Ernst J. Lowenthal to Frederick Douglass, December 20, 1877

ERNST J. LOWENTHAL^{1Born in Heidingsfeld, Bavaria, Dr. Ernst Jonas Lowenthal (1813–1905) graduated from medical school in 1839. He was an active participant in the failed revolutionary movements of 1848 and fled to the United States in 1850. In 1853 he and his Prussian-born wife, Charlotte Knaur Lowenthal (1823–1903), settled in Vermont, where he took over management of the Brattleboro Hydropathic Establishment, opened in 1846 by Dr. Robert Wesselhoeft. Lowenthal was a founding member of Vermont’s Republican party, and in 1855 he was a presidential elector for the Frémont ticket. The following year, Lowenthal operated his own facility and water cure in Bergen Heights, New Jersey. Sometime later he seemed to abandon hydropathy and return to the practice of more conventional medicine. Lowenthal ran a successful private practice in Hoboken, New Jersey, until retiring around 1880. 1880 U.S. Census, New Jersey, Hudson County, 205; Sandra W. Moss, Edgar Holden, M.D., of Newark, New Jersey: Provincial Physician on a National Stage (Bloomington, Ind., 2014), 467, 507, 545n; “News of the Week,” Medical Record: A Weekly Journal of Medicine and Surgery, 67: 823 (May 27, 1905).} TO FREDERICK DOUGLASS

Hoboken, N.J.^{2Lowenthal added this information regarding his address: “219 Hudson Str” at the bottom of the letter.} 20 December [18]77.

HONORABLE FRED. DOUGLAS.

DEAR SIR!

Miss Assing^{3Ottilie Assing.} has shown me that part of your letter, which relates to my conception of a plan, to get some official mission, by which I could be enabled to stay a few years in Germany, wherefrom I have been exiled 30 years ago. Being gratefully moved by your generous readiness, to lend me your influence in that affair, your remarks at the same time give me the impression, that you do not consider it beyond some chance of success; and such encouragement has transformed what was until now merely a beau Ideal into a firm resolve, which I intend to work up to its sweet or bitter end. In consequence thereof I beg to ask your opinion regarding the prelim<n>ary steps. Do you consider it the best, that I should go at once to Washington, and immediately after having been introduced disclose my request before the resp. parties, or is it not preferable, that preceding it some other Gentleman—for inst. yourself, if you want to take the trouble—submits the matter to them, offering, if asked for, recomendations from influential friends/of Mr. Schurz/?^{4Carl Schurz.} Here I cannot ommit the remark, that my circumstances compel me to economize with time and money as much as possible. But if you think, that my going to W. ought to be the first step in the matter, would you advise me, to provide myself

beforehand with letters of recomendation /to Mr Schurz/, or would it be preferable, to wait for the proper opportunity of referring to some personal friends of Mr. S.? I do not doubt, that besides I could procure favorable mentioning from prominent Republicans of my State and County <if such is desirable or needed.>. I may mention here, that at the /I presume first/ election of Mr. Lincoln I was nominated Presidential Elector by Our party.

The kind offer of your valuable assistance strengthens my belief, that you will continue to aid me in in this affair, and favor me with a reply either to Miss Assing or directly to myself.

I am sincerely Yours

E. J. LOWENTHAL

ALS: General Correspondence File, reel 3, frames 208–09, FD Papers, DLC.