EDITOR'S PREFACE.
If the volume now presented to the public were a
mere work of ART, the history of its misfortune might
be written in two very simple words — TOO LATE. The
nature and character of slavery have been subjects of
an almost endless variety of artistic representation;
and after the brilliant achievements in that field, and
while those achievements are yet fresh in the memory
of the million, he who would add another to the legion,
must possess the charm of transcendent exellence, or
apologize for something worse than rashness. The
reader is, therefore, assured, with all due promptitude,
that his attention is not invited to a work of ART, but
to a work of FACTS — Facts, terrible and almost in-
credible, it may be — yet Facts, nevertheless.
I am authorized to say that there is not a fictitious
name nor place in the whole volume; but that
names and places are literally given, and that every
transaction therein described actually transpired.
Perhaps the best Preface to this volume is furnished