Letter from Anne Knight, Paris, [France], to William Lloyd Garrison, 1838 [March] 14
Description:
Anne Knight writes to William Lloyd Garrison thanking him for his "letter announcing a gift of thy portrait" but telling him that the portrait has not arrived. She refers to the origins of the transatlantic slave trade during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and compares it with the current need for slaves, remarking, "Sir John Hawkins wanted negroes, the planter wants Hill Coolies [in the Demerara colony]- in both cases it is alike the thirst of gold - gold wrought from the unoffending & plundered negroe [sic]!" Knight also comments that some believe Garrison's "labors were not attended with that Christian meeknesss of love to win, but rather declamatory violence which tended to repel & aggravate rather than persuade." She warns his language will add to the "odium" he may face and states that American slavery is "far more attrocious than ours [British slavery] for we did not see our victims nor hear their groans." Knight also tells Garrison he has "Amazons in your ranks now - the Grimke's with Margaretta Forten & no doubt many more whose names I should very much like to know ..." She then asks Garrison to forward an enclosed letter to Margaretta Forten.
Holograph, signed.
Title devised by cataloger.
On verso, the letter is addressed to "William Lloyd Garrison Boston, Massa[chuse]tts America," and it is postmarked with an orange, circular stamp reading, "New-York Apr 20."