[384] and served greatly to relieve my mind from a heavy load of anxiety. May all things go prosperously with you, dearest! And may the protection of Heaven be graciously vouchsafed to the dear children, and to us all! My heart is swelling with tender emotions. 0, how I yearn to clasp you in my arms! I have been introduced to Lady Byron, the Countess of Brunswick, Mrs. Opie, Mary and William Howitt, Elizabeth Fry, Anna Braithwaite,1 and other noted women. A splendid Soiree has been given to the foreign delegates, at which I2 spoke.3 Several elegant entertainments have also been made for us.4 I let out all my heresies, in my intercourse with those who invite us together, and have made no little stir in consequence.5 Slavery out of the question, our country is a century in advance of England on the score of reform, and of general intelligence and morality. We, in New England, scarcely dream of the privileges we enjoy, and the enviable condition in which we are placed, as contrasted with the state of things here.
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1 A dinner on June 20 at Isaac and Anne Braithwaite's lodgings, ‘in company with Garrison, Rogers, whom I like better and better, and others,’ is recorded by Mrs. Mott in her diary ( “Life,” p. 158).
2 Life of J. and L. Mott, p. 159.
3 At the Crown and Anchor Tavern. ‘Stanton made the first speech. He was followed by M. Duclos de Boussais in a very brief speech. Next came Garrison, who talked of “woman's rights”—blaming the Convention for its disregard of them—of universal suffrage in Ireland, and the necessity of a universal language’ ( “Memorial of G. Bradburn,” p. 95). William Adams's report ran (Lib. 10.127): ‘At a soiree, W. L. Garrison was so loudly called for by the people that he stepped forward, and bore a faithful testimony against the unfaithfulness of the friends of the cause who went to America, and did not do their duty on that subject while there; especially Joseph John Gurney, Drs. Cox, Hoby, &c. He spoke fearlessly of the conduct of the Committee in calling such a Convention, and then denying it; also of war, and of woman slavery, which had been exercised over the female delegates. Our new organizers made no reply.’
4 As at William Ball's, Tottenham, on June 25, where ‘William L. Garrison spoke at length, very well,’ teste Mrs. Mott ( “Life,” p. 162).
5 Thus, William H. Ashurst to Mr. Garrison, on June 30: ‘If you have a copy of the pamphlet upon non-resistance which you read at my house, to spare, or can tell me where I can procure it in this country, may I trouble you just to drop me a line, saying in so many words it may be had in such a place? Pray make arrangements so that I shall receive from America the Liberator for the next twelve months, and tell me unto whom and how I shall remit my subscription. I should like to arrange also to receive from America a copy of anything that shall appear officially, or from any of our known friends, upon the woman question. Their emancipation from serfdom is next in importance to the slavery question’ (Ms.).
The Century Company. , 1885-1889.
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