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[221] guests of his dear and faithful friend, Mrs. Elizabeth Pease Nichol, at Huntly Lodge, enjoying social intercourse with her and other friends, and driving about the city and its beautiful suburbs. Among the new acquaintances whom they met was that delightful writer and gentleman, Dr. John Brown, author of “Rab and his friends.”

On the day of his departure for Glasgow, Mr. Garrison1 was presented with the freedom of the city of Edinburgh, at a special meeting of the Town Council; the Lord Provost presiding, and the Magistrates and members of the Council, with the City Clerk and City Chamberlain, attending in their robes of office. This signal honor was tendered to Mr. Garrison ‘in respect of his long and meritorious exertions to abolish slavery in the United States of America’; and the Lord Provost, in making the presentation speech, described slavery as he had himself seen it when visiting the United States before the war, and recalled the active part which Edinburgh had borne in the struggle for West India emancipation. Mr. Garrison accepted this, like all previous honors, as bestowed not on himself alone, but on all his fellow-abolitionists, and ‘as a symbolical olive-branch to the people of the United States, and an expression of International amity and good-will. It is in that light,’ he said, ‘that my joy is full, and my heart beats responsively.’ The significance of the compliment was increased by his being the first American to receive it, and his pleasure in it was enhanced by the fact that George Thompson had been similarly honored many years previous, so that they were2 now ‘fellow-citizens.’3 His speech of acceptance was the best of all he delivered in Great Britain, at least so far as

1 July 18.

2 Ante, 3.153.

3 ‘The presentation to me of the “ freedom of the city” by the Lord Provost and Magistracy of Edinburgh was a notable mark of respect, taking me utterly by surprise. It is rather curious that the person who preceded me in receiving it was Prince Alfred, Lord Palmerston preceding him. It was given to the illustrious John Hampden. You [see], therefore, that different considerations lead to its bestowment. It was most worthily given to George Thompson several years ago. Of course, it possesses no interest or value to me beyond its being a high official recognition of the rectitude and grandeur of the anti-slavery movement in the United States, and, through me, a vindication of American abolitionists generally’ (Ms. Paris, Aug. 20, 1867, W. L. G. to Samuel May, Jr.). Mr. Garrison did not know that Mrs. Nichol had quietly suggested the propriety of thus honoring him to the Lord Provost.

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