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[99] always lived in his family. During the last eleven years, he had resided most of the time in Pennsylvania. Mr. Butler now proposed taking him to Georgia; but he was very unwilling to leave his wife, she being in delicate health and needing his support. After mature consideration of the case, the committee, believing Ben was legally entitled to freedom, agreed to apply to Judge Inskeep for a writ of habeas corpus; and Isaac T. Hopper was sent to serve it upon Pierce Butler, Esq., at his house in Chestnutstreet.

Being told that Mr. Butler was at dinner, he said he would wait in the hall until it suited his convenience to attend to him. Mr. Butler was a tall, lordly looking man, somewhat imperious in his manners, as slaveholders are wont to be. When he came into the hall after dinners Friend Hopper gave him a nod of recognition, and said, ‘How art thou, Pierce Butler? I have here a writ of habeas corpus for thy Ben.’

Mr. Butler glanced over the paper, and exclaimed, ‘Get out of my house, you scoundrel!’

Feigning not to hear him, Friend Hopper looked round at the pictures and rich furniture, and said with a smile, ‘Why, thou livest like a nabob here!’

‘Get out of my house, I say!’ repeated Mr. Butler, stamping violently.

‘This paper on the walls is the handsomest I ever ’

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