Julia Griffiths to Frederick Douglass, November 9, 1857

LETTERS FROM THE OLD WORLD.

NUMBER XLVII.

EDINBURGH, Nov. 9th.

MY DEAR FRIEND:—Time seems to me to have taken to himself more wings than usual since I entered "Scotia's darling seat." I can not realize the fact that I have been nearly a month in this beautiful city.

The Bazaar of "the Ladies New Anti-Slavery Society," was held on the 30th and 31st October. In a pecuniary point of view its success was as great as its friends could have expected, when they bear in mind that the decision to have a Bazaar was only made a few weeks before the time named for holding it; that it was the first home effort of an association that has only sprung into existence in the last two years, (an association numbering, it is true, within it, old and devoted friends of the slave, who have never ceased, in one way or the other to labor in his cause, yet an association only known to the public of Edinburgh, as such, for eighteen months past,) that the deepest sympathies of the people of Great Britain and Ireland have been (for some time past,) and still are being constantly called forth, by the terrible sufferings of their countrymen and countrywomen in India; that appeals have been recently made in their behalf, and warmly responded to throughout the kingdom; in each city, and town of which, contributions for India, have been raised that even while the Bazaar was taking place, Banks were stopping payment, mercantile houses failing a commercial crisis in progress, and people resolving not to spend any more money than was absolutely necessary!—Gloomy times! these, for a Bazaar, in behalf of a distant object, 'westward ho,' with all eyes straining, and many hearts beating for Eastern news, and very little sympathy being entertained for that brother 'Johnathan,' whose recent mercantile—(I don't know what to call it,) has brought trouble and financial difficultly into the home of many an honest Scotchman. Can we wonder that here, the question sometimes arises, "why don't the Americans do as we did—buy the freedom of their slaves."

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I very much enjoyed the two days I spent in the Bazaar room. The arrangements were well made; the room very prettily decorated, and the Committee there presiding a most agreeable harmonious, and executive band of ladies with whom I esteemed it a real pleasure to co-operate in this

labor of love. To the venerable President of the Society and to the indefatigable and efficient Secretary, warm acknowledgements, from all true friends of the slave are due, not only for what successes attended the sale, but for rendering the occasion one exceedingly agreeable and interesting, and when I remember that both those benevolent ladies are nearly weighed down with the amount and extent of their Christian and philanthropic duties nearer home I feel unspeakably grateful to them for practically carrying out the apostolic injunction, to 'remember them that are in bonds as being bound with them.'

Oh! how I wished some of my Rochester friends, could a few days ago, have seen one of those ladies make her way up to our colored friend, Robert Johnston, (to whom I had just introduced her,) and at once invite him to tea; it was not so much the act itself, but the kind unpretending, unaffected, single-hearted way way in which it was done; that charmed me inexpressibly.

"Prejudice against color," (as you technically term it,) is the great stumbling-block to the slave's emancipation, as well as to the amelioration of the condition of those who, in the United States, are—as if in mockery—called, "the free colored people," would that all the American friends of the slave could and would,—as a preliminary step—strive to free themselves form this disease which like the poisonous upas tree, casts its unhealthy shadow all around, and raises up countless obstructions in the way of the Anti-Slavery work they are professing to do. Yes! my American friends, I know all about it; send every iota of 'prejudice' to the winds, then your Anti-Slavery Societies will everywhere take root and flourish and you will secure the confidence of that race for whom you are professing to labor. I shall never forget a [illegible] I once saw in the letter of a leading Boston Abolitionist; "what a pity Mrs. —— is such a remarkable fool! were it not for her desire to be constantly showing off some colored brother or other, these Garnetts and Penningtons would not be infesting England and the writer of this is self-deluded enough to believe that he—or she—is a friend of the Slave. "Save us from our friends," well may the Colored people of the United States exclaim of all such.

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Many of our friends in Canada and in Cleveland, Ohio, will be interested to know that Robert M. Johnson, who, some time since, was ejected from the Medical College of Cleveland, on account of his color, is now a student in the Medical School of Edinburgh University; that

He has been taken warmly by the hand of Prof. MILLER, Dr. [illegible[ , and other distinguished Christian men, and that there seems every probability of his progress being in proportion to his advantages.

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MONTROSE, 16th.

I hoped to have sent off my hasty scribble by the last mail, but was not able so to do since I have been greatly employed and on the move of late, I met the Dundee Committees on Wednesday; and had a pleasant reunion with our friend, there; their activities in the Anti-Slavery causes are "known and rad of all:" the last Report of their Society. I have frequently heard, highly commended, and with reason.

On Saturday, I had a pleasant meeting with our friends here, and although several of my especial friends were, I regret to say, confined to their homes from serious indisposition in the form of the now almost universal influenza; yet the meeting was both large and agreeable, and manifested clearly that the interest in the cause of the slave is in Montrose, widening and deepening. All praises due to the Secretary for her exertions in behalf of the Society, and there are several other ladies whom, in this connection, I would mention if I might.

To day I have been to Brechin, and have me the Society there. For the efficient aid rendered to this young association by the Rev. A. L. R. Foote. The Church minister, at Brechin, I feel much indebted, and I trust that his valuable and various suggestions will be carried out by the ladies there. Slavery is such a monster evil, that it is difficult to believe that the little they can do will touch it in any way. "The Americans ought to free themselves from this evil," was said to me to day at Brechin. "I don't see what we can do in the matter." "We can assist those those who are laboring in the States in the same cause," is my reply, 'especially can we send aid to those colored men who are year after year laboring with self-denying energy, unbated zeal, not only for the emancipation of their brethren form the Southern prison-house but, for the equal rights and privileges of the Colored people of the North.' The voice of the flying fugitive too, is heard across the waters of the wide Atlantic. Friend LOGUEN must be helped in his efforts in that direction: he shall be helped.

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The pleasure of my visit to Montrose has been greatly enabled by the presence of the Rev. John KER, of Glasgow, one of the ablest ministers in the United Presbyterian Church, and one of the most eloquent preachers of any church, I have ever listened to. To listen to him twice yesterday unexpectedly in the town of Mont-

rose, was a great treat very and gratifying also, was it to be present this evening at the soiree held in the church of my kind friend, Rev. A. Anderson, through whose efforts the Montrose A. S. Society owed its existence. The ministers of the U. P. Church, are, universally anti-slavery men; yet it is gratifying to know that these newly formed Societies in Scotland contain members of all denominations. Free church, Established church United Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Baptists, and Independents all work together in the good cause, in unity and harmony.

To morrow I am to start for the Granite city of Aberdeen; and, I indulge the hope that ere the close of this week there will be a young and new Anti-Slavery Association there. Several kinds friends have been laboring assiduously, for some time past in promising the way for the formation of a substantial Society, in aid of the Slave, in that Northern city, and co-operation has been promised me from several important points, "Hope on, hope ever;" this is the motto, and looking onward, and upward, for a blessing on the effort proposed to be made in the Granite city, I bid you good night, and prepare to go northward, in full belief that my next letter will announce to you the formation of another large Society in old Calidonia.

Begging to be kindly remembered to all friends in Rochester,

I remain, always, most truly yours,

JULIA GRIFFITHS.