Letter from Harriet Minot to John Greenleaf Whittier, July 31, 1837

Letter from Harriet Minot to John Greenleaf Whittier, July 31, 1837

Harriet Minot (1815-1888), a friend, writes to John Greenleaf Whittier and gives him the latest news and gossip from home. Whittier was in New York at this time, serving as one of the secretaries of the American Anti-Slavery Society. Minot provides colorful descriptions of abolitionist sisters Sarah and Angelina Grimké, who at the time were on a lecture tour through New England and had stopped in Haverhill. Minot was an active abolitionist herself and a friend of William Lloyd Garrison. She married Isaac Pitman, a successful merchant.

Harriet Minot

This letter was originally included in the John Greenleaf Whittier Correspondence Collection project and has been included here because of its relevance to the exploration of Women's Suffrage and Abolition in the Whittier correspondence.

July 31, 1837

Haverhill, (Massachusetts,) July 31. 1837.

I was perfectly amazed, when on my return from Exeter a few weeks since, a letter was handed me from you. — I had long ago come to the settled conclusion, that I had unconsciously offended you, or, which was altogether more likely, that you had quite forgotten me. — I still believe that the latter opinion was the correct one, but that something occurred to awaken a passing thought of me, and that you wrote while under the influence of that momentary recollection. —

Sarah and Angelina Grimke have been to Haverhill. They lectured on the 21^st in the Baptist meeting-house. I was perfectly delighted with Angelina, and so were most of her hearers. She is the most eloquent, and I think the most beautiful creature I ever saw. At first, I did not think her even pretty, but when she became interested in her subject, when her soul beamed brightly in her eyes, and her whole countenance became radiant with emotion, she seemed transcendantly beautiful. — While listening to her and looking at her, I could easily have believed the Quaker doctrine of being moved by the Spirit — perhaps I should fully have believed it, had she not occasionally glanced at written notes. — In private I liked both exceedingly, I was about as much interested in Sarah as in her sister — I think her reasoning powers superior. — In the meeting-house, she spoke but a short time. Her subject was the rights of women. I scarcely heard her at all, for at that time, I was fully occupied, in requesting the ladies in the house to join our Society. We invited all separately and severally — twenty one names were given. —

You warned me to see to it, that Sarah and Angelina did not convert me to Quakerism. — So far from there being any danger of it, Angelina assured me, that she was glad I was not a Friend.

Amos A. Phelps preached for the Orthodox a fortnight since, and delivered a very excellent A. S. address at ½ past five. — To be sure, some of his illustrations and comparisons were the same, even in the very words, that Henry B. Stanton used, when he lectured in the Unitarian meeting-house last summer. — I do not think, that the fact injured the effect off his address. — Probably, no one else noticed it, and I suppose that there exists, as far as possible among Abolitionists, a community of intellectual goods, and that each has a right to use the thoughts and language of all.

You ask about the ladies’ and the ‘menfolk’s society’. — The former is about as usual, perhaps a little more engaged — the latter is certainly alive, but divided in itself. — At least, Mr. Ames, vice president, has incurred the displeasure of the rest, and, I suppose will quit the ranks. — I feel personally aggrieved by Mr. Ames’ conduct. — He is the only individual, that ever became an Abolitionist from the cogency of my reasonings. Alas that he should not be a true one!

You ask about Haverhill people — all are well and in status quo. As yet, there has been little or no suffering here from hard times. — Our friend *Sarah Ann Dow is well (*John Nesmith of Lowell is making love to her.), and pretends to be greatly offended with J.G. Whittier. — It is only pretence. She does not feel one particle of anger towards the gentleman. — Mr. + Mrs. Gage are well. I am sorry to be able to tell you nothing of Octavia — excepting that she is now at home — doubtless as beautiful and brilliant as ever. — I have overcome all my prejudices against Mr. Gage — and as a private individual, I love him very much — as a minister, not at all. — No one is settled in Mr. Whittlesey’s place. —

Thank you for your permission to ask as many questions as I please. I should like to ask a hundred, but confident, that not one would be answered, I forbear — I wonder what has become of your poetical admirer, Minverva —and if you have seen your old friend Frederick Barnard, if — but I have not room for all my wonderings, and there is no use.

I think you must have  a very good time in the society of Stanton and Weld. Stanton is a splendid fellow, and his friend Weld, if we may take his word for it, is infinitely his superior. — I expect Weld is much more amiable. Henry B. Stanton is sometimes willful, and occasionally cross. — Which are you most like?

I did not know when I commenced this, that I had any thing to say, but I do know, now, that I have a thousand things to say — doubtless it is as well, they should remain unsaid. —

Your sisters are very well. — Elizabeth is at Haverhill now. — I think sometimes, she is almost as wicked as you are. She does not mind me at all. — I am ashamed of the length of this letter — and of its dulness.

Truly, your friend.

Harriot