serve Mr. Wood's case one straw.--Any reader who wishes it,
may see the passage referred to, in the autograph letter in
my possession. T. P.]

"Losing her value as a slave in a pecuniary point of view I
consider of no consequence; for it was our intention, had
she conducted herself properly and returned with us, to have
given her freedom. She has taken her freedom; and all I wish
is, that she would enjoy it without meddling with me.

"Let me again repeat, if his Excellency wishes it, it will
afford me great pleasure to state such particulars of her,
and which will be incontestably proved by numbers here, that
I am sure will acquit me in his opinion of acting unkind or
ungenerous towards her. I'll say nothing of the liability I
should incur, under the Consolidated Slave Law, of dealing
with a free person as a slave.

"My only excuse for entering so much into detail must be
that of my anxious wish to stand justified in his
Excellency's opinion.

"I am, my dear Sir,
Yours very truly,
JOHN A. WOOD.
"_20th Oct. 1830_."

"_Charles Taylor, Esq._
_&c. &c. &c._