Letter from Amos Townsend Jr. to Lewis Tappan
Description
A letter from Amos Townsend acknowledging Lewis Tappan's letter which was sent via Brother [John W.] Hill, who has settled at the Quinnipiac House in New Haven under the care of Stanton Pendleton. In his letter, Townsend informs Tappan that "[illegible] has also arrived," and reports that the Supreme Court has postponed the trial until February 16. He adds that Hill "will reconntoir & examine the ground until he is recalled" and thinks "he has a good post for observation of matters." He writes that he has not yet seen the Africans and has spoken with Cinque "not to go with anybody in the night, but to keep the people together...and not suffer themselves to be carried off by stealth." Cinque will keep the matter to himself and has been instructed not to lodge outside the room where all the Africans sleep. Cinque says, "if they come we all holler loud & make plenty noise." Townsend writes that he acknowledges Tappan's letter of January 20. He mentions that Judge Samuel Hitchcock is in New Haven, but he has not been able to see him. Townsend makes note of having received Tappan and Jocelyn's joint letter and explains that he cannot go to Hartford. He reports that Stanton Pendleton and Norris Willcox have not yet returned.