Nell, William Cooper. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.

Title

Nell, William Cooper. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.

Creator

Nell, William Cooper

Contributor

Post, Amy Kirby, 1802-1889

Date

1850-07-03

Description

Handwritten letter from William Cooper Nell to Amy Kirby Post. Nell writes to Post about his recent visit with former slave, Harriet Brent Jacobs and his recent anti-slavery activities.

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

847

Location

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

Transcription

(Page 1)
                                      Boston July 3^d, 1850 –
                                      11 oclock at night= all
                                      alone in my Sanctum

My Esteemed Friend Amy.
                                             I. have a Letter
several weeks old which ought certainly to
have been at 36 Sophia St [obliterated] in due time
and for one among many reasons that
in it was attempted an apology for my
not before responding to thy able and
friendly communication of March Last.
I now propose sending it by our
mutual Friend John Dick who expects
to see Rochester before many days

I was surprised to find his wedding
published in the Freeman = but on Monday
one week past . how delighted was I to
meet him at the Antislavery [sic] office –
We have had quite a Rochester
talk I'll assure You = a Medley indeed
of news and incidents since my
leaving thence – I. have been pleased
in devoting some time with himself and
Wife and have visited the State House
Dome = Bunker Hill Monument = Several
of my acquaintances in the City and
the families of Joseph H. Putman and Charles L. Remond
                                                         at Salem

(Page 2)

and they and the friends have each
and all acknowledged the pleasure
thus imparted = they are now the Guests
of James N. Buffum at Lynn all expecting
to meet at Abington, tomorrow to
for the Antislavery [sic] Celebrations of the
        4^th of July.      Amy and the Rochester
Friends should be present with us

John Dick married. Charles Remond soon
to follow suit = and I am Yet and
likely to remain in a State of single
blessedness. = Well. whats the use of
Sighing? What is to be will be –

Louisa and Myself visited Harriet this
afternoon but the rainy Weather prevented
her Leaving for the City as we intended
for a few days = we feared a relapse

                              Sunday PM. 5. oclock
                                    July 7th
We had a fine time on the 4^th at
Pleasant Island Grove. Abington- the
Liberator will present the Story I presume
The Grove is most appropriately named
and more could not be said

(Page 3)

Yesterday Louisa and myself brought Harriet to
the City = she is feeble but we trust the change
for a few days will prove beneficial-

Your allusion to the fact that Eating
together of "Colored and ^with^ White' has the
effect to Killing prejudice = as in example
at the Rochester Fair - has been illustrated
here recently by the Cadets of Temperance
who in several Tours in the vicinity
have Shared hospitalities = and tendered
"Collations to the Colored Cadets –
which has had and will have
a decided influence on the School
Question - for as You Know this
Colorphobia is not exhibited by Children
until thier [sic] Parents . have had a wicked
Finger in the Pie___________________

How does the matter flourish relative

What a change of matters at the North
Star Office since John Dick and myself
first met at 36 Sophia Street = If ever we
meet again, (I mean Amy Post and
Myself ), I presume we shall find
a Large Book of reminiscences to
peruse= - Change makes Change
as Julia says in the Hunchback

(Page 4)

                                                July 9^th
                                        Tuesday 6. oclock PM
Just left Charles L. Remond who has been enjoying
a brief visit to the City = his health is not Yet
established. = there is some speculation here as to
his marriage –
                                          at home 11. oclock
                                                                 Night.
Samuel R. Ward has arrived = and his
Paper is to issued here immediately –
I wish the circumstances could allow me to
feel hopeful for the enterprize -but
I cannot -

Please remember me Kindly to the entire
Household = and the Circle of other good
friends of mine and You will confer
on me an especial favor -
to some of them I hope to send a line
by John Dick
          You must not regard this as a
Letter . but as a confession of my neglect
in not Sooner replying to Yours above
referred to. = when You recieve [sic] the
other one by package = You must pardon
my delinquency = and confidently expect
my being a better Boy in future
                              I remain Sincerely Your Friend
                                                          William C. Nell

Annotations

William Cooper Nell, an abolitionist, is writing from Boston to fellow activist, Amy Post. Nell refers to Post's home on 36 Sophia Street in Rochester.

John Dick worked as a printer for former slave and abolitionist, Frederick Douglass's newspaper, the North Star. Joseph H. Putman and Charles Lenox Remond were both abolitionist leaders. James N. Buffum was a Massachusetts politician, who served as the mayor of Lynn.

Nell and his sister, Louisa Nell Gray visited former slave, Harriet Brent Jacobs.

Pleasant Island Grove is in Abington, Massachusetts. Radical abolitionist, William Lloyd Garrison edited the newspaper the Liberator. Sammuel Riggold Ward was a former slave who became an abolitionist, newspaper editor and Congregationalist Minister.

Nell mentions the recent Rochester Anti-Slavery Fair and Frederick Douglass's newspaper the North Star and its publisher, John Dick.

Nell refers to Sammuel Riggold Ward, a former slave who became an abolitionist, newspaper editor and Congregational Minister.

Tags

Abolitionism; Personal; Temperance Movement

Collection

D.93 Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Citation

Nell, William Cooper, “Nell, William Cooper. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.,” RBSCP Exhibits, accessed November 23, 2024, https://rbscpexhibits.lib.rochester.edu/items/show/3137.

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