Post, Mary Robbins. Letter to William R Hallowell.

Title

Post, Mary Robbins. Letter to William R Hallowell.

Creator

Post, Mary Robbins

Contributor

William R Hallowell

Date

1847-08-20

Description

Handwritten letter from Mary Robbins Post to William R Hallowell, August 20, 1847.

Is Part Of

Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Rights

The organization that has made the Item available believes that the Item is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States, but a determination was not made as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. The Item may not be in the Public Domain under the laws of other countries. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information. http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/

Identifier

686

Location

Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Transcription

(Page 1)

[Stamp, upper left corner]

OWEN & HURLBUT

So.Lee

MASS

[Text normal]

Westbury 8 month 20^th 47

My dear William and Mary will probably be supprised [sic] to receive a

scrawl from aunt Mary as it is quite a novel circumstance for her to

make such an attempt besides never having invited her to do so it must

of cource [sic] follow as a necessary consequence. I will in the first place int-

-roduce myself to you as I am now situated seated in our sitting room by

the window [in illegible] our men are on the meadow’s and I am sitting

entirely alone awaiting their arrival Ann and the girls having all

retired to their respective apartments and they are all the company I

have except the cricket caty did’s [sic] and other busy watchers of the night

and these are enough for the present at least to while away the time

ere our men return I have been enjoying the beauties of this evening

in all its quiet loveliness there is ever an elevating purifying sentimen^t^

connected therewith which I have ever loved Sweet hour of Night, to all bosoms ^dear^

Thou bearest a spell on thy viewless win^gs^

That drives from the human breast all fear

And nerveth the soul to mighty things

I have not heard of your arrival in New York tho [sic] doubtless you did sometime

ago how I wished you would just slip up[p] to Westbury if it were only one

night I had so many regrets to tell you that you were not at Norristown

as well as so much of an agreeable character that I flatter myself we

should have enjoyed it greatly – but as you did not see fit to do so I hope

to hear what good excuse you can make for your absence from the afforsaid [sic]

meeting I think it was good to be there even tho [sic] at considerable sacrifice

of social intercourse [and] I do not in the least doubt your wish to have

partaken with us of this intellectual feast but as you have one in anticip

-ation I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did the other and give us a

little sketch of it – but I must lay this aside as our men have arrived

tired and hungry and perhaps I may resume it tomorrow evening under

similar circumstances, good night 24 this is the 4 evening since I laid

this aside and no opportunity has occurred to add a line until now

when I am similarly situated as before only the evening is more

beautiful almost too beautiful to attempt any thing besides enjoy-

-ing it – Seventh day Henry and Catharine were here and informed us

you had not arrived in New York the week before and that Jacob had

gone on we feel anxiously uncertain as to the cause –

(Page 2)

We have just heard D and Mary Post have been bereaved of their little

darling daughter it is doubtless a severe affliction to them – we were

expecting them up on a visit very shortly this may disappoint us – it is

considerably sickly particularly among children dysentery and fever’s

too Rachel Hicks is quite ill Gideon and Mary W Frost called here this

afternoon on their way home from Greenport they have been from home

a month in hope’s it might be beneficial to Mary but there is no

favourable change except she is considerably stronger – it look’s

as though she might remain here but a short time but I hope she

may be they will be so lonely without her cheerful presence

Our last Monthly Meeting was held at Matinecock and somehow

it has happened that our friend Rachel’s revelations have not been of

so satisfactory a character as those held at Westbury generally are

or more correctly speaking was more objectionable than usual She began

by saying that there was a spirit spreading in the world and particularly in

our own country to lay waste civil government which she looked upon as

a great blessing our early friend often went to those in power and assured

them of their peaceful intentions in relation to it that they considerd [sic]

it necessary but that if there were any requirement we could not comply

with patently [sic] submit that she looked in the civil Government and religion

as the two greatest blessings we had &c – that abolitionists were

publickly [sic] trying to break down the government and that members of society

attended such meetings where the doctrine was advocated that the

government and the religion of this country stood in their way and it

was not right to connive at members doing this things she appealed to

the warm abolitionists (who by the by when all counted amounted to the number

of Two) and those who encouraged them in it to consider what they

were doing (and so on until she came to a great and good personage whom

she had loved almost to veneration namely Elias Hicks had in his great

zeal on the subject of using Slave produce ^said^ that if the reason was

convinced it was not necessary to wait for further revelation

which she never had united with that she thought it was necessary

to feel the command to refrain from the use it had been greatly in the

cross for her to do so as well as a tax on the pocket that this sentiment [sic]

of Elias Hicks was held up as a reason why men might engage

in doing something for Liberty – yes the word Liberty had a wonder-

(Page 3)

-ful effect associations of various [Uin] do for the extension of Liberty

abounded in this day spoke of the odd Fellows society and the poor Mormon

too come in for a share said they had been dangerous to the government

but they had been overcome, what a shame to express such a sentiment

they have truly been overcome but how and by what means? by mob

violence their rights taken from them and then for a quaker [sic]

preacher to speak of it approvingly – but abolition disunionists [sic] were

the most to be condemed [sic] from her sermon it was to be infered [sic] that

it was her opinion such members should be cut off from the body

lest the body should be brought to suffer – (I think she said so)

in the men’s meeting they had been appointing a com to raise money for the

YM [use?] Joseph told them if the sentiments we had heard in that meet-

-ing were those of the members of this meeting he could ^not^ contribute his

share of the money they were to raise and he held two appointments whi

-ch he asked to be released from &c&c also that he was united with abo

-litionists and advocated the doctrine of no union with slaveholders

cousin S Mott and S Thorne hoped the friend would be quit [sic] E Willet

thought the proposition of our friend J Pought to claim some attention

of the meeting he then gave a preach – and there the matter ended –

I need not say ended for the manifestation of unkind feeling is more

and more apparent whether they will make out to persuade [obliterated]

-selves it is best to cut us off I do not know I think they would

be highly gratified if we would resign that is some few of our [obliterated]

member’s not the meeting generally – Gideon Frost was not at the meeting

which I regretted he is so capable and he would not have let it pass

in that way again I must say goodnight for my eyes as well as the

clock which is now striking warn me of the lateness of the hour

Again after a lapse of several days I resume my pen for the purp

-ose of bringing this to a close Joseph has been to New York and find the repor^t^

we heard of you not passing through that city incorrect we have also receiv [sic]

a letter from brother Isaac by which it appears you have arrived

Probably ere this you have had a visit from Lucretia who we hear has gone

to Ohio I rejoice in it she is doing a great work for humanity and religion

and may it be extended far and wide but alass [sic] how many in our sect

are condemning her it seems to me they are willfully blind – or

they would see the pure excellence and beauty of her whole life

(Page 4)

What a shameful outrage on Douglass and Garrison at Harrisburg I hoped

the day had passed by when such violence would be quietly submitted to

by the inhabitants of a city like Harrisburg without a strong condemna

-tion I almost tremble for their safety their reception at Pittsburg was

much more honourable, thanks to them for their kindness and attention –

Little indeed do those know of the difficulties and trials of faithful abolit

ionists who are ever talking about ^those who^ joining them ^do so^ to be popular to be thought

well of by the world – one thing I do know it has not become popular

here Long Island is one of the hardest places there really seems to be
no feeling on the subject, with many there is a kind of holy horror against

it as their fathers did so do they they have virtualy [sic] said thus far

and no further but public sentiment will in time make such an

impress as they little dream of now – Robert Purvis speaking of

Friends said quaker [sic] hate and indifference was the hardest to overcome

there was no reaching them they would not be convinced – and I could say ^amen^

to that sentiment I must say Farewell again I may add alittle [sic] more but my

paper is too small

9 month 2 here this is yet and I have only time to add a word or two Aunt Mary M

Post is here on a visit she and the Dr came up 3^rd day eve to see aunt Sarah who

is quite ill with the dysentery tho [sic] we hope a little better I spoke of R Hicks being

sick she has been out at meeting – Do excuse this as it has been made up of

odds and ends and unworthy of an answer still I would be very glad

to hear from you soon with love to all I am your affectionate aunt

Mary

PS we are expecting Rush and Rebecca Plumby soon but uncertain

when – What a shameful outrage that was at Newtown on Cyrus

M Burleigh what a Shame such religion is George F White speaks occasionally

[Text sideways in right margin]

are you glad to hear it

[Text sideways center of page]

10 North Hempstead

Sept 4

William R Hallowell

Rochester

New York

Tags

Abolitionism; Family; Quakers

Collection

D.93 Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Citation

Post, Mary Robbins, “Post, Mary Robbins. Letter to William R Hallowell.,” RBSCP Exhibits, accessed November 24, 2024, https://rclomeka2.lib.rochester.edu/items/show/2978.

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