Letter from Johnn Bishop Estlin, Bristol, [England], to Richard Davis Webb, 1845 November 13

Item Information

Title:
Letter from Johnn Bishop Estlin, Bristol, [England], to Richard Davis Webb, 1845 November 13
Description:
John Bishop Estlin writes to Richard Davis Webb in regards to the refusal of the municipal Unitarian Ministers to sign the "Address" sent a year and a half ago to America. He writes, "the letters of all the objections, with their reasons, came into my hands, and as some of their arguments seemed good ones...their American Brethren really needed a stimulus, if not a reproof." He writes that the abuse of the clergy by Garrison & his party are "unchristian & impolitic." He criticizes Dr. Orville Dewey for having "indifference to the rights of the cause." He favors enlightening slaveholders through "gentleness & love." He writes of Frederick Douglass's Narrative and regrets that it contains anything that should limit its circulation. He believes a good model may be found in the tract "Slavery in America" by Chamber's Miscellany. He writes that he has been occasionally "disgusted with H.C. Wright's expressions & opinions as to the observance of Sunday." He writes that the abuse of ministers & Christians Societies for "not allowing discussions on Free trade, Universal suffrage, & such topics to take place in their places of worship, even on Sundays, is as wrong in principle as bad in taste." He thanks him for his printed circular and writes of Frederick Douglass not obtaining permission to lecture in "our chapel." He discusses the possible visit of Frederick Douglass in Bristol and arrangements to be made for it. Estlin says he cannot stay at his house due to a recent illness but believes that Douglass could do more good if he stayed with Quakers over a Unitarian. He wishes the British Foreign Anti-Slavery Society would "concentrate their energies more upon American Slavery as the negroes there are as well off as they are in the W. Indies--an A.S. feeling is very much awakened here, and if people do not get frightened & disgusted by violent language...it will pursue a very desirable course." He writes that one box went off yesterday between 6 & 700 separate articles for sale. In a postscript, Estlin writes to send a note to Charles Francis Adams in regards to a letter in the Liberator on October 3 as to the "necessity of unanimity among the Abolitionists could be felt by them all."
Addressee:
Webb, Richard Davis, 1805-1872
Author:
Estlin, J. B. (John Bishop), 1785-1855
Date:
November 13, 1845
Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Manuscripts
Location:
Boston Public Library
Rare Books Department
Collection (local):
Anti-Slavery Collection
Subjects:
Abolitionists--England--19th century--Correspondence
Abolitionists--United States--19th century--Correspondence
Antislavery movements--Great Britain--History--19th century
African American abolitionists--History--19th century
Slavery and the church--Great Britain--History--19th century
African Americans--Suffrage--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--Lectures and lecturing--Great Britain--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--Newspapers--Great Britain--History--19th century
Unitarians
Social reformers--Great Britain--History--19th century
Social justice--United States--History--19th century
Social reformers--Lectures and lecturing--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--Publishing--Great Britain--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--United States--History--19th century
Abolitionists
Abolitionists--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--Great Britain
African American abolitionists
African Americans--Civil rights--History--19th century
Slavery and the church--United States
Slavery and the church
African Americans--Suffrage
Antislavery movements
Lectures and lecturing
Enslaved persons--Emancipation--United States
Quaker abolitionists
Social reformers
Social justice--United States
Social reformers--United States
Publishers and publishing
Antislavery movements--United States
British and Foreign Anti-slavery Society
Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895
Webb, Richard Davis, 1805-1872
Wright, Henry Clarke, 1797-1870
Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879
Estlin, J. B. (John Bishop), 1785-1855
Places:
United Kingdom
England
Extent:
3 leaves (10 p.) ; 24 cm.
Permalink:
https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/2z10z760t
Terms of Use:
No known copyright restrictions.
No known restrictions on use.
Place of origin:
Bristol, [England]
Language:
English
Notes:
Holograph, signed.
Title devised by cataloger.
On the back of this letter, there is annotations in a different hand that state that this letter is "well worthy of a careful and well considered reply, which could be taken by E.Q [Edmund Quincy] or W.P [Wendell Philips] if the recipient could not do it. The card catalog indicates that the addressee had sent the letter to Mrs. Maria (Weston) Chapman with this suggestion."
Identifier:
5123105
Call #:
MS A.9.2 v.21, p.95
Barcode:
39999085430740