[Illustration: [Signature of] Austin Steward] TWENTY-TWO YEARS A SLAVE, AND FORTY YEARS A FREEMAN; EMBRACING A CORRESPONDENCE OF SEVERAL YEARS, WHILE PRESIDENT OF WILBERFORCE COLONY, LONDON, CANADA WEST, BY AUSTIN STEWARD. 1856 FROM GOVERNOR CLARK. STATE OF NEW YORK, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Albany, May 10, 1856. MR. A. STEWARD, Canandaigua, Dear Sir:--I notice a paragraph in the "Ontario Times" of this date, making the announcement that you are preparing "a sketch of events occurring under your own observation during an eventful life," to be entitled, "Twenty Years a Slave, and Forty Years a Freeman;" and that you design soon to make an effort to obtain subscribers for the book. Being desirous of rendering you what encouragement I may in the work, you are permitted to place my name on your list of subscribers. Respectfully Yours, MYRON H. CLARK. * * * * * ROCHESTER, SEPTEMBER, 1856 MR. WM. ALLING, Dear Sir:--The undersigned have heard with pleasure, that you are about issuing a Book made up from incidents in the life of Austin STEWARD. We have been the early acquaintances and associates of Mr. Steward, while a business man in Rochester in an early day, and take pleasure in bearing testimony to his high personal, moral and Christian character. In a world of vicissitude, Mr. Steward has received no ordinary share, and we hope, while his book may do the world good, it may prove a substantial benefit to him in his declining years. ASHLEY SAMPSON, THOMAS KEMPSHALL, FREDERICK STARR, CHAS. J. HILL, L.A. WARD, EDWIN SCRANTOM, JACOB GOULD. * * * * * RECOMMENDATORY. ROCHESTER, JULY 1, 1856. A. STEWARD, ESQ., Dear Sir:--In reply to your letter upon the propriety of publishing your life, I answer, that there is not only no objection to it, but it will be timely, and is demanded by every consideration of humanity and justice. Every tongue which speaks for Freedom, which has once been held by the awful gag of Slavery, is trumpet-tongued--and he who pleads against this monstrous oppression, if he can say, "here are the scars," can do much.