[Julia Griffiths Crofts] to Frederick Douglass, February 23, 1865

Hanley, Staffordshire Feb^y 23^rd

My dear Friend Frederick/

Most welcome was your intensely interesting letter of January 4^th I can assure you—I speedily made lengthy extracts there from—& sent them to the "Leeds Mercury"—in which they were immediately published—& from which they have been extensively copied & widely circulated—up & down our land— What would I not have given to have been a silent witness of your meeting with "Sister Eliza"!! Indeed your whole visit to old Baltimore City must have been one of intense interest & excitement—You know now fully I sympathize with you in this as in all the stirring incidents, and affecting details of your wonderful life—May the God who has thus far preserved you amidst so many dangers still watch over you & permit you to see all your people free!!

Through my friend Mrs. E. [Strass?]—I hope we shall have that admirable address written by you & emanating from the colored convention published in the March number of the A. S. Reporter— I dont believe much in [illegible]; but I wrote to the Sturges—Edwin saw him—& they told me to send it—If he does not retur me my only copy of the address & "proceedings," you must please send me another copy—I am so glad they made you President— it was only just, & proper to do so— Yes! You are quite right in assuming dear f^d that should you start that talked of paper in Baltimore I will strain every nerve to aid you in the effort—but [illegible] dont leave that dear old house on the bill!! I want to see the three generations there altogether!!!—& and to lead the other like to receive by the hand under the peach tress!!—Who can tell what may be—The Gerrit Smiths friendly & frequently reports D^r C. [illegible] going over to America some day—Who should you think is staying under our roof at this time? M^rs Brett of Toronto—She came over with her venerable father Rev: D^r Richardson— who has undertaken a mission to this country in connection with his church—they sailed from New York 4th Feby—landed in Liverpool & came direct here—D^r R— is off to London— M^rs B—will make Hanley head quarters & visit about independently of her father— Do you remember her?—a superior Christian lady— She brings me a missive from M^rs D^r Willis—They are coming over (D.O.) this summer— This present winter is with us unusually severe—& there is much illness & many

deaths—We are in much trouble just now; in consequence of the sudden & most unexpected death of a very excellent young man to whom our Lizzie was engaged to be married—They engagement was not of long standing: but one highly satisfactory to both families concerned—a Hahley gentleman 30 years of age—He was extremely well connected & very excellent in himself—only ill 38 hours— carbuncle, at the back of the neck, brought on congestion of the lungs—Poor Lizzie is in deep grief—I know she will have your sympathy— of course you will know of the Carpenters' removal from Halifax? I hope that our old friend M^rs John Smiths on (S. A. Morris) has succeeded M^rs C. as Secretary to the Halifax A. S. Asso: Last Tuesday's meeting there was to decide that point— Mrs Hargreaves wrote to me on the desirableness of uniting the two Halx Societies? I advised strongly agasint such a movement feeling assured that should it take place, the friends would disappear in quite a different direction—

M^rs E. Sturge writes me that mention is made of Miller [Mc?] [illegible] coming over in aid of the contrabands—is this so?— please reply—I was asked what I thought of him? Like R. Pilsbury; I suppose he can be anything for the time being!!—I certainly shall not recommend him as a devoted friend of the Colored people!!—Several of our A. S. Committess are soon to meet—& I hope to send over some results soon—The [Binj?] Negroes' Friend Society has just remitted me a donation for you—in response to the [illegible] I sent them from y^r

last letter—I hope to add to it before sending it—All the extracts—letters & papers you send me I manage to select from & circulate—& thus much good is done—Write soon again very dear friend; & don't go too far south ( pray you nor be allured away into dangerous places—How gloriously the cause of freedom is advancing—there is truly great cause for rejoicing in the recent doings of Congress & of good honest Abby—that much abused man! How difficult must his position have been through out the struggle! The 23^rd Jany 65 will be a signal day in the history of America—

May your life be spared my dear Frederick to see y^rs heart's desire fulfilled—& not a single slave left in the States of America—

My letter has been much intercepted & I must close it earlier than I feign w^d do—Ours is a busy life—in Hanley—& our visiting is endless—We seldom know what a really quiet evening is—the late hours try the doctor much—& he has never recovered from the effects of his autumn illness—so much bronchial tendency—which by the way is here very prevalent—cold has been intense for England—& so much damp with it—

Please remember me very kindly to M^rs D.—Rose—& all the boys—& kiss dear little baby Annie for me—I know I should love it—is she like that other dear little Annie that was such a pretty little baby sixteen years ago?— How time flies; my dear old friend—We are all

hurrying on—& one after another disappears from among us—May we strive to look above the toil & turmoil of this present state of being even while engaged in its duties— & then when "life's short day is past," may we enter into that eternal "rest that remaineth" for all that love God—

God bless & preserve you, my very dear friend—in Him be your trust—all our circle join me in kindest love, & best wishes for you—I send you an extract from a recent letter of our good friend M^r [Lundy?] which will show you you are not forgotten here—& will be warmly welcomed whenever you come over again— No one will welcome you more heartily than D^r Crofts—on that I can assure you!—Remember me to all enquiring friends, & believe me as always

Your faithful & affec^ate friend,

Julia G. Crofts.