The Journal of Negro History, Volume 3, 1918 | Page 9

Samuel Guerney, Henson had a long
interview with the Archbishop of Canterbury, who was so impressed
with Henson's bearing and culture that he inquired as to the university
from which he was graduated. Henson replied, The University of
Adversity. After listening to Henson's experiences for more than an
hour he followed him to the door and begged him to come to see him
again. He then attended a large picnic of Sabbath-School teachers on
the grounds of Lord John Russell, then Prime Minister of England.
Sitting down to dinner, Henson was given the seat of honor at the head
of the table with such guests as Reverend William Brock, Honorable
Samuel M. Peto and Mr. Bess.
Near the end of his career Henson had many things to trouble him. The
divided management of the British American Manual Labor Institute
and the saw-mill proved a failure. The trustees who got control of it

promised to make something new of it but did not administer the affairs
successfully and they were involved in law suits there with the Negroes,
who endeavored to obtain control of it. It finally failed, despite the fact
that the court of chancery appointed a new board of trustees and
granted a bill to incorporate the institution as Wilberforce University,
which existed a few years.
Henson showed his patriotism in serving as captain to the second Essex
company of colored volunteers in the Canadian Rebellion, going to the
aid of the government which gave them asylum from slavery. His
company held Fort Maiden from Christmas until the following May
and also took the schooner Ann with three hundred arms and two
cannons, musketry and provisions for the rebel troops. They held the
fort until they were relieved by the colonel of the 44th regiment from
England. Then came the Civil War. Henson was too old to go, but his
relatives enlisted. He was charged with having violated the foreign
enlistment act and was arrested and acquitted after some harrowing
experiences.
Henson made a third trip to England near the close of his career. Many
of his friends had passed away, but he met his old supporter, Samuel
Morley. He made the acquaintance also of Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton
Hart, R. C. L. Bevan, and Professor Fowler. But he was then the hero
of "Uncle Tom's Cabin." The English people had read of him. They
then wanted to see him. He spoke at the Victoria Park Tabernacle and
held in London a farewell meeting in Spurgeon's Tabernacle. The
buildings were thronged to their utmost capacity and eager crowds on
the outside made desperate efforts to see him. He was then called to
Scotland that the people farther north might also see this hero. Just as
Henson reached Edinburgh the crowning honor of his life was to come.
He received a telegram from Queen Victoria inviting him to visit her
the following day. After addressing an unusually large audience,
Henson proceeded immediately to London. The next day he and his
wife were dined by a group of distinguished gentlemen and were then
taken to Windsor Castle, where they were presented to Queen Victoria.
Her majesty informed him that he had known of him ever since she was
a little girl. She expressed her surprise at seeing him look so different

from what she had imagined he would. She briefly discussed with him
the state of affairs in Canada, and in bidding him and his wife farewell
expressed her wish for his continued prosperity, gave him a token of
her respect and esteem, consisting of a full length cabinet photograph
of herself in an elegant easel frame of gold.
On his return to the United States Henson visited the old plantation in
Montgomery County near Rockville, Maryland, finding his old master's
wife still living. He then proceeded to Washington to see again the old
haunts which he frequented when serving as the market man of his
plantation. While in the National Capital he went to the White House to
call on his Excellency President Hayes, who chatted with him about his
trip across the sea while Mrs. Hayes showed Henson's wife through the
executive mansion. When he left the President extended him a cordial
invitation to call to see him again. This was the last thing of note in his
life. He returned to his home in Canada and resumed the best he could
the work he was prosecuting, but old age and sickness overtook him
and he passed away in 1881 in the ninety-second year of his life.
W. B. HARTGROVE
FOOTNOTES:
[1] On account of ill health Mr. W. B. Hartgrove, who was preparing
this article, had to turn over his unfinished manuscript to the editor,
who completed it. The story is based on the "Life of Josiah Henson,"
"Father Henson's