Frederick Douglass Maria Weston Chapman, August 18, 1846
[In] reply to so much of your letter as relates to my
having attended the recent meeting of the British
and Foreign Antislavery in London - I must say I
have no confession to make or pardon to ask for my
conduct in the matter. I went there with the
counsel and advice of good friends - friends who are as
anxious for the emancipation of the slaves as any
with whom I think I have ever met. I went for
reasons wh[ic]h seemed good. I was not carryied there by
that you term "money temptations" no such was offered
and I may say - (though you may think it an evidence of
my self sufficiency) no such temptations would have
been availing. When I received the invitation I without
reflection or consultation with any one, declined . the
This I did from mere predjutice. My friend George Thompson
was in London at the time. I was in Ediburgh he at
once wrote urging me for many reason - most of
[ ]ing out of our free Church aggetation - to come
to London and avail myself of the oppertunity
afforde by that meeting of sriking an important
blow in behalf of "sending back the money'
I believe Mr. Thompson now regrets having
advised me to go. I do not know that he does
but [...] I think he does since reading the article
to which you refer in the Standard. I must however
s[a]y that I do not regret having gone the[ ] or
[ ] when I was there.
I do not believe that even the Broad Street Committee
admittting them to be all you say of them. I do not
think them too bad to be preached to. I will speak in
any meeting where freedom of speech is allowed and where
I may do any thing toward esposing the bloodlust
of slavery - I did not go into that meeting as a new organiza
tionist. I distinctly told the meeting just what the
Broad Street Committee knew before they
invited me - that I was an old organisationist
and had I been fully reported you would have seen
that I was not there in disguise - or at the sacrifice
of principle - or friends at home. I did indorse
what was done six years ago - or what be done by
some body six years hence. I attended that
meeting for a specific purpose and in doing
so compromised no more than did Mr. Garrison
Leavitt &c. who last autumn attended meetings
and acted on Committees together in order
to prevent the annexation of Texas - I might
argue the question if I had time - but I have not.
I have said this much that you may know just
where I am in the matter - and think that much
due you - since you have taken so much pains to
write me respecting it - I shall not say anything
[ ]t the matter in any letter. I may write for the
public eye as I think and that
recently got a [ ] circle to work for the Bazaar [ ]
[B]oston. Consisting of few influential young ladies in
C[ ] "Carlile' Eng' - They will send a box this autumn
Mr J. D. Carr of the same place will send you
a valueable contribution to the refreshment
table consisting of a large box of fancy Buiscut
I am sory I cant say more The ladies
waiting to take this to the office.
Very respectfully
Yours F. Douglass
London 18 Aug 1846