Letter from George William Benson, Providence, [Rhode Island], to William Lloyd Garrison, 1833 [March] 19th

George William Benson writes to William Lloyd Garrison informing him that he has "nothing new to communicate respecting the Canterbury affair" but he plans to travel there with Rev. Thomas Williams later in the week. He describes a letter he wrote to Simeon Smith Jocelyn advising him "to engage counsel, and authorise them to commence an action, in behalf of the parents of any pupil" prevented from attending the school. He describes this as "a glorious opportunity" to test state laws which sought to restrict educating African-Americans but he believes that after the school opens "in a few weeks, there [sic] prejudices will vanish and they will be ashamed of their own folly." Benson also discusses his efforts to "establish a regular Church & society among the colored people" in Providence, telling Garrison that Thomas Willimas has "offered to preach for them a year, and longer if they wish". He also tells Garrison he has been trying to raise money to support Garrison on his trip to Europe and has promised people that he will "deliver a farewell address to them as you passed through this place to New York." Benson reports that after hearing this news, "I think I never beheld so much unfeigned pleasure as it gave them."
Courtesy of Boston Public Library