Letter from James M. W. Yerrinton to Samuel Downer thanking him for the invitation to the reunion, with reminiscences

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Title

Letter from James M. W. Yerrinton to Samuel Downer thanking him for the invitation to the reunion, with reminiscences

Description

In this three-page letter James Manning Winchell Yerrinton acknowledges receipt of his invitation to attend the Reunion of the Free Soil Party, and thanks Samuel Downer for offering it. He states that he will happily attend the event, and that he is looking forwarding to meeting with his old comrades and friends who dedicated themselves to the abolitionist cause. He then discusses his sadness at the deaths of many important Free Soilers, some of whom did not live to see the end of slavery in the United States.

Subject

Downer, Samuel, 1807-1881
Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874
Wilson, Henry, 1812-1875
Burlingame, Anson, 1820-1870
Keyes, Edward, L., 1812-1859
Gilpin, Henry D. (Henry Dilworth), 1801-1860
Webb Jr., Seth, 1823-1862
Reunions
Abolitionists
Abolition movement
Political parties
Invitations
Gratitude
Happiness
Liberty
Justice
Nostalgia
Allegiance
Death
Sadness
Christianity
Reminiscing

Creator

Yerrinton, J. M. W. (James Manning Winchell), -1893

Publisher

Hingham Public Library

Date Created

1877 August 6

Rights

No known copyright restrictions

Access Rights

Contact host institution for more information

Format

JPEG

Extent

6.11 MB
6.60 MB

Language

English

Type

Correspondence

Identifier

bpc-0145a
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bpc-0145b
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Spatial Coverage

Boston (Mass.)

Temporal Coverage

1848
1877 August 6

Rights Holder

Hingham Public Library

Text

Boston, Aug. 6/77 

Saml Downer Esq

Dear Sir:

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your invitation to attend a “Reunion of the Free Soilers of 1848” on the 9th inst [sic], and thank you cordially for the opportunity thus afforded me of meeting the men with whose laws and vices I was familiar five[?] and twenty years ago, - men who so early espoused the cause of freedom, laying their best gifts on her shrine, -

"Ere her cause brought fame and profit, and 'twas prosperous to be just."

I anticipated great pleas-ure in meeting old friends, and recalling the memories of that “day of small things,” when we heard much of principle in politics, and very little of policy.  Alas!  And so many of the honored and trusted leaders of those years will be missed.  Sumner, Wilson, Allen, Bur-lingame, Keyes, Gilpin, Webb, and many more, who did noble and valiant service, have passed on, “Where, beyond these vices, there is peace.”  Some did not live to see the fruition of their toils; but they, too, had their re-ward:

“Tis not the grapes of bacaan that repay, But the high hope, that paints not by the way.”

Again thanking you for your kind remembrances

I am,

Faithfullly yours,

J. M. W. Yerrinton

Physical Dimensions

8" x 10"

Citation

Yerrinton, J. M. W. (James Manning Winchell), -1893, “Letter from James M. W. Yerrinton to Samuel Downer thanking him for the invitation to the reunion, with reminiscences,” Hingham Public Library Digital Exhibitions, accessed March 28, 2024, https://hinghampubliclibrary.omeka.net/items/show/149.