Boston June 1, 47

Dear Bradburn,

     Yours of the 8^th ult, was very acceptable. It reached me here--I came here a few days after writing you.

     I am engaged in writing a sequel to my Slavery. It will probably contain all the answer that Bailey’s + Phillip’s articles require—perhaps more, for I seriously suspect they hardly deserve answers at all.  Others may differ from that opinion and therefore I write. Besides, I have other matters which I wish to put into a sequel. The book, I fear, will be nearly as large as the other. As a good Christian would say, I have a comfortable hope that I shall put an end to this question—and also put some view into the anti-slavery locomotive. Unless something is to be done of a different and more effective character than has been hitherto, I think abolitionists may about as well leave the cause in the hands of Providence, and “the laws of population[?]”.

     I presume it will be three or four months before the book will be out. If some of the Liberty Party people become impatient, or fearful that I cannot answer B+P, I shall not, on that account, hurry the matter. I am quite willing they should feel some uneasiness, to cure them of their indifference, and to make them read when my book does come.

     Phillips has republished his argument in a pamphlet—five thousand copies—at his own cost—and given the edition to society. I hope every body will read it. Garrison you see pronounces it “masterly and conclusive.” I should like much to know whether he has ever read it.

     Foster, Ballon, and I think Garrison, touched very lightly upon the constitution, (at their convention least week), said they would not go into the question whether it had been rightly interpreted; would only say what had been its practical operation, and so on. Phillips spoke a great deal, but hardly alluded to the constitution. Nothing very novel occurred in the convention. Not opposition enough to make it very rich.

     Mrs. Foster, I understand, has a little Stephen, or a little Abby. She was not present.

     I did not see your reply to Garrison. Did not Uncle Sam refuse to bring it for the want of 3 cents? If you have a spare copy, I should like to see it.

     Mrs. Sargeant has returned to Athol since I came from there. She has been at Keene and Walpole through the winter—had great success—raised the price of her pictures to $8. I think she will now be able to provide for herself. I understand she intends going to Hartford this summer. She weighs 130 lbs! Mrs. Lord tells me so.

     I was at Hildreth’s last evening. He and his wife spoke of you.

     Give yourself no uneasiness about Phillips’ and Bailey’s articles. There is nothing alarming in them, so far as I have been able to discover.

                                  Yours truly,

                                  L. Spooner

Burn that thing I sent you last winter lest it sometime fall into hands that will put a wrong construction upon it.