Lynn, Mass., Feb. 5, 1848

My Dear Nell:—In accordance with my promise, I will now commence to keep yourself and the readers of the North Star informed of my movements during my absence from my post at Rochester. I very much regret the necessity which just at this time requires me to be absent from my editorial duties: for though the North Star should grow brighter as the night grows older and darker, I deem it of considerable importance that it appear bright at its very dawn. At this time more than at any other period of our enterprise, the Star will be subject to unfriendly as well as friendly criticism. I however feel confident that with the friendly aid which surrounds you, the paper will lack nothing of interest during my unavoidable absence. My readers will also bear with me, when they remember that one of the most essential things to a good paper, is a good subscription list; and this, it is no disparagement to our enterprise to say, we have yet to obtain for the North Star. One of the objects of my short tour is, to obtain subscribers for the North Star, and especially to interest and enlist the energies of our colored fellow countrymen in the important duties of sustaining the paper. It may now be said, that the North Star is the only permanently established periodical in the hands of the oppressed and enslaved of this land. It is the grand instrumentality for their improvement and elevation. The necessity for its existence is pressing and imperative, and the duty to sustain it is all-important. I shall try to impress this view on my brethren everywhere. I have done so already, with much good effect, since I left Rochester. At present, the subscription list of the North Star exhibits the names of five white to one colored person; and though this fact indicates a most gratifying interest in our enterprise by our white friends, it reveals a palpable deficiency of interest on the part of our colored friends. I am aware that many, and some very mitigating reasons, might be given in explanation of this most singular disparity; but none, I am sure, will entirely exculpate our people from the charge of reprehensible indifference to their own cause, and the means of advancement. It is exceedingly pleasant, however, to meet with true and generous spirits among our people. There are such among them—men who know their rights, and are resolved to use every rightful means to obtain them. If our race be redeemed, such men will be the means of our redemption. I have met, since on this tour, men who have taken every paper ever published in this land by colored men, and who avow themselves determined to sustain any and every effort of the sort which may be made in behalf of our common cause. It is on such men that our enterprise must depend for success. We must look to such as are willing to make sacrifices in behalf of the good of the whole. There are some who, while they differ with me on many points, some of which I deem most important, yet have the candor to confess that the North Star is an important means against Slavery, and have the magnanimity to subscribe for the paper. You will be glad to learn that my meeting on Sunday evening, in Troy, was large and spirited. It was held in the Court House, which was as densely crowded as last fall when you attended a meeting at the same place, in company with me. The hall was much better lighted on this than on the former occasion, and gave to the audience a life and brilliance quite impressive. Of all the bores in this boring world, there are few more afflicting to me than to speak in a dimly lighted hall, where one has literally to feel his way in the dark for his audience. I may be singular in this, and it may be set down to a want of earnestness and devotion to the cause. The confession, however, is out, and I care not to recall it. I beg Anti-Slavery friends who invite persons to lecture in their towns, if they wish to have a good impression made on their townsmen, to see that the house in which the lecture is to be given be well lighted.

Mr. Henry Highland Garnet was present at the meeting, and manifested a lively interest in its proceedings. At the close of the lecture, he rose, and in his usual frank and forcible manner, recommended the North Star to the favorable consideration of the audience.—This unsolicited move I regard with pleasure, as an important and significant step in the right direction on the part of this distinguished and highly esteemed gentleman. I have long regarded Mr. Garnet as being quite liberal in his views, and profoundly patriotic in his feelings. But considering his long and ardent attachment to the Liberty Party, and his intimate connection with the orthodox church, his manly commendation of the North Star was as unexpected and surprising, as it was gratifying. Mr. Garnet was not ignorant of the character of the paper; he knows its position to be that of entire separation from our slaveholding government, as well as a slaveholding church, and coming to the support of the paper in the circumstance, shows however much he regards sect, and however highly he may regard party, he esteems the holy cause of which the North Star is the solemnly consecrated advocate, to be dearer than either, and to be promoted, even though it should be at the expense of both sect and party. I hope our enterprise will share his permanent sympathy and support, and that he will feel perfectly free to use its columns as a means of communicating with the public, as well when he differs as when he agrees with the editors of the North Star. This paper is an organ for the oppressed in this land, through which all may speak, no matter how widely any party may differ from the other. The editors deem themselves only humble individuals among the mass, and only ask for their opinions the respectful hearing which they are ever willing to accord to those who may differ from them. Regarding the North Star in this light, I see not why all may not unite in supporting it.

On Tuesday evening, 1st Feb., I lectured to a considerable audience in the Town Hall, Springfield, Mass., but with very little apparent effect. I have lectured in the same place before, but from some cause or other, with little satisfaction to myself or advantage to the cause. I am inclined to think the people too much under the influence of the "Arsenal" and too "Evangelical" to be very Anti-Slavery. This, you are aware, is the location of the Massachusetts "Arsenal," and is also famous for Evangelical Churches—the one is ready to fight, and the other to pray for slavery. I am told that of all the churches in this town, there is not one that says aught against the "Arsenal." It lives in perfect harmony with the churches. The most interesting part of my visit to Springfield, was a private interview with Mr. Brown, Mr. Van Rensselaer and Mr. Washington. The first of these, though a white gentleman, is in sympathy a black man, and is as deeply interested in our cause, as though his own soul had been pierced with the iron of slavery. After shaking my hand with a grip peculiar to Anti-Slavery men, Mr. Brown said that for many years he had been standing by the great sea of American bondmen, and anxiously watching for some true men to rise above its dark level, possessing the energy of head and heart to demand freedom for their whole people, and congratulated myself and the cause, that he now saw much men rising in all directions, the result of which, he knew, must be the downfall of slavery. Mr. Brown is one of the most earnest and interesting men that I have met in a long time. Mr. Washington is from Hartford, Connecticut, and is the same whose letter to the National Watchman last summer had the happy effect to put an end to the most disagreeable and unprofitable controversy which existed between that paper and the "Ram's Horn." I found him an amiable, educated, and talented young man, thoroughly imbued with the spirit of reform, and determined to labor for the elevation of his race. With a few such spirits as he, it will be impossible to keep the colored people of this country long in their present condition.—Mr. Washington has determined to do all he can to sustain our national press. I am glad to see the young men of our country coming up to the work; the responsibility and burden must rest most heavily upon them.

The other member of our little conference at Springfield, was the well-known Editor of the "Ram's Horn"—as peculiar in his character as in the name of his paper; and who, though he has become hoary in the cause of freedom, is yet, in his spirit, as bright and young as the youngest. I was sorry to learn from him, that he was keeping the "Ram's Horn" afloat at considerable sacrifice, and that illness, or anything requiring his time, aside from the paper, even for a week, would interrupt its publication, if not cause its suspension altogether. I do hope that he will not be tempted to persevere in the publication of his paper to his own injury, and cumber himself with an embarrassing debt. When a man finds that he can't stand up, wisdom dictates that he should lie down. I should regret to see the "Ram's Horn" disappear; but I should much more regret the difficulties into which a non-paying enterprise must inevitably run its projectors. He can never have a better opportunity than now for quitting the field; for though he should quit the field in form, he need not do so in fact; but perhaps all this is premature.

I am to lecture in Fallriver to-morrow evening, and on Saturday in New Bedford. The latter is the only town in which I have felt myself really at home since I left the South. It was here I commenced my career as a freeman. On its wharves I earned my first dollar as a freeman. It was here that I first enjoyed the privilege of making an agreement to labor for so much money per day, without the presence of a slaveholder to dictate the terms, and to rob me of the money.—It was here I assumed the responsibility of a husband and a father; and it was here that, less than seven years ago, I went forth to advocate the cause of my brethren in bonds. I have many dear friends in New Bedford, and hope to have a profitable meeting among them. I am now in the midst of preparations for removing my family to Rochester, and write in great haste.

Yours in the cause of Freedom,

F. D.