The next morning I was so ill
as to need a physician, unable to see any one that called, or to hear
any of the letters. I passed most of the day in bed, but in the
evening I had to get up, as I had engaged to drink tea with two
thousand people. Our kind friends, Dr. and Mrs. Wardlaw, came after
us, and Mr. S. and I went in the carriage with them. Our carriage
stopped at last at the place. I have a dim remembrance of a way being
made for us through a great crowd all round the house, and of going
with Mrs. Wardlaw up into a dressing-room where I met and shook hands
with many friendly people. Then we passed into a gallery, where a seat
was reserved for our party, directly in front of the audience. Our
friend Bailie Paton presided. Mrs. Wardlaw and I sat together, and
around us many friends, chiefly ministers of the different churches,
the ladies and gentlemen of the Glasgow Anti-Slavery Society and
others. I told you it was a tea-party; but the arrangements were
altogether different from any I had ever seen. There were narrow
tables stretched up and down the whole extent of the great hall, and
every person had an appointed seat. These tables were set out with
cups and saucers, cakes, biscuit, etc., and when the proper time came,
attendants passed along serving tea. The arrangements were so accurate
and methodical that the whole multitude actually took tea together,
without the least apparent inconvenience or disturbance.
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