Friend Douglass:—We, the members of the "Rochester Anti-Slavery Sewing Circle," desire to speak a word through your columns, at this time, as to our past course, our present position and intentions. For years, (as we need not remind you), we have labored earnestly and trustingly to get up Annual Fairs, as a means for aiding our great cause. Owing to the fact that the burthen of such efforts necessarily falls on a few, and owing to the little interest in anti-slavery in our city, and the number of Fairs held to promote various objects, by more popular societies, we were obliged to be ourselves the purchasers, to a large extent of the articles offered for sale.

Our Fair tables have been spread with rich and beautiful goods, in great variety; there never was a more beautiful display upon any tables in our city, than freedom lavishly heaped upon ours: for friends in England, Ireland, and Scotland, had contributed abundantly, in addition to the gifts of sewing circles in many towns and counties in our State, and in some instances, of those in Massachusetts. But under all circumstances, we concluded to change our modus operandi for the present. We decided last year to hold no fair, deeming it best to bestow our effort in a direction where we thought more might be effected by the same labor and money. Local causes, which it is not needful to mention here, also influenced this decision.

For more than a year, we held no meetings, thinking it best to organize such when the aspect of affairs seemed more propitious, never thinking of a final cessation of our associated efforts for the slave. In August last we reorganized, labored steadily for months, and sent our contributions to the Boston Bazaar, a box of articles which, we were happy to find, was thought valuable, and sold so readily as to be serviceable.

As has ever been our custom, we suspended our meetings for a time in the winter, and have now commenced, purposing to meet at regular times, devoting the principal part of our proceeds again to the Boston Bazaar, knowing that thereby, we are assisting the extended operations of the American Anti Slavery Society, and otherwise employing measures to awaken and regenerate the consciences of the people, in our city and state, who are as yet dead to the enslavement and aggravated abuses heaped upon one-sixth part of the people of these States.

We deem it due to ourselves, and the friends that have co-operated with us in past years, to make this statement, because, from your letter in last week's paper, to the Ladies of the "Rochester A. S. Society," and also from their report, it might be supposed we had no existence, were dead, disheartened, disbanded. Justice to our friends, and a due self-respect, alike prompt us to make our existence known.

We continue to ask from friends in Rochester, and in the towns of our vicinity the same aid they have theretofore given, and which we have repeatedly and gratefully acknowledged, in times past. We desire that all who feel the burthen of the slave's wrongs in their own souls, may faithfully labor in their several departments, for his deliverance, and that nothing shall mar a harmony based in truth and kindly sincerity.

In behalf of the "Rochester Anti-Slavery Sewing Circle."

Yours for Emancipation,

SARAH L. HALLOWELLWillis, Sarah L. Kirby Hallowell

Probably a reference to the Rochester family of Sarah Kirby Hallowell Willis (1818–1914), Amy Post’s younger sister. A longtime friend and supporter of Douglass, Sarah was the eighth and last child of Jacob and Mary Seaman Kirby. In 1838 she married Jeffries Hallowell, a distant relation of her niece’s husband, William R. Hallowell. Active in the antislavery movement, Sarah joined the Western New York Anti-Slavery Society in 1842. In 1844 her husband died, leaving huge debts, which the Posts repaid. In 1848, she (along with her sister Amy and Douglass) was one of the signers of the Declaration of Sentiments at Seneca Falls. In 1853 she married her brother-in-law Isaac Post’s nephew and business partner, Edmund P. Willis. Widowed for the second time in 1882, she remained active in the woman suffrage movement as well as a variety of local charitable organizations. Near the end of her life, she endowed a scholarship for women at the University of Rochester. Hewitt, , 73–74, 103, 219, 224, 231, 262, 268–69, 273, 282, 287, 288, 291; Hewitt, , 143, 167, 184, 214, 231; Fought, , 338n; Find a Grave (online). , Sec'y

Rochester, April 6th, 1852.

P.S.—We neglected to state that three years ago, the Women's Society was merged into the Western New York Anti-Slavery

Society, (of which we were already members,) that a committee was appointed by the executive committee of that body, and in point of fact, we were associated, holding sewing meetings as before, and fairs, in different towns, by which several hundred dollars were raised and appropriated in this part of the State.—S. L. H.