George L. Stearns to John Brown, January 8, 1857

Boston, Jan. 8, 1857:

Dear Sir, — Enclosed we hand you our order on Edward Clark, Esq., of Lawrence, K. T., for two hundred Sharpe's rifled carbines, with four thousand ball cartridges, thirty-one thousand military caps, and six iron ladles, — all, as we suppose, now stored at Tabor in the State of Iowa. We wish you to take possession of this property, either at Tabor or wherever it may be found, as our agent, and to hold it subject to our order. For this purpose you are authorized to draw on our treasurer, Patrick T. Jackson, Esq., in Boston, for such sums as may be necessary to pay the expenses as they accrue, to an amount not exceeding five hundred dollars.

Truly yours,

George L. Stearns,

Chairman Massachusetts State Kansas Committee.

Mr. John Brown,

Of Kansas Territory.

SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 384