Ask the Scholar

In one of the two letters included in this item (written on November 19, 1859), Samuel May Jr. (Writer) asks Samuel J. May (Recipient) to clarify Mary Carpenter’s intention regarding the appropriation of her donation of one pound. He says, although Recipient stated that the money was for “the Liberator or Mr. Garrison,” Mary Carpenter’s note (which Writer says he is enclosing) states differently. Writer needs to make a distinction between the publication and the society for the accounting purposes. (Mary Carpenter’s note is not included in this item.) In the other letter (written on November 30, 1859), Samuel May Jr. (Writer) talks about the meetings to be held in support of John Brown. He then mentions that he moved his family to Roxbury, where he knows a few people. Uncle B. Goddard rode to Boston but could not meet Writer’s parents because they were not home. Charles Sumner visited the office that day, and also spoke beautifully on the previous evening at a lecture. Writer closes the letter saying, “God save John Brown; and blessings on him for his noble, steadfast example. A hero and a Christian.”