Julia G[riffiths] Crofts to Frederick Douglass, September 1, 1862

15 Grove Terrace, Leeds

Sep^tr 1^st 1862.

My dear Friend/

I avail myself of the kindness of our good friend, Rev. J. Caswell, to convey these few lines across the broad Atlantic. He sails by the Nova Scotia next Thursday, & returns to resume his labors in Canada, in which country he has spent the last 18 years of his life.—D^r. Crofts has told him, if ever he passes through Rochester to call on you—we feel sure you & he would be friends very soon—he is a Christian gentleman, in every respect, & a thorough Anti-Slavery man. He is much troubled & perplexed by the leaning manifested by so many in this country, to the South: but attributes much of it (as I do,) to the half & half Anti-Slavery of the North!—He says the Canadians are more favorable to the

North than we are, as a people—& more interested in their success—I am leaving home, with Matty, tomorrow for Ilkley, that charming place near the moors, where, after nervous fever, four years back, I spent 11 weeks; I trust the bracing air will, with God's blessing, help to brace up my nerves again, for I have been very poorly indeed during the last few weeks, & not fit for much.—Aunt & Lizzie have been at Ilkley for the last month; the poor Doctor has no time to take holiday, being always busy, with something especial—This is the season of the year when there is much coming & going, everyone is on the move to London or to the Seaside; so Anti-slavery efforts are, just now, quite at a stand still—By & bye, I hope the subscriptions will be coming in again; & then I hope to send them with what I have. An article in your Monthly, on the "Contraband" might assist you, a little, I think—M^rs Baines & Loguen write a good deal as to what they are doing for these fugitives with a new name, & for what they are sending aid, in this respect—& if you, my dear friend, through your columns will tell the friend what you are doing & what you want done for them, I am enclined to think donations would be sent you expressly for that purpose. I am truly puzzled where to propose having the next Anti-Slavery Bazaar, the last was so great a success, that I fear our again being able to equal it—but we must not despair—I was in Halifax a month since, dined with good Mrs Hargreaves & had tea with the [Frembys?]—they all enquired most kindly for you—& desired their affectionate remembrances—You will not soon be forgotten in Halifax I can assure you—At present I hear nothing of M^r. Fogg—Our good friend Gerrit Smith told me he would write to him at once—Shame is the only thing, I believe, that will ever make him pay that debt of honor!—

My sister, M^r Dick & family are all in New Zealand—where 17 of the

Dick family now are, I understand. I never expect to see poor Eliza in this life again—a melancholy thought. M^r. Dick's father is an M.P. there. I am told their prospects are excellent.

I had a letter five or six weeks since (dated London) from M^rs D^r Willis, telling me they were again in our island, & expressing the wish to see me—I could not attempt going to London a third time, at present, so I do not see a chance of her visiting, as I am not likely to visit Scotland this year—

Dear Mrs Denton still lingers, growing feebler all the time—I miss her cheering letters much!—My correspondence continues very great indeed, though it has been weeded more than once.

I am thinking that the Peach season is coming on—& wishing we could take a walk in the old peach orchard—& regale ourselves with that delicious fruit, & have a good long talk once again—but wishes are vain, & the dear little companion of so many walks sweetly sleeps beneath the sod in Mount Hope Cemetery—"She is not dead, but sleepeth"—"not lost, but gone before." May this thought, my ever dear friend,

comfort your sorrowing heart—& cause you to look upward, as well as onward. We sympathize deeply with you in the constant state of excitement in which you must now live on account of public matters; never knowing what will come next—May God sustain & support you, & enable you to do your difficult duty in this crisis!—Do not I beseech of you, be hurried away into taking up arms; even if the government should be condescending enough to allow you to bear them on its behalf. Your work is with your pen, not with a sword or gun!—D^r. C. is out or he would unite with me & Matty in kind love—Remember me kindly to M^rs & Rose & the boys—(all grown out of knowledge, I expect;) & tell me all about them when you write. Is Freddy married (or going to be) to Loguen's daughter?—Send me a letter full of news soon, & believe me ever, dear friend,

Your truly sincere & affectionate friend,

Julia G. Crofts