Letter from Mary E. Robbins, [Lynn, [Massachusetts], to Maria Weston Chapman, 1839 Jan[uary] 16
Description:
Mary E. Robbins writes to Maria Weston Chapman in regards to Maria's request that she describe the Lynn anti-slavery fair and she writes, "I can moralize and philosophize but I am not good at describing..I think a spectator is a better person to talk about our fair than one of the actors behind the scenes." She mentions $500 net proceeds at the Lynn anti-slavery fair. She is grieved at the internal divisions within the anti-slavery societies. She writes, "Lies are to be extinguished--it is true, but light is the only extinguisher of darkness."
Holograph, signed.
Title devised by cataloger.
At the beginning of the page, in addressee's hand, says, "An answer to my request that she would describe the Lynn Fair...for the Liberator. This was the beginning of the 'division.' We would not work for the Boston Fair that year. It being in the hands of the enemy." In the same hand but different ink, arguments in reply to the letter are written in between the lines on the second and third page.