperfectly. You will find it sufficiently well done by the newspapers, which I send you by this mail. In this letter I enclose an excellent engraving, which I assure you presents an accurate picture of one front and end of the building, and gives you a very good idea of the whole.

The building, you know, is chiefly composed of glass, supported by iron pillars, which spring from the wooden fl'^oring. !nie roof, which is of glass, has been somewhat darkened and protected by a canvass covering, and the water which falls on it is carried off through the centres of the many thousand iron pillars, which have been made hollow, and thus perform the double purpose of props and gutters. These pillar-pipes conduct the water into drains below, which communicate with sewers iTeneath the ground. A shower of rain came on whilst I was in the building, and the effect was very extraordinary. A roaring sound in the direction of the roof was heard, as of the surf upon the sea-shore, whilst, by listening attentively, the dashing of a thousand muffled water-falls might be detected within the pillars. The size of the building may be judged of by the fact that , the roof comprises a space of about twenty acres. The ' banners whicn are ranged along the roof are the flags of all nations; and the prominent feature which you will observe in the centre of the building is the great transept. The main entrance is on the south.

I was indebted to the assistance of a gentleman who had frequently visited the Palace in forming my first acquaintance with it, and you shall have the benefit of somewhat that I saw and learned.

When I had passed by that main entrance, my attention was first called to many narrow, dark-looking passages, branching to the right and left of this entrance. Here, I was told, presided the intellect which governed this vast piece of machinery. The main-springs which give it motion and regulate its action are here seated. In a number of small apartments, a few feet square, connected with each other, tne members of the Executive Committee are accustomed to sit and administer the affairs of the Institution, as it may be called. Lieutenant-Colonel Reed, of the Engineering Corps attached to the British armv, assisted by a**Mr. Dilke, here superintends the whole. A Mr. Cole regulates the allotment of space and the arrangement of articles in the building, and Mr. Digby Wyatt here looks after its plans and structure. Here are also the heads of various other departments, too tedious to mention. On the left is a room more Bumptuouslv furnished than those I have just described, where the Aoyal Commissioners sometimes assemble.

From this position I advanced into the body of the edifice, and was soon lost in the seething mass of life which stirred throughout the immense enclosure. It is said in the papers that more than fifty thousand persons visited the Duilding on that day. I found people of all nations, apparently, and all tongues, encountering and jostling one another ; and there was more that was impressive to me in this mass of men, coming from the quiet of a country home, as I did, than in all that magnificent and curious assemblage of the world's wealth which was ranged on every side of me. Something of the order in which this was arranged you will learn from the number of the Times which I send you. I will endeavor to give you an idea of the character of the articles by such general descriptions of them as I find furnished. Of course, by far the greater number of specimens supplied are by citizens of the United Kingdom of England, Ireland, and, Scotland. I am sorry tnat our countrymen have occupied so small a space in the building. They have filled only a portion of that which was set apart for them, and so far, their contributions are not very remarkable.

The interest of an American who enters the building turns almost instinctively to the machinery exhibited. I mention, then, as first in the list, the splendid Specimens of variov^ Machines, Steam Engines, Railway Carriages, and Naval Mechanism, The United Kingdom is almost unrivalled in this field, and the specimens furnished are most admirable. Then come Civil Engineering, and Architectural and Building Machinery ; in which the preponderance is greatly in favor of Great Britain, but France and Switzerland compete handsomely. Next we have Naval Architecture, then Military Engineering, Ordnance, Armor, and Accoutrements. In some of these branches the competition is very considerable. Next in order I mention Agricultural and Horticultural Machines and Implements, Here, again, there is considerable competition from the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and, in a less decree, from our country. I expected many more oontriDutions in this line from our countrymen, especially from the ingenious mechanics of New England. There is a reaping machine exhibited by a Mr. M'Cormick, from the United States, which is very much admired, and will receive a prize, I have no doubt. There is a fine specimen of a plough from the same quarter, contributed by Prouty and Mears ; and then there is the plough of your humble servant : both of which deserve success, if they do not obtain it. I was next attracted to Manufacturing Machines and Tools. Here the competition with the iJnited Kingdom is very considerable, and here our countrymen enter the lists a little more extensively ; but new specimens from their hands are not as numerous as I expected to see them. Carriages of various sorts then drew my attention. The United Kingdom has it pretty much its own way here. Our people show some buggies, which may perhaps win favor. I next mention Philosophical and Surgical Instruments, Here the competition IS very great, and the specimens most wonderful. Following this, I should place Horological Instruynents — clocks, watches, etc. ; in which the competition is very

freat. Among the clocks is one intended to run five undred days. There are also many interesting specimens of MvMcal Instruments from many nations. Our countryman, Mr. Chickering, will obtain a prize for his piano, I have no doubt. My attention was next given to the department of Cotton Fabrics, Here, perhaps, you naturally expect our people to shine ; but I am afraid it will not turn out so. The United Kingdom has a great preponderance in the articles exhibited, though there are some splendid specimens from other countries. France contributes some articles which, for originality and beauty of design, are unsurpassed. Switzerland sends splendid specimens of muslins and ginghams, and our New England manufacturers send some coarse fabrics which are much admired. In Woollen and Worsted the competition is greater, and the display is most remarkable. Our countrymen are '' no where " in the race. So, again, with reference to Silk and Velvet, to manufactures from Flax and Hemp, and to Mixed Fabrics , Shawls, etc. Saxony sends very rich specimens of silk stuffs for tapestry, furniture, carriages, etc. Satins, laces, embroidery, hroQ»r 3* telle, etc., rich specimens of velvet, silk, embroidered cambric handkerchiefs, etc., are also sent from Geneva. In Leather manufactures there is also considerable competition ; and here, especially in the articles of harness and trunks, our people present some claims to rivalry. The exhibition of Skins j Furs, etc., is also very extensive, and very admirable.

The department of Paper, Stationery , Printing y and Bookbinding next attracted my observation. In this department are 160 fine books, printed in the Arabic, Persian, and Turkish languages, contributed by the Government of Egypt. Think of Abbas Pasha sending literature to the Great Exhibition ! There are innumerable specimens of Printing , or Dyeing, which I did not have time to examine. The Tapestry, Carpets, etc., exhibited, constitute one of the most interesting departments in the Exhibition ; and in it there is remarkable competition among several of the European States. Here again we are far behind in the race. In Lace and Em-* broidery, Fancy Work, etc., the same remarks may be made. In Articles of Clothing for Domestic use the competition is also very extensive ; and here some fine articles from our country are exhibited. In Iron and Hardware there is very considerable competition between the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, and France; though I must confess the English seem to bear away the palm in this line. So, too, tney have it very much all their own way in Cutlery and Edge Tools, In Jewelry, Working in the Precious Metals, Articles of Virtu, etc., the competition is very remarkable among the European States. Here, in my opinion, the greatest number of prizes in proportion to the number of contributions will be borne away by citizens of France — their goldsmith work is indeed very beautiful. In Glass, the display is very remarkable, and the honors very much divided among European States, I thought. So, also, as to Porcelain, Earthenware, etc. So, also, as to Decorative Furniture and Upholstery, Manufactures in Mineral Substances used for Building or Decoration. So as to various Manufactures from Animal and Vegetable Substances, such as straw and shell work, ivory, combs, India-rubber, gutta-percha, hair, feathers, brushes, etc.

Here, again, our people bravely enter the lists in the India-rubber and gutta-percha lines. In Sculpture, Models, and the Plastic art, the competition is chiefly among the C!ontinental European States, Italy, Franfce, Austria, Bavaria, Belgium, Prussia, and other parts of Germany. The United States are represented by Powers and his Greek Slave. In Mining, Quarrying, etc., the specimens were very extensive, especially from the various States of Europe. And so in Chemical and Phartnaceutical Processes and Products. In the department of Substances used cw Food, the display was truly remarkable and exceedingly interesting. And here our country is enabled very prominently^and favorably to enter into the competition. Here Abbas Pasha, of Egypt, and Mr. T. Bell, of Genesee, in our country, are rivals in the article of wheat. Heath & Burrows, from Australia, refuse to admit the superiority of either specimen to that which they f)resent ; Lepelletier, from Algeria, also claims the priviege of entering the lists against them all. Here sugars from Siam, from Canada, from Cuba, from the United States, from Malaga, from India, from France (beet sugar), and from Austria (also beet sugar), are in generous rivalry. But I fear I shall grow tedious if I longer continue the subject. I will therefore only add that the collection of Vegetahle and Animal Substances, Woods, etc., used in Manufactures as Implements, etc., or for Ornament, was most extensive and curious. It is, of course, from all parts of the world, and names of contributors in this department very familiar to me, such as Mr. Bond, and James V. Jones, of our State, and Colonel Hampton and Colonel Seabrook, of South Carolina, are found alongside of St. Maur, of Algeria, M'Arthur, of New South Wales, Manuel, Cape of Good Hope, and Abdul Hamid, of Egypt.

Perhaps I may return to this subject. In the mean time, I am, dear Major,

P. Jones.

To Maj. Jones,

Pineville, Ga., U, S. of America.

Letter III

buck's OREETINQ op the queen and BOTAL family IN-

PERVIEW WITH AN ENGLISH GENTLEMAN — CONVERSATION AS TO SLAVERY.

London, August Ist, 1851.

Dear Major : — One day last week I had the pleasure of seeing the Royal Family of this country. Understanding that they were to visit the Crystal Palace at or about a certain hour, and that they would probably enter by one of the private doors, which was pointed out to me, I determined to obtain a position from which I could see them. I repaired to the spot, but found myself preceded by quite a number of persons. I succeeded, however, in getting near enougii to see them, though the view was not as satisfactory as I could have desired. The Queen appeared to be a ladylike but most plain person, with amiable features, and rather under size in stature. The Prince, her husband, was a very fine-looking gentleman, of about middle stature, I thought, and rather intellectual in hi6 appearance. Of the children I did not get a good view.

I was much interested with the enthusiasm of the people around me. They were evidently influenced not only by the sentiment of loyalty, but by a feeling more tender — a sentiment of aflection for and sympathy with the good and virtuous wife and mother. I confess that my own heart warmed toward the august lady, as I saw her thus, not with the peculiar bearing of a mighty sovereign, but as the gentle patroness of industry and the arts, and with her husband and children about her, affording to her subjects and the world an example of those domestic virtues which shed so sweet and soft a light upon the hearthstone, as well of the humble homestead as of the royal palace ; and, republican as I was, I joined right heartily in the cheers which were given her before she entered the building. As for Buck, by dint of pushing and elbowing, he managed to get nearer, and mounted on a curb-stone, or step of some sort, which rather raised him above the heads of most of the crowd. He joined lustily in the cheering, and then, turning toward me, and aflFecting the droll, he said, in his African lingo, " God bress my soul, Massa, she nuttin but buckra folks arter all ! I been tink she engel from hebbin, only got petticoat stidy wing."

Some of those around him cheered this speech ; which observing, the rogue continued :

" Well, if she no bin engel, Massa, she desarve to be engel ; she good sem like engel, dat trute. In my country, Massa,' (addressing a portly gentleman, whose fine face, glowing with delight, was turned up to him,) " in Ebo country, dem queen de debbil."

" You had better be careful, Buck," said I, for want of something better to say, "how you declare that the Queen deserves to be an angel. That is as much as to say she deserves to die ; ana some of these loyal Englishmen, hearing you say that, may charge you with compassing the death of her Majesty. '

BiLck, " No sir-ree, Massa ! me no compuss nuttin — nairy time — me only say dat Queen good sem like engel — dat what make her people lub hear so, Massa."

''So it is, my man,' said the same portly and good-humored gentleman to whom I have referred ; " so it is ; and I honor you for appreciating our Queen as you do."

The gentleman shook Buck warmly by the hand. The latter returned the grasp with such a right good will as to bring tears into the Englishman's handsome eyes.

" What is your name, my man ?" said he.

" Billy Buck," said Buck, taking off his hat and dropping his African dialect, " sarvant to Dr. Jones, of Georgy, sir : this gen'l'man, sir, my Marster."

" Sir," said the gentleman, turning to me with a bow, " I have been quite pleased with the humor of your servant, and his liking for our Queen."

Myself. " He has been bred, sir, in a country where all classes honor those virtues which are so conspicuous in the Queen of England, and where the sex of your sove*

c reign is always treated with respect by the opposite sex — even by the slave."

Stranger, '* You are from the United States, I suppose; and this man is your slave."

Myaelf, ^^Yes."

Stranger. " Yours is a remarkable country, sir ; and certainly such respect for the gentler sex is highly creditable to its people. I have heard it said that there was a chivalric regard for women in America. Does your observation in Europe serve to strengthen the belief that your people are peculiar in this respect ?"

Myself, " I have been impressed with the conviction that a more delicate respect for woman, and tender regard for little children, is common among my countrymen, especially in the Southern States, than — if you will pardon me, sir — than among Englishmen."

Stranger, "Why should this be so? And can you assign a reason for such a state of facts ?"

Myself, " Perhaps the subject, as a social problem, should be closely studied, to be thoroughly understood in all its aspects ; but I like to think of the fact of which I have spoken, as a blessing from the household and family gods of our people — the Lares familiares^ sir, as an ancient people once called them. My countrymen, esp^ecially in the South, as a general rule, live very much in families. The necessaries of life are sufficiently easy of acquisition to encourage our young men and women in the ready formation of family ties. In a country like ours, it is to the public interest that families should be increased as much as possible ; and therefore these relations assume a very high importance in the eyes of society. In a community where the institution of slavery exists, the servants, as slaves, become a permanent portion of, and are completely identified with, the family circle, and thus that circle is enlarged and widened in its sphere and influences. Depend upon it, sir, it was not without a foundation in true knowledge of human nature that those ancient Eomans chose the *^ Decurions of their Lares " in every family from among its slaves, and appointed slaves, not freemen, to assist tlie priests in their sacrificea to these divinities, as Cicero and Horace both inform as was the custom. You may remember that, in your schoolboy lessons, you found a very pleasant picture, drawn by the latter, of the happy slaves sitting around the family Lares :

It is in this way, sir, that I account, in part, for a general prevalence among my countrymen, white and black, of those affections, sympathies, and sentiments which cluster around the homes of a people, and those who are identified with those homes : viz., women and children."

Stranger, " Sir, you put the subject before me in a striking and, to me, somewhat novel light. I have not been in the habit of thinking of your slaves as living under the influence of such relations between them and their owners."

Myself, " In that, you and others have not rightly comprehended this institution as it exists among us. To a great extent, and as a general rule, our slaves regard themselves as a part of the family, and bound up with its interests. As a race, they are good-humored and affectionate, and they soon become attached to their owners, unless the latter are cruel to them, which does not as often happen as may be supposed ; for the interest of the owner generally forbids it (as the law does), when conscience does not. Your own eloquent Burke, in his letters to Arthur Young, has said that 'It is plainly more to the farmer's interest that his men should thrive than that his horses should be well fed, sleek, and plump, and fit for use, or than that his wagons and ploughs should be strong, in good repair, and nt for service. If this be right when spoken of free laborers, you will readily perceive how it must be so of those who are the property of the farmer. The attachment of which I have spoken is very often mutual, and strong and lifelong friendships are thus formed. Here is my man, for example, to whom I am indebted for the pleasure of this interview with you, sir. Next to my wife and child, I have no such living friend." *

* See Appendix, K, { 2.

36 THE SLAVEHOLBEB ABROAD; OR,

Stranger. " Truly, sir, I am happy to have met with you, and your man too. I shall be glad to make your better acquaintance, and will exchange cards with you with pleasure."