Letter from Samuel May, Boston, to John Bishop Estlin, Dec. 15, 1847

May tells about his daily life and describes in immense detail a trip to South Hingham. He expresses concern about the arrival of the Bristol box that Estlin sent for the Boston fair, which has been delayed in transit. May says other boxes have come from St. Petersburg, Paris, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. The reply to the Boston invitation has also arrived and was criticized adversely by Reverend George Edward Ellis of Charlestown in "The Christian Register." May tells Estlin that he intends to discontinue his subscription to "The Inquirer." He discusses the cost of the French edition of "A Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass." May speaks of Robert Brook Aspland's lack of courage. May reports that William Lloyd Garrison is recovering slowly, that Douglass has issued the first number of his paper, "The North Star," and that the first number of "The Massachusetts Review" has appeared. May apologizes for the advance publication of the reply to the Boston invitation and discusses the criticized passages. He answers questions about the Reply to the Irish Address.
Courtesy of Boston Public Library