Description

Holograph, signed.Title devised by cataloger.On verso, the letter is addressed to "Garrison & Knapp Boston" and it is postmarked with a red, octagonal stamp reading, "Phila 31 Jan."Arnold Buffum writes to William Lloyd Garrison and Isaac Knapp to give them a "severe scolding" for their poor bookkeeping. He stresses "the necessity of employing some person who will have sufficient time to attend to certain important and indispensable duties" which they do not have the time to do themselves. Buffum warns that their current procedures are losing them both subscribers and money and he lists the names of some Liberator subscribers who have paid but not received their papers. He states that he "considers the Liberator with its Editor [Garrison] and publisher [Knapp] as belonging to the Antislavery party; and the success of the cause depends upon the efficiency of that paper." Buffum then uses his order for the past month to show that they are leaving names off of their subscriber list and he requests they send him some back numbers of the paper. He adds that weekly meetings are being held in the city and "the cause is gaining amongst us." He also comments that a Colonizationist newspaper has begun in Philadelphia but "neither the publisher, nor the Editor have the boldness to give their names." Before ending the letter, Buffum asks, "Do not be angry with me for this letter what else could I do as a faithful Agent but to write it."

Record Contributed By

Boston Public Library

Record Harvested From

Digital Commonwealth