Description

Holograph, signed.Title devised by cataloger.On verso, the letter is addressed to "Mr. William Lloyd Garrison. Brooklyn. Connecticut."On page 2, an additional letter is written to Garrison, signed by "Henry Wilson," with a later annotation indicating it was written by "Miss Harriet Minot." The letter says "Friend May has gone out in a heavy rain ... [and] has been quite ill for several days," before mentioning that they had read "with a great deal of interest a file of the 'Genius [of Emancipation]' when you and [Benjamin] Lundy were associate editors." They rejoice that Garrison's "devotion to the holy cause of Emanciapation has never been interrupted."In this letter to William Lloyd Garrison, Samuel Joseph May discusses opposition to the abolitionist cause, saying, "it seems to me that our opposers are doing every thing to help us." He then tells of his visit, together with George Thompson, to the house of John Greenleaf Whittier in Haverhill, and asks "Who could hurt Geo[rge] Thompson if he knew him[?] So generous, disinterested, devoted!" After the additional note by Harriet Minot, May picks up the letter again, now dated "Boston, Sep[tember] 7, 1835," and tells Garrison that he is "very anxious about [George] Thompson," after reports that he "was roughly handled at Concord, N[ew] H[ampshire]." May also mentions a letter he received from [Amos Augustus] Phelps, who "is doing well in the region around Rochester, N[ew] Y[ork]" and stresses the importance of sending "petitions signed by thousands" to Congress. May also shares his regret for...

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Boston Public Library

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Digital Commonwealth