The citizens of Edgartown, opposed to the further extension of slavery in this country, assembled at the Town Hall on Friday evening last.
E. Marchant was chosen Chairman, and Henry A. Coffin, Esq., Secretary.
The following gentlemen were elected Delegates to the Worcester Convention, to nominate candidates for State Officers, viz: - John Vinson, J.R. Dillingham, Harrison P. Mayhew.
We learn that two or three slaves, fresh from the South, were in town last week. They were conveyed to New Bedford by one of the colored residents of Chapaquidic.
The new and beautiful steamer Metacomet, which is to ply between this place and Fairhaven, arrived here, on her first trip, Thursday afternoon. As the Metacomet rounded the East Chop, a cannon was fired as a signal of her approach; and as she entered our harbor, a salute of fifty guns, and the hearty cheers of our people, welcomed her arrival among us.
The Bark Franklin, which arrived at Holmes Hole on the 12th inst, from Jacksonville, Florida, had a slave on board, who secreted himself in the hold, when the vessel was loading. During the night, while the vessel was lying at anchor, he took a boat, and made good his escape to the shore; since which his whereabouts have been known only to a select few. He was from 25 to 30 years of age. The Franklin was bound to Hallowell, Me.
The gale of the 10th inst, was very severe at Holmes Hole. Some thirteen vessels were driven ashore there, They were, with few exceptions, but slightly damaged, and most of them will be easily got off after discharging. Some two or three only have bilged.
The public mind has been greatly occupied recently with several cases of reclamation of fugitive slaves. We give, in another column, some account of the capture and return to bondage of a brother and two nephews of the Rev. Dr. Pennington, a well known and highly esteemed colored minister of New York; also of the case of Burns, in Boston.
Below will be found the particulars of the escape of a fugitive from a vessel in our own harbor.
July the 28th A. D. 1743.
We are informed that at a meeting composed of the Directors of N. B. & T. B. R. R., together with the officers of the Boston & Providence Rail Road, and some influential capitalists of this and other cities, it was resolved to order the building of a first-class steamboat of 360 tons buthen, to ply between this city and Nantucket. As the Massachusetts is to be placed on the route between Nantucket and Hyannis, an arrangement like this is rendered absolutely necessary to supply the wants of the traveling public, as well as our business men who have relations with the Island.