Albany, Jan. 10, 1849.
Frederick Douglass:ー
Things look somewhat encouraging. The peaceable abolition of slavery is something which now may be sooner realized than was thought probable two years gone. The indications throughout the Free States warrant the belief that a great change in favor of anti-slavery has taken place within one year. And while this State of feeling exists, let us in this State do all we can to gain our political rights.
You are aware of the fact, that there is an association formed for the purpose of establishing a settlement of colored persons near the village of Florence, Oneida county. This association applied for the use of the Assembly Chamber for next Monday evening, to have Mr. Ward lecture upon Agriculture, and other subjects connected with the interests of the colored people. Well, the application caused quite a discussion. Some were opposed to granting the use of the Chamber to any class of citizens. Others thought the colored people were in this instance merely urged on to see how far they could push matters, coming up, as it did, right in the wake of the anti-slavery resolutions just then passed, and thought it should not be granted them.ーHowever, it was granted by a strong vote, and Mr. Ward is to speak there.
Respectfully yours,
Wm. H. ToppTopp, William H.

William H. Topp (1812–57), a tailor in Albany, New York, frequently served as an officer at both state and national black conventions. He advocated political abolition, worked for black suffrage, and supported the Free Soil and Liberty parties before his death from consumption in 1857. 1850 U.S. Census, New York, Albany County, Albany, Third Ward, 107; FDP, 8 December 1857; Lib., 8 January 1858; Ripley, Black Abolitionist Papers, 4:14–15n. .