Frederick Douglass ALS to [Maria G.] Porter, January 11, 1860
City of Rochester, Monroe County, New York, United States
Halifax, Calderdale, West Yorkshire, England, HX1 1TH, United Kingdom
- Title
- Frederick Douglass ALS to [Maria G.] Porter, January 11, 1860
- Type
- Letter
- Repository Description
- Request for financial assistance for his newspaper. Description of English tour. English Christmas. Reference to John Brown's death. Mention of Douglass's son's work with his newspaper.
- Transcription
-
Salem parsonage Halifax
Jan 11. 1860
My dear Miss Porter:
You know that I never call upon you but when in trouble either with fugitives or with the paper. Listen to me once more: I am now three 3000 miles from Canal Street, my unfailing resort in the hour of need - many reasons might be given why it is not at other times, but let that pass, for a friend in need is a friend indeed - and such I have always found you to be, both to myself and the paper which[?] I have endeavored thus long to keep in the service of the
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slave and of the free colored people. Well, I am convinced that the paper was never more needed than now - and it was never better deserving support than since Mr Pryne has become its Editor. He is an able man, and what is better still he is an honest man. You see just what is coming. I have news from my son that despite all efforts to collect from Subscribers the paper still runs short of supporting itself - and greatly needs aid
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from its friends independent of the subscription list. Now considering the relation sustained to the Rochester Ladies Anti Slavery Association by the paper - and the understanding that the friends of the cause had here of the friendliness of the two Institutions - and in view of the fact that the Society holds in its hands funds from this side the water - which[?] can be the better increased when it is known that besides helping fugitives on their way to Canada, and holding anti slavery meetings and causing anti slavery addresses to be delivered in Corinthian Hall
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it also greatly aids in the publication of an anti slavery journal in the city of Rochester.
The point of all this is: I beg that you will, with your kind coworker Mrs Barnes, move the Rochester Ladies Antislavery Society to do note the sum of one hundred dollars - towards the support of my paper - and that you will make the
same payable to my son Lewis - in whose honest appropriation of it I have the fullest confidence.
I have not yet gotten very well a going in my antislavery labour - but the
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prospect begins to brighten a little. The holidays mean a little
more here than with us. The week before Christmas and the two weeks succeeding it are weeks of constant party going - and visiting and John Bull, will not ever allow his antislavery stand between him and his roast beef and his plum pudding. He is however now - becoming far less intent upon the bread that perisheth and gives me an occasional invitation to talk to him on slavery
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all of which I improve with right good relish. In a note to Mrs Crofts - Mrs Barnes ventures the opinion that I can now with safety return to Rochester. So indeed it would seem if the shedding of the blood of the noble old Brown - and his four companions - could satisfy the alarmed and enraged tyrants of Virginia. But there is no satisfying any such vengence. While there is the chance of summoning me as a witness in the trial - of poor Stephens and
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Hazlett - by the United States court it will not be safe for me to
come to Rochester.
Please remember me very kindly to Miss Jane, Elmira - and to your Dear Mother and Father. I wish them and yourself a happy new year.
Very sincerely your grateful friend
Fredrick Douglass
Miss Maria G. Porter
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Miss Porter
12. Canal Street
Rochester.
N.Y. - Addresser
- Frederick Douglass
- Addressee(s)
- Maria G. Porter, 1810-1896
- Date Sent
-
January 11, 1860
- January 11, 1860
- Source Location
-
Salem Parsonage
Value Annotations
- Extent
- Sent from
-
Halifax
Value Annotations
- Extent
- Sent from
- Rochester, New York
- Contents
- 4 pages
- Repository
- Rochester Ladies' Anti-Slavery Society Papers, 1848-1868
- William L. Clements Library
- University of Michigan Library Digital Collections
- Rights
- The University of Michigan Library provides access to these materials for educational and research purposes. These materials are believed to be in the public domain in the US.
- number of pages
- 4
Part of Frederick Douglass ALS to [Maria G.] Porter, January 11, 1860