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[272] by personal acquaintance, and she on her part received his expressions of sympathy and support with the deepest gratitude and encouragement. He spent an evening in informal discourse to a number of gentlemen whom she convened at her house, with what effect she subsequently wrote him:

Josephine E. Butler to W. L. Garrison.

Liverpool, June 10, 1877.
1 I wished one more word in reply to your most kind and encouraging letter—it is this, that if you should have the opportunity again—and you will—to speak to friends as you did at our house, I wish most earnestly that you should exactly do as you did here; you can and will, thereby, wonderfully serve the different sacred movements of reform going on here. I mean, that it seems to me and my husband the very best thing possible that you should relate that wonderful narrative of your labors—or some portion of your labors—with all its deep and suggestive lessons, enforced in a few words, as you can enforce them, and then, having quite won your hearers, speak at the end a few grave and earnest words concerning the struggles going on here—our own great conflict for justice and purity, the temperance movement, etc. You won several at our house, and you can do us thus immense service with, I trust, not too much effort yourself, and without any public meetings at all.

You perhaps scarcely realize the gladness imparted by your visit to England to all of us, and we are many now, who have to fight so sacred a battle against great odds—a battle which in some of its essential features resembles the great and marvellous anti-slavery struggle.


To another, Mrs. Butler wrote of Mr. Garrison:

I think he has a peculiar gift for awakening the conscience,2 and for making us all feel to what extent we have severally failed to see, or to live up to, the principles we profess or love. To me, his influence is that of a visit to a fortifying mountaintop where a strong, pure breeze is blowing, and where mists are cleared away and one gets above the strife of earth for a moment, though still, and more widely, beholding all that strife.

From Liverpool, where he passed pleasant hours with3 his friends, the Crosfields, Mr. Garrison went to Manchester

1 Ms.

2 Ms. June 26, 1877, to F. J. G.

3 Mr.Crosfield and Mrs. Wm. Crosfield.

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