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

1858-03-24

Description

Handwritten letter from William Cooper Nell to Amy Kirby Post. Nell writes to Post about recent developments in the abolitionist 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

1199

Location

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

Transcription

(Page 1)

                           Boston March 24.. 1858

Esteemed Friend
                                Please accept my thanKs
for the Kind letter forwarded from 36
Sophia St . March 2^d    and which would
have been sooner acKnowledged but for
the press of Head and Hunt matters
which as You have seen Kept me so busy .
            Well I am Just beginning to
have a breathing Spell       a brief one
and when I review the past month
and its accupations [sic] . I really wonder
How I have succeeded through
to the end .= I cannot detail to You
the experiences = encouraging and
desponding hints from the too Sanguine
as well as the timid and Vetoing_
persons =           but the Faneuil Hall
meeting was a success and
I feel will produce good results.
    I was so fortunate as to clear
all my consequent liabilities many of
them quite heavy. but though with
a small surplus =     I could not
help hoping           I should realize enough
to lift my outstanding debts . but

(Page 2)

long looKed for day is Yet further
delayed=           How I long to be
          emancipated from the slavery of
debt.=-     Well let me at least
     Keep hoping for that Jubilee

Are You to be at New York
anniversary = ? I hope to meet
You there .    indeed have been
indulging a glimmering expectation
that           I may go on from
there and Spend a day each
at Geneva._ Auburn and
    Rochester = but this is a
world of disappointments so I
will     only say what I would
liKe to do . instead of what I
will =     so dont let any one [sic]
expect me = but Wait for the
wagon-
             I have a batch of letters to
answer     at this time . including
Dorcas Collins Abby Chase
       Harriet Jacobs and others

I am quite busy . with our two Clubs
   Histrionic        and Social -
both of      which have Literary Exercises
       at      thier [sic] weeKly meetings –

(Page 3)

I being President of one and Secretary
of the other = imposes upon me some duties
which they acKnowledge as beneficial -
        our          Dramatic Exhibition was
a grand affair =          Scenery .- Stage -
- Properties ._ Music _ Acting _ Dresses _
Audience         _ and all _
     Mr and Mrs Webb arrived from
England Just in time to be present
  -
ParKer Pillsbury is now in the office
much improved . but not Yet well.
Wendell Phillips - has Just been in
and promised to call with me upon
two Colored Young men (artists)
    Mr Garrison is not Very well
       The abolitionists are Just now
    revelling [sic] in       thier [sic] triumph of
   removing     Judge Loring ,
        Pro        slavery is Venting its rage
gnashing     its          teeth     and howling
         but            the .   : Deed is done ”

     I want to see the Rochester Circle
    Very much and could asK many
questions    about them all and each
   but       will        defer . satisfying myself
with the consciousness that as You
come in contact with them . You
    will apprise them that they –still live in my
                                            memory

(Page 4)

Mrs         Helen Putnam Gilliard is
about moving to Boston . and opening
a Ladies Clothing Store -
                      -
    Louisa and family      are well
her Baby is one Year old on the
27^th          is well . hearty and
ambitious   even now walKs a
little. -
                    Ira   Junior progresses
well = = promises to be a smart
man . _ _ _ _ _ _
      I am glad to say that
my health is quite encouraging
      little better . than when I
left       Rochester for Mrs Trevor
    at      Lockport

        Hoping to hear from You
Soon      I      remain
        Sincerely Your Friend
                          William C. Nell

Annotations

William Cooper Nell, an abolitionist and former slave, is writing from Boston to fellow activist, Amy Post. The New York Anniversary may refer to celebrating the year 1833, when England abolished slavery in the West Indies. Harriet Jacobs was an abolitionist and former slave. Mrs. Webb performed in a play, Black Siddon during this period. Parker Pillsbury was a Minister, abolitionist, writer, women’s rights activist, who served as Vice- President of the New Hampshire Suffrage Association. Wendell Phillips was an abolitionist, Native American advocate and lawyer. William Lloyd Garrison was a radical abolitionist and the editor of the newspaper, the Liberator. Ellis Gray Loring was lawyer and abolitionist, who was involved in the New England Anti-Slavery Society and helped to finance the Liberator. The members of the Putnam family were abolitionists. Louisa was one of Nell's sisters. Ira Junior was one of her children.

Tags

Abolitionism; Family

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/3489.

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