Lynn, Jan. 25, 1850

Dear Spooner,

     Of course, I owe you no letter, having written to you last. And I have no reason for writing now, expecting that I do not choose we should be staying here forever, without either’s getting a word from the other.

     Has ever any thing come of your postage project? I fear not. I can not fancy you to have found either “grace” or “justice” in the premises. Wellnigh [?] all you’d [?] in wrought [?] out by “crucified redeemers.” Be you grateful, that you are not “crucified between two thieves.” –Lo! Wright, too, is among the crucified. But he died in the hope of a resurrection. Who knows but those dying without that hope may enjoy the reality? Let in _____ it may be so. Wright has an interest in some little traffic, like that [?] of piddling [?] shoe-strings, which is yet of more _____ worth to him, than could be commanded by his best _____ as an editor! Is not that an illustration of things as they are? I do not name the specific article in which W. has an interest, because he bade me not to do so. As for myself, I do most hugely regret, that I ever [?] came to Lynn. It has been an injury to me, every way. I had better been sent to purgatory, for the sufferings of that the latter are said to have in them a purifying power which I can not ascribe to those I incurred by taking the editorship of the Pioneer.

     “You speak of the ‘justice’ of L.S. It is a ____ sort of justice, which, when Chaplin wrote him to engage him in some slave cases, suspecting it to be a mean trick of mine to get his services for nothing.” ----I extract that from a letter of G.S.’s dated Dec. 21 ’49. I can only hope the _____ _____ may be extinguished by time & many a “sober man’s [?] thought.” Perhaps a meeting might do it, speedily. But S. does not forget what is due to your fame, because of that disagreement between you. Lately, a large [?], a very _____, Convention of Abolitionists was held in Syracuse, N.Y. One whole day & evening were devoted to the Constitutional question; G.S. on your side of that question, C.C. Bunhigh[?], Douglass, Rimond[?], Pillsbury, Stephen S. Foster, etc. on the other side of it. Lawyers & politicians abounded in the meeting. Smith had urged me to be present (as also to attend a Convention of the Liberty Party); but I went not thither, simply because I could not do so without losing money, which I have always lost in going up to N.Y. to help our Liberty friends. But what I was coming at in the following extract of a note I rec’d from S. a day or two since: “Of course, I availed myself greatly of Lysander Spooner’s Argument—and when, after having characterized that manly & invincible argument, as it deserved to be characterized, I added, that, were I studious of fame or usefulness, I had rather be the author of that Argument than any other Law Argument ever written either on this side or the other of the Atlantic, there was surprise, if nothing more, in my large audience.”

     I lately rec’d a copy of a circular from Gerrit Smith, touching a new batch of law beneficiaries; 500 males & 500 females, to each of whom he had offered a form & $10. But having come to the conclusion, that his lands were not exactly of the work[?] for women, he proposes to give to each of these $50, expressing the hope, that he[?] will use it in purchasing 70 acres of good land of the Government. ---I am thinking it is about time for me to apply for a farm. Smith must needs admit my claim to one, though he never could see the use of helping me to wag [?] my tongue, or ____ my _____, in my own way.

     Our pretty Mrs. Sargeant has married, again, as you, _____, must have notices. Do you know to whom, & how well?

     Have you been to Athol since we met? If so, how were they all? I do wish much to see the Doctor’s folks.

     What [?] a user-up[?] of all sympathy with Kossoth [?] & his party in the article on Hungary [?] in the last North Amercian!

     Will you give my regards to any friends around you, who would care to receive them. Mrs. Parker bids me present hers to yourself, & my warm affection you know is yours.

                                  Ger. Bradburn