PAwTUCKET, Nov. 28, 1834.
MR. GARRIsoN: —
Mr. Thompson has made a powerful, happy, and, I trust, lasting impression
in favor of the cause of emancipation in the city of Providence. In the
providence of God, I was prevented hearing him; but the tree is known by the
fruit, and of that I can say it is good and abundant.
Whatever of prejudice might have been entertained by any of
his audience against him personally, was vanquished forthwith, and lost in a
conviction of his disinterested love to God and man, and his honesty of
purpose; and that in his mission and labors, he is moved by the invincible
agency of Christian philanthropy. He said that “he was accused of being a
foreigner, but that could not be his fault, for he was not consulted respecting
the place of his birth; had he been, he might have chosen to have been born in
the good city of Providence.”
Of his eloquence, I have heard but one sentiment expressed,
viz. that it is of the very first order. An acquaintance of mine, a political
editor, said, that he did not hesitate to pronounce him the most eloquent
speaker he had ever heard. Nor were his hearers merely delighted and
entertained with his fascinating powers of oratory: his arguments seemed
to carry all by the board, and I have reason to believe made a multitude
of converts.
Yesterday we had the unspeakable satisfaction of welcoming
Mr. Thompson to our village, and of hearing him address a large and attentive
audience in the first Baptist meeting-house. He was extremely interesting,
although it was said, by those who had previously heard him, that it was far
from being one of his most happy efforts. He said that he did not speak easy at
all. This difficulty, I think, may partly be attributed to the house not being
the most happily constructed for easy speaking, especially for a stranger, and
partly to the unhappy time of the day which we fixed upon for the commencement,
which circumscribed him in respect to time, and must have been peculiarly
embarrassing. The audience, however, so far as I am informed, were highly
gratified, and the unanimous desire expressed is to hear him again.
Mr. Thompson was literally thronged with company at his
lodgings, at the house of our friend, Mr. WILLIAM ADAMS, who were no less
instructed than delighted with his most agreeable demeanor, and appropriate and
pertinent conversation.
I thank God for such a laborer in the cause. My dear
Brother, what hath God wrought! Some four years ago, you were almost alone in
your labors in this cause in New England: now a host have been raised up in the
length and breadth of the whole land, who have joined the holy standard; and,
in addit[i]on to this, brethren from beyond the seas fly to our aid, helping
onward the invincible cause with their prayers, untiring toil, and eloquence
almost commensurate with the merits of the cause they so dearly love.
Generations yet unborn shall rise up to call STUART and THoMPsoN, with the American Philanthropists who have
jeopardised their earthly all in the cause of abolition; I say, they shall rise
up, and call them blessed.
One circumstance transpired yesterday, which was, to me, as
I trust it was to all who witnessed it, most solemnly affecting and impressive,
which I must not omit mentioning. After we had been a few moments seated in the
pulpit, I perceived that some one was endeavoring to gain, although with
extreme difficulty, the ascendancy of the pulpit stairs; and on opening the
door, who do you think it was found to be A mobocrat, ready to seize on Mr.
Thompson, tear him from the house, and tar and feather him? Nay; it was the
venerable Moses BRowN, at the
advanced age of ninety-seven, pressing forward, as if sent by God to place
himself on the platform by the side of his trans-atlantic brother, not only to
hear from his lips the doctrines which he himself has so long advocated, and
reduced to practice in his life, but also to sanction, by his patriarchal and
venerable presence, the cause of philanthropy in which he was engaged !
We hope soon to be blessed with another visit from Mr.
Thompson.
Yours sincerely,
RAY POTTER.
SOURCE: Isaac Knapp, Publisher, Letters and
Addresses by G. Thompson [on American Negro Slavery] During His Mission in the
United States, From Oct. 1st, 1834, to Nov. 27, 1835, p. 27-9
