[Mary Browne Carpenter] to Frederick Douglass, August 5, 1864
Halifax August 5th /64
Dear Mr. Douglass
We would very glad
to see your handwriting again
tho' the contents of your letters
are not altogether satisfactory.
You write less hopefully
about the state of things
in America, & the prospects
of the colored people than
do some of Mr Carpenter's
American correspondents—&
I am sure it is no wonder
that you cannot take a
very cheering view of things
when you see so much
injustice, & suffering as
its consequence amongst
the freed negroes. I am glad
to hear that you are going
to visit the freedmen at
Washington and Alexandria
I can well suppose that
a visit from you would
be a real blessing to them,
& it must be a pleasure
to you to see so many
who have actually esca
ped from slavery—tho'
they are still far from
being in possession of the
rights which as freeman
they are entitled to. I can
not tell you how much
we should like to hear
from you after your
visit—do tell us some
thing about the people
you see, & how they are
getting on. You will perhaps
find out whether our
box of clothing has reached
the right people—and
was such as they wanted.
Please to tell me what
our ladies Society can
& ought to do now? it is
but very little you know
that we do effect—but
something we might do
if something definite
were given us to do? Would
it be a good thing to
send another box, next
winter,—of clothing—to the
same society?—or would
money be more useful
to them, to lay out on
the spot? Or what you
yourself engaged in
any anti-slavery
work for which we
might ask a grant
of money—(alas! it would
be a pitiably small
one I fear) from our
Society?
I have been copying out a
great part of your very inter
esting letter which we
shall send to the Inquirer.
By the way you will I
think receive an Inquirer
from Mrs Crofts containing