George Weir, Jr. to Frederick Douglass, November 4, 1857

Buffalo, Nov. 4^th 1857.

FREDERICK DOUGLASS, ESQ.

SIR.—Since your ever memorable visit to Buffalo, we have endeavored as far as possible to keep up our Sabbath Evening Anti-Slavery Course. We have been favored with visits from those distinguished friends of the cause, Rev. H.H. Garnet, W.W. Brown, and William J. Watkins, and while I have no disposition to pass by un-noticed the faithful and earnest labours of the two former, whose eloquent and soul-stirring appeals in behalf of Humanity, did much to awaken an interest in behalf of the great cause which they have espoused, I would speak briefly of the efforts of our mutual friend last named. Mr. Watkins passed through our city some two weeks ago, and spoke in the East Presbyterian Church to a large and highly intelligent audience. His subject was, "The Anti-Slavery movement and the objections urged against it," and I do not exaggerate in the slightest degree when I boldly affirm, not only my own opinion, but that of the entire audience, that the Lecture was one of the most able and interesting to which it has ever been our fortune to listen. Nearly two hours were occupied in the delivery of his address, and I assure you, Sir, that never in my humble experience have I known an audience more completely spell bound, than was the audience upon this occasion; out of nearly three hundred persons present, not one was seen to leave during the whole time of his address, but each gazing with intense anxiety, eagerly grasped and drank in the living truths as they poured forth in burning Eloquence from the lips of the Orator. I would not, I could not, I dare not, even attempt the faintest shadow of a description of this masterly effort. Suffice it to say, that it was one of the most unanswerable and able appeals in behalf of freedom to which it has ever been the good fortune of a Buffalo audience to listen. And just here, sir, may I not through you, suggest the propriety of its publication in pamphlet form, if Mr. Watkins could be induced to consent thereto? it strikes me that it could (as it certainly should,) with a very little effort be extensively

circulated throughout the state and elsewhere. Buffalo will do her share.

On Mr. Watkins' return from the west, he again favored us with a lecture on last Sabbath evening at the same place of his former meeting.—The evening was very stormy, sufficiently so under ordinary circumstances, to have kept all within doors. But notwithstanding the storm raged in its wildest fury, at an early hour the church was comfortably filled; those who had previously heard the eloquence of our friend allowed no storms to keep them from being present again, and at the appointed hour the speaker appeared and occupied the attention of the audience for nearly two hours in an able exposition of the wrongs and cruelties of American Slavery. Friend Watkins in these two lectures, if never before, has won for himself in this city, golden laurels plucked fresh from the hearts of admiring multitudes. And that he may be long spared to lift-up his eloquent voice in behalf of the oppressed is my most sincere desire.

GEORGE WEIR, JR.