Ask the Scholar

George Thompson writes to William Lloyd Garrison informing him of his plans to go to Toronto. Thompson tells Garrison he wrote to Hiram Wilson asking for information about the fugitive slave population and so his "way is fully open to all that I shall have the time or means to accomplish" while in Toronto. He also discusses his work in Rochester, stating that "the curiosity to see and here [sic] me ... is bringing out hundreds who have hitherto known nothing of our principles, objects, or measures." Thompson then continues the letter the following day, "Saturday morning" March 15, explaining he had "neither time nor strength to finish this letter yesterday" and is still unwell today. He tells Garrison about his lectures the day before, saying "I again spoke, to the largest assembly ever known to be collected in the day-time" and asserting that "The triumph we have obtained here is great, & should give us faith in the right." Before ending the letter, Thompson recommends the American Anti-Slavery Society "do well to make it [Rochester] the scene of vigorous operations" and encourages Garrison to visit the area, offering to be his "Leiutenant [sic]."