Letter from Harriet Beecher Stowe, [Andover, Massachusetts], to William Lloyd Garrison, [1853 November]

Item Information

Title:
Letter from Harriet Beecher Stowe, [Andover, Massachusetts], to William Lloyd Garrison, [1853 November]
Description:
Harriet Beecher Stowe writes to William Lloyd Garrison thanking him for his note before her departure to Europe but explaining her inability to read it or respond to it sooner. Stowe says she is working on a reply to it "addressed to you publicly thro [sic] the columns of the Liberator" but she has not finished it yet. She tells Garrison that "in regard to you, your paper & in some measure your party I am in an honest embarrasment", as she says she sympathizes with some of their positions but finds others to be "erroneous, hurtful to liberty & the progress of humanity". She explains her fear is not for the "intelligent well balanced minds" who read the Liberator, but for those like "poor Uncle Tom", as the Liberator will take "his bible & give him nothing in its place". Stowe then tells Garrison that in response to his invitation, she could not "endorse your piety and your paper, without at the same time entering protest against what I consider erroneous & hurtful." She says she believes Garrison will appreciate her frankness and invites him to make a call to her home "to have an opportunity of free conversation" with him.
Author:
Stowe, Harriet Beecher, 1811-1896
Addressee:
Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879
Date:
[November 1853]
Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Manuscripts
Location:
Boston Public Library
Rare Books Department
Collection (local):
Anti-Slavery Collection
Subjects:
Abolitionists--United States--19th century--Correspondence
Antislavery movements--United States--History--19th century
Social reformers--United States--History--19th century
Women abolitionists--United States--History--19th century--Correspondence
Abolitionists--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--United States
Social reformers--United States
Women abolitionists--United States
Wood-engraving--19th century
Stowe, Harriet Beecher, 1811-1896
Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879
Liberator (Boston, Mass. : 1831)
Extent:
1 leaf (4 p.) ; 19 x 25 cm. + 1 envelope (8 x 13 cm.)
Permalink:
https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/2v23xb37s
Terms of Use:
No known copyright restrictions.
No known restrictions on use.
Place of origin:
[Andover, Massachusetts]
Language:
English
Notes:
Holograph, signed.
Title devised by cataloger.
Legacy catalog card identifies the place of publication of this manuscript as "Andover".
Legacy catalog card identifies the date of publication of this manuscript as "Nov. 1853".
Legacy catalog card contains a note stating "On microfilm RBD 488."
Boston Public Library (Rare Books Department) manuscript composed in brown ink on white paper stationery with the embossed initials "HBS" appearing along the head edge of the first page. Above the salutation, "214" is written in pencil, while in the head- spine corner of the first page there is also a checkmark drawn in pencil. In the head- fore corner of the first page, "Andover, Mass., Nov. 1853." has been written in pencil and in the tail- spine corner of the page, "103" is written in pencil. On the final page, under the signature, "See W.L.G.'s answer to this in the Liberator for December 23, 1853." is written in pencil. Additionally, in the tail- fore corner of the final page, "MS.A.1.2" is written in pencil above (V 23 p.103)" also in pencil.
The folder contains an envelope addressed to "William Lloyd Garrison, 21 Cornhill, Boston." and is postmarked with a blue circular stamp. On the verso of the envelope, there are multiple scenes of slaves being sold, beaten, and escaping under two banners reading, "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you do you so unto them" and "Ye who take freedom from men how will you answer it to God".
Notes (date):
This date is inferred.
Identifier:
5055246
Call #:
MS A.1.2 v.23, p.103
Barcode:
39999085440111