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The author’s informal will, “To be read immediately after my death.” Stipulations about his burial clothes, coffin, and to delay burial until "72 Hours after my Death.” Prince, an enslaved man, is to be set free while the remainder of the enslaved persons would continue to serve his wife. Bequeaths his property to his wife, "to be disposed of as she may think proper."

Regarding the Deputy Marshall in Wilmington working to arrest Mr. Gray. Examined copies of depositions from the Secretary of State, noting they are "copies of copies, and I doubt whether they furnish sufficient evidence to authorize a commitment. I also doubt whether the facts are such as to warrant a reasonable expectation of procuring a conviction." N.B. Hiram Gray was a captain charged in 1845 for violating laws suppressing the slave trade.

Asks for help in capturing an escaped slave, Emily, whom he believes has poisoned his son. She is presumably on her way to Ohio; "If you are acquainted with any of the abolitionists in a habit of assisting . . . slaves will you be so kind as to write to them that this girl is a murderer and flies not from slavery but justice." Offers $150 to anyone, black or white, if caught in Ohio or $500 if taken in Canada. Wants her caught because of her "evil example" and to thwart enemies trying to keep her from punishment.

Recounts the struggle he and James G. Birney had publishing antislavery tracts during their attempt to emancipate Kentucky. Seeks support to organize a Liberty Party convention to produce a"revolution in public sentiment on the subject of Slavery..." Was "sadly disappointed" by proslavery sentiment in Indiana. Munsell lost all of his professional patrons when he left the Whig Party and joined the Liberty Party in 1840, and states that the Liberty Party organized the"Indiana Freeman."

Regarding the charge that Clarissa, a free black woman, is guilty of keeping a house of ill repute; she "unlawfully did keep and maintain a certain common ill governed and disorderly house..." In addition, " in the said house for the . . . gain of her the said Clarissa certain persons as well men as women of evil name and of dishonest conversation . . . willfully did cause and procure to frequent and come together . . . misbehaving themselves."

Letter from Alanson, a Unitarian minister and antislavery advocate, to his wife. Expresses his melancholy; "when I am away from you, alone, and so sad, that I can neither rest days nor sleep nights, then, I know how low to sympathize with you."

Bill of sale for a slave named Nelson, about 24 years old, for $600 to McWhiteker, "his heirs excecutors and adminstaters for ever."

Document of Mitchell, "a free woman of colour," and Mahan regarding a $500 fine ($250 paid by each) for keeping a house of ill repute. Document also states that Mitchell will appear at the Market house in Columbia, Tennessee, on the first Monday after the fourth Monday in August to answer the indictment brought against her for keeping a "bawdie house."

Letter describing his steamboat travels through the Great Lakes; says that he is "now in the west" upon reaching Cleveland. Expresses loneliness. His last entry is written from Detroit, which he describes as "the capitol of Michigan...a very compact Little City built in Clay. It looks new and flourishing, and is, doubtless destined to be quite a commercial Emporium."

Document regarding the indictment of "Harrison a free person of color" who "with force and arms" attempted to persuade certain slaves to leave their owners; with note "We find the Defendant not guilt"