Gateshead-on-Tyne

Oct 3^rd 1876

My very dear friend

I have been intending & hoping to write to you for many weeks past—but as I had delayed, I preferred to wait longer in order to send you my last likeness completed quite recently & said to be like my present self—Does it at all remind you of me of the past? My love to Mrs Douglass, & I send it to you both—I feel sure that if she & I were to meet again it would be as good friends—I was very seriously unwell in the spring & broke down—was ordered away, and went to the "Melrose Audiopathic"—the fine air baths & rest did me great good - & I was thus enabled to resume work and continue until our Midsummer holidays—when I took a somewhat extensive tour, though did not quit old England—after spending ten days with Dr. C.Crofts, Henry O.

in Yorkshire I passed on to my old favorite County of Warwick, visiting the dear Cash family, among other old & valued

friends—Dear M^rs C. loses her memory—but is so bright happy & cheerful—& the "prudent sister" (as you used to call her) lives with her, still at Sherburne House.—From Kenilworth I took a long journey into Dorsetshire to pay our mutual friends, dear MrCarpenter, Russell Lant

The Reverend Russell Lant Carpenter (1816-92), a Unitarian minister, spent his childhood in Bristol, England. He attended Bristol College in preparation for a life of ministry, continued his studies at Manchester and York Colleges and was one of the first to graduate from London University in 1840. Carpenter became intensely involved in the temperance movement and subsequently quit his pastorate at Bridgwater, England, since part of the church's endowment came from taverns selling liquors. In August 18-19 he journeyed to the United States, where he spent a full year preaching from Montreal to St. Louis to Boston. His father, Dr. Lant Carpenter, was a well-known teacher whose Unitarian writings were already known to the antislavery men of the day. Thus, Carpenter became acquainted with Garrison, Douglass, and others. Having returned to England, he married in 1853 and continued his ministerial work there until his death. His works include Memoirs of Lant Carpenter (1842), Discourses and Devotional Services (1849), A Monotessaron (1851), and a biography about his brother, Philip, Memoirs of the Life and Work of Philip Pearsall Carpenter (1880). Carpenter also contributed frequently to the Inquirer and to other periodicals. London Inquirer, 30 January 1892. & Mrs Russell Carpenter,Carpenter, Mary Browne

Mary Browne Carpenter (c. 1824–98) was the wife of the prominent Unitarian minister Russell Lant Carpenter (1819–92). They were married in Bridgwater, Somersetshire, in 1853. She was one of four daughters born to William Browne, a wealthy Unitarian merchant, and his wife, Mary. William Browne served as mayor of Bridgwater in 1854. In addition to her support of the antislavery effort, Mary Browne Carpenter was also deeply involved in the woman suffrage movement, belonging to one of the more radical suffrage societies in Bridport. She also supported the animal rights and temperance movements. 1841 England Census, Gloucestershire, Bristol, 22; “England and Wales, Christening Records, 1530–1906,” FamilySearch.org; “England and Wales, Death Index, 1837–1915,” FamilySearch.org; “England and Wales, Marriage Index, 1837–1915,” FamilySearch. org; “England and Wales, Non-Conformist Records Indexes, 1588–1977,” FamilySearch.org; Elizabeth Crawford, The Women’s Suffrage Movement in Britain and Ireland: A Regional Survey (New York, 2006), 161, 169.She has not been identified by name. my long promised visit—and very much I enjoyed renewing my intercourse with these dear kind people—They missed me—drove me about—gave me plenty of fine sea breezes—delicious milk & strawberries—& when I reluctantly bade them adieu I felt quite a different creature, both in body & spirit—Thence I went up to the neighbourhood of London—and visited old friends at Croydon—The heat was so intense that I chose to not sleep in London itself—ut had to be one day at the lawyers then concerning dear Aunt'sGriffiths, Mary Powis

Mary Powis Griffiths (c. 1789–1877), with whom Julia Griffiths; her husband, the Reverend Henry O. Crofts; and three stepdaughters (Elizabeth, Saley, and Martha Crofts) were sharing their home in both 1861 and 1871. 1861 England Census, Halifax, Yorkshire, 110; 1871 England Census, Gateshead, Durham County, 41; Janet Douglas, “A Cherished Friendship: Julia Griffiths Crofts and Frederick Douglass,” Slavery and Abolition, 33:265–74 (June 2012). affairs, which as you know were not wound up—& out of their hands until the third week of August—The little property well invested in the U. S. would doubtless bring forth a competence for myself—It will scarcely do so here—though many of my oldest friends (Gittens of Leicester) are praying me to give up my school. Dr C.Crofts, Henry O.

naturally enough, w^d have me do this and go back to the disabilities from which dear Aunt did her best to free me!—Then, when I am the house is mine free from marital control & very comfortable it is—3 young ladies live with me, my governesses, & I have a prophet's room for any wandering pilgrim, whom I think proper to invite all this is pleasant—still, I put no money by—& though I, to a great extent like teaching advanced pupils, it is exhausting work—& of course, I don't feel as young as I once did—The writers here in the north, do not suit me—& on many accounts, I sh^d like to move to a more southern part of England—but there are many difficulties in the way—& I feel as if I needed the Divine guidance as visibly as did the children of Israel—I now see nothing of our married daughter & her husband—Martha is still away; and I could not have her back here, because of the troublesome young man on whose account I sent her away—She is French governess in a large

and wealthy school in Kent—LizzieCrofts, Elizabeth Ann "Lizzie"

remains for the most part with her father: she was here Nine months this spring—& the DoctorCrofts, Henry O.

has recently left us, after spending a fortnight with us—He is losing flesh —& is never well—but this poor man, the ego is with him all powerful—& swallows up most other things—I do not feel that I could return to the Halifax life again! You understand?—I have tried & trusty friends to whom I have spoken, do not advise me to do so—but mine is a difficult path—Had I been absolutely selfish, I sh^d have done what many many wished me viz: realized the small property & bought a life annuity—but I c^d not make up my mind to do this—Well my dear old friend I am assuming that you continue to sympathize in my joys & sorrows as in the days of old!—Tell me, I pray you—& soon, how you all are?—Do Rosetta's little girls always live with Grandpa & Grandma?—I do trust her husband has reformed?—Tell me confidentially—all is safe with with me—my love to Rose & all the sons—boys I must not now say—Pray, write very soon—& with best wishes & regard, believe me to remain, as always,

your faithful & affectionate friend,

Julia G. Crofts