The Letters of William Lloyd Garrison, Volume I: I Will be Heard!: 1822-1835

by William Lloyd Garrison, Walter M. Merrill

Overview

William Lloyd Garrison (1805-1879), outstanding among the dedicated fighters for the abolition of slavery, was also an activist in other movements such as women's and civil rights and religious reform. Never tiring in battle, he was "irrepressible, uncompromising, and inflammatory." He antagonized many, including some of his fellow reformers. There were also many who loved and respected him. But he was never overlooked.

His letters, a source of the first magnitude, begin in 1822, when Garrison was seventeen, and end in 1879, the year of his death. They offer an insight into the mind and life of an outstanding figure in American history, a reformer-revolutionary who sought radical changes in the institutions of his day—in the relationship of the races, the rights of women, the nature and role of religion and religious institutions, and the relations between the state and its citizens; and who, perhaps more than any other single individual, was ultimately responsible for the emancipation of the slaves.

Garrison's letters are also, sui generis, important as the expression of a vigorous writer, whose letters reflect his strength of character and warm humanity, and who appears here not only as the journalist, the reformer, and the leader of men, but also as the loving husband and father, the devoted son and son-in-law, the staunch friend, and the formidable opponent.

Included in this well illustrated first volume are Garrison's letters from the earliest known—one to his mother during his apprenticeship—through the 1831 founding of his famous newspaper, The Liberator; the founding in 1832 and 1833 of the New England and the American Anti-Slavery Societies; his first trip to England to meet with British abolitionists; his courtship and marriage; and his being dragged through the streets of Boston by a mob out to tar and feather the British abolitionist George Thompson.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780674526600
Publisher:	Harvard University Press
Publication date:	01/01/1971
Series:	Letters of William Lloyd Garrison Series , #1
Pages:	658
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.25(h) x 1.70(d)

About the Author

Walter M. Merrill was Professor of English at Drexel University.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations

Editorial Statement

Chronology of Garrison's Life

I. ANCESTRY AND EARLY YEARS

To the Editor of the Newburyport Herald, May 21, 1822

To the Editor of the Newburyport Herald, May 24, 1822

To the Editor of the Newburyport Herald, August 6, 1822

To Frances Maria Lloyd Garrison, May 26, 1823

To Ephraim W. Allen, July 7, 1823

To the Editor of the Salem Gazette, June 11, 1824

To the Editor of the Salem Gazette, June 29, 1824

To Andrew Jackson, July 27, 1824

To the Editor of the Salem Gazette, August 6, 1824

To Tobias H. Miller, October 14, 1825

To the Editor of Haverhill Gazette & Essex Patriot, November 1, 1826

To the Editor of the Boston Courier, December 13, 1826

To the Editor of the Boston Courier, February 8, 1827

To the Editor of the Newburyport Herald, April 21, 1827

To the Editor of the Newburyport Herald, May 7, 1827

To the Editor of the Newburyport Herald, June 9, 1827

To the Editor of the Boston Courier, July 12, 1827

To the Editor of the Boston Courier, July 14, 1827

To the Editor of the Boston Courier, July 23, 1827

To the Editor of the Newburyport Herald, July 26, 1827

To the Editor of the Newbuiyport Herald, June 3, 1828

To the Editor of the Yankee and Boston Literary Gazette, July 30, 1828

To the Editor of the Boston Courier, August 11, 1828

To the Editor of the Boston Courier, August 12, 1828

To the Editor of the Yankee and Boston Literary Gazette, August 15, 1828

To the Editor of the Boston Courier, December 13, 1828

To the Editor of the Boston Courier, December 16, 1828

II. GENIUS AND LIBERATOR; 1829-1882

To Stephen Foster, March 30, 1829

To Jacob Horton, June 27, 1829

To the Editor of the Boston Courier, July 9, 1829

To Ephraim MI, Allen, January 29, 1830

To the Editors of the Liverpool Times, February 16, 1830

To Harriet Farnham Horton, May 12, 1830

To Francis Todd, May 13, 1830

To Nicholas Brice, May 13, 1830

To Richard W. Gill, May 13, 1830

To Henry Thompson, May 13, 1830

To the Editor of the Boston Courier, May 13, 1830

To the Editor of the Newburyport Herald, June 1, 1830

To Ebenezer Dole, July 14, 1830

To George Shepard, September 13, 1830

To the Editor of the Newburyport Herald, September 30, 1830

To the Editor of the Boston Evening Transcript, November 6, 1830

To Samuel J. May, February 14, 1831

To Alonzo Lewis, March 12, 1831

To Ephraim W, Allen, April 29, 1831

To Simeon S. Jocelyn, May 30, 1831

To The Liberator, June 10, 1831

To Ebenezer Dole, July 11, 1831

To Henry E. Benson, July 30, 1831

To Messrs. J. Telemachus Hilton, Robert Wood, and J. H. How, Committee, August 13, 1831

To Henry E. Benson, August 29, 1831

To La Roy Sunderland, September 8, 1831

To Joseph Gales and William V. Seaton, September 23, 1831

To Henry E. Benson, September 26, 1831

To Henry E. Benson, October 19, 1831

To Henry F. Benson, November 12, 1831

To John Quincy Adams, January 21, 1832

To Sarah M. Douglass, March 5, 1832

To Alonro Lewis, March 13, 1832

To Samuel J. May, March 27, 1832

To Robert Purvis, May 12, 1832

To Robert Purvis, May 30, 1832

To Henry F. Benson, May 31, 1832

To Robert Purvis, June 22, 1832

To Ebenezer Dole, June 29, 1832

To George W. Benson, July 7, 1832

To Henry E. Benson, July 21, 1832

To Henry Brougham, August 1, 1832

To The Liberator, September 7, 1832

To The Liberator, September 13, 1832

To The Liberator, September 24, 1832

To The Liberator, September 28, 1832

To The Liberator, October 2, 1832

To The Liberator, October 8, 1832

To Samuel J. May, November 30, 1832

To Samuel Fessenden, November 30, 1832

To Samuel J. May, December 4, 1832

To John B. Vashon, December 8, 1832

To Robert Purvis, December 10, 1832

To George W. Benson, December 10, 1832

III. MISSION TO ENGLAND: 1833

To Benjamin Ferris, February 16, 1833

To the Editor of the Essex Register, February 23, 1833

To Harriott Plummer, March 4, 1833

To George Bourne, March 7, 1833

To George W. Benson, March 8, 1833

To Henry F. Benson, March 8, 1833

To Harriott Plummer, March 18, 1833

To Harriet Minot, March 19, 1833

To Harriet Minot, March 26, 1833

To Harriet Minot, April 3, 1833

To Messrs. S. Snowden, P. Hall, G. Putnam, P. Howard, C. Caples, W. Brown, J. B. Pero, J. T. Hilton, G. W. Thompson, J. Silver, L. York, J. Lennox, F. Standing, T. Cole, C. L. Remond, E. F. B. Mundrucu, and H. Thacker, April 4, 1833

To Harriet Minot, April 9, 1833

To Isaac Knapp, April 11, 1833

To Harriet Minot, April 22, 1833

To Robert Purvis, April 30, 1833

To Simeon S. Jocelyn, May 1, 1833

To Harriet Minot, May 1, 1833

To the Editor of the Moral Daily Advertiser, May 2, 1833

To The Liberator, May 23, 1833

To The Liberator, May 24, 1833

To an Unknown Recipient, May 27, 1833

To Elliott Cresson, June 4, 1833

To Joseph Price and Thomas Hodgkin, June 7, 1833

To the Board of Managers of the New England Anti-Slavery Society, June 20, 1833

To Elliott Cresson, June 27, 1833

To Prince Augustus Frederick, The Duke of Sussex, June 28, 1833

To the Board of Managers of the New England Anti-Slavery Society, July 1, 1833

To Prince Augustus Frederick, The Duke of Sussex, July 13, 1833

To the Editor of the London Patriot, July 22, 1833

To the Editor of the London Patriot, August 6, 1833

To the Editor of the London Christian Advocate, August 10, 1833

To Nathaniel Paul, August 17, 1833

To the Patrons of The Liberator and the Friends of Abolition, October 11, 1833

To Lewis F. Lame, November 1, 1833

To George W. Benson, November 2, 1833

To John B. Vashon, November 5, 1833

To Elliott Cresson, November 16, 1833

To George W. Benson, November 25, 1833

IV. COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE: 1834

To Helen E. Benson, January 18, 1834

To William Ellery Charming, January 20, 1834

To Helen E. Benson, February 18, 1834

To Samuel J. May, February 18, 1834

To Henry E. Benson, February 26, 1834

To Helen E. Benson, March 8, 1834

To Helen E. Benson, March 12, 1834

To George W. Benson, March 13, 1834

To Charles Fallen, March 18, 1834

To Helen E. Benson, March 19, 1834

To John B. Vashon, March 22, 1834

To Helen E. Benson, March 25, 1834

To Helen E. Benson, March 26, 1834

To George W. Benson, March 29, 1834

To Amos Farnsworth, March 31, 1834

To Helen E. Benson, April 1, 1834

To Helen E. Benson, April 5, 1834

To Helen E. Benson, April 7, 1834

To Helen E. Benson, April 12, 1834

To Anna E. Benson, April 14, 1834

To an Unknown Recipient, April 15, 1834

To Helen B. Benson, April 16, 1834

To Edmund B. Dearborn, April 18, 1834

To George W. Benson, April 23, 1834

To Helen E. Benson, April 24, 1834

To Helen B. Benson, April 25, 1834

To Helen E. Benson, April 27, 1834

To Helen B. Benson, May 1, 1834

To Helen E. Benson, May 16, 1834

To Robert Purvis, May 20, 1834

To Anna E. Benson, May 20, 1834

To Helen E. Benson, May 23, 1834

To Helen B. Benson, May 30, 1834

To George Benson, May 31, 1834

To Helen E. Benson, June 2, 1834

To Helen B. Benson, June 6, 1834

To Helen B. Benson, June 14, 1834

To George W. Benson, June 16, 1834

To the Editor of the Boston Courier, June 19, 1834

To Helen B. Benson, June 21, 1834

To Helen B. Benson, June 25, 1834

To George W. Benson, July 10, 1834

To Helen E. Benson, July 15, 1834

To Helen E. Benson, July 21, 1834

To Samuel J. May, July 23, 1834

To Samuel J. May, July 28, 1834

To Helen E. Benson, July 28, 1834

To Helen E. Benson, August 4, 1834

To Helen B. Benson, August 11, 1834

To George W. Benson, August 11, 1834

To Helen E. Benson, August 18, 1834

To George W. Benson, August 21, 1834

To Helen B. Benson, August 23, 1834

To Helen E. Benson, August 29, 1834

To Anna B. Benson, September 7, 1834

To George W. Benson, September 12, 1834

To Samuel J. May, September 15, 1834

To Anna B. Benson, October 9, 1834

To Amos A. Phelps, October 11, 1834

To Anna F. Benson, October (?), 1834

To George W. Benson, November 1, 1834

To George Benson, January 12, 1835

To Gerrit Smith, January 31, 1835

To Louisa Loring, January 31, 1835

To Gerrit Smith, February 7, 1835

To Gerrit Smith, February 28, 1835

To Gerrit Smith, March 7, 1835

To Helen B. Garrison, March 13, 1835

To Helen K Garrison, March 16, 1835

To Helen B. Garrison, March 19, 1835

To Henry E. Benson, March 30, 1835

To Helen E. Garrison, May 4, 1835

To Isaac Knapp, May 9, 1835

To Helen B. Garrison, May 11, 1835

To Helen B. Garrison, July 21, 1835

To Helen E. Garrison, July 25, 1835

To Helen B. Garrison, July 31, 1835

To John Farmer, August 8, 1835

To Henry B. Benson, August 24, 1835

To Henry B. Benson and Isaac Knapp, August 29, 1835

To George W. Benson, August 29, 1835

To Henry E. Benson, September 1, 1835

To George W. Benson, September 1, 1835

To Henry B. Benson, September 3, 1835

To George W. Benson, September 4, 1835

To Harrison Gray Otis, September 5, 1835

To Peleg Sprague, September 5, 1835

To Peleg Sprague, September 12, 1835

To Henry K Benson, September 12, 1835

To George W, Benson, September 12, 1835

To Henry B. Benson, September 15, 1835

To George W. Benson, September 17, 1835

To Harrison Gray Otis, September 19, 1835

To Henry B. Benson, September 19, 1835

To George W. Benson, October 2, 1835

To George Benson, October 21, 1835

To Samuel E. Sewall, October 24, 1835

To George W. Benson, October 26, 1835

To Isaac Knapp, October 28, 1835

To Helen E. Garrison, November 4, 1835

To Helen E. Garrison, November 7, 1835

To Helen E. Garrison, November 9, 1835

To Helen E. Garrison, November 11, 1835

To Helen E. Garrison, November 14, 1835

To Isaac Knapp, November 19, 1835

To George W. Benson, November 27, 1835

To Mary Benson, November 27, 1835

To George W. Benson, November 30, 1835

To Henry E. Benson, December 5, 1835

To Samuel J. May, December 5, 1835

To Henry F. Benson, December 10, 1835

To Henry E. Benson, December 15, 1835

To Amos A. Phelps, December 16, 1835

To Lewis Tappan, December 17, 1835

To Thomas Shipley, December 17, 1835

To Samuel S. May, December 26, 1835

To Helen E. Garrison, December 28, 1835

To Helen E. Garrison, December 30, 1835

Index of Recipients

Index of Names

Editorial Reviews

These early letters are those of a propagandist already committed to the overthrow of slavery…This first handsome volume of letters provides fresh insights into the mind of an American radical who undertook 'to reform the morals of the age.'

Times Literary Supplement