A female, quite unknown to you, who has nothing commendatory in herself, but an alliance to that sex, which is called "the weaker vessel", very respectfully solicites your attention a few moments, to the subject of a petition she has to lay to at your feet. An impression that your time is very closely occupied, leads me to believe you will give a preference to brevity rather than be detained by a long preface of apology, for this seeming temerity in a woman, & stranger—Therefore I will hasten to my disclosure of the point to which my heart is drawn; and first.

I am a daughter of the happy part of our favored country called New Engd. and of course an advocate for liberty. 2. I profess a belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ, & am consequently opposed to the Article of SLAVERY———3. I love my native country, therefore I am jealous of her laws, desiring they may be all equal, that no disproportion may offend the eye of Heaven, and draw divine judgments on a flourishing, enterprising, & (in some respects) happy Continent.+4. I feel myself in duty to my Saviour, Master, & lawgiver, whch is Christ Jesus, obligated to love my neighbor, especially to love the souls of men, women and children, for his Name sake, in whom there is all fulness of redemption, alike for Greek or Jew, barbarian Pythian bond or free, Glory, honor and praise for ever to his Great Name!

You now, sir, have the subject that relates to my petition in the abstract; and (on account of the present movements in "old Va") you may possibly anticipate my petition also. I have abhorred slavery, from the first dawn of moral intellect, by which I intend my advent on a religious life; for to my infantile apprehension of the word morality, its meaning is inseparable with gospel purity, & I believe in no other foundation than Christ’s exposition of the law of GOD, on which to raise a superstructure that will answer our purpose, when summoned to appear before him as the Judge of quick and dead—the exposn amts. to supreme & undivided love to God, followed by equal charity to our fellow beings, who are all members of his intelligent creation below the sun. To view the subject (slavery) in abstract is sufficient for a feeble daughter of the North. She understands her weakness too well to attempt its analyzation. Its abolition she apprehends desirable to the full extent of desire for reformation in ultimo; but extremely difficult, while love of luxury, & lust for gold enslave the nobler part of man, the mind—but amelioration appears attainable and gradual emancipation may be so conducted, as to elicit a hope that succeeding generations, will experience such degrees of benefit, as to excite feelings of veneration & gratitude toward the memory of statesmen & legislators of the present age. Hearing of your state Conn, even now in session, I am induced to offer my simple entreaty that you sir, will even become an enthusiast, (excuse this expression) in your exertions to hold the door open in ancient Va, through whch celestial born freedom may finally pass; & thus a complete espousal one day be witnessed between the Northern, Western Eastern and southern states of N America—a door sir whch instrumentally you aided to unfold in Ohio—for which you have the esteem & blessing of thousands.

Perhaps Sir, an enquiry arises in your mind concerning me, who I am? I answer I am a kind of nobody, a small, insignificant being in the world’s estimate—I am a single woman, forty one years of age—the most that I can say for myself is, that I fear GOD; & love Jesus—you may also enquire, why so lonely a mortal with views as above, shd wander so far from home, & into a slave country? I reply, that I am a chronic invalid, & unable to endure my native winter winds. For two years past have pined under the assaults of pain turned Rheumatic; & extreme debility called nervous—Physicians, parent, & frds in Massts advised this change of climate. Charleston was my own choice—I am mostly a prisoner to my chamber. I may or may not recover—It is as God pleases—

Since my arrival here, I have conversed with persons of both sexes, (who have called on the pilgrim stranger,) on the subject of slavery—& I may say, from respectable authority, that a large proportion of this community, are very desirous that Va may prosper in every essay toward emancipating her bond slaves; & that there is in S. Carolina, thousands of white people who are distressed & burdened on the account of slavery.

I must inevitably close—have indulged my rambling pen already too far; & deem an apology now necessary—please sir, to forgive me—I shall add only, in union with a respectful adeiu, my delight in believing that your name is already on the hond list, with Fox & Pitt, & to express my best wishes for your present & eternal peace—That yr last days may be the best of your life, & your latest moments expire in divine peace, is Sir, the prayer of