Rome, December 10, 1859.
Oh, best of
governors, your letter of 18th ult., came swiftly to hand and relieved my
anxiety (which was getting to be strong), lest you were sick, or some ailment
had befallen your family. But the letter puts me at ease. Here I am rather rich
in newspapers, so all the details of the Harper's Ferry affair are soon made
known to us. See how the slave-holders hold their “bloody assizes” in Virginia!
Well, the worse they behave the better for us and ours. This is the [illegible]
– the beginning of birth-pains; the end is far enough away. How often I have
wished I was in my old place, and at my old desk! But I too should have had to
straighten a rope or else to flee off, no doubt, for it is not likely I could
have kept out of harm's way in Boston. I sent a little letter to Francis
Jackson, touching the matter which he will show you, perhaps. Wendell said some
brave things, but, also some rash ones, which I am sorry for, but the whole was
noble. B––– is faithful to his clerical instinct of cunning, not his personal
of humanity; I read his sermon with a sad heart, and F–––'s with pain. Noble
brave Garrison is true to himself as always, and says, “I am a non-resistant,
and could not pull a trigger to free four million men, but Captain Brown in his
fighting is faithful to his conscience, as I to mine, and acted as nobly as
Cromwell, and Fayette and Washington; yes, more nobly, for his act was pure
philanthropy. All honor to the fighting saint — now he is also a martyr!” That
is the short of what the Liberator says.
The "Twenty-eighth"
did not accept my resignation, but made some handsome resolutions. Perhaps it
is better so. Yet sure I am that my preaching days are all over and left behind
me, even if my writing and breathing time continue, which I think will not last
long.
I do all I can to live, but make all my calculations for a
(not remote) termination of my work here. I buy no books, except such as are
indispensable to keep me from eating my own head off.
Miss Cushman is here, and very kind to me; the Storys most
hospitable people as well as entertaining; we all dined there on Thanksgiving day.
Dr. Appleton (of Boston) has helped me to many things. I have seen Mrs.
Crawford, and of course all the American artists, painters, and sculptors, The
Brownings came a few days ago, and I have seen them both. I like her much! He,
too, seems a good fellow, full of life; intense Italians are they both.
SOURCE: John Weiss, Life and correspondence of
Theodore Parker, Volume 2, p. 389-90
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