ABSTRACT
The W. O. Williams letter of 1850 was written from Kentucky, to ‘My dear Edwards’. The journey is recorded, as is his visit to Jamaica, and his temporary stay in New Orleans, where he could not have avoided the reality of slavery. Job opportunities brought him to Kentucky, ‘but my business occupations are across the River Ohio in Cincinnati’, so Williams must have commuted across the river often, using the new steam ferries. His Welsh background is indicated by the fact that he is writing to Pontypool. He inquires whether there is ‘a scarcity of Tin Plates in your neighborhood’, and requests more information on the tin-plate industry in Wales. Interestingly, he claims that the local iron works are superior to those in England. Local observations add to this letter’s value, and he appreciates the relative social equality: ‘No matter what his profession is if he respects himself he is respected by those around him’.
