William Lloyd Garrison to Joseph Dugdale (1859)

Dal
BOSTON, February 15, 1859.

Dear FRIEND:

You are aware, doubtless, that our esteemed friend, and the early, self-sacrificing, intrepid, and eloquent advocate
of universal emancipation, Gzorce Tuompson, Esq., returned from India to England some months ago, with ruined health and
paralysis of all his limbs, so as to be helpless as a babe. Fearing, from his long protracted illness abroad, and his inability to

do anything for his family since his return home, and also from his characteristic unwillingness to let his necessities be known

to any one, that he might be in a straitened condition as to his means of daily subsistence, we requested our beloved coadjutor,
Rev. Samvet J. May, of Syracuse, now in England, to call upon Mr, Thompson, as soon as he arrived in London, and
ascertain the exact situation of our afflicted friend. A long and very touching letter has just been received from Mr. May,
dated London, Jan. 17, 1859, giving full particulars of the causes of Mr. Thompson’s illness abroad, his terrible sufferings on his
homeward voyage, his present somewhat improved state of health, and his pecuniary destitution. We make a brief extract.
Mr. May says : —

| ‘«‘Mr. and Mrs. Thompson occupy a cottage in Surrey, at a rent of £50. I saw him on the 14th, walking to meet
us, but looking much emaciated. Both his hands are still partially paralyzed, and somewhat misshapen. He cannot put them
naturally and easily to his head. He cannot write any; nor can he dress and undress himself alone. Still, he has recovered
much more, I am assured, than it was expected he ever would, even by his physicians; though he is but a wreck of what he
was when we first knew him. . . . . I think, however, he might be wholly restored to health, were it not for his pecuniary
embarrassment, and the treatment he is receiving from the company in whose service he went to India, who refuse to pay the
balance of his salary, because he left his post as the only means of saving his life, at the advice of his physicians in Calcutta.
He has no means of subsistence. ‘‘Indeed,” said he, ‘*I had not enough to pay the funeral expenses of my dear mother, who
died about a fortnight ago.” I wish his American friends would send him one thousand dollars.”

This intelligence is distressing, and will awaken the liveliest sympathy and the most generous feelings in the
breast of every one who is personally acquainted with Mr. Thompson; who remembers with admiration his unparalleled
efforts in behalf of West India emancipation, and his subsequent labors in this country in the Anti-Suavery cause, during
the perilous times of 1834-5—a mission of love and disinterested philanthropy, on his part, the results of which, in the
furtherance of that beneficent cause, in a thousand particulars, are beyond sober estimate. To think of one so gifted, so
thoroughly tried, so alive to the claims of suffering humanity, so dead to all selfish and personal considerations, so faithful
and unswerving in his devotion to the right, so unobtrusive and uncomplaining when stricken and helpless, suffering for
the means of daily subsistence, with his dependant family! It must not and will not be so long. We feel assured that
his case only needs to be known to those to whom we send this private circular— private because a due regard to Mr.

_Thompson’s feelings makes publicity undesirable — to induce them gladly to contribute something for his immediate relief.

Any sum will be duly appreciated, and in due time gratefully acknowledged. A list of the donors will be forwarded to

Mr. Thompson, for his gratification, and to quicken his reminiscences of persons and places in America.

Mr. May suggests that one thousand dollars should be raised for this purpose. This sum ought to be easily
and promptly obtained, without severely taxing any one, among Mr. Thompson’s many friends and admirers on this side
of the Atlantic. It will be the means of saving him from sharp distress and sore privation, at least for a time; and it
may, and doubtless will, exert a powerful influence in restoring him to health and public usefulness. It should be
remembered that, for his splendid services in this country in behalf of impartial freedom, Mr. Thompson has never yet
received a special token of the regard and gratitude of American abolitionists, such as his helpless situation makes it now

so desirable to proffer him and his family.

Letters, enclosing aid for Mr. Thompson, may be addressed to either of the undersigned, or to Francis Jackson,
Esq., 27 Hollis Street, Treasurer of the American Anti-Slavery Society, who will see that the money is safely forwarded
to Mr. T. at the earliest moment. ;

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