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[40] (as you well know), than the charges brought against them and myself in the Circular. So artfully, however, is the Circular drawn up, and so widely has it been disseminated, that it will probably do a great deal of mischief, and penetrate where no reply will be allowed to follow. I presume it will be widely disseminated in England, and not unlikely through the agency of the London Committee. Well, I can truly say, ‘none of these things move me.’ . . .

You will doubtless be anxious to know what is Knapp's prospect of success in the publication of his new paper. I have no means of knowing; but take it for granted that, among the numerous enemies of the anti-slavery cause in general, of the Massachusetts A. S. Society in particular, of the Liberator, and of myself (slavery, pro-slavery, new organization, and priestcraft, all combined), he will not find it a very difficult matter to obtain an amount of funds sufficient to enable him to publish several numbers of the scandalous publication. The editing of the paper will be done, I presume, by Bishop. . . . As soon1 as the paper is issued, I will send you a copy.

The receipts of the Liberator for the present year will fall short of its expenses to the amount of about $500. This sum will probably be made up by the kindness of friends. If you can obtain any new subscribers for the new year in your region, or any one else, send their names along as a New Year's present.2


Bishop, as was expected, filled the entire first page of the first number of Knapp's Liberator3 with his own quarrel with the Massachusetts Board in regard to4 Collins's accounts. Smith and Bates followed with intended corroborations of the truth of Knapp's circular, which was here reprinted. Knapp had little to say in his own behalf, being the merest tool of his false friends; but there were many anonymous communications aimed at Mr. Garrison and the Board.

1 J. P. Bishop.

2 Mr. Garrison wrote to Mr. Benson on January 7, 1841 (Ms.), that in the twelvemonth the Liberator had lost nearly five hundred subscribers net, and cut off two or three hundred delinquents. Once firm friends had ordered the paper stopped. ‘The Sabbath Convention has been more than they could tolerate; and to save the formal observance of the first day of the week, they are willing that slavery should be perpetuated.’

3 Dated Boston, Saturday, Jan. 8, 1842. The printed page was about 9 3/4 x 14 1/2 inches. No subscription price was named, nor any regular date of publication.

4 Ante, p. 39.

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