Pavilion Hotel,

Niagara, Canada Side.

Dear FriendPost, Isaac

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.

You will have heard perhaps, from Mr. Sick, that I have been seriously indisposed, and in consequence returned from my Western Tour, without meeting any of my appointments. This is a sad blow to me, as I started with large hopes & expectations, all of which I believe would have been realized, could I have persevered.

To things which we cannot control, it is wisdom quietly to submit.

On arriving at Detroit the 3rd. of July, I was taken with a burning fever, & intense head-ache, & pains in all my limbs, & for a week, was compelled to keep my bed—and although now much better, I am still very weak and unfit for service–I propose to remain here for the present, with the hope, to be improved by the bracing air, & freedom from the cares consequent upon being, either at Rochester or in places, where people are desirous of seeing me, & hearing me speak.

Our mutual friend Julia Griffiths, I am sorry to say has not enjoyed her health well since we left the Falls for the West, though for the most part, she has been able, to attend to me during my illness, she is now however quite prostrate confined to her bed during the last two days, her illness

yesterday was so serious, as to justify the calling in of a Physician, she is now I am happy to say, convalescent & hopes to be on her feet again in a few hours. Eliza G. has kept equal to the emergency, & we are staying in a very delightful situation for fresh air—Remember us all kindly to Mrs. PostPost, 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. & thank her sincerely for me for her kind little note, which but for my illness, I should have answered, — Yours truly

F. Douglass