Letter from Joel Prentiss Bishop, Boston, [Massachusetts], to William Lloyd Garrison, 1840 Oct[ober] 26

J.P. Bishop writes to the Board of Managers of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society declining an appointment to be the organization's clerk, but offering his "thanks for this token of your confidence and esteem." He explains his reasons for refusing the position although he would like to see the book keeping and the repository reformed, stating he believes that the "Board had practically cast off all individual concern for the Depository and had committted it, without any periodical investigation, to the charge of an individual." He complains that the clerk does not have enough time to work in the depository and that the Board has no plans to investigate the depository or receive any reports about its state. He points to the fact that while Samuel Philbrick and Henry Grafton Chapman had replaced John Anderson Collins in the depository, as businessmen, they have even less time to work there then Collins did, and so are not likely to be able to implement the needed reforms. He advises the Board to consider if the depository could succeed if it were a private business, telling them "the same, then, which would be required of you in your own individual affairs, is required of you as stewards for the slave." He suggests the Board create the position of "a business doing agent, distinct entirely from your lecturing & other traveling agents" to oversee the depository and book sales for the society. He reminds them that they have "some 5 or 6 thousands dollars worth of books actually on hand" and these need to be sold "to aid the cause, as well as to bring a return of money." Bishop considers taking the position temporarily and shares his approval of the members of the Depository Committee.

Courtesy of Boston Public Library

anti slavery collection boston public library rare books department abolitionists united states 19th century correspondence antislavery movements history societies etc social reformers societies massachusetts anti slavery society bishop joel prentiss 1814 1901 chapman henry grafton 1804 1842 collins john a john anderson 1810 1879 philbrick samuel 1789 1859 letters correspondence manuscripts english joel prentiss bishop 1814 1901 joel prentiss bishop william lloyd garrison ultra high resolution high resolution slavery

1840

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