Letter from Charlotte to Samuel Cowles, 1836 July 7.

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    Farmington July 7th 1836.


    My Dear Brother,


    Last Sunday evening the Hall was honored by the presence of the Rev John Pinney, late Governor of Liberia, who made quite an interesting speech in relation to the colony. He, of course, insisted upon transportation as the only means of elevating the colored race, but did not, as I recollect, attempt to justify the diabolical Maryland scheme, or the wicked prejudice against color; but said that as these existed, and it was vain to oppose them, the best way was to do what we could without exciting the rage of the Southrons. Then he told a story about some of the colonists, who had formerly been slaves in Georgia, and how much the natives looked up to them, because they had lived in Georgia and learned civilization. The poor young gentleman from New Jersey, who was so politely treated by the chivalrous Georgians, probably thinks it is a strange kind of civilization they would learn there. For my part I regretted that the talents of the speaker, (who really seemed like a good man,) could not have been excited in a better cause; and when I returned from the lecture, it was



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    to see the absurdities of Colonization more clearly, and to read Jay’s Inquiry with more pleasure, than ever before.


    Probably you have read, in the Liberator, the letter of Judge Jay to Gerrit Smith, in relation to the rise of the products of slave labor. This has always been a favorite notion with Mr Smith, but I regret that there should be this ollision between him and the Judge, for it is, no time now for Abolitionists to stop and quarrel about trifles. Gerrit, however, does not preach without practising. Neither himself or his family make any use of cotton or sugar except from the West Indies. This will do for him, for he can afford to dress in silk and linen, but we could not do it quite so well. Rich as he is, he is so afraid of being extravagant that his house is entirely without carpets.


    I understand that Miss Louisa Mary is to be married to William the Rhinebecker, who is only 20 years older than herself. He is welcome to her.


    Have you seen the “Songs of the Free”? By the way, some of the careful Southons having discovered an incendiary passage in the “Wood and Fields”, the Charleston booksellers were obliged to send the whole cargo of that work back to N. York.


    Please do write, next week, and tell us when you are coming home. Mrs Bronson is expected today.


    Yours very sincerely,


    Charlotte L. Cowles


    Please excuse the ink on the outside of the sheets


    I did not discover it till this was half finished.


    You see I do not succeed very well in directing my letters I do not



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    know how to write with such coarse pens.



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    To,


    Mr. Samuel S. Cowles


    Boston


    [Samuel Cowles annotation: July 7, 1836]


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