FREDERICK DOUGLASS TO AMY POST

Damariscotta[,] Maine. 17 March 1873.

MY DEAR FRIEND.

Since the morning I left Rochester I have been wishing for a moment to
thank you for your kind note handed me by Willie¹Possibly William R. Hallowell, the husband of Mary Hallowell (daughter of Isaac Post and his first wife). Arriving in Rochester in 1841, William R. Hallowell (1816–82) ran a woolen mill and leather business. He was a member of the Western New York Anti-Slavery Society and served on the board of education in Rochester. Peck, , 2: 1243–44; Hewitt, , 61. as I was getting into
the cars but I have found none till I reached this queer named place away
down here in the State of Maine.²Douglass’s first reported lecture of the winter 1873 season was in St. Louis on 13 January. In the next month, he is known to have lectured extensively in Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Michigan, and Minnesota. In late February, he spoke at Howard University in Washington, D.C., as part of the commencement of that school’s law department. Omaha (Neb.) , 19, 21, 29 January 1883; Grand Rapids (Mich.) , 22, 24, 26 January 1873; Carthage (Ill.) , 22 January 1873; Council Bluffs (Iowa) , 22–24 January 1873; Grand Rapids (Mich.) , 29–31 January 1873; Grand Rapids (Mich.) , 1 February 1873; St. Paul (Minn.) , 4, 7, 8 February 1873; , 20 February 1873; Washington , 26, 28 February 1873; Washington , 26, 28 February 1873. I thought much of your advice concerning the Tiltons—and the more I thought the more I was convinced that
you were right.³Amy Post might have advised Douglass against making a personal visit to the home of Theodore and Elizabeth Tilton while he was scheduled to deliver a lecture in Brooklyn, New York. An alleged affair between Elizabeth “Libbie” Tilton and her minister, the prominent reformer Henry Ward Beecher, had taken place in 1868–70. Rumors of the illicit relationship had been spreading among reform circles since 1870 and had finally been made public by Victoria Woodhull in her newspaper, , on 2 November 1872. The Tiltons remained together in a strained household for a time, but the mounting scandal eventually led Theodore Tilton to sue Beecher for “criminal conversation” with his wife in 1874, leading to a nationally publicized four-month trial the next year that ended in a deadlocked jury. Amy Post might have learned of the controversy from friends in the woman suffrage movement, especially Susan B. Anthony, and attempted to warn Douglass against becoming personally involved. Hewitt, , 266–67; Fox, , 161–67. But after all I did not go as I expected to Brooklyn the appointment there having been given up—and hence I did not have occasion
to act upon your wise advice. It is easy to see that that there may good and
sufficient reasons for silence of which the public do not know and perhaps
ought not to know—It may be that the good lady is subject to moments of
insecurity and in that irresponsible condition has said things which are not
true and which in her sane condition she would not be likely to tell if they
were true. There is ever room for charity.

I had the pleasure and it was a real one to see my friend William Hallowell⁴It is possible that William Hallowell was coincidentally in Philadelphia on business related to his Rochester textile firm. when I lectured in Philadelphia last week.⁵Douglass had been scheduled to deliver his lecture “Our Composite Nationality,” which he had been delivering since 1869, at the Philadelphia Academy of Music’s “Star Course,” on 20 March 1873. At the last minute, the course manager, Thomas B. Pugh, persuaded Douglass to shift his subject to slavery, according to press reports, “because the public would rather hear the famous colored man on the subject with which he is peculiarly identified.” In that impromptu lecture, Douglass revealed many details of his September 1838 escape from slavery for the first time. He recalled that a free African American sailor named William Stanley had lent Douglass his “protection papers” to wear on a daring train ride from Baltimore to freedom in New York City. Douglass explained that he had kept these details secret until this time because he wanted to prevent any retribution against Stanley or the railroad conductor who had erroneously validated Douglass’s borrowed credentials. Philadelphia , 10 March 1873; Philadelphia , 10 March 1873; New York , 11 March 1873; Rochester , 12 March 1873. I fear that my lecture
there was not a success though my audience was a splendid one both as
to numbers and character. Though I spoke two hours I had to omit some
of the best or what I think the best parts of my lecture. The story of my
escape was clumsily told because I had no heart in telling it. There is really nothing exciting in it.

Hoping that this will find you well.

Very truly yours

FREDK DOUG LASS

[P.S.] Please remember me kindly to Mrs and Mr Hallowell and to Mr and
Mrs Willis—Time but revives and increases my respect and regard for all
your dear circle.

F. D.

ALS: Post Family Papers, Rush Rhees Library, NRU.