173 Irongate

Glasgow, May 16, 1862

My Dear Sir

I have the pleasure of
enclosing Ten pds. by DP in London
from the Glasg New Assoⁿ for the Abo^ltn of Slavery, for the support of your Paper.

Your May number has just come to hand & I see you are rejoicing at the progress of Emancipation as we also do. If your view of the Constitution were adopted by the Legislature you would soon have a Jubilee. The first step has I hope been takenin the direction.

Hithertho the battle has been for power & not for principle ever have heretofore had little Sympathy with it—but there is a change

already caused by this act of liberation although the attempt to render emigration compulsory then there is little change as to sympathy with the oppressed. If the war is not terminated by an act of universal freedom the calamities of both sections are yet out in their infancy. I am still of opinion that it was a great mistake in the North to go to war & I can only explain it on the ground that in no other way could they be punished for their complicity in the evil. Their punishment has been severe & will be felt for many years.

I see the Bristol friends have had a most successful Bazaar & our good friend Mrs J Crofts has been most active as usual & has not forgotten her old friend. You will thus be encouraged to persevere in your advocacy of right against might & I hope you may soon see the triumph of the former.

I hope yourself & family are well. We lost a dear bright boy of 4 years old on New Years day & can now more fully sympathetise in your sorrow when here. What can we say, however? The "Lord gave & the Lord hath taken away & good is the will of the Lord." It would lose its meaning & use if unfelt although we would pain escape. Let us hope through the death & merits of our
blessed Saviour trust the

little ones who are not lost but gone before.

With kind regards & best wishes for yourself & family I am yours Affc^ty.

John Smith.