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

1853-05-25

Description

Handwritten letter from William Cooper Nell to Amy Kirby Post. Nell shares with Post recent events in the Boston anti-slavery movement.

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

988

Location

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

Transcription

(Page 1)

Wednesday 4.oclock P.M Boston May 25. 1853

My Valued Friend Amy Post

      Mr Wallcut being confined to his room by
indisposition the Mantle of Substitute
for the anti slavery [sic] office has been
placed upon my Shoulders and though
I fondly anticipated attending the Convention
through its entire sessions. I have made
the Sacrifice = and can therefore only
attend evenings = Yesterday to my
great delight who should pop into
walk into the door but Lewis Burtis ,
I can assure You I lost no time in
going to the Carriage for a friendly
Shake of Sarah Burtis Hand = quite
like old times = Soon after Giles
and Catherine Stebbins := presence
augmented my pleasant Rochester
reminiscences. = I meant to have told You
that Lydia Mott came in with Lewis
Peter Still has Just arrived from his
Eastern tour where he was quite successful
He was speaking of You and says that he
met recently a friendly woman who was

(Page 2)

So very Kind to him that He called
her a Second Amy Post -

Sallie Hollie has arrayed ^herself^ in a handsome
Bonnet and Shawl = Black Silk Dress V=
and looks noble = She gains friends to the
Cause wherever she goes-
    I. Cut out from the Tribune a notice
of Sarah Hallowells wedding = for the Liberator
So the deed is done that unites two ^hearts^ in
one = My best wishes attend her-

                  Friday P.M. 3.oclock-
The Liberator has by mistake printed Miss for
Mrs Sarah Hallowell = but it will be all the
same a hundred Years hence - I have delivered
the Liberty Bells and other Books for You to
Catherine Stebbins = They ought to have been sent
long since .= I had the pleasure of introducing her to
Miss Deborah Weston this forenoon-
      Lucy Stone will probably leave here for the
Rochester Temperance Convention = and perhaps Frank
will accompany her. - Charles Lenox Remond
wished Amy Post had accompanied
the Rochester friends to Boston = the meeting
has been a grand one Just Such as you and Isaac

(Page 3)

Should have enjoyed-

Though I have had an unusually busy week
I am feeling nicely except a slight Cold
caught Yesterday in the rain-
I have great reason to be thankful that I
am so well= but I dare not boast = for I
am far from being out of the woods-
             Frederick Douglass article on Infidelity
in his last weeks is not what it should have
been = Several friends here much regret
its publications = but more anon
      Should the (F. Douglass) convention in
Rochester promise to be well attended
I shall make an effort though at some
sacrifice to be present = but of
but I will say a more definite word in my
next = How strangely Frederick Douglass
is wire pulling = but I will hope for
the best
              Professor Allen had 17 days passage
to Europe in the Ship Danl Webster = but at
He rejoices for himself and Wife that they
are in an anti Colorphobia land-

Joseph Putmans Father is quite sick
and so is Joseph Smiths. Charles Remonds Wifes
son in law= I was at Salem a week last Sunday

(Page 4)

and though sorry for the invalids and missing
Joseph Putman very much Yet I had a fine
time = Miss Wood was present and added not a
little to my happiness thereby = By the bye it
is reported = that I am engaged to a Young
Lady in Boston whose acquaintance I have but
recently made = my Vanity may have led me to
believe an acquisition which I have not sought
but I do not anticipate a Wedding as the
result = more particulars when we meet =
one good conversation we must enjoy
Caroline E. Putman Sarah P. Remond and myself
were ejected from Madam Santags opera at the
Howard Atheneum [sic] recently = they brought an action
and gained the care = we attended the
operas afterwards in as good shape as any
body = Next weeks Liberator will give some facts
the details 2 or 3 days in Court V= Witnesses
Public excitement V= the triumph all rich
and this will be a fruitful topic when we
meet
Sorry to learn of Your indisposition
and hope You are now better than
ever= Do not thinK for a moment
that I can ever forget You and
Your Kindnesses = Love to Isaac
Jacob Joseph= Sarah Birney Mary Ann
Willie = and Kind regards to all
friends = Please Send me a line
soon as You can = I shall anxiously look for it
I remain Faithfully Yours William C. Nell

Annotations

William Cooper Nell, an abolitionist and former slave, is writing from Boston to fellow activist, Amy Post. R.F. Walcutt published an anti-slavery pamphlet that contained a speech by Reverend Bleby. Lewis Burtis was married to the cousin of woman's rights leader, Susan B. Anthony. Sarah Burtis was an organizer of the Western New York Female Anti-Slavery Society. Giles Stebbins was an anti-slavery lecturer, and married to Catherine Stebbins, a woman's rights activist. Lydia Mott, the sister of James Mott was a leader of the anti-slavery movement. Peter Still or Peter Freedman, escaped from slavery and became an anti-slavery lecturer to raise money to buy his family out of slavery. Sallie Hollie was a woman's rights activist, who lectured with Susan B. Anthony, Lucy Stone and Sarah Remond. Nell mentions Post's sister, Sarah Hallowell. The Tribune and the Liberator were two anti-slavery newspapers. Deborah Weston was one of the founding members of the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society. Charles Lenox Remond was an abolitionist and lecturer. Frances was one of Nell's sisters.

Nell refers to the recent split in the anti-slavery movement between Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison. Douglass no longer believed that the United States Constitution was pro-slavery- unlike Garrison- he believed it was anti-slavery. William G. Allen was editor of the National Watchman, a temperance and abolitionist paper for African Americans. Joseph Putnam- the brother-in-law of Charles Lenox Remond- was an abolitionist and military organizer during the Civil War. Nell sends his regards to Post's three sons, Jacob, Joseph and Willie. Mary Ann took care of Willie when he was a child. Sarah Birney was a relative of the Post family.

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 24, 2024, https://rbscpexhibits.lib.rochester.edu/items/show/3277.

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