It may, perhaps, be considered a providential concurrence that Mrs.
Harriet Beecher Stowe was in London this same time with Miss Greenfield.
We notice in her "Sunny Memories," under the date of May 6th, the
following remarks, "A good many calls this morning. Among others, came
Miss Greenfield, the (so-called) Black Swan. She appears to be a gentle,
amiable, and interesting young person. She was born the slave of a kind
mistress, who gave her every thing but education; and, dying, left her
free with a little property. The property she lost by some legal
quibble, but she had, like others of her race, a passion for music, and
could sing and play by ear. A young lady, discovering her taste, gave
her a few lessons. She has a most astonishing voice. C. sat down to the
piano and played while she sung. Her voice runs through a compass of
three octaves and a fourth. This is four notes more than Malibran's.
She sings a most magnificent tenor, with such a breadth and volume of
sound, that with your back turned, you could not imagine it to be a
woman. While she was there, Mrs. S. C. Hall, of the Irish Sketches, was
announced. I told her of Miss Greenfield, and she took great interest in
her and requested her to sing something for her. C. played the
accompaniment, and she sung Old Folks at Home, first in a soprano voice,
and then in a tenor or barytone. Mrs. Hall was amazed and delighted, and
entered at once into her cause. She said she would call with me and
present her to Sir George Smart, who is at the head of the Queen's
musical establishment, and, of course, the acknowledged leader of London
musical judgment."
In the course of the day I had a note from Mrs. Hall, saying, that as
Sir George Smart was about leaving town, she had not waited for me, but
had taken Miss Greenfield to him herself. She writes that he was really
astonished and charmed at the wonderful weight, compass, and power of
her voice. He was also as well pleased with the mind in her singing, and
her quickness in doing and catching all that he told her. Should she
have a public opportunity to perform, he offered to hear her rehearse
beforehand. Mrs. Hall says, "This is a great deal for him, whose hours
are all marked with gold."
Again, Mrs. Stowe says, "To-day the Duchess of Sutherland called with
the Duchess of Argyle. Miss Greenfield happened to be present, and I
begged leave to present her, giving a slight sketch of her history. I
was pleased with the kind and easy affability with which the Duchess of
Sutherland conversed with her, betraying by no inflection of voice, and
nothing in her air or manner, the great lady talking with the poor girl.
She asked all her questions with as much delicacy, and made her request
to hear her sing with as much consideration and politeness, as if she
had been addressing any one in her own circle. She seemed much pleased
with her singing, and remarked that she should be happy to give her an
opportunity of performing in Stafford House, as soon as she should be a
little relieved of a heavy cold which seemed to oppress her at present.
This, of course, will be decisive of her favour in London. The Duchess
is to let us know when the arrangement is completed.
"I never so fully realized," continues Mrs. Stowe, "that there really is
no natural prejudice against colour in the human mind. Miss Greenfield
is a dark mulattress, of a pleasing and gentle face, though by no means
handsome. She is short and thick-set, with a chest of great amplitude,
as one would think on hearing her tenor. I have never seen in any of the
persons to whom I have presented her, the least indications of
suppressed surprise or disgust, any more than we should exhibit on the
reception of a dark-complexioned Spaniard or Portuguese.
"Miss Greenfield bears her success with much quietness and good sense."
Her grace, the Duchess of Sutherland, afterward became her ever
unfailing supporter and adviser.
It became painfully necessary for Miss Greenfield to take the procedure
expressed in the following legal notice, (although the bare presentation
of the document did not take place until Jan. 12, 1854.)
/* NIND To MR. ----, 29 George Street, Hanover Square, London: */
Sir:--The salary of five pounds per week, payable by you to me
under our agreement, bearing date the twenty-first day of October,
one thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, being in arrears and
unpaid for more than five weeks last past, (though repeated
applications have been made to you for payment thereof) and the
amount now owing to me by you having been demanded, and default
being made in payment of the same, and there being other breaches
on your part, of the agreement made between us, I do hereby, in
pursuance of the power or authority given to me by the said
agreement, bearing date the twenty-first day of October, eighteen
hundred and fifty-three, and of all other powers and authorities
enabling me thereto, give you notice that I do hereby cancel the
said agreement, bearing date as aforesaid, and also the agreement
dated the sixteenth day of February, one thousand eight hundred and
fifty-three, respectively made between you of the one part and
myself of the other part, and do hereby declare that the said
agreements, respectively, shall be, and become absolutely void on
the giving of this notice to you; but without prejudice to my
rights and remedies for the recovery of any money that may now be
due to me, under or by virtue of the said agreement, or either of
them.