Letter from Samuel Joseph May, Brooklyn, [Connecticut], to William Lloyd Garrison, 1831 July 18

Item Information

Title:
Letter from Samuel Joseph May, Brooklyn, [Connecticut], to William Lloyd Garrison, 1831 July 18
Description:
Samuel Joseph May writes to William Lloyd Garrison sending him "eight pages more of my sermon." He explains that he has enlarged it since it was delivered in Boston and has preached this newer sermon to his congregation in Brooklyn as well as "to a large audience in Providence." He then comments on Garrison's "Address to the colored people", calling it "excellent - well adapted to the comprehension of uncultivated minds - and yet truly eloquent." May asserts, "It must, it will do good" but worries that Garrison is "too severe upon the friends of Colonization." He insists that Garrison's attacks are "lessening your own influence and throwing obstacles in your own path" and refers him to the example of St. Paul in the Bible. May then identifies himself as a member of the [American] Colonization Society and defends the organization before telling Garrison "I fear I shall not convince you, for with all your good qualities you are as pertinacious of your opinions as I am." He recommends that "Henry E. Benson will make you an excellent agent in Providence" and then discusses the important role of education "in elevating our colored brethren." In the postscript (which is mostly crossed out), May seeks to correct a line of his sermon that was published in the Liberator of July 2, 1831.
Author:
May, Samuel J. (Samuel Joseph), 1797-1871
Addressee:
Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879
Date:
July 18, 1831
Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Manuscripts
Location:
Boston Public Library
Rare Books Department
Collection (local):
Anti-Slavery Collection
Subjects:
Abolitionists--United States--19th century--Correspondence
African Americans--Education--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--United States--History--19th century
Social reformers--United States--History--19th century
Abolitionists--United States--History--19th century
African Americans--Colonization--Africa
African Americans--Education--History
Antislavery movements--United States
Social reformers--United States
American Colonization Society
May, Samuel J. (Samuel Joseph), 1797-1871
Benson, Henry Egbert, 1814-1837
Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879
Liberator (Boston, Mass. : 1831)
Extent:
1 leaf (4 p.) ; 25 cm.
Permalink:
https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/2z10zd57j
Terms of Use:
No known copyright restrictions.
No known restrictions on use.
Place of origin:
Brooklyn, [Connecticut]
Language:
English
Notes:
Holograph, signed.
Title devised by cataloger.
The sermon May refers to is printed in the Liberator of of July 23, 1831 (Vol. 1, no. 30).
Identifier:
5139278
Call #:
MS A.1.2 v.1, p.26
Barcode:
39999085505921