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

1855-07-11

Description

Handwritten letter from William Cooper Nell to Amy Kirby Post. Nell writes to Post of his recent illness.

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

1081

Location

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

Transcription

(Page 1)

                      Boston July_11_1855
Esteemed “friend
                  Amy Post
                                   Though I have
wrote Boston at the head of this
letter I am Seated in with Mrs_
Putnam’s interesting family Helen Janey
Georgiana    and       Adelaide    and
thier [sic] Mother = all doing an active
part in contributing to my happiness
indeed thier [sic] presence and sympathy
I accept as a Sovereign Panacea
for the Invalid-

        a few days ago I forwarded a
line to You- by Henry C. Wright relative
to my visiting Rochester= though this
hope is to me fraught with much
that is gladsome grateful to my feelings
Yet the fact.    that the prevalent
East Winds = and Sudden changes of
our climate render it necessary that I
Should be away from thier [sic] influence
for Some time to come=| I am
       ^is a very      bitter draught for me^
therefore preparing again   to cut
loose from Boston and wend

(Page 2)

my steps westward = if I can

find any thing to do at Rochester

that will Secure me a cheap

living - until I find it

proper to leave for Cincinnati

I shall most gratefully

adapt myself to the circumstances

     I am now in a much better
   State of health than when I
last wrote but am cautioned by
    my friends and the Physicians

to leave the fatal east winds

of our Sea bound Coast and

repair to where I can inhale

dry Western breezes

(Page 3)

I have done hardly any business
Since December= my sicKness

has been a continual bill of

expense to me denying me the

anticipated gratification of a final

Settlement of my liabilities = though

fortunately I owe nothing here now

but the for my Pamphlets and

which may ere long pay for itself
                   themselves.
I am mortified that a sum is Yet

due Isaac Post (a small one = but
great to me until paid and
which I trust a path will open
for its perfect adjustment-

I have been and am Yet
unfortunate = I am done now
        anticipating any bright days
but Yet the Sun may- eve
                 Shine upon me

(Page 4)

     I shall likely leave here
   by the First of August
and would be very happy to
recieve [sic] a line from you before
Starting-
                        There is much that
I could tell You= of Scenes

and events = past and present
but will defer until meeting
at Rochester = unless Some
unforeseen matter prevents

    My Love to all at Home
with every Sentiment of
grateful esteem
         I remain
                      Faithfully Yours
                                   friend
                 William C. Nell.

Annotations

William Cooper Nell, an abolitionist and former slave, is writing from Boston to fellow activist, Amy Post. The Putnam family were abolitionists. The Boston school system fired Georgiana for supporting a petition to end segregation in schools. Reverend Henry C. Wright was a member of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society.

Tags

Medicine; Personal

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/3371.

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