Boston, Aug 25, 1847

 

Dear Bradburn,
     Miss Julia Johnson—a particular friend of Mrs. Sargeants—with whom you are not much acquainted, but whom you may recollect to have sometimes seen at Hildreth’s, and also 436 Washington St, where we called once or twice last summer to see Mrs. Sargeant, sets out with her mother for Illinois next Saturday, going by the way of Cleveland. They will stop one day and two or three nights between this and
Cleveland, and will probably be there on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd of Sept. She will be on board the Chicago boat, which will enable you to find her. The boat I suppose will stop at Cleveland some hours, and your brother will of course know when she arrives. Mrs. Johnson will be glad to see you, both on her own account and because she has a letter for you from Mrs. Sargeant! I have directed her to envelope the letter, directing it to you, care of Charles Bradburn, that if she should not see you, it may find it’s way into your brother’s hands. She is lame, you recollect, and cannot well walk around to find his store, or the post office. If you should not be at home at the time, will you not request your brother to go on board the boat, find Mrs. Johnson, and take the letter from her.

     For Mrs. S’s letter to you may thank me, as well as your stars—although she said she should claim to have written it from her own free will—no doubt her will was good enough—but I doubt if she would have dared the deed but for my solicitation. Bless her, she is in the way of getting a living independently of all who think she might to have got it by the sacrifice of her feelings and principles. Miss Johnson, if you see her, will tell you all about her, and Hildreth’s folks—(who are now at Noggy’s).

     I know nothing of “Noggs” man than what you see in the Chronotype.

     I am sorry the Chronotype is not sent you—I am sure it was not stopped by Wright’s order, or with his knowledge. He undoubtedly has no care of the books, and has forgotten that your subscription has expired. I have got to call upon him today or another matter, and if I can hint the matter to him judiciously I will try to do it.

     I know nothing of the New Review. I presume Hildreth has nothing to do with it. It will I imagine be too transcendental for him.

     I read Goodell’s address, and think it able, but I have got beyond all reliance on political machinery, (although I know it is sometimes useful), and I take no interest in the matter.

     Will the Buffalo convention take any grounds as to the constitution ? Or will they repeat for the thousandth time, old ideas for which the world care little, and will do less? Will you not look to the matter? If there be any pluck in the party, it seems to me to be time for them to show it. Cannot you bring them up to the point of adopting my resolutions that were presented here two years ago? I believe you have a copy of them.

     I am getting along slowly with my book—hope to get it out in time for the Buffalo convention. Sewall read a little of it the other day—says I am evidently fortifying my former positions. Hildreth thought Phillips has the advantage of me as to the meaning of the word free—although he does not think that that word’s being used as the correlative of slaves makes slavery constitutional. In my forthcoming book I shall put the meaning of the word free as far beyond controversy, as the Star Sirius is beyond the moon.

     I cannot, in the book I am now writing, reply to Phillips so much in detail as I could wish to do, without leaving out more important things. Perhaps I may notice him farther, hereafter, if it should be necessary. But, I shall now brush away the most showy of his cobwebs.

     I had a letter from Dr. Hoyt yesterday. He has his establishment in operation, and his house nearly full of patients—is in fine spirits apparently—says his faith in hydropathy was never so strong as now.

     Do not let three months pass again without your writing me.

                                  Yours truly,

                                  L. Spooner

 

Since writing the above I have seen the Chronotype of this morning, which offers the paper to correspondents. I think this incident will enable me to introduce the matter of your correspondence, without appearing to be seeking any thing, which you would be willing to have me seek in your behalf.

     By the way, I never received the paper containing your reply to Garrison. Can you send it to me well as not: Direct it to No. 1, Central Court.

     Since writing the above, I have called upon Wright, to get a notice of the Dr’s Hydro-establishment inserted—told Wright I had seen his offer to send his paper in exchange for correspondence, and asked him if he would send it to you, if you would send him an occasional letter? “Oh dear me, yes,” said he, “and more too—I will make a bargain with him if he wishes. I noticed he had not sent me any letters lately, I was afraid he was offended at my not inserting a paper in which he cut up the old folks to kill—it was true[?] every word—but I thought it was a pity to make up old matters. I meant to have apologized to him by letter for not inserting it—but I have no time.”

     I told him you had not had the paper lately. “I did not know it,” said he, “I supposed he received it still. Oh, yes, I’ll send it to him, for what he has done. I’ll send him the daily, if he would like it better.” I told him I thought as you were absent from here[?] a good deal, you would probably prefer the weekly. I said nothing to compromise your dignity, or that could be construed into asking a favor.

 

Leavitt has left the Emancipator as editor—but will remain a contributor—he is making school books. Nichols told me he expected Whither would be the editor.