FREDERICK DOUGLASS TO LYDIA MARIA CHILD¹Born in Medford, Massachusetts, Lydia Maria Francis Child (1802-80) published her first of many novels, , at age twenty-two. From 1826 to 1834 she edited the bimonthly , the first periodical for children to be published in the United States. She married David Lee Child (1794-1874) in 1828, and William Lloyd Garrison drew both into the abolitionist movement in 1831. Her (1833) was the first of a dozen antislavery books and pamphlets that caused the popularity of her literary writings to decline drastically. A longtime officer of the American Anti-Slavery Society, Child edited its official newspaper, the New York , from 1841 to 1843. In addition to abolition, she supported most of the other humanitarian causes of the time with her never-idle pen. William S. Osborne, (Boston, 1980); Milton Meltzer, (New York, 1965); , 1:603-04; , 1:330-33.

Rochester, N.Y. 30 July 1865.

MRS CHILD:

DEAR MADAM:

Use the story of my life in any way you see fit.²Lydia Maria Child published in 1865 as a textbook for freedmen’s schools. The book is a collection of essays, biographies, poems, and anecdotes written by Child, other abolitionists, and black authors. The book initially sold for sixty cents, a price intended to allow newly freed men and women to purchase it. Furthermore, Child explained in the preface that all proceeds from the sale of the book would be given back to her readers for their education. The book included a short segment by Douglass entitled “A Pertinent Question,” as well as a biography of him written by Child. Lydia M. Child, (Boston, 1865), 93, 156; Jessica Enoch, (Carbondale, Ill., 2008), 52. I am sure it will not, in your hands, be employed to the injury of myself or the cause of my people. I do not think it well to make known the manner of my escape from slavery. No good end could be served by such publications—and some evil might possibly come of it.3³ Douglass did not reveal the story of his escape from slavery until late 1881. In an essay written for the to generate interest in his forthcoming third autobiography, , Douglass recounted his escape in detail for the first time. He claimed he waited so long to share his story in order to protect those who aided him, as well as any slaves who might have attempted a similar escape. Chicago , 27 November 1881; Douglass, “My Escape from Slavery,” , ser. 2, 3:153-56. Several inqueries—will be answered—when I tell you that Hugh Auld died⁴Hugh Auld died on 23 December 1861. Findagrave.com (online). before I reached Baltimore and Thomas Auld was not in Baltimore.⁵Douglass made a short address in Rochester before travelling to Baltimore in November 1864. He stated, “I may meet my old master there, whom I have not seen for many years.” He went on to call his former master “‘a very good man” and claimed that he had “no malice to overcome in going back among those former slaveholders.” Because this short speech was published in several newspapers, it is possible that some misinterpreted it to mean that Douglass did in fact meet with Thomas Auld during his visit to Baltimore. In June 1865, the Baltimore correspondent for the New York Weekly Anglo-African reported that Douglass had passed through the city on “private business” en route to Washington, D.C. After some persuading, he gave two speeches, but his unannounced visit to the city might have also led some to believe that he met with his old master during this time. Despite possible rumors of their reunion, Douglass and Auld did not meet until 17 June 1877 in St. Michaels, Maryland. Lib., 25 November 1864; New York Weekly Anglo-African, 24 June 1865; Preston, , 182-85. The story of an interview between us is a news paper story for which I am in no way responsible. Any such meeting could not fail to be awkward. He would find it hard to approach me as Mr Douglass—and I sh[oul]d find it equally so to approach him as Thomas. We could hardly get at each other. Still I should be glad to see him—especially if I could do so simply by meeting him half way. I do not fancy making a journey to see a man who gave me so many reasons for wishing the greatest distance between us.

Time and events have made changes—and it is just possible that the amb may yet venture into the den of the Lion without danger of being eaten up. I learned from my sister⁶ Douglass refers to his sister, Eliza Bailey Mitchell. He was reunited with her in November 1864 when he travelled to Baltimore. They had not met or corresponded since 1836. Preston, , 163. who still lives near Master Thomas, that he says he would be glad to see me. He has but to say so to me by letter—and Considering his age, and for getting his past, I will make him a visit.

I am about leaving town⁷After writing this letter, Douglass traveled to Brooklyn, New York, to deliver a speech on 1 August 1865 at the West Indian Emancipation celebration. New York , 2 August 1865; , ser. 1, 4:xxi.—and am too much in a hurry to write you at length.

I have no recollection of ever receiving a copy of the Life of Isaac T.
Hopper.⁸In 1853, Child wrote a biography of the Quaker abolitionist Isaac T. Hopper entitled . In this book, published a year after Hopper’s death, Child called him “an honored friend,” and her biography reflects her admiration for his devotion to the abolition movement as well as to prison reform. Lydia M. Child, (Boston, 1853), v; James Emmett Ryan, (Madison, Wisc., 2009), 76. from you—Your present note is the first I ever received from you. though I have always read with grateful pleasure what you have from time to time written on the question of slavery—

I am just now deeply engaged in the advocacy of Suffrage for the whole colored people of the South. I see little advantage in emancipation without this. “Unfriendly Legislation—” by a state may undo all the “friendly legislation” by the Federal Government.

Very Truly &c.

FREDERICK DOUGLASS.

ALS: Frederick Douglass Project, NRU. Reprinted in Foner, , 4:170-71.