Letter from Joshua Coffin and Arnold Buffum, Philadelphia, [Pennsylvania], to William Lloyd Garrison, 1834 Jan[uary] 29
Description:
Joshua Coffin writes to William Lloyd Garrison telling him that he has "obtained nearly 200 subscribers, [and] the supply as you will perceive is not equal to the demand." Coffin describes the complaints of many subscribers for not receiving their issues of the Liberator, blaming Junius C. Morel and a carrier hired by Joseph Cassey for taking money and "thus defrauded of their paper many subscribers who had paid in advance for them." He explains that he told subscribers "that the negligence should no longer exist" and asks Garrison to help him "fulfill my promises [or] I shall get the name of being the biggest liar in the State." He says he has divided the Liberator's carriers list between James McCrummell and Arnold Buffum and complains that Garrison does not answer his request for books to sale or even respond to his letters. He then provides a list of some new subscribers, including James Miller M'Kim. After the letter from Joshua Coffin to William Lloyd Garrison, Arnold Buffum writes an additional note to Garrison, also from Philadelphia and dated [January] 29, 1834. Buffum tells Garrison that "provided it be thy wish [he plans] to undertake the general Agency of the Liberator in Philadelphia and also the particular and distributing Agency for the Southern part of the CIty." He reports that Joshua Coffin "is making great progress in getting subscribers" and Coffin's lectures have helped him find people interested in the Liberator. Additionally, Robert Purvis plans to lecture, and so might Buffum, with the goal of obtaining more subscribers. Buffum says he "should not be surprized [sic] if one thousand subscribers for the Liberator should be obtai[ned] within one year." He then urges Garrison to visit Philadelphia, promising "it would electrify the whole of them and 500 subscribers would be added to the 1000".
Holograph, signed.
Title devised by cataloger.
On verso, the letter is addressed to "Mr. Wm L. Garrison Boston Mass."
The letter from Joshua Coffin to William Lloyd Garrison is on pages 1-2, while another letter from Arnold Buffum to William Lloyd Garrison is on page 3.