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often used to speak of the spirit manifested toward William Savery, when he went to the South to preach, as early as 1791.
Writing from Augusta, Georgia, that tender-hearted minister of Christ says: ‘They can scarcely tolerate us, on account of our abhorrence of slavery.
This was truly a trying place to lodge in another night.’
At Savannah the landlord of a tavern where they lodged, ordered a cruel flogging to be administered to one of his slaves, who had fallen asleep through weariness, before his daily task was accomplished.
William Savery says: ‘When we went to supper, this unfeeling wretch craved a blessing; which I considered equally abhorrent to the Divine Being, as his curses.’
In the morning, when the humane preacher heard sounds of the lash, accompanied by piteous cries for mercy, he had the boldness to step in between the driver and the slave; and he stopped any further infliction of punishment, for that time.
He says: ‘This landlord was the most abominably wicked man that I ever met with; full of horrid execrations, and threatenings of all Northern people.
But I did not spare him; which occasioned a bystander to express, with an oath, that I should be “popped over.”
We left them distressed in mind; and having a lonesome wood of twelve miles to pass through, we were in full expectation of their waylaying, or coming after us, to put their wicked threats in execution.’
Boston, J. P. Jewett and Company; Cleveland, Ohio: Jewett, Proctor and Worthington; London; Low and Company, 1854.
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