Dunnville Avenue, Near Dublin, 9th. mo. 12th, 1851.

My Dear Friend—Frederick Douglass:—Not having noticed in thy paper any allusion to the address to emigrants issued by the recently formed A. S Society here, I enclose a copy, being assured, thou wilt feel pleased to find that our Irish metropolis gives some symptoms of awaking from its anti-slavery lethargy. Along with the address, I shall send such other documents as will give an idea of the attempt now being made to arouse anti-slavery interest in this city. Whether or not we shall succeed beyond a narrow circle, remains to be proved. But even that narrow circle is important, if its members can be brought to work earnestly, and unitedly. On looking over the committees, thou wilt readily guess from the elements of which they are composed, that the society here, discards the idea of being the mere partizans, of any section of American Abolitionists. Like the association in Belfast, they have taken their stand on independent ground and are prepared to welcome straighforward anti-slavery advocacy, without reference to its coming from Garrisonian or Liberty Party.

Two Committees have been formed, one of ladies, the other gentlemen; each meets once a month unitedly, they hold a conversational conference, open to all interested in the cause. At present, the committees are chiefly composed of members of the Society of Friends, and they hope by and by, when our movements are better known, that we shall be joined by more of other sects.

Their principal efforts are likely to be directed to the diffusion of anti-slavery information and feeling at home, so as, if possible, to give to the minds of emigrants, an anti-slavery impress, ere they leave this country,

to take up their abode in your slave-infected region. They are not, however, inclined to restrict themselves so entirely to home, as to be indisposed to look beyond it. The ladies have decided for the present year, to seek contributions for the Boston Bazaar, regarding the society that bazaar represents, as one of the mediums, through which Anti-Slavery feeling is promoted in America. Doubtless, there are some, both on the gentlemen and ladies committee, who would prefer our being less catholic in our sympathy with American Abolitionists; but I rejoice to think that no partizan prepossession, in the few, is likely to alter the determination of the many.

I cannot tell thee how rejoiced we feel at the noble stand thou hast recently taken, in avowing thy determination to act, and speak, with reference to the propriety of political action, where such is in accordance with thy own judgment, contrary though it be to the voice of those in whom thy strongest personal attachments have been centered. It requires no small moral courage to stand forth faithfully, and independently, under such circumstances. Knowing as we do in some degree, the elements of the opposition thou wilt be likely to encounter, for thus acting up to thy own convictions, and well knowing that a mental struggle of no ordinary character, must have preceded, we cannot but warmly sympathize with thee, whilst we admire the heroism and strength of conviction, which prepared thee to brave all, and stand forth the conscientiously, independent, advocate of the enslaved.

When recently reading the Life of William Penn, I was struck with the ground taken in the defense, during that famous trial of Penn and Mead, when the jury refused to bring Wm. Penn in guilty, under an unconstitutional law. It seemed to me, that the reference to the law, under which he was

arraigned, as being in opposition to the fundamental laws of England, and the jury's subsequent refusal, to convict under that unconstitutional enactment, is an excellent case in point, for those who are now taking their stand on legal grounds in opposition to the slave laws of America.

Thou art probably aware, that we have not for a considerable time past, been residents in Belfast. We left our old and much loved home, Casino, about three years ago. Our present abode is Dunvnville Avenue, near Dublin. Thou wilt please let us have thy paper, forwarded to William Webbs' address, commencing as soon as this reaches thee. I suppose the money, may be transmitted through our friends at Newcastle. We frequently see Frederick Douglass' Paper, ordered by the gentlemen's committee, but wish just now, to have another number, that we may make what use of it we please.

George Thompson has been invited by the Anti-Slavery Society, to come over to Dublin, and help to arouse public sentiment. So many engagements press on him just now that it is difficult for him to leave England however, he has given the Committee to expect that he will arrange to come next week if possible. [R]. D. Webb, is at present, in Bristol, where he went to meet. G. T., Mrs. M. W. ChapmanChapman, Maria Weston

Maria Weston Chapman (1806-85), known as "Garrison's Lieutenant," was a forceful writer and editor of several antistavery periodicals. From a family of wealthy Bostonians who educated their daughters in Europe, she briefly supervised one of the nation's first female high schools. After marrying merchant [Henry Grafton Chapman]] in 1830, she became active in the abolitionist movement. When her husband died in 1842, abolition became the consuming work of her life. Chapman was a driving force in both the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society and the American Anti-Slavery Society. Although she shunned public speaking, she served on committees and organized bazaars and other fundraising events for the Garrisonians. She also edited the annual report of the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society, and she assisted in editing both the Liberator and the National Anti-Slavery Standard. Clare Taylor, Women of the Anti-Slavery Movement: The Weston Sisters (New York, 1995); Catherine Clinton, "Maria Weston Chapman," in Portraits of American Women, comp. G. J. Barker-Benfield and Catherine Clinton, 2, vols. (New York, 1991), 1:147-67; Jane H. Pease and William H. Pease, Bound with Them in Chains: A Biographical History of the Antislavery Movement (Westport, Conn., 1972), 28–59; Edward T. James et al., eds., Notable American Women, 1607-1950: A Biographical Dictionary, 3 vols. (Cambridge, Mass., 1971), 1:324-25; DAB, 4:19. , and the other friends of the cause there assembled. - My brother and sister, Allen, have been on the Continent for the last few weeks, rambling through the mountains and valleys of Switzerland.

With kind regards, I remain very truly, thy friend,

Maria WebbWebb, Maria

Maria Webb was the corresponding secretary of the Belfast Ladies' Anti-Slavery Society. The wife of Thomas Webb was also named Maria Webb, but this was not the same person. Taylor, British and American Abolitionists, 239; 1847 Mail Book of the North Star, Financial Papers File, reel 29, frame 399, FD Papers, DLC. .