Friday, May 4, 2018

Samuel Gridley Howe to Theodore Parker, May 1854

Monday, May, 1854.1

My Dear Parker: — Your words of Saturday have been like live coals in my vitals. I started to go in yesterday, but was too ill to get to your house. I have long made up my mind not to avoid a struggle and a conflict with the myrmidons of this infernal law, but I cannot make it up to seek one. Perhaps my children are the beams in the eye of my reason.

Something must be attempted; but I think not here in Boston, for it will be useless. But it may be attempted with hope of success, on the passage towards the South. I should say in New York City. A dozen resolute men, awaiting his arrival there, can rescue him; a thousand cannot do it here. I shall try to find you.

S. G. HOWE.
_______________

1 Before the attempted rescue of Burns.

SOURCE: Laura E. Richards, Editor, Letters and Journals of Samuel Gridley Howe, Volume 2, p. 268-9

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