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〃My dear Mr Estlin；
〃I trust that in God's good providence this letter will be handed to you in safety by our good friends； William and Ellen Craft。 They have lived amongst us about two years； and have proved themselves worthy； in all respects； of our confidence and regard。 The laws of this republican and Christian land （tell it not in Moscow； nor in Constantinople） regard them only as slaveschattels personal property。 But they nobly vindicated their title and right to freedom； two years since； by win… ning their way to it； at least； so they thought。 But now； the slave power； with the aid of Daniel Webster and a band of lesser traitors； has enacted a law； which puts their dearly…bought liberties in the most imminent peril； holds out a strong temp… tation to every mercenary and unprincipled ruffian to become their kidnapper； and has stimulated the slaveholders generally to such desperate acts for the recovery of their fugitive property； as have never before been enacted in the history of this government。
〃Within a fortnight； two fellows from Macon； Georgia； have been in Boston for the purpose of arresting our friends William and Ellen。 A writ was served against them from the United States District Court； but it was not served by the United States Marshal； why not； is not certainly known： perhaps through fear； for a general feeling of indig… nation； and a cool determination not to allow this young couple to be taken from Boston into slavery； was aroused； and pervaded the city。 It is under… stood that one of the judges told the Marshal that he would not be authorised in breaking the door of Craft's house。 Craft kept himself close within the house； armed himself； and awaited with remarkable composure the event。 Ellen； in the meantime； had been taken to a retired place out of the city。 The Vigilance Committee （appointed at a late meeting in Fanueil Hall） enlarged their numbers； held an almost permanent session； and appointed various sub… committees to act in different ways。 One of these committees called repeatedly on Messrs。 Hughes and Knight； the slave…catchers； and requested and advised them to leave the city。 At first they peremptorily refused to do so； ''till they got hold of the niggers。' On complaint of different persons； these two fellows were several times arrested； car… ried before one of our county courts； and held to bail on charges of 'conspiracy to kidnap；' and of 'defamation；' in calling William and Ellen 'SLAVES。' At length； they became so alarmed； that they left the city by an indirect route； evading the vigilance of many persons who were on the look…out for them。 Hughes； at one time； was near losing his life at the hands of an infuriated coloured man。 While these men remained in the city； a prominent whig gentleman sent word to William Craft； that if he would submit peaceably to an arrest； he and his wife should be bought from their owners； cost what it might。 Craft replied； in effect； that he was in a measure the representative of all the other fugitives in Boston； some 200 or 300 in number； that； if he gave up； they would all be at the mercy of the slave…catchers； and must fly from the city at any sacrifice； and that； if his freedom could be bought for two cents； he would not consent to com… promise the matter in such a way。 This event has stirred up the slave spirit of the country； south and north； the United States government is determined to try its hand in enforcing the Fugitive Slave law； and William and Ellen Craft would be prominent objects of the slaveholders' vengeance。 Under these circumstances； it is the almost unanimous opinion of their best friends； that they should quit America as speedily as possible； and seek an asylum in England！ Oh！ shame； shame upon us； that Americans； whose fathers fought against Great Bri… tain； in order to be FREE； should have to acknow… ledge this disgraceful fact！ God gave us a fair and goodly heritage in this land； but man has cursed it with his devices and crimes against human souls and human rights。 Is America the 'land of the free； and the home of the brave？' God knows it is not； and we know it too。 A brave young man and a virtuous young woman must fly the American shores； and seek； under the shadow of the British throne； the enjoyment of 'life； liberty； and the pur… suit of happiness。'
〃But I must pursue my plain； sad story。 All day long； I have been busy planning a safe way for William and Ellen to leave Boston。 We dare not allow them to go on board a vessel； even in the port of Boston； for the writ is yet in the Marshal's hands； and he MAY be waiting an opportunity to serve it； so I am expecting to accompany them to…morrow to Portland； Maine； which is beyond the reach of the Marshal's authority； and there I hope to see them on board a British steamer。
〃This letter is written to introduce them to you。 I know your infirm health； but I am sure； if you were stretched on your bed in your last illness； and could lift your hand at all； you would extend it to welcome these poor hunted fellow…creatures。 Hence… forth； England is their nation and their home。 It is with real regret for our personal loss in their de… parture； as well as burning shame for the land that is not worthy of them； that we send them away； or rather allow them to go。 But； with all the resolute courage they have shown in a most trying hour； they themselves see it is the part of a foolhardy rashness to attempt to stay here longer。
〃I must close； and with many renewed thanks for all your kind words and deeds towards us；
〃I am； very respectfully yours；
〃SAMUEL MAY； JUN。〃
Our old masters； having heard how their agents were treated at Boston； wrote to Mr。 Filmore； who was then President of the States； to know what he could do to have us sent back to slavery。 Mr。 Filmore said that we should be returned。 He gave instructions for military force to be sent to Boston to assist the officers in making the arrest。 There… fore we； as well as our friends （among whom was George Thompson； Esq。； late M。P。 for the Tower Hamletsthe slave's long…tried； self…sacrificing friend； and eloquent advocate） thought it best； at any sacrifice； to leave the mock…free Republic； and come to a country where we and our dear little ones can be truly free。〃No one daring to molest or make us afraid。〃 But； as the officers were watching every vessel that left the port to prevent us from escaping； we had to take the expensive and tedious overland route to Halifax。
We shall always cherish the deepest feelings of gratitude to the Vigilance Committee of Boston （upon which were many of the leading abolitionists）； and also to our numerous friends； for the very kind and noble manner in which they assisted us to preserve our liberties and to escape from Boston； as it were like Lot from Sodom； to a place of refuge； and finally to this truly free and glorious country； where no tyrant； let his power be ever so absolute over his poor trembling victims at home； dare come and lay violent hands upon us or upon our dear little boys （who had the good fortune to be born upon British soil）； and reduce us to the legal level of the beast that perisheth。 Oh！ may God bless the thousands of unflinching； disin… terested abolitionists of America； who are labouring through evil as well as through good report； to cleanse their country's escutcheon from the foul and destructive blot of slavery； and to restore to every bondman his God…given rights； and may God ever smile upon England and upon England's good； much…beloved； and deservedly…honoured Queen； for the generous protection that is given to unfortunate refugees of every rank； and of every colour and clime。
On the passing of the Fugitive Slave Bill； the following learned doctors； as well as a host of lesser traitors； came out strongly in its defence。
The Rev。 Dr。 Gardiner Spring； an eminent Presbyterian Clergyman of New York； well known in this country by his religious publications； declared from the pulpit that； 〃if by one prayer he could liberate every slave in the world he would not dare to offer it。〃
The Rev。 Dr。 Joel Parker； of Philadelphia； in the course of a discussion on the nature of Slavery； says； 〃What； then； are the evils inseparable from slavery？ There is not one that is not equally inseparable from depraved human nature in other lawful relations。〃
The Rev。 Moses Stuart； D。D。； （late Professor in the Theological College of Andover）； in his vindi… cation of this Bill； reminds his readers that 〃many Southern slaveholders are true CHRISTIANS。〃 That 〃sending back a fugitive to them is not like restor… ing one to an idolatrous people。〃 That 〃though we may PITY the fugitive； yet the Mosaic Law does not authorize the rejection of the claims of the slaveholders to their stolen or strayed PROPERTY。〃
The Rev。 Dr。 Spencer； of Brooklyn； New York； has come forward in support of the 〃Fugitive Slave Bill；〃 by publishing a sermon entitled the 〃Religious Duty of Obedience to the Laws；〃 which has elicited the highest encomiums from Dr。 Samuel H。 Cox； the Presbyterian minister of Brooklyn （notorious both in this country and America for his sympathy with the slaveholder）。
The Rev。 W。 M。 Rogers； an orthodox minister of Boston； delivered a sermon in which he