I was kept in this prison for several months, and no one would buy me for fear I would run away.  One day while I was in this prison, Garrison got mad with my wife, and took her off in one of the rooms, with his paddle in hand, swearing that he would paddle her; and I could afford her no protection at all, while the strong arm of the law, public opinion and custom, were all against me.  I have often heard Garrison say, that he had rather paddle a female, than eat when he was hungry—­that it was music for him to hear them scream, and to see their blood run.

After the lapse of several months, he found that he could not dispose of my person to a good advantage, while he kept me in that prison confined among the other slaves.  I do not speak with vanity when I say the contrast was so great between myself and ordinary slaves, from the fact that I had enjoyed superior advantages, to which I have already referred.  They have their slaves classed off and numbered.

Garrison came to me one day and informed me that I might go out through the city and find myself a master.  I was to go to the Hotels, boarding houses, &c.—­tell them that my wife was a good cook, wash-woman, &c,—­and that I was a good dining room servant, carriage driver, or porter—­and in this way I might find some gentleman who would buy us both; and that this was the only hope of our being sold together.

But before starting me out, he dressed me up in a suit of his old clothes, so as to make me look respectable, and I was so much better dressed than usual that I felt quite gay.  He would not allow my wife to go out with me however, for fear we might get away.  I was out every day for several weeks, three or four hours in each day, trying to find a new master, but without success.

Many of the old French inhabitants have taken slaves for their wives, in this city, and their own children for their servants.  Such commonly are called Creoles.  They are better treated than other slaves, and I resembled this class in appearance so much that the French did not want me.  Many of them set their mulatto children free, and make slaveholders of them.

At length one day I heard that there was a gentleman in the city from the State of Tennessee, to buy slaves.  He had brought down two rafts of lumber for market, and I thought if I could get him to buy me with my family, and take us to Tennessee, from there, I would stand a better opportunity to run away again and get to Canada, than I would from the extreme South.

So I brushed up myself and walked down to the river’s bank, where the man was pointed out to me standing on board of his raft, I approached him, and after passing the usual compliments I said: 

“Sir, I understand that you wish to purchase a lot of servants and I have called to know if it is so.”

He smiled and appeared to be much pleased at my visit on such laudable business, supposing me to be a slave trader.  He commenced rubbing his hands together, and replied by saying:  “Yes sir, I am glad to see you.  It is a part of my business here to buy slaves, and if I could get you to take my lumber in part pay I should like to buy four or five of your slaves at any rate.  What kind of slaves have you, sir?”