My Dear FriendPost, Amy Kirby

The Posts, Isaac (1798-1872) and Amy Kirby (1802-89), were prominent abolitionists who spent their most active years in Rochester, New York. Isaac was born on Long Island but moved to Scipio, New York, in 1823 with his first wife Hannah Kirby. After Hannah's death in 1827, he married her younger sister, Amy, a native of Jericho, New York. In 1836 the Posts moved to Rochester, where they became involved with Garrisonian abolitionism. The Posts often hid fugitive slaves, and Amy acted as vice president of the American Anti-Slavery Society in the 1850s and 1860s. In addition to abolitionism, Amy was active in the women's movement, including the seminal 1848 Seneca Falls Convention, a meeting that she helped to organize. In 1848 the Posts also numbered among the first converts to spiritualism in Rochester, and Isaac soon attracted fame as a writing medium. Douglass first met the couple in 1842 when he stayed at their home during a lecture tour, and their friendship influenced his choice of Rochester as the base for his newspaper, the North Star. Hewitt, Women's Activism and Social Change, 61, 93, 107, 118, 131-34, 142-43, 169; Blake McKelvey, "Civic Medal Awarded Posthumously," RH, 22:10-11 (April 1960); DAB, 15:117. ,

A thought flashed aross my mind a moment ago that you would not object to a flying word from me, and I therefore sit down to write. I am at the house of our mutual friends the Motts. Abigail has just yesterday returned from the Water Cure establishment in New york—and though not well—She is much better than when she went to Dr. Shew. She will probably spend the next Summer in Michigan.

My tour thus far has been a very pleasant and even successful one. I have obtained more than 30 Subscribers and spoken to very full houses. But pleasures abroad do not turn my Spirit from home. I should love much to look into your house and see yourself—and Dear Isaac about once in twenty four hours. In the absence of this—we may commune with our absence

through the mysterious agency of thought and Spirit. I do not of course mean the "rapping"—but a higher and to my mind a holier mode. I spent a delightful day in Syracuse on Monday and my meeting was heart cheering.

Now I must stop and am ashamed to send so hasty a scroll—make my best regards to your Dear family and believe me very Sincerely

Your attached friend

Frederick Douglass

P.S. Lydia Mott disires me to remember her lovingly to you.