Douglass, Frederick. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.

Title

Douglass, Frederick. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.

Creator

Douglass, Frederick

Contributor

Post, Amy Kirby, 1802-1889

Date

1873-03-17

Description

Handwritten letter from Frederick Douglass to Amy Kirby Post. Douglass writes to Post about his current lecture tour.

Subject

Post, Amy Kirby, b. 1802

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

1922

Location

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

Transcription

(Page 1)

                    Damariscotta Maine-
                               March 17^th 1873.
My Dear Friend.
                    Since the morning I left
Rochester I have been wishing for a
moment to thank you for your
kind note handed me by Willie
as I was getting into the cars
but I have found none till
I reached this queer named
place away down here in
the state of Maine. I thought
much of your advice concerning
the Tiltons- and the more I
thought the more I was con-
vinced that you were right.
But after all I did not go as
I expected to Brooklyn the
appointment there having
been given up- and hence I
did not have occasion to
act upon your wise
advice. It is easy to see that

(Page 2)

that there may good and
sufficient reasons for silence
of which the public do not
know and perhaps ought not
to know- It may be that
the good lady is subject to
moments of insecurity and
in that irresponsible condition
has said things which are
not true and which in
her same condition she
would not be likely to
tell if they were true. There
is          ever room for charity.

I had the pleasure
and it was a real one to
see my friend William

Hallowell when I lectured
in Philadelphia last week.
I fear that my lecture
there was not a success
though my audience

(Page 3)

was a splendid one both
as to numbers and character.
Though I spoke two hours I
had to omit some of the
best or what I think the
best parts of my lecture.
The story of my escape
was clumsily told because
I had no heart in telling
it. There is really nothing
exciting in it.
Hoping that this will find
you well- Very truly yours
Fred. Douglass.

Please remember me kindly
to Mrs and Mr Hallowell and
to Mr and Mrs Willis- Time
but revives and increases
my respect and regards for
all your dear circle.
F. D.

Annotations

Frederick Douglass, an abolitionist and former slave, is writing from Damariscotta, Maine to fellow activist. Willie was Post's youngest son. Theodore Tilton was an abolitionist and editor. During this period, there was a court case brought against clergyman, Henry Ward Beecher. In 1874, Tilton filed charges against the Beecher for his adulterous relationship with Tilton's wife. William Hallowell was Post's son-in-law, and Mary, her step-daughter. Sarah Kirby Willis was Post's siter, Edmund P. Willis was her husband.

Tags

Personal

Collection

D.93 Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Citation

Douglass, Frederick, “Douglass, Frederick. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.,” RBSCP Exhibits, accessed November 24, 2024, https://rclomeka2.lib.rochester.edu/items/show/4201.

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