Julia G[riffiths] Crofts to Frederick Douglass, June 18, 1862

p.2 D.M. Aug, 1862 p.696 c.1,2,3 c.1 Since I last wrote to you I have had the happiness of spending a few days with the family of my dear and highly valued friendGerrit Smith, while they were in London, a few weeks since. To be driving through out metropolis and walking through our abbeys and parks, and gardens with dear friends from, Peterboro seemed like a dream. We had many a chat together about far distant friends and old times. I can assure you, could the noble head of the family have looked in upon us, the joy would have been augmented you will readily imagine; but I was obliged to be contented with a life like portrait of him, and with the privilege of hearing his interesting and graphic letters, which made me fully realize his pres ent home life and occupations in Peterboro.

The voices of these dear friends sound as sweet as ever in singing. I was quite overcome in hearing them sing for the first time that patriotic hymn of freedom,"John Brown,"I had previously read of two Massachusetts' regiments marching through New York York city singing this requiem to the brave old patriot,

Next Saturday's steamer is to bear these dear friends across the waters of the wide Atlantic, and far away from our shores. May God vouchsafe to them a smooth and pleasant voyage and may they rejoin their loved ones in their happy and much loved, home in health and comfort. I need scarcely say that the present war. and slavery were the frequent topics of conversation during out meeting:--\ Had Gerrit Smith's voice been heard and his counsel taken a few years since, this terrible season of bloodshed had never come to pass in all human probability. It might be well if the Christian nation of America to ponder on the old heathen saying "whom the Gods would destroy they first make mad."

In reading the terrible accounts of loss of life in this prolonged war. I see the hand of retributive justice in the fact of there being no regiments of colored men to be sacrificed. True my dear friend, it is that a belief in their in'eriority has excluded them from the (so called) privilege of enlisting in the army ; and you I

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LETTERS FROM THE OLD WORLD. ------- NUMBER LXXXII. ------- London, June, 18th, 1862

My Dear Friends:--Your June Monthly met me here this morning, on my return from Tunbridge Wells, and eagerly have I looked through its columns to see what are your present views on the signs of the times, as regards your unhappy country. I was dismayed a few days since by seeing in one of our journals, a paragraph to the effect that Gen. Hunter's order, (so cheering to many of our hearts,) was countermanded by the President. Alas I for Mr. Lincoln's infatuation and timidity. I have read with care your article, "No Subjugation without Emancipation," and it fully confirms our previous views. Would that your next fourth of July might witness a "glorious declaration of Liberty to the captive, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound!"

You are quite right in your assertion that the "only valid apology for this war, is that it is a war of freedom against, a war of progress against barbarism." And equally so in your remark that the acts of the Government are destroying this apology, and turning from them the sympathy of many old and true friends of the cause in this country. I (nt) long since was startled by hearing a staunch friend of the slave declare herself entirely with the South, she is a consistent Garrisonian, that party long toiled and labored to promote the dissolution of the Union, she believes in it still, and asked me if for a single moment I could suppose the North was in earnest on the slavery subject ?-- Oh ! why will the Government trumpet give an uncertain sound !

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Our French friends occupy to great advantage a large space of ground. Their collections of Jewelry, Cina glass, Silks, Ribbons, Lace,E,- broidery, Tapestry and Furniture are wonderful in many respects. A day soon passed amidst Parisian treasures, the only regret being that the hours flew so rapidy, and that it was impossible to see everything there. The Austrian Department is famed for the wonderful work in leather,in regard to bookbinding I never before saw much rare, costly, and elaborate worked, and Jewelled leather binding, norsuch elaborate and find carving in wood as in the Austrian court, and some magnificent china vases are contributed by the King of Prussia, but time and space fail me to tell of a thousandth part of the gems of beauty that met my eyes from time to time as with the kind guides I threaded the mazes of the numerous courts. the Roman and Italian courts are replete with beautiful objects The statuary there is exquisitely fine. "A girl reading" supposed to be Garibaldi's daughter, is a gem, but where all is beautiful as in these Italian departments par ticularizing is impossible. The statuary, the paintings, the rich and rare jewels, the fine cameos, and mosaics, and works of all kinds claim the delight and attention of the visitor, and make him forgetful of any exhibition outside the (Austrian) courts. A grand display of Brussels lace and fine muslin embroideries characterize the Belgian collection. There are no Malachite doors in the Prussian courts this time, but many objects of interest and beauty may be found in the inner court, though there us no especial attraction in the outer one. Turkey, Egypt and Russia unite in making grand displays of rich embroideries in gold, and silver The Egyptian court is doubly attractive on account of the viceroy of Egypt being in this country at the present time, and because there is a delightfully luxurious seat in it which

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know have long pointed out this grievance, yet looking at the matter in another light, we see the oppressor of the south, and his abettor at the north killing each other by thousands and we bear the loud wails of the widow and orphan of New Orleans re-echoed by those in New York, while "Red handed slaughter his revenge doth (feed And havoc yells his ominous death cry, And wild despair in rain for mercy pleads, While hell itself doth shrink and sicken at the [deeds."

While these times of terrible war and carnage are transpiring in your distracted States, (united no longer,) our Great International Exhibition is drawing a large concourse of people to our metropolis from every civilized country in the world, London is full of foreigners, we cannot visit any public place without hearing the French, German Italian and Spanish languages spoken" on all sides of us, or without seeing the more Eastern costumes and tawny complexion of the Egyptian and Turk,the East Indian and the Japanese. It is a season of great interest and excitement in London. The only drawbacks to the national gladness are,first,the close seclusion in which our beloved Queen yet remains, and the reason of the seclusion a reason well known to all who miss from among them the ever welcome presence of the lamented Prince Consort, as they tread the floor of the Great Exhibition, and who remember the deep interest felt in it by the departed one. Second the extreme distress that continues; to prevail in our manufacturing districts; which will prevent many thousands of our operatives from coming to London, as they did in 1851, to see the world's show. I regret that this vase collection of material from all climes were not resolved into order when visited by our Peterboro friends. Mr. M. contrasted the present exhibition with that of 1851, to the great disadvantage of the present and from what I hear of the tardy removal of large packing cases and of the presence of workmen, busily employed in the building long after the Exhibition was thrown open to the public, it is certain that during May, the show was not seen to advantage. I am a June visitor, and am increasingly delighted every time I go there. Description is vain. Every one must see for himself to form a conception of the vast array of materials brought together; and of the widely diverse character of this immense collection of the costly, the rare, the useful, and the destructive.--- The Exhibition of '51 was styled a peace demonstration, because of the large display of reaping and other agricultural machines. this may in some respects be termed a war Exhibition because of the great show of (brearma) and warlike instruments, prominent among which stand the Armstrong guns.