Letter from Samuel May, Boston, to Richard Davis Webb, Jan. 2nd, 1865

May discusses his correspondence and says that he has been disappointed in the anti-slavery sentiment in England. He says he could not understand the English inability to grasp the significance of the abolitionist doctrines and that he has been somewhat impatient with his country's slow trend toward the abolition of slavery. May thanks his English friends for a generous donation. In a continuation of the letter that is dated January 3, May tells Webb that he is sending a book by Senator Henry Wilson. He mentions differences of opinion among the members of the American Anti-Slavery Society and describes the role of Wendell Phillips in the dissension. In another continuation dated January 4, May tells why he favored Abraham Lincoln and asks Webb about the English pro-slavery reaction to William T. Sherman's march through Georgia. May discusses the Constitutional amendment against slavery, the Weston family, George Thompson, and the Garrison family.

Courtesy of Boston Public Library

anti slavery collection boston public library rare books department abolitionists united states 19th century correspondence antislavery movements history may samuel jr 1810 1899 webb richard davis 1805 1872 letters correspondence manuscripts english jr samuel may 1810 1899 richard davis webb samuel may high resolution slavery

1865

Boston Public Library

https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/

Public Domain