Ask the Scholar

Jacob Noyes writes to William Lloyd Garrison sharing his disappointment that he was unable to see Garrison at his home, saying "that there is no one on earth, that I could have received so much satisfaction in a few moments conversation, as from yourself." Noyes discusses his visit with Isaac Knapp and tells Garrison that he "fear[s] its all over with him ... [Knapp] seems infatuated & given up himself to destruction." He then asks Garrison about receiving the Liberator for free since he can no longer afford it, and congratulates him "on the repentance and confession of Mr. [Charles] Fitch." Noyes hopes this will "bring out some of the New Organization [the Massachusetts Abolition Society] and that some such as O[range] Scott &c will see the Error of their ways, & turn to the paths of the just." After the autograph, Noyes continues on verso and discusses the leaders of the Massachusetts Abolition Society. He says that while Henry Brewster Stanton "may or has repented," Amos Augustus Phelps, Charles Turner Torrey, Alanson St. Clair and Daniel Wise, he believes are "too far gone, ever to be recovered." He also discusses his issues with Isaac Knapp again, telling Garrison he told Knapp "that his treating me with so much contempt as to take no notice of 6 or 8 letters to him without an answer, hurt my feelings more, far more than the loss of the money ..."