Letter from Isaac Stearns, Mansfield, [Massachusetts], to William Lloyd Garrison and Charles Calistus Burleigh, 1837 Jan[uary] 9th

Item Information

Title:
Letter from Isaac Stearns, Mansfield, [Massachusetts], to William Lloyd Garrison and Charles Calistus Burleigh, 1837 Jan[uary] 9th
Description:
In this letter to William Lloyd Garrison, Isaac Stearns notes that since writing his letter to Charles C. Burleigh he has learned that he "is at some distance" and so will probably be unable to fulfill his request and lecture in Dighton. Since he does not know Orange Scott personally, he asks Garrison if he would request for Scott to lecture as "it would undoubtedly be very agreeable to have him lecture at Dighton." Stearns then reports that "Rev. James H. Sayward, the Minister who officiates where the mob in Mansfield was formed" has called Charles C. Burleigh "a man of bad character, a man of no principle." Sayward has also accused Burleigh "of drinking largely of ardent spirits." He tells Garrison that not many people believe Sayward's accusations and that he wrote him a letter asking for more information about his charges against Burleigh but received no response. He also states that prior to the mob, Sayward identified as an abolitionist but now he "would not even sign a petition to Congress for the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, when presented to him." Stearns adds that "The cause of abolition, I think, is doing well in this town."
Author:
Stearns, Isaac, 1790-1879
Addressee:
Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879
Addressee:
Burleigh, Charles C. (Charles Calistus), 1810-1878
Date:
January 9, 1837
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
Antislavery movements--Lectures and lecturing--United States--History--19th century
Social reformers--United States--History--19th century
Abolitionists--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--United States
Lectures and lecturing
Social reformers--United States
Stearns, Isaac, 1790-1879
Sayward, James H., 1808-1844
Scott, Orange, 1800-1847
Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879
Burleigh, Charles C. (Charles Calistus), 1810-1878
Extent:
1 leaf (4 p.) ; 30 cm.
Permalink:
https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/2z111895m
Terms of Use:
No known copyright restrictions.
No known restrictions on use.
Place of origin:
Mansfield, [Massachusetts]
Language:
English
Notes:
Holograph, signed.
Title devised by cataloger.
On verso, the letter is addressed to "Mr. Wm Lloyd Garrison Boston Mass. (25 Cornhill)." Along the head edge of the page, a note says that "120 men & 191 women have signed petition to forward to Congress, from Mansfield, for the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia."
After the letter to Garrison, Stearns has written another letter to Charles Calistus Burleigh, dated December 20th, 1836, from Mansfield. Stearns says that "Rev. Martin M. Braley, the gentlemen who made the prayer, amid the sound of drums and blowing of the bugle, when you last attempted to lecture in Mansfield, has requested me to write you stating that your services is wanted in the town of Dighton in this County." He says there has not been an antislavery lecturer in Dighton although he considers "Bristol County to be 'ripe for the harvest, and ought by no means to be neglected." Stearns believes "a large majority ... would embrace the cause of immediate emancipation ..." and asks that if Burleigh cannot come lecture, he would ask "Rev. O[range] Scott, of Lowell to go."
Identifier:
5724096
Call #:
MS A.1.2 v.6, p.43
Barcode:
39999086048392