Francis Jackson Garrison, William Lloyd Garrison, 1805-1879; the story of his life told by his children: volume 1

[395] morning they start for Providence—from thence they propose going to Canterbury—and from thence to New Haven, where they will take the steamboat for New York. They will probably tarry one day in Providence, and I dare presume that between you and brother Prentice,¹ and the rest of the dear friends, they will be entertained without much cost to themselves. I think you cannot fail to be pleased with the modesty and worth of these good ‘fanatics.’

Probably you will have scarcely perused this scrawl ere I shall constitute one in your midst. I expect to take the stage to-morrow for P., and arrive there in the evening. Be good² enough, if you can conveniently, to call at the City Hotel, at the hour of 7, and see if the madman G. has come. Perhaps I may not get away from this city till Wednesday.

Many thanks to you and my generous creditor Henry for³ your kind letters.

What news from Canterbury? I long to get there once more—but more particularly under the hospitable roof of your father. I confess, in addition to the other delightful attractions which are there found, the soft blue eyes and pleasant countenance of Miss Ellen are by no means impotent⁴ or unattractive. But this is episodical.

The Young Men's Anti-Slavery Association of Boston are driving ahead with even a better spirit than that of ‘76. They have now upwards of 90 members! Their example cannot be lost.

I trust our Boston delegation to the Convention will not be less than eight.⁵ Whether we shall get any from the State of Maine is uncertain. . . .

At the City Hotel Mr. Benson found not only his ⁶ correspondent but the Quaker poet, for Whittier (thanks to the generosity of S. E. Sewall) had been enabled to join his old friend in Boston. These three, with John Prentice and what others we know not, together made their journey to New York, where they were joined by David Thurston, a Congregational minister from Maine, Samuel⁷ J. May, and a considerable number of delegates, who