Julia Griffiths to Frederick Douglass, January 12, 1856

LETTERS FROM THE OLD WORLD.

Number XII.

DUNDEE, Jan. 12th, 1856.

MY DEAR FRIEND:—I cannot commence the first letter of the year 1856, without wishing you and your readers a "happy new year," although the usual time for these friendly greetings and reciprocal good wishes has passed away; and already twelve days of the "glad new year" have rolled by to join their predecessors of the years that are gone.

I am, as you will perceive, at "bonnie Dundee"—in the midst of as vigorous, lively, intelligent, and flourishing a community of Anti-Slavery friends as you would desire to see, on either side the Atlantic. I had engaged to meet the Dundee Ladies' Anti-Slavery Committee last Wednesday; but greatly to my disappointment, I was too unwell to travel on the previous day—so had to remain in the care of my ever kind Glasgow friends during Tuesday; their good nursing and the quiet combined to render me more able for the journey on Wednesday. As the day was extremely clear, the scenery thro' which I passed, for the most part very fine, and new to me, and the sun shining brightly on all things, I could not resist the cheering influence of the beautiful pictures that were, in rapid succession, presented to my vision, especially when BEN LOMOND, and his lofty attendants, appeared in sight, crowned with a "diadem of snow." Although centuries have passed since the memorable battle was fought, by the Scots, for freedom—and the "red rain" no longer makes "the harvest grow" finer on the field of BANNOCKBURN, I confess that (silly as some may think it) my heart beat faster when we came to the "Bannockburn station," and I found myself within two miles of the battle site—for space seemed peopled with those gallant heroes of old, whose patriotic deeds have been the theme of songs that will last until love of country shall cease to exist. Soon came we to the town of Stirling, with its Castle-crowned heights—

thence to "the Banks of Allan Water"—and onward, through Dunblane, to the beautiful town of Perth. I would feign have explored some of the points of interest in these classic spots; but the iron king, under whose rule I was, proved inexorable to the appeals of romance, and onward was the word—"the Fair Maid of Perth" was not awaiting me, and the fair Ladies of Dundee were—and soon after two o'clock I was among them, receiving as warm a welcome to their bonnie town and to their homes as you can imagine. People say, "the Scotch are cold." "I do not find them so," is my reply.

A quiet afternoon enabled me to enjoy the society of a large company of friends, invited to meet me in the evening. Among them was your old friend, the celebrated Rev. GEORGE GILFILLAN, of whom I have heard you speak so often, and at whose house I had the pleasure of breakfasting this morning. I listened to a Lecture from Mr. Gilfillan in Glasgow, a few weeks ago, which almost electrified me, and gave me a more earnest desire to meet this distinguished man in the social circle—so it was with no small gratification that I heard his name announced as one of the earliest at the party on the first night of my arrival at Dundee. Mr. Gilfillan is as strong an Anti-Slavery man now, as he was when he lent you his church to do battle in some ten years ago. He made many kind enquiries after you, and begged me to remember him kindly when I should be writing to Rochester. I had a pleasant visit with the venerable Christian philosopher, Dr. DICK, on Thursday. He still lives at his old home at Broughty Terry, three miles from Dundee. The weather has been most propitious for a winter traveller, and I much enjoyed my drive along the Banks of the Tay, to Dr. Dick's residence, which stands on the heights, overlooking the expanding Frith of Tay. The infirmities of age are fast coming on the venerable doctor. He is very deaf, and his eye sight is becoming defective. His memory appeared to

me good. He showed me a fine edition of "Webster's Dictionary," recently sent him from the States, and an American edition of his own works. He told me to say to you, that, he "had been looking after you, with much interest, ever since you were in Dundee, and that, he wished you and your cause much prosperity."

On Thursday evening, the Ladies of the Anti-Slavery Society here had a Ladies Soiree, and, at the same time, held the Annual Meeting of their Association. No gentlemen were to be admitted; but so brisk and lively are the Dundee ladies, that I had no fear of Pharaoh's chariot wheels dragging heavily, malgre the absence of the lords of the creation.

Capitally did the Soiree go off—that is, every part that was not performed by myself. One hundred ladies were there; after tea, and the usual accompaniments, preliminaries, &c., the Secretary and Treasurer read the Report, in a clear and distinct voice, and wound up all accounts for the past year, announcing donations, &c.—and then I was requested to address them, which I did, to the best of my ability, for about an hour—then fruit, and other refreshments, were introduced—after which I received a hearty shake of the hand and kind word from every lady present—and the meeting separated. For those of us who retain our European prejudices against "Woman's Rights," I think these Ladies' soirees excellent things—that is, when they are well managed. The President, Treasurer and Secretary of the Dundee Ladies' Society are all untiringly active in the cause of the Slave—and while many, who, undoubtedly, mean to do well in this cause, are hesitating, and deciding, and re-thinking the matter, 'tis done at Dundee in a twinkling, and done, too, in a business-like, systematic manner, and only done when the voices of the majority of the Committee concur in opinion. Although the gentlemen of Dundee were excluded from the Soiree, it is due to them to state, that I

have, no where, in Scotland, met more thorough, earnest, and warm-hearted friends of the Slave among the gentlemen, than in bonnie Dundee; and of this they have given me practical proof —indeed the sun has shone on me daily since I entered this brisk and busy little town on the Banks of the Tay; and I would not quit it this evening for the modern Athens itself, but that I have an especial engagement there for Monday morning. I am here the guest of the Rev. Mr. Borwick. To him, and to Mrs. Borwick, I shall always feel grateful, not only for their kind hospitality, but for their ceaseless endeavors to further the especial object of my visit.

I have made so many new friends at Dundee, and received so many kindnesses, that it would be in vain to enumerate. Yet I cannot pass by the United Presbyterian Church without saying that, here, as elsewhere, I find the ministers of that Church, and their families, first and foremost in their proffers of sympathy and co-operation in any efforts I am making to advance the cause of the Slave. "Do justice, though the heavens fall," is a fine old motto; and I will give no heed to any rumors of the hesitation, of indirectness of any of the ministers of the United Presbyterian Church on this matter of Slavery, until I myself have weighed them in the balances and found them wanting.

EDINBURGH, January 16th,

I have been three times in this beautiful city since I last wrote you—each time my visit has been brief—for on each occasion, engagements in Glasgow (which city is, in truth, my Scottish home) have taken me quickly back there, I met the Committee of the "Edinburgh Ladies' Emancipation Society" on the 3rd January.—I regretted extremely the absence of your old and excellent friend, the President of the Society, who was away from the city, at the deathbed of a beloved sister—and another much

valued and steady friend of yours was absent, from illness in her home. The former lady (Mrs. John Wigham, of Salisbury Road) has now returned to Edinburgh—and a most pleasant visit I had with her and Mr. Wigham yesterday. I hope to see them again soon; but illness in the family is yet keeping them very anxious; and the remembrance of a departed, lovely daughter, who is "not lost, but gone before," still dims the mourning and sweet mother's eyes with the tear of sorrow. My engagements in Edinburgh have been so many, and my introductions so numerous, that I have not yet seen more than the outside of Holyroad Palace. The week before last we had three days incessant rain here, and I ascended Carlton Hill, for the first time, in the midst of it.— As I sat in the drawing room windows of Carlton Terrace, I could only imagine how fine the view must be on a clear, bright day—for in truth, we had a Glasgow, rainy fog outdone! I went to Glasgow on the 4th to see the presentation of the freedom of the city to the Earl of Elgin.

The ceremony took place in the City Hall, at one o'clock. The Hall was crowded in every part by a highly respectable audience. The Lord Provost occupied the chair, and read a good address, (evidently prepared with great care for the occasion.) containing a review of Lord Elgin's public life, commencing with his Governorship of Jamaica, and closing with a sketch of his administration in Canada.

At the close of this speech, "the Burgess Ticket" (as it is called) was read by the Town Clerk; it was then placed in a beautifully chased silver box, and handed to the Earl by the Lord Provost.