Dr. Hopkins did not confine his attention solely to slaveholding in his own church and congregation. He entered into correspondence with the early Abolitionists of Europe as well as his own country. He labored with his brethren in the ministry to bring then to his own view of the great wrong of holding men as slaves. In a visit to his early friend, Dr. Bellamy, at Bethlehem, who was the owner of a slave, he pressed the subject kindly but earnestly upon his attention. Dr. Bellamy urged the usual arguments in favor of slavery. Dr. Hopkins refuted them in the most successful manner, and called upon his friend to do an act of simple justice, in giving immediate freedom to his slave. Dr. Bellamy, thus hardly pressed, said that the slave was a most judicious and faithful fellow; that, in the management of his farm, he could trust everything to his discretion; that he treated him well, and he was so happy in his service that he would refuse his freedom if it were offered him. "Will you," said Hopkins, "consent to his liberation, if he really desires it?" "Yes, certainly," said Dr. Bellamy. "Then let us try him," said his guest. The slave was at work in an adjoining field, and at the call of his master came promptly to receive his commands. "Have you a good master?" inquired Hopkins. "O yes; massa, he berry good." "But are you happy in your present condition?" queried the Doctor. "O yes, massa; berry happy." Dr. Bellamy here could scarcely suppress his exultation at what he supposed was a complete triumph over his anti-slavery brother. But the pertinacious guest continued his queries. "Would you not be more happy if you were free?" "O yes, massa," exclaimed the negro, his dark face glowing with new life; "berry much more happy!" To the honor of Dr. Bellamy, he did not hesitate. "You have your wish," he said to his servant. "From this moment you are free."