The country was now in the height of the excitement of the most prolonged Presidential canvass ever known, and on the eve of the election itself. In spite of General‘ [413] warfare against what they are pleased to call prejudices in regard to the colored race.’ Spirits of Fox, Woolman and Benezet! Here we have the full manifestation of that hateful spirit which hunts the colored man with blood-hound ferocity on these shores, and makes his life full of wretchedness and misery. Such Quakerism as this is of Satan's own manufacture. I shall wait with some curiosity to see how it will be treated by the Society of Friends in England. I hope you will lay it before them, that we may have a response in due season. William Bassett has been cut off from the Society in this country! He will, doubtless, give you all the particulars about it. He is a martyr to the cause of humanity, and has been expelled only because the Society is too corrupt to retain such purity. His spirit, however, is just as peaceful, his countenance just as benignant, his purpose just as steadfast, as they were before this shameful treatment. The proscription of such a man is one of the most conclusive proofs of the awful condition into which the Society of Friends has fallen in this negro-hating country. The dear babe that was born during my absence . . . was very unwell just before my return, so that it was supposed he could not recover; but he was mercifully spared. I have not yet given him a name! Shall we call a ‘World's Convention’ to decide upon it? If so, remember that women are not to be included in the call! And yet I am determined to have their decision in the case.1 Much do I wish to see you and the other dear friends in England; but as this wish cannot be gratified at present, do not fail to let me hear from you soon. Remember me affectionately to your father, mother, brother, &c.
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The country was now in the height of the excitement of the most prolonged Presidential canvass ever known, and on the eve of the election itself. In spite of General
1 ‘We have named our little babe Wendell Phillips,’ writes its happy father on Sept. 17, 1840, to his brother James, at Brooklyn, Conn. On Jan. 22, 1841, the namesake wrote from Leghorn to convey his thanks through Miss Mary G. Chapman. ‘What shall I say to W. L. G.'s touching mark of kindly feeling in giving his little boy my name? Shall I ask you to thank him for this new token of his love, and pet the little one till some one returns to do it? Perhaps I owe it to the fact of being happy enough (which I owe to your letter) of being the first in London to tell him of his birth’ (Ms. Feb. 23, 1841, Miss Chapman to W. L. G.)
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