Boston, February 26th, 1852.
My Dear Mann:
— I hope to see you in April — and yet I do not know that I can, for there is
some doubt about my having any one for the Idiot School; in which case I must
stay here.
I would I had some of your counsel about what to do to show
the dissatisfaction of the true friends of Free-soil here with those of the
party who have power, yet use it not to promote the cause. They are snugly in
office and think only of keeping there. I say we ought to write them a letter
and demand of them what they are doing and planning, — and when they mean to
show the work which they were elected to do. I have unfortunately no
talent for chalking out their course; I only have an intuitive sense that much
may now be done for the cause, and that they will not do anything unless driven
to it by outsiders.
I wrote Sumner, and begged his advice — but he does not like
to give any, even to me.
What shall we do, Mann? — why the deuce did you not let them
nominate you at Worcester? If you had, there would now be a chance of
putting you where you could do more good and prevent more evil than you ever
can in that bear-garden.
In my temporalities I am but so-so; and with a sense of the
uncertainty of life which I never had brought home to me in former years. I
always had the habit, when going away for a few days, to put all my business
affairs in such posture that no trouble would follow if I should die — but I
always said, in the back part of my head, it is a useless precaution, for I
shall surely come back alive. It is not so now; — death and I are fencing, not
with foils but with sharp rapiers, and I with but rusty armour for defence.
Think you not that at times I feel keen regret at the little
use I have made of the rare opportunity you have given me of being with and
knowing a man like yourself? I do, and resolve to do better; but perhaps I
shall resolve and re-resolve and — die the same.
There is one thing I want much to do, and with your active
aid could do (that is, if I get the Idiot School fairly established and in
public favour) — viz. establish a school for teaching the deaf-mutes to
articulate. We have often talked of it, and I made a spasmodic effort at it
once; but I am wiser now, and with you could succeed. Mr. Weld's1 last visit
here, and his avowal that they do virtually nothing except to those who have
some hearing, made me see the necessity of some action.
Do let me hear from you sometimes. Give my kind regards to Madame
and believe me
Faithfully yours,
S. G. Howe.
SOURCE: Laura E. Richards, Editor, Letters and
Journals of Samuel Gridley Howe, Volume 2, p. 364-5
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