ERNST J. LOWENTHAL¹Born in Heidingsfeld, Bavaria, Dr. Ernst Jonas Lowenthal (1813–1905) graduated from medical school in 1839. He was an active participant in the failed revolutionary movements of 1848 and fled to the United States in 1850. In 1853 he and his Prussian-born wife, Charlotte Knaur Lowenthal (1823–1903), settled in Vermont, where he took over management of the Brattleboro Hydropathic Establishment, opened in 1846 by Dr. Robert Wesselhoeft. Lowenthal was a founding member of Vermont’s Republican party, and in 1855 he was a presidential elector for the Frémont ticket. The following year, Lowenthal operated his own facility and water cure in Bergen Heights, New Jersey. Sometime later he seemed to abandon hydropathy and return to the practice of more conventional medicine. Lowenthal ran a successful private practice in Hoboken, New Jersey, until retiring around 1880. 1880 U.S. Census, New Jersey, Hudson County, 205; Sandra W. Moss, (Bloomington, Ind., 2014), 467, 507, 545n; “News of the Week,” , 67: 823 (May 27, 1905). TO FREDERICK DOUGLASS

Hoboken, N.J.²Lowenthal added this information regarding his address: “219 Hudson Str” at the bottom of the letter. 20 December [18]77.

HONORABLE FRED. DOUGLAS.

DEAR SIR!

Miss Assing³Ottilie Assing. has shown me that part of your letter, which relates to my
conception of a plan, to get some official mission, by which I could be
enabled to stay a few years in Germany, wherefrom I have been exiled
30 years ago. Being gratefully moved by your generous readiness, to lend
me your influence in that affair, your remarks at the same time give me
the impression, that you do not consider it beyond some chance of success;
and such encouragement has transformed what was until now merely a
beau Ideal into a firm resolve, which I intend to work up to its sweet or
bitter end. In consequence thereof I beg to ask your opinion regarding the
prelim<n>ary steps. Do you consider it the best, that I should go at once
to Washington, and immediately after having been introduced disclose
my request before the resp. parties, or is it not preferable, that preceding it some other Gentleman—for inst. yourself, if you want to take the
trouble—submits the matter to them, offering, if asked for, recomendations from influential friends/of Mr. Schurz/?⁴Carl Schurz. Here I cannot ommit the
remark, that my circumstances compel me to economize with time and
money as much as possible. But if you think, that my going to W. ought
to be the first step in the matter, would you advise me, to provide myself

with letters of recomendation /to Mr Schurz/, or would it be
preferable, to wait for the proper opportunity of referring to some personal
friends of Mr. S.? I do not doubt, that besides I could procure favorable
mentioning from prominent Republicans of my State and County <if such
is desirable or needed.>. I may mention here, that at the /I presume first/
election of Mr. Lincoln I was nominated Presidential Elector by Our party.

The kind offer of your valuable assistance strengthens my belief, that
you will continue to aid me in in this affair, and favor me with a reply
either to Miss Assing or directly to myself.

I am sincerely Yours

E. J. LOWENTHAL

ALS: General Correspondence File, reel 3, frames 208–09, FD Papers, DLC.