Extract of a letter from J. B. Estlin

An extract taken from a letter written by John Bishop Estlin discusses slave holding being "contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Chris..Persons may be left to their own judgement & their own consciences as to the call upon them to do anything for the removal of the evil or not, & if they are desirious of doing something, to adopt that line of action which they think most suitable to the occasion or their capabilities." He discusses methods of attacking slavery. He writes of Garrison's character, saying, "I should doubt if his course in America has always been the most judicious, I am very certain that in England he would have exercised a vastly greater degree of influence in the A.S. cause, had he confined himself to it; & sought the society chiefly of those most likely to have the power of rendering him useful assistance." He writes that American abolitionists do not see how British abolitionists can help. He writes, "there is a band of men & women in New England devoting their time their property, in some cases their lives, to the causes of the Slave: they ask for our sympathy & assistance & assure us that we can thus efficiently help; confort, & encourage them. I have faith in them & tender them my willing aid."

Courtesy of Boston Public Library

anti slavery collection boston public library rare books department abolitionists 19th century correspondence antislavery movements history societies etc religious aspects christianity societies estlin j b john bishop 1785 1855 garrison william lloyd 1805 1879 united kingdom england excerpts letters correspondence manuscripts english j b john bishop estlin 1785 1855 high resolution slavery

1832 - 1867

Boston Public Library

https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/

Public Domain