bringing the young to old age, and the old to the very sunset of life."[1]
Since the printing of these pages began, four months ago, two of those who stood with us in the contest against slavery have died,—Dr. Cabot, of Boston, and the famous Victor Hugo; and every year removes the actors and the witnesses of memorable deeds. I have therefore sought to preserve the record of one hero's life, in his own words (when I could), and in the contemporary evidence of those who saw and bore witness to what he did,—mingling myself with the account as little as possible, except for attestation and comment, when doubt might else arise. The plan was at first to print all the extant letters of Brown, which I fancied would easily find place in a volume of four hundred pages; but I have in my hands letters enough to fill another book, and have not been able to use them. Those selected, however, exhibit his life sufficiently; it was straightforward and all of a piece, so that even the details which are here given may seem tedious to some readers. In a second volume, should I live to publish it, on "The Companions of John Brown," I may carry the story further, and complete the record of a remarkable episode in American history. I have aimed at accuracy, but of course have not always succeeded; and have necessarily omitted much that other writers will supply. My intention has been to put the reader in possession of evidence which either verifies itself or can readily be verified
- ↑ Dedimus profecto grande patientiæ documentum; et sicut vetus ætas vidit quid ultiinum in libertate esset, ita nos quid in servitute,—adempto per inquisitiones etiam loquendi audiendique commercio. Memoriam quoque ipsam cum voce perdidissemus, si tam in nostra potestate esset oblivisei quam tacere. Nunc denium redit animus, . . . panci, ut ita dixerim, non modo aliorum, sed etiam nostri superstites sumus, exemptis e media vita tot annis, quibus juvenes ad senectutem, senes prope ad ipsos ætatis terminos per silent venimus.—Tacitus, Agricola, ii.
