Letter from Samuel May, Leicester, Mass, to Richard Davis Webb, Dec. 20, '61

May discusses payment for Webb's book, "The Life and Letters of Captain John Brown," and other financial matters. He criticizes the English press for its indignation over the Trent Affair and says the English should have looked into the matter more carefully. He complains of the British violation of the blockade and says the problem of slavery is none of England's business. May mentions shipments of troops and munitions to Canada. He contradicts Webb's assertion that the Americans in England fostered English pro-slavery sentiments. May discusses resistance and non-union with slaveholders and expresses his belief that war is not as bad as a continuation of slavery.

Courtesy of Boston Public Library

anti slavery collection boston public library rare books department antislavery movements united states history 19th century abolitionists correspondence 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

1861

Boston Public Library

https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/

Public Domain